Unfortunately, Adriana couldn’t see Calvin’s dazzling smile—like a beautiful oil painting—and so the revulsion in her heart didn’t deepen. “Sorry, I’m not as idle as you are.”Calvin pressed his fingers to the tip of his nose, trying to hide the flicker of embarrassment no one could see. “Tell me, what are you planning to do? It’s not easy to set aside an unsolved case—especially one with no proof of death.”Yet deep down, he knew—if she just opened her mouth and asked, even with the softest of words—he would stir up all of New York, uncover the truth, and kneel before her in gratitude.But Adriana no longer pinned her hopes on her ex-husband. She knew full well how powerful Calvin was, but that didn’t matter now. “I’m sorry. I can’t tell you. And thanks to you disrupting the rhythm, I’m afraid I can’t solve it in the timeframe I promised.”“You mean... you’re breaking the agreement?”Adriana paused for two seconds before answering. “I’ll speed up the pace.”Calvin’s lips parted sligh
Before Adriana arrived, Jessica and Carson’s quarrel had already shocked many people’s views, and the outrageous things that came out of Jessica’s mouth shocked them even more.Selena, who had always seen Adriana as a thorn in her side, naturally wasn’t going to miss the chance to stomp on her while she was down.Now that Adriana’s career was suffering and her emotions were exposed, it looked like she had hit rock bottom and would never recover. How could she still act arrogant and high-minded? In a few days, she might have to pack up her store and leave.Selena straightened her back and laughed coldly. “Lawyer Clarke, you’re not afraid of eating what’s in the bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot? Aren’t you afraid of choking to death? You’re not just secretly hooking up with your boss in the office because your boyfriend can’t see you—you’re also shamelessly digging your claws into Lawyer Carson even though you know he already has a girlfriend! Lawyer Jessica and Deputy Director Carso
Adriana decided not to be merciful anymore. She deliberately straightened her posture and said, “Sorry for what exactly?”Jessica was practically grinding her teeth. She had counted on stepping on Adriana when she was down—kicking her while she was going through a rough patch. But how had things turned out like this?“I was in a bad mood… I couldn’t quite remember, but we did talk about it. Just now, I thought about it… You did encourage me that day, saying you had no interest in Deputy Director Carson. I must have remembered it wrong.”Her voice was low, but Adriana heard it—and so did Carson, who was silently watching.The crowd collectively felt like they’d been doused in a bucket of cold, bloody water.Adriana said, “That’s it? I remember there was more.”Selena, seeing Jessica bow her head and admit fault, snapped, “You’re not in the wrong! Why are you apologizing? Are we not allowed to call out Adriana’s misconduct anymore?”Jessica sharply interrupted her, “Don’t say another wo
Jessica wiped away her tears and bowed at a neat ninety degrees. “Thank you, Deputy Director, for your guidance. I will repay you with my performance.”Carson waved her off impatiently and pointed toward the door. “Get out.”When Jessica walked out, a dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on her.Having just experienced the most humiliating social defeat of her life, she still managed to keep her composure. “Sorry to disappoint everyone,” she said. “I haven’t been dismissed, and I will not be leaving. We’ll continue to be colleagues. I hope we can separate personal matters from work and carry on professionally.”With that, she walked back to her workstation in long, confident strides, as if she had just won a battle.Jenny was stunned. Selena’s jaw practically hit the floor.Should she curse her—Shameless!—or nod in admiration and say—Crouching bull, hidden shameless queen!?The people in the criminal division were thoroughly embarrassed. One of them offered an apologetic smile. “Lawyer Clar
The refreshing mountain wind brushed against one side of her face—unusual mountains and fields, looking like an immortal.Avoidance was not an option; she had to go up and greet him. Adriana coughed. “Calvin…”Calvin turned his head just in time. As if that weren’t enough, he stood up. His long legs strode toward her, even with the wind pressing into his ribs. The scent of roses and mint mingled with the smell of mountain marshes.“Here it comes.”Hmm?What did he mean?Before Adriana could ask, a large hand landed on her waist. Calvin wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into him, forcing her to hold on.“This is what I told you. My wife, Adriana.”Adriana angled her head and glared. Two sharp daggers flew from her pupils and landed squarely on the man’s face.“What are you up to?”Calvin ruffled her hair with his other hand. “Looki
The old woman’s house didn’t have a dining room. In the center of the main hall stood a worn-out table, coated in a layer of old oil that wouldn’t come off no matter how much you wiped. The only option was to turn a blind eye.Adriana could accept all of this. But for cleanliness-obsessed Calvin, it was a bigger challenge.Knowing his fussy temperament, Adriana deliberately teased, “Are you getting used to the farmhouse’s coarse tea and simple meals? You don’t look very hungry. Why don’t you go outside and admire the scenery instead?”Calvin picked up a spoon and examined it. A thin film of oil clung to the surface. His brows furrowed deeply, as if forming a trench. Put it down? Inappropriate. Keep holding it? Uncomfortable.“Which dish did you cook?” he asked.Adriana didn’t answer.The old woman was scooping rice, her face still cold and distant. Clearly, she wasn’t we
Calvin paused for a moment, then said, “So in your mind, I’m just a strong man you can drag around to pave roads for people?”“Extraordinary means for extraordinary times,” Adriana replied. “Besides, this road really isn’t safe for Auntie to walk on. Isn’t doing a good deed during the day a virtue? Did I force you to fix it? Don’t you have a mouth to say no?”Calvin said calmly, “If your wife speaks, you have to listen.”“I’m not your wife!”“You were just now.”Adriana didn’t want to keep arguing over something so pointless. She looked around at the old house. “Where do you think Tony might’ve left something? I’ve looked through most of the place. It’s so bare—there’s nowhere to hide anything unless he dug a hole.”Calvin replied, “Those people knew Tony’s background. They probably searched the place already. Hiding anything in plain sight would’ve been suicide.”He put down the stone in his hand, then bent his knees, half-squatting with his elbows resting on them. He looked out acro
Adriana didn’t really read Calvin’s Twitter. But the photo that had gone viral, spreading across WiFi and 4G coverage, was impossible to avoid.At first glance, she recognized it. Yes, she had taken it.She didn’t want to remember, because she didn’t dare. The memory of the person who still tingled her nerves would shatter the fragile faith she had built so easily.Her silence was heavy, her gaze vacant. Calvin couldn’t think of anything to say.Adriana looked out toward the mountain that had gone dark. The last remnants of the sun slipped into the valley, casting its light on the other side of the earth and leaving behind long shadows. The sun had set, the moon had risen, and the stars speckled the sky.The darkness of night always seemed to amplify emotions, making people feel exposed and fragile to the point of vulnerability.His questioning was like a sledgehammer striking her heart, edged with cold steel.“It’s been too long. I can’t remember anymore,” she said.As if he didn’t c
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
Calvin’s identity couldn’t be exposed. Once everyone knew he was the president of Grand Empire—the young master of the Walker family—wouldn’t that cause chaos?That was Adriana’s first reaction.Before she could speak, her body had already moved. She stepped in front of Calvin in a flash, blocking him protectively, and said calmly, “I am his personal lawyer. If there are any problems, I’ll handle them.”Calvin looked at Adriana. She was a bit disheveled, but still stunningly beautiful. This wasn’t something they had discussed in advance, and yet she had reacted purely on instinct. If he couldn’t see that she cared, then he wouldn’t be Calvin.A faint smile tugged at his lips, like the first rays of a new sun piercing through the morning mist—just enough to gently light up the dull earth around them.The local cops weren’t used to handling major cases. They hadn’t dealt with many lawyers before, so they didn’t question it much in the moment. Adriana skillfully shifted the focus, removi
She shouldn’t have zoned out on such a special day. Adriana skipped over the topic and looked up at the round patch of sky above her head. “Why hasn’t anyone come yet?”Calvin replied, “The nearest police station is in town. With their efficiency, we’ll be lucky if they arrive before dawn.”Adriana sighed, "Yeah... there are just some things you have to know and accept."“Are you just going to stand there? Planning to turn into a statue?”She patted the dirt next to her, then thought better of it and pulled some hay over to make a rough cushion. “Don’t be shy, big brother. Sit down. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck here?”Scar chimed in, “Those guys are seriously unreliable. Might as well sit and wait.”Hearing a gangster complain about the police made Adriana laugh. “From the sound of it, you’ve had some experience?”Scar scratched his head, embarrassed. “Not too many times…”The cave wasn't big enough to tire Calvin, but sitting beside Adriana and gazing at the sky felt like a mome
Calvin listened as Adriana half‑chatted, half‑joked, half‑bluffed—effortlessly weaving her way into Scar’s mind and pulling out all his secrets. He couldn’t help but be impressed again.Was the girl he used to know really Adriana?He spoke calmly. “Where’s the rope?”Adriana looked around carefully and had to admit the truth. “The rope was yanked away.”In the darkness, she couldn’t clearly see Calvin’s expression—but she didn’t need to. He was probably frowning. That was one of his little habits. Maybe he hadn’t noticed it himself, but whenever he was annoyed or in a bad mood, he always squeezed his eyebrows together—and the depth of that crease depended on the seriousness of the situation.Scar cursed under his breath. “Son of a bitch! Bunch of assholes!”Adriana glanced up at the cave’s entrance, eyeballing its height, then turned to Calvin.“Can you fly up there?”Scar stared in disbelief. “You… can fly?”Calvin frowned. “No.”Adriana pursed her lips. Her body was exhausted—there
Scar couldn’t help but feel terrified. Adriana knew he wasn’t a core team member, and she didn’t expect him to hold any key information—but each knock on the door was another ray of hope.Adriana didn’t mince words. “I’m going to ask you a few simple questions. Answer them truthfully. Once we find out you’ve lied, forget saving your life—you won’t even walk out of this place alive.”Scar weighed his options. Based on their words, could they be trusted?However, he had no choice. A good man shouldn’t have to lie—but this woman was right: even if he escaped, his big brother would never trust him again. After a moment, he nodded. “You ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”Calvin stood diagonally behind Adriana, one hand in his pants pocket, the other ready to protect immediately.The vegetable cellar was cramped and stifling, but Adriana felt as if Calvin’s presence purified the air. Whenever he stood near her, it seemed to grow clear and fresh.“How old are you?”Scar froze. Why is she