In just a few days, Adriana had grown afraid of Carson. Quick on her feet and even quicker with her words, she worried that, at this rate, the entire upper class of New York City would soon know about their affair.Carson said, “As far as I remember, Anna doesn’t seem like the type to actively pick fights. And it’s true that I don’t like her character, but it’s not so bad that it’s outrageous—unless you two have a deep grudge.”Carson was also a little intimidating. As a lawyer, he had the ability to analyze situations beyond the surface, cutting straight to the core with seamless precision.But Adriana didn’t feel that her relationship with him was at a level where she could share personal details. Once again, she changed the subject. “Deputy Director Carson, are we still going to the Public Security Bureau? Are you still looking at the evidence?”She clearly didn’t want to continue the conversation, and since it seemed to invade her privacy or touch a sore spot, Carson decided not t
When it came to the details of her work, even with her closest friend, Adriana couldn’t say too much. She took a bite of a snack, savoring the sweet and spicy flavor, and said, “It’s difficult and challenging. My opponent is particularly strong, so I have to work even harder.”Snow didn’t fully understand the intricacies of Adriana’s industry, but she could still offer her support from the sidelines.“Let me tell you about something particularly disgusting. Do you remember Ray’s lover?”How could Adriana forget? The spectacular drama that unfolded during their camping trip on the mountaintop was still fresh in her mind. “Did you guys fight?”“Fight my foot! After what happened last time, I’ve learned to control my fists when I get angry.” Snow huffed. “What I wanted to tell you is—she got dumped by Ray. Just a few days ago, she was acting all high and mighty, as if she was about to become a young lady of status. But now? The producers, the director, and even her own agent have been sc
Snow was so angry she stomped her foot and cursed again. “See? That’s Calvin’s brilliance — he sells you out and you still count the money with a smile! Adriana, ten million is nothing to him! Look at you — satisfied with scraps. It’s stupid!”Adriana patted Snow’s back, trying to calm her down. Her eyes curved into a smile. “You’re all my own, my dearest friends. But right now, what I need is money. Besides Calvin, who else is handing me ten million? Where else am I going to earn that?”Snow’s eyes filled with tears as she wiped them with the back of her hand. “You… Clarke’s precious daughter, used to buying cars and watches without blinking — wasn’t eight or ten million just pocket change to you? Oh, my Adriana, how did you fall this far for a man?”“Okay, okay,” Adriana said soothingly. “What’s wrong with accepting it when the money’s already in my hands? Do you know how many people would envy me?”“You traded your heart for it. Can you really put a price on that?” Snow’s voice cra
Learning that Jessica had not eaten breakfast yet, Adriana ordered two cups of coffee and two sandwiches.Sitting by the window, the morning light flowed through the sky, shining on the woman’s tear-stained, red eyes and the tip of her nose. The more Adriana looked at her, the more pity she felt.Probably due to woman-to-woman empathy, Adriana softly said, “Do you want to eat something first?”Jessica drew out a piece of paper to wipe her eyes, rubbing them even redder, her shoulders gently rising and falling.“You heard that, didn’t you?”Adriana didn’t want to hide it. It was better to lay things out clearly.“I just happened to be passing by, I wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping,” she said.Jessica revealed a trace of embarrassment, which was soon replaced by self-deprecation.“I didn’t expect you to see me like this — at my lowest. You must be laughing at me, right? A few days ago, I even went to you and begged you to let him go. I didn’t expect him to let me go first. We’ve been
Just three simple words, no signature.Adriana took the slightly wilted bouquet from her desk and handed it to the receptionist. “Please throw this one out for me. Thanks.”Then, with a bright smile, she took the fresh bouquet from Carson’s hand, held it up to her nose, and took a deep breath.“These smell amazing. I really love today’s flowers.”Carson’s expression darkened, but he turned around and instructed the receptionist, “Go back to work.”The receptionist sensed that the atmosphere wasn’t right and quickly busied herself, hugging the flowers and slipping away.Carson shut the door and stared at the roses with eyes that could pierce through walls.“Who sent them?”Adriana carefully placed the flowers on her desk, gently fiddling with the petals. The smile on her face didn’t waver.“A person who shall not be named.”“Suitor? Boyfriend? You have a boyfriend?”It occurred to him that he had never actually asked Adriana about her relationship status. Could she already be married t
Selena originally wanted to ask Jessica to have lunch at noon but was rejected. Holding back her discomfort, she went downstairs and unexpectedly found Jessica alone. Despite the discomfort still lingering in her heart, she approached her.Jessica no longer looked at the car that had driven away. Instead, she took Selena’s arm and laughed, “Having lunch with Lawyer Clarke was just to talk business. It’s only with you that I can truly relax and be myself — we’re real friends.”Selena snorted softly. “You and Lawyer Clarke can’t even be compared. She’s pretty, but she definitely knows how to play her cards. You didn’t see the way Deputy Director Carson looks at her — completely bewitched, like a fox spirit has hooked his soul. I’m only saying this because I care about you, so don’t be mad. I’m mad on your behalf.”Adriana might have said she had no feelings for Carson, but who could guarantee what would happen in the future?Who could guarantee that Carson wouldn’t keep up his long-term
Taking on a new assignment arranged by the law firm while assisting Grand Empire with their lawsuit, Adriana knew in her heart that it was her responsibility, even if she couldn’t fully handle it at the time. But that wasn’t the real reason.So, when she spoke to Calvin, she tried to be polite, avoiding anger or defensiveness.“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect the scheduling conflict, but don’t worry — my focus will still be on Grand Empire, and I won’t let down the trust you’ve placed in me.”Calvin was surprised that Adriana didn’t come at him with thorns today. Did she actually realize she was in the wrong?“You know how to split your attention?” Calvin asked. “These two cases aren’t even in the same city, and both are major cases. So tell me, how exactly are you prioritizing them? How do you plan to divide your time?”His tone, unusually calm, gradually softened the air of hostility in the car. The atmosphere cooled back to normal, and the soft piano music in the background suddenly bec
“Such a coincidence.”She had just been kicked out of the car and randomly picked this small restaurant to grab a meal. She hadn’t expected to run into Mark here.Mark flashed a full-toothed smile. He seemed completely at ease, as though this were all perfectly natural. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, hung his suit jacket over the back of the chair, and sat down smoothly — making himself at home without feeling the slightest bit out of place.His movements were fluid and practiced, the kind that could only come from doing this often.“My office is nearby. Haven’t you been here before?”Adriana glanced outside and finally took in her surroundings. The nearby high-rise buildings stood tall, and not far away, she spotted a sleek office building with Sterling & Stone prominently displayed on the façade.Those two words — Sterling & Stone — were names Adriana had long been familiar with. She knew roughly where the firm was located, but with everything on her mind today, she hadn
Having lived among New York’s high society for a few years and come into contact with quite a few celebrities and aristocrats, Maria immediately asked, “Global Entertainment’s Ray William? Eastern William’s only son?”“That’s him.”Maria wasn’t sure what Adriana was up to this time, but her instincts told her it would be even more difficult than the last task. She couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have a personal grudge against him?”She remembered Ray was Calvin’s friend. Shouldn’t he be on good terms with Adriana? Then why did Adriana’s expression show such obvious dislike?Adriana never suspected others lightly, never used people carelessly, and never hid the truth from Maria. “He used despicable means to hurt my friend. But the real target… is me. It’s not that I hold a grudge—it’s that he’s prejudiced against me. And if I don’t strike first, he’s going to make his move soon.”Maria nodded instinctively as she listened. She was starting to believe Adriana’s words. Deep down, she felt
Calvin stood alone in the smoking area, lighting a cigarette and leaning against the parapet.He drew in a deep mouthful of smoke, letting it burn through his lungs.(The young madam even asked me to teach her how to make a fish cake... but it was hard for her. She was a true lady — ten fingers never touching spring water. She burned her fingers, blistered them, but never said a word about the pain.)Fish cakes — such a distant memory.If Emily hadn’t pried open that forgotten gate of memory, perhaps Calvin would never have remembered it again in his life.It had been late — well after 1:00 a.m. — when he returned to New York after a long inspection trip at the England branch.The living room was dimly lit by a single floor lamp.As he put down his luggage, he noticed Adriana curled up on the sofa, asleep.On the table beside her, a plate of fish cakes sat quietly, waiting for him.The next morning, as he passed the dining room, he spotted the plate again and frowned."Why didn’t you
There was no need for Calvin to explicitly say anything; certain unspoken rules were already understood — Adriana knew them all.There was no point in going through the usual formalities again, not against someone like Darren, who couldn’t rise to the occasion.Calvin examined the clear light in her eyes and once again understood what Henry had meant when he said Adriana had changed.In the past, she wouldn't have shown such calmness; her gaze would not have carried the wisdom it held now."Keep your co-worker in check and don’t let her do anything reckless. But of course, if you want to use this chance to get rid of an inconvenient opponent, you can just let it slide."Adriana nodded. "I know what to do."The ambiguous tension between them slowly faded as the conversation unfolded. Calvin glanced around the room. "Rest early."He’s letting me off that easily? Adriana thought."Good night," she said, getting up to see him off, without the slightest intention of trying to make anything
She had quite a bit of potential for uttering so many non-repetitive curse words in one night.Calvin caught her hand, not allowing her to leave.Then, right in front of her, he dialed a number.The call connected after just a few rings.“Mr. Walker? Wow, what an honor! What brings you to call me?” the voice on the other end said, half-joking.Calvin said coldly, “Contact Richard. Get him out of there — use whatever excuse you need.”The person on the other side didn’t dare to ask for details. “Yes, understood!”Calvin hung up and turned to look at Adriana, whose eyes were red with rage.“Aren’t you going to thank me?” he said lazily.Adriana tried to shake off his hand but couldn’t.“Calvin, you’re only making things more awkward between us. Please pay attention to boundaries…”Calvin leaned in and said lowly, “If I hadn’t watched my step tonight, you'd be lying on my bed right now, under me, crying for mercy.”Adriana’s face flared with anger.Without hesitation, she raised her foot
Last time, she had been half-proud of herself for bravely refusing to go home with Calvin — but she didn’t expect to be back here again, in the blink of an eye.Adriana scratched her hair in distress.“To be clear, I’m just borrowing the room,” she muttered.Calvin glanced at her miserable-looking face and said lazily, “I suggest you clean yourself up first. I won’t lay my hands on a female ghost — even if I’m horny.”Adriana rushed into the restroom, only then realizing how horrible she looked with half her makeup removed during the car ride.Come to think of it, Calvin had kept his cool the entire way — not even driving the car into the green belt.His psychological endurance was strong enough, she had to admit.The bathroom was fully stocked with toiletries.After showering, Adriana came out wrapped in a bathrobe, only to find Calvin on the balcony, making a call.He stood near the window, one hand in his pants pocket, his back straight and imposing.“Send someone to keep an eye on
On what grounds?Because he was Calvin — a character you couldn’t afford to mess with, couldn’t afford to offend.Adriana wanted to answer for him, believing, you don't have a second choice.But Calvin’s actual response was more official and impossible to refuse: “Believe it or not, it’s up to you!”His desire to catch him worked. After a brief moment weighing his options, Darren engaged in a more thorough conversation with Calvin, roughly covering how to help him clean up his act, as well as the cooperation that would follow.The matter was negotiated without Calvin needing to mobilize a single soldier.Darren cheerfully took the initiative to toast, saying, “Since we’re partners now, can you tell us your name?”Calvin didn’t touch his wine glass. “Next time, I’ll naturally let you know.”Kevin crossed over and spoke to Darren: “Mr. Darren, waiting for your good news in three days!”Richard and Liam looked at each other in dismay. Darren was normally a cautious man; otherwise, his bu
Darren was an unfamiliar name to Adriana.But Calvin wouldn't mention someone unrelated for no reason.After thinking for two seconds, Adriana understood: this man, Darren, who hadn't shown his face until now, was probably Scar’s big brother.Scar himself didn’t even know what his Big Brother’s real name was — so how did Calvin just point it out directly?Richard’s face shifted from green to white, little by little.He felt that the worst kind of situation was about to happen.This strange man seemed to know far more about them than he should.And the more this became apparent, the more Richard dared not be careless.He forced a smile and tried to stall: "Darren? Which Darren is Brother referring to?"Not only Richard — even Liam, who was nearly drunk, and Austin Mark, still dizzy from slamming into the wall, were staring at Calvin warily.With their connections in New York City, most powerful people at least had recognizable faces.But this man — no one had any information on him at
Mina’s eyes could see six ways at once; she thought tonight felt unusual. She didn’t know who he was, but she knew she had to serve people because of Liam. If anything went wrong, Darren’s business could be soaked, so she smiled carefully."Two brothers, if there's something to say, let’s say it properly. Roughness can scare people off, you know."Kevin’s skin practically crawled from her flattery, and he snapped, "None of your business."Mina smiled softly and picked up a glass of wine. "Handsome, don’t be angry. Why don’t I have a drink with you?"She drank it all in one go, tilting the glass upside down to show not a single drop remained. "Satisfied, handsome?"Kevin said coldly, "Not satisfied."Mina blushed profusely, tugging awkwardly at the corner of her mouth. "Then, what would satisfy the handsome man?"Kevin kept a stern face and said nothing.Mina circled around the table and half-squatted down, trying to tap Calvin’s leg, but he dodged her with a disgusted look, as if a sl
Calvin’s cold and clear presence stood out starkly in the room—like a noble eagle trapped among vultures. From the moment he sat down, the atmosphere shifted. It was as if this seedy box suddenly became a royal court, simply because he was in it.Adriana had to admit, deep down, that sometimes it wasn’t the place that mattered—it was the people who entered it.Calvin turned to the man and asked flatly, “Tell me, what kind of dog are you?”“Damn it! Did you just insult me?”Furious, the man raised the wine bottle and swung it toward Calvin’s face.Crash!With a smooth backhand, Calvin caught the bottle mid-air—and in the next second, red liquid flowed down the man’s head. It was a mixture of wine and blood, trailing from the broken shards that remained.The man stood frozen in place, stunned. He clearly hadn’t expected anyone would dare lay a hand on him.&l