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
After discussing the final details, Adriana said, “Mr. William, now that the case is over, our contract is automatically terminated. I hope you’ll consider me for future opportunities and provide your support when needed.”It was a polite and necessary remark, though Adriana had no real desire to work with Grand Empire again.William nodded in agreement, but his tone shifted. “Lawyer Clarke, do you know Judge Wilson?”He had teased her about her relationship with Mark before, and this time, Adriana remained nonchalant. “Sort of.”“What about a potential date?”Adriana thought to herself, Grand Empire’s executives seem addicted to gossip. She replied casually, “It’s nothing like that. We’re just getting to know each other.”William wasn’t convinced. Invited to a family dinner doesn’t sound like they’re just acquaintances.Back at Grand
A knowing line officially opened the topic of the day.At that moment, both Peter and Leon fell silent—this was not a cold arrow they were prepared to receive.Peter’s peripheral gaze landed on Calvin, who calmly said, “Stocks go up and down all the time. Grandpa has been in the business world most of his life and understands the laws of the market better than I do.”“Don’t blame the market for a malignant result caused by individual behavior. Do you think I don’t watch the news? Or do you think I’m deaf?”The statement was serious, and instantly, the atmosphere in the garden dropped to freezing. Peter and Leon held their breath in unison, not daring to make a sound.Calvin remained calm and composed. “What did Grandpa hear?”George let out a cold grunt, his frowning brows folding into deep, angry lines. His sharp eyes seemed to carry blades.“I haven’t been
If a man cheats on his wife during the marriage, it’s considered a serious breach of marital obligations. The woman can hold him legally accountable, and in the event of a divorce, she may not only receive financial compensation but also have an advantage in gaining custody of the children.Adriana said calmly, “Special circumstances can certainly turn things around.”Jessica curled the corner of her mouth into a smirk. “I’ll find out.”The marriages of successful men often carried the shadow of extramarital affairs. If the defendant’s private misconduct could be uncovered, it would be in the plaintiff’s best interest to investigate thoroughly.After thinking for a moment, Jessica softened her tone and smiled. “Lawyer Clarke, thank you for being willing to help. I thought you didn’t want to get involved.”Adriana replied, “Work and personal life shouldn’t be mixed. And I&
“Thank you for the invitation, but today is obviously not suitable for a door-to-door visit. I’ll treat you to dinner another day as a thank-you for your frequent help over the past two days, whether it’s rare for you or not.”Adriana didn’t give Calvin a chance to respond. Today, she would not set foot in his house again—no matter what.A man and a woman in a closed space—it was easy to make irrational decisions, especially for a woman. The atmosphere could quickly lead to something impulsive. And besides, she wasn’t entirely immune to Calvin’s charm.Calvin stood calmly outside the car door, noting the resistance in her eyes.“Very well. I’ll wait for Lawyer Clarke’s thank-you banquet!”He was testing Adriana’s boundaries little by little, figuring out how to get along with her.The corner of Adriana’s mouth twitched into a polite smile. “Goodbye.”Turning the car around, Adriana gripped the steering wheel. The open window let in fresh air, and the sunlight warmed her face. The most
“Huh?”Kevin thought he’d misheard. “Green Lake Village? The village you went to yesterday, President?”“Yes,” Calvin replied. “Especially the house on the hill—Tony’s place. Fix it up for the old woman. Send some furniture and get everything properly arranged. You can take care of the details.”Adriana glanced at his serious profile as he focused on driving. Her earlier embarrassment vanished in an instant, and her heart gave a subtle flutter.Kevin’s brain short-circuited for a second, then quickly caught up. “Understood, President. I’ll contact a construction team and arrange everything on site.”The call ended, and the car fell silent again.Adriana touched the bridge of her nose. “Um, I’ll thank you on their behalf.”Calvin chuckled. “Is the next thing you’re going to say, ‘You’re a good person’?”Well… that was almost exactly what she was about to say. But saying something like that now? With everything going on? It felt… a bit out of place.Calvin added, “You can say anything y
Calvin looked at her as she instinctively reached out, her slender fingers curling with tension, knuckles protruding from the force.“Lawyer Clarke,” he said, “if you want something, just say it straight. There’s no need for adults to play games.”Adriana awkwardly lowered her head and cleared her throat. “Calvin, please watch your words. Can you not always say things that make people misunderstand? Like this morning, and just now—what exactly did you mean? Is there nothing else in your head besides that?”Calvin responded casually, “Which sentence did you misunderstand? Misunderstand what? Lawyer Clarke, please be specific. Maybe I’ll consider changing.”Adriana clenched her teeth and rolled her eyes at him, but couldn’t bring herself to explain further. “In short, it’s uncomfortable to hear.”When they found the car, Adriana was ready to hop into the driver’s seat, but Calvin pulled her toward the opposite side and shoved her gently into the passenger seat.“Be honest—sit. I’ll driv
Calvin’s identity couldn’t be exposed. Once everyone knew he was the president of Grand Empire—the young master of the Walker family—wouldn’t that cause chaos?That was Adriana’s first reaction.Before she could speak, her body had already moved. She stepped in front of Calvin in a flash, blocking him protectively, and said calmly, “I am his personal lawyer. If there are any problems, I’ll handle them.”Calvin looked at Adriana. She was a bit disheveled, but still stunningly beautiful. This wasn’t something they had discussed in advance, and yet she had reacted purely on instinct. If he couldn’t see that she cared, then he wouldn’t be Calvin.A faint smile tugged at his lips, like the first rays of a new sun piercing through the morning mist—just enough to gently light up the dull earth around them.The local cops weren’t used to handling major cases. They hadn’t dealt with many lawyers before, so they didn’t question it much in the moment. Adriana skillfully shifted the focus, removi
She shouldn’t have zoned out on such a special day. Adriana skipped over the topic and looked up at the round patch of sky above her head. “Why hasn’t anyone come yet?”Calvin replied, “The nearest police station is in town. With their efficiency, we’ll be lucky if they arrive before dawn.”Adriana sighed, "Yeah... there are just some things you have to know and accept."“Are you just going to stand there? Planning to turn into a statue?”She patted the dirt next to her, then thought better of it and pulled some hay over to make a rough cushion. “Don’t be shy, big brother. Sit down. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck here?”Scar chimed in, “Those guys are seriously unreliable. Might as well sit and wait.”Hearing a gangster complain about the police made Adriana laugh. “From the sound of it, you’ve had some experience?”Scar scratched his head, embarrassed. “Not too many times…”The cave wasn't big enough to tire Calvin, but sitting beside Adriana and gazing at the sky felt like a mome
Calvin listened as Adriana half‑chatted, half‑joked, half‑bluffed—effortlessly weaving her way into Scar’s mind and pulling out all his secrets. He couldn’t help but be impressed again.Was the girl he used to know really Adriana?He spoke calmly. “Where’s the rope?”Adriana looked around carefully and had to admit the truth. “The rope was yanked away.”In the darkness, she couldn’t clearly see Calvin’s expression—but she didn’t need to. He was probably frowning. That was one of his little habits. Maybe he hadn’t noticed it himself, but whenever he was annoyed or in a bad mood, he always squeezed his eyebrows together—and the depth of that crease depended on the seriousness of the situation.Scar cursed under his breath. “Son of a bitch! Bunch of assholes!”Adriana glanced up at the cave’s entrance, eyeballing its height, then turned to Calvin.“Can you fly up there?”Scar stared in disbelief. “You… can fly?”Calvin frowned. “No.”Adriana pursed her lips. Her body was exhausted—there
Scar couldn’t help but feel terrified. Adriana knew he wasn’t a core team member, and she didn’t expect him to hold any key information—but each knock on the door was another ray of hope.Adriana didn’t mince words. “I’m going to ask you a few simple questions. Answer them truthfully. Once we find out you’ve lied, forget saving your life—you won’t even walk out of this place alive.”Scar weighed his options. Based on their words, could they be trusted?However, he had no choice. A good man shouldn’t have to lie—but this woman was right: even if he escaped, his big brother would never trust him again. After a moment, he nodded. “You ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”Calvin stood diagonally behind Adriana, one hand in his pants pocket, the other ready to protect immediately.The vegetable cellar was cramped and stifling, but Adriana felt as if Calvin’s presence purified the air. Whenever he stood near her, it seemed to grow clear and fresh.“How old are you?”Scar froze. Why is she