"What?" I nearly spat out my coffee when Calvin's words reached my ears. Luke has issues with his sex life?Calvin promptly handed me a tissue.I wiped my mouth and smiled, asking, "Is this... rumoured gossip?"Calvin couldn't help but laugh and replied, "Miss Middleton, are you truly surprised? After all, Mr. Walker is always single, which raises suspicions. I've been working with him for a while now and I've never seen him with a girlfriend. In fact, I've never seen him with any female friends, let alone someone he's romantically involved with. Think about it, he's an eligible bachelor in his thirties—good-looking, fit, and with a perfect background. If someone like him can't find a partner, people would either suspect he has some hidden illness or that he's been hurt before."Calvin spread his hands and continued, "Since Mr. Walker has never dated, people can only suspect he has some hidden illness!"I disagreed with that notion!Luke himself has admitted to struggling in rela

"Mr. York is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney, so I am confident that I have nothing to worry about," I said calmly.The evidence chain was complete, and I believed that justice would prevail, resulting in Max receiving the punishment he deserved.Reflecting on how Stephen was introduced to me by Luke, I thanked him again. "Mr. Walker, I truly appreciate all the effort you have put into this. I promise to work diligently and handle my work responsibilities properly so that I don't—""Work responsibilities?" Luke's lips barely moved, and his voice was so soft that it was difficult to discern his emotions. The slight furrow in his brow made me quickly replay my words in my mind.Did I say something wrong? Why did Luke seem slightly unhappy?As I pondered the situation, Luke closed his eyes, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.Luke's concise manner often left me puzzled. No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't grasp his meaning.I took out my phone,

"Didn't I mention before that I was in a relationship? Well, my parents somehow found him, gave him some money, and sent him away. In a way, they filtered out the bad ones for me. I guess dating me makes guys rich overnight. I must be a good luck charm," Wendy laughed, giving me a playful look. "Jen, we can't keep giving away this fortune to outsiders. How about I publicly express my interest in you? You'll be the richest of them all.""Let's not," I chuckled. "I'm afraid of having money but not the freedom to enjoy it. If your dad finds out we're deceiving him, he'll be furious." We chatted back and forth on our way to the courthouse, a journey that felt both long and short. I was torn between wanting to reach the court quickly to leave the past behind and dreading the painful memories that the trial would undoubtedly bring back.As the car turned onto Main Street, I straightened up at the sight of the courthouse with its imposing facade.The crowd outside was bustling. I took a

"Sit down," the bailiff ordered sternly.Max stood his ground, defying the bailiff as he scanned the courtroom, his expression growing darker. He knew his family well and held no expectations for his three sisters and their husbands. I figured he was searching for Cindy.Max always believed he had everything under control, thinking that both Cindy and I were devoted to him. Even when I exposed Cindy's true motives for being with him, he remained delusional.Today, Cindy was absent, crushing his last hope.He struggled against the bailiff's grip, his exaggerated reaction catching the attention of the media, cameras flashing all around him."Stop taking pictures! None of you are allowed to film! I demand a closed trial!" Max's composure was crumbling under the relentless flashes."Your request has been denied," the bailiff reminded him."I demand it again!" Max roared incessantly.Having risen from poverty through cunning and manipulation, he had become an object of envy. Now, as

"Is Max actually sick?" "Yes, it's true."During the trial, Max suddenly collapsed and was immediately rushed to the hospital, abruptly ending the proceedings that had just begun.Stephen informed us that Max had suffered from an allergic reaction and was still unconscious.Max was cunning, and although I didn't want to believe it, the hospital's diagnosis couldn't be faked.Given his condition, it was uncertain when the next trial would take place.While Max was being transported to the hospital, Wendy and I waited for news at a nearby coffee shop. I absentmindedly stirred my oat milk latte."I hope he never wakes up! Hopefully, he'll be trapped in locked-in syndrome, conscious but confined to bed forever. That would be worse than death.""He's broke now. Keeping him in the hospital would just waste public resources.""True. Every breath he takes is a waste, considering the kind of person he is." Wendy's phone rang. She glanced at it and said, "Jen, let's change the subject