"Oh, and who might you be?" The woman's arrogant demeanor piqued Jade's curiosity, and she stood with her arms crossed, appearing calm and collected.The woman smirked triumphantly. "You'd be scared if I told you. I'm..."Just then, a deep voice interrupted. "Miss, it's time to go back.""I'm not going back. You guys, arrest this ignorant woman!" The woman seemed to come from a strong background, or she wouldn't have dared to demand someone's arrest in broad daylight.Jade stood still, wanting to see who this woman really was.The bodyguard looked hesitant and whispered in the woman's ear, "If we don't leave now, Sir will be angry."The woman wavered but still refused to let Jade go. "Consider yourself lucky. Don't let me see you again."Upon saying that, she hurried away with her entourage.Once she left, the bystanders began murmuring. "That girl got lucky. She probably doesn't even know who she just provoked.""Let's go, let's go. Better leave this place behind."The onl
Jade couldn't sleep because she had something on her mind. She thought about sending a message to Tiffany, warning her to be careful at the party tomorrow, but she realized this was Tiffany's private matter. Would she embarrass Tiffany if she warned her outright? After all, this affair between a mistress and a wife wasn't a dignified matter, and Tiffany wouldn't want others to know about it.Jade thought for a moment, then deleted the message she had drafted. However, since she knew about this, she couldn't just ignore it. At the very least, she had to help Tiffany secretly and prevent her from getting hurt....Tiffany's birthday party was even more luxurious than Jade had imagined. To celebrate her birthday, the McAuleys had rented the entire floor of the hotel for the occasion, specifically to host the guests. Every person attending the banquet was wealthy and influential, and everyone was a member of high society.Tiffany, who was wearing a princess-style tulle gown, exuding et
Jade stepped forward and gently held Tiffany's arm, transferring strength to her through the warmth of her palm.Tiffany glanced at her gratefully and forced a smile. "I'm fine."Whispers surrounded them as everyone discussed Raelyn's sudden appearance."What's going on? Don't the McAuleys only have two daughters? How come another one suddenly popped up?""Don't you get it? She's clearly an illegitimate daughter who's been acknowledged by the McAuleys. Otherwise, why would she dress exactly like Tiffany? Obviously, she's highly valued by the McAuleys."The crowd's discussion inadvertently stabbed Tiffany in the heart once again.As Jade held Tiffany's slender arm, she felt the tremble that ran through her."Tiffany, hang in there," Jade whispered. Tiffany managed a sorrowful smile, her face turning even paler."Raelyn, what are you doing here?" Speaking in a low, strong voice, Warren McAuley strode into the banquet hall.He was wearing a black suit, and his hair was meticulous
He had organized a birthday party for Tiffany, made everyone accept Raelyn, and created the impression of deep sisterly affection between them. The reporters would probably make a big deal out of it tomorrow."Miss, Sir said to get ready. You'll be performing on stage in a bit." A servant approached Tiffany and whispered to her.Tiffany replied flatly, "Got it.""You're still performing on stage with all this going on?" Melanie exclaimed in surprise. Jade quickly gave Melanie a tug, and Melanie promptly shut her mouth upon seeing the disapproval in Jade's eyes.Tiffany adjusted her mindset and smiled at them. "Why wouldn't I perform? This is my birthday party, and I want to perform for everyone. I want them to know who the real McAuley heiress is."Seeing Tiffany's renewed determination, Jade encouraged her. "I support you.""Then accompany me backstage," Tiffany told Jade and Melanie.They both nodded and accompanied Tiffany to the backstage area.Her costume and shoes were al
Melanie was furious at this point. She shot Raelyn a glance, noticing that her attire and makeup were identical to Tiffany's, and instantly understood her intentions."Do you even know what ballet is? You're just imitating others. You'd look like a walking duck instead of a graceful swan. It's simply ridiculous." Melanie exposed Raelyn's intentions, angering her. Raelyn then shifted her gaze to Jade and redirected her anger, saying, "So you're all in cahoots. A bunch of uncivilized barbarians. Birds of a feather flock together."She not only mocked Jade and Melanie but also implicated Tiffany.Melanie was about to confront Raelyn when Jade grabbed her hand and shook her head at her. She had already seen Warren coming over.Warren favored Raelyn, so if they clashed now, Tiffany would end up getting in trouble."Why haven't you gone on stage yet?" Warren immediately reprimanded Tiffany when he came in.Raelyn complained. "Dad, Tiffany accidentally injured her foot and can't dance
"I can dance. There's no need for her to replace me," Tiffany said firmly.She didn't wholeheartedly accept Raelyn, refusing to address her by name and instead referring to her only as "her.""Are you kidding me?" Warren glanced at her injured foot, disagreeing. "You can barely stand right now, let alone dance.""Who says I can't?" Tiffany pushed away Jade's hand and rose despite the pain. She executed a series of movements before Warren, exhibiting grace and fluidity as if untouched by injury.Only Jade understood the agony Tiffany endured with each step, her foot akin to treading on blades. Raelyn's cruelty knew no bounds."Dad, since Tiffany insists on it, let her dance," Raelyn said, pleased as she watched Tiffany endure the pain to dance. "But I still want to dance with her. In case something happens on stage, I can help her out."Warren hesitated, considering whether to let Raelyn and Tiffany go on stage together.Tiffany was about to refuse, but Jade grabbed her and winke
Melanie couldn't stand Raelyn's smug demeanor, so she helped Tiffany sit down on the side and assisted Jade in treating her wound. She didn't forget to lecture Raelyn, "Can't be too sure who will make a fool of themselves later. It's not too late for you to pull out now. Don't end up falling flat on your face later—that'll be embarrassing. Hahaha."Raelyn was furious. Although she was used to being arrogant, she was still too inexperienced against someone like Melanie. She couldn't out-insult or out-fight Melanie, so she could only grit her teeth and swallow her indignation.Melanie saw her fume and smiled smugly at Jade. However, her words were directed at Raelyn. "Can't handle a little criticism, huh? Fighting us with such a narrow mind and tricks? That's just overestimating yourself."Tiffany smiled gratefully at Melanie. "You really don't hold back with your words.""Of course not. Anyone who bullies you is bullying me, and I'll make sure they regret it." Melanie intentionally
Every movement of Raelyn's seemed perfect, but some couldn't keep up with the rhythm upon closer inspection.At first, the guests didn't notice, but gradually, whispers began to spread. "Strange, why does Ms. Raelyn's dance look so peculiar?""Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. It started off okay, but the later it gets, the more she looks like a puppet without a soul. She can't compare to Ms. Tiffany. It's like night and day."On stage, Raelyn couldn't have missed her anomalies. Ever since Jade bumped into her, her body gradually stiffened. Her limbs didn't obey her, and her movements slowed as if her pressure points had been triggered. Her hands and feet felt weak, making it impossible for her to continue dancing."Ah!" Raelyn suddenly knelt on the stage, and the direction she knelt in was toward Tiffany. To avoid embarrassment, she could only kneel there, still gesturing with her hands.Tiffany also noticed Raelyn's peculiarities but couldn't care less about Raelyn. The pain
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