"That's her, alright. I never expected she'd look so stunning when she put in the effort.""She's shining brighter than any celebrity. Goodness, she's gorgeous!"Jade heard praises from the students, adding to her stress. If she had known, she wouldn't have listened to Melanie.Just then, Caelan suddenly stopped in his tracks.Confused, Jade looked at him, only to see him take off his suit jacket and drape it over her shoulders."Be careful not to catch a cold," he said.His jaw clenched, eyebrows slightly furrowed, and his gaze on Jade held a complexity that spoke volumes. It seemed as though a thousand words were at the tip of his tongue, ready to spill forth.Puzzled, Jade glanced at the sky. It was sunny, with no breeze stirring the air. As she began to remove her jacket, she caught a fleeting coldness in Caelan's gaze, and understanding dawned upon her suddenly.'Could he be... jealous?'Samuel was sweating profusely. He was really afraid Jade might return the jacket, but
"With Grandpa around, she won't dare cause trouble," Caelan explained, noticing Jade's doubts.Despite what he said, Jade still felt uneasy.In her previous life, Bella had caused Jade a lot of trouble. Whenever Caelan showed interest in Jade, Bella would block his advances in every way possible. Bella had devised numerous schemes to make Caelan lose interest in Jade.Jade worried this dinner might escalate into another power struggle. She sat in her seat, feeling somewhat weary and devoid of the previous excitement.Noticing Jade's lack of enthusiasm, Caelan felt a pang of concern. He took out his phone and sent a message to Bella.Caelan: [Grandpa isn't feeling well. Try not to upset him.]Bella: [What nonsense are you talking about? I'm coming to check on Grandpa. Why would I cause trouble?]Caelan: [That'd be the best.]…Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of Kennedy's place.As Caelan got out of the car, Jade followed closely behind.Albert approached them res
Selene mocked Jade directly even in front of Kennedy. Her disdain for Jade was evident in both her words and demeanor.Seeing her becoming more unreasonable, Kennedy cleared his throat. "Selene, Jade is engaged to Caelan. She will be Mrs. Fitzgerald sooner or later. There's nothing wrong with her calling you Aunt Selene."Selene forced a smile, but her eyes didn't reflect the warmth. "Dad, I was just making a few remarks. Why are you lecturing me in front of a guest?"Kennedy gave her a stern look and snorted but didn't say anything more, saving her pride.In the past, Jade would have felt utterly embarrassed. A rebirth later, though, she had seen through many things.Even if Selene embarrassed or scolded her to her face, she wouldn't take it to heart because she knew that Caelan was the most important person to her."Let's all sit," Kennedy declared.Jade and Caelan sat together on the sofa.Jade smiled, unaffected by Selene's attitude. "Grandpa, it's been a while since we las
Selene found herself in an awkward situation, dryly smiling while harboring resentment toward Jade.Jade hadn't even officially joined the family, yet she was already acting like the mistress of the house. If Jade were to marry into the family, Selene would have to tiptoe around her.Selene nudged Bella with her elbow, prompting Bella to apologize to Caelan, "Caelan, I know I messed up. I apologize."She raised her glass toward Caelan as if to make a toast, but he stopped her. "If you want to toast for apology, you should toast to Jade. You were indeed in the wrong."Caelan's coldness was well-known—he didn't even show mercy to his own cousin.Bella was taken aback. She had already lowered her pride to apologize to Caelan, yet he didn't appreciate it and even demanded her to apologize to Jade. Wasn't he deliberately humiliating her?And if she didn't apologize to Jade, Caelan would definitely withdraw his investment. The thought of the largest shareholder pulling out at the start
"Although the engagement was to help the Severins out of a tough spot, I don't think I'm climbing up by marrying Caelan. His standing might be higher than mine at the moment, but who's to say I won't surpass him later on?" Jade's tone was casual, but her smile was confident. She effortlessly silenced Selene."What a bold statement. You really are quite arrogant," Selene retorted. She hadn't expected the meek-looking Jade to have such a strong attitude."Do you know the Fitzgeralds' status in Centus? Do you know how extensive the Fitzgerald business empire is? Forget that you're still a student, even someone like me wouldn't dare make such grand claims now. Are you suffering from delusions?" Selene was seething with anger.If it weren't for Kennedy, she would have probably kicked Jade out long ago.Caelan sat beside Jade. There was a hint of warmth on his otherwise cold face. Although Jade's words were impolite, he didn't find them disagreeable. On the contrary, he found Jade to be
As Kennedy and Selene argued, Caelan, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up. "Let's get married."His words hung in the air, instantly quieting the room.Kennedy looked delighted, while Selene appeared shocked. She had come to ruin their engagement but unexpectedly triggered Caelan's desire to get married."Caelan, do you even know what you're saying?" Caelan's serious expression astonished Selene. She had been under the impression he was just fooling around, but he was serious.Caelan held Jade's hand tightly and raised an eyebrow. "Once we're married, all the problems will be resolved, won't they?"Surrounded by numerous suitors, all seeking to advance their social standing through his wealth and status, Jade stood out. Unlike the others, she aimed for success without relying on him for anything.Before meeting Jade, marriage was not something Caelan had given much thought to. He believed he could accept any woman. But after meeting Jade, he felt she met all his
As long as the engagement remained, Caelan would never be able to see his own heart clearly.Caelan remained quite calm, never taking a stance.Since he neither agreed nor disagreed, Jade took it as his agreement. "Consider it, and let me know when you've made up your mind."With that said, she nodded at Kennedy and left his mansion.Selene didn't expect this outcome. Although it was what she wanted, she couldn't feel happy about it. "What a mess. She actually suggested calling off the engagement. Did she even consider her own worth?"In her eyes, Jade was like dirt on the ground, barely worthy of the Fitzgeralds. Yet, Jade proposed to call off the engagement, which felt like an insult.Kennedy frowned, feeling a headache. "Enough!"A perfectly good meal was ruined, and seeing Caelan's unfazed demeanor only made Kennedy more irritated. "What are you still standing there for? Go after her."Caelan nodded and left in long strides.Jade stood outside, her petite frame seeming lik
Leah was well aware of Jade's temperament. Once she made up her mind about something, she wouldn't change it. This stubbornness of hers was what exasperated Leah."Oh, you…" Leah sighed deeply, looking at Jade with a mix of heartache and helplessness. "Do you really have no feelings for Caelan at all?"Jade's smile was also helpless. "Grandma, I want someone who truly loves me. Even though Caelan is outstanding, his heart isn't with me."Leah finally understood. Jade had her pride—she didn't want a man who didn't love her wholeheartedly."Since you've made up your mind, I won't say more. The engagement was somewhat abrupt in the first place. How can a marriage bound by interests be happy?"Leah's words brought tears to Jade's eyes, and she threw herself into Leah's arms. "I knew you'd understand me, Grandma."Leah affectionately patted her head and said with a smile, "Go ahead. Do whatever makes you happy."Jade nodded and left Leah's embrace. "I'll come to see you again in a fe