This scene was too easy to evoke a charming reverie. Even without doing anything, her hands were already dripping with water. What’s more, right in front of her, Calvin stood wearing nothing but his pants. He was like an open-screen peacock.Calvin said, “Wash it for me.”Adriana’s gaze flickered between the bathtub and him in a two-point sweep. “I am sorry, Mr. Calvin, but I am not some bathhouse attendant. I don’t provide this service.”Calvin took her hand and placed it on his belt. “Open it.”‘Damn it! Did he not understand human language? Why did he act as if he were blocking her words?’Adriana curled her fingers stubbornly and said, word by word, “Don’t force me.”Calvin arched a brow. “See for yourself. Can this belt be undone with one hand?”Adriana hesitated before glancing down. Indeed, the belt had a slot-style buckle that required both hands to unfasten before it could be pulled out. It really wasn’t something that could be done with just one hand.Her fingers fumbled awk
There was a limit to how much one could fool people.But Calvin seemed to have none.He ignored Adriana’s hostile attitude and continued, “The executives of Grand Empire’s Chicago branch misappropriated company funds and conspired with the head of finance to falsify accounts. Based on our current information, the missing funds range between fifty and eighty million dollars. That money must be recovered.”Adriana’s brows furrowed. “That’s your problem.”Her voice was still laced with gunpowder.Calvin remained unfazed. “It’s inconvenient for our in-house legal team to intervene, and I don’t have a suitable candidate from other firms at the moment. You happen to have studied international law and have experience with overseas litigation, so there’s no need for me to look elsewhere. Of course…”He finally turned to her, his gaze deep and unreadable beneath the lingering mist.“It’s up to you whether you take it or not.”Ten million.An ungodly agency fee.How many small cases would she h
Placing the medicine bottle back in its place, Adriana couldn’t help but wonder.Calvin has such a strong heart, and he’s always the one bullying and cursing others. Who could possibly put pressure on him?Could it be Grand Empire or something like that? The Walker family had a vast number of personnel, and currently, the chairman of Grand Empire was George. Although Calvin held the position of president, whether he could ascend to the top of the pyramid still depended on George’s intentions.His uncles, cousins, and countless others were all eyeing his position.As for depression…Calvin gave her life-coaching lectures every day—couldn’t he give one to himself?Lost in thought, Adriana made her way downstairs. Still stuck in her pie-in-the-sky brainstorming, she accidentally kicked the leg of the table and stumbled back in pain.From the moment she came downstairs, Calvin noticed her absentmindedness, as if she had left her brain somewhere else. “What are you thinking about?”Adriana
Who knew that just as she took a step, she would see Calvin coming out of the master bedroom?Her attempt at a padded-toe walk instantly became awkward—by and large, a social death moment.“Ahem! Good morning!” Adriana straightened her back and forced an awkward smile.Calvin, standing with one hand at his side, looked a little worse for wear after sleeping all night. His bandage had come loose, making it look even messier.And yet, even in his just-woken-up, slightly disheveled state, he was still frustratingly good-looking.Before she could figure out what to say, the doorbell rang.Adriana’s eyes widened in alarm, instantly on guard. “Who’s here?”The next moment, she instinctively turned to retreat into her room. But before she could take a step, Calvin grabbed her collar.“What are you hiding for? We didn’t do anything last night.”Yeah, but who would believe that when we both look like this? she thought.Calvin half-wrapped his arm around hers as he led her downstairs, preventin
As Calvin changed his clothes, he didn’t bother with cufflinks and casually rolled up his shirt sleeves, exposing his sturdy, well-proportioned forearms. While rolling up his left sleeve, he naturally extended his right arm and said, “Help me fold this.”Adriana had just picked up yesterday’s washed clothes. Glancing at his outstretched arm, she chuckled. “Your girlfriend is waiting downstairs. Shouldn’t you give her a chance to show concern? Injuries like yours are perfect for stirring a woman’s heartache—and bringing the two of you closer.”Calvin replied, “You watched me get injured last night and saw everything since. Did that bring us any closer?”Adriana choked for a second before retorting, “I was talking about a boyfriend and girlfriend, not business partners.”Calvin scoffed, full of disdain. As he looked down at Adriana rolling up his sleeves, his gaze lingered on her hands—slender and clean, with neatly trimmed, translucent nails left unpainted, revealing a natural, healthy
Anna panicked and quickly grabbed a tissue for him. “Are you okay?”Calvin wiped the corner of his mouth and wordlessly waved his hand, signaling her to sit back down. His coughing fit had left his eyes bloodshot, and even after wiping his mouth, he coughed again, unsure of how much soup he had actually inhaled.Anna tested the temperature of the soup—it wasn’t too hot. How did he choke? she wondered.Then it hit her. No, it wasn’t the soup. It was because of Adriana’s remark.It had been three years since the divorce, filled with endless conflict and resentment. After everything, could he still be affected by her?Suppressing her emotions, Anna forced a smile, though her words carried an unmistakable sharpness. “Lawyer Clarke moves fast. You’ve already met the parents—are wedding discussions next?”She wasn’t about to give Adriana any face. If possible, she wanted to strip aw
Two women addicted to fighting didn’t know that Calvin, afraid of them clashing outside the door, had already gone to watch the battle unfold. Every word of their conversation—he heard it all, not missing a single detail.He knew in his heart how much of Adriana’s words were true and how much were false.Even so, when he heard her say, “Mrs. Walker’s throne is hanging in the air; who can claim it, we shall see,” the corners of his mouth betrayed him, curling upward into a faint smile.This woman—only when quarreling or fighting with Anna would she dare to put her name together with his.As for the supposed feeling of how she felt. He’d like to ask himself how, exactly, she was felt with him?****Back at home, Adriana sat brooding, anger simmering beneath the surface.She was furious—furious at herself for agreeing to cooperate with Calvin once again.Furious at her lack of
The sampling and blood draw were complete, and Snow grew even more nervous. She clung to Adriana’s arm, her skin pale as death beneath the mask and sunglasses.“Adria,” Snow said, her voice trembling, “if I really… if something did happen, we can’t make a big deal out of it.”Adriana sighed deeply. “You’re worried about your career?”Snow looked disheveled, her thoughts unraveling. “The new movie was just signed. If I lose this opportunity to turn my life around, I might never get another chance. If a scandal breaks out now, even if I win the case, I’ll lose everything. Society’s tolerance for women is so low. I’ll probably be forced to retire from the industry.”Her voice faltered, and she added bitterly, “And the few fans I have left will disappear from the radar, too.”Illegal things happen every day, but most victims choose to stay silent or s
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
In the evening, the Grand Empire lawyers dined at Savory Spice Heaven.Adriana kept her thoughts to herself—after all, her last traumatic experience had taken place here, and revisiting the same place felt like an emotional wipeout.As they entered the private dining room, Marshal smiled and said, “Lawyer Clarke, this way, please.”Marshal, holding the highest position, rightfully should have taken the seat across from the door. However, he reached out to invite Adriana instead, even offering her the most honorable chair.Wasn’t that cynicism?Adriana politely declined, took a seat on the left side, and pulled out a chair. “Minister Marshal, you are too polite. You are the host, and I am the guest. Where is the reasoning in competing with the host for a seat?”Lawyer Miller smiled. “Lawyer Clarke, with your relationship with the president, why be so modest? Not to mention just a single seat—this entire restaurant must look up to you!”Adriana didn’t show even a hint of anger. She simp
Carson wasn’t blind, nor was he stupid. The lingering redness at the corner of Adriana’s mouth wasn’t from accidentally scraping it while drinking water.“You left too quickly at lunch. I hadn’t finished what I was saying. Busy now?” he asked.Adriana replied calmly, “Just finished work. I was about to head down.”Carson nodded, finally turning his attention to Calvin, who was practically radiating hostility. “Calvin, I’ll be taking my person with me. I wouldn’t want to disturb your office. See you later.”Calvin’s fingers casually brushed over the corner of his mouth. Then, as if savoring the moment, he deliberately glanced at the faint traces left on Adriana’s lips—his traces.“Miss Clarke, seven o’clock—don’t be late.”Adriana’s head buzzed for a moment. Can’t you phrase it more clearly? Now it sounded like they had some private rendezvous.She quickly corrected him. “Of course, Mr. Calvin. The Grand Empire Legal Department is full of industry elites. I’ll be sure to learn from the
Adriana knocked on the door and entered after receiving Calvin’s permission. “This is—”Before she could finish, Calvin’s landline rang. He gestured for her to come forward while answering the call.“Cancel tomorrow’s appointment with General Manager Park. Is he waiting for my time, or am I waiting for his? Let him think carefully before reaching out again."It seemed like things weren’t going his way over there, and Calvin’s tone was strong.Adriana placed the two documents on her left and right and waited with her head lowered.Calvin answered three calls in a row. Ten minutes passed before he finally freed himself. “What’s this?”“This one is paperwork, and this one is a document the secretary asked me to bring in,” Adriana replied.Calvin wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly. “The secretary told you to bring it in?”“She had an emergency and had to meet someone in the parlor. I just happened to be delivering something to you, so she asked me to bring this along.”Calvin leaned b
The deeper meaning was self-evident—she had been discarded in the divorce, yet now she was being specially invited to participate in an important case for the company.Marshal could see this implication, and the others weren’t foolish either. Sensing the situation, they quickly followed suit, laughing and saying:“Thanks to the president’s appreciation, today’s hardest-working person is Lawyer Clarke. She wrote the entire draft, and it took a great deal of effort.”“Lawyer Clarke is meticulous in her work—a role model for us all.”“Despite her age, Lawyer Clarke considers issues with remarkable depth and a fresh perspective.”Adriana didn’t feel pleased. Instead, she felt immense pressure.These people were experts at reading the room. The moment they sensed Calvin’s attitude toward her, they immediately started singing her praises.She kept her expression neutral and replied modestly, “Compared to all of you, I’m still a novice. I’m grateful that you seniors are willing to guide me d