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 We used to have a hostile relationship, but I’ve withdrawn from the case.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
Here we go again!Adriana grabbed her cell phone, and thinking it as Calvin, she flung it onto the sofa. It landed with a bang, disappearing into some crevice.Opening the door with a mix of frustration and resentment, Adriana kneed it for good measure, thinking, Either he goes, or she goes! One thing is for sure—this is the last time I’ll deal with this nonsense from him.“Mr. Calvin, may I ask what’s going on?” she said, her voice strained but polite. Yet, no amount of civility could mask the sharp undertone in her words.If words could take physical form, Adriana thought, her would probably be sharp enough to cut, like knives materialized in 3D.Calvin leaned spin the car keys with one hand, loosening his tie with the other. His handsome face was marred only by the undeniable air of arrogance that clung to him. The raw, untamed confidence in his demeanor was impossible to ignore. His desire to dominate, to control,
Who does she think she is? Why does she always talk to me like this? Calvin thought, his irritation barely concealed.Adriana, on the other hand, swore she had already used up all her patience while talking to him. If it weren’t for the politeness instilled in her since childhood, Calvin would’ve been greeted with a flying slipper instead of words.“Steamed sea bass, braised spare ribs, stir-fried crayfish, sliced meat in return pot, stir-fried pork with asparagus, and congee with snow clams. That’s all for now,” Adriana rattled off with a straight face.Calvin listened quietly, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint smile. “Adriana, are you deliberately picking a fight with me?”“How could I dare?” she replied mockingly. “Mr. Calvin is a chef, after all. Making simple soups and small dishes would be beneath your level. I’m just giving you a stage to showcase your skills. Don’t
Time seemed to stretch into an eternity before Calvin finally said, “Are you familiar with Mark Wilson?”Adriana immediately became cautious. Everything Calvin said lately felt like a trap, especially now that she had only recently learned about Mark’s true identity. “Is there something wrong?”Calvin narrowed his eyes. “Don’t answer questions with questions.”Adriana froze under the weight of his tone, her body stiffening from head to toe.But then, an idea struck her—a way to turn the tables. Mark had asked her to play a role to deceive the elders. Could she not use the same tactic here?“To be honest, I should thank you for assigning me this case,” she said, her tone light but pointed. “If not for you, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet such an outstanding lawyer as Mark Wilson. Competition aside, we get along well. He’s upright, low-key, and gentle. I admire
Smelling the familiar, dangerous, about-to-break signal, Adriana’s heart raced with anxiety. “I will go to the bathroom first,” she said.However, Calvin tightened his grip on her shoulder, slightly pulling the corner of his lips into a smile. “Can’t you tell the difference between the internal urgency of thirst and others?”Adriana tried her best to find a reason to hurry away to avoid an unmanageable scene. Forcing herself to thicken her skin, she said, “I’ve taken a physiological hygiene class, and I know a fair amount about the structure of the human body. These two aren’t a channel.”Calvin lowered his eyes, smiling.When he smiled like that, Adriana’s scalp went numb, and her whole body tensed. “I am in a hurry. Please let me go first, okay?”Hearing her soft voice, Calvin finally let go of his grip.Adriana saw the opportunity and ran back to the bedroom in a flash.This time, she didn’t come out.The room was quiet for hours.Around three in the morning, Adriana woke from a ni
After waiting a long time to shop, Adriana, fearing physical exhaustion, ignored whatever expression Calvin had and ran straight to the food line.Nearby, a girl tugged her companion excitedly. “Eh-eh, isn’t that some kind of celebrity?”The girl next to her let out a loud "Wow!" “So handsome! His shoes and clothes look so expensive. Do you think that watch is authentic? And he’s still shopping at IKEA?!”A slightly older woman scoffed. “It’s all for show, isn’t it? These days, there are too many people who are broke but still have to keep up appearances. You young girls are so naive and gullible.”After a while, Adriana returned with a plate of fried noodles and found an empty seat. “Do you want to eat?” she asked Calvin.Calvin gave her a long look, as though wondering if her brain was stuffed with cotton. “I’m not eating.”Unbothered, Adriana ripped open the disposable chopsticks with zero concern for appearances. However, she ate in a surprisingly refined manner—barely making any
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
“Ahhhh!”The man let out a pig-slaughtering scream.“Scar! Scar, don’t be impulsive—ahhh!”Scar spat out several expletives. “Damn it! Who the hell are you?!”Calvin said coldly, “You don’t deserve to know.”Scar snapped back, “Bullshit! Trying to scare me? Do you even know who I am?!”Adriana’s limbs were exploding with pain, but through the haze, she quietly wiped some of the man’s blood and smeared it on her clothes, keeping the fingerprints. As long as she got out, they’d be able to identify who he was.In the dark, she groped for her cellphone in her pocket, relying on muscle memory. She found the shortcut key and tapped to begin recording…Now all she needed was for her jaw to recover—then she could ask questions and produce testimony.“Mmm! Uhhh!”Adriana struggled to make any sound, her voice warped into strange syllables. It was harder than she thought, but she didn’t care about appearances anymore. Not now.Sensing her distress, Calvin turned his fury into cold viciousness.