A few days later, Jade received some unexpected news. Maverick had unexpectedly taken full responsibility for everything. He had admitted to stealing the medication and infecting Caelan with the virus, but he refused to admit to receiving any favors from Neve. This meant that there was no evidence that Neve had instructed him to steal the drugs, which allowed Neve to escape once again.Jade remained silent for a while upon hearing this news. Although it was unexpected, it made sense. As far as she knew, Maverick's family was facing financial difficulties. If someone offered him a large sum of money, he wouldn't turn it down.Jade asked Owen to investigate who had been visiting Gemma in prison during this time, and Owen found out that Neve had been visiting Gemma periodically."She can't behave even though she's locked up in prison. She still wants to stir up trouble," Jade said, not surprised that Gemma had riled Neve up. Gemma wouldn't stop. After all, she hated Jade too much.Owe
"Let's go, I'll take you shopping for clothes," Jacob said. He seemed carefree but was actually very sharp-minded, just like Gemma. He would go all out to achieve something that benefited him.As he drove, he explained his plan to Neve. "Sending you to Clotheap University is just a way to get you that prestigious graduation certificate. With that certificate, your value will skyrocket. Going on a national tour or marrying into a wealthy family will be a piece of cake then."Neve's eyes lit up. "Really?"Jacob felt a headache coming on when he saw Neve's clueless look. "But before that happens, you must do as I say, understand?""Yeah, I'll listen to you, Jacob." Neve nodded vigorously."Neve, do you want to be a star?" Jacob asked tentatively.Neve's smile faded at his words. "Who doesn't want to be a big star? Good food, nice clothes, being adored by so many people… It's been my dream since I was little.""Then I'll help you debut in the entertainment industry and become a cele
Since Jade's deeds became widely known in the industry, her fame soared day by day. She was inundated with interviews and she had to give speeches at major hospitals. She became a celebrity, so reporters kept crowding from the front door to the back door just to interview her. Even the mayor personally requested to meet her.Jade was busy every day, with no time to spare, and naturally, she didn't get the chance to visit Caelan, who was still recovering.At present, Jade was at Leah's place. Leah hadn't been feeling well in the past few days, so she had come to visit her. Unexpectedly, Leah refused to see her, and Neve blocked her at the door."How shameless are you? Grandma said she didn't want to see you, yet you still had the nerve to come here. Are you not going to stop until you make her sick?"Leah's attitude saddened Jade. If it had been just Neve stopping her, she would have risked her life to see Leah. However, she couldn't do that when this was what Leah wanted.Jade, wh
Brianna hung her head, neither agreeing nor arguing. She seemed respectful, but her mind was clear. Leah loved Jade, but she couldn't see her now. Brianna moved all the supplements back into Leah's room, and Leah touched the gift boxes with tears in her eyes."Madam, why trouble yourself? Just see Ms. Jade," Brianna advised her.After a while, Leah sighed and shook her head. "I can't bring harm upon her. Seeing her on TV is enough for me."Jade's deeds had spread far and wide. Leah knew she had founded a company and had been the first to discover and develop a cure for the epidemic. Jade was no longer the little girl who used to cry under her wing. Her Jade had grown up.Jade drove aimlessly for a while before remembering something important.She hadn't visited Caelan in days. When she realized this, her palms started sweating. Her utilities had been cut off just because she had rejected an appointment with him last time. What kind of angry reaction would she face this time?"Wha
Caelan frowned and walked into the ward. Jade hurriedly followed him, holding the cake box in her hand with a completely obsequious look."I heard Grandpa gave you 100,000,000 dollars in funding?" Caelan asked.Jade put the cake down and replied honestly, "Yes."She didn't need to explain further. Caelan was so well-informed that he had to know the source of this funding."I'll give you another 100,000,000 dollars."As soon as Caelan's words echoed in the room, Jade's eyes widened. "100,000,000 dollars?""What, is that not enough?" Caelan glanced at Jade, who quickly shook her head. "No, but why are you giving me so much money?"Jade had thought Caelan was still angry with her, so she had prepared an apology. Instead, he had startled her with this offer."Now that your company is just starting out, the financial pressure ahead must be immense. Consider this money my way of showing my gratitude for saving my life."Caelan seemed to be joking when he said the last four words.
The guys were wearing formal suits, while the girls were wearing formal gowns.Anyone who could enroll at Clotheap University was a top-tier student with strong abilities, so even the students from less affluent backgrounds spared no expense to dress up for the opening ceremony, fearing being outdone by their peers.Jade had dressed up too, but there was no hint of joy on her face, only seriousness.School was supposed to be a place for education, but it had turned into a venue where business conglomerates could select elite students. The students were like goods up for sale, waiting for discerning buyers to fetch a good price."Oh my god, everyone attending the opening ceremony this time is a business celebrity." Melanie looked excitedly at the business bigwigs wandering around the campus, her eyes shining and her hands clasped against her chest in anticipation. "I wonder if anyone will notice me."She called Jade several times without getting a response. Turning around, she saw
Jade inwardly speculated on Neve's motives, watching as Neve entered the venue and became the center of attention, gracefully engaging in conversation with the people present. This change in Neve surprised Jade quite a bit, as she noticed that Neve's demeanor was no longer as frivolous as before. Every move of hers seemed to be meticulously trained, and even her gaze was perfectly seductive. Not only men would be defenseless against it, but women would be attracted to it too."You know, I can hear your sister hiss from here," Melanie said indignantly."Hiss?" Jade hadn't quite caught on."She's such a snake," Melanie said dismissively."Ha—cough, cough..." Jade couldn't help almost bursting into laughter. Luckily, no one around her noticed, or she would have been embarrassed.Jade and Melanie chuckled secretly, but Neve, who was far away, scowled when she saw them. What was that smug expression? Was that bitch mocking her?Neve clenched her palms, wishing she could tear Jade's fa
Jade recognized the person on the stage. It was none other than Neve, who was dressed for the occasion. Although Neve was wearing a mask, Jade still recognized her at a glance.Neve got off the moon and gracefully walked over to a piano to play. Soon, everyone was immersed in her beautiful piano music.Melanie nudged Jade, looking anxious. "Hey, you didn't prepare anything? This could affect your future position at school. Anyone can see that today's ceremony is all about preparing to fight for the title of Miss Clotheap."Jade, however, had no intention of vying for the title. She found this vain title meaningless and would rather spend her time and effort in the lab."Nope," she said nonchalantly.Melanie widened her eyes in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? Do you know what being Miss Clotheap represents? It's not just about your status at Clotheap University. It will also help your future development. The benefits your fame will bring you will extend beyond the title. Do you und
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