Fiora's face heated up, a subtle blush blooming like peach blossoms, charming and captivating in its innocence. Standing before the man she admired, she couldn't help having dirty thoughts.Swallowing hard, she reached out to touch his chest...Stanley stepped back, looking at Fiora in surprise. Fiora's hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, embarrassment washing over her as her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red."Sorry..." she stammered, retracting her hand.Stanley looked down and saw her flushed cheeks. His heart softened when he thought of how she had stayed up all night by his side, then got busy in the kitchen early in the morning, making breakfast for him. Here was a wealthy young lady who could have easily been pampered at home, yet she chose to roll up her sleeves and care for him. In contrast, Iris was cold and indifferent, hanging up on his calls and treating him heartlessly!Fiora was a woman who was sincerely good to him. He felt deeply moved."There's nothing to
Henry replied in the group chat: [OK.]Lester chimed in: [Just the three of us?]Would there be other people?Stanley read the replies and responded with a voice message: [I'll introduce you guys to someone.]Fiora's face flushed with embarrassment.Lester seemed to have figured out what Stanley wanted to do. He sent Stanley a private message: [Are you and Miss Just getting serious?]Just last night, he looked so heartbroken, to the point of drowning his sorrows with alcohol. And now, he had already moved on and was getting serious with Fiora?Would he really not regret this later?Concerned for his friend, Lester warned him: [Miss Just's feelings for you run deep. Once you've accepted her, it'll be hard to break it off. Are you sure about this?]Stanley turned to Fiora and said, "I want more soup."She immediately went to get more from the kitchen.Quietly, Stanley replied to Lester with a voice message: [Why would I want to break it off?]Lester was speechless. [Fine, f
Cassie pushed open the car door and stepped out with her head held high, exuding confidence that suggested she was ready to confront anyone.Iris followed her out, and Dennis remarked, "I hope your mother can tone it down a bit."Iris smiled knowingly. "You've been with her for half your life; don’t you understand her temperament yet?""Your mother's not a bad person, but...""There you are!" Before he could finish, Mrs. Linderhof, who lived next door to Iris' aunt, greeted them with a bright smile. "Long time no see!" Dennis greeted her."Is this your daughter? She’s getting more and more beautiful! She looks like a celebrity!"Dennis returned her smile, while Iris offered a polite one in response."Let’s go in," she suggested."Sure," Dennis agreed and gestured for his family to follow.Inside, the venue was bustling with people, adorned with festive lights and decorations. A stage had been set up at the entrance due to the limited space. A band was playing lively music.
Kendra ran into Stanley and Renee? Cassie couldn't believe her luck.Turning to Iris, Kendra pressed, "Iris, is it true?"Panic washed over Cassie. Just moments ago, people had looked up to her, but now the tables had turned, making her a subject of ridicule. The blow was too much for her to handle; her body swayed unsteadily.Dennis quickly stepped in to support her. Cassie pushed his hand away and tried to argue, "You heard wrong. Iris couldn't possibly be divorced...""I have photo evidence," Kendra rebutted, pulling out her phone to show Cassie a picture of Fiora walking arm in arm with Stanley. "Why would I lie, Cassie? I’m only doing this for Iris' sake. If she’s divorced, she’s divorced. Why do you feel the need to hide it? If you come clean, I can help you figure something out."Cassie glanced at the photo, her heart sinking as she recognized Stanley with another girl. She had seen that girl before – she caught her and Stanley kissing in public.Cassie's chest rose and fe
Kendra showed Iris the photo too. "Look at that woman. Look how eager she is."Iris lowered her gaze.It was a picture of Fiora caring for Stanley in the hospital after his accident, which Kendra managed to capture.Iris was aware of it, so it didn’t surprise her. Instead, a hint of disdain and sadness crossed her face.Vince glanced at the photo and couldn't help but comment, "He has no shame.""Yes, he does have no shame," Kendra agreed. "And the same goes for that woman. I bet she already started seeing Stanley before the divorce. Women these days have no morals – they just throw themselves at any man." She sounded serious when she said that."But she is pretty. Stanley is such a lucky bastard..." she continued."Mom, go talk to other people too. There are a lot of guests to entertain," he said, gently pushing Kendra away to curb her incessant chatter. He then turned back to Iris, winked, and said, "Don’t mind her."The younger generation actually got along fine; it was th
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!Fireworks erupted into the sky with a deafening roar, filling the air with the sound of celebrations. Since the fireworks were set off during the day, their impact was more about sound than sight.The bride walked in, performed the wedding ceremony, distributed candy, and completed the necessary rituals before the wedding banquet commenced. The lively celebration continued until after three in the afternoon. Many guests started to leave after their meals. Only close relatives remained, invited by Kendra to enjoy a final dinner.Though reluctant, Cassie stayed behind. The large table was crowded with uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, and the newlyweds, along with Iris' family."It's rare for our entire family to gather like this. It’s a pity Soren isn’t here," Kendra remarked. Soren, the youngest son of Iris' maternal uncle, was away studying at a university. He had two older sisters, one older than Iris and the other younger. The eldest sister was married with
Iris was not looking too happy either.She was actually the one who was the most upset.The whole afternoon, everyone had discussed her marriage and criticized her ex-husband, while she could only remain silent because there was nothing to argue. Her husband had indeed cheated on her.She was indeed divorced.It was embarrassing.Cassie gasped.Caught up in her own emotions, she had failed to notice her daughter’s suffering."Iris...""I'm fine, Mom. You and Dad should take a nap; you've had a long day, and it’ll take a while to get home," Iris assured her."Oh, okay," Cassie replied, no longer daring to complain. She turned back to Dennis guiltily.Dennis shook his head, signaling her to hold her tongue. Cassie didn’t dare to upset Iris further.…When they arrived, Iris parked the car to let her parents off. Dennis waited for Cassie to exit the car before turning to his daughter. "Don’t take their words to heart."Iris gave him a faint smile. "I know.""Dennis,
Lester stared at Iris in disbelief. Iris looked up, and her eyes met Stanley's furious gaze. He was staring at her like a predator staring at a prey, ready to pounce at any moment.Iris looked behind him and spotted Henry there too. Were they here for dinner?It wasn't unusual to see the three of them together, so Iris wasn’t surprised.Lester stole a peek at Stanley.Stanley's face was tense, clearly on the verge of exploding!Iris withdrew her gaze from them. She remained calm and composed, as if she didn't notice anything.With a smile at Lester and Henry, she said, "I have to go. Bye."No one replied.Henry and Lester could both feel the chill emanating from Stanley.After a moment, Henry finally said, "Okay, see you around."Jason moved a little closer to Iris, his sharp eyes casually glancing past Stanley. This provoked Stanley; his hands clenched into fists, veins standing out on the back of his hands."Um, did you drive here?" Lester asked Iris, attempting to eas
Cassie smiled upon hearing that. "I'll tidy up your room for you."She walked away with light steps, every cell in her body leaping with joy, indicating her good mood.Dennis watched his wife with love and indulgence in his eyes. "Look how happy she is."Iris noticed the affection in her father's eyes. She was deeply moved by his love for her mother.In the old days, there were a lot of men who couldn't accept not having a son, so her father's equal regard for daughters was refreshing. It showed how much he loved his wife."My career is on the rise now. In a couple of years, once my career stabilizes, I'll take on fewer cases, and I'll have more time to spend with you," Iris said."Okay," Dennis replied.Iris spent the evening watching TV and chatting with her parents. She listened to Cassie gossip about their relatives.Cassie and Dennis usually went to bed early, but they stayed up late that day because Iris was there. The three of them conversed and enjoyed each other's comp
Cassie failed to understand her husband's intentions and remarked, "It's not easy for our daughter to earn money. Do we really need to go on vacation? Since when are you so extravagant?""I..."Before Dennis could explain, Iris set down her cutlery and addressed her mother earnestly. "Mom, I'm happy to spend money on you. Your happiness is what matters to me. If I earn money but don't use it, what's the point? Since Dad wants to go, you should go with him. You both have worked hard all your lives; it's time to enjoy yourselves. Don't worry about money; I'm doing well."She retrieved a bank card from her bag. "There's $150,000 in here."Cassie's eyes widened. "So much?"Iris continued, "I'm an official lawyer now and can earn commissions from cases. You both should spend some money and enjoy yourselves. Don't hold back."Cassie took the card, but didn't put it in her pocket. Despite her love for money, Cassie was reluctant to spend the money that her daughter earned. She returned
Iris chuckled upon hearing that. "Why do you sound like a clingy girlfriend?""Just think of me as your clingy girlfriend then," he replied with a grin.Iris looked at the time."What's the matter? Do you have a date?" Brad asked.She shook her head. "I have an appointment with a witness.""Do you want to go there directly or do you want to go to the law firm first?" he asked.Iris decided they should stop by the law firm first to pick up some stuff. Brad nodded, and they headed to the firm before meeting the witness.The case Iris was handling was complex and couldn't be resolved quickly; it involved multiple parties and factors. Iris was also juggling another case simultaneously. A month later, one case was resolved while another entered its final critical stage, keeping her extremely busy.During this time, Cassie had called her, telling Iris she missed her and asking Iris to visit, but Iris simply didn't have the time. This hectic pace continued for another two months.Sum
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