His sexy Adam's apple, tinged with a deep red, moved up and down a few times. Once he had calmed down, he draped her arm around his neck and lifted her into a bridal carry, one arm wrapped around her back and the other under her legs. Outside the club, he instructed the doorman to call a driver for them.While they waited, two cars pulled up: Henry and Lester emerged from one, while Stanley exited the other.Lester spotted Iris in Jason's embrace and exclaimed, "Holy crap!" Henry, annoyed, shot him a look. "Stop screaming! Did you see a ghost or something?""No! Look!" Lester pointed towards the entrance.Henry squinted. "Is that man holding Iris?""Who else could it be?" Lester’s eyes widened. "Who is that man?"Henry thought he looked familiar. "I think that's the young master of the Just family."Lester’s eyes grew larger. "Iris knows a man from the Just family?"Henry shook his head. He had no idea."How will Stanley react when he sees them?" Lester glanced at Stanley, w
"N-Nothing, I didn't say anything, haha..." Henry laughed, pulling Lester along to keep pace with Stanley.Lester asked, "What's wrong, Stanley? You seem to be in a bad mood."The corner of Stanley's lips tugged in annoyance. "I'm being jinxed." After his divorce, he realized he still cared deeply for Iris. Seeing the house they had shared for four years be destroyed by her left his heart in turmoil. He wanted to win her back, but Iris had firmly refused to give him a chance. The memory of her indifferent face, having lost all hope in him, made his heart ache."Today, no one's leaving sober," he declared, tugging at Lester's collar.Lester could guess that Iris must have something to do with his bad mood. He sighed. "Henry, you're not young anymore. You should settle down if you meet someone you like and cherish her. Don't wait until you lose her, because you're gonna regret it."Henry stared at him incredulously. "Are you out of your mind? Aren't you the king of nightlife, Lest
However, all the lawyers Cassie had encountered were typically dressed in formal suits while Jason was in casual attire, so he might not be a lawyer at that law firm.Just then, a customer approached the sushi stall, and Dennis quickly helped with the order. Besides the sushi, he also provided the customer with soy sauce, wasabi, and a pair of chopsticks."Should I go again tomorrow?" Cassie asked."I don't think you should," Dennis replied. "They've only just started dating. If we poke around too much, our daughter might feel pressured. It won't be too late to get to know him better when their relationship has stabilized enough to discuss marriage. I don’t care about his job or income; what matters most is good character, a sense of responsibility, and genuine love for Iris. That’s enough for me."Cassie nodded. Stanley was a cautionary tale. "Yes, the most important thing is the man's character. Money is just material; enough to get by is all we need."Dennis was moved by his wi
Iris and Jason paused, then awkwardly withdrew their hands at the same time. Iris tucked her hands inside her clothes, tightly clasping them together. The sensation of Jason's touch lingered on her hand, as if it were still there.Jason clasped his hands behind his back and remarked, "Spring is coming.""Yeah," Iris replied, gazing at the river. "The wind isn't as cold anymore."She looked up at the starry sky and sighed, "People are so busy surviving that they tend to forget to just stop for a moment and appreciate life.""Look at all those stars, Mr. Just," she said, directing his attention upward.Jason glanced at the night sky. Its quiet expanse was filled with countless stars, evoking a sense of wonder.A gentle breeze stirred Iris' hair, accentuating her facial features. Jason's gaze rested softly on her. Now that she was awake, she did not look that gentle anymore. She exuded a resilient air, which sometimes hinted at a hidden sharpness. It made her even more captivating
"Good morning," Jason said as he walked in. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and took a seat at the dining table.Iris commented, "It's just simple home-cooked food. I don't know if you're used to eating this kind of food.""Even if I'm not, I’ll get used to it if I eat it regularly," he replied casually, picking up his cutlery. Iris frowned, not quite understanding his meaning. "So, my cooking's not good?""What I mean is, even if I'm not used to this kind of food, it's not because of your cooking — I just haven’t adjusted to your style yet," he said, taking a bite of the vegetable omelet.She was left bewildered. Was he saying that it's his problem, not hers? How come she still couldn't quite understand? Was her comprehension really that poor? Shaking off the thought, she decided not to dwell on trivial matters like that. She should save her brain power for her cases."The soy milk has no sugar," she mentioned.Jason nodded."Do you prefer your soy milk sweet or salty?" she a
Iris asked, "What’s the matter?" Yvonne was about to complain about Ted, but stopped herself because she realized it was something she couldn't tell Iris.Ted had requested her help to ask Iris out for a weekend trip to a resort. Yvonne might need Ted's help in the future, so it's difficult for her to refuse. Therefore, she agreed to ask Iris.Since Yvonne would be busy all day, she decided to come early in the morning. "Do you want to go to the Seine Mountain Resort just outside the city this weekend?"Iris eyed her suspiciously. "That's it? You came so early in the morning just for that?"Yvonne nervously ran her fingers through her hair. "I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d come ask you in person."Iris answered, "I don't think I'm free this weekend."Yvonne asked, "You already have plans?"Iris smiled. "Jason assigned me a case. If I handle it well, my position will become permanent."Yvonne’s lips twitched as she regarded Iris, thinking, This naive woman doesn’
"You've always known that your actions would hurt your wife, children, family, and parents. Why didn't you stop your bad habits earlier? Why wait until things get so bad? What's the point of regretting it now?" Iris rebuked.The man lowered his head. "If I had known this would happen, I would never have done all that.""I'll still fight to defend you until the last moment. You're lucky; I've seen people who end up worse," she said, deliberately scaring him. "I once handled a case involving a woman with AIDS who sought revenge on society by intentionally sleeping with many men. Those men contracted AIDS as a result. It's unfortunate, but if they had stayed clean, they wouldn’t have dug their own graves. Don't you agree?"The man's body trembled with fear. That was indeed worse than what had happened to him. His worst-case scenario was going to prison, but at least he wouldn't have an incurable disease. Iris' words made him realize the dangers outside. He had a wife, so why would
She quickly received a reply: [Why?]Iris was certain that Jason was unaware of the rumors circulating within the firm. If she hadn't overheard the gossip by accident, she would have remained in the dark too.She didn't want to tarnish Jason's reputation. Although they did nothing wrong, rumors could hurt. Besides, she planned to have a long career at the firm, and such rumors were not beneficial to the firm nor her career. People were already accusing her of "using her body", and the rumors would only become more malicious.She stared at Jason's message, pondering. After a while, she replied: [I feel like I haven't gained enough experience yet. Also, turning permanent so quickly doesn't comply with the firm's policy.]He replied: [Okay.]Iris took off the badge she had just hung around her neck.She reluctantly explained the situation to the HR department. They called Jason for confirmation before revoking her status. Jason seemed to have guessed something. He told the HR depa
Iris settled at the empty dining table. She had a healthy appetite because she was in a good mood. She ordered a steak and a bowl of minestrone soup. She finished everything, savoring each bite. After enjoying her meal a bit too much, she felt pleasantly full.When she headed back downstairs, she encountered the pregnant woman again. The woman had chestnut-colored wavy hair, fair skin, and wore a long dress that accentuated her protruding belly. Iris noted that she looked quite young, much younger than Renee. It made her wonder if all men preferred younger women.Wendy was young too."Hi," Iris greeted with a smile.The pregnant woman looked around, puzzled. "Are you talking to me?"Iris nodded. "I'm a lawyer from the Golden Path Law Firm; my last name is Glover. If you have any property disputes in the future, feel free to come to me. I can be your lawyer."The woman sized Iris up, thinking, She seems normal enough, but her words are so strange. Is she crazy?Iris maintained he
Concerned that Iris' words would negatively impact Stanley's image in Fiora's mind, Renee yelled angrily, "You're not fit to say that. You're just the woman my son dumped. Shame on you, you uncultured swine."Fiora glanced at Iris, muttering, "Rude," before briskly walking towards the exit.Following Fiora's lead, Renee echoed, "Rude." As she walked past Iris, she couldn't resist a parting jab, "You couldn't get pregnant even after four years of marriage. There's definitely something wrong with your body. A secondhand woman who can't even bear a child – what future do you have? You'll end up with a broke man or an ugly old man."Iris laughed, unfazed. "I may not have a child, but the Stein bloodline will definitely continue. Someone will bear a child for you."Renee was confused. "Are you stupid? Who's going to bear a child for me?" She thought Iris' words were nonsensical; she expected someone to bear a grandchild for her, not a child.Iris merely smiled, choosing silence over ex
The fragrance in the mall was quite pleasant, helping to relax Iris' mind.She spotted the pregnant woman making her way into a Channel store. The woman appeared to be a big spender. Most women who were willing to be with old men were in it for the money. Wendy probably genuinely liked Stanley, but Iris wouldn't be surprised if part of the reason she had an affair with him was because of his wealthy background. In contrast, Fiora seemed to genuinely loved Stanley. She didn't appear to be interested in his money, but rather in him as a person.Iris turned away, heading in another direction. She planned to buy some herbal tonics for her parents. Her parents lived frugally, often reluctant to spend money on themselves. They often worked late into the night, which would surely take a toll on their health.She entered a high-end gift shop, filled with various health products. She purchased a few expensive tonics.With her purchases in hand, she passed a storefront displaying a beaut
"I'm very willing to help," Jason added, glancing sideways at her. Iris fixed her gaze straight ahead. "I'm already immensely grateful that you would give me opportunities to gain experience as a favor for Professor Sandler. I can't keep troubling you with my private affairs."She understood the importance of boundaries. You can't keep taking advantage of someone else's goodwill. She knew when to draw the line.If Jason could hear her inner thoughts, he would definitely say, "I wish you would keep 'taking advantage' of me."He gripped the steering wheel tight. Not going overboard was supposed to be a good thing, but it wasn't in her case. He sighed softly."Mr. Just, you can just drop me off at that intersection up ahead," Iris pointed. That intersection led to a large mall. Even if Jason hadn't mentioned it, she was going to buy something. However, she had no intention of letting Jason pay for it. He was helping her, so it wouldn't be right to make him spend money.As they re
It was so sudden. It caught Iris off guard.He said with smiling eyes, his voice low and sexy, "Your ex-husband is watching."Iris placed her hands on his chest. At such close distance, his unique scent enveloped her, stirring her senses. She moved her head to the side slightly. "H-How do you think I did today?" she asked.She was referring to her performance in court.Jason tightened his hold, leaning in close to whisper in her ear. "You did very well."The warmth of his breath on her ear and neck sent a shiver down her spine, prompting her to shift slightly. "Um, Mr. Just..."Even if they were acting, there was no need to be this intimate.The height difference made his belt buckle press against her lower abdomen. It felt uncomfortable because it was rock hard.As a mature woman who had already been through a divorce, she tried not to overthink it, but the intimacy of their position was undeniable. She didn't dare to move her lower body at all. She could only push him gen
Iris looked back at Stanley emotionlessly.Her clean, neat, and professional attire, paired with her short hair, projected an air of coldness that made her seem unapproachable.For the first time, Stanley felt a 'distance' between them. It felt like she was very far away from him.She was like a completely different person to the Iris he knew.While her face remained the same, her entire aura had changed; she was no longer the gentle, understanding woman in his memory. Instead, she had transformed into a strikingly cold beauty."You promised me we would reconcile," he said, looking into her eyes.Iris raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips as she asked, "Did I say that?""During the break. Have you forgotten? We...""Do you have evidence?" She cut him off coolly. She was careful not to say anything that could be used against her. She had only hinted at reconciliation.Stanley's eyes narrowed. "You tricked me?"Iris' smile brightened. "You must have misunderstood
Because Iris had experienced betrayal from a spouse herself, she could understand her client's feelings, so she spoke the words with conviction. Her client looked at her with teary eyes. She was grateful to Iris for voicing her inner thoughts."Thank you, Ms. Glover, for saying what I want to say."Meanwhile, Stanley's expression grew stiff. He felt like Iris was talking about him. He was ashamed of what he did with Wendy, feeling for the first time that he might have gone too far.The ball-less man's face twisted with frustration. It seemed like the more they argued, the less he sounded like a human.His terrible behavior towards the end of the trial directly impacted the judge's perception of him, leading to a more favorable outcome for Iris' client.Iris' client still had to go to prison; after all, she had indeed committed a crime. However, the sentence was only six months. Given the circumstances, it could already be considered quite lenient.She was also required to c
Iris' client glared at her fuming husband. "You cheated on me, so you're not innocent either!""Stop pointing at my client. This is a courtroom. Do you always lose your temper this easily?" Iris said, nudging her client lightly as she spoke.The client was confused at first, but quickly understood Iris' intent. "You always yell at me at home, but we're not at home anymore. How can you act this way in court too? Do you have no respect for the judge?"The ball-less man was bewildered. "You... you..." His anger flared. "Did your lawyer tell you to say that?""How would she know that you would lose your temper in court? Could she foresee the future and tell me in advance?" the client shot back.Iris gave her a thumbs up. It was a well-spoken retort.The client smiled. She was only able to perform so admirably because she was influenced by Iris' energy."You're all in cahoots, aren't you? Including you! You're all working together to set a trap for me!" the ball-less man accused, poi
"My client deeply regrets her actions. She's mired in self-blame," Iris continued passionately. "But my client has also developed depression due to the hurt from her husband's infidelity. Isn't that a form of trauma too? We all know that severe depression can lead to severe consequences, even suicide. In a way, my client has been hurt even more than the victim has. Your Honor, I implore you to take my client's situation into consideration."Iris' defensive tactic was to paint her client as a victim of the marriage.She concluded, "Your Honor, while the victim's trauma is physical, my client's trauma is emotional. Mental illnesses are hard to recover from. Therefore, I urge you to consider the implications this case may have for women everywhere, so that they may not fear marriage and childbirth."Her final statement resonated with the current societal landscape, where more individuals are choosing not to marry or have children. Meanwhile, divorce rates keep rising, and the populatio