Adriana was furious inside, but she kept her emotions hidden and continued to cooperate without a word.Finally, the tent was securely set up.Calvin straightened his clothes, took a few steps, and suddenly kicked over Henry’s half-finished tent. “What a shoddy tofu-dregs project.”An angry Henry jumped up to confront him. “What’s your problem? Is it necessary to hold such a grudge?”Calvin smirked. “It absolutely is.”Adriana looked away, stifling a snicker.Sometimes, she thought, when these men were together, they were just like children, indulging in all kinds of childish antics. If the directors who worked under them ever saw this, she couldn’t imagine what they’d think.Before going to sleep, the four men gathered around, chatting together, while nearby, the three women huddled in their own group.Nora, ever mindful, spoke politely and flatteringly to Adriana. “Adriana, you’re a lawyer, right? This is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful lawyer. I envy you.”Adriana fiddled
Adriana reached around and rubbed her hands together, trying to find a ball of tissue paper to stuff in her ears.In the dimness, her hand accidentally brushed against Calvin’s arm, then slid across to touch his ear and the bridge of his nose.Startled, Adriana quickly pulled back, only to meet the man’s lips.Their clothes rustled together with a clear sound, breaking the silence.Adriana closed her eyes in frustration, wishing she could disappear on the spot.“Do you have tissue paper?” she asked, her voice tinged with embarrassment.Calvin held her arm down and rolled over, leaning sideways above her. His glittering eyes locked on her reddened ones. “Are you teasing me?” he asked.Is he sick? How could this be considered teasing? Adriana thought, fuming silently.“I just need tissue paper! Get up so I can look for some!”Calvin’s thighs pressed against her struggling legs, pinning her to the mat. His voice was hoarse and low, vibrating through her ears. “Are you wet?”Adriana immed
Adriana convinced herself in the shortest possible time to set aside her so-called self-respect and deal with Calvin on his terms. Whatever existed between them needed to be resolved.But when she stepped outside, all she saw was Calvin’s car roaring to life. It spun sharply at the top of the hill before speeding away, the engine growling as it descended at an alarming pace.It was too fast.Calvin’s professional-level driving skills were undeniable, but everything happened so quickly that Adriana had no time to react, let alone stop him.She fumbled for her phone and dialed his number.No answer.She called again, and again, but even after seven or eight attempts, Calvin still didn’t pick up.Frustrated and disheveled, Adriana sank onto the grass, caught between tears and laughter.How could I forget? she thought bitterly. Calvin is ruthless enough to turn on his own blood relatives. Who am I to him?He had extended an olive branch, and she should have taken it dutifully, with gratit
“Adria, Mom’s mental state has improved over the past two days, and she told us to hurry up and call you—just in case you get tangled up with Calvin again when you return to New York,” said the voice on the other end of the phone. It was soft and friendly, belonging to her sister-in-law, Areiza Venzor.Adriana lowered her voice and hummed softly, “I know.”Areiza continued, “When you give up on someone you love, it’s supposed to hurt them more. But if you’re the one who doesn’t care about yourself, you’re just a fool losing out, while he’s lost a good woman who truly loved him.”Over the past three years, her sister-in-law had said countless comforting words to her. Even late at night, when Adriana struggled with insomnia, Areiza would sneak out to buy some beer, take her to the rooftop, and chat with her. Sometimes, they even cursed Calvin together.Adriana’s eyes grew hot, tears threatening to fall. “Yes,” she said, “he’ll soon realize no other woman will ever love him as much as I
The mysterious valley, untouched for so long, was suddenly and forcefully invaded by him without any warning.As it happened, all her senses tightened from the overwhelming stimulation—filled, violated, and mercilessly excavated.Adriana opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her pale face devoid of color. Her breathing was labored, her nostrils flaring as she struggled to endure the sharp, relentless sensations.Her trembling fingers clutched at the man, slick with perspiration and unsteady.What followed was a series of unyielding, punishing movements, each one more mechanical and merciless than the last.She sank into an abyss of pain and exhaustion, unable to hear her own ragged breathing. Instead, all she perceived was the ceaseless, frenzied rhythm that left her battered and spent.From the early hours of dawn until daylight streamed into the room, she endured. By the time the ordeal ended, she was utterly drained, as if she were adrift
Anger and shame went hand in hand. Adriana was so furious that she could only tremble, unable to utter a single word.She gripped her fork tightly, stabbing the food on her plate piece by piece, as if it were Calvin himself. She itched to cut him into a thousand pieces.Noticing the bruise on her exposed neck, Calvin felt a twinge of regret for being too rough. "Does your body hurt?" he asked.Adriana shot him a fierce glare, her eyes brimming with a murderous aura. "Why don’t you grab a stick and poke yourself to see if it hurts?"Her voice was raw, each syllable laced with restrained rage, as though even her words sought to inflict damage.Seeing her shoulders tremble and her face pale with fury, Calvin raised an eyebrow and remarked, "What’s this? Did you swallow gunpowder?"Adriana refused to dignify him with a response. She lowered her head, continuing to torture the food on her plate.How could he not care? she thought bitterly. How could he conveniently forget?Is he really cap
In the afternoon, Adriana received a call from Mark.After the dinner we had last time, we haven’t spoken. Why is he calling me now? she wondered.“What’s the matter, Lawyer Wilson?” she asked.His tone was serious. “I heard you’re still representing Grand Empire.”Word travels fast enough, she thought.“Yes, it’s still me,” Adriana replied.Mark mused, “Maybe I can help you. We used to have a hostile relationship, but I’ve withdrawn from the case. As for John, I’ve done a detailed analysis on him before. I’ve even visited his old home personally.”Adriana was surprised. So it’s possible to operate like this?“Why are you helping me?” she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.On the other end of the line, there was the sound of rustling clothes and a door opening. “Let’s talk face-to-face. Buy me a coffee,” Mark said.Both of them were efficient, and within twenty minutes, they were sitting across from each other at a café.Mark was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit of Korean de
For the entire time, Adriana hadn’t had a chance to speak or interject.As they walked out of the Supreme Court, a sudden thought struck Adriana. The presiding judge had the same surname as Mark—Wilson. She turned to him, curious. “He’s your…”“My second uncle,” Mark admitted, cutting her off. “My dad’s real brother. But I’ve never taken advantage of his connections.”Adriana was taken aback, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. “You’re part of the second generation?”Mark shrugged. “The achievements of the previous generation have nothing to do with me, and I don’t want to ride on their coattails. You don’t have to think of me as some privileged ‘second generation.’ I’m just an ordinary lawyer.”Adriana’s confusion deepened. If Mark was married, why was his second uncle so eager for him to have a girlfriend? she wondered. And why would Mark offer to help her when he had such good resources?“Lawyer Wilson,” Adriana said cautiously, “I hope you don’t mind me being direct—I’m not one f
Since it was Carson’s case, and the subsequent statute, he had also arranged a number of back doors.Aidan took out his phone and sent a message to the Public Security Bureau, and Adriana met the defendant at the detention center that afternoon.Maybe it was the stereotypes, or maybe it was the social opinion. However, no matter how Adriana looked at him, the man in front of her fit the "bad guy" stereotype.The man was about 5'2" tall, or maybe a little taller in actuality. He had a round head, but his body was too fat to complement his head. His round-necked single-layer shirt was covered in floral tattoos stretching across the back of his exposed hands and wrists.The man saw her and grinned, showing his yellow teeth from years of smoking.Adriana thought to herself, “Where did Carson get the courage to plead for him to be not guilty? His dignified appearance in the courtroom would make the entire jury want to smash eggs.”
“It’s you!”With no strength left to defend herself, Adriana instinctively took a step back. It was in that moment she saw the man holding a spring-loaded knife in a menacing grip — the very same traffic policeman who had impounded her driver’s license, and also that lady’s own son.The man’s mouth twisted as he gritted his teeth and spat, “Little bitch, what the fuck did you just say? You’re trying to get my mom killed! You’re going to get my whole family killed!”There was no one at the entrance of the courthouse at this moment. The knife in his hand could stab her at any time, completely out of control. Adriana’s top priority was to stabilize him.Forcing herself to stay calm, Adriana said evenly, “I didn’t know she was a mother. That day, I only saw her riding a bicycle alone. I thought it looked difficult and I just wanted to help her.”“Don’t
The next day, Adriana packed her things and left for work.When she went downstairs, she saw a familiar car.The neighbourhood she rented in was only mid-range to high-end, and it was rare to see such a luxurious car.The high-profile Aston Martin in front of her certainly didn’t fit in with the overall atmosphere.Adriana instinctively knew there was a familiar face inside, so she turned around to leave.Drip!The horn blared, the driver’s window rolled down, and a head peeked out.“I’ve seen it all. Where are you planning to hide?”Adriana knew dodging was pointless, so she switched to a standard, polite smile — the kind an employee would show when greeting their superior.“Deputy Director Carson showing up at his subordinate’s doorstep first thing in the morning — that can’t be a coincidence, right?”The injury on Carson’s face, after a night of settling in, looked even worse. The swelling had intensified, and the bruise had deepened in color. His left eye, the one that had taken t
Seeing Calvin and Carson angrily facing each other, it seemed like they were about to start fighting again. Adriana put down what she was holding and sat down with a stern face.“You two can bandage each other up. Since you're both so capable of fighting, you can handle the aftermath just as well.”“No way.”“Never happening.”Surprisingly, they were at least consistent on this point.“Well then, since neither of you wants to do it, bear with it. After this, go home — to whoever you like.”Not wanting to get entangled with either of them any further, Adriana just wanted to leave with a clean slate.Carson tugged at her wrist, his red, swollen face filled with helplessness. “You’re not really going to leave, are you?”Adriana looked down at his hand, then forced him to let go. “I made myself very clear already. No matter what you do, I won’t appreciate it. Whether I’m desperate, heartless, or however you want to see me — it doesn’t matter. You can think of me as a scummy girl if you wa
Calvin spoke out in shock. Adriana was afraid he would say something else, so she hurriedly advised, “Calvin, let’s just come together and part peacefully. At least let’s leave each other with some dignity. Let’s not make a mess of things until there’s nothing left.”There was a warning in her eyes, and her stance made it clear she was drawing a line with him.Calvin cooperated by lowering his head slightly, and likewise lowered his voice, whispering, “Do you like that playboy so much? Do you even know what kind of person Carson really is?”Adriana glanced at Carson out of the corner of her eye. He appeared calm and composed, not at all embarrassed by being left out, standing there like a clear stream.“What kind of person he is — time will tell,” she replied. “I’ll also keep my eyes wide open to see it for myself. Instead of listening to your version, I’d rather experience it firsthand.”Calvin was thoroughly exasperated by her. “It seems you’re determined to go against me.”“Calvin,
New York is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the country and has been ranked as a highly livable place for several years in a row. Facing the sea and stretching northward, its late spring and early summer evenings are filled with a gentle breeze and bustling traffic—a perfect blend of vibrant life and the relentless struggles of young dreamers.Strolling through the college campus, where students gathered in groups, one could see couples walking arm in arm, hear playful bickering, and catch fleeting glimpses of youthful romance. It was enough to rekindle even the most faded sparks of sentiment.Carson pulled a cigarette case and lighter from his trouser pocket, but just as he was about to light one, he hesitated and put them back. “There’s an observation deck nearby. Want to check it out?”Adriana refused without hesitation. She wasn’t here for a date. Why would she follow the same route as young lovers?“I’m not going.”Carson glanced at a couple embracing in front of the
Looking at the smelly rice noodles bubbling on the table, Adriana wrinkled her eyebrows into two tight knots. “This is refreshing?”Carson, his long fingers stirring the noodles and auxiliary ingredients in the large bowl, looked completely at ease—clearly, he had eaten this many times before. “These rice noodles are made from the shop owner’s authentic recipe. Only his family knows it. Have a try!”Adriana’s expression darkened as she pushed her bowl away. “Deputy Director Carson, you should eat more.”She found it hard to believe that someone like Carson, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, would be good at this.Actually, it was more than just being grounded—it was practically underground.Carson noticed her reluctance and frowned. “Didn’t you used to love this?”Adriana hesitated. “Before? How do you know what I used to eat?”Had their paths ever crossed? Searching her memory, Adriana couldn’t recall.Carson smirked mysteriously. “Eat three bites, and I’ll tell you.”Back in co
Adriana ignored the message alert and pretended not to see it.At the dinner table, Anderson both explicitly and implicitly mentioned that Calvin’s plan for the night was to attend Karl’s birthday party. He even emphasized, “Our president—when has he ever given anyone such an honor? He rarely attends private parties in a year.”The implication was clear: the relationship between the Walker family and the Blake family was extraordinary.His remark was directed at Adriana, who simply smiled.Anderson might have intended to provoke her, but her lack of response left him disinterested, and he didn’t bring it up again.A house call and a banquet—it seemed that things between Anna and Calvin were progressing well.Pretty good.Drip!The sound of a car horn suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Adriana turned toward the road, and her expression darkened instantly.Carson rolled down the window and leaned out, his elbow resting on the window frame as he smiled at her. “What a coincidence!”At tw
Calvin said, “Whether we are falling out or not, Chairman Blake, there’s no need for you to know too much. I didn’t see Albert.”No one could force a word out of him if he didn’t want to speak.Karl, understanding Calvin’s style, knew better than to press the matter. Truth be told, there was no need to ask—Carson had likely crossed a line that Calvin, who couldn’t tolerate even a speck of sand in his eyes, found unforgivable. Perhaps even Albert himself was not worth seeing in Calvin’s view.This is tricky.Karl kept a smile on his face and said, “Carson—that boy lacks determination. Albert has mentioned many times that… well, never mind. Even raising his own son hasn’t been easy for him. It’s clear that mistakes are inevitable in other areas as well. But let’s not dwell on it.”Despite his lighthearted tone, Karl was struggling internally.With his current cash flow issues, he had planned for Albert to meet Calvin tonight, hoping to reinforce his confidence and secure financial suppo