Talia walked over with a cold expression, ignoring them. After she left, Lana nudged Adrian’s arm, "Hey, what a coincidence, your sister-in-law is on the same flight as us." Adrian lowered his eyes and said nothing. "Tsk, tsk, look at your bitter and hateful look, sigh, tough situation, huh." Early the next morning, Talia and the director arrived at the golf course. Today, Talia was dressed in a white sports outfit, her hair in a high ponytail, youthful and vibrant, catching the eye of Gregory as soon as he saw her. The director introduced them, "This is President Gregory Larsen of The Tenward Group. Mr. Larsen, this is Lawyer Talia Rhodes from our law firm." Talia smiled and greeted, "Hello, Mr. Larsen." This gentle smile stirred spring emotions within Gregory. Gregory chuckled, "I didn’t expect your law firm to have such a young and beautiful female lawyer." Talia smiled without saying anything, while the director echoed from the side. "Does Lawyer Rhodes usually enjoy playing golf?" Gregory asked. Talia shook her head, "I only know a little, I can’t say I particularly enjoy it." Upon hearing this, Gregory saw an opportunity and smiled wider, "No problem, I can teach you." "What are you all chatting about so happily?" A male voice suddenly interrupted. Adrian Jennings approached, with a companion following behind. Gregory spoke with due respect, his tone now devoid of previous exaggeration, "President Jennings, you’re here for golf too? We were just discussing interests and hobbies with Lawyer Rhodes here, and got carried away, laughing perhaps a bit too loudly. Hope we didn’t disturb you?" Talia’s hand clenched tighter by her side as she raised her eyes to meet Adrian’s gaze, politely distancing herself, "President Jennings." Read full story at novel•fire.net The director usually doesn’t spend much time at the law firm and doesn’t follow entertainment news; he only recognized Lana but was unaware of the recent rumors involving Lana and Adrian Jennings, and even less about the fact that the president of The Jennings Group was Talia Rhodes’s ex-boyfriend. The director seldom mingled with people of Adrian’s status, but he was adept at reading the room. Seeing the respectful attitude of the president of Tenward Group toward this young man, he immediately understood that this dignified young man was no ordinary individual. He too greeted deferentially, "Hello, President Jennings." Adrian’s gaze rested on Talia. Today she wore makeup, and her high ponytail sports attire made her look like a college student—beautiful and lively, hard to glance away from, no wonder that old lecher kept staring at her. Lowering his gaze, Adrian noticed Talia’s long, fair legs under her short skirt, and his brow slightly furrowed. Dressing so attractively, surrounded by two old men, a surge of irritation rose within Adrian. He nearly couldn’t resist taking off his coat and wrapping it around her waist before driving the two old men away. Adrian suppressed the irritation and displeasure within himself, his eyes lightly colored, seemingly unemotional as he murmured indifferently, "Quite disruptive." Gregory nodded and bowed, "Really sorry, President Jennings, I’ll keep it down." "You all continue chatting," Adrian threw out those three words and walked away. He was here at the golf course today to accompany a friend who just returned from Aridia. The friend is named Edward Shelby, the project of Vincent Fletcher in Aridia was captured so quickly thanks to his help. After walking away, Edward Shelby, who had been silent while beside Adrian, immediately put on an expressive look as if discovering a new continent and spoke, "Adrian, if I didn’t see wrong, wasn’t that your fiancée just now? Why does it seem like you two reacted so unfamiliar with each other?" Edward immigrated to Aridia over a decade ago, he didn’t know Talia, but he had seen Talia’s photo once in Adrian’s villa in Aridia years ago. At that time, Adrian told him that the girl in the photo was someone he secretly loved. Later, Edward specially returned to the country to attend Adrian’s engagement ceremony with Talia, congratulating Adrian for finally fulfilling his long-held desire upon realizing his fiancée was the girl he had adored for years. "What?" Edward was stunned, "Why did you suddenly break up just like that? Didn’t you wait for over a decade to finally see hope?" The ball boy passed over a club. Adrian took it and swung it, hitting a ball out, "I didn’t want her to be implicated; following me almost cost her her life." Edward understood; during the engagement ceremony, Talia’s sister was kidnapped, Adrian was severely injured, and the ceremony had to be canceled. Later, it was revealed that the foster daughter of The Jennings Family had orchestrated everything, supported by Vincent Fletcher from behind. Since then, Vincent Fletcher had been planning to retaliate against The Jennings Family. Edward asked, "Did Vincent Fletcher make a move on her again later?" Adrian’s gaze grew cold as he recounted the incident where Vincent Fletcher hired someone to assassinate him and Talia, along with Shawn Rhodes being pushed down the stairs, to Edward. Edward’s expression changed, "Using heavy weaponry, this is Veridia, how dare that lunatic Vincent Fletcher!" "He cleaned himself thoroughly, the police couldn’t trace back to him." "Then you better be careful, Vincent Fletcher’s a mad dog, cornered he could do anything." "Sigh," Edward sighed, reaching over to pat Adrian’s shoulder, "Breaking up was the right call, but it’s tough for both you and her, in love but can’t be together." Adrian lowered his lashes, feeling ripples arising in his heart. In love but can’t be together? This is only temporary. Once Vincent Fletcher’s matter is resolved, he will make sure to win Talia back. Meanwhile, Gregory edged closer to Talia, "Does Lawyer Rhodes usually enjoy playing golf?" Talia shifted to the side, creating distance from Gregory, and replied courteously, "A little bit, but not often." Gregory wasn’t aware of Talia’s family background; he assumed she was just an ordinary young lawyer, reliant on a meager monthly income. A few thousand bucks were hardly a real sum in his eyes, it’d be gone with a single meal. Gregory laughed, his demeanor condescending, "True, buying a set of beginner-level equipment would cost you a month’s salary, not mentioning the venue and coaching fees, golf course where the annual membership costs over three million; it’s really unnecessary for you lawyers to splurge all of your hard-earned money on this." Talia pretended not to hear the disdain within Gregory’s words, smiling brightly, "You’re right." This radiant smile from Talia almost made Gregory’s heart flutter, barely keeping himself under control. He always led a wealthy lifestyle, never short of women around him; at home, the primary flag remained steady, while outside, colorful flags fluttered high—over the years, he’s had a fair number of young girls under his wing. Gregory was immediately filled with grand ambitions, "Lawyer Rhodes, how about I get you a membership? You could accompany me for some games whenever you’re free?" Talia sneered coldly inside. She saw through Gregory’s greasy intentions at a glance. Talking about accompanying for a game, once she agreed, it’d surely be far from simple. Spending three million on a membership just to sleep with a girl, judging by his age, he likely has a wife at home—shameless. Talia didn’t show any disdain or ridicule from within, only slightly twitching her lips into a smile, "Apologies, Mr. Larsen, I’m glad to have fun with you today, but I really don’t have much free time otherwise." The director frantically signaled at Talia. His hint was why reject such a good opportunity? Talia pretended not to notice. Though Gregory was turned down, he wasn’t annoyed; he had seen plenty of situations and simply considered Talia as a young girl’s self-restraint and nobility. Such girls, he believed, he had encountered plenty. At first, they all feigned nobility, pretending to disinterest in his money, strategizing by making a long-term plan to catch big fish gradually. Commonly known as "gold diggers." Yet in his eyes, what these "gold diggers" want is nothing substantial to him. Before him was a rarely seen absolute beauty, far more attractive than those female influencers and minor celebrities he had been with. If he could have her, he’d spare no expense. Gregory was determined to win, wearing a gentle smile, "No worries, lawyers are quite busy, let’s arrange another time when you’re free and have some fun today." Talia cheerfully replied, "Sure, Mr. Larsen." Gregory was so enchanted by Talia’s smile, he couldn’t help feeling all hot-headed, "How about this, let’s make a bet; if Lawyer Rhodes can hit one ball up the green within ten shots, I’ll lose to you 100,000 bucks, and each shot under ten means another 100,000 from me." Talia asked with her beaming smile, "What if I lose? If I fail to hit the green in ten shots?" Gregory, invigorated, "Then Lawyer Rhodes would honor me with dinner tonight, just the two of us."