Jade's ruthlessness was apparent, while Lloyd appeared gentlemanly but harbored a sinister nature within, exuding malevolence from his very core. When such an individual sought revenge, they would not cease until driving the other party to madness."I know I shouldn't have betrayed you. Please spare me this time. I'll do anything you want," Neve pleaded with a tearful voice, genuinely terrified.Lloyd walked up to her, chuckling. "Anything at all?""Yes, as long as you spare me," Neve replied timidly, looking at the men surrounding her with growing dread.If Lloyd didn't let her go, she knew her fate would be dire.Lloyd grasped her delicate chin, his voice rough. "I'll let you go, but you have to do something for me first.""What do you want me to do?" Neve asked fearfully.Lloyd released her, stood up, and ordered his men, "Get started."Following his command, the men quickly stripped Neve and forced her to take many indecent photos. Even if she resisted, she couldn't match t
Leah called for a press conference, inviting reporters from various newspapers and major media outlets.She personally made the announcement, declaring to the hundreds of media outlets that Jacob and Neve were no longer considered Severin descendants. From that moment on, they were disowned.The entire venue fell silent, especially the reporters who were all shocked, taking a second or two to digest the news.Jacob and Neve carried the Severin bloodline, yet today, Leah announced the severance of ties with them. It was shocking.Someone hurriedly asked, "May I ask what the reason is for disowning them?"Everyone wanted to know the reason. If Leah revealed it, it would surely make headlines.However, Leah had no intention of answering. Instead, she held Jade's hand tightly and announced to the media, "Jade is my only granddaughter."This move dropped everyone's jaws.An adopted child had become the Severin heiress.The reporters were all buzzing with discussions, speculating ab
After Jade finished speaking, she helped Leah to leave.However, Neve blocked their path, only to be harshly pushed aside by Jade. She fell to the ground pathetically, tears streaming down her face.What angered Neve the most was that Leah approved Jade's actions, not even attempting to stop her. It seemed Leah was determined not to acknowledge her anymore.'What should I do? What should I do?' Neve panicked completely. She had become an abandoned girl, and who would help her now?Lloyd would only exploit her. If she couldn't escape from his grasp, she would eventually die at his hands. But she knew so few people. Who could she turn to?Suddenly, Neve had a flash of insight and remembered someone.…Bella was memorizing lines for a new script when her assistant approached her and said, "Ms. Riley, Neve wants to see you.""Her?" Bella's face immediately darkened. She was about to ask her assistant to send Neve away but then changed her mind. "Let her in.""Okay," the assistant
Bella watched Neve leave and spat contemptuously. "Devious and cunning little schemer. I even thought of you as my savior. I must have been blind."Still not satisfied, she turned to her assistant and said, "From now on, don't let me catch her lurking around in my circle. She won't get away with using my name to boost her popularity."Understanding Bella's intention to cut off Neve's path and no longer support her, her assistant replied, "I'll draft a statement immediately."Bella nodded, dismissed her assistant, and stared blankly at the file on her computer. "Who could have sent this to me?"The sender was anonymous, leaving no trace to follow, which puzzled Bella greatly. She had tried to reply to the sender's email, but it was always bounced back.It seemed that the sender was intentionally keeping her in the dark....While Bella was troubled by the email, Jade had already begun to run the Severin Group.The Severin Group had its beginnings in the jewelry business, but bus
Compared to dignity, job security was more important.Jade's intimidation silenced the remaining people. No one dared to speak up anymore."Since there's nothing else, let's adjourn the meeting."The manager of the sales department hurriedly asked, "Ms. Severin, what about the orders?"Jade glanced at him and said, "Hire people immediately. Salary isn't a problem. The important thing is here."She pointed to her head. "As for the urgent orders, figuring out what to do with them is your duty. Do I need to teach you these things?"Though young, Jade possessed a maturity beyond her years, diverging from typical 18-year-olds. Particularly striking was her piercing gaze, akin to a seasoned blade, capable of sending chills down one's spine.Under the weight of Jade's commanding stare, the sales department manager recoiled, no longer trying to underestimate her.…Jade brought the company's drafts back to her dormitory to study, and Melanie saw them. "What's this? Jewelry design?"J
Melanie looked at Jade with concern, thinking she had been upset.Just as Melanie was about to comfort her, Jade grinned and nonchalantly said, "Let them make a fuss. I can't be bothered to deal with them.""Exactly, a bunch of ignorant people," Melanie said indignantly.At that moment, there was a knock on the door.Melanie opened it to find a bespectacled guy standing there. He told Jade, "The chancellor wants to see you in his office.""Okay, I got it. Thanks," Jade said with a smile.The guy blushed and nodded at Jade before he quickly left."Why would the chancellor want to see you?" Melanie asked, puzzled.Jade wasn't the head of the student union. She was just a freshman. What could they want from her?Jade smiled. "Other than the donation, what else could it be? Anyway, I'll go and see.""Alright, make it quick. Don't let that old fox trick you," Melanie warned, winking at Jade. "We aren't doing anything against our principles."Jade rolled her eyes at her. "What do
Jade was taken aback. "What do you mean? Weren't you the one who requested that I come to get this document signed?" "Get what document signed?" Samuel also looked puzzled.Jade handed him the document from the university.After reviewing it, Samuel told her, "Just wait here, I'll go ask the finance department."Samuel took the document and went straight to the finance department. He asked, "What's going on? Why hasn't the funding been released yet?"The finance officer looked aggrieved. "Mr. Fitzgerald said that Ms. Severin must come in person for him to sign it. He wants to confirm it before it is stamped."Samuel widened his eyes upon hearing that. Looking around to ensure nobody was listening, he whispered, "Did he really say that?""Yeah, why would I lie?"Leaving the finance office, Samuel took a moment to compose himself. He finally understood the situation. If he couldn't see through such a blatant move from Caelan—asking Jade over to witness him sign the document—his
Caelan hung up with a dark scowl. He quickly dialed another number, and the call was soon answered."Hello." It was Albert.Caelan immediately noticed it wasn't Kennedy and asked, "Where's Grandpa?""He's gone out for some exercise," Albert replied cautiously.'Exercise?' Caelan raised an eyebrow skeptically. Kennedy's favorite pastime was fishing. When had he ever exercised? Kennedy was clearly avoiding him!Caelan sighed and said, "Tell Grandpa to stop meddling in my affairs from now on."With that, he hung up.…Albert was stunned for a moment before turning to Kennedy, who was eavesdropping nearby. "Mr. Caelan hung up.""This brat is too much." Kennedy was no longer cautious like just now, his tone growing assertive. "I'm his grandfather, why can't I be concerned? It's all for his own good. Yet, he dares to speak to me in such a manner. It's infuriating."Kennedy sulked on the sofa, while Albert handed him a cup of tea, trying to calm him down. "Sir, please don't be angry
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