As soon as Brianna opened the box, her smile froze.Leah looked at her, feeling puzzled. When she looked inside the box, her face fell abruptly as well."This is the gift you prepared for me?" Leah asked Melvin angrily.Melvin took a peek, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. The box was empty, and the ancient bangle was nowhere to be seen."What's going on?" Melvin shouted at Gemma angrily.Gemma feigned panic and said, "I really don't know. Jade was in charge of the box."As soon as she spoke, everyone's gazes shifted back to Jade.Neve frowned and pretended to defend Jade. "Jade, don't mess with Grandma. Come on, show us the bangle."Jade calmly surveyed the crowd. Gemma was sipping her tea nervously. Seated beside Gemma, Neve had a smug expression on her face. Now, Leah's gaze on her was tinged with disappointment. Neve's words seemed to confirm that the bangle had been in Jade’s hands, so she was now unable to deny it. Even if she managed to bring the bangle back out, she wou
It was too late! Everyone had heard it.Melvin, who was both pale and flustered, looked at Gemma as if she were an idiot. Finally, he exploded in a rage and slapped her loudly. "Shut up, you wretch!"Gemma screamed, falling to the floor due to the force of Melvin's slap. Melvin was about to strike again, but Neve rushed over to shield her, pleading with him. "Dad, please don't hit Mom again. She knows she was wrong.""Gemma, you have some nerve." Leah was furious. Her face was livid as she glared at Gemma, and her eyes were flashing with authority.Gemma lost all her momentum and hurriedly apologized. "Mom, calm down. It's my fault. I won't dare do it again. It was a moment of confusion. Please forgive me this once.""I can see that you’ve been increasingly disregarding me over the years." Leah remained angry and kept looking sternly at Gemma. "Since you are so biased against me, just don't go to the company anymore. Vacate your position and let someone capable take over."As soo
Gemma gritted her teeth and snorted. She hadn't anticipated that the docile child she had been raising for over ten years would bite the hand that had been feeding her one day. What was even more hateful was that Leah had used today's incident to pick on her. It was truly maddening.Gemma thought for a moment, took out her phone, and dialed a number. "We need to move up our schedule."She had originally planned to let that old woman live a few more years. Since she was so heartless, though, she couldn't blame Gemma for being ruthless....After everyone left, Leah looked sternly at Jade and growled, "Jade, how very bold of you."Nothing could escape Leah's notice. Jade knew her tricks had been exposed, so she decided to admit everything."Grandma, I'm sorry. I was wrong." Jade apologized sincerely, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked at Leah.In her previous life, Leah had loved her the most. However, due to her own weakness, she had lost her life and had been unable to p
A hint of joy crossed Jade's heart, but she soon furrowed her brows. In her previous life, Leah had broken her leg during this birthday banquet, right after the Fitzgeralds had arrived. Unfortunately, Jade had been too timid at the time and hadn't seen how the incident had occurred. This time, she had to protect her grandmother. Jade instinctively supported Leah by her arm, assisting her toward the exit.Although she felt pleased in her heart, Leah said stubbornly, "I'm not that old. Why are you assisting me?" Leah had always been strong-willed, so she refused to admit she was growing old even in her seventies.Knowing her grandmother's mindset, Jade smiled. "I just want to be closer to you."After the splendid confrontation that had occurred earlier, Leah's perception of Jade had changed. Seeing Jade's genuine concern for her, she felt joyous and allowed Jade to assist her.Just as they walked out, Neve came in and witnessed the scene. She was somewhat shocked, as she wondered h
Unfortunately, Leah had seen through her little tricks long ago. Neve was intercepted by Brianna, who greeted her with a pleasant smile. "Ms. Neve, your hand is injured. Let me bandage it up for you."Neve could only watch helplessly as Jade supported Leah and headed toward the entrance.Not far away, the Fitzgerald convoy was already approaching. The luxurious fleet stopped in front of the villa, and the door of the leading Hummer opened, revealing a pair of long legs.The moment the door opened, it seemed as if a spotlight shone down on Caelan. Regardless of the occasion, he always stood out, making it impossible for people to ignore him.Caelan then helped out an elderly man with graying hair. The old man was in traditional attire, and he was wearing a pair of handmade cloth shoes. Despite his age, he stood tall and walked with vigor, and even though his face was covered in wrinkles, his eyes were extremely sharp and gave off a sense of authority and wisdom.Jade was a bit shoc
The light was blocked, so the room was dim. Caelan stood frostily at the door, his gaze on Jade unusually icy, as if he was looking at his arch-enemy."Mr. Fitzgerald, what are you doing?" Trying to make Caelan speak first was like asking for the moon, so Jade had to take the initiative.Caelan's tall figure loomed over her like a mountain pressing down on her, suffocating her. The pervasive chill coming from him felt like it could freeze everything in its vicinity."I won't marry you," he stated curtly. It wasn't a negotiation tactic, but more of a command. Just like the man himself, authoritative and unyielding, not leaving any room for compromise.Suddenly, Jade realized what was going on. No wonder Caelan never looked happy to see her. This was the issue.Earlier, she had pondered how Leah's leg had gotten injured, but she had forgotten one crucial detail.In her previous lifetime, Neve had been the favorite, so Leah had intentionally tried to set Caelan up with her. At the t
Jade stepped forward, retrieving bandages and some antiseptic from the medical kit as she addressed Caelan. "Mr. Kennedy's injury is our priority. Let me bandage it up first."Caelan's gaze shifted to Jade. Meeting her clear eyes, he declined. "We have a professional medical team. Thanks, but no thanks, Ms. Jade."As it turned out, he didn't trust her medical skills. It wasn't just Caelan. Even Leah appeared surprised. She knew Jade very well and understood that medicine was not her expertise."Jade, don't be foolish," Leah said, signaling for her not to insist.Jade didn't want to make a scene, but the injury on Kennedy's ankle was severe. If she didn't intervene, his treatment might be delayed."If we wait for the Fitzgeralds’ professional medical team, Mr. Kennedy's wound might deteriorate. If it gets infected, will you take responsibility?" Jade asked Caelan calmly.This was the first time she had confronted him head-on since her rebirth, and it was far from the warm and tend
Leah looked at Jade with a hint of surprise.Everyone knew that the Fitzgerald Group's businesses spanned the globe, ranging from investments in real estate, finance, IT, and more. Being able to enter the Fitzgerald Group meant stepping onto the path of success. Besides, the renowned Centus Hospital was under the Fitzgerald Group's umbrella.Kennedy's offer was a rare opportunity for Jade.Jade was momentarily dazed, but Leah, who saw her somewhat bewildered expression, nudged her with her elbow, saying, "Silly girl, why did you freeze? Hurry up and thank Kennedy."Coming back to her senses, Jade said gratefully, "Thank you, Mr. Kennedy.""Don't disappoint me." Kennedy chuckled. He then glanced at Caelan and instructed him, "You're in charge of this."Caelan was visibly reluctant, but given Kennedy's command, there was no room to argue. He could only nod."Mom, are you okay?" Melvin had rushed over upon hearing the news. However, he felt somewhat awkward given the current situat
Chenelle's words made Jade clench her fists in anger. For someone so heartless, she really wanted to wake her up with a good beating.Taking a step forward, Jade grabbed Chenelle by the collar.Chenelle screamed, thinking Jade was about to hit her, and retreated in fear. "What are you doing? Do you want to hit me again?!"'So, she can also feel fear.'Jade sneered coldly, rolling up her sleeves to show the scars on her arm. "While you complain about the world's injustices, open your eyes wide and see that not everyone is as fortunate as you."I was also adopted, but compared to you, our lives are worlds apart. While you resent not getting enough attention, others are struggling to find their next meal. When you let jealousy drive you to harm others, some people are just praying to survive."Chenelle, you truly don't appreciate the blessings you have."Jade's fair arm was covered in scars of various sizes—burns, cuts, and a long stitched wound that looked like a centipede. Althou
Chenelle forcefully shook off Jade's hand, her eyes filled with venom as she spat, "You bitch! Stop pretending to be so righteous. I despise people like you the most. Do you think the Fitzgeralds adopted me out of kindness? No, it's because they felt guilty."Her face twisted with intense hatred, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the hall with a sharp, accusatory edge.When her eyes landed on Kennedy, her resentment peaked. "Ever since I stepped into the Fitzgerald household, you've treated me with hostility, never once showing me a kind face."My efforts to make you happy were like a dog desperately seeking attention. When you were in a good mood, you were somewhat kind to me, but when you weren't, you completely ignored me. "Do you think bringing me into the Fitzgeralds would make me grateful? No, it won't. I hate you. I hate every single one of you! You took away my only family and snuffed out the last bit of warmth I had."If it weren't for my father trying to protect Cael
After changing her clothes, Jade applied light makeup while standing in front of the mirror. As she gazed at her rosy reflection, fragments of the previous night's events flickered in her mind. Her cheeks flushed, and she covered her face with her hands, fanning herself nervously. 'What to do, what to do? How should I face Caelan later?'After much hesitation, Jade decided to face him. After all, they had already crossed all boundaries. Avoiding him now would be unnecessarily dramatic. Moreover, they would be living together in the future. It wasn't practical to keep avoiding him.With this thought, Jade felt significantly more at ease. As she approached the door, she heard Caelan's voice from the living room. "Hold her there. I'm coming right over." Puzzled, Jade opened the door and looked at Caelan.He ended his call and said, "We've found the person who drugged you. I'm heading over now.""Who is it?" Jade asked angrily.Caelan gave her a deep, serious look before replying,
'And then…' Thinking about it further, Jade couldn’t bear to continue. 'Could it be that I spent the night with Orion?!'"Morning..." The familiar deep voice sent a shiver through Jade, followed by a surge of joy enveloping her entire being. That voice, she would recognize it even in death.It was Caelan. This was Caelan's voice!Jade remained motionless, her body stiff. The swing from immense sorrow to immense joy was too overwhelming—she needed a moment to process it all."Why aren't you saying anything?" Caelan noticed Jade's odd behavior and propped himself up to look at her face, only to find her silently shedding tears.His heart clenched, and his first instinct was to apologize. "I'm sorry, last night I had no choice. Your situation was too dangerous—"Before he could finish, Jade threw herself into his arms.Caelan was at a loss, his body rigid, afraid to move a muscle.Tears dripped onto his chest, scorching his skin and softening his heart."Are you still in pain?" h
Jade felt as if her head was about to explode, her body burning, with her organs seemingly on the verge of combustion."Jade, Jade, wake up." Caelan gently patted Jade's cheek. The moment he touched her skin, he was startled by how scalding hot she felt.Jade's eyes fluttered open in a daze, her vision blurred, unable to discern the face looming close to hers. She grasped the cool hand on her face, pressing it tightly against her skin."So cool… So cool…" Jade murmured unconsciously, her body instinctively leaning closer. She wrapped her arms around the man's neck, rubbing against him desperately. "Help me… I feel so uncomfortable, so hot."Seeing her in such a state, Caelan felt an indescribable pain in his heart. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands as he commanded Samuel, "Find out who did this."Samuel nodded. "The doctor is on his way, but we need to lower Miss Severin's temperature immediately."Caelan's eyes darkened momentarily. He bent down,
Orion's face had turned a shade of red that was far from normal, yet he struggled to stay conscious, shaking his head with a bitter smile."I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be outsmarted."Jade's heart tightened in response. She had reserved a VIP suite in the hotel, with only two rooms on the entire floor. To ensure privacy, she had explicitly instructed that no one was to come upstairs. Now, Orion had been drugged, and she…A sudden spell of dizziness caused Jade's legs to give way. She clung to the door frame to avoid collapsing. To her horror, she realized she had been drugged too. 'Damn it! How could I have let my guard down?!'"I'll call for help. Don't move."Overwhelmed by the heat coursing through her body, Jade was on the brink of losing her sanity. In a bid to stay conscious, she dug her nails into her palm. The pain brought a moment of clarity, but it was fleeting. The heat surged back, stronger and more relentless than before. Fear crept up from Jade's feet
Jade arrived at the hotel and easily found the floor, unlocking Room 2020. As soon as she stepped inside, she was taken aback—red roses filled the entire room, and candles burned softly in the corners, creating a romantic and cozy atmosphere.This was the result of Melanie and Tiffany’s hard work all afternoon.As Jade walked on the soft carpet, Jade's heart danced with excitement. Today, she would give herself to Caelan—she was finally going to be his woman. She had been waiting for this day for so long.Her phone buzzed with a text message. Jade opened it and saw it was from Tiffany.Tiffany: [There's a gift for you on the bed. You're welcome.]'A gift? What kind of prank is this girl up to now?'Following Tiffany’s instructions, Jade found the gift on the bed. She opened it and gasped. A few black straps connected to bits of sheer fabric!'Lingerie?' Jade’s face turned crimson, and she quickly shoved the outfit back into the box. If she wore this to see Caelan, she’d rather
Caelan: [Alright, go ahead and get busy.]Jade felt a slight chill in her heart as she read the message from Caelan. Shouldn't he have asked where she was going? Why did he just reply with that?There was something off about Caelan's mood, but she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.Seeing Jade lost in thought, Melanie waved her hand in front of her friend's eyes. "Hey, snap out of it. Did Caelan say when he's coming?"Jade, feeling a bit down, replied, "I haven't figured out how to tell him yet.""What's there to figure out? My goodness." Melanie grabbed Jade's phone and quickly typed a message to Caelan.Jade: [I'll be waiting for you at 5:00 p.m. in Room 2020 of Serendipitus. We need to talk.]With a flourish, she sent the message and tossed the phone back to Jade.Jade's eyes widened in shock. "Melanie, can we really do this?""Why not? Trust me, right now Caelan is probably as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, wondering if you're going to break up with him."Tiffany c
The car sped toward Jade's villa, coming to a stop.Caelan immediately took out his phone and called Jade. Just like before, there was no answer. While staring at the tightly shut door, Caelan's heart clenched. 'Could it be true, as Chenelle said, that Jade has fallen for Orion?'..."Hey, can't you two stop this?" Jade sighed in exasperation.She had been perfectly content at home when Tiffany and Melanie had barged in and dragged her out.To make matters worse, they had taken her phone. Their excuse was to make Caelan worry and see if he would dare to disappear again. Most importantly, they wanted to surprise him."Just relax and stay here. Tiffany and I will handle everything else," Melanie said, pressing Jade into a chair and thrusting a makeup brush into her hand. "You just focus on looking beautiful and don't worry about a thing, okay?"Jade couldn't help but laugh. "Can you two stop being so overbearing? I'm the main character here. Can't you show me some respect?"The