After Elisa finished singing, she suggested to Nora, “How about another song too?”Her voice was sweet and pure, without a hint of hostility.Ray inclined his head and looked at Ethan. “Ask the protagonist what he wants. What else do you want her to sing?”Ethan was sipping his drink leisurely. “Isn’t there another activity we can do?”Ray downed his second cup of wine and clapped his hands. “The two beautiful ladies are tired. Next, isn’t it time to test Adriana’s skills?”Adriana, already feeling irritated, became even more unhappy when he called her out. “I don’t know how to sing or dance! But I do know how to break a big stone on chest. Want to give that a try?”Ray didn’t spare a glance at Calvin as he retorted, “Where did you pick up such crude tricks? I heard you know how to play darts. Why don’t you show us?”Adriana tried to politely brush him off. “It’s been ages since I played. My hands are rusty, and I might miss and injure someone by mistake.”Ray kicked away a chair and
Someone stood in front of the bullseye, undoubtedly feeling the immense pressure of the second round. The atmosphere at the scene was tense, almost like the vibe of an Olympic stadium.Nora wanted to step forward and comfort him, but she was afraid of distracting him. So, she clenched her fists and cheered softly instead.Henry, always cheeky, served Adriana a glass of juice. “Adriana, crush his confidence so he stops acting so smug all the time.”Adriana replied modestly, “It’s just luck. I’ll do my best.”Ray’s turn came, and he also hit the bullseye.It was a tie.What followed was an intense back-and-forth as the two matched each other shot for shot, bullseye after bullseye, until it came down to the final throw.Calvin finally turned his attention toward the competition.In the past, when Adriana and Ray competed, he never paid much attention. He had thought both of them were amateurs, barely skilled. He only remembered that Adriana had won once, and Ray had gone on about it for
Henry’s jaw nearly dropped to his stomach. He looked at Calvin’s face in shock and said, “Holy shit! Calvin, Adriana wouldn’t be a retired special forces soldier, would she? It’s the kind of thing often written in novels, where the female lead has many hidden identities.”Calvin stopped drinking and leaned back in his chair to admire the scene. “This is bullshit! It’s just one or two moves! It’s a small skill.”Ethan saw through his bravado and pressed, “If you admitted she’s a little capable, you wouldn’t be losing face. Why hold on? Adriana is impressive, and I’m surprised to see her like this! It’s a shock to see a woman who pretends to be elegant but is, frankly, a little dashing instead of just trying to attract attention.”Calvin looked at her, admiring the graceful movement of her body—arms extended, pulling the bow, shooting arrows in a fluid, almost flawless action. It was as if there were two versions of her, and one couldn’t tell which was the real Adriana.He thought to hi
The delicate, jelly-like lightness of touch—just a brief brush of the lips—was like the first drop of spring rain falling gently on one’s heart.It was colorless and tasteless, yet inexplicably sweet.Calvin caught Adriana by the shoulder. The two were so close that no distance remained between them, and even their breaths intertwined in the small space, encircling and tangling, leaving nowhere to hide.“You did it deliberately, didn’t you?” he murmured.The aftermath was dark, filled with tension that seemed to stretch endlessly.Adriana hadn’t anticipated such a coincidence or the misunderstanding it caused. She felt uneasy but maintained her composure. “What do you think?”She could have explained herself, but the damage was done. Why bother being stubborn with words and risk more embarrassment?If he wanted to misunderstand, then so be it.Calvin’s palms tightened their grip on her shoulders, pulling her into his arms. His lips hovered millimeters from hers. “Can’t wait for me to
Henry slapped Elisa’s hip and said, “Go on! Say hello to Adriana and learn from her.”Adriana smiled and asked, “One-on-one?”Nora chuckled softly. “Adriana, you’re too powerful. Can you show me some mercy?”Adriana replied, “The game is about fairness. It’s no fun to hold back. Why don’t you two team up?”She gestured toward Elisa with a nod.Elisa, worried about being beaten alone, brightened at Adriana’s suggestion. “Good idea! Nora, let’s join forces!”Nora hesitated but finally agreed. “Okay… But Adriana, are you sure this is fair?”Adriana grinned. “It’s just a friendly match. Win or lose, let’s have fun.”With that, they started the game.Adriana fought with all her might, wrapping things up in less than five minutes. First, she claimed victory, then another—five straight wins in a row.Finally, she loosened her wrists and asked, “Want to continue?”Nora and Elisa stared at her, dumbfounded.They couldn’t help but think, Is she even human? Maybe a tentacle monster in disguise?
Adriana was furious inside, but she kept her emotions hidden and continued to cooperate without a word.Finally, the tent was securely set up.Calvin straightened his clothes, took a few steps, and suddenly kicked over Henry’s half-finished tent. “What a shoddy tofu-dregs project.”An angry Henry jumped up to confront him. “What’s your problem? Is it necessary to hold such a grudge?”Calvin smirked. “It absolutely is.”Adriana looked away, stifling a snicker.Sometimes, she thought, when these men were together, they were just like children, indulging in all kinds of childish antics. If the directors who worked under them ever saw this, she couldn’t imagine what they’d think.Before going to sleep, the four men gathered around, chatting together, while nearby, the three women huddled in their own group.Nora, ever mindful, spoke politely and flatteringly to Adriana. “Adriana, you’re a lawyer, right? This is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful lawyer. I envy you.”Adriana fiddled
Adriana reached around and rubbed her hands together, trying to find a ball of tissue paper to stuff in her ears.In the dimness, her hand accidentally brushed against Calvin’s arm, then slid across to touch his ear and the bridge of his nose.Startled, Adriana quickly pulled back, only to meet the man’s lips.Their clothes rustled together with a clear sound, breaking the silence.Adriana closed her eyes in frustration, wishing she could disappear on the spot.“Do you have tissue paper?” she asked, her voice tinged with embarrassment.Calvin held her arm down and rolled over, leaning sideways above her. His glittering eyes locked on her reddened ones. “Are you teasing me?” he asked.Is he sick? How could this be considered teasing? Adriana thought, fuming silently.“I just need tissue paper! Get up so I can look for some!”Calvin’s thighs pressed against her struggling legs, pinning her to the mat. His voice was hoarse and low, vibrating through her ears. “Are you wet?”Adriana immed
Adriana convinced herself in the shortest possible time to set aside her so-called self-respect and deal with Calvin on his terms. Whatever existed between them needed to be resolved.But when she stepped outside, all she saw was Calvin’s car roaring to life. It spun sharply at the top of the hill before speeding away, the engine growling as it descended at an alarming pace.It was too fast.Calvin’s professional-level driving skills were undeniable, but everything happened so quickly that Adriana had no time to react, let alone stop him.She fumbled for her phone and dialed his number.No answer.She called again, and again, but even after seven or eight attempts, Calvin still didn’t pick up.Frustrated and disheveled, Adriana sank onto the grass, caught between tears and laughter.How could I forget? she thought bitterly. Calvin is ruthless enough to turn on his own blood relatives. Who am I to him?He had extended an olive branch, and she should have taken it dutifully, with gratit
“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