"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
Melanie's phone rang, and she glanced at it before turning to tell Jade, "I have to go too. I have classes in the afternoon."She waved to Jade and left the hospital room.Jade stood by the window, watching Melanie happily run to the roadside. Shane got out of the car and opened the door for her. As Melanie got in, Jade's heart felt as heavy as if a piece of lead had been injected into it.'Shane, if you dare to hurt Melanie, I won't let you off the hook,' she thought...."Jacob, what happened to you?" Neve saw Jacob’s injuries and turned pale with fright.Jacob was covered in bruises, and his palm was wrapped in thick bandages. The doctor had diagnosed him with severed tendons, and if they didn't heal properly, his hand would become useless.Jacob glanced at his injuries, his gaze menacing. "It's all because of that bitch Jade. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't have ended up like this."He had initially intended to scare Jade a bit to make her cough up the money. He hadn'
Neve blinked, feeling like a light bulb had gone off in her head. She looked at Jacob’s smirk and asked sarcastically, slouching in her chair, "Jacob, how come I never noticed that you were so ambitious before?"Noticing that her tone was a bit confrontational, Jacob asked, "What do you mean?""I can help you, but I have some conditions.""What kind of conditions?"Neve held up four fingers. "I want a 40:60 split.""A 40:60 split?" Jacob raised his voice. "You've got some nerve.""What, is that too much? Fine, forget it then." Neve pretended to leave, but Jacob hurriedly stopped her. "Wait, stop talking big. Do you have any good ideas?"Neve smirked cunningly as she sat back down with her arms crossed. "Even if you hadn't asked me, I would have still wanted to settle the score with that bitch. Don't worry, I've got this covered."Seeing her so confident, Jacob believed her. "Alright, I'll be waiting for your good news.""Don't worry," Neve replied."But just to be clear, if t
Jade, who felt embarrassed as Colin praised her, told him with a smile, "Professor, please don't say that. This is inseparable from everyone's efforts."The others laughed upon hearing her words.At that moment, Jade's phone rang, and she saw that it was Lloyd calling. She seemed to know what he wanted to say and pressed the reject button directly.Unexpectedly, Lloyd had thick skin. He called again after his first attempt was rejected.Jade had no choice but to answer the phone. "What is it?"She didn't have the slightest bit of goodwill when it came to Lloyd. If she had seen his true colors earlier, she wouldn't have been hurt so badly."Are you coming down, or should I come up?" Lloyd knew Jade didn't want to see him, so he resorted to stubbornness.Jade wasn't afraid of him, so she snickered into the phone. "What, are you threatening me now?""I wouldn't dare. I just want to have a meal with you. That's not too much to ask, is it?" Lloyd continued. "I'm downstairs waiting f
After Lloyd returned to his company, he slammed his office door shut heavily. Sitting in his chair, he couldn't figure out why Jade was so cold, even though he had relaxed his stance so much.The door was pushed open. He was about to get angry, but he scowled when he saw who it was. "Why are you here?""Lloyd, we haven't seen each other in days. Haven't you missed me at all?" Neve draped herself over Lloyd pliantly. Lloyd instinctively wanted to push her away, but she held on tightly."Neve, have I been too indulgent with you?" Lloyd said impatiently. "Don't forget, I haven't acknowledged you as my girlfriend."Neve didn't care at all and still wouldn't let go. "I don’t mind if you don't acknowledge our relationship. After all, you are the person I love."Her words made Lloyd feel nauseous. Looking at Neve's face, he couldn't help but think of Jade. They were both children of the Severins, yet why was there such a big difference between them?"What do you want?" Lloyd asked.Nev
It was precisely because of how powerful Phantom was that Lloyd treated it as the company's top secret. Except for him and a few senior executives, no one else knew about its existence. But not only did Neve know about it, she also wanted it. What exactly did she intend to do?"How did you find out?" Lloyd's face was twisted with shock, his gaze on Neve cautious.Neve, however, just smiled charmingly. "Darling, money is a wonderful thing. It can fulfill all my desires."Knowing there was a mole within the company filled Lloyd with an indescribable feeling. The people he had worked with until now were people he trusted. Yet, they had easily betrayed him for money, which was truly laughable."No way." Lloyd immediately rejected Neve's request. Once Phantom appeared, it would surely bring endless trouble.Neve wasn't in a hurry to get it. Instead, she patiently told Lloyd, "Lloyd, don't rush to refuse. I want Phantom entirely for you. Haven't you always wanted Jade? As long as you
Lloyd had not been around since the last time he had visited Jade. Jade had also forgotten about it, focusing all her attention on studying and managing her company.When her phone rang, she picked it up and saw it was a call from Neve. She promptly rejected the call.A minute later, she received a text from Neve.[Grandma fell ill and is currently in the hospital. Whether you want to come or not is up to you.]Grandma had fallen ill? Jade's mind went blank for a moment, then she quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.On the way, she kept wondering. Leah had always been in good health, so how could she suddenly have fallen ill just like this?Upon hastening to the hospital and finding the ward, she saw both Neve and Jacob waiting outside. When they saw Jade, they turned to her."Oh, so you remembered to come." Neve couldn't help but sneer.Jade ignored her and asked, "What's going on? Grandma has always been in good health, so how could she suddenly fall ill? Have the
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