Iris hurriedly said, "Hi. I'm Professor Sandler's student."There was a brief silence on the other end. "I'm busy right now."Iris cautiously replied, "That's okay. I can meet whenever it's convenient for you.""After six o'clock. Where would you like to meet?""Up to you; I'm fine with anywhere.""After six o'clock, come to the law firm, Golden Path Law.""Okay."Click. The call ended. Iris blinked a few times. 'This guy is pretty cold,' she thought.It was still morning. With the meeting scheduled for after six, she had the entire day ahead of her. She called Yvonne to see if she could meet to discuss the investment, but Yvonne was busy and unable to meet that day. They had no choice but to schedule for another day.Iris decided to find a temporary place to live in until the apartment renovation was complete. The renovation would take three months, and staying in a hotel long-term wasn't practical.She spent the day searching online for apartment listings but couldn't fin
After saying that, Iris walked past Stanley without stopping. Stanley was infuriated.However, Iris had always been the one who initiated reconciliations after they had arguments, a pattern he had come to expect. The thought of being the one to relent this time felt unbearable, despite his strong desire for her to return.His mood was terrible, so he called his friends out for drinks to distract himself. In the private room, the atmosphere was tense. No one wanted to speak first.The news of Wendy getting arrested had spread. They all knew by now that Wendy had tried to frame Iris for drug possession. They had misunderstood Iris. They thought she had gotten into drugs because she was too bored at home. But it turned out Wendy had tricked them all with her innocent facade.The depth of Wendy's deceit shocked everyone. She had meticulously planned her scheme for three months to take Iris down. Those kinds of people were truly scary.They sat right next to you, but you had
Iris was speechless.That was way too much info.Iris stayed up late and fell asleep on the desk.When she awoke the next morning, her body ached from the awkward position she had been in.Yvonne, now sober, greeted her with a smile. She waved the card in her hand and said, "Thanks for this."Iris returned the smile. After Yvonne left, Iris tidied up and went to work.As soon as she arrived, Jason called her into his office and told her to meet a client with him."What do I need to prepare?" Iris asked dutifully."You just have to listen," Jason replied, putting on his coat as he made his way out."Oh," Iris said, quickening her pace to keep up with his long strides.He had such long legs.They took the elevator straight to the underground parking lot. Jason led her to his car, and she climbed into the rear seat.The destination was a relatively remote area, so the journey took a while. They soon arrived at a small restaurant. Iris was confused at first; why would a
Ted happened to see that interaction between Iris and Jason. Moreover, from his point of view, their interaction was very intimate.It made him scowl. He had completely lost his appetite.Iris retracted her arm. Jason did the same without saying anything.Upon entering the restaurant, they found the first floor fully occupied, so they went up to the second floor and chose a table near the window."Do you have any dietary restrictions?" Iris asked.Jason replied curtly, "Nope.""What kind of flavor do you like? Mild, spicy, sweet..." she continued, trying to gauge his tastes."Mild," he responded, his tone brief and somewhat distant.Iris was speechless.Iris wondered how his wife or girlfriend felt about being with a man who was this cold.Living with a person like him must be pretty boring.Iris ordered several mild dishes that she had tried before, including the restaurant's signature chicken tetrazzini and mushroom soup.As they waited for their food, the atmosphere be
Iris took out her phone to answer the call."Hello...""It's me.""Ted?" Iris was surprised to receive a call from him. "What's up?"Standing on the roadside, Ted observed her from a distance. "It's my birthday tomorrow. Will you come?"If Iris turned around right now, she would see him standing behind her. Iris hesitated. If she attended, she would surely run into Stanley. However, Ted was a close friend of hers; the three of them attended the same college, and she had known Ted even longer than Stanley."Okay," she finally said."Great. Same place as always," Ted replied."Alright."The next day, Iris shopped for a present after work. After selecting a present, she wrapped it carefully, then took a taxi to Mahogany Garden, where their group of friends frequently celebrated birthdays.As she approached the private room, she was about to open the door when laughter erupted from inside, followed by Henry's voice."Stanley, did you have sex with Wendy for the first time on y
Iris left decisively, without a moment's hesitation.In a fit of anger, Stanley kicked Ted in the stomach. "Why did you stop me?"Ted staggered backward from the impact. He bumped into the table behind him, knocking over plates and wine glasses.Lester and Henry quickly intervened, pulling Stanley back. "Stanley, Ted is just trying to help you. You and Iris are both heated right now; if your argument escalates, it won't end well."Ted steadied himself and straightened his clothes. "Let him go. If he wants to fight, then let's fight. I'm ready."Stanley sneered. "Oh, looks like you really do have feelings for her."When Ted saw Iris having dinner with another man, he realized he could no longer hide his feelings.He had already missed his chance once; this time, he intended to seize it.He had invited Iris today on purpose; he wanted to confront Stanley!"Yes, I've had feelings for Iris for a long time. I liked her even earlier than you did," Ted declared, finally revealing the
Ted instantly retaliated.Both men gripped each other's necks tightly."You know what, Stanley?" Ted struggled to say. "The moment I found out that you were flirting with Wendy, I knew you were playing with fire. I watched as Iris' love for you slowly disappeared. I never believed that she would touch drugs, but I kept quiet, wanting to see if you were foolish enough to trust that pretentious little bitch instead of her. And you were.""I had planned to wait until you sent her to prison, pushing her to the point of completely giving up on you. Then, I would clear her name and rescue her. But you and I both underestimated her resilience. From the moment she fought back in court, she had already given up on you. You were the one who crushed her love for you.""You bastard! How dare you set your sights on my woman?! You told her about me and Wendy, didn't you?""Wake up!" Ted shouted angrily. "I wouldn't stoop that low! You're with Wendy all the time; Iris isn't blind! Did I force yo
Yvonne discreetly checked with the doctor, who confirmed that Stanley's injuries were superficial and not life-threatening. Disappointed, she sighed and texted Iris: [I've checked; he's not dead.]Iris read the message but did not reply. After finishing her drink, she paid her tab and left the bar, her steps a little unsteady.Two young men in the bar had taken notice of her. Seeing a pretty girl drinking alone had given rise to bad intentions. They decided to follow her.Standing on the roadside, Iris checked her phone; it was past nine o'clock. The illumination of the streetlights cast a long shadow behind her. It was still early, but because she was in an alley behind the bar, it was very quiet. The cabs did not normally visit this alley.Feeling stranded, she called Yvonne. The call quickly connected. "Yvonne, I've had too much to drink. Come pick me up…"Before she could finish, someone covered her mouth from behind."Iris? Iris!" Yvonne called out anxiously.Iris' eyes