When Brad heard Stanley's voice, he sneered and leaned closer to Iris' ear, remarking, "Your ex-husband is still calling your name so affectionately."Iris shot him a glare.Brad chuckled and shrugged.Iris had no intention of engaging with Stanley. His constant pestering irritated her. She wanted nothing more to do with him."Go start the car; we're leaving," Iris instructed."Okay." Brad gave an "OK" sign before turning back to Stanley with a mocking smile.Ignoring Brad's provocative expression, Stanley stepped forward to block Iris' path. "Don't be like this," he said.Iris let her irritation show on her face.Stanley pursed his lips. "Surely you can tell that I didn’t make things difficult for you in court just now. If I had truly intended to defend my client, you wouldn’t have won so easily. I'm not telling you this so that you would thank me; I just want us to get along peacefully, without hostility.""I didn't stop you from defending your client. Don't try to morally b
Before this, Iris didn't know why Jason was so willing to help her either.He had been unbelievably kind to her.At first, she thought it was because of Professor Sandler.But now, she knew.It was because she looked like the woman of his dreams.He merely took care of her the way he would take care of that woman.She was nothing more than a substitute!"So I'm that kind of person in your eyes?" Iris laughed self-mockingly. "You really are trash!"Stanley said, "Even if you've slept with Jason Just, I don't mind. I had an affair too, so we're even. It actually makes me feel better. Iris...""Hey!" Brad shouted as he drove up, glaring at Stanley. "Leave Iris alone. After leaving you, she now realizes there are other fish in the sea. The whole sea is hers to explore. She won't get hung up on an old, crooked fish like you."Stanley's expression darkened slightly, but Iris ignored his displeasure. She pushed aside his arm and walked to Brad's car.Brad whistled as Iris approache
Stanley was furious!He slammed the steering wheel in frustration. He had been played!Meanwhile, Brad sped through the streets like a bullet. Iris was aware of his driving skills, but it was still terrifying considering they were in the city center. She felt a jolt of terror as the car squeezed through tight gaps between vehicles. She instinctively grabbed the overhead handle and screamed as they narrowly missed another car by mere inches."Slow down!" she yelled hoarsely.In response, Brad pressed the gas pedal even harder, only stopping once they reached the elevated bridge outside the city center.Iris flung the door open, almost throwing up. This was an even scarier experience than the race.Brad looked incredulous. "Really? It was that scary?"Iris struggled to find her voice. "I'm never getting in your car again..." She patted her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.Brad was taken aback. Was it really that bad?"I helped you shake off your ex-husband. Instead of t
Iris caught something suspicious in Brad's words. "What? Were you trying to scare me just now?""No, no, you misheard! Hurry up and get in the car," Brad said, hastily jumping into the driver's seat.Iris stood on the roadside, staring at him.Brad rolled down the window and solemnly swore, "I absolutely won't drive fast. If I do, let me never get a girlfriend."Iris chuckled. "What kind of oath is that?"Reluctantly, she got into the car. "It's a tragic fate if a man can't get a girlfriend," he joked as he started the engine."Don't worry, it won't happen to you," Iris said, fastening her seatbelt.Brad's driving was noticeably calmer this time, and they had a smooth ride back to her residence. The moving company was already there waiting for her.Iris stepped out of the car. "Are you from the moving company?" she asked as she approached."Yes, are you Ms. Glover? I was just about to call you," one of the movers replied. They had actually just arrived."Yes, I am. Come w
Before Iris could reply, Brad already introduced himself, "I'm Iris' assistant."Yvonne looked him up and down. "Iris' assistant? How come I don't know she has an assistant?"She shot Iris a meaningful look.Iris sighed, knowing that Yvonne must be thinking nonsense again. She was well aware of her friend's nature."I've only become Iris' assistant recently," Brad explained with a smile."Oh, I see," Yvonne said, running her fingers through her hair and extending her other hand to Brad. "I'm Iris' best friend, Yvonne."Just as Brad was about to shake her hand, Henry suddenly jumped forward, reaching out to shake Brad's hand first. "And I'm Henry, a good friend of Iris and also Yvonne's boyfriend."Brad was confused by Yvonne and Henry's behaviors.Iris handed Brad a cardboard box. "Help me take this downstairs, please.""Sure," he nodded."Quit drooling over every man you see. He's just a brat. Besides a young face, what else does he have?" Henry said, reminding Yvonne, "You
Iris said okay, and the four of them left the house. Henry chose the restaurant, claiming he knew a place with delicious food. Iris thought everyone was tired and deserved a good meal, so she agreed. She would only take care of the bill, leaving the rest to Henry.The restaurant was quite nice. It was a place popular among the wealthy elite, so the prices were naturally high. Henry ordered food he had tried before, all of which he knew was delicious.Yvonne asked, "Do you guys want to drink some wine?""Yeah, let's drink some wine," Henry agreed.The two were truly a matching pair. "Alright," Iris said.They ordered a bottle of wine along with the food.Yvonne opened the wine, stood up, and poured drinks for everyone. When she got to Iris, she patted Iris' shoulder, leaned in, and whispered, "That young man is not bad; don't miss out on him."Iris furrowed her brow at this comment."I'm not telling you to date him. Just have some fun with him," Yvonne said, lifting her chin
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
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
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
Iris walked out of the shop with the cake in hand. When she spotted Renee, she ignored her.Renee finally recognized the qualities Iris possessed when she compared Iris to Wendy — Iris was cultured, well-mannered, polite and respected her elders."Iris," Renee called out involuntarily.Iris merely looked back for a second before getting into her car.Renee stood frozen in a daze. If Iris were still her daughter-in-law, she mused, she wouldn't have to endure this humiliation. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of Wendy. She perceived Wendy as a devil. Wendy was the most evil person she had ever seen! She couldn't imagine how a person could be that evil.Yet, Renee never considered her own flaws while judging others.Renee's unexpected appearance did not make Iris feel anything. She entered a restaurant's private room with the cake. The private room was filled with Brad's friends. They were playfully teasing him, saying, "You don't race with us anymore. You barely even ha
Wendy stood up and gestured to the various luxury items she had purchased, sprawled across the couch. "Bring them up for me," she commanded, treating Renee like a servant."In your dreams!" Renee yelled back defiantly.Wendy leaned casually against the staircase railing, her expression filled with contempt. Cold and calculating, she resembled a predator, no trace of weakness remaining."Don't waste your breath with empty threats. You can't do anything to me. If anything happens to me, that video of you murdering someone will land in the police's hands. That boy will also receive a copy. When he learns who killed his mother after he grows up, there's no way he'll spare you. He'll send the Stein family into chaos. The video will also be leaked to the media, exposing your crime to the world. It'll become a scandal for the Stein family, and the family business' stocks will plummet as a result. And your dear husband, the person you care about the most? When he finds out that his lover di
Iris was in no mood to talk. Yvonne shook her gently, asking, "Do you want me to take you out to relax?""Not interested," Iris replied, looking visibly exhausted.When the takeout arrived, she only picked at her food, taking just a few bites before losing interest.It wasn't that the food wasn't tasty; she simply had no appetite.Yvonne received a phone call. She asked Iris if she wanted to join her. Iris declined."Then I'll see you next time," Yvonne said while getting up."Mmh," Iris responded absentmindedly.After Yvonne left, Iris packed up the food and decided to go to bed early.The day of the trial arrived as scheduled. Despite her best efforts, the trial proved challenging, and the outcome was not what she had hoped for. The client commented, "Honestly, it's better than what I expected. There's a big difference between five years and ten years. I'll reform well, show good behavior, and try to get released early."Iris remained silent. The outcome wasn't satisfactor