An hour had passed, but the door was still closed, and there was no news from Calvin.Lunchtime had passed, and Adriana's stomach rumbled.There was no food in the car. She wanted to drive to the neighborhood to eat, but she worried that if Calvin came out and didn't see anyone, he might take advantage of the situation.After waiting for more than two hours, she finally couldn't help but fall asleep in the car.Three hours later, Calvin resigned from Anna’s family and walked out. When he saw the car parked under the shade of a tree, he felt a mix of anger and annoyance.He was about to knock hard when his eyes fell on the sleeping figure in the driver's seat.Through the crack of the open window, he could see Adriana resting her head against the window, deeply asleep.Her outstretched hand hung by the glass, and the wind swept past, pushing strands of hair from the back of her hand to her face.She was quiet and serene as she slept. Her thick eyelashes fluttered as if the cicada's win
When had Calvin ever been lectured like this? His face darkened.Adriana laughed inwardly. “Very good! Serves you right!”With a stern expression, Calvin handed Adriana the car keys. “Give them to me.”The cashier caught a glimpse of the car key’s logo, and her eyes widened. A Rolls-Royce?And the keychain was clearly a men’s style. Driving such an expensive car and still making someone else pay for groceries? What’s wrong with him?Despite his sour mood, Calvin moved efficiently, packing the ingredients with meticulous care. His movements weren’t rushed, yet he quickly organized everything into two large bags.He grabbed the bags and walked out without a word. Adriana followed behind — empty-handed.The cashier, now thoroughly confused, thought to herself, Well... at least he’s doing the heavy lifting. Not completely scummy.****Back at home, Adriana carefully
The food and soup were both inedible and ended up in the trash.The alternative was boiled dumplings.Calvin propped up one side of his head, not wanting to comment on the layer of white, floury dumplings on his dinner plate. “Lawyer Clarke, when treating guests, at least show some hospitality. Letting guests eat dumplings twice doesn’t seem very gracious, does it?”‘What kind of guest are you? If you don’t want to eat, leave!’ Adriana wanted to say these words aloud.However, after reminding herself three times of the “cooperation case,” she said with a smile on her face, “How could it be? This time it's different. Last time it was pork and scallions, but this time it's pork and mushrooms, without scallions.”It made Calvin so angry that he almost choked on his words.After dipping the dumplings in vinegar, Adriana burped.Calvin furrowed his brows. “You have quite the
At first, Adriana was nervous, afraid he might suddenly do something. But when he fell asleep, she gradually settled down. Once she relaxed, she also drifted off into sleep.Calvin usually didn’t sleep well, so even a nap would only last twenty minutes or so. However, when he woke up today, two hours had already passed.His arm shifted, feeling numb and stiff, and he frowned when he saw the woman sleeping against it.Adriana was still sound asleep. Her head tilted slightly, using his arm as a pillow, her legs curled up on the sofa. Her thin frame was tucked into a tiny ball, half of her body leaning against him. Her long hair cascaded down softly, revealing her delicate nose and pointed chin.The setting sun bathed her in a warm, orange glow, making her look peaceful and serene.Calvin continued to lie there, unmoving, leaving his arm beneath her.“You’re awake?”Adriana’s voice was soft as she blinked he
The car circled around, almost flipping Adriana upside down. Finally, they arrived at the top of the mountain.Although it was supposed to be a camping trip, Ray had temporarily transformed the place into something that felt like a palace.In the center stood a large tent, no less solid than a yurt. It looked so sturdy that even if the wind blew at gale force, it wouldn’t shake a bit.Next to the yurt were two barbecues—one roasting a whole goat, and the other loaded with all kinds of meats and vegetables.There were dartboards, archery targets with bows and arrows, table games, and swing beds hung between two trees nearby. Open-air tables with neatly arranged fruits were set up, draped with white tablecloths, and a few lamps interspersed between them. Colorful effect lights placed on the ground gave the entire scene a magical glow.Overhead, strings of colorful lights and flower arches were arranged in a way that could easily pass for
Ray continued feeding the girl different foods by mouth, one bite after another. Eating seemed secondary—the real focus was their playful intimacy. As they kept going, the girl’s pleated skirt crept higher, almost up to her stomach, and her thin, pencil-like legs wrapped themselves around him.Adriana cleared her throat softly and took a few sips of water, hoping to break the tension and regulate the awkward atmosphere.Calvin, ever impassive, flicked the ash from his cigarette and glanced at her. “What are you blushing for?”Adriana pressed her lips together tightly. “The girl is too hot. I’ll just stay away.”Calvin raised a brow. “Seeing other people make love to each other stirring something in you? Feeling envious?”Adriana tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a smile that almost matched Ray’s signature smirk. “If Calvin can’t stand being lonely, why not ask Ray to bring you a girl? Just don’t pull me into it.”Calvin, already used to Ray’s flings and the revolving door of
Calvin didn’t know when to relight his cigarette, quietly smoking. His face remained carved like stone—cold and hard, as if even an earthquake or flood couldn’t shake him.Henry nodded and said, “Two years ago, something happened to their business. He was driven into a corner, hard. You know Ethan’s character—asking him to give up the thing he loves most is like asking for his life. But his parents gave him an ultimatum: either go back to the company or come home to bury them. After that, he locked himself in the beach house and played the piano for an entire day and night. When he finally came out, he told the maid at the door to burn it all. Then… he went to the company and hasn’t touched the piano since.”Henry’s tone was calm, but he couldn’t hide the deep sadness in the story.Adriana’s eyes stung with emotion as she glanced into the distance at the man in white—his lean, upright figure standing as composed as ever.The girl beside Henry watched him with fascination, her eyes fil
Henry blinked in disbelief. “When?”Ray followed up immediately, equally stunned. “You actually ate it?”The two reacted as if they had just discovered a new continent.The unsuspecting girls around them gawked, silently thinking to themselves, “Is cooking dumplings really worth this much surprise?”Calvin, ever calm and composed, answered, “Today.”Henry’s jaw practically hit the floor—his mouth wide enough to fit an egg. After a moment, he forced himself to nod with a pretense of calm. “Adriana’s dumplings must have… an unusual flavor.”Ray, always ready with a veiled jab, chimed in with a smirk. “Not ordinary, that’s for sure. Definitely not ordinary.”His tone carried a hidden meaning, subtly mocking Adriana. His words implied that her cooking—and perhaps her presence—were anything but typical.Adriana, however, remained unbothered by Ray’s subtle digs.Ethan, noticing the tension, gently shifted the conversation. “Are you still working as a lawyer?”Adriana appreciated his effort
He wants to make a deal for dinner?She is just a part B, not a slave.Taking a deep breath, Adriana smiled slightly. “If you’re not hungry, you can stay here and enjoy the scenery. I’ll find a restaurant myself. Don’t tell me every restaurant along the riverbank is on the bayou—if that’s the case, I’ll just have to put up with it.”Calvin followed her, though he despised the idea of chasing after a woman and trying to guess her thoughts. Yet, he still did it.“Stop.”Adriana sighed helplessly, closing her eyes. Her hands hung loosely at her sides, fists forming as if she might swing at him in the next moment. “Alright, say what you need to say.”“For the next week, whatever you hear and see—don’t believe it.”“In what way?”Calvin stepped past her, taking the lead. “You’ll find out.”“Anyth
Anna’s lips curled slightly. With a woman’s sixth sense, she immediately sensed that Alex had his eyes on Adriana.It would be far easier for him to stir the pot than for her to rack her brain trying to drive Adriana away herself. Perhaps God had finally seen her suffering and decided to show her some mercy.“You mean Lawyer Clarke, huh…”Before she could finish, Calvin interrupted. “Lawyer Clarke will only be in London for half a day and is not involved in this project. There’s no need for you to know her.”Alex looked a little disappointed, his emotions written plainly across his face. “Then I can visit her in New York later.”Calvin’s authoritative aura sharpened, his London-accented voice carrying a weight that even a local like Alex found overwhelming. “No way.”As soon as he spoke, he turned to Anna with an indifferent expression. “Didn’t you wan
Carson picked up his phone, put it down, then picked it up again. He had lost count of how many times he hesitated, calculating the time difference between New York and London.It was already afternoon over there—more than ten hours of flight time. Adriana can’t still be sleeping… can she?‘Will I disturb her rest?’Tossing and turning, he couldn't sleep. Watching the dawn break, he found himself lost in thought about the law firm. His gaze drifted to Adriana’s forbidden office, the closed door standing like a barrier. His mood felt hollow—like the emptiness of a lost love.The moment Adriana’s message appeared in the work group, he hurriedly called her.His series of movements were so swift that he took his own breath away.The phone connected, but there was only the sound of wind in the background—she was clearly outdoors. Carson immediately followed up, “Are you outside?”
The exotic flavor of the Thames, combined with the surrounding atmosphere, was extraordinarily charming. Even Calvin’s usually indifferent eyes seemed to hold a hint of tenderness when they landed on Adriana.She figured she probably wasn’t jet-lagged yet—her brain was just on the fritz.Dragging herself back from the deception of poetry, Adriana put on a straight face and said, “One day, when you can’t stand it anymore and want a divorce, I can defend you to increase your chances of winning. You might as well do a good job of property division before the marriage. Try to be as detailed as possible in the prenuptial agreement. Lawyer Marshal would definitely be happy to help draft the contract—after all, he’s a connoisseur in these matters.”Calvin watched her red lips open and close with interest. Such a pretty little mouth—why did every word that came out of it have to be laced with thorns?Unfazed,
Adriana had never reacted so quickly before. In less than the blink of an eye, she dodged Calvin’s hand, moving swiftly to the door. Composing herself, she casually smoothed her long hair and smiled.“What was the president saying just now? I’ve remembered it. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to do my job seriously.”Calvin’s fingers lingered in the air for a moment before curling into a fist. He quickly concealed any reaction and responded smoothly, “Then I’ll leave the hard work to Lawyer Clarke.”After their seamless exchange, Adriana turned to Miley and smiled warmly. “Secretary Miley, are the miners organized?”Miley, still in a daze, struggled to process what she had just seen.She could have sworn she saw the president’s hand moving intimately near Lawyer Clarke’s face, as if they were sharing a secret.But now, the mood was completely serious again.H
“Yeah, maybe it’s just stress?”Anderson coughed, straightened his tie, and said, “Without that diamond, don’t take our porcelain work. Mr. Marshall took such a big risk by making her the vanguard, huh? She better have the ability to back it up.”Miley listened and found his words reasonable. Originally, she had been a subordinate of Marshall, but now the leader had positioned her as a battering ram, essentially demoting her. However, Adriana didn’t seem to care about rankings at all—she neither hesitated nor flaunted herself. She was straightforward.“Lawyer Clarke has a doctorate from Cornell University and has handled many major cases. She should be strong.”“Strength? How much strength does it take to hold down Mr. Marshall, who has over twenty years of courtroom experience? How did you become a secretary when you’re so quick to take someone else’s side?”Miley
Anna slowly stretched out her hand, wanting to grab that broad, slender hand. "Falling in love is a matter between two people, but marriage involves two families—especially a prestigious family like the Walkers. Without enough strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, sooner or later, one has to leave. Adriana will never enter the Walker family in this lifetime. Grandpa specifically told me that as long as he lives, she will never step foot inside, not even half a step."This was her bottom line, and because of it, she was never afraid of Adriana dangling in front of Calvin’s eyes.Calvin withdrew his hand, avoiding her touch. "And what makes you think you have what it takes to enter the Walker family?"Anna's expression froze in horror.She had thought that as long as her father and the Walker family reached an agreement, nothing could change the marriage. But she had underestimated Calvin’s iron will. Would he really go against
Adriana was confused.Adriana, what?In those six years, it was the first time she had heard Calvin not call her by her full name or surname. His tone, alluring and suggestive, was enough to make anyone's heart waver.It was just a pity that the occasion was wrong, the purpose impure, and there was no tenderness or love—only endless disgust.Was he even a man?Soon to be married to someone else, yet here he was, treating her as if she were nothing but a past amusement. From time to time, he would tease her when he was in a good mood—offering a fleeting moment of sweetness, only to discard her without a second thought.He treated her as if she had no dignity, no pride.Secretly gritting her teeth and taking a shallow breath, Adriana turned her head to look at Calvin, a flawless smile gracing her lips—one worthy of an award-winning actress."Mr. Calvin, haven’t I told you before? Our relationship is now as
For the rest of the ten-hour long-haul flight, Calvin sat next to Anna. The two of them either spoke in hushed voices, occasionally writing and sketching on documents, or exchanged light smiles.Even during meals, they continued chatting, creating an atmosphere of perfect harmony.Their voices were so low that Adriana couldn’t make out what they were discussing. She tried to focus on her papers, determined not to let irrelevant thoughts distract her.Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, still clutching her documents. When she woke, the cabin was unusually quiet. Most passengers were asleep, the reading lights dimmed by the flight attendants, leaving only a soft, hazy glow in the first-class section.It was then that she noticed Anna leaning against the back of her chair, her head tilted slightly toward Calvin. At first glance, it almost looked as if they were nestled together, sleeping.The seats were adjusted to the perfect recline for rest