"You.... You... How dare you threaten me?!" Renee exclaimed, taken aback by Iris' boldness.Ronald stepped forward, putting a hand on Renee's shoulder. "You're in the wrong here. Go apologize and compensate them.""Why should I? She ruined our son's marriage! You want to ally with the Just family too. You...""Renee!" Ronald cut her off firmly. "If you don't apologize, she'll go to the Just family to cause trouble for us. Do you think there's any chance of salvaging our son's marriage if she does that?"He was eager to prevent the situation from escalating. Iris looked so furious that she might actually raise a ruckus at the Just residence, which would really embarrass the Stein family.Moreover, he feared that Iris might expose his affair. Knowing Renee's temperament, she would surely have an explosive reaction if that happened. He would never have peace at home again."If you want to salvage our son's marriage, you need to resolve this situation first," he continued. He knew he
Stanley looked conflicted. He wasn't sure if he could persuade Renee.Ronald was displeased because not only was his son's mind filled with just love and women, he also lacked wisdom. "Just trick her. Tell her that if she apologizes, you won't call off the engagement. She'll definitely apologize."Stanley wasn't stupid; he simply didn't want to lie to Renee like that. He knew that, if he did, it would lead to endless trouble. If he made that promise, Renee would surely do everything possible to force him to marry Fiora. Therefore, he simply couldn't make that kind of promise."Understood," he replied, though he knew he had to find another solution.Ronald pressed the issue, "Don't disappoint me again. I have high hopes for you."Stanley studied his father, sensing there was more behind his words, as if his father was reminding him.Perhaps men simply understood each other better."Dad, you...""Enough. I'm going out for a while," Ronald cut him off and walked to the door to go
When Iris returned to the police station, Jason had already taken care of everything. The police officer from earlier had been removed from duty. He stood to the side with a pale face, while the two hooligans who had caused the disturbance appeared defeated, their earlier bravado gone."They're under arrest. They've apologized to your parents and compensated them," Jason informed her.Iris shot the two hooligans a cold glance. She was angry at them, but she knew that the real culprit was the person who hired them.She felt a deep sense of guilt for having involved her parents in her mess. They got injured because of her."It's all my fault," Iris said, her eyes reddening."Don't say that. We're a family, so your problem is our problem too," Dennis assured her. "It's all good now, thanks to Jason. Without him, we might still be detained."Iris turned to Jason, whose calm demeanor and deep eyes brought her a sense of reassurance. She silently vowed to keep this favor in mind. "Than
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
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
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
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
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
Vince smiled, "I am."Iris said, "You've married a good woman."Kendra said while holding her grandson, "What about you, Iris? I heard from your mother that you broke up with your boyfriend. Why? Men like him are rare. I can't believe you actually broke up with him. Let me tell you, if you miss out on him, you won't find anyone as good in the future. I used to think Stanley was handsome, but Jason's even better-looking. Don't be stupid. Since you met someone good, you should hold onto him tightly and never let go. Don't break up with him so easily." The smile on Iris' face instantly faded.Vince noticed her change in demeanor and immediately spoke sternly to his mother, "Mom, she's an adult; she knows what she's doing. There's no need for you to interfere.""I'm just worried about Iris," Kendra replied, "You've met him before, right? Tell me, do you think Iris can find someone better than him?"Vince fell silent. Even he recognized Jason's qualities were impressive.Although Ja
However, she wasn't hungry. The only thing she felt was uneasy."Don't tell me you haven't had dinner yet?" Jason asked."I have," she lied, trying to keep her tone casual. After some hesitation, she asked, "Are things going well on your end?""I'll personally send Fiora there. The flight's tomorrow," he replied."How many days will you be gone for?""Three or four days."There was a moment of silence before Iris asked, "Is it okay if I don't see you off?"If she did, she would inevitably meet Fiora.Fiora was still unaware of her relationship with Jason. If she found out, it would surely complicate matters.It wasn't the right time to let her know."Of course.""Is there anything else?" she asked."...No. Good night.""You too, good night."After hanging up, Iris curled up on the couch, feeling vulnerable. Her eyes kept darting towards the door, fearing an unexpected intrusion. She didn't think she could fall asleep.Determined to take precautions, she ordered a surveil
When she bent down to move it aside, she saw a folder inside with her name written on it, which puzzled her.She became wary. Someone had placed this box at the door knowing this was where she lived. This was no mere coincidence. Who could it be?After ensuring there was nothing dangerous inside the box, she retrieved the folder and set the cardboard box aside. Entering her house with the folder in hand, she dropped her car keys and bag before quickly opening it. There was a stack of photos inside, all pictures of her — when she left the house for work in the morning, when she reached the law firm, when she went out for lunch, and when she walked to her car in the underground parking lot after work.Panic set in as she realized these photos were secretly taken by someone who was following her. Her heart raced. Someone had been tracking her and documenting her movements. What was the intention of leaving these photos at her doorstep? Was it a threat? An intimidation tactic? She
Iris turned to her, surprised."You don't seem too happy," she teased. "Rather than getting married, it looks more like you're going to attend a funeral.""Is marriage something to be happy about? Aren't you a cautionary tale?" Yvonne shot back.Iris was speechless.She was indeed a textbook cautionary tale.Yvonne poured herself another glass. "Marriage isn't something to be happy about. I'm just fulfilling my parents' wishes."In the past, she just wanted to have fun and didn't want to get married. When her parents urged her to get married, her grandfather defended her.Now that her grandfather had fallen ill and was not in good health, he also wanted to see her get married.She could ignore her parents, but for her grandfather's sake, she had to get married.Iris sighed. "I'm sorry for being a bad example. You're not me. Most marriages don't end like mine. Most people do well."Yvonne smiled. "Are you trying to comfort me?""Kind of," Iris admitted."I'm very rational. I
She only realized that when she checked her phone at the end of the workday. Brad had called multiple times, but she merely glanced at the notifications without replying. There were also missed calls from Yvonne, who asked to meet up that evening.Iris messaged back, asking: [What time? Where?][Star Coast.][Got it.]Iris went to the underground parking lot. She took the stairs as the elevator was under maintenance. The maintenance was scheduled to be performed after work hours when there were fewer people.Her footsteps echoed in the dimly lit stairway, clattering loudly as emergency lights flickered on.A person in a black windbreaker, baseball cap, and face mask entered the stairway. Their head was bowed low, with half their face scrunched up inside their collar, obscuring their expression.Iris found her car, opened the door, and got in. Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes watched her intently from the shadows.The person's tightly clenched hands and the bulging veins o
Iris kept quiet and didn't say anything. She felt a pang of regret over the waste since those things cost money. He could have just given them away instead of throwing them away. However, she couldn't help but find his jealousy endearing. She couldn't believe a successful man like him would get so jealous."Let me help you," she offered. She closed the fridge and moved into the kitchen to help him serve the breakfast that Samuel bought."What time did you wake up?" she asked."Before seven," he answered.Iris glanced at the time; it was already past eight.Just then, her phone in the bedroom rang.She got up to answer it and saw it was Brad calling. She hesitated before answering."What time are you coming to visit me, Iris?" Brad asked, sounding forlorn."I have to go to the law firm. I haven't been there for two days. I can't put the case off anymore," she explained, politely declining.Though it was true she had to deal with the case, she could actually spare a couple of ho
Jason simply smiled without saying a word, leaving Iris feeling as though she had been unwittingly tricked. He seemed like an easy-going person, but there was an innate confidence and control about him that set him apart from others."You have a hidden agenda, don't you?" she asked."Once you finish the case in Southerland, I'd like to transfer you overseas," he replied.As for Brad Vassell, he would continue to stay at the law firm.The two would naturally be separated.Iris sat up straight, alarmed. "What did you say?"She was not going to sacrifice her career for a man! Their relationship wasn't at a stage where such sacrifices were warranted. Actually, no matter how much she ended up loving him, she would not sacrifice her career for him. She had already learned her lesson."With your skills, limiting yourself to marriage cases is a waste. Don't you want to tackle international cases?" He spoke casually, but his words were full of temptation.Iris was aware that Jason had
"I'll explain to her." Jason bent down, lifted Iris up and carried her to the bedroom.Iris, feeling sad, buried her face in his neck. "I'm sorry," she mumbled."It's not your fault. You didn't know she would be there." When Jason opened the bedroom door, the light passed over his face, illuminating the fleeting hint of danger in his eyes. "When you went to the Vassell family mansion, what did they say to you?""They just thanked me for mentoring Brad..." At that moment, Iris felt something was off. A family like the Vassells wouldn't need to invite her to their house for something so trivial. But if it wasn't to express their gratitude, why would they invite her? She wasn't close to them, and their statuses were vastly different."What was their intention?" she asked, looking up at him.All she saw was his firm jaw.Jason answered, "They had their reasons."He didn't blame Iris for easily accepting Brad's invitation; she wasn't part of their circle and naturally didn't know the
Iris was unbothered by Yvonne's antics; she would be more surprised if Yvonne didn't say something inappropriate.Yvonne closed the door with a smile. To be honest, she was genuinely happy for Iris, pleased to see her stepping out of her shell. She didn't care if Iris got together with Brad or Jason. She was happy as long as Iris could emerge from the shadows of her failed marriage without losing her confidence in men and still being open to love. After all, they say once bitten, twice shy. Yvonne feared that Iris might lose her ability to love someone after experiencing Stanley's betrayal.Iris approached the dining table, eyeing the fried chicken and beer. "We have dinner now.""Junk food," Jason remarked, glancing at it before pulling out his phone to make a call.Iris interjected, "Don't. It's fine to have junk food once in a while; it's not like we eat this every day. It would be a waste to throw it away."She opened the paper bag, retrieved the fried chicken, and set out gla