Calvin’s private jet has direct flights to London, so why is he taking a commercial flight?Seeing him appear across the cabin—even in the luxurious interior of first class—Adriana still found it incredulous. “I remember you never traveled on a civilian flight before.”Do you want me to repeat Calvin’s original words?'(I don’t have time to check in, and I’m not in the mood to fight for a mouthful of oxygen with a bunch of good and bad people crammed into a confined space.)Calvin crossed one leg over the other, his entire demeanor effortlessly blending with the seat, exuding just the right amount of elegance. “Charlie Munger never took private planes for work travel. First, because big planes are safer. Second, because you meet all kinds of people and get a better understanding of social dynamics.”Heh! Whether horizontally or vertically, it’s still just him being him.Adrian
For the rest of the ten-hour long-haul flight, Calvin sat next to Anna. The two of them either spoke in hushed voices, occasionally writing and sketching on documents, or exchanged light smiles.Even during meals, they continued chatting, creating an atmosphere of perfect harmony.Their voices were so low that Adriana couldn’t make out what they were discussing. She tried to focus on her papers, determined not to let irrelevant thoughts distract her.Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, still clutching her documents. When she woke, the cabin was unusually quiet. Most passengers were asleep, the reading lights dimmed by the flight attendants, leaving only a soft, hazy glow in the first-class section.It was then that she noticed Anna leaning against the back of her chair, her head tilted slightly toward Calvin. At first glance, it almost looked as if they were nestled together, sleeping.The seats were adjusted to the perfect recline for rest
Adriana was confused.Adriana, what?In those six years, it was the first time she had heard Calvin not call her by her full name or surname. His tone, alluring and suggestive, was enough to make anyone's heart waver.It was just a pity that the occasion was wrong, the purpose impure, and there was no tenderness or love—only endless disgust.Was he even a man?Soon to be married to someone else, yet here he was, treating her as if she were nothing but a past amusement. From time to time, he would tease her when he was in a good mood—offering a fleeting moment of sweetness, only to discard her without a second thought.He treated her as if she had no dignity, no pride.Secretly gritting her teeth and taking a shallow breath, Adriana turned her head to look at Calvin, a flawless smile gracing her lips—one worthy of an award-winning actress."Mr. Calvin, haven’t I told you before? Our relationship is now as
Anna slowly stretched out her hand, wanting to grab that broad, slender hand. "Falling in love is a matter between two people, but marriage involves two families—especially a prestigious family like the Walkers. Without enough strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, sooner or later, one has to leave. Adriana will never enter the Walker family in this lifetime. Grandpa specifically told me that as long as he lives, she will never step foot inside, not even half a step."This was her bottom line, and because of it, she was never afraid of Adriana dangling in front of Calvin’s eyes.Calvin withdrew his hand, avoiding her touch. "And what makes you think you have what it takes to enter the Walker family?"Anna's expression froze in horror.She had thought that as long as her father and the Walker family reached an agreement, nothing could change the marriage. But she had underestimated Calvin’s iron will. Would he really go against
“Yeah, maybe it’s just stress?”Anderson coughed, straightened his tie, and said, “Without that diamond, don’t take our porcelain work. Mr. Marshall took such a big risk by making her the vanguard, huh? She better have the ability to back it up.”Miley listened and found his words reasonable. Originally, she had been a subordinate of Marshall, but now the leader had positioned her as a battering ram, essentially demoting her. However, Adriana didn’t seem to care about rankings at all—she neither hesitated nor flaunted herself. She was straightforward.“Lawyer Clarke has a doctorate from Cornell University and has handled many major cases. She should be strong.”“Strength? How much strength does it take to hold down Mr. Marshall, who has over twenty years of courtroom experience? How did you become a secretary when you’re so quick to take someone else’s side?”Miley
Adriana had never reacted so quickly before. In less than the blink of an eye, she dodged Calvin’s hand, moving swiftly to the door. Composing herself, she casually smoothed her long hair and smiled.“What was the president saying just now? I’ve remembered it. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to do my job seriously.”Calvin’s fingers lingered in the air for a moment before curling into a fist. He quickly concealed any reaction and responded smoothly, “Then I’ll leave the hard work to Lawyer Clarke.”After their seamless exchange, Adriana turned to Miley and smiled warmly. “Secretary Miley, are the miners organized?”Miley, still in a daze, struggled to process what she had just seen.She could have sworn she saw the president’s hand moving intimately near Lawyer Clarke’s face, as if they were sharing a secret.But now, the mood was completely serious again.H
The exotic flavor of the Thames, combined with the surrounding atmosphere, was extraordinarily charming. Even Calvin’s usually indifferent eyes seemed to hold a hint of tenderness when they landed on Adriana.She figured she probably wasn’t jet-lagged yet—her brain was just on the fritz.Dragging herself back from the deception of poetry, Adriana put on a straight face and said, “One day, when you can’t stand it anymore and want a divorce, I can defend you to increase your chances of winning. You might as well do a good job of property division before the marriage. Try to be as detailed as possible in the prenuptial agreement. Lawyer Marshal would definitely be happy to help draft the contract—after all, he’s a connoisseur in these matters.”Calvin watched her red lips open and close with interest. Such a pretty little mouth—why did every word that came out of it have to be laced with thorns?Unfazed,
Carson picked up his phone, put it down, then picked it up again. He had lost count of how many times he hesitated, calculating the time difference between New York and London.It was already afternoon over there—more than ten hours of flight time. Adriana can’t still be sleeping… can she?‘Will I disturb her rest?’Tossing and turning, he couldn't sleep. Watching the dawn break, he found himself lost in thought about the law firm. His gaze drifted to Adriana’s forbidden office, the closed door standing like a barrier. His mood felt hollow—like the emptiness of a lost love.The moment Adriana’s message appeared in the work group, he hurriedly called her.His series of movements were so swift that he took his own breath away.The phone connected, but there was only the sound of wind in the background—she was clearly outdoors. Carson immediately followed up, “Are you outside?”
He wants to make a deal for dinner?She is just a part B, not a slave.Taking a deep breath, Adriana smiled slightly. “If you’re not hungry, you can stay here and enjoy the scenery. I’ll find a restaurant myself. Don’t tell me every restaurant along the riverbank is on the bayou—if that’s the case, I’ll just have to put up with it.”Calvin followed her, though he despised the idea of chasing after a woman and trying to guess her thoughts. Yet, he still did it.“Stop.”Adriana sighed helplessly, closing her eyes. Her hands hung loosely at her sides, fists forming as if she might swing at him in the next moment. “Alright, say what you need to say.”“For the next week, whatever you hear and see—don’t believe it.”“In what way?”Calvin stepped past her, taking the lead. “You’ll find out.”“Anyth
Anna’s lips curled slightly. With a woman’s sixth sense, she immediately sensed that Alex had his eyes on Adriana.It would be far easier for him to stir the pot than for her to rack her brain trying to drive Adriana away herself. Perhaps God had finally seen her suffering and decided to show her some mercy.“You mean Lawyer Clarke, huh…”Before she could finish, Calvin interrupted. “Lawyer Clarke will only be in London for half a day and is not involved in this project. There’s no need for you to know her.”Alex looked a little disappointed, his emotions written plainly across his face. “Then I can visit her in New York later.”Calvin’s authoritative aura sharpened, his London-accented voice carrying a weight that even a local like Alex found overwhelming. “No way.”As soon as he spoke, he turned to Anna with an indifferent expression. “Didn’t you wan
Carson picked up his phone, put it down, then picked it up again. He had lost count of how many times he hesitated, calculating the time difference between New York and London.It was already afternoon over there—more than ten hours of flight time. Adriana can’t still be sleeping… can she?‘Will I disturb her rest?’Tossing and turning, he couldn't sleep. Watching the dawn break, he found himself lost in thought about the law firm. His gaze drifted to Adriana’s forbidden office, the closed door standing like a barrier. His mood felt hollow—like the emptiness of a lost love.The moment Adriana’s message appeared in the work group, he hurriedly called her.His series of movements were so swift that he took his own breath away.The phone connected, but there was only the sound of wind in the background—she was clearly outdoors. Carson immediately followed up, “Are you outside?”
The exotic flavor of the Thames, combined with the surrounding atmosphere, was extraordinarily charming. Even Calvin’s usually indifferent eyes seemed to hold a hint of tenderness when they landed on Adriana.She figured she probably wasn’t jet-lagged yet—her brain was just on the fritz.Dragging herself back from the deception of poetry, Adriana put on a straight face and said, “One day, when you can’t stand it anymore and want a divorce, I can defend you to increase your chances of winning. You might as well do a good job of property division before the marriage. Try to be as detailed as possible in the prenuptial agreement. Lawyer Marshal would definitely be happy to help draft the contract—after all, he’s a connoisseur in these matters.”Calvin watched her red lips open and close with interest. Such a pretty little mouth—why did every word that came out of it have to be laced with thorns?Unfazed,
Adriana had never reacted so quickly before. In less than the blink of an eye, she dodged Calvin’s hand, moving swiftly to the door. Composing herself, she casually smoothed her long hair and smiled.“What was the president saying just now? I’ve remembered it. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to do my job seriously.”Calvin’s fingers lingered in the air for a moment before curling into a fist. He quickly concealed any reaction and responded smoothly, “Then I’ll leave the hard work to Lawyer Clarke.”After their seamless exchange, Adriana turned to Miley and smiled warmly. “Secretary Miley, are the miners organized?”Miley, still in a daze, struggled to process what she had just seen.She could have sworn she saw the president’s hand moving intimately near Lawyer Clarke’s face, as if they were sharing a secret.But now, the mood was completely serious again.H
“Yeah, maybe it’s just stress?”Anderson coughed, straightened his tie, and said, “Without that diamond, don’t take our porcelain work. Mr. Marshall took such a big risk by making her the vanguard, huh? She better have the ability to back it up.”Miley listened and found his words reasonable. Originally, she had been a subordinate of Marshall, but now the leader had positioned her as a battering ram, essentially demoting her. However, Adriana didn’t seem to care about rankings at all—she neither hesitated nor flaunted herself. She was straightforward.“Lawyer Clarke has a doctorate from Cornell University and has handled many major cases. She should be strong.”“Strength? How much strength does it take to hold down Mr. Marshall, who has over twenty years of courtroom experience? How did you become a secretary when you’re so quick to take someone else’s side?”Miley
Anna slowly stretched out her hand, wanting to grab that broad, slender hand. "Falling in love is a matter between two people, but marriage involves two families—especially a prestigious family like the Walkers. Without enough strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, sooner or later, one has to leave. Adriana will never enter the Walker family in this lifetime. Grandpa specifically told me that as long as he lives, she will never step foot inside, not even half a step."This was her bottom line, and because of it, she was never afraid of Adriana dangling in front of Calvin’s eyes.Calvin withdrew his hand, avoiding her touch. "And what makes you think you have what it takes to enter the Walker family?"Anna's expression froze in horror.She had thought that as long as her father and the Walker family reached an agreement, nothing could change the marriage. But she had underestimated Calvin’s iron will. Would he really go against
Adriana was confused.Adriana, what?In those six years, it was the first time she had heard Calvin not call her by her full name or surname. His tone, alluring and suggestive, was enough to make anyone's heart waver.It was just a pity that the occasion was wrong, the purpose impure, and there was no tenderness or love—only endless disgust.Was he even a man?Soon to be married to someone else, yet here he was, treating her as if she were nothing but a past amusement. From time to time, he would tease her when he was in a good mood—offering a fleeting moment of sweetness, only to discard her without a second thought.He treated her as if she had no dignity, no pride.Secretly gritting her teeth and taking a shallow breath, Adriana turned her head to look at Calvin, a flawless smile gracing her lips—one worthy of an award-winning actress."Mr. Calvin, haven’t I told you before? Our relationship is now as
For the rest of the ten-hour long-haul flight, Calvin sat next to Anna. The two of them either spoke in hushed voices, occasionally writing and sketching on documents, or exchanged light smiles.Even during meals, they continued chatting, creating an atmosphere of perfect harmony.Their voices were so low that Adriana couldn’t make out what they were discussing. She tried to focus on her papers, determined not to let irrelevant thoughts distract her.Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, still clutching her documents. When she woke, the cabin was unusually quiet. Most passengers were asleep, the reading lights dimmed by the flight attendants, leaving only a soft, hazy glow in the first-class section.It was then that she noticed Anna leaning against the back of her chair, her head tilted slightly toward Calvin. At first glance, it almost looked as if they were nestled together, sleeping.The seats were adjusted to the perfect recline for rest