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
She has this in her heart, and that’s enough. Even if it’s just to spit out some harsh words, where can she really fight with people? Even though she went to fight with him, it was as if hitting a stone with an egg.“The man who hurt me will have to be dealt with sooner or later, but he can’t be so adventurous as to fall on his sword instead.”Eria glared. “Adria, you say you… are so tolerant. Who wouldn’t be heartbroken?”Adriana smiled bitterly, “However, I’m kind of at the end of this lawsuit. Ridiculous, right? I’ve spent so much time thinking I could make a buck.”She had thought that she had practiced enough to be mature and stable. However, as soon as she was involved with Calvin, she was out of control, and cranky for no reason.Eria, so windy and fiery, made Adriana both cry and laugh, almost to the point of tears.“Adria, don’t be afraid. We
Eria held Adriana’s hand as the two of them walked out of the mall, their high heels clicking against the tiled floor. “Hermès or Chanel, which one should we go for?” Eria asked.“Buying this or that, they’re practically the same models. It’s no fun,” Adriana replied. “Why don’t we check out some niche designer brands? Their styles and originality are less likely to clash with others.”A single outfit from Chanel cost more than ten thousand dollars, and Adriana didn’t want to spend Eria’s money so frivolously.Eria tugged her toward a store. “Can a niche brand even compare to a top one? Besides, you’re a lawyer. Who would take you seriously if you’re wearing something from a no-name brand?”Adriana resisted. “You just told me I look beautiful no matter what I wear. And now you want me to rely on clothes to make an impression? My dear Snow, can you
Calvin’s expression remained neutral as his sharp gaze rested on Adriana. She wasn’t the soft, gentle woman he remembered; now, she radiated defiance. “Adriana, watch your tone,” he said evenly.Adriana’s heart ached at the subtle rebuke.Anna, emboldened, snuggled closer to Calvin. “It’s okay, I won’t stoop to her level. But these clothes are so uncomfortable. Calvin, let’s keep shopping, just the two of us?”She had worked hard for this rare alone time with Calvin and wouldn’t let Adriana ruin it.Adriana also didn’t want to see them loitering in front of her, so before Calvin could open his mouth, she said, “The two of you, please go ahead! I will take my leave first! Bye!”As Calvin looked her leaving figure in the the glass wall of the store, for no reason at all, he felt a little empty inside.“Calvin?”Interrupted in his thoughts by
“Shit! How dare you accuse me?” Eria yelled, caught red-handed. She lashed out, tearing and slapping. The girl in front of her turned into a cowering weakling in the blink of an eye.Eria’s movements were so fast and urgent that Adriana didn’t have time to stop her. By now, they were surrounded by onlookers, and countless cell phones were recording the scene. At that moment, a thought flashed across Adriana’s mind: “We’re doomed!”The three of them were taken to the police station to give their statements. The girl, beaten beyond recognition, sat crying in a corner.Eria’s body had no visible injuries, which gave her an edge. However, the situation was far from ideal. Despite Adriana’s testimony that the other girl had started the fight, the police were not inclined to listen. Swearing and verbal provocation, after all, cannot be used as concrete evidence in court.The girl covered her scratched face, sobbing, “I’ll make sure you end up in jail!”Eria scoffed, “Who’s afraid of you?”I
Adriana left Eria’s house and took a taxi to the law firm. As soon as she entered, she noticed the strange, gossip-filled glances of her colleagues.Ignoring them, she headed straight to her office and called Ray.The phone rang for nearly a minute before the other party answered, his tone mocking. “Well, well, a rare guest! I never thought I’d live to see Lawyer Clarke take the initiative to call me.”Adriana’s voice was steady. “The person you want to deal with is me—it has nothing to do with Snow. Drop the charges against her, and let’s settle this privately.”Ray lounged in his office, his long legs propped on the desk, swaying rhythmically. “That doesn’t sound like the proud Lawyer Clarke I know.”Having known him for years, Adriana was no longer intimidated. Despite his reputation, she knew Ray wasn’t unreasonable enough to ruin a young woman’s future. “This doesn’t sound like Young Master William either,” she countered. “Loving to play around is one thing, but venting your emot
The car drove straight to the Moonlight Clubhouse, and Adriana instantly recognized the flamboyant sports car parked outside the entrance as Ray’s ride for the day.In the Imperial Box, Ray leaned back on the sofa, a cigar pinched diagonally between his fingers. Beside him, Gloria snuggled close.Gloria's face was colorful — without makeup but purposefully revealing a bruise. Her hair was neatly combed, and she wore a halter-style long dress. The new Hermès bag in her hand was particularly eye-catching.Adriana greeted them, “Mr. William. Miss White.”“Ho! Look who’s here! The renowned Lawyer Clarke from New York City!” Ray clapped his hands in mock applause. “It’s a great honor for someone as busy as you to take time out of your schedule to meet a little person like me!”Adriana’s blood boiled with anger. If she hadn’t mastered self-control, she wouldn’t have been able to endure such provocative taunts.Gloria obediently followed Ray’s lead, clapping along as she said casually, “Lawy
The next day, Adriana packed her things and left for work.When she went downstairs, she saw a familiar car.The neighbourhood she rented in was only mid-range to high-end, and it was rare to see such a luxurious car.The high-profile Aston Martin in front of her certainly didn’t fit in with the overall atmosphere.Adriana instinctively knew there was a familiar face inside, so she turned around to leave.Drip!The horn blared, the driver’s window rolled down, and a head peeked out.“I’ve seen it all. Where are you planning to hide?”Adriana knew dodging was pointless, so she switched to a standard, polite smile — the kind an employee would show when greeting their superior.“Deputy Director Carson showing up at his subordinate’s doorstep first thing in the morning — that can’t be a coincidence, right?”The injury on Carson’s face, after a night of settling in, looked even worse. The swelling had intensified, and the bruise had deepened in color. His left eye, the one that had taken t
Seeing Calvin and Carson angrily facing each other, it seemed like they were about to start fighting again. Adriana put down what she was holding and sat down with a stern face.“You two can bandage each other up. Since you're both so capable of fighting, you can handle the aftermath just as well.”“No way.”“Never happening.”Surprisingly, they were at least consistent on this point.“Well then, since neither of you wants to do it, bear with it. After this, go home — to whoever you like.”Not wanting to get entangled with either of them any further, Adriana just wanted to leave with a clean slate.Carson tugged at her wrist, his red, swollen face filled with helplessness. “You’re not really going to leave, are you?”Adriana looked down at his hand, then forced him to let go. “I made myself very clear already. No matter what you do, I won’t appreciate it. Whether I’m desperate, heartless, or however you want to see me — it doesn’t matter. You can think of me as a scummy girl if you wa
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