Neve didn't expect Lloyd to agree to the date, let alone prepare a gift for her. She sat excitedly, unable to keep still. She meticulously applied her makeup and selected her outfit, fearing she might give Lloyd a bad impression.Neve excitedly messaged Jacob.Neve: [Jacob, Lloyd agreed to go on a date with me!] Jacob: [Stay calm. Don't panic. Lloyd doesn't like frivolous women. Don't be too forward.]Neve: [Okay, got it. You've told me he likes innocent girls.]Jacob encouraged her.Jacob: [Yeah, be careful with your words. Good luck.] Neve took a few deep breaths before grabbing her keys and heading out. Before enrolling at Clotheap University, Jacob had purchased a sports car to bolster her image as a stunning heiress. With Jacob's meticulous construction of Neve's persona, she had garnered a devoted fan base at school.She drove to the restaurant and was escorted to her seat by Lloyd's assistant. To catch Lloyd's attention, she wore a long, off-shoulder dress. Her wavy ha
Lloyd, having grown up abroad, had only returned to the country in recent years. He didn't know much about Jade's situation, only that the Severins had adopted her. The reason he asked about her was solely to allow Neve to carry the conversation.As expected, Neve reacted strongly when Jade's name was mentioned. Her smile instantly turned cold, but due to her status, she forced a smile and said, "She was spoiled since childhood, so it's natural for her to hold grievances against me."Seeing Neve initiate the conversation, Lloyd poured her a glass of wine and asked gently, "What's wrong?"Neve longed to tear Jade apart at the mere mention of her, yet she maintained an outward facade of weakness and helplessness before Lloyd.Wiping her eyes with a tissue, she said tearfully, "She was adopted into my family when we were young. My parents took her in out of pity, and as her elder sister, I always accommodated her. But she became increasingly dissatisfied, competing with me for my pare
Neve sat stiffly in her chair, her mind blank. By the time she snapped out of it, Lloyd was already holding her hand, leading her to the floor-to-ceiling window and gently embracing her."I heard your grandmother isn't feeling well. Let's go see her together another day," Lloyd said softly.Neve felt like she was dreaming. Whatever Lloyd said, she blushed and nodded shyly. "Okay, as you wish."She was immersed in the beautiful dream woven by Lloyd, unaware of the calculations and disdain that flashed in his eyes."It's getting late. I'll have the driver take you back to school."Just when Neve was fantasizing about spending the night with Lloyd, he shattered her dream with those words.She looked at him, puzzled and full of questions.Lloyd brushed her hair away from her forehead and said dotingly, "Be good, listen to me.""Mm, I'll listen to you," Neve replied, unable to think of anything else to say. She was completely lost in Lloyd's tenderness.As Lloyd's assistant escorte
Neve was unaware of Jacob's concern and innocently said, "Okay, I was just kidding. Why are you so nervous?"Jacob poked her forehead. "I'm afraid you won't even know when you're schemed and will still foolishly offer yourself." Neve just kept grinning. "Oh, by the way, Jacob, Lloyd said he wants to visit Grandma."Jacob was taken aback, unable to believe how affectionate Neve sounded when she mentioned Lloyd. Hearing that Lloyd wanted to visit Leah made him a bit doubtful. "Why does he want to see Grandma?""Of course, it's because of me. Maybe he likes me, so he wants to meet Grandma to leave a good impression on her."Jacob fell into deep thought. Lloyd's initiative to meet Leah probably wasn't as simple as Neve imagined. Nevertheless, Jacob was not afraid of Lloyd's visit. He just wanted to see what Lloyd was up to."Then let him meet her," Jacob said casually, but he was wary of Lloyd inwardly.Neve cheered, "Great, I'll tell him later."...The next day, Neve waited for
Brianna couldn't stand Neve's attitude and remained silent with her head down.Neve didn't care whether Leah agreed or not and sat beside her. In the past, she wouldn't have dared."Lloyd is here today to visit you. He's the sole heir of Zeal family, so you should cut him some slack. Maybe I'll become Mrs. Zeal," Neve warned Leah.Her attitude was arrogant and extremely disrespectful.Brianna couldn't tolerate it and reprimanded, "Ms. Neve, how could you speak to Madam in this manner?""What's wrong with my attitude?" Neve chuckled and glanced at Leah.Seeing Leah remain silent, Neve rebuked Brianna, "I'm the master, and you're the servant. Even if I've done something wrong, it should be Grandma who scolds me. How dare a servant like you reprimand me? Believe me, I can kick you out immediately."Everyone knew the importance of Brianna to Leah—calling them sisters wouldn't be an exaggeration. In this mansion, no one dared to reprimand Brianna like this apart from Leah. Yet, Nev
Lloyd also saw Leah's unusual demeanor but didn't notice Neve's expression. He stepped forward to greet Leah."Good day, Madam," he said respectfully and calmly, showing no flaws in either manners or language.Leah glanced at him, noting his suave appearance and the discerning gleam in his eyes framed by gold-rimmed glasses. She had encountered countless people, giving her the ability to discern whether someone was cunning or kind with just a single glance.Lloyd had a very scheming mind."Have a seat." Leah smiled and gestured.Neve smiled again, seeing that Leah hadn't embarrassed her, and sat down with Lloyd.Leah casually asked Lloyd some questions about his studies and major—just simple small talk.Lloyd politely answered each one, but Neve couldn't find a way to join the conversation. Sitting there doing nothing was too awkward, so she took the initiative to sit next to Leah. She wanted to leave Lloyd with the impression that Leah doted on her.Unfortunately, Leah was alr
Lloyd stood up and told Leah politely, "Since you put it that way, I understand. I have some other matters to attend to today, so I won't stay any longer. I'll come to visit you another day."Lloyd's smile faded as he walked out.Seeing him leave in anger, Neve glared at Leah and hurriedly followed him out."Lloyd, Lloyd, wait for me." Neve hastily grabbed Lloyd's arm, fearing that his anger would affect her. She looked tenderly at him like she had been wronged.Lloyd stopped in his tracks to look at her seriously. He said softly, "Madam Leah probably has some prejudice against me. Otherwise, she wouldn't refuse such a small favor.""How is that possible?" Neve got anxious, speaking quickly. "She definitely doesn't have any prejudice against you. It's just… It's just...""It's just that the Fitzgeralds and Jade have an engagement. Your grandmother doesn't want Jade to suffer in the Fitzgeralds, so she refused to help, right?" Lloyd finished Neve's sentence for her.Neve bit her
"Ah, Madam!" Brianna screamed and hurried to check on Leah.Leah had hit her forehead on the corner of the table, and blood had seeped out of the wound."Someone! Get a doctor!" Brianna shouted in panic, her face drained of color as she called for help.Neve was equally stunned. She had intended to assert her dominance over Leah, to quell her opposition, but causing harm wasn't part of the plan. She stood rooted to the spot, fear driving her to back away. "I-I didn't do it, she fell on her own."The house descended into chaos, with everyone losing their composure.Just then, a clear female voice came from the courtyard. "Move aside, all of you!"Someone rushed in, pushing through the crowd to reach Leah. When she saw the wound on Leah's forehead, she immediately turned her sharp gaze toward Neve."Neve, how dare you lay hands on Grandma?!" It was none other than Jade, the apple of Leah's eye.Seeing Leah injured on the floor, Jade felt as if her heart had been torn apart. Leah
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