Henry’s face came close to the camera. “Adriana, you’re an expert! Once you opened your mouth, those mediocre singer of Moonlight won’t be able to survive!”Adriana’s heart rate still hadn’t returned to normal. She couldn’t forget Calvin’s judgmental eyes. Once again, she had disgraced herself in front of him. The persona she had tried to establish was crumbling, piece by piece.If only I could love whoever and whatever I wanted without holding back... but I can’t.Henry shouted again, “Ray! From now on, those female artists under your management need to be trained to Adriana’s standards — charisma, posture, and that voice…”They were still bantering and joking when Adriana picked up her bag. “I have something to do. You guys carry on.”The song was already over, and she didn’t have the emotional strength to stay in the same room with the “living King of Hell.” She also believed Ray wouldn’t continue to make things difficult for Snow.Just as she reached the door, Calvin lifted his ar
“Don’t pretend to be dumb. I don’t find it interesting at all.”“Your friend beats my woman, and you want to resolve it with one song? Isn’t that too cheap?”Having seen Ray’s manipulative antics, Adriana could only patiently play along to deceive him. “The conditions were set by you, so aren’t you afraid of losing face by going back on your word like this? Oh, right — a man who encourages his girlfriend to pick fights probably doesn’t care about face anyway.”Ray turned to Calvin with a complaining tone. “Calvin, did you hear that? Adriana is scolding me.”Adriana felt annoyed, thinking, I should have guessed that Ray had me on speakerphone.Calvin, sitting there in his usual calm style — as if nothing in the world could faze him — replied, “Don’t you have a mouth? If you have the guts to talk back, then do it. If you don’t, just hold it in.”“Really? You won’t step in if I yell at her? You’re just going to let me handle it?” Ray asked, his tone full of villainous intent.Calvin rema
Putting down her phone, Adriana looked up at the gate of the Green Wick Community and drove into the garage with a hard press on the gas pedal.She decided to look for an apartment tomorrow. She couldn’t stand living in the same place as Calvin anymore.When her nerves were tightly wound, she hadn’t felt dizzy. But now, sitting on the sofa and allowing herself to relax, her whole body ached. Her legs felt limp, as if boneless, and when she wiped her forehead, her hand came away hot.Luckily, she still had fever-reducing pills at home. She took them with some warm water, but her empty stomach churned in protest, so irritated that she felt like she might vomit from the acid.It was 11:30 p.m., and the trending topic on the internet was still heating up. More and more dirt on Eria was being dug up — even embarrassing stories from her early high school romance had surfaced.Damn Ray!Adriana turned her anger into determination. She picked up her phone, ready to call and curse him out befo
Calvin raised his eyes and saw the woman closing hers, as if ready to die—a lifeless soul in his hands.He wanted to stab her with words, but he also wanted answers. Why had she insisted on marrying him? Wasn’t it for the reputation and status of the Walker family? During their three years of marriage, how much profit had she made for Clarke’s using her title as Mrs. Walker? Did she need him to lay out the data one by one? His brother had borrowed two billion in cash from the bank, using the Grand Empire Group branch in Los Angeles as collateral.“What role did Adriana play in this? Was she stealing beams to build her own house? Secretly scheming?’How did she still have the nerve to question me so imperiously?”Taking a deep breath, Calvin was the first to regain his composure. He lowered his voice slightly.“You’re still running a fever. Don’t fall and crack your head—I don’t want the floor to get dirty.”Adriana clenched her fists, trying to keep the tears from falling. She turned
Adriana glanced left and right in shock, afraid Calvin might do something reckless in his fit of anger. “You’re hungry and want to eat? A woman like me isn’t worth your effort!”She backed away in a panic, her movement so rushed that she bumped into the cabinet with a loud thud, the sound breaking the tense atmosphere.Calvin turned toward her, noticing her wince in pain. Without a word, he grabbed a pot, filled it with water, and lit the stove.As the water began to heat, he suddenly asked, “You completed your degree in U.K ?”The abrupt change of topic spanned years, making it feel out of place and out of context.Adriana frowned. Did Calvin’s logic get eaten by a dog?“I’m not like you. I couldn’t just stay there without studying,” she replied sharply.The U.K. didn’t allow long-term residency for foreign citizens without a valid work visa or student visa. Family leave was limited to six months at most. She hadn’t wanted to waste her education, and her parents had always emphasized
After hanging up the phone, Adriana returned to the dining room and saw two steaming plates of dumplings with a dish of vinegar in the center.How to say! Calvin was the kind of person who could make even fast food feel ceremonial. The fork and knife were arranged perfectly according to table etiquette, and the dumplings were placed in a neat circle, looking visibly pleasing.Adriana yanked her chair back. “I didn’t say I wanted to eat.”Calvin dipped a dumpling into the vinegar. “Then don’t eat.”Adriana had been hungry for a long time, and the smell of the food only made her hungrier. She was about to pick up the fork, but when he said that, she froze. So instead, she placed her hands on her lap, thinking, It’s not a big deal. I’ll eat after he leaves.“What did you want to tell me earlier?” Adriana asked.Watching her stubbornly refuse to move her fork irritated him. “You’re not punishing me; you’re punishing your body,” he said sharply. “Starving yourself is just making things har
There’s a big difference between fear and hate.Accordingly, Adriana’s answer would reveal her true attitude toward Calvin. If she feared him, it would stem from the imbalance of power between them. But if it was hate, it would suggest psychological resistance. Either way, their cooperation was hanging by a thread, and Adriana had no intention of digging a hole for herself.“Have you ever seen Party A and Party B eating dumplings at home together?” Adriana asked, her tone light but sarcastic. “You’re so condescending—of course, I’m terrified. If the service isn’t good and the cooperation fails, I’ll be the one crying about it.”Calvin picked up another dumpling and took a bite. Though it had cooled, the texture was still decent.“Is this how you live?” he asked, glancing around. “Your house has nothing in it.”The furnishings were high-end French pieces, but the layout was sparse and cold. It didn’t feel like a home.Adriana shrugged. “I’m just staying here temporarily. It’s easier to
With her back solidly pressed against the wall and her hands pinned above her head, Adriana stared at him with wide, furious eyes. Accusations and objections were written all over her face, but her mouth was not free to curse him.Calvin's lips claimed hers with a force that left her reeling, tasting the sweet, familiar flavor of him. No matter how fiercely her expression resisted, her body betrayed her, trembling in response.To be honest, the moment he hugged her and kissed her, he hadn’t thought at all. But if he had stopped to think for even a second — half a second — he knew he wouldn’t have done it. Yet his instincts had once again overpowered reason.He simply wanted to conquer her.He wanted to punish her.Wanted to make her beg for mercy. Wanted to make her cry.When he finally released her, his grip remained firm on her wrists, preventing her from raising a hand to slap him. His gaze dropped to her red, swollen lips, and he couldn’t help but reach out to trace them with his
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