Jacob insisted. "If you don't comply, I can't guarantee what kind of shameless acts I might resort to. I've already reached the end of my rope, so I might as well tell the media that I slept with you. Who cares about the truth? People will only find it entertaining.""Do you not have any shame?" Jade felt her blood boiling at that moment. She knew Jacob was shameless, but she didn't think he would stoop so low."A broke, powerless heir is no different from a maggot. If I'm going down, I'll take everyone down with me. What do I have to fear?"Jade closed her eyes. She had to coax Jacob first. "I don't have that much money on hand right now. 7,000,000 dollars is impossible, but I can give you 700,000 dollars. If you want it, I can transfer it to you now. If not, so be it.""Are you trying to get rid of a beggar?" Jacob sneered. "Good job, Jade, you've got guts."As soon as he said that, he hung up.Jade stared at the blank screen of her phone, a sense of foreboding washing over her
The room was dimly lit, like a beast with a gaping mouth that was ready to feed. Jade took a deep breath, ready to step inside, when the bodyguards stopped Owen. "Only she can go in.""No way, I have to accompany her." Owen insisted. He refused to let Jade enter alone, but the bodyguards blocked him and threatened him. "Don't make things difficult for us."Not wanting the situation to escalate, Jade told Owen, "It's okay, I'll be out soon.""I'll wait outside. If anyone tries to harm you, just shout for me," Owen said with concern.Jade nodded and pushed open the door to enter.Inside, she saw men and women in pairs and groups. It took a while for Jade to adjust to the lighting and see who was sitting there.One of the men was wearing a large gold chain around his neck and had a bald head and women on both his arms—Bobby Dickens. He looked at Jade with interest and kicked the cowering Jacob while asking, "Is she your sister?"Jacob, who looked like a startled rabbit, glanced at
Jade abruptly stopped moving the foot that had stepped out. What should she do?At that moment, the door was kicked open and Owen barged in with his men. He glanced anxiously at Jade, relieved to see her unharmed after spotting Jacob writhing on the floor. He had thought something had happened to Jade."Oh, brought some backup, huh? No wonder you're so bold." Bobby tossed his cigarette butt to the floor and gestured to his men. "No one leaves alive after messing with me."At that command, several of his men lunged at Owen. Although he could fight, he was outnumbered. After a few rounds, he began to lose ground and sustained some injuries.In spite of this, Jade remained well-protected and unscathed throughout the fight.Bobby's underlings were all beaten up. Bobby was used to having his way, and no one had ever dared to defy him like this. Seeing his men being beaten, he ordered, "Block the door. If there's no bloodshed today, don't bother coming back."He had over a dozen men wi
Jade's fearless demeanor intimidated the thugs. No one dared to approach her, afraid she might actually set the place on fire."What are you waiting for? Attack, you useless pieces of trash!" Bobby yelled furiously. He wouldn't rest until he saw Jade dead today.His underlings, who saw his fury, bit their tongues and charged at Jade.The bottle in Jade's hand was snatched away, and she took a heavy punch to the head before collapsing on the sofa. While she was in a daze, she felt someone tearing at her clothes. Amidst the evil laughter of men and Owen's angry shouts, she fought to remain conscious, but her awareness gradually faded.She felt someone pressing down on her, then heard a loud bang as she struggled. Suddenly, the weight on her lifted as the man above her was thrown against the wall.All Jade could see was chaotic lighting. Then, the world seemed to freeze and go silent. She could even hear the beating of her own heart."Mr—Mr. Fitzgerald," someone gasped in terror, as
"I've been so foolish!" Leah cried as she finally released the emotions she had been holding back for so long."I think you’ve been foolish too," Kennedy grunted as he strode in, followed by Caelan.When he saw Jade's injuries, Kennedy's expression became grim. "You know Jade almost lost her life because of this, yet you only cared about your own grandson. If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to face Jade."As Kennedy's words grew harsher, Jade hurriedly interrupted him. "Grandpa, please don't say that. I don't blame Grandma. I was not aware of the danger. This had nothing to do with anyone else.""Even now, you're still defending this old woman. From now on, don't meddle in the Severins’ affairs again." Others might not understand, but Kennedy knew the sacrifices Jade had made for the Severins.While everyone else thought Jade was a heartless opportunist, Kennedy knew she had been trying to prevent the Severins from falling apart, which was why she had reluctantly taken on this mess
"Grandpa." Even though being protected felt good, Jade felt that this matter was between her and Lloyd. What would be the point if she wasn't able to take revenge personally? "Can you let me handle this?"Both Kennedy and Caelan looked at her. Caelan's expression darkened visibly. "You don't want me to intervene in your affairs?""No, it's not that," Jade hurriedly explained. "I just feel like letting him off like this is too easy. I want him to taste what it's like to fall from grace and be abandoned by everyone."Jade's hatred for Lloyd was obvious. Caelan knew she was seeking revenge, but this still didn't sit right with him."Why do you care so much about him?" Caelan asked, his tone slightly sour.Kennedy glanced at Caelan in surprise. When had this boy started caring about Jade's feelings? It was strange that he even cared about who she hated.Caelan's intense gaze burned like fire, making Jade's cheeks flush slightly. "I don't care about him. I just want revenge for myself
"Okay, I'll be right over," Melanie said.Half an hour later, Melanie appeared before Jade. Seeing Jade covered in bruises and injuries, Melanie hugged her tenderly. "What happened? How did you get hurt this badly? Look at your face, it's all swollen."She gently touched Jade's swollen cheek, furrowing her brows in concern.Jade winced as Melanie touched her and quickly shifted away from her hand. "I must've hurt you," Melanie said guiltily.Jade hummed. "It didn't hurt at first, but it does now."Seeing Melanie on the verge of tears, Jade chuckled. "I'm just kidding, it doesn't hurt anymore.""You..." Melanie reached out to punch Jade, but seeing Jade's miserable state, she couldn't bring herself to do it. "I'll spare you for now, but once you're better, I'll make you pay."Jade laughed off the threat. "I'm afraid you won't have the heart to.""Whatever. You're incorrigible," Melanie said helplessly, rolling her eyes at Jade. As they joked around, her phone rang.She answer
Shane prodded at his glasses and smiled. "Jade, do you have any misconceptions about me?""Why do you ask?" Jade asked, her expression still a scowl.Shane chuckled. "I can tell you feel a lot of hostility toward me."He paused for a moment to recall before he asked, "I haven't offended you in any way, have I?""No," Jade replied quickly. "Melanie is a simple girl, and I don't want her to get hurt."Shane looked taken aback before he chuckled. "Do you think I'm playing with Melanie's feelings?""Aren’t you?" Jade gestured at Shane. "With your status, you could have any woman you want. Why does it have to be Melanie? She's not as beautiful as a star, she doesn't have the figure of a model, and her family background is just average. I really can't figure out why you would be interested in her.""I see." Shane nodded with a smile, then turned to Jade. "Perhaps you're overthinking it."He reeled back his smile, seemingly displeased that Jade had seen through him.Melanie pushed th
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