Chapter 688: Mysterious Clue

Adrian Law’s analysis was overly shocking, even downright cold-blooded and realistic.

"It’s just an agreement marriage, the person the other truly loves isn’t you, so how could he bring himself to do it?"

Cecilia Vaughn didn’t think all men were like the legendary Willows, but generally speaking, if the man really liked men, how could he do such things to a wife from a fake marriage?

Wouldn’t he feel guilty morally, or feel repulsion physically?

...

Adrian Law looked at Cecilia Vaughn’s still naive face, and couldn’t help but sigh frequently.

"Cecilia, you’re really too innocent. I once had a very capable female subordinate who was into girls herself, but later to cope with family pressure, she married a boy who liked other boys."

"At first, both sides lived peacefully without interfering with each other, only using each other as shields during the New Year. However, the good times didn’t last long. The husband’s parents insisted on having a grandson or granddaughter, and the conscience of that girl’s agreement husband might have indeed been eaten by a dog, as he repeatedly forced himself on the woman..."

"Eventually, the woman couldn’t bear it and chose to divorce, but her relatives all learned about her situation, and their worldviews collapsed. To avoid losing face, she ultimately decided to resign and take her parents far away."

Adrian Law didn’t continue, but Cecilia Vaughn completely understood.

Cecilia Vaughn stared wide-eyed in shock.

"That’s possible too? The man is just too..."

"This is not an isolated case."

"Cecilia, you may have never considered that in such a situation, you’re merely a legal birth tool, and you may likely be harmed in marriage without being able to seek legal protection because the law doesn’t even recognize your agreement. To protect your reputation, you might not even have the option to publicly reveal your orientation."

Adrian Law shook his head. At the time, he appreciated his female subordinate very much. Frankly, Adrian Law rarely admired women, and this woman just happened to be particularly outstanding in her work. Adrian Law almost concluded her sexual orientation towards women after just a few observations.

That woman, in order to get promoted and earn a raise quickly, and also because Adrian Law was entangled in rumors about homosexuality at the time, was once seen by Adrian Law being close with a girl on the street. She then willingly laid bare her sexual identity in hopes of gaining the boss’s understanding and expressed that she had no concerns about having children, so the company needn’t worry about her weakening her career efforts for marriage and children in a few years.

Today, many female employees hit a glass ceiling in the workplace. Society more often believes that males do not have concerns about preparing for pregnancy and childbirth. Even if they need to care for their family, it generally doesn’t lead to major career sacrifices like it does for women.

Society’s education towards males leans towards having them endure hardships and strive for dominance, encouraging them to fight in the battlefield, while for females it’s more about nurturing a pet with care—beautiful and delicate, but without sharp claws, fulfilling small family responsibilities is perceived as sufficient.

Adrian Law doesn’t see anything wrong with women caring for the home, but as an employer, if faced with a female employee who might stop working for a year due to pregnancy and completely shift her career focus to her child upon giving birth, in contrast with a male employee more willing to create value in the workplace, who would you choose?

It’s the inherent difference in physiological makeup, yet for women’s job-seeking, it’s a low-tier protection and simultaneously a high-tier promotion nightmare.

There are women who may wish to create a miracle in their career, which means their efforts must exceed those of men by double.

Because bosses naturally doubt your diligence and future drive.

...

No one is a saint. Employers pay salaries, so they seek the same level of sincerity from you.

Women might find the workplace relatively tougher, even facing very unequal treatment, like some companies possibly not even considering promotion channels for female employees, or equal pay for equal work for men and women.

But in The Law Group, this situation doesn’t exist. As long as you excel, regardless of gender, Adrian Law offers the same respect and salary incentives.

As for those who focus relatively more on family, without plans to venture into the professional world, whether female or male, Adrian Law respects their choices, but it is generally unfeasible for advancement—most linger in the mid-to-lower tiers of The Law Group.

For those who completely coast by, the apologies, The Law Group doesn’t need such people.

Many companies have connections or nepotism phenomena, and The Law Group is no exception. But ever since Adrian Law took the helm, his style is undoubtedly very impersonal yet extremely fair. You can come in through the back door, but if your contribution doesn’t match your income, you’ll face either demotion or deductions from various performance bonuses.

If you choose to stay at The Law Group under such circumstances, that’s a personal choice.

Not that those with connections are bound to coast by, Adrian Law has encountered a few who came via connections but worked exceptionally hard, climbing all the way up to the core team. But such career-driven, high-level employees are rare, no matter how they arrive at The Law Group—they’re few and far between and hard to come by.

...

After listening to Adrian Law’s analysis, Cecilia Vaughn shivered several times.

"I have a slight understanding of your words now, and perhaps the woman’s parents, after knowing their daughter’s orientation, aren’t blaming the man for breaching the agreement and harming their daughter, but instead wondering if they can have a child, or cure their daughter’s orientation. Heavens... it’s terrifying."

Such a situation is like crying for help from the gods and getting no response.

"What happened to your female subordinate afterward?"

Adrian Law extended his hand, gently brushing Cecilia Vaughn’s temples.

"I haven’t been in touch for a long time, but remember she once posted a photo of her living with her girlfriend in Eldoria years ago. Maybe, they might consider obtaining a certificate in Eldoria—after all, both she and her girlfriend qualify for skilled immigration."

"Highly skilled talents? Indeed, to make it to the million-a-year list at The Law Group at such a young age is rare... Truly impressive... Indeed, whatever you do in this world requires money."

"What else? Without money, you’re stuck... In fact, if you ask me, had that woman not been concerned about her parents’ face, she could have considered just coming out with her girlfriend—there was no need to engage in a fake marriage and get scarred all over."

Adrian Law side-eyed Cecilia Vaughn.

"Cecilia, so, did you understand my point?"

"What?"

"The world might be full of bad people, but I’m the only one who’s good to you, so you should trust me."

"Trust you? No way! You sly old man! What about my grandma and Evan?"

"Family doesn’t count..."

"You’re ruthless."

...

Cecilia Vaughn and Adrian Law each grumbled for a while, and suddenly, Adrian Law’s tablet popped up with a message.

——Young Master Law, we’ve found the lady who also custom-ordered a dress from Master Walter Sinclair; she’s currently in Caelus.