Stanley didn't respond to Fiora.His eyes never left Iris. Fiora bit her lip, steeled herself, and tiptoed to kiss Stanley. Stanley's eyes widened in surprise; her action was too sudden, catching him off guard. Before he could push her away, Fiora wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. "Don't push me away. I... I'm pregnant."The lie slipped out effortlessly, driven by her desperation to keep him.Stanley stood frozen in disbelief, shock flooding his face.They had only had sex once. How could this happen...? When he came back to his senses, he pushed Fiora away and looked up, only to find that Iris was no longer at the window. The white curtain fluttered gently in the breeze, occasionally blowing out of the window.He ran into the corridor.No matter how hard he tried to convince himself or brainwash himself, the emotions buried inside him were undeniable."Stanley!" Fiora called out as she chased after him, but he couldn't hear her over the rush of his own thoughts. He ha
Fiora guiltily avoided eye contact. "No, not yet. It's still in the early phase of pregnancy, so…""Then let's wait until it's confirmed first." Stanley pulled away from her and quickly walked off."Stanley, wait for me…" Fiora called, hurrying to catch up.Suddenly, Stanley stopped. Fiora couldn't stop in time and ran into him."S-Stanley…" she stammered as she looked at him anxiously."Aren't you pregnant? Should you really be running?" His voice was devoid of emotion, even sounding a bit cold.Fiora's guilt intensified, her heart racing. She bit her lip in frustration. "It's all because you ran off like that. I had to run to chase after you…" She emphasized the words "chase after you" and even rubbed her belly.Stanley glanced at her abdomen but remained silent. He had indeed slept with her, regardless of whether he was thinking straight at the time. It was something that he could not deny."Alright, let's go," he said, his tone softening slightly.Fiora reached for his h
Therefore, Henry had deliberately avoided Iris. Yvonne's phone was in the changing room, so Ted's call went unanswered."She's not answering the phone. It's okay, let's eat without her. The fish dishes here are very famous. The restaurant raises the fish themselves in a nearby lake. I’ve tried them before — the fish meat is tender and smooth. They have the option of clear stew or sour soup. Which flavor would you like?" Ted asked."Anything's fine," Iris replied, not being particularly picky."Then let’s go with the sour soup." Ted gently placed his hand on her waist. It was winter, so Iris' clothes were thick, and with her wearing his coat on top of that, his action felt more gentlemanly than inappropriate. Iris didn’t even notice his hand resting on her waist.However, Fiora happened to witness this scene. She was by the car with Stanley, ready to leave. She spotted them through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling window."Stanley, look over there! Your ex-wife and that man are
The scene of the accident was chaotic, with vehicle parts scattered and bloodstains marking the pavement. The airbags had deployed, trapping Stanley and Fiora in their seats. Stanley lay heavily unconscious, blood all over his face.-At the Seine Mountain Resort, when Iris and Ted left the restaurant after finishing their meal, they happened to run into Professor Sandler, who was out taking a leisurely walk."P-Professor Sandler," Iris exclaimed, caught off guard. She had hoped to tidy herself up first before going to see him in the evening. Despite her divorce, she hoped to present herself well in front of him.Instead, he found her in a disheveled state.Professor Sandler examined her and remarked, "You’ve lost weight."Iris lowered her head as a pang of self-reproach hit her. Her eyes stung with tears. Professor Sandler’s gaze shifted to her coat."Professor Sandler," Ted also greeted him respectfully.Professor Sandler nodded in acknowledgment, then said, "I'd like to
"Come here," Professor Sandler said. He did not think much of Henry. Although he had never seen Henry before and was unfamiliar with Henry's personality and character, he felt an instinctive dislike for the man.Yvonne approached them and informed Iris, "We just received news that Stanley was involved in a car accident. We don't know if he's dead or alive."The word "dead" tightened Iris' heartstrings. After all, she had lived with Stanley for four years. Even if it was a pet, one couldn't help fostering some feelings after spending so much time together. She could let go of her love for Stanley, but she could not remain indifferent to this news.Perhaps it was only human nature.Henry had lost all interest in flirting with Yvonne. He said, "Iris, come with me to check on Stanley."Iris did not move. She replied coldly, "I have nothing to do with him anymore. I don't care if he's dead or alive…""You were married for four years. Don't you care about him, even a little?" Henry ask
Iris walked over and saw Stanley being dragged out of the car. "Stretcher, quick!"Stanley was placed on a stretcher and lifted into the ambulance.Henry said, "Iris, you go with the ambulance. I'll follow in my car."The doctor asked, "Is she a family member?"Iris shook her head. "No."Henry couldn't stand formalities at a time like this. "Ex-wife is still a wife. We don't know how bad Stanley's injury is. He can't be left alone."He pushed Iris onto the ambulance.Inside the ambulance, the doctor immediately examined and treated Stanley. Once they arrived at the hospital, he was immediately taken to the operating room. Iris sat on a bench outside the operating room.Henry arrived a bit later and asked, "How's he doing, Iris?""I don't know," Iris replied."I'll inform his mother…" Henry began but suddenly stopped. He looked at Iris. If he called Renee here, Iris would surely leave. Henry felt that Stanley still had feelings for Iris, even if he didn't want to admit i
"If you don't want to drink, then don't," Iris said, placing the cup on the table.Stanley fell silent. He was already starting to miss her peaceful and beautiful sleeping face. "I'll drink," he finally said. His throat was parched.Iris picked up the water cup and inserted the straw into his mouth. Stanley drank eagerly, sucking the water through the straw like he was sucking milk from a carton. After finishing the cup of water, he finally felt a bit better."Can you help me wipe my face? It feels uncomfortable," he asked, looking at her with a pitiful expression. The wound on his forehead had been treated, but remnants of blood and antiseptic remained on his face.Iris rarely saw him in such a vulnerable state. Because he's injured, Iris decided to help him. She said, "There are no towels or basins in the ward. I'll have to go buy them." She left the ward.Stanley watched her leave, smiling to himself. Her heart had finally softened.Not long after Iris left, the door opene
The water splashed all over Stanley, soaking his hair, clothes, and bedding. As a finishing touch, Iris flung the basin at him."You call yourself a man, Stanley?!"How could he be so despicable? He hurt her, betrayed Wendy, and now, he couldn't even be loyal to Fiora.Iris wasn't just angry because he was disrespectful to Fiora; she was angry at his careless, unserious, and irresponsible attitude towards relationships. Did he see women as mere toys? Iris was ashamed that she used to love him.Stanley slowly raised his eyes, water dripping from his messy hair, and their gazes locked. "Iris..."Fiora finally recovered from the shock. "Are you crazy? Stanley is injured. How could you pour water on him when the weather's so cold?! Are you trying to kill him?!"After she scrambled to her feet, the first thing she did was not to check on her leg injury or confront Stanley, but to push Iris. "Stanley is injured! How could you be so cruel? What a nasty woman!"Iris, caught off guard by
Brad arrived at Iris' house precisely at ten past seven. Holding the lunchbox, he rang the doorbell. Iris had just woken up, still in her pajamas, and wondered who could possibly be at the door this early. Sometimes, if she weren't driving, Brad would pick her up at around ten to eight. He wouldn't come this early.When she opened the door, she found him dressed in smart casual attire — a suit jacket, trousers, and white sneakers. In the past, he would wear cool attires like casual pants with a hoodie or a leather jacket, but after accompanying Iris to court on formal occasions, he had adapted his wardrobe considerably. Although he still felt uncomfortable in formal wear, he looked much more mature than before."You're here so early?" Iris asked, surprised."When you're busy, you never eat properly," Brad replied, entering without hesitation. He knew the passcode to her house anyway, so he made himself at home. He walked directly to the dining table. "Go freshen up and change yo
"Are you really going to take on that case, by the way?" Brad asked Iris.Iris asked him back, "Why shouldn't I?""This kind of case could go viral online and attract public scrutiny. I'm worried you'll face backlash. Many people these days lack critical thinking and just follow the crowd," Brad expressed.Iris responded firmly, "I'm a lawyer. I just need to fulfill my duties and do my job well. If I have to weigh the pros and cons before taking on every case..." she turned to him, adding, "What would be the point of doing this job?"Brad fell silent for a moment, then conceded, "Yes, you're right. Don't worry, I'll be at your side."Iris poured cold water on his enthusiasm. "I don't need you to be at my side. You need to go independent.""I don't want to," Brad said, sticking close to her, as if afraid of being left behind."What? Are you just going to cling to me?" she asked."Yes, I am," he chuckled."By the way, I need some fruits but I don't have time to go to the superma
Brad was right, Fiora knew that now. Yet her personality made it difficult for her to apologize and admit her mistakes. When Brad tried to take a sip of water, she snatched the glass from him.Brad looked at her, speechless. Fiora lifted her chin defiantly. "Whether he cares about me or not is none of your business."Brad wanted to ask her if her head had been kicked by a donkey. Instead, he said, "Alright, think what you want. I'm not your brother; I'm not gonna worry about you."Unintentionally, his words elicited a silent reaction from Iris, who lowered her gaze."My brother is overseas dealing with his heartbreak; he doesn't have time to worry about me," Fiora lamented. "I wonder if all the luck in our family has gone to the financial side. Is that why we're so unlucky in everything else? Half a year ago, my brother announced that he had a girlfriend. My mom had even met her and apparently really liked her, but then it all fell apart. My love life is rocky, and my brother's is
Iris said, "Just shut up and order."Brad obediently picked up the menu.Fiora watched the exchange, somewhat shocked at how readily Brad complied with Iris' command.Before this, she and Brad had looked down on each other, and their mutual disdain was evident. She had always thought Brad was too wild and could not be easily controlled, yet here he was, completely under Iris' command. She wondered how Iris had managed to subdue such a wilful young man, especially given Brad's less-than-ideal character.Having spent considerable time with Iris, Brad knew her preferences in food. He ordered the dishes he knew she liked, along with some of his own favorites, before turning to Fiora. "What would you like?""Anything," Fiora replied, prompting Brad to place a random order for her.While they waited for the food, Fiora broached the topic that lingered between them. "About what happened before...""Let's not dwell on the past," Iris interjected. To her, an apology from Fiora held littl
Iris didn't stop. She felt that they weren't acquainted so there was nothing to talk about.Fiora chased after her, tugging on Brad's arm as she ran past him. "Help me out."Brad thus followed behind her, saying, "If she doesn't want to talk to you, don't force her..."Fiora shot him an annoyed glare. Brad was speechless. Why did she glare at him? She was still the same spoiled brat."Wait, I'm not here to be your enemy," Fiora called as she caught up with Iris.Iris had to cross the street, but the continuous flow of traffic forced her to stop, giving Fiora a chance to catch up to her."I just want to apologize," Fiora said.Iris turned back in surprise. Those unexpected words caught her off guard. She did not expect it from Fiora at all.Why would Fiora suddenly apologize to her?"I know Stanley's married now. He married that evil woman," Fiora continued.Learning that Stanley had married Wendy had changed Fiora's opinion of Iris, but it wasn't until last night that she t
When Iris opened the door, she was shocked to see that it was Samuel. "What are you doing here?" she asked, puzzled.Samuel replied, "Mr. Just is not in the country. He asked me to check on you. Do you need anything?"Jason had seen Iris' message, but she had deleted it before he could listen to it. Concerned about her, had sent Samuel to check if everything was alright since he was abroad.Iris tightened her grip on the doorknob. Something stirred in the bottom of her heart. She tried to sound calm as she said, "I'm fine.""I'll be in the country all month. If you need anything, feel free to call me," Samuel said, handing her his business card. "Here's my contact."Iris hesitated for a moment before taking it."Are you sure you're fine?" Samuel asked, noticing her pale complexion.Though Iris had forgotten about her stomach pain because she was preoccupied with her thoughts, her complexion gave away her condition. She forced a nod. "I'm fine. Really."Samuel studied her for a
Iris walked out of the shop with the cake in hand. When she spotted Renee, she ignored her.Renee finally recognized the qualities Iris possessed when she compared Iris to Wendy — Iris was cultured, well-mannered, polite and respected her elders."Iris," Renee called out involuntarily.Iris merely looked back for a second before getting into her car.Renee stood frozen in a daze. If Iris were still her daughter-in-law, she mused, she wouldn't have to endure this humiliation. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of Wendy. She perceived Wendy as a devil. Wendy was the most evil person she had ever seen! She couldn't imagine how a person could be that evil.Yet, Renee never considered her own flaws while judging others.Renee's unexpected appearance did not make Iris feel anything. She entered a restaurant's private room with the cake. The private room was filled with Brad's friends. They were playfully teasing him, saying, "You don't race with us anymore. You barely even ha
Wendy stood up and gestured to the various luxury items she had purchased, sprawled across the couch. "Bring them up for me," she commanded, treating Renee like a servant."In your dreams!" Renee yelled back defiantly.Wendy leaned casually against the staircase railing, her expression filled with contempt. Cold and calculating, she resembled a predator, no trace of weakness remaining."Don't waste your breath with empty threats. You can't do anything to me. If anything happens to me, that video of you murdering someone will land in the police's hands. That boy will also receive a copy. When he learns who killed his mother after he grows up, there's no way he'll spare you. He'll send the Stein family into chaos. The video will also be leaked to the media, exposing your crime to the world. It'll become a scandal for the Stein family, and the family business' stocks will plummet as a result. And your dear husband, the person you care about the most? When he finds out that his lover di
Iris was in no mood to talk. Yvonne shook her gently, asking, "Do you want me to take you out to relax?""Not interested," Iris replied, looking visibly exhausted.When the takeout arrived, she only picked at her food, taking just a few bites before losing interest.It wasn't that the food wasn't tasty; she simply had no appetite.Yvonne received a phone call. She asked Iris if she wanted to join her. Iris declined."Then I'll see you next time," Yvonne said while getting up."Mmh," Iris responded absentmindedly.After Yvonne left, Iris packed up the food and decided to go to bed early.The day of the trial arrived as scheduled. Despite her best efforts, the trial proved challenging, and the outcome was not what she had hoped for. The client commented, "Honestly, it's better than what I expected. There's a big difference between five years and ten years. I'll reform well, show good behavior, and try to get released early."Iris remained silent. The outcome wasn't satisfactor