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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jessica's grace and friendliness made Iris feel somewhat awkward. Visiting someone else's house in pajamas felt rather impolite. She had never imagined visiting Jason's family under such circumstances. Fortunately, she didn't run into many people, thus avoiding further embarrassment.Despite her grievances towards Jason, she respected his mother. "Jessica, I apologize for the intrusion," Iris said politely."I'm happy that you're here," Jessica replied warmly. "I'll tell Felicia to prepare some food. You two can mind your own business." She went to the kitchen.Jason led Iris upstairs, bringing her to his bedroom. "Wait for me here," he instructed.Iris immediately asked, "How long do I have to wait?"This was an unfamiliar environment for her, and she didn't want to stay any longer than was necessary."It'll only take a moment," Jason assured her before closing the door.Iris took a quick glance around the room. It was spacious, well-furnished, clean, luxurious, and bright. She
Iris could hardly believe her ears. Her hands grabbed the seatbelt tightly, her expression filled with disbelief. She tried to keep her voice low. "Are you out of your mind? Why did you bring me to your family home? I'm still in my pajamas! I can't get out of the car. Take me back."Jason stood in front of the car door with no intention of moving. "The evidence is here. If I don't bring you here, how can I prove it to you?""Are you kidding me?" Iris rejected the idea of meeting his parents in pajamas, finding it absurd. "If you have any evidence, just tell me directly. Why so mysterious?" She was upset with Jason but didn't want to raise her voice lest she disturbed the occupants of the mansion.Jason stared at her for several seconds. "If I tell you, will you believe me?""I..." she hesitated.His tone softened. "Get down from the car."Iris stared at him, conflicted. "Have you ever thought about how this would make me look? If your parents see me dressed like this, won't the
Seeing Iris stepping back as well as her guarded expression, Jason's feelings were complicated.Suppressing his emotions, he said, "Go change; I'll wait for you."Iris asked, "Wait for me for what?""If I told you the woman of my dreams has always been you, you might not believe me, so I'll show you the evidence," Jason replied, his tone softening. "Go get changed."Iris hesitated, not moving. Jason was a renowned lawyer, so he knew how to fabricate evidence if he wanted to.She shook her head firmly. "I won't believe any so-called evidence that comes from you. I only believe in myself. From now on, our relationship will be strictly professional. If you don't want me to stay at Golden Path, feel free to dismiss me. I won't complain."With nearly a year of experience at a law firm like Golden Path, finding another job wouldn't be difficult.Jason frowned, displeasure and disappointment etched on his face. "Just like that, you've already formed conclusions about me?"Iris turne
Iris was stunned for two seconds before regaining her composure. "Mr. Just, you're back?" she asked.Jason stared at her, scrutinizing her for a minute. After the long pause, he asked, "Why didn't you answer my calls?"Recalling the missed call, Iris replied honestly, "I was taking a shower."Jason thought back to the timing of the missed calls. They weren't that far apart. She was showering? That brat was in her house when she was showering?"Is that so?" he said, uncertainty creeping into his voice. The situation had never slipped out of his control like this before, which made him feel uneasy.Iris firmly affirmed, "Yes.""Why did you move away?" His deep voice was tinged with suppressed frustration.Iris explained, "The apartment was only a temporary residence. This is my house, so I had to move here sooner or later. It just happened to be during your business trip. Come in."Talking at the doorway wasn't ideal. She stepped aside to make room for him.Jason walked in. He h
Before he left the country, he could sense that something was off with Iris. And now, she's not answering his calls. Also, why were she and that young man together at such a late hour?Just as Iris was about to take a shower and go to bed, the doorbell rang. Opening the door, she found Brad standing outside."Why are you..."Before she could finish, Brad handed her the phone. "You left this in the car."Iris received it with a smile. "I didn't even notice."Brad did not mention Jason's calls at all. He smiled and said, "Good night."Iris nodded. "Good night."After Brad left, she closed the door and tossed her phone onto the bed before heading to the bathroom. The sound of the shower filled the room.Her phone on the bed once again vibrated. It persisted for a whole minute before the call automatically ended. Jason heard the message, "The person you're trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later..."Half an hour later, Iris emerged from the bathroom in
Sensing from Stanley's tone that something was wrong, Henry glanced at Stanley through the rearview mirror and was taken aback by his dejected expression.This was the once proud and arrogant Stanley, now at a low point in his life.There were some things that Henry could see clearly as an outsider, but couldn't tell Stanley.Iris had changed. Henry did not think there was any hope of reconciliation.Pointing that out would only hurt Stanley's feelings. However, if he remained silent, Stanley would continue to deceive himself. After a moment of hesitation, Henry finally broke the silence. "You know, Stanley, there are many other good women out there. Why not find someone new? Fiora is a great choice. She loves you. Spending your life with someone who loves you isn't a bad idea...""When did you start becoming so concerned with my love life?" Stanley interrupted impatiently, cutting Henry off before he could finish.Henry pursed his lips in frustration. He was just trying to hel
Iris approached Brad and asked, "Are you okay?"Seeing Stanley leaning against the wall, clearly in pain, Brad couldn't help but smile. "I'm fine," he answered.The ex-husband clearly took a worse hit than he did."Good. Let's go then," Iris said, turning to leave.Yvonne caught up and said, "I'll leave with you guys."Iris gave her silent agreement, while Henry tagged along, insisting, "And me.""Get lost!" Yvonne snapped."Don't be so heartless," Henry persisted.Yvonne blocked his path and told Iris, "Iris, you go ahead."Iris, weary of the situation, acknowledged her with a nod and walked away.She and Brad went to Brad's car. They had both been drinking, so they could only call a buddy driver service.Yvonne looked at Stanley, then back at Henry. With a smirk, she presented Henry with a difficult choice, "I'll give you a choice: either we end it here or you completely cut ties with Stanley Stein. Pick one."Henry asked in disbelief, "Do you really need to be so mercile
Brad sneered, "Iris is an independent woman, so of course I have no right to interfere in her business. And you, as her ex-husband, have no right either."Stanley's gaze darkened. He noticed Brad holding Iris' hand. A cold smile curled his lips. "Let go of her.""Nope!" Brad replied defiantly, tilting his head back.Stanley narrowed his eyes, and the two stood at the brink of conflict, tension thick in the air.Iris patted Brad's shoulder and said, "Don't waste time talking to him; let's go."Turning to face Iris, Brad immediately changed his attitude. He replied with a huge smile, "Okay."He pushed past Stanley, who was blocking the way.Frustration boiled within Stanley. He was fed up with Brad's constant interference and provocation. He felt humiliated.He couldn't stand it anymore!Without a second thought, he turned and kicked Brad.Caught off guard, Brad staggered forward but managed to stay on his feet.Iris was appalled. She did not expect Stanley to attack a kid lik
Henry frequented nightlife venues, so his capacity for alcohol was nothing to be trifled with. He filled Brad's glass with a smile."Cheers." He draped an arm over Brad's shoulder, holding a glass of wine in his other hand.Brad raised his glass, "Cheers."They clinked their glasses and downed the drinks in one go.Henry refilled their glasses, and they drank again.The pouring and drinking continued...Iris sensed something was off by the fourth drink. "Enough, you two, stop drinking." She took the glass from Brad's hand. "That's enough wine for tonight."But Henry hadn't achieved his goal yet. He smiled at Iris and said,. "But Iris, we're having a good time.""No more drinking," Iris said firmly. She knew Henry's limits with alcohol and knew that Brad was probably no match for him. If Brad continued drinking, he would end up drunk, and she could tell that Henry was trying to get him drunk.It was their first meeting, so Iris couldn't understand why Henry was messing with B