Thanks to Alex, Adriana successfully rendezvoused with Calvin.Alex repeated the name of a certain niche restaurant located in an alley across the street, purposely speaking very slowly for fear that Adriana wouldn’t remember it.A local driver led the way. After a few turns, Adriana accurately found Calvin’s location. It was a Western restaurant decorated in a Baroque style. The outer wall was massive, adorned with fresh greenery. Vines coiled around the front wall, making the building look like a small house growing within a giant green plant.Adriana pushed the door open and found only two guests in the dining hall.Calvin sat leisurely by the window like a master, a white tablecloth spread neatly across the table. A cup of black coffee sat at the edge. He was looking down at his phone, apparently reading a work document. After a while, he tapped the screen a few times.Alex, unable to sit still, kept looking around, eagerly expecting Adriana’s arrival.“Miss Clarke!”At the sound
Adriana racked her brain but couldn’t figure out how she had offended this young master. No matter what she said, he found fault with it. Whether he left or stayed—what did that have to do with her?“It’s your freedom to stay wherever you want. No one can interfere,” she said. Least of all her.The moment she finished speaking, Calvin’s expression darkened. His jaw tightened, as if he were ready to kick someone out at any moment just to vent his frustration.For six years of their marriage, Calvin had always been a composed and mature man, his emotions steady and unreadable. As president, he governed subordinates with treacherous minds, never revealing his true feelings to anyone.She, of all people, was no exception.Yet recently, Adriana was surprised to find that she could actually catch glimpses of Calvin’s anger.Had she sharpened her ability to read people, or was Calvin simply no longer bothering to hide it?“Listening to Lawyer Clarke, it seems she is very confident in her abi
Without waiting for Calvin to speak, Adriana took the lead in clarifying. “You’ve misunderstood. We are just partners. I am his proxy lawyer—nothing more.”Martha gave her another once-over, silently assessing her with high regard but showing a hint of regret on her face. “Oh, I see…”Adriana made up her mind—she had to leave. If she stayed any longer, she wasn’t sure what else the shrewd boss lady might perceive. “Mr. Calvin, Mr. Alex, I still have something to attend to. I won’t intrude on your dinner. I’ll contact you later.”Alex immediately offered, “I’ll give you a ride!”As they left the restaurant one after the other, Martha simply shrugged and began gathering up the baking trays. “Well, I’m heading inside to help.”Calvin parted his lips slightly. “Leave the cake here.”Martha blinked in surprise. “I thought you said it was too sweet and you didn’t want it.”Calvin’s gaze fell on the piece of cake Adriana had taken a bite of. In his mind, he could vividly recall the movement
At this point, Miley wasn’t just confused—she was on the verge of tears. “Lawyer Clarke, you might as well let me headbutt the sculpture of David. Even if you gave me a hundred lives, I wouldn’t dare! I just mentioned the passport number, but it’s peak tourist season, and hotels are hard to book. Lawyer Clarke, please, save my poor life, or Mr. Marshall will have my head when I get back.”Adriana remained firm. “Go upstairs and get it. A few minutes won’t make a difference.”Miley clung to her arm, whining playfully. “It’s just a passport number! Foreigners have relaxed check-in requirements here. The president won’t even know—you think hotel check-ins are that strict?”Unable to resist Miley’s persistence, Adriana finally pulled out her passport.Miley, ever the opportunist, not only used Adriana’s passport but also registered her phone number for the reservation.Adriana’s face darkened. “Secretary Miley, you have a lot of nerve!”Miley folded her arms and pleaded pitifully, “I don’
The penthouse suite offered a sweeping view of the city at night. Exotic architecture and a sea of lights stretched endlessly, starkly different from the familiar landscapes of the United States. Every street, every building’s design and orientation, served as a constant reminder—this place was far from home.And Calvin—he was the last person Adriana could afford to offend.Rather than confronting him or escalating tensions, wouldn’t it be wiser to have a calm, rational conversation?Resolving to take the diplomatic route, Adriana took the initiative. “If Mr. Calvin doesn’t have anything urgent to discuss right now, could you give me five minutes? At least let me dry my hair.”She had rushed out after washing it, barely managing to pat it dry. Now, water dripped from the ends, soaking through her clothes and splattering onto the carpet. Knowing Calvin’s obsession with cleanliness, she was sure he’d make an issue of it sooner or later.Calvin opened his mouth, ready with a sharp retort
The blood rushed to his head, and a rumble of plasma seemed to burst in his skull. Fortunately, Calvin had extraordinary self-control. He steadied his tone and said, “Blow-drying your hair—how did you end up in this state?”Adriana’s small face was pale from pain, but as she held her breath to endure it, a flush of red surfaced, creating a contrast that appeared almost like a delicate pink blush.“I fell and hit my tailbone. Now I can’t move, and the floor is so hard—I think I might have cracked a bone.”Calvin’s footsteps faltered. “A bone?”Adriana was in too much pain to manage her expression. Her fingers gripped the ground to brace herself, minimizing any movement in her hips.“I’m not sure. Can you call a doctor for me?”Calvin’s expression darkened, though it was unclear whether it was from anger or something else. Without another word, he bent down, stretching his arms toward her.“If you’re worried about a broken bone, don’t move. Otherwise, it might shift out of alignment.”A
Adriana pulled the corner of her mouth into a strained smile.“It’s… ah!”He was Calvin. A man who could shake the stock market with a mere stomp of his foot. What was money to him? If he wanted, he could rename this hotel every other day just for fun.Meanwhile, the male doctor was left waiting alone in the living room. Inside the bedroom, Calvin—who had no medical experience whatsoever—stepped closer and asked, “How is she?”The moment he entered, the female doctor’s face flushed slightly.“It’s not a fracture,” she explained. “But your wife didn’t cushion her fall properly, and the impact jarred her bones. There’s some ligament and connective tissue damage. She needs rest and recovery. I’ll prescribe both internal and external medications. After three days, she should be able to walk normally.”Lying on her back, Adriana was relieved she didn’t have to show her face. If she did, the expression of utter despair she wore might make the doctor think she had been misdiagnosed.Calvin n
Just as Adriana angled herself halfway up, a sharp pain nearly shattered her defenses. Her vision blurred, and the psychological urge to cry swelled inside her.“Ma’am, let me apply the medicine. May I ask where it hurts?”Hearing the gentle voice of the hotel attendant, Adriana stopped struggling. “Hip.”So… he really ordered room service?After the medicine was applied, Adriana lay back down, waiting for it to take effect.Twenty minutes passed. Calvin was still nowhere to be seen.Did he get another room to avoid suspicion?That would be good. Staying under separate roofs would prevent unnecessary interactions—no more awkward encounters, no more pointless arguments.But an hour later, Adriana wasn’t feeling so optimistic.An internal emergency had crept up on her. She needed to use the restroom.The medicine’s effect was slow. Instead of soothing the pain, it burned—hot and intense—making her break out in anxious sweat. She couldn’t even get out of bed, let alone walk to the bathro
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
Adriana hurriedly stood up, letting Richard's arms miss her as she fled to the song selection table. She quickly picked a song she was already tired of hearing herself.The prelude began. Adriana sat on a high stool as the disorienting lights flickered and danced, casting her features in shifting patterns of light and shadow. In the haze, her face became half-hidden, half-revealed—mysterious and luminous.As the song started, the room fell silent.Mina, holding her glass of wine, joined a few men in turning their attention to the small stage.There, in the corner, sat a woman like a frightened deer—yet somehow too mesmerizing to be real.Where did she come from?Was she just trying to help out a newcomer, or had she accidentally brought in a job-stealing troublemaker?Fortunately, that lecherous Darren Venzor wasn’t around tonight. If he had been, he would’ve already been seduced by that little fox.Adriana sang with her lips,
Interesting. Things were getting more and more intriguing.If she could catch evidence of Richard cheating, she could kill two birds with one stone today.“Good… Good!”Adriana’s red lips curved into a subtle smile, though no one could see the sharp calculation flickering beneath her eyes. She extended her long, slender legs. Her clothes weren’t particularly revealing, but her confident stride and graceful movements hinted at an understated allure.It wasn’t delicate, but it was undeniably captivating.Richard smiled, his eyebrows raised, and patted the seat beside him. “Sit next to me!”The woman on his lap let out a reluctant grunt and clung to his neck. “Richard, don’t you love me anymore?”Richard slid his hand along her leg and said, “Be good. Wait for me.”Obediently, the woman moved to the side, vacating the seat, and shot Adriana a venomous glare.Adriana leaned over and sat down, still catching her breath, when
A few moments later, Anna wiped her tears and walked out of the parlor—no one came to see her off.Leon spotted her first. “Brother, Anna’s here!”“Sit tight. I’m going out.”Peter got up quickly and followed her, gently offering a handkerchief.Anna kept her head down as she walked, not looking around. Suddenly, the appearance of a handkerchief and a dark figure startled her—she mistook it for Calvin and instinctively smiled,“Calv—”She stopped mid-word, realizing it wasn’t him.“Peter?”Peter stood there with his arms folded, his black suit crisp and sharp. A faint smile played on his lips; he looked like a knight in polished armor.“Did Calvin bully you? I’ll straighten him out if he did.”Anna clutched the handkerchief, shaking her head. “No…”“Oh? Then maybe Grandpa gave you a
A knowing line officially opened the topic of the day.At that moment, both Peter and Leon fell silent—this was not a cold arrow they were prepared to receive.Peter’s peripheral gaze landed on Calvin, who calmly said, “Stocks go up and down all the time. Grandpa has been in the business world most of his life and understands the laws of the market better than I do.”“Don’t blame the market for a malignant result caused by individual behavior. Do you think I don’t watch the news? Or do you think I’m deaf?”The statement was serious, and instantly, the atmosphere in the garden dropped to freezing. Peter and Leon held their breath in unison, not daring to make a sound.Calvin remained calm and composed. “What did Grandpa hear?”George let out a cold grunt, his frowning brows folding into deep, angry lines. His sharp eyes seemed to carry blades.“I haven’t been
If a man cheats on his wife during the marriage, it’s considered a serious breach of marital obligations. The woman can hold him legally accountable, and in the event of a divorce, she may not only receive financial compensation but also have an advantage in gaining custody of the children.Adriana said calmly, “Special circumstances can certainly turn things around.”Jessica curled the corner of her mouth into a smirk. “I’ll find out.”The marriages of successful men often carried the shadow of extramarital affairs. If the defendant’s private misconduct could be uncovered, it would be in the plaintiff’s best interest to investigate thoroughly.After thinking for a moment, Jessica softened her tone and smiled. “Lawyer Clarke, thank you for being willing to help. I thought you didn’t want to get involved.”Adriana replied, “Work and personal life shouldn’t be mixed. And I&
“Thank you for the invitation, but today is obviously not suitable for a door-to-door visit. I’ll treat you to dinner another day as a thank-you for your frequent help over the past two days, whether it’s rare for you or not.”Adriana didn’t give Calvin a chance to respond. Today, she would not set foot in his house again—no matter what.A man and a woman in a closed space—it was easy to make irrational decisions, especially for a woman. The atmosphere could quickly lead to something impulsive. And besides, she wasn’t entirely immune to Calvin’s charm.Calvin stood calmly outside the car door, noting the resistance in her eyes.“Very well. I’ll wait for Lawyer Clarke’s thank-you banquet!”He was testing Adriana’s boundaries little by little, figuring out how to get along with her.The corner of Adriana’s mouth twitched into a polite smile. “Goodbye.”Turning the car around, Adriana gripped the steering wheel. The open window let in fresh air, and the sunlight warmed her face. The most
“Huh?”Kevin thought he’d misheard. “Green Lake Village? The village you went to yesterday, President?”“Yes,” Calvin replied. “Especially the house on the hill—Tony’s place. Fix it up for the old woman. Send some furniture and get everything properly arranged. You can take care of the details.”Adriana glanced at his serious profile as he focused on driving. Her earlier embarrassment vanished in an instant, and her heart gave a subtle flutter.Kevin’s brain short-circuited for a second, then quickly caught up. “Understood, President. I’ll contact a construction team and arrange everything on site.”The call ended, and the car fell silent again.Adriana touched the bridge of her nose. “Um, I’ll thank you on their behalf.”Calvin chuckled. “Is the next thing you’re going to say, ‘You’re a good person’?”Well… that was almost exactly what she was about to say. But saying something like that now? With everything going on? It felt… a bit out of place.Calvin added, “You can say anything y
Calvin looked at her as she instinctively reached out, her slender fingers curling with tension, knuckles protruding from the force.“Lawyer Clarke,” he said, “if you want something, just say it straight. There’s no need for adults to play games.”Adriana awkwardly lowered her head and cleared her throat. “Calvin, please watch your words. Can you not always say things that make people misunderstand? Like this morning, and just now—what exactly did you mean? Is there nothing else in your head besides that?”Calvin responded casually, “Which sentence did you misunderstand? Misunderstand what? Lawyer Clarke, please be specific. Maybe I’ll consider changing.”Adriana clenched her teeth and rolled her eyes at him, but couldn’t bring herself to explain further. “In short, it’s uncomfortable to hear.”When they found the car, Adriana was ready to hop into the driver’s seat, but Calvin pulled her toward the opposite side and shoved her gently into the passenger seat.“Be honest—sit. I’ll driv