Calvin, already the picture of elegance, managed to elevate his presence further by changing into a proper suit.Now, as he walked in shiny leather shoes, the sound of each step on the cobblestones created a rhythmic melody that seemed to light up the atmosphere.He had always walked with one hand casually in his pants pocket, his back straight and erect — truly living up to the phrase “orchid and jade tree.”The moment Adriana’s eyes met his, she quickly looked away.Calvin sat in the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and twisted his head toward her. “What? Don’t dare to look at me?”Adriana smirked. “Yes, I don’t dare. I’m afraid I’ll be mesmerized by you and end up crashing the car.”The corners of Calvin’s mouth twitched. When he turned his head back to his right, the twitch became a brief laugh — so fleeting that even he didn’t notice it himself.As the car drove toward the villa area, Adriana fell silent.Calvin, immersed in his phone, focused on handling his work. He didn’t
An hour had passed, but the door was still closed, and there was no news from Calvin.Lunchtime had passed, and Adriana's stomach rumbled.There was no food in the car. She wanted to drive to the neighborhood to eat, but she worried that if Calvin came out and didn't see anyone, he might take advantage of the situation.After waiting for more than two hours, she finally couldn't help but fall asleep in the car.Three hours later, Calvin resigned from Anna’s family and walked out. When he saw the car parked under the shade of a tree, he felt a mix of anger and annoyance.He was about to knock hard when his eyes fell on the sleeping figure in the driver's seat.Through the crack of the open window, he could see Adriana resting her head against the window, deeply asleep.Her outstretched hand hung by the glass, and the wind swept past, pushing strands of hair from the back of her hand to her face.She was quiet and serene as she slept. Her thick eyelashes fluttered as if the cicada's win
When had Calvin ever been lectured like this? His face darkened.Adriana laughed inwardly. “Very good! Serves you right!”With a stern expression, Calvin handed Adriana the car keys. “Give them to me.”The cashier caught a glimpse of the car key’s logo, and her eyes widened. A Rolls-Royce?And the keychain was clearly a men’s style. Driving such an expensive car and still making someone else pay for groceries? What’s wrong with him?Despite his sour mood, Calvin moved efficiently, packing the ingredients with meticulous care. His movements weren’t rushed, yet he quickly organized everything into two large bags.He grabbed the bags and walked out without a word. Adriana followed behind — empty-handed.The cashier, now thoroughly confused, thought to herself, Well... at least he’s doing the heavy lifting. Not completely scummy.****Back at home, Adriana carefully
The food and soup were both inedible and ended up in the trash.The alternative was boiled dumplings.Calvin propped up one side of his head, not wanting to comment on the layer of white, floury dumplings on his dinner plate. “Lawyer Clarke, when treating guests, at least show some hospitality. Letting guests eat dumplings twice doesn’t seem very gracious, does it?”‘What kind of guest are you? If you don’t want to eat, leave!’ Adriana wanted to say these words aloud.However, after reminding herself three times of the “cooperation case,” she said with a smile on her face, “How could it be? This time it's different. Last time it was pork and scallions, but this time it's pork and mushrooms, without scallions.”It made Calvin so angry that he almost choked on his words.After dipping the dumplings in vinegar, Adriana burped.Calvin furrowed his brows. “You have quite the
At first, Adriana was nervous, afraid he might suddenly do something. But when he fell asleep, she gradually settled down. Once she relaxed, she also drifted off into sleep.Calvin usually didn’t sleep well, so even a nap would only last twenty minutes or so. However, when he woke up today, two hours had already passed.His arm shifted, feeling numb and stiff, and he frowned when he saw the woman sleeping against it.Adriana was still sound asleep. Her head tilted slightly, using his arm as a pillow, her legs curled up on the sofa. Her thin frame was tucked into a tiny ball, half of her body leaning against him. Her long hair cascaded down softly, revealing her delicate nose and pointed chin.The setting sun bathed her in a warm, orange glow, making her look peaceful and serene.Calvin continued to lie there, unmoving, leaving his arm beneath her.“You’re awake?”Adriana’s voice was soft as she blinked he
The car circled around, almost flipping Adriana upside down. Finally, they arrived at the top of the mountain.Although it was supposed to be a camping trip, Ray had temporarily transformed the place into something that felt like a palace.In the center stood a large tent, no less solid than a yurt. It looked so sturdy that even if the wind blew at gale force, it wouldn’t shake a bit.Next to the yurt were two barbecues—one roasting a whole goat, and the other loaded with all kinds of meats and vegetables.There were dartboards, archery targets with bows and arrows, table games, and swing beds hung between two trees nearby. Open-air tables with neatly arranged fruits were set up, draped with white tablecloths, and a few lamps interspersed between them. Colorful effect lights placed on the ground gave the entire scene a magical glow.Overhead, strings of colorful lights and flower arches were arranged in a way that could easily pass for
Ray continued feeding the girl different foods by mouth, one bite after another. Eating seemed secondary—the real focus was their playful intimacy. As they kept going, the girl’s pleated skirt crept higher, almost up to her stomach, and her thin, pencil-like legs wrapped themselves around him.Adriana cleared her throat softly and took a few sips of water, hoping to break the tension and regulate the awkward atmosphere.Calvin, ever impassive, flicked the ash from his cigarette and glanced at her. “What are you blushing for?”Adriana pressed her lips together tightly. “The girl is too hot. I’ll just stay away.”Calvin raised a brow. “Seeing other people make love to each other stirring something in you? Feeling envious?”Adriana tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a smile that almost matched Ray’s signature smirk. “If Calvin can’t stand being lonely, why not ask Ray to bring you a girl? Just don’t pull me into it.”Calvin, already used to Ray’s flings and the revolving door of
Calvin didn’t know when to relight his cigarette, quietly smoking. His face remained carved like stone—cold and hard, as if even an earthquake or flood couldn’t shake him.Henry nodded and said, “Two years ago, something happened to their business. He was driven into a corner, hard. You know Ethan’s character—asking him to give up the thing he loves most is like asking for his life. But his parents gave him an ultimatum: either go back to the company or come home to bury them. After that, he locked himself in the beach house and played the piano for an entire day and night. When he finally came out, he told the maid at the door to burn it all. Then… he went to the company and hasn’t touched the piano since.”Henry’s tone was calm, but he couldn’t hide the deep sadness in the story.Adriana’s eyes stung with emotion as she glanced into the distance at the man in white—his lean, upright figure standing as composed as ever.The girl beside Henry watched him with fascination, her eyes fil
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