Was he getting addicted to acting?He shouldn't be a lawyer. He should be an actor. He would definitely win a lot of awards.Most young actors nowadays rely on their looks more than their talents anyway. Jason's combination of talent and good looks would surely make him a star.Cassie replied, "I'm very satisfied, but if you don't treat Iris well, I still won't approve." Her expression shifted from cheerful to serious. "Iris is our only child. She has always been smart and well-behaved, never causing any trouble for us. She's a good girl...""Mom," Iris interjected, feeling like her mother was hard-selling her.Jason replied with a smile, "I know she's a good girl.""Then make sure you treat her well," Cassie said."I will," Jason replied.When they departed, Cassie and Dennis walked with them to the car to see them off.Watching the car drive away, Dennis turned to his wife and said, "We may have been a little too enthusiastic earlier; we should have held back a bit more.""
Wendy gripped the door handle tightly, watching Stanley in his engagement attire alongside the woman who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.She thought Stanley would save her after she was arrested.She thought Stanley would marry her after he divorced Iris.Yet all her meticulous planning and efforts had only resulted in him marrying someone else.She glared at Fiora, feeling a surge of hatred. It seemed to her that Fiora had stolen the fruits of her labor. If it weren't for her schemes, Iris and Stanley wouldn't have divorced, and this woman wouldn't be engaged to Stanley. She felt utterly robbed.During her six-month imprisonment, she had been on her best behavior. She had even risked her life to work with the police force to expose the leader of a drug trafficking ring, aiding in the capture of the whole gang.She had no past record of drug abuse or trafficking; she had never even tested positive for drugs. She had also shown genuine remorse and had even aided the police.
Henry bluntly remarked, "You look like you're attending a funeral."Lester nudged him. "Come on, don't say something like that on his engagement day."Stanley did not seem to mind at all. He appeared indifferent.Lester and Henry exchanged glances."Stanley, it's not too late to change your mind…" Henry began."Tch!" Stanley scoffed. "She openly acted intimate with other men in front of me. Why can't I get engaged?"Lester scratched his head. He's throwing a tantrum? They had already divorced. She had every right to move on.As the time for the ceremony approached, Renee arrived to summon Stanley to the front hall. The engagement setup was dreamy and romantic, featuring flowers transported by cold chain delivery to ensure their freshness. The lavish arrangements included high-end red and white wines, with every table at the banquet reportedly costing millions. Renee had spared no expense to ensure a grand event for Fiora. She had even gifted Fiora with some jewelry from her pr
It was a monumental scandal.Tugging at her mother's sleeve, Fiora's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Mom, lots of people are watching. Let's finish the engagement first."Fiora's mother, Jessica, felt a storm brewing within her. Was her daughter under some kind of spell? Fiora's too naive, too trusting of people. Must she get hurt before she would learn her lesson?Jessica blamed herself for spoiling Fiora."What's so good about that guy?" she pointed an accusatory finger at Stanley.Seizing the moment, Renee slapped Stanley hard. "Who did you offend? Why would someone set you up like this at your own engagement party? I've never seen that woman before; the video must be fake or AI-generated. That's definitely not you."Renee was quick to perform damage control. She assured Jessica, "Jessica, there's no need to worry. If Stanley does anything to hurt Fiora, I won't spare him. You know how much I like Fiora; the engagement gifts I gave her are our family's most valuable jewelry
"That means you don't love her, right?" Fiora asked."I don't," Stanley answered without hesitation.Fiora smiled, satisfied.Meanwhile, Wendy's expression turned sour, her once pure and pretty face clouded with gloom. It took every ounce of composure she had to not lunge at Stanley.Wendy knew she would only be able to gain something if she remained in the dark. If she showed herself to Fiora, it wouldn't end well for her.She knew what her strengths and weaknesses were. She knew how to make use of her advantages.The engagement party was not perfect because of Wendy's disruption, but at least it managed to conclude without further incident.Fiora changed out of her gown. Afterward, she joined Stanley, Lester, and Henry for a night out.They had a crazy night, taking Fiora's mind off the earlier turmoil....At work, Iris noticed a new email in her inbox. She thought it was a work email, but when she opened it, she found that the sender was Wendy.Wendy didn't say much. She
Before Iris could respond, Wendy continued, as if she understood Iris, "From what I know, you love him very much. There's no way you would let him go that easily. You're just putting on a brave face in front of me. There's no need to do that."Iris raised her eyebrows but chose not to clarify."Are you really willing to let that woman take away your marriage and the man who belongs to you?""She has never taken anything from me," Iris replied coolly. "They only got together after my divorce. If anyone has 'taken' anything from me, it's you, the person who ruined my marriage. You went to prison for a man and will have to live as an ex-convict from now on. If you have any children in the future, it'll affect them too. Don't you think that's really stupid?" Now that Iris had found out Wendy's intention, she had no more reason to stay. She grabbed her bag and stood up to leave. "Stop contacting me or sending letters to my parents, or I'll sue you."With that, she strode out of the co
He grabbed Iris from behind, pressing a dagger against her neck. "You bitch! You'll do anything to win a lawsuit! You've harmed my interests! I'll never forgive you!" The ball-less man's voice was filled with rage.Iris was startled. After realizing what was happening, she forced herself to calm down. "You've got it wrong. I followed the proper procedures...""Don't try to deceive me with your tricky words! I know what you did! You laid a trap for me in order to win the case! I knew it was too good to be true! That lawyer named Stein suddenly came to me and offered to represent me for free, but it's all a trap! He's part of your scheme!" His agitation mounted with each word.In his intensity, he inadvertently pressed the blade harder against her neck, drawing blood. Iris felt a sharp pain.Someone in the law firm had noticed the situation at the entrance and had immediately called the police.Sally, the receptionist, rushed to inform Jason. "Mr. Just, your assistant has been tak
Blood flowed from Jason's palm. The pain made him frown. He kicked the ball-less man away and swiftly grabbed Iris' waist, pulling her to safety from the man's grasp.Iris half-turned, falling into Jason's strong embrace. His strong arm wrapped around her like a living vine, holding her securely against him. She could feel the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat.Looking up, she saw his fierce face. The usually composed Jason was now visibly furious, his expression dark and intense. His terrifying gaze pierced the ball-less man like an invisible blade.Iris rarely saw him get mad. This was the first time she had seen him so furious. Was his anger a reflection of his concern for her? She quickly dismissed the thought, reminding herself that his kindness for her was solely due to Professor Sandler.On the ground, the ball-less man writhed in pain, clutching his stomach where Jason had kicked him.The onlooking lawyers took the opportunity to step forward and restrain him, preve
Jason examined his palm and said, "It's already healed."Iris served him some food, cautioning, "You can't be too careful."The wound was really deep, so it's best to see a doctor to make sure.After they finished their meal, Iris cleaned the dishes and tidied up before they left for the hospital together.The doctor assessed Jason's hand, which had healed well. He removed the stitches and prescribed medication for scar removal, instructing him to apply it to the wound every morning and evening for optimal healing. He assured Jason that it would heal well since it was a new scar.As they left the hospital, Jason's phone rang. It was Fiora calling, prompting him to step aside to take the call."Jason, when are you bringing your girlfriend over for dinner? Mom said you're already living together, so don't even think about lying to me," Fiora said.Jason glanced at Iris. "If you have so much free time, why don't you check on your fiancé? Ask him what he's been up to lately.""Why
His arms were strong, and his broad and sturdy frame created a comforting embrace.The weather had turned warm, so they were wearing thin clothes. Iris could feel the heat radiating from his body, almost burning through the fabric.She lowered her gaze slightly and shifted her body. "Stop fooling around," she said.Leaning closer, Jason whispered near her ear, "What are you thinking about?""I'm not thinking of anything," Iris replied, though she quickly realized what he really meant to ask. When she turned her head, their lips brushed, and a flush crept across her face. Trying to maintain her composure, she added, "You want to know if I still have feelings for him, right? Wasn't my attitude just now firm enough?"Jason studied her slightly offended expression. "Are you angry?""I don't like being tested. You know about my past, so you should brace yourself.""Brace myself for what?" he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips."Brace yourself to be harassed by my ex-husban
Before Jason could reply, Iris continued, "I'm the only child in my family. My family is quite ordinary; my parents are common folks, and my relatives are just regular people.""My family is... comfortable. I have a younger sister, and my parents are alive and well," Jason replied succinctly.Iris nodded. She had finally gained a preliminary understanding of his background. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. The police seemed to have arrived.As Iris moved to open the door, Jason grabbed her arm. "You stay inside the house," he instructed firmly, then went to answer the door instead.The cops asked who had called the police. Jason explained, "My girlfriend called the police. This guy is harassing my girlfriend, banging on the door and attempting to trespass. His actions have severely affected her normal life."Stanley, hearing Jason repeatedly refer to Iris as his "girlfriend," felt a painful buzz in his head. He sneered, his face twisted in anger. "Your girlfriend? She's
Stanley could no longer hold himself back. He couldn't stand the intimate display between Jason and Iris. "Should you really be speaking such vulgar words, Mr. Just? You sound like a crook," he said sharply.He then turned towards Iris. "Iris, come back to me." He attempted to reignite the love they once shared.Iris met his eyes with indifference.Her coldness made Stanley's heart skip a beat. "I'm sorry," he murmured, the words slipping out unconsciously. Deep down, he knew he was the one at fault.Unmoved, Iris withdrew her gaze and grasped Jason's arm, looking up at Jason with eyes that shimmered with emotion. Once, she had put on an act with Jason to escape from Stanley, but now, she was no longer acting. She said sincerely, without a trace of pretense, "My dear, I'm so glad to have you in my life."Jason had guided her to slowly become a true lawyer, providing support and mentorship along the way."Let's go," she said, tightening her grip on Jason's arm.Stanley felt sha
Iris let out a mocking snort."I've never thought of getting back together with you, but I have thought about revenge. Just yesterday, I had a dream that you died. It was a grotesque, painful death – limbs broken, internal organs shattered. I was so happy that I laughed out loud. When I woke up and realized it was just a dream, do you know how disappointed I was?"Stanley's expression shifted from pale to blue, his mouth twitching in disbelief. "If insulting me makes you feel better, then go ahead. I can take it."He still seemed to believe that he could win her back as long as he apologized sincerely.Iris was so angry that she couldn't help laughing. "What are you laughing at? I know you were heartbroken after our divorce. You've felt hurt, shed tears – don't try to deny it, I've seen it with my own eyes. Let's stop tormenting each other."Iris admitted, "After the divorce, I was indeed heartbroken, but not for the reasons you think. I was sad about why I ever fell for you. I
Iris looked at the item in Jessica's hand curiously. "What's this?"Jessica smiled warmly. "There's an art exhibition the day after tomorrow. Would you be free to go?"Iris had already declined an invitation to Jessica's house, so refusing again would seem impolite. She set down her grocery bags and accepted the ticket with both hands. "Thank you, Jessica.""Then I'll pick you up at the gate at three o'clock the day after tomorrow?" Jessica suggested, looking at Iris expectantly.Iris nodded. "Okay.""Alright, I won't keep you any longer. Jason might be wondering what's happening to you," Jessica said, beaming. In her eyes, Iris and Jason were clearly living together. Their previous encounter at Jason's house could have been a coincidence, but seeing Iris again – this time, back from buying household items and groceries – all but confirmed it.It wasn't just speculation. They were definitely living together.Iris sensed that something was off in her words but brushed it off, thi
Fiora almost screamed. "You saw Jason's girlfriend?! Is she pretty? Are you satisfied with her?"Jessica replied, "The girl is quite nice. I'm just glad your brother found someone he likes.""So, she's coming over today?" Fiora asked eagerly."I haven't called her yet," Jessica said."Mom, you need to call in advance! You have to give a girl time to prepare," Fiora insisted.Her mother contemplated her words. "Alright, I'll call right now."She washed her hands and went to the living room. Excited to catch a glimpse of her future sister-in-law, Fiora grabbed the phone and dialed the number for her."Here you go, Mom," she said, kindly placing the phone to her mother's ear.Jessica gave Fiora a glance and took the phone. Once the call connected, she spoke, "Jason, bring your girlfriend over for dinner tonight."Jason was aware that Iris was busy lately. Moreover, they had only just started dating, so it wasn't the right time to take her home yet. He hadn't even told her about h
What shocked Wendy was Fiora's background. She carried herself with an air of authority, like a queen, and her bodyguards and subordinates treated her with the utmost respect.The woman could have easily found herself a better man than Stanley. Why was she competing with her for Stanley?In Wendy's social circle, Stanley was the most desirable choice. Therefore, Wendy would do anything to secure him for herself. He could change her destiny. By marrying him, she could elevate her social status and provide a better future for her children.But why would Fiora want a divorced man like Stanley? Was it love? The thought was laughable to Wendy. In this world, didn't everyone weigh their options to make the better choice for themself? Wasn't love just a side product?Wendy harbored love for Stanley too, but her urgent desire to elevate her status through him outweighed that love.She tried to stand but found herself unable to due to the ropes binding her. They restricted her movements
Smack!Wendy's voice was cut off as a fierce slap landed across her face."You told us we would be perfectly safe!" one of the men shouted."You knew you were breaking the law! You were terrible people to begin with..." Wendy retorted, her anger flaring."How dare you talk back?!"Their violence escalated, and Wendy suffered harsh blows, her cries of pain echoing in the air.When Samuel arrived, he was greeted by the sight of the three men assaulting Wendy.Despite her predicament, Wendy remained defiant. She kept yelling at the men.Samuel approached Fiora, saying, "You could have just told me to do it. There's no reason to get your hands dirty."Fiora turned to Samuel, a smile gracing her lips. "I don't want to see this woman anymore."Samuel immediately understood her wish. They had evidence of the three men's misdeeds, but Wendy..."I understand," he replied, though hesitance lingered in his tone.Fiora frowned. "Is it hard? These three men kidnapped me, and she was t