Adriana clutched the silicone case of her phone, her temples flaring with anger.Why am I so unlucky? Just as she thought she had finally put the past behind her, the defendant reappeared, seemingly bent on causing trouble.He probably doesn’t know what he’s doing—so messed up, she thought. Her bad luck was one thing, but for the defendant, this could very well be the end of the line.Given Calvin’s stingy and calculating nature, jail time seemed inevitable for him.With a heavy heart, Adriana returned to the dining table and mechanically took a few bites of food.“Hey!”Eria, feasting enthusiastically, asked with her mouth full, “What’s wrong? Who dared to give our Lawyer Clarke a hard time this early in the morning?”Adriana took a sip of soup, barely tasting it. “Party A,” she replied flatly.“Cough! Cough! Cough!” Eria choked on her food. “That person... again.” Considering Aidan’s presence at the table and wanting to avoid exposing Adriana’s connection to Calvin, she chose her wo
“Making a face?”She resisted the urge to kick him in the face and settled for being facetious instead.Adriana closed her eyes slightly and exhaled a breath, forcing herself to raise the corner of her mouth into the fakest smile she could muster. “Mr. Calvin, may I begin?”Calvin’s hand shook, and his coffee nearly spilled. At that moment, he seemed to grasp the meaning behind his grandfather's words, laughing harder than he cried.After a pause, he spoke. “Tell me, what are you going to do about the two cases?”Adriana’s forced smile faded. “First of all, if the compensation cannot be paid within the agreed time frame, the court will seize the defendant's assets and auction them. The proceeds from the auction will be used to compensate the plaintiff.”Calvin asked, “What assets are in the defendant’s name?”Adriana, temporarily caught without the printed documents, took out her phone and scrolled through the dossier. “A house that’s still under a monthly mortgage, located on the out
Adriana didn’t know that Calvin had secretly detained the perpetrator. Frustrated, she said, “Even if he damaged your personal belongings, he is free until the court decides otherwise. Either that, or you can hand him over to the police for arrest. Detaining someone like this is illegal.”Calvin, appearing somewhat indifferent and lacking understanding of the legal implications, replied nonchalantly, “Since he’s already illegally detained, let’s keep him for two more days to reflect on his actions.”Adriana’s gaze sharpened with determination as she said sternly, “Calvin, illegal detention will create a bad impression on the judge. Jurors often sympathize with the underdog, and we can’t afford to lose their favor. In my opinion, you should report this to the police and let them handle the detention. Then, we can proceed step by step through the court process.”Kevin admired Adriana’s composure. He found it impressive that she could maintain such a clear head while dealing with Calvin,
The fork he had used had a damp star on its tip. Adriana couldn’t tell if it was grease or spit, though spit seemed unlikely. She knew his table manners too well to think he’d let them slip so publicly.Suddenly, a wave of nausea overtook her—the kind born of humiliation, her dignity trampled beneath someone else's arrogance.Adriana resisted the growing pressure in her stomach, her clenched fist showing veins on the back of her hand. She forced her face to remain calm, concealing the anger boiling inside. “Mr. Walker, your imperial meal is not for an outsider like me to disturb. Please, enjoy it at your leisure. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave so I don’t interrupt your meal.”Calvin raised his eyebrows slightly. He hadn’t expected Adriana to hold her composure so well. She neither cursed nor lost control, and her words were deliberate and precise.Was her submissiveness in the past just an act?As Adriana moved to retrieve her bag, Calvin spoke, his voice firm and unhurri
Anna was complimented with peach blossoms, “When I was young, my parents educated my big brother and me that no one is guaranteed a lifetime of great wealth and prosperity and that we have to prepare for a hard life. A lot of things are done by our own hands, I also know how to do handicrafts. I will embroider a flower decoration on your tie someday.”The man’s tie is something that can only be touched by his beloved. Anna is observing the attitude of Calvin.“Calvin said, “Okay.”Anna’s heart snapped, “How is it? Is it good?”“Not bad,” Calvin gestured to Kevin, “Anna specially made the dish. Count yourself lucky today, come over and try it.”Kevin was stunned, “I…”Calvin said, “Didn’t you skip lunch too?”The president gave an order, but Kevin didn’t dare to disobey. He smiled slightly at Anna, “Miss Blake…”Anna generously said, “Please sit! There are too many dishes and we two can’t able to finish it. What’s more, it’s not good to waste food. So, please come and eat.”Kevin was l
Adriana was now down and out, but back then, she had been twenty-three years old and at the peak of her life. From childhood to adulthood, she had been raised as a princess, her personality steeped in arrogance. Since the age of three, she had received an elite education, learning self-esteem, self-love, and self-improvement. No one had ever taught her how to please others. So now, even though she was at the mercy of others at every turn, she could not abandon the pride embedded in her bones.Calvin sneered. “Far away in the United Kingdom, your parents live precariously, waiting for you to return and earn money for their old age. And what are you doing? Can you eat your dignity? For Miss Clarke, half a million dollars is a mere trifle—the cost of a bag. But for Lawyer Clarke, it’s a year’s worth of food for the family. So, dignity or survival—think carefully before you speak.”Adriana's breathing grew heavy and labored.All pride comes at a high price.Calvin tore away the protective
She was gambling!All roads lead to Rome. Who doesn’t want a piece of Rome?As soon as Calvin tightened his grip on the back of her head, he pressed her delicate face against the glass, forcing her to look at the world outside the window. “You complain about your family’s decline. Why don’t you spend some time thinking about how to build a new city-state on the ruins? Living in the past and feeling sorry for yourself will deprive you of even this pitiful capital in your hands.”Wow!Adriana lifted her leg and kicked Calvin down. She herself was stunned by the angle—how did she even do it?No matter what, she finally shook off Calvin’s grip. “What qualifications do you have to educate me? You have no idea what I’ve been through, what my parents have been through! Have you ever cared about me? Have you ever asked me about my past? Have you ever had the slightest hint of wanting to understand me?”Adriana looked at the man whose face was darkened by the kick to his leg and moved a little
The moment Adriana grabbed the door and walked out, Calvin was filled with irritation. He wanted to yank her back, kick the glass window, and throw her out.He wanted to ask Adriana, if he hadn’t have enough patience and tolerance towards her. In the past, her family had exploited his connections and taken away so much money. His so-called father-in-law and great-uncle had borrowed his reputation everywhere to pull loans and seek recourse. Calvin thought, if he ever faced Adriana again, he should split her head with a knife, forcing her to take responsibility for her father's debts.Several times, Calvin suspected he was not acting of his own free will but was manipulated by Adriana. Yet, despite his anger, he surprisingly never laid a cruel hand on her. When she yelled and screamed, her words carried an undertone of pride that irked him to his core.This woman made him so angry that his teeth itched with frustration.(Some people use all their stre
“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.
Adriana’s scalp tingled, and she swallowed hard. “That…”She didn’t have claustrophobia, but staring into the depths of a dark pit with no visible bottom was still a little creepy. Who knew what might be lurking down there?And it wasn’t winter anymore—global warming was real. The winter insects were waking up. What if something alive was down there?The hair on the top of her head practically stood on end.“I mean… let me take a look first.”She turned on her phone’s flashlight and leaned over to peer into the hole. But the beam didn’t focus well—it barely cut through the darkness. There was a corner inside, and she couldn’t see anything beyond it.Calvin watched her small, hesitant movements for a moment, silently amused, before saying, “Lawyer Clarke, it’s only right to dedicate yourself for the sake of justice.”Adriana forced a noble look, half-expecting Calvin to go down himself and gallantly let her stay at the top.She really had thought too much.“You tie the rope to the tree