"SIGN IT AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY LIFE!" Calvin threw the divorce agreement in her face, his voice seething with fury. Adriana Clarke Walker, a well-known heiress and the wife of the richest man in the country and CEO of the Grand Empire Corporation, Calvin Walker, had always believed in the possibility of love. Despite knowing that Calvin didn't love her, she married him with the hope that her patience and devotion would eventually win his heart. But all she received in return was endless pain. Their marriage became a black hole that devoured everything: her happiness, her family's honor, and her security. In an instant, she lost everything—her family shamed, torn apart, and forced into exile. Adriana tried to leave the past behind and build a new life, only to find that Calvin refused to let her go. His pursuit was relentless, and he wasn't willing to set her free...
View MoreAdriana sat in her office chair with her eyes closed.
She seemed to be having a nightmare. Her snow-white face was creased with frowns, and cold sweat trickled down her temples.
"No... Don't take my brother away... He's not guilty..."
"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry, it was my fault... Please forgive me..."
Adriana mumbled, her voice barely audible.
"Mom..."
Suddenly, she cried out, jerking awake. Her breathing was uneven as she opened her eyes.
'That nightmare again... No matter how much I try to run from my past, it seems the past isn't going to leave me alone!' she thought.
Adriana poured herself a glass of water when suddenly, someone knocked at the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in!" she called out.
The door to her office opened, and Mona, Adriana's assistant, walked in holding some files. Mona looked at Adriana's pale face and asked with concern, "Ma'am, are you alright? You look pale!"
Adriana took a sip of water to calm herself and replied, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night. Why are you here?"
Mona nodded but hesitated before speaking. "Oh, yes, I've prepared all the materials against the Smith family, as you requested," she said.
Seeing Mona's hesitation, Adriana took the file from her hand and asked, "Is there something else you want to say?"
"It's…, are you sure you want to take over this case?" Mona asked, her voice uncertain.
"Yes, what's wrong?" Adriana responded, her brow furrowing.
"When I was preparing the materials for the case, I realized that the Smith family is not easy to deal with. The last lawyer who fought against them died in a car accident just before the hearing."
"Even though the police closed the case as an accident, everyone knows who was behind it."
Hearing Mona's words, Adriana smiled. "Mona, we are lawyers. Our duty is to help the innocent and fight for justice. If lawyers start refusing cases because they're afraid of criminals, where will victims like White family go?"
The reason Adriana studied law was to help people in need. That was also why, despite what happened three years ago, she hadn't given up.
"Is there anything else?" Seeing Mona still standing there, Adriana smiled and asked.
"Oh, yes! The boss asked you to come to his office. He tried calling you, but you didn't pick up!" Mona said.
Adriana glanced at her phone and saw a missed call from Aidan. She hadn't heard it ring earlier.
"Okay," Adriana nodded.
After delivering the files, Mona left the office.
Adriana put down her work and headed to Aidan's office.
Aidan Baker was one of the founders of the Justice Law Firm and also one of Adriana's seniors from law school.
Adriana knocked on the door and entered.
Aidan was making coffee, and when he saw her, he asked, "Would you like some coffee?"
Adriana walked in and nodded. "Of course!"
After she sat on the sofa, Aidan handed her the coffee and sat opposite her.
Adriana took a sip and said, "Why did you ask me to come here?"
Aidan pulled a folder from his desk and handed it to her. "We've received a big case. The other party is from Sky Group. They have some patent issues with another company. I want you to take this case."
Adriana nodded and glanced over the file. But as soon as she saw the column about liquidity damages they had to pay, Adriana's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Twenty million dollars?" she looked up at Aidan, stunned.
"Aidan, haven't you read the contract before signing it? How could you sign something that unreasonable?" she asked.
"I have seen it," Aidan replied.
"Then why did you sign it? What if the other party is planning some kind of trap for us?" she asked, still in shock.
"To be honest, I also found that amount a bit unreasonable. However, I've read all the documents, and there's nothing wrong with them. What's more, the other party is a well-known company. If we win this case, not only will we gain the litigation fees, but our reputation will rise!"
"Aidan, people say that lawyers take money and do things indiscriminately. Don't tell me you also want to be that kind of lawyer?" Adriana said.
"Adriana, don't you know me? How could I do something like that? You know I value my principles. However, I didn't find any issues with the case," he replied.
Aidan had always been a rational person, and Adriana respected him deeply. That was why she decided to work with him. He had also helped her a lot in the past, so she owed him a great deal. She thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay, I'll go over the documents."
"Very good! You read them carefully. I've already made an appointment to meet with the client at Heart Coffee Shop the day after tomorrow," Aidan said with a smile.
Adriana took the file and returned to her office.
However, as Adriana sat down at her desk and looked at the contract, she had a very bad feeling in her heart, as if something bad was about to happen.
****
At Heart Coffee Shop.
The appointment was set for around ten o'clock in the morning. However, Adriana arrived ten minutes early, as she preferred being punctual in her professional life.
This was one of the high-end coffee shops in New York City, very famous and exclusive. There weren't many people who could afford to come here, and those who did were all from the upper class. It was the perfect place for meetings and appointments.
She walked to a seat by the window and ordered a cup of coffee. As she settled in, she took out some papers and began reviewing them again. Suddenly, a pair of black leather shoes appeared in front of her.
Looking up, Adriana's gaze met the owner of the shoes, and in that moment, she was stunned.
It felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
The man standing before her was none other than her ex-husband, the man she had once loved with all her heart—and the man who had turned her life upside down three years ago: Calvin Walker.
Five Years LaterParis, FranceA black Rolls-Royce eased to a stop in front of an elegant apartment building.As the rear window lowered, the sharp planes of a man’s face emerged—dark brown eyes, sword-straight brows, a jaw carved from ice.It was Calvin.It had taken him five long years to reach this street.The day Adriana left, he had wanted to follow her immediately.But fate intervened. A catastrophic explosion ripped through the New Jersey construction site he was inspecting, leaving him in a coma for three years. Recovery demanded another grueling six months.While Calvin lay unconscious, the world he built began to splinter. George, already frail, assumed control of GE Group, but the shock of Calvin’s accident shattered his health and clouded his memory. Peter’s blunders worsened the chaos, and his demotion to CEO’s assistant fueled his resentment.Peter allied himself with Anna—newly returned from Korea after a plastic surgery transformation—and together they plotted a marria
He even recalled the first time he met Adriana.Back then, she wore a white dress, light and lively, her sweet smile tinged with flattery. She deliberately drew near him, yet timidly avoided his notice. But every time he turned to look, those moist eyes were fixed on him.He remembered their wedding six years ago, when she skipped happily, arm hooked through his, radiant as if she possessed the entire world.He remembered the day of their divorce three years ago, when she stared at him unblinkingly, asking, word by word, “Did you... truly never love me?”He remembered encountering her again just months ago. Back then, his heart was filled with hatred, with resentment.She had lain half-naked with another man in bed, cuckolding him, yet denied everything with lies. She colluded with her father and older brother to embezzle over sixty billion yuan from GE’s subsidiary, causing losses exceeding two hundred billion yuan. GE’s stock price plummeted by 0.2 percentage points, and he was impe
Soon, Calvin’s car arrived at S&S Law Firm.Without announcing himself at the front desk, he barged straight into Mark’s office.Mark was assigning tasks to Jessica when he saw Calvin, radiating a murderous aura. He paused slightly, then said with forced calm, “Calvin…”“Thud!”Calvin’s fist struck out—fast and vicious—knocking Mark flat on the floor.His body radiated a fierce intensity. Bloodshot, weary eyes fixed on Mark, who was propping himself on one knee. Calvin grabbed his arm. “Where is she?”Mark glanced at Jessica. “Go out first. Don’t let anyone else in.”She froze, stunned. Who was this stranger? He had come in and immediately started throwing punches—how rude!But even in the face of such danger, she couldn’t help but notice his handsomeness. Tall, straight-backed, features sculpted, and an aura that rivaled Mark’s entirely.“Get out!” Mark snapped again. Jessica snapped back to her senses and hurried away, clutching her pounding heart.Mark seized Calvin’s wrist and twi
Inside the aircraft, Davis Wilson held a military newspaper when he looked up and saw his son and Adriana.Standing side by side, smiling, they looked at first glance like a couple deeply in love.He recalled his younger brother’s words: “Big brother, Adriana is a perfect match for Mark! If he misses out, he will regret it for the rest of his life.”After his daughter-in-law’s unexpected death, the family had introduced countless potential partners to Mark, but he consistently refused. Even when he reluctantly tried, Peace disliked the new aunt, crying and unhappy. Adriana, however, possessed an inexplicable charm that endeared her to both his son and granddaughter.Just the other day, Peace had thrown a tantrum at home, demanding to call the lovely Aunt Clarke.But Davis had secretly investigated Adriana’s family background. It was simply incompatible with the Wilson family. Could his son suffer another heartbreak? He hadn’t revealed Adriana’s true identity, hoping Mark would give up
After finalizing her departure date, Adriana packed only the essentials.There wasn’t much to take. She couldn’t return to her apartment for the rest, so she simply asked Aidan to move her things out.“Did you contact my brother?” she asked.Aidan stayed tense, his voice edged with bitterness. “I did. I told him you’re heading to France in a couple of days. Family together is the whole world. There’s nothing to fear anymore.”Adriana rested her chin on her hand, her eyes dreamy. “No matter how old I get, I always want to be with Mom and Dad. Aidan, maybe you should spend some time with Uncle and Aunt, too.”“Fine, I’ll go on the blind date. It won’t kill me.” He hesitated, then blurted, “Calvin has practically dug up the entire city looking for you these past few days. He’s bombarded Snow and me with calls. Plainclothes security are stationed at the law firm every day. I even snuck by your family home—it’s crawling with his people. Wherever you are right now, he’d find you within thre
Stella sneered coldly. “Of course he wasn’t. He was too busy!”Who knew which woman’s arms her “dear husband” had been curled up in that night!Calvin’s lips twitched numbly. “I won’t disturb your rest. I’m leaving.”With that, he turned and left.Perhaps, he thought, the reason he didn’t know how to love someone was because he had never witnessed true affection.His parents had been a cautionary tale for more than two decades—a daily performance of superficial harmony, each wearing a thick mask.They clung to each other for the sake of convenience and shared interests.Neither was happy, yet neither would let go.He had never believed in lasting, pure marriages; to him, they were nothing more than alliances of mutual benefit.Stepping out of the villa compound, Calvin immersed himself in the boundless night.He had to find Adriana. He needed to explain everything that had happened that day, to apologize, to tell her that all the past mistakes were entirely his own.But after a night
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