Jason stared at Iris' message. He wondered how she was feeling. He had a thousand words on his mind and many things he wanted to say, but he had to refrain from expressing them.Setting down his phone, he rose from the couch and headed to the wardrobe to get dressed. He had plans for the day.-Iris spent a long time thinking about the case. Without sufficient evidence, it would be hard to convict Ted. Therefore, she decided to draft an indictment first.She aimed to startle Ted so that Ted would come talk to her on his own. If evidence was lacking, she would have to extract it from him.She submitted the indictment. It would take some time for it to be processed. She had the day off, so she decided to visit her parents.To mask her pale complexion, she applied some makeup; she didn’t want her parents to see her looking unwell, or they would worry about her.Along the way, she stopped to buy some fruits that her parents loved.When she arrived at her parents' house, she rang th
Iris was taken aback by Cassie's question. She looked at her mother in confusion. "Dating someone?" she asked, puzzled.Cassie studied her daughter, noting the makeup and the rosy blush on her cheeks, which gave her an appearance of someone blissfully in love. To Cassie, Iris' ignorance seemed like an act. Perhaps she thought it wasn’t the right time to announce it yet? After all, they probably hadn't been dating for that long.Holding her daughter's hand, Cassie spoke earnestly, "Iris, you're still very young. It’s wonderful that you can move on from your divorce so quickly. Mom and Dad are both really happy for you." She was really glad Iris hadn’t lost faith in love after a failed marriage.Iris was even more confused now. "Mom...""Alright, let’s not talk about it." Cassie stood up. "I need to steam the rice."The rice for sushi had to be steamed and cooled beforehand, so she needed to prepare it hours in advance.Iris stood up to help, but Cassie stopped her. "You rarely v
Therefore, they didn't think much of the call, considering it just another part of her job. Iris went to the balcony and closed the sliding door behind her. Iris had only submitted the indictment earlier that morning, so she was surprised to receive such a quick response. Typically, it could take a few days or even a week to get a reply. She's puzzled, but she's not complaining."I understand," she said before hanging up, returning to the dining table to finish her meal.Cassie asked, "Do you have to go back to work?"Iris nodded. "Yes, I have to leave after the meal."Although her parents wished she could stay longer, they knew it couldn't be helped.After lunch, Cassie reluctantly saw Iris off at the door.Iris said with a smile, "Go back inside. I’ll come again in a few days. My apartment isn’t that far."Cassie hesitated, wanting to ask her to visit more often, but instead said, "Keep working hard. You don't have to come that often. Your Dad and I don’t want you to distu
Ted's head was bandaged and there was a stubble on his face. His clothes were wrinkled and disheveled. He was on the phone, pacing back and forth anxiously."Those are our company's main projects. All our funds are tied up in them, so we must complete them or we risk losing everything. We might go bankrupt. Find out who's behind this; I'll try to use my connections to smooth things over," he said before hanging up.Looking up, his gaze met Iris' through the windshield. They locked eyes for a few seconds before Iris got down from the car."Iris..." Ted greeted her uneasily."Don't call my name; we're not that close," Iris replied, her voice cold, trying to maintain her distance."Can we talk?" Ted asked, his palms sweaty.This was precisely what Iris wanted. She gestured toward a cafe across the street. "Let's go there."Ted hesitated because of his current precarious situation. "You live here, right? Can't we go to your place?""Do you think I would let you into my home?" Iris'
"I have nothing to say to you. I'll see you in court," Iris said, suppressing the fear and panic within her, trying her best to maintain a calm and resolute demeanor.Ted chuckled, "Iris, you can't win."Not only did she lack evidence, she also had no backing. Although the Zeller family was in trouble, they're still much more powerful than the Glover family.Connections matter, too.The Zeller family had been doing business for years. They had a lot of connections. Even if Iris tried to make some noise, Ted could easily suppress it.Iris was aware of that too; she just refused to stay quiet. Her heart sank further. How could criminals be allowed to roam free just because they're powerful people?Seizing the moment, Ted's tone softened as he said, "I swear to you that I'll treat you well." He looked deeply into her eyes, his gaze filled with love.He truly loved her.He could hardly hold back his affection for her and his desire to have her."You're sick!" Iris exclaimed. S
Iris hated herself for feeling this way. A little hardship like that should not have traumatized her so badly. Yet Jason reassured her, "You're doing great. Women are naturally disadvantaged in our society. You recently fell for the trap of a grown man. It's perfectly normal to feel frightened."She pursed her lips. "You're really good at making people feel better."In truth, she only fell for the trap because Ted was an old friend. That day, she was completely blindsided."Are you feeling better now? Do you want me to take you somewhere to relax?" Jason asked."Where?" Iris looked up and was immediately captivated by his strong profile and star-like eyes. He was undeniably handsome. After spending time with him, she felt as though he was an elder guiding her, providing her with comfort and support.If Jason knew what she was thinking, he would probably retort with, "Who are you calling an elder?""Can you ride a horse?" he asked.Iris shook her head. "No, I've never tried i
Jason parked the car, and they both stepped out.Iris stood in the warm sunlight, gazing up at the blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The bright rays illuminated the expansive equestrian field in the distance."Let's go," Jason said, leading her inside.Iris nodded and followed him. They soon reached the reception area, where the manager spotted Jason and promptly came forward to greet him. "It's great to see you again!" His familiarity and respect indicated that Jason was a regular customer."Hello," Jason replied with a slight nod. "Please take her to change clothes."Iris' outfit was unsuitable for horseback riding. She had to change into riding attire.The manager smiled at her and said, "No problem. This way, ma'am.""Thank you," Iris responded, following the manager to the changing area. A female attendant was called in to assist her. The equestrian attire was all brand new. Iris wasn't sure if there would be extra charges for the attire, but it seemed like she didn't h
Iris bit her lip. She really wanted to try it.Jason smiled and encouraged her, "Go on."Given the height of the horse, she struggled to mount. Jason asked her to hold the reins and stand next to the horse's belly. He then got down on one knee, wrapped an arm around her legs, and lifted her onto the horse's back.As she settled in, she felt a little scared; the height was intimidating, and the horse felt restless beneath her."It... It doesn't recognize its owner, does it?" she asked nervously."Of course it does," Jason said."Huh?" The moment she heard that, panic surged through her. "No, find me another horse – what if it throws me off?""I'm right here," Jason replied, swiftly jumping onto the horse too, riding behind her. He took hold of the reins and wrapped one arm securely around her waist. "Don't worry; I won't let you fall."His hold was tight. Iris was acutely aware of his strong arm that was hugging her waist. Her slender body fit snugly against his.She could feel
After the waiter finished serving the food, he exited the private room and closed the door.Iris retreated to the wall. The door was shut tight, isolating the sounds within. She stood frozen. Jason and Fiora were siblings? And Jason only liked her because she looked like the woman of his dreams?A bitter chuckle escaped her at the thought. No wonder. With Jason's qualities, there was no reason for him to be interested in her.Thank goodness. Thank goodness she hadn't allowed herself to believe that he liked her because of her qualities. Thank goodness she hadn't invested too much emotionally. Thank goodness she had found out early, so it's not too late.Taking a deep breath, she went back to Brad, who was slumping in his chair, looking unwell. He looked up at her, his face a picture of discomfort. "Iris, I feel terrible," he said pitifully.Iris sighed. "I'll go buy you some digestive pills. Wait here."Brad nodded obediently. "Okay."Iris quickly searched for a nearby pharmac
They moved to a private room for their meal. Fiora's eyes were swollen from crying; her breakup with Stanley had hit her hard. Jessica, on the other hand, was pretty happy about the breakup. "Hmph, what's there to cry about? Pathetic."Despite the situation, Fiora retorted stubbornly, "Have you never been in love, Mom?"Jessica was momentarily taken aback. "Who knows if what you feel is really love?" she sneered.Perhaps Jessica had never lacked love and therefore couldn't relate. She and her husband had grown up together and had matching backgrounds. After marriage, they had a son and a daughter, and their relationship was stable. Their relationship, while not as passionate as those depicted on screen, had endured through the years. Her husband, despite his wealth and status, did not fool around outside or have an affair. He was devoted to his family and was a responsible and caring husband. Wasn't that a relationship to be envied? Passionate love was rare in this world; it w
"Contribute to the country?" Brad leaned on the table and teased, "You're quite patriotic, aren't you?"Iris asked, "Don't you love your country?""Of course I do," Brad responded.Iris walked out of the reception room. "I hope that's a truthful answer," she remarked, glancing back at him."I wouldn't deign to tell lies..." His voice trailed off as his stomach rumbled loudly, prompting an awkward cough.Iris chuckled. "I'll treat you to breakfast."Brad rolled his eyes. "Boss, it's already ten o'clock. Are you sure it's breakfast and not lunch?"Iris packed her things. "Don't call me 'boss.'"Brad stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You care about that kind of thing?""Of course," she replied. "'Boss' makes me feel old. I'm still young."Suddenly, Brad leaned in close. When Iris looked up, she was startled to see his face right in front of her."You scared me," she said, glaring at him.He laughed heartily. "Haha...""Let's go," Iris said, heading ou
After that, the man eagerly asked, "Do I have a chance?"Iris pondered for a bit and replied, "You do, if everything you said is true...""Everything I said is true," the man hastily interjected.Iris raised her eyes, her gaze cold and firm. "Let me finish?""Okay, okay," he nodded, listening intently as she continued. "The first time you sexually assaulted her, she was still young, so she can't remember it clearly. Without direct evidence, it's difficult to prove what you did. She can only be certain about the sexual assault that occurred when she was in 10th grade. However, at that time, she was no longer a minor. The most crucial point is that there is a huge time gap between that incident and her recent suicide, so it would be challenging for the prosecution to link the two events together. However, if they have enough evidence, you will be convicted for sexual assault."The man's expression dimmed. "Oh, I see. If her suicide cannot be directly linked to my actions and I'm onl
Brad finished the coffee in one go. Iris frowned as she observed him. Something appeared to be on his mind. After setting the cup down, he expressed his gratitude. "Thanks," he said, grabbing his coat and standing up. "Shall we have breakfast together?" he invited."I've already eaten. I'm waiting for someone," Iris replied."Okay, never mind then," Brad shrugged. He draped his coat over his shoulder and walked away unsteadily.After checking the time, Iris said, "I can keep you company though." However, right after she said that, the woman arrived. "Looks like I can't," she said apologetically.Brad suddenly walked back and asked, "Can I join you?"While Iris was hesitating, he explained, "My father said he would send me abroad if I don't show results at the law firm. I don't want to go abroad."Iris smiled at the woman and said, "Let's go to the reception room."She then instructed Brad, "Go make two cups of coffee and bring it over."Meeting her gaze, he understood her m
Iris did not deny that it was one of the reasons.Stanley's expression broke down completely. "Hah." It seemed like he was mocking himself. Staring at the torn pieces of paper on the ground, he admitted, "I didn't even attend that seminar. It wasn't me who wrote that review."This revelation stunned Iris. "It wasn't you?"But she quickly regained her composure. It didn't matter anymore at this point."Just leave," she said, once again driving him away.Stanley stared intently at her face, searching for a hint of veiled emotion, but all he found was cold indifference. "Do you love me as a person, or—""Do you really want me to call the cops?" Iris interrupted, her patience wearing thin. She didn't want to engage in discussions about love or past relationships; it was all behind her. What did it matter now? People should look forward, not dwell on the past."You call me heartless, but you're even more heartless than I am," Stanley said hoarsely.Iris was unmoved. Stanley cont
Iris pushed open the car door and stepped out, quickly walking away as if trying to escape. She wasn't entirely sure what she feared — perhaps she was afraid that she couldn't handle whatever Jason might say. Once home, she received a text from him: [The business trip is delayed for a day.]She stared at the message for a long moment before replying with a simple [Okay.]Feeling utterly exhausted, she lay down on her bed and fell asleep without even showering.The next morning, she took a shower after she woke up and changed into clean clothes. She then left the house to go to her parents' home to take her parents to the hospital for a full-body checkup.However, when she opened the door of her apartment, something fell inside, startling her.That "something" turned out to be Stanley, who had been sleeping at her doorstep. He stood up with a stubbly beard, tired eyes, and wrinkled clothes. "I came last night. I wanted to knock but was afraid of disturbing your sleep..."Iris' e
She tried to make excuses for herself.Jason said, "It's okay."He looked at Iris.Iris helplessly rubbed her temples. There was nothing she could do about her mother's temper.Iris suggested taking Dennis to the hospital, but he stubbornly refused, insisting he was fine except for a minor injury on his face.Cassie said it was late and that she would take him to the hospital tomorrow to get a full-body checkup.Reluctantly, Iris acquiesced to their wishes. After Iris' parents exited the car, Cassie suddenly remembered something and turned back. "Iris, your Aunt Kendra said you and Jason have helped her a lot, so she wants you two to visit so she can thank you properly."Iris immediately rejected it. "Tell her there's no need. I'm busy with work lately, so I won't be able to visit."Cassie frowned. "Why didn't you tell me about what happened to Kendra and her family?"Iris saw through her mother's intentions immediately. "Why should I tell you about other people's affairs? B
Renee bristled at the suggestion that she should go over to them. "Tell them to come here. They should be grateful that I'm willing to apologize to them. I'm not going over there. They don't deserve it."Stanley said, "You came to apologize. Go."He understood the stakes clearly. If his mother and Iris' parents became hostile, his chances of salvaging his relationship with Iris would plummet. Therefore, even though he knew how stubborn Renee was, he still persuaded her to go over to them.Renee couldn't put her pride aside. She had always looked down on Iris' parents, and being asked to take the initiative to go over to them felt like a total humiliation. Apologizing to them was already a huge compromise."Since you've come to apologize, then do it properly. Don't give them any leverage," Stanley urged.Renee snorted, "I'm not afraid of them.""You should be," Stanley insisted. "If Iris raises a ruckus at the Just residence, what chance do I have of salvaging my relationship with