Iris' mocking gaze bruised Stanley's ego."How dare you look at me like that?!" His words dripped with anger, each one aimed like a burning bomb at Iris."Now that you have a man backing you up, you think you can look down on me?" He suddenly grabbed her chin. "Have you forgotten how you used to be madly in love with me, how much you loved having sex with me? And now you give me the cold shoulder?"Iris clenched her hand into a fist and pushed his hand away, inadvertently striking his injured arm.Although the cast had been removed, his arm was not fully healed yet and was still wrapped in bandages. He had taken off the cast early because it was uncomfortable and inconvenient.He winced in pain from the blow.Furious, Iris slapped him across the face. "Can you be any more disgusting?"She slapped him so hard that her palm was numb; she shook it at her side.Stanley was stunned. Then, he glared at her, rage boiling in his bloodshot eyes.A man's face represented his dignity!I
Fiora glared at Iris with malice in her eyes.She wished she could kill Iris! Iris raised her eyebrows, finding it amusing that Fiora would turn on her own kind over a scumbag."Step aside," Iris said coldly.Fiora clenched her hands into fists. "You're gonna pay for this!""Quite the temper you have there, Miss Just," Brad commented as he walked over and pushed Fiora aside.Fiora frowned, indignant. "This has nothing to do with you! Mind your own business!""It has nothing to do with you either," Brad sneered. "You should mind your own business too.""This bitch is shamelessly seducing my man. Of course it has something to do with me," Fiora shot back, her tone filled with venom. "You'd better watch out, Brad Vassell. Even your father has to show my brother some respect. Crossing me won't end well for you."Her words carried a threatening undertone, but Brad was unfazed. He always made his father mad anyway.Who does she think she is?Just because she had money and power,
Iris smiled, thinking, it would be nice if they could truly disappear from her sight forever. Out of sight, out of mind."Come, Iris, try this. It's delicious," Brad said, offering her a piece of roasted goose liver with black truffle."Thank you," Iris replied with a smile.Brad rested his chin on his hand, unable to resist the urge to gossip. "Did you divorce your ex-husband because he cheated on you with Fiora?"The smile on Iris' face turned stiff."I'm just curious," Brad added, blinking innocently.Iris sighed. "No.""Oh, I thought Fiora was the homewrecker," he said, feeling disappointed for some reason. He believed it wasn't beneath Fiora to do something like that."Then why did you divorce?" he asked.Looking at Brad's curious face, Iris smiled helplessly. "You really like to dig deep, don't you?" She put down her utensils. "We divorced because he cheated on me with a woman named Wendy, who is now in prison. You must be wondering why she's in prison, right? It's bec
Stanley's lips curled into a complicated smile.Iris had once loved him too, but she had left him decisively, ignoring his plea to reconcile."Really? You'll never leave me?" he asked. When he turned his head, his lips brushed against Fiora's face.It made Fiora's petite body tremble in his arms. Her cheeks blushed.She snuggled closer and replied, "I'll never leave you. I'll love you forever."A lifetime is so long; how can something like that be decided so hastily? Little did she know, things were about to change very soon.She asked timidly, "Can we not break up? I want to marry you."Stanley nodded. "Okay."Fiora immediately beamed with joy. "I'll take you to the hospital," she offered, supporting him.Stanley draped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. Fiora's heart raced with excitement as she tiptoed and planted a kiss on his cheek. Stanley's lips twitched, forming a smile that wasn't quite a smile....Fiora took Stanley to the hospital.After t
Fiora's eyes widened as she absorbed the revelation. "Stanley tried to send his ex-wife to prison?"Until now, she had only known that they were divorced. She assumed it was due to a lack of love.So Stanley wanted to send his ex-wife to prison?Then he must not love her anymore!Hahaha...Fiora actually had a strong dislike for Iris, especially after witnessing her interaction with Stanley earlier. She had even considered hiring people to teach Iris a lesson, but now, after hearing what Jason said, she found that she did not hate Iris that much anymore.She even felt a bit of sympathy for Iris.After four years of marriage, her husband wanted to send her to prison? Tsk tsk..."You didn't know that?" Jason frowned. It made her think that his sister was a fool. "Luckily, it's not too late to break up with him.""I don't want to," Fiora replied, biting her lip. "Jason, you know what it feels like to love someone but not being able to have them. So, please don’t stop me. So what
Fiora followed Jason down the stairs. "Jason, you're not young anymore. It's normal for Mom to be anxious." They were the main branch of the Just family, and Jason was the only son; it was understandable for their family to be anxious."Mind your own business," Jason replied curtly.Fiora rolled her eyes and watched her brother get into the car before taking out her phone to call Samuel. The call was quickly answered. "Can you come over?" she asked."Yes," he responded.…At the Golden Path Law Firm, Iris met with the client.The situation was actually more complicated than what was written on the case files."The woman my husband had an affair with—her husband is a soldier, and now they want to sue him for destroying a soldier's marriage," the client said, her eyes hollow, dark circles betraying her exhaustion. She must not have been sleeping well.Iris raised an eyebrow, thinking the man deserved to be sued."They're suing him; it doesn't concern you," Iris stated matter-o
Iris waited patiently for the client to make her choice. She knew the decision between freedom and money was not an easy one.For many people, freedom and money were the primary pursuits in life. The client had a tough choice to make, so it was understandable that she needed time to contemplate. If it were Iris, she would prioritize freedom because she believed that with time, she could create value no matter what, so she would not be left with nothing.On the contrary, she couldn't regain lost time.After a ten-minute mental struggle, the client ultimately chose freedom. Iris assured her, "I will fight to get as much assets for you as possible."The client nodded hard and said, "Thank you, Ms. Glover." Lawyers from the Golden Path Law Firm were held in high regard, so the client trusted Iris unconditionally. Iris was committed to securing the best outcome for her client too.…Iris diligently worked on the case over the next few days. Her efforts were not in vain. She mana
Iris wasn't offended by his attitude. She could understand the emotional turmoil the ball-less man was experiencing. All his close friends and family must have found out what happened to him by now.His dignity as a man had been compromised. He would never be a real man anymore. It was natural for him to feel ashamed and irritated.How could he not? He couldn't even perform the most basic function as a man anymore.In a gentle tone, she introduced herself, "Hi, I'm your wife's lawyer. I...""I have nothing to discuss with you," he cut her short, displaying clear resistance and hostility. "If you're here to mediate, you can leave now!"Unfazed, Iris took a seat by the bed and continued softly, "Your wife won't stop crying. She really regrets her impulsive actions."She tried her best to be considerate of his feelings and showed him ample respect while expressing his wife's regret."She showed no mercy when she kicked me!" he retorted angrily. "Look at what she's done to me! Eve
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