He thought he had gotten lucky and expressed his gratitude to Iris. "If her suicide wasn't because of me, will my sentence be lighter?" he inquired.Iris replied, "The judge will consider that at his discretion."While this factor may reduce his sentence somewhat, it wouldn't be that much. After all, what he did was deplorable. He molested Liandra multiple times when she was still a minor.Calling him a scumbag was too generous for him; he wasn't even worthy of being called human.Brad approached and pulled Iris aside. Before the presiding judge read the verdict, there was a half-hour break for the jury. Brad was present in court and had heard everything. "I can't agree with your actions," he told Iris. In his view, the old scumbag was the primary reason for Liandra's suicide. Despite Iris' strong evidence, he still hoped the old scumbag would be imprisoned for life, allowing him to repent for his sins.Iris took a sip of water and chose not to elaborate, as she had another
Glaring coldly at her daughter, Rinkah spat, "You should have just died."With a derisive snort, she stormed out. Liandra almost lost her balance, but Iris quickly steadied her. "Brad, hurry, go start the car," she instructed. Brad put away the phone and rushed ahead to start the car.Iris helped Liandra into the car."Go to the hospital," she said. Brad nodded. He glanced at Iris through the rearview mirror before he drove off.At the hospital, Iris asked Brad to buy some food for Liandra. However, Liandra didn't eat anything. She simply lay silently in bed.Iris stayed by her side.As evening approached, Liandra said, "You should go home."Iris had already given Liandra her phone number. She said reassuringly, "If you need anything, call me."Liandra didn't reply, but Iris knew she had heard. Tucking her in gently, Iris said, "I'll see you tomorrow."Liandra murmured a soft acknowledgment.Iris left the ward, gently closing the door behind her.Brad, who had been wai
Brad stubbornly argued, "You said 'most'. That means there are still a small number of people who enjoy curry in the summer. If both of us happen to dislike it in summer, of course it counts as a common interest." Iris chuckled, "Alright, if you insist on thinking that way, then so be it." She chose not to argue further as it was a trivial matter."I'm going to take a nap; wake me when we arrive," Iris said. Brad nodded, "Okay." He was aware that Iris had been getting very little sleep lately due to the case. As he glanced at her, he saw her resting against the car window with her eyes closed, looking fatigued. Out of consideration, he drove slower, a rare move for someone who usually enjoyed speeding and racing.When they reached the restaurant, Iris was still asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, Brad parked the car and pulled out his phone to play games while waiting. After about forty minutes, Iris slowly woke up. Squinting as she looked around, she asked, "Have we arrived?
Brad urged, "Hurry up and eat."Iris was speechless. How could the two of them finish so much food?She looked at Brad, wondering if he was throwing a tantrum.Brad was already eating. Noticing that Iris hadn't picked up her cutlery, Brad asked, "Aren't you hungry?"Seeing him eat so quickly, Iris realized he must be quite hungry. "I am," she replied, finally picking up her cutlery and starting to eat.After the meal, Brad drove her home. He dropped her off at the gate of her apartment complex."You live here?" he asked."Yes, but I'll be moving soon," Iris replied."Why? This place is very close to the law firm, so it's very convenient. Why would you move?" he inquired."I only rented an apartment here because my house is under renovation. My house is ready now, so I'm ready to move out," Iris explained."When are you moving? Let me know; I'll help you," Brad offered.Iris smiled. "I've already booked a moving company." She teased him, "As if a pampered young master like yo
Iris regarded Rinkah with a cold expression. "Please watch your words. Also, we're in a hospital, so keep your voice down. Causing a scene here won't benefit you in any way.""Oh, yeah? What can you do to me?" Rinkah shot back defiantly."I can't do anything to you," Iris replied, "but the law can certainly do something to you."Rinkah remained unconvinced, but her attitude softened slightly. "Are you threatening me?""I'm not threatening you; I just want you to behave like a civilized person," Iris said firmly. "Have you ever fulfilled your responsibilities as a mother? If you had shown a little more love to your daughter, she wouldn't be in this position today.""You..." Rinkah struggled to counter Iris' words, feeling frustrated. "You have no evidence against me, and you know it."In her mind, she hadn’t committed any serious wrongdoings. Her most serious wrongdoing was abandoning her daughter when she was very young. She had consulted a lawyer about that. The lawyer had told
Liandra murmured a soft acknowledgment and covered her head with the blanket. Iris watched her silently for a moment before quietly exiting the ward and gently closing the door behind her. Outside the hospital, Brad pulled up in his car, and Iris opened the door to get in."Am I a qualified chauffeur, Iris?" he asked, as if he was fishing for a compliment."Yes," Iris replied.Brad smiled.…Time flew by, and it was time for Liandra to appear in court again. This time, she appeared much more confident than before. Perhaps her previous experience had made her less nervous, or maybe it was the reassuring presence of Iris beside her.As Iris organized the documents, she felt a pair of eyes on her. Looking up, she saw Stanley sitting on the defendant's side, acting as her defense attorney. His intense gaze was fixed on Iris, but Iris calmly averted her eyes, focusing on preparing for the trial.Eventually, the presiding judge and jury entered the courtroom, and the trial officia
Iris' indifference and distance left Stanley feeling lost, filled with regret and heartache. He presented his defense while looking at her in hopes of eliciting a response from her rather than facing her silence."The plaintiff has lived with my client since she was four years old. Throughout her upbringing, her mother has borne the costs of her life, education, and medical expenses. When calculated, it's a significant sum – around fifty to sixty thousand. Additionally, as her mother, it's normal for my client to manage the property on behalf of the plaintiff when she was still a minor...""Please review the documents carefully," Iris interjected sharply, cutting him off. "The divorce agreement between the defendant and her ex-husband clearly states that once my client reaches adulthood, the property must be returned to her. Has it been returned? The defendant has taken advantage of her status as my client's mother to manipulate her into signing a loan. The evidence clearly shows t
Iris finished her statement and took her seat. Stanley looked at her but offered no rebuttal. He settled back in his chair.Rinkah, clearly anxious, urged, "Mr. Stein, she's spouting nonsense. Her birth was the greatest gift she could have ever received."Stanley found her irritating. He looked at her and asked, "Aren't you ashamed of the way you treated your daughter?"Rinkah looked taken aback. "Whose lawyer are you? Whose side are you on?"Stanley replied calmly, "The judge will consider your role as her mother, so the punishment won't be severe. You'll likely just be ordered to pay her back for the property."Rinkah hesitated, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. She did not want to pay Liandra.Stanley had handled many cases before, so he had seen many selfish people like Rinkah. Thus, he was not surprised by her selfishness. "Let your daughter live," he advised.He could vaguely understand why Iris would take on Liandra’s case. Perhaps she thought Liandra n
Iris' heart tightened, feeling both sweet and bitter, "I did it willingly. You were only in danger because you tried to help me. You went to great lengths to help me save my cousin. I'm immensely grateful."She paused, then slowly raised her head to look at him, "I can't let you die because of me. If someone has to die, I'd rather it be me, not you.""Why can't it be me?" His tone was light, but there was a subtle hint of excitement in his voice.She must loved him very much to have the courage to rush in front of him in the face of danger.Death, what a fearful word.Yet she shielded him from the gun with no hesitation."You were there to help me save someone. Therefore, you can't die," Iris answered.That was what she genuinely thought at the time.In the quiet room, the sounds of their breathing could be clearly heard. Jason gazed at her, his eyes filled with a complex emotion, "You rushed over to shield me from that gun because I helped you save your cousin? It's because yo
She asked in panic, "Who is it?""It's me."It was Jason's voice. She breathed a sigh of relief.People always felt the most insecure when they're naked."You're done eating already?"Jason wasn't very hungry because he just woke up, so he only had a bowl of soup. That's why he came back up so quickly."Yeah. What are you doing? The doctor said your wound shouldn't get wet.""I'll be careful." Iris said.Jason frowned. "Are you taking a shower?""...Yeah," Iris answered softly."I'll wash you." Jason tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside.He raised his eyebrows. "Iris...""I can wash myself." Iris hugged herself, thinking, how embarrassing would it be if he washed her?She didn't want that.Although they had already seen each other naked, her current appearance was not pleasing, and there was a gruesome wound on her body.She didn't want him to see her in this ugly state.Yes, he had already seen her ugly side, but... she couldn't just not care.She
Perhaps the sensation was a bit itchy, as Jason stirred. Iris quickly withdrew her hand, but Jason had already woken up."What's wrong? Does the wound hurt?" Having just woken up, his voice was hoarse.Iris shook her head, "I'm fine."She felt bad. "I'm sorry I woke you up. Go back to sleep."Jason raised his head and said, "Give me your arm."She smiled and extended her arm. Jason laid his head on her arm and said, "Hug me."Iris thought he was childish.She gently patted his back like she was soothing a child.Jason closed his eyes. Smelling her scent, he soon fell asleep again. He slept for a long time, only waking up at night.Iris had also fallen asleep, but she woke up a lot earlier due to hunger. However, seeing Jason sleeping soundly, she didn't want to disturb him. Her arm was numb but she didn't dare to pull it out, afraid of waking him up."Are you awake?" Iris asked.Jason looked at her groggily, reached for his phone, and saw that it was already past two in the
Since they would be staying here for a while, someone had to handle the household chores.It was clear that neither of them nor the two bodyguards were up for the task.Donahue had always been the one responsible for hiring cleaners to clean the place, so Jason asked Lewis to contact Donahue and inquire about the cleaning staff he usually hired.Lewis immediately made the call. Donahue said he usually hired temporary housekeepers who would clean and then leave. He provided Lewis with a contact to arrange for their services.Lewis personally selected two middle-aged women. The manager said they were very experienced and proficient in cooking and household chores.He brought the two housekeepers back to the island and settled them in. After that, Lewis went upstairs to inform Jason that the housekeepers had started work and dinner was taken care of.Jason's bedroom door was slightly ajar. From the gap, Lewis saw Jason sitting on the bed talking to Iris. It didn't seem like a good
Jason's condition was that Kaden must ensure he and his people left the country safely.After discussions with the other two families, Kaden agreed to Jason's condition. With the three families working together, it wouldn't be hard to ensure the safe departure of Jason and his people.Holding Luna hostage gave them leverage over the Morris family. This deal was mutually beneficial. Jason made the deal to allow Iris to leave the country as soon as possible. After agreeing on a departure time, he left the rest to Kaden and Lewis to figure out.Jason stayed by Iris' side.Two days later, they boarded a plane to Fiji. The earliest direct flight home from Northern Burrma was the day after tomorrow, but staying in that country for another day meant another day of danger, so Jason and Iris decided to go to Fiji first. She would recover from her injury there.Iris didn't want her parents to worry, so she thought it would be a good idea to stay in Fiji for a while. She needed time to rec
When he withdrew his hand from under her, it was stained with blood.Anxious and flustered, his heart felt like it had stopped beating."Iris..." His voice was hoarse and unsteady.Iris' wound was not life-threatening. The bullet had hit her lower back.Luna did not intend to kill Iris. She just wanted to keep Iris from escaping.Iris could feel the pain now. Her body trembled uncontrollably. She felt incredibly cold despite the warm weather."I... I'm fine..." she spoke weakly, her pale lips quivering.Jason held her hand tightly, "Don't worry, Lewis will be here with a doctor soon.""Are you... okay?" she asked hoarsely."I'm fine," Jason assured her.Iris' tense heart finally relaxed a little.She had never experienced such a nerve-racking ordeal before.It all felt like a dream.Scenarios seen only on TV had become reality. She was scared out of her wits earlier, but she tried to put on a brave face. She didn't want to be a burden to them.But in the end, as a powerle
When Iris looked up, she saw Luna standing behind Jason with a gun aimed at him.Her eyes widened, pupils shaking."Look out!"She rushed forward.Luna could have pulled the trigger as she had a clear shot at Jason, but when Iris shouted that warning, she saw through Iris' intention.In that split second when Jason turned with the gun, Iris hugged him and shielded him from Luna's gun.Luna's father had told her that Jason was off-limits. Harming him could lead to endless complications and may even result in the eradication of the Morris family!However, according to their investigation, Iris had no background, so they could use whatever means necessary to capture her. Even if she got injured, it didn't matter. Therefore, the instant Iris shielded Jason from the gun, Luna aimed at her back and fired a shot.At the moment of being hit, Iris felt no pain. Her whole body was paralyzed, unable to move.She slumped in Jason's arms.Jason held her falling body. "Iris!"He fiercely
"Let go!" Frustrated that she missed him with her attack, Luna grabbed a chair leg and swung it at Jason.Jason caught the chair leg and disarmed her, then flung her away with his other hand.Luna staggered several steps back and her waist hit a sharp object. She grimaced in pain.Blood seeped through her thin outer garment.Enraged, she exclaimed, "Catch Jason Just's woman! A reward of ten thousand for whoever catches that woman!"Her men, who were starting to be suppressed, began to fiercely resist again, reigniting the intense conflict!Gunfire rang out. The sound of objects being pierced mixed with screams created a battlefield-like atmosphere!Lewis rushed out of the hotel with Iris and headed for the car. Jason followed closely behind them after getting rid of Luna.However, due to Luna's words, her men rushed at them desperately.These people were desperados. They weren't afraid to die for money.The fight for profit among the families had always been fierce!Kaden's
"The back door is blocked," Lewis informed Jason. He was outnumbered. Facing the rain of bullets outside, he couldn't break through.Although Luna was a woman, she had years of experience. She wasn't a fool. She had already stationed guards at the back door.Holding a machine gun, she said, "If you surrender, I might let you live!"Jason and Iris were trapped in a hallway, with no way out!Clearly, it would be difficult to escape from the back door. Kaden's men were at the front entrance, so if they rushed out from the front, there might be a chance to escape amidst the chaos.Jason instructed Lewis to protect Iris. Seizing the opportunity, he fired several shots at Luna.Luna had to dodge."I'll draw their attention. Lewis, when you see the chance, escape with Iris," Jason said."Got it!" Lewis responded.He still had to be wary of the shots coming from the back.It was actually very difficult to rush out.Two bodyguards suddenly rushed in, attracting the fire of Luna and h