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
Calvin was in a foul mood. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and waking up early only made things worse. Since it was the weekend, he didn’t go to the company. Instead, he sat in his study, scrolling through emails with a frown.That morning, he received a call from his grandfather, George Walker, instructing him to meet with the Blake family.“Since you’ve decided to formalize the relationship, you need to make an effort,” George said firmly. “The Blake family is taking this marriage very seriously, and you need to show them the same respect. Choose a few gifts and visit them. Don’t lower the Walker family’s status.”Calvin’s voice was calm but firm. “The engagement is still up for discussion. There’s no need to rush a decision.”George’s tone immediately sharpened. His health wasn’t great, and Calvin usually tried to keep things light to avoid upsetting him. But this time, his grandfather wasn’t having it.“What are you talking about? Your marriage to Anna Blake is already on t
The luxury shopping area was not crowded, even on weekends, and Calvin breezed to the top floor.Adriana originally thought, ‘Even if I buy slippers, they shouldn’t cost around a hundred dollars, right?’However, when she saw the brand’s gold, glittering label, her heart sank. ‘If Calvin asks me to pay, will I even be able to swipe that much on my card?’ she thought, feeling a pang of anxiety.Calvin had refined taste — he always chose the best of everything, even if it was just house slippers.The salesgirl, unaware of Calvin’s real identity, was already mesmerized by his appearance.“Sir, this is our latest model, perfect for home use…” she said, selecting the pair displayed in window C.“Take out two pairs,” Calvin instructed.Adriana laughed dryly. “It’s just for home wear. I think one pair is enough.”Then, she accidentally noticed the price tag on the bottom of the slippers, and her heart trembled. ‘More than six thousand for a pair of slippers?!’The salesgirl, who kept up with
It seemed he was truly serious about marrying Anna. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen a gift so carefully. Adriana though.Adriana forced down her frustration, reminding herself of the conclusion she had come to after a sleepless night.She and Calvin were just business partners. There was no emotional entanglement, no future between them. From now on, Calvin would be nothing more than a stepping stone for her career—a resource bank, a tool.Her goal was clear: she would leverage the Walker family and Grand Empire to climb to the top of the industry, becoming a renowned connoisseur.One day, she would have enough wealth and influence to help her family get back on their feet.Adriana silently repeated to herself, “Remember, Adriana, your priority is your career. Everything else must take a back seat.”The owner of the antique store carefully brought out a twenty-centimeter-high vase, holding it like a priceless treasure.“This is a rare piece,” he said with pride. “It’s said to be a
The limited space, the lighting, and the elegance of music drifting over from the mall worked together to create a tantalizing effect.Such a four-eyed look was tantamount to dry wood meeting a blazing fire, and even two people who had never met before would become captives of the atmosphere.Calvin’s arm muscle tensed. “It seems you have a lot of guts. You dare to play with me as an agitator. However, good lawyers are all over the place. I’m not obligated to you.”Adriana’s finger was still on his lapel, moving back and forth. She thought, Calvin must still have some feelings for me. Otherwise, he would have kicked me out long ago.So, she boldly provoked him. “Mr. Calvin, your newly purchased slippers—do you still want them? After all, I don’t have any man in my house. So, it’s idle to keep them. Why don’t I throw them away?”Her meaning was clear: Don’t think I don’t know you want to take advantage of me. If that’s the case, let’s make a fair deal. If you want to eat tofu, then you
Calvin, already the picture of elegance, managed to elevate his presence further by changing into a proper suit.Now, as he walked in shiny leather shoes, the sound of each step on the cobblestones created a rhythmic melody that seemed to light up the atmosphere.He had always walked with one hand casually in his pants pocket, his back straight and erect — truly living up to the phrase “orchid and jade tree.”The moment Adriana’s eyes met his, she quickly looked away.Calvin sat in the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and twisted his head toward her. “What? Don’t dare to look at me?”Adriana smirked. “Yes, I don’t dare. I’m afraid I’ll be mesmerized by you and end up crashing the car.”The corners of Calvin’s mouth twitched. When he turned his head back to his right, the twitch became a brief laugh — so fleeting that even he didn’t notice it himself.As the car drove toward the villa area, Adriana fell silent.Calvin, immersed in his phone, focused on handling his work. He didn’t
“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