"Alright," Denise agreed, sensing the tension in the air. A fight might break out at any moment, so it would be wise to leave. After all, they were three women facing a group of men."I'll give you a ride, Yvonne," Henry quickly offered.Yvonne replied irritably, "You're a scum too. Birds of a feather flock together."Henry was taken aback. He hadn't done anything wrong. Why did he get yelled at?"I'll go with you guys," Ted said, leaving with them.Lester took a cautious glance at Stanley. Stanley's expression was dark, the simmering anger ready to erupt.No one dared to speak.Stanley turned, rushed into the crowd, grabbed Iris' wrist and pulled her away.When Yvonne and Ted realized what was happening, they tried to give chase, but they were blocked by Henry and Lester. "Let them talk," Henry said.Yvonne was about to curse him out again, but Lester cut her off, "They were married for four years and were together for seven years. Stanley just wants to talk to her. He's no
Iris did not panic or lose her composure. She asked calmly, "What are you doing?""What? You used to love it when I did this to you. We've never done it in an environment like this before..." Stanley pressed her down against a pile of boards and greedily tore at her clothes.He was attempting to stir her memories by doing this.Iris simply looked at him coldly. "Stanley, this will only make me think even less of you.""I don't care. I just want you back," he mumbled, burying his face in her chest, his voice muffled. "Don't you remember? You lost your virginity to me here in this house. You cried a lot that night..."He was so scared of hurting her that he didn't dare to use much force.Iris closed her eyes, unwilling to relive those memories or look at his face.Stanley removed her sweater and lifted her waist. She wriggled in protest. "Ugh..." Something pricked her, and the sharp pain made her groan. "What's wrong?" Stanley asked. He immediately noticed that a nail had pier
Iris smiled.[When will you be back?] she asked, almost as if she couldn't help herself, and immediately regretted it. It wasn't her place to ask her boss' schedule, so the question was a little rude, but it was too late to take it back.She felt embarrassed. Just as she was about to put her phone down, a voice message came through. She listened to the deep, husky voice in the message, sounding groggy as if he were half-asleep or slightly intoxicated: "I'll be back tomorrow.""Should I pick you up at the airport?" she replied.The response was simple: "Okay."As she was about to set her phone down, it rang again. This time, it was Ted. "Are you okay? Did Stanley do anything to you?""No," she replied."Where are you? I'll come see you."Iris, feeling drained, said, "I'm already home. I'm tired, I don't feel like going out.""Can I see you tomorrow?" Ted asked eagerly."I'm busy tomorrow," Iris replied."How about the day after tomorrow?" Ted persisted.Iris felt tired. "Ted
"Where is he? Where is he?" Denise exclaimed excitedly, scanning the room as if expecting to find a man hidden somewhere. "Is he in the closet? He's not naked, is he?" she joked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.Iris was speechless.Yvonne narrowed her eyes at Iris, demanding, "Spill it.""I'm not hiding a man," Iris replied honestly. "The coat belongs to my boss; he left it here.""Jason Just?" Yvonne asked, her interest piqued.Iris nodded, "Yes, who else could it be? You know he's my boss."Denise, slightly disappointed that there was no man to find, said, "There's only a coat here?"She then asked, raising an eyebrow, "Is he that tall, good-looking man I saw with you last time? The one I encouraged you to pursue?"Iris confirmed, "That's right."Yvonne pressed on, "How did his coat end up at your place? Was he here?"As Iris thought back to the time they were stuck in the elevator, hugging each other, and a flush of guilt washed over her. Avoiding eye contact, she explai
Yvonne declared, "It's too late to go home; I'm staying over."Iris saw through her. "Are you scared?""Of course not. It's all fake. What's there to be scared of..." Yvonne insisted.Before she could finish, Denise leaned in close and gave her a fright. Yvonne jumped in shock, prompting laughter from the other two women.Swallowing hard, Yvonne said, "You could have given me a heart attack.""I thought you're not scared?" Iris teased, "You're the one who insisted on watching this movie.""I thought if we all watch it together, there's nothing to worry about. I didn't know both of you are scaredy-cats."After finishing several bottles of beer, the dining table was a chaotic mess."Since Yvonne is staying over, can I stay over too?" Denise asked. She was still scared."I only have one bed..." Iris said."It's fine; I don't mind squeezing in," Denise replied.With that, Iris couldn't refuse. "Alright, let's squeeze in."The three women lay on the bed, transitioning from chatt
[I'll arrive at three.]Iris replied, [Got it.]Because Jason was away, Iris had little to do. She spent the morning reading, and during her noon break, she returned home to tidy up the place. She had rushed to work that morning, so the cleaning was less than thorough.As she bent down to throw away the trash, she strained the injury on her waist. Afterwards, she went to the bathroom to inspect the wound in the mirror and apply some iodine. Wounds tended to heal slowly in winter. She cleaned the house until it was spotless and even washed the bed sheets. After that, she headed straight to the airport from home.She arrived half an hour early. The flight was delayed, and she only saw Jason an hour later. Jason wasn’t in a suit; he wore a black sweater over a white shirt, black casual pants that accentuated his long legs, and a trench coat draped over his arm, with a suitcase in his left hand."Mr. Just!" Iris waved.He spotted her waving both hands at the arrival hall and smil
He knew Iris well; she often brushed off minor injuries. He recalled a time when she accidentally cut her finger while chopping vegetables. It bled profusely, but she simply applied a band-aid on the wound. The wound took a long time to heal."I did," Iris lied. She wanted to avoid further conversation with him. Stanley didn’t buy her words."I know you didn't. I have some medicine for you. These are to be consumed orally, to prevent tetanus and inflammation since the wound might be deep. And this one is for external application. Remember to keep the wound dry...""Why are you doing this?" Iris asked. He had never been a caring person. In the past, if she had a minor injury, he would just ask, "Why didn’t you go to the hospital?" He had never bought medicine for her or shown concern for her well-being. She remembered accidentally cutting her finger once. She still had to cook for him afterwards. He didn't even ask if she was okay. And now, after their divorce, he had suddenly
Fiora was too overwhelmed by her emotions to think properly. She was dazzled by the sudden passion, her focus solely on the sexy and domineering man before her. Her voice was soft and gentle, almost as if it was made of water, as she said, "You don't have to take responsibility."Stanley picked her up, and they fell onto the bed. In an instant, his kisses enveloped her like a storm. His kisses and his hands that tore her clothes off were rough and devoid of tenderness. It was as if he were venting his fury on her, as if he were doing to her what he wished to do to another person.Fiora was swept away by the intensity of the moment. She found herself falling for this man even more, relishing the feeling of being taken forcefully. Caught in this whirlwind of emotions, she let herself be manipulated by Stanley, her body and mind in a heightened state of excitement.It wasn't until they had crossed the threshold of intimacy and their two bodies had merged into one that Stanley finally r
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