Caught under my intense gaze, a faint blush spread across his face. He cleared his throat softly, his hand covering his mouth. "If you keep looking at me like that, I might not be able to handle it."Snapping back to reality, I suddenly remembered what I had just done. My face instantly felt hot, and I squirmed uncomfortably, not noticing Luke's reaction or words.I quickly stood up, searching for an excuse to leave."When I suggested this approach, Stephen remained silent. Now it seems he followed my lead. Joey always trusted him, thinking he'd help her unconditionally if she brought up their past. This time, Stephen finally showed some sense."Luke's words stopped me in my tracks."So that's the whole truth. Mr. Walker didn't make any deals with Joey. Once everything's cleared up, there should be no impact on the company."Hanque had just launched a popular new model, and their reputation was on the rise. We couldn't let all of that go to waste."Some things are hard to prove.
I'm finding it hard to keep my emotions in check. It's only a matter of time before I spill what's on my mind.After a prolonged silence from me, Wendy called out, "Honey?""Luke didn't make a deal with Joey," I said.I headed to the pantry and poured myself a glass of water."If Luke didn't make any deal with Joey, then what she's doing is pure slander. By now, Luke must have gathered enough evidence and is prepared to confront this head-on," Wendy theorized, basing her prediction on the assumption that Luke had made a deal with Joey. "Cases that are straightforward with clear facts and of public interest tend to be resolved much quicker. But more than the case itself, I'm curious about what Luke told you yesterday afternoon."I gave Wendy a brief overview of the situation."Classic Luke," Wendy said, impressed. "He's a master at playing along and turning the tables! He's much smarter than that so-called undefeatable lawyer who's just being led around by a woman.""Stephen know
Luke said, "Mr. York hasn't slept all night. He needs a cup of coffee.""Got it."I went to the pantry, made coffee for the two of them, and brought it back to the office.Inside, Luke was reading through documents while Stephen sat silently on the sofa.They clearly had something to discuss. I was about to leave when Luke stopped me, gesturing toward the sofa, indicating for me to sit down. "You're directly involved in this situation. There's no need to hide anything from you."As Luke's employee, I followed his instructions and sat down on the sofa.Luke and Stephen were friends, but Joey was someone Stephen felt indebted to. He was clearly stuck in a difficult position between the two of them.Stephen hesitated before finally speaking up, "Mr. Walker, I know Joey has gone too far with this, but she's still recovering from her car accident and needs rest.""How is her need for rest my problem?" Luke asked, not even looking up from his papers as he signed his name with ease. "
Luke's words left Stephen frozen in place, like a statue."You should have a genuine conversation with your client," Luke advised. "If I'm right, you won't need to work so hard. You can go home and rest earlier.""If she admits to having a mental illness, she'll be sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. Once she's released, it'll be nearly impossible for her to find work or reintegrate into society. She would never take such a reckless step.""She didn't need a job before, and now Jon's importance is undeniable. She's his sister. Even if she loses guardianship, she won't end up destitute and homeless." Luke closed the file in his hands. "She may have already found a new guardian for Jon without informing you.""They don't have any family.""They may not have close relatives, but there could be distant ones." Luke handed Stephen a fax from the desk. "While she was in the hospital, Joey hired a detective agency and found a distant cousin. She met with this cousin before turni
"He reached his current position at the firm solely based on merit, but his strong moral compass can be seen as a weakness.""Honey, you're mistaken! Someone with excessive moral integrity could never become a highly successful lawyer. Who knows how many times he's ignored his conscience to get where he is today. When I have some free time, I'll dig into his past and give you a report.""Wendy, it seems like you're really interested in Mr. York's affairs.""There's nothing more satisfying than revealing the truth about someone who's been put on a pedestal!" Wendy's twisted sense of satisfaction was something no one else could truly understand."Just be cautious, Wendy. Don't end up getting hurt."When it came to matters unrelated to Joey, Stephen acted swiftly and decisively. He was like a predator, striking with speed and precision. I worried that Joey might cause more trouble."Don't worry, honey. I know how to survive," Wendy said, making it clear that she wouldn't abandon her
That afternoon, as I delivered the meeting materials to Luke's office, I overheard him on the phone with Stephen."I've handed over Joey's phone and SIM card she used during the crime to the police. JL Capital can start their PR campaign now.""I thought as much," Luke replied, his face impassive. He didn't seem smug or proud; it was as if the news was just another mundane detail, barely worth a reaction."She's planned everything out. She doesn't need my help anymore. JL Capital has been silent since Joey published that article - they were waiting for me to submit the evidence I had, weren't they?""That's correct."Joey's supposedly foolproof plan was actually flawed. In addition to the phone, Luke had already collected her DNA from the newspaper wrapped around the cash. Even if Stephen hadn't surrendered the phone, Luke could still prove that he hadn't "destroyed" any evidence.Luke's silence from JL Capital after the incident was his way of giving their friendship one last ch
The comments section under his post turned into a breeding ground for rumors, with people adding all sorts of fabricated details. In the version of events that online users had cooked up, I was painted as a divorced woman scheming to tie myself to Luke, a manipulative figure trying to ruin his relationship with Joey. In their fantasies, Joey’s response was framed as the heroic comeback of a female lead in a drama, with the public eagerly awaiting her grand exit from the police station, ready for her to take down the “scumbag man and the homewrecker” next.The absurdity of these theories gave me a headache. I didn’t even have the energy to defend myself.In their eyes, having been through a failed marriage and having sent Max to prison made me nothing but a calculating villain. They seemed to forget that in that marriage, I was the victim.Luke and Joey had never been in a relationship. Other than that one night at the Waldorf, Luke and I had maintained a professional relationship—no
"Bad luck comes when you feel sorry for a guy!"Wendy's favorite saying popped into my head, but why…. Why would I…Frustrated, I stormed out of the elevator and headed to where Wendy was waiting.Knowing I might have trouble spotting her, Wendy had already stepped out of her car and was leaning against it.Tall and striking, Wendy always turned heads. When silent, she exuded a cold, regal beauty that made her stand out—catching the eye of both men and women alike.During rush hour, the area around the office building was packed, and many passersby couldn't help but stare at her.Used to the attention, Wendy waved me over. I quickened my pace and walked up to the car."Hop in, sweetie. I'll give you a ride home.""Thanks," I said, sliding into the passenger seat and automatically buckling up."That woman who just got in—isn't she Mr. Walker's fling?" a voice drifted in through the half-open window."She's his assistant. When she first joined JL Capital, people said she slept h
Due to jet lag, I was already exhausted though it wasn't dark yet.Ian was drooping too, suddenly slumping against me.Worried he'd fall, I quickly steadied him.He glanced at me before contentedly closing his eyes again.He was completely worn out.Mr. Lloyd, who had been chatting with the director, noticed this and quickly wrapped up his conversation to join us.Still half-awake, Ian instinctively held onto my arm when his father reached for him."It's your Dad."At my words, Ian let go.Mr. Lloyd picked him up and strode toward the car, while I gathered Ian's things and followed.On the way back, I offered to drive.Mr. Lloyd was quiet. I turned on the car's music system, and soft music filled the space.Having debuted overseas as a trainee, Mr. Lloyd's fingers unconsciously tapped along to the rhythm on his leg.At a red light, I caught this movement in the rearview mirror.Mr. Lloyd had been an all rounder superstar - consistently among the top three highest-earning
Since Penelope was mid-flight and unreachable, I sent her a message and forwarded Sara's letter."Are you okay, Jen? You seem worried," Ian asked."Just blown away by your amazing performance. I'm still thinking about it."Ian was a natural - his acting could really move people."I might be cocky,” Ian grinned.He looked proud, and I ruffled his hair. "No chance of that."For a four-year-old, he'd shown remarkable composure during the preschool incident.Even after being cleared, he hadn't played the victim. That kind of emotional strength showed real character.A few compliments wouldn't change that.Ian's smile lit up his whole face, showing perfect baby teeth."When do you start filming your scenes?"The director was clearly impressed - Ian's role was locked in."Not sure yet."Ian looked up at his father."Soon," Mr. Lloyd said, clearly proud of Ian's performance. "I'll stay on set with Ian these next few days. Jen, feel free to explore the city. I'll call if we need
Just when they thought they'd found hope, the bad guys caught up with them.During their escape, his best friend fell off a cliff. When Bobby was finally rescued and led them back, they found his friend's body, mangled beyond recognition. He was devastated."I'll start now!"In an instant, Ian transformed. He walked heavily toward a chair, his expression gradually filling with pain.Kneeling beside the chair, he reached out as if to touch "him" but couldn't bring himself to do it. Tears silently rolled down his face.The director checked the script and signaled his assistant to remove the chair, simulating the scene where the friend's body would be placed in a body bag.At this, Ian broke into heart-wrenching sobs.His emotional outburst impressed everyone watching on set.Mr. Lloyd looked proud, and the director, as if discovering a treasure, praised Ian after his performance: "Your acting reminds me of your father in his prime.""If I'm as good as Dad was at my age, imagine
I'd dug my own grave, hadn't I?I swallowed my food, took a sip of water, and kept my head down while eating.Luke pushed the mild seafood soup toward me. "This is less spicy."Stubborn as I was, I ignored him.Luke called the server over, trying to order milder versions of the fish and pork."Don't bother, I love extra spicy food."Even though I needed water after every bite, I was determined to finish what I'd ordered.Seeing my stubbornness, Luke apologized to the server and let her go."Jen...""Don't talk while eating."By now, my soul had practically left my body from the spice. I wasn't in the mood for conversation.My throat felt like it was on fire as I gulped down more water.Luke quietly refilled my empty glass. He'd barely touched his seafood soup, his elegant movements making me feel even more ungraceful.I was suffering from my own spite!I wanted to throw down my chopsticks and leave.No, stay calm!I tried to maintain my composure, fighting the urge to d
Just as I finished speaking, my stomach let out an embarrassing growl."There's an excellent Chinese place around the corner," Luke said."You've been here before?""No.""..." Then how did he know about a good restaurant?Did he research every place this thoroughly?He'd make a perfect travel companion.I later learned he'd researched local restaurants knowing my passion for food.I'd only had water since waking up. The film crew would have finished lunch by now, with no leftovers available. I needed to find something on the way.Being in a bad mood lately, I hadn't researched any local restaurants before coming here.Craving authentic Chinese food, I decided to take Luke's suggestion.It was an upscale Chinese restaurant specializing in spicy cuisine. As soon as we sat down, a cheerful server brought out place settings and started listing their specialties."Our portions are generous. For a couple, I'd recommend one appetizer and a soup to start.""We're not a couple," I
Luke came to search for his birth mother himself?As I looked at him, he noticed me too.I greeted him and was about to get a taxi to the set."If you have time, can you show me where you saw her yesterday?""I... okay."Mr. Lloyd and Ian would be fine - finding Luke's mother was more urgent.After weighing the pros and cons, I agreed.Luke hadn't brought an assistant. I waited outside while he took his luggage to his hotel room, then we walked to where I'd seen his mother yesterday.It wasn't far from the hotel, so we went on foot.Without thinking, I kept about three feet between us.Luke: "Do I look like some kind of monster?"With his model-like features that made you want to break rules just looking at him, how could he possibly look like a monster?I shook my head."Then why are you keeping such a distance?""..." So that's what he meant...Though I'd decided to stay just friends, my heart - already full of him - still skipped beats when we were together.He was t
"If you can't find her, Luke can! Now that he has a general area, he can track her down quickly.""I'll let him know."Mrs. Walker was also searching for her, planning to use her to manipulate Luke. We needed to contact her before Mrs. Walker did.After hanging up with Wendy, I looked at Luke’s number on my phone. Several times I almost called him, but kept backing out.After hesitating, I tried calling Emily, but hung up just before it connected.Although Emily had been open with me, I couldn't be sure if she was genuinely helping Luke.To be safe, I called Luke instead. He answered on the first ring.Luke stayed silent."Mr. Walker, this is Jen.""I wasn't planning to cut you out of my life completely. I kept your number."Me: ...There he went again with his sharp tongue. I almost hung up, but remembering how much he'd helped me, and that I could finally do something for him, I told him about possibly seeing his birth mother near the hotel.After a moment of silence, Luk
"Dad, he's a bad guy!" Ian pointed at the man who was already several yards away.The robber was huge - well over 6'2", wearing a denim vest that showed off his muscular arms. Mr. Lloyd probably couldn't take many punches from him, and we didn't know if he was armed. It wasn't worth the risk.I ruffled Ian's hair. "Let's go get something to eat.""Help! Stop the robber!"A woman was running after him, desperately grabbing passersby for help, out of breath.Following the 'better safe than sorry' principle, no one stepped forward to help.She reached us, and seeing we were Asian, her eyes lit up with hope. "Please help me, I have something very important in my bag."Mr. Lloyd looked down at his arm where she was clutching it. "I'm sorry, we're new here and unfamiliar with the area. We can't help."She let go, disappointed, staring dejectedly in the direction the robber had disappeared.Ian said in his sweet voice, "When you're in trouble, find a police officer."The woman was a
His stern look only made Penelope more nervous.When Director Nolan called "Cut!", she was already drenched in cold sweat.She quickly apologized to the director.Director Nolan watched the playback with a grave expression.As the makeup artist touched up Penelope's makeup, I went to her side and encouraged her: "It gets easier after the first try. You'll do better in the next take.""Jen..." Penelope glanced at the crew members around us. "This is my first time on such a major production.""You'll have many more opportunities like this."One Entertainment had been investing most of its resources in Penelope lately, and with her connection to Jethro, her popularity wasn't waning.One hit was all she needed to skyrocket to stardom."Jen..."Penelope's voice trembled with worry.George was particularly anxious too. "You've done well in other productions. We can't mess up at this crucial moment!"A good performance in Director Nolan's film could lead to future collaborations,