Anna knew that George didn’t like childish and ignorant girls, and wanted to find a granddaughter-in-law who understood things and knew what was going on inside and out. So, she smiled in a dignified manner and said, “The restaurant environment is too beautiful. I was just too engrossed in enjoying the scenery and didn’t really care about the time.”Calvin sits across her, crossing his long legs. His body movements are casual. For no reason born out of self-confidence, there are three impetuous, ‘I like this attitude.’Anna picked up the glass of juice with one hand, showing the rose Cartier fine bracelet on her white wrist, and translucent nude pink manicure. All the details are well-matched. Sitting in the carved beams, wearing the dress with Tencel fabric, she showed the beauty of a gentle and soft woman.“Even though I had stayed abroad for a long time and had seen many foreign beautiful things and people, I still couldn’t help but miss our country. For example, the redfish in the
It’s been three years, but some people are still spoiled with their stink!Adriana doesn’t understand why some people like to book the whole venue just for a meal. Did they have a lot of money?’Mark turned back only to see a man and woman sitting not far away. The woman had her back towards him, so he couldn’t see her. As for the man, he looks very eye-catching and he can tell from a glance that he was not an ordinary guy. He had met many financial circle tycoons, but he didn’t have any impression of the man sitting in front of him.“Me and my friend just came here to have a simple meal. Don’t worry, we won’t affect them to talk about their love.”This was the first time he had invited Adriana to dinner. If they were kicked out in the middle of the meal, how could he face her in the future?The manager’s face darkened. If it was someone else there might be a room for negotiation, but the other person was Calvin Walker.“I am sorry, I am afraid…”The manager hadn’t been able to comple
Adriana was speechless. She didn’t want to have anything to do with this Blake family princess, but she had been targeting her at every turn. It was obvious that she was looking for trouble.They had no grudges in the past, and the only common thing they had crossed paths with was Calvin.Now she and Calvin have long been separated and will have nothing to do with each other in the future. However, Anna seems to have been taking her as her imaginary enemy, and Adriana is not very happy with such an incitement. So, she is prickly when she opens her mouth again.Adriana smiled generously as she said, “Being a Lawyer is quite good, as we can see through people. For example, from your temperament I can tell that your identity must not be simple, right? However, everyone is not like you. I had a friend, who was once tricked by a woman. She always put on so much makeup, hiding her true face, looking all vulgar. I don’t know how people get fascinated by it?”Adriana smiled brightly as she sa
Adriana knew that he was insulting her and her hands shook with anger.Anna snickered. She thought that Calvin was still in love with Adriana, but now she saw that he simply hated her!Calvin is someone who loves his face so much, however, he still openly ridicules Adriana in front of outsiders. One can see how much hatred he had in his heart for her.Unconsciously, she straightened up, inclined her head to look at the right-hand side, “Counselor Clarke, please don’t mind him. He is quite a straightforward person and doesn’t like others' hypocritical behavior. He is a little chivalrously style.”Mark didn’t think it was chivalry. He put cold arrows everywhere. To be honest, it was very ungentlemanly. “Albany is not too big or a small city and it’s a fate that we can meet. So, why don’t we laugh off the enmity?”He said as he raised his glass.However, no one responded to him.The atmosphere was a little awkward.After a long time, Mark sardonically put down his wine glass. “I was so f
Adriana could tell that Anna was pointing at her, alluding to how her marriage with Calvin had ended back then.Anna bowed her head and said, “I’m just saying we can try.”Adriana slowly lowered her head and was about to zap the bowl with frustration.Mark noticed and asked, “Are you okay?”Adriana put down her cutlery, already full of anger. “I’m going to the bathroom.”****“Adriana, it’s been a long time!”She hadn’t expected Anna to follow her.Adriana frowned and asked, “What? Do you want something from me?”Anna put her arm around Adriana’s shoulder and spoke with a smile, “You’re progressing quite fast. By the way, who was the one eating with you just now?”Adriana scowled. “It’s none of your business!”“You’ve been divorced for so long, so it’s normal to find a boyfriend. But you can’t be that desperate and target a married man! Didn’t you see the wedding ring on his finger? Or are you just in a hurry to be the third party?”Adriana shot back, “Confessing your feelings in publ
"He doesn’t love you!"Adriana’s face remained as calm as water, but her heart shattered, and the sharp pain cut through to her very bones.If Calvin had truly loved her, he wouldn’t have just stood aside and watched her family go bankrupt. He wouldn’t have stayed silent when the debtors blocked their door, pouring filthy water over her family and dragging their names through the mud. No matter how much she pleaded and cried before him, he had remained indifferent.He just didn’t love her.She still remembered that night—standing outside his door, soaked by the pouring rain for hours, crying until her voice turned hoarse. But no matter how hard she begged, he never opened the door. He didn’t even look at her, let alone say a word.If the butler hadn’t dragged her away, maybe she would have died that night.If her body hadn’t been battered to its limits, she wouldn’t have...The pain in her heart constricted, as though it had been thrown into a blender, shattering and slicing into her
The case is already over, and they are not partners anymore!Ask her to go over there!Dream on!Adriana didn’t bother and put her phone back into her bag.Except for having a good background, what else does Anna have? Her face didn’t look good, her heart was as back as coal, and she put so much makeup on her face that one couldn’t even see her true skin. Adriana resents this kind of person the most, and she hates Calvin even more who wants to get married to her.Seeing Adriana’s reaction, Calvin raised his eyebrows slightly.****What Adriana had said earlier kept repeating in Anna’s mind like a film and because of this she felt a little strange to be standing with Calvin, “Calvin, where is your car?”They had a little drink in the evening, so she couldn’t drive. Moreover, she hadn’t informed her driver as at a time like this it’s supposed to be the man who takes the woman home.However, Calvin didn’t have self-consciousness at all, “I still have something to do. You take a cab to go
Calvin lifted his arm, and his fingers frivolously slid from her brow bone to her chin. He moved closer to her, shortening the distance between them.Ten centimeters, five centimeters, one centimeter… he didn’t stop until when their lips were only an inch apart from each other. If they moved a little, their lips would touch each other.“A dog wagging its tail begging for mercy from me dares to be compared to a canary raised in a cage. You don’t mind the fishy smell on your body, aren’t you afraid that others will be disgusted that you are dirty?”“Oh, so there are still some things in the world that Calvin Walker is no good at, such as cursing. You should learn from Miss Blake how to curse people without repetition.”No one was around, so Adriana was not worried about being seen by anyone. She stepped on her high heels and took a half step closer to the man’s chest, tilting her head. Although she was short in height, she was not afraid at all. “No, I also feel dirty. When I think of m
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