With the phone in hand, Neve's face lit up with a triumphant smile. She quickly accessed Jade's phone and sent a text message to Lloyd.Jade: [Lloyd, you there? I want to talk to you.]It would be hard for Lloyd to resist when the text came from Jade's number.As expected, Lloyd replied almost instantly.Lloyd: [Jade, you actually took the initiative to contact me. It's a pleasant surprise.]Neve sneered and silently called Lloyd an animal, then replied to him in Jade's tone.Jade: [Surprised? You don't want to talk? That's fine.]Naturally, Lloyd took the bait and quickly responded.Lloyd: [It'd be my honor that Ms. Severin wants to talk to me. Let me guess… Have you had a change of heart and want to cooperate with me?]Lloyd, sly as he was, was trying to guess Jade's intentions from every angle.Jade: [Always about business. You're really suited for the business world. But I don't want to talk about that today. I just want to indulge myself a little.]Neve stopped replying
After learning it was Jade, Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief. He then heard from the hotel staff that the guest in Room 108/9 had drunk a lot and was emotionally unstable, which dispelled his doubts.Neve enticed Lloyd onto the bed, and Lloyd quickly got invested in the meticulously planned scheme for him....In another room, Jade woke up from unconsciousness, and the first thing she did was feel her clothes. Luckily, they were still there, and there were no signs of violation.She held her head and slowly sat up, trying to gather her thoughts. She remembered being drugged as soon as she entered Room 108/9. After that, everything was a blur.If Raelyn wanted revenge on her, she wouldn't let her off so easily. What was she up to?Jade checked her belongings—her phone and wallet were intact. Had Raelyn tricked her into coming here just to scare her?Unable to make sense of many things, Jade decided to let it go for now.As the saying went, it would be easy to dodge an open spear
A week later.Jade spent her days conducting medical experiments in the laboratory or assisting her mentor with dissections in the school's anatomy room.Tiffany hadn't been attending school, and the administration was informed of her absence due to a foot injury, thus no further inquiries were made. Only Jade knew that Warren had confined Tiffany because she refused to comply with his demands.Although Jade considered aiding Tiffany, she feared exacerbating the situation, leaving her no choice but to relent."Jade, what are you thinking about?" Melanie nudged her as she had been lost in thought.Jade snapped out of it and blinked at Melanie. "Nothing, what do you need?"Melanie tossed the sketches she had in her hand at Jade and said, "I've drawn the design sketches you asked for. Take a look and see if they're okay. Honestly, I'm not very confident."Jade was astonished when she saw Melanie's sketches. She couldn't help but admire Melanie's talent as a designer. Her sketches w
Jade carried her tray as she searched for a seat. Just then, Lloyd waved at her. "Jade, come sit here."There was an empty seat beside him with a book on it, evidently reserving the spot."Jade, did he just call you?" Melanie looked surprised and whispered, "Aren't you two archenemies? Why does he want to get close to you? Did he take the wrong pills or something?"Jade shrugged, looking exasperated. "Who knows how many brainless pills he's taken? He actually called me in front of so many people."Ignoring Lloyd's invitation, she walked with Melanie to a secluded corner with only two empty seats."Sorry, these seats are taken." Jade and Melanie had just arrived when a young woman rudely claimed two seats for herself.Jade glanced around. The young woman had no friends nearby but deliberately occupied two seats, clearly targeting them."Isn't it inappropriate to hog three seats?" Melanie said, her displeasure evident."I like occupying three seats by myself. What about it?" the
Jade was caught off guard and pulled into a corner, with the wall behind her and Lloyd's gloomy face in front of her. He had her trapped in his embrace, his hands propped against the wall."Why are you avoiding me?" Lloyd asked with a dark expression, his gaze filled with confusion.Ever since their night together in the hotel, Jade had returned to her cold demeanor toward him. No matter how hard he tried to please her or show affection, she remained as unyielding as a rock, unmoved by his efforts. She even mocked his excessive enthusiasm, ridiculing him for overestimating himself.Lloyd couldn't grasp the problem, so he resorted to this forceful approach to compel Jade to reveal the answer.When Jade saw that it was Lloyd, her brief surprise turned into disgust. She pushed his arms away and sneered. "Lloyd, what are you trying to do? This is a school. Before doing anything, please use your brain and think about the consequences."Jade's indifference hurt Lloyd deeply. His gaze br
"This treatment today is still light. If you ever try to offend me again, I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life," Jade spat at Lloyd before leaving.Lloyd squatted on the ground, watching her retreating figure with a dark gaze. He had never been treated like this by a woman before. His pride and dignity were trampled under Jade's feet."Jade, Jade..." Lloyd murmured slowly, intense hatred clouding his rationality.If his previous obsession with Jade was because of her talent, his current obsession with her was purely a twisted and dark psychological issue. He secretly vowed to make Jade kneel before him one day, humbly begging for his forgiveness to erase his shame today.Lloyd left the campus in a sorry state. Once he went completely out of sight, a pair of woman's feet were revealed."What a surprise today." Raelyn had come to request leave for Tiffany but unexpectedly witnessed a good show.She had captured the moment Lloyd forcibly kissed Jade. Because of the
Melanie was taken aback and rolled her eyes at Jade. "What do you mean even I noticed? I'm not blind. I just find it strange how this guy suddenly became interested in you. I absolutely don't believe that he's infatuated with you.""No, I need to look into this," Jade insisted. She sensed something was amiss but hadn't yet considered Raelyn's involvement. She simply asked Owen to investigate what was happening with Lloyd.…A day later, Owen reported back to Jade, "Lloyd and you both visited the same hotel, but the specific reason remains unclear."The situation felt like it was veiled in a thick fog, obscuring clarity and understanding.Jade only had a vague sense that there might be a connection between Lloyd and Raelyn.…While Jade was investigating Lloyd, Caelan received something on his end. An anonymous email arrived with several attached photos: Jade checking into Room 108/9, Lloyd entering, and ultimately, the two of them sharing a kiss.The photos were all in high def
Twenty minutes later, Jade applied light makeup and checked herself in the mirror, feeling satisfied with her reflection.Melanie also nodded in approval. Then she furrowed her brow, pointing disapprovingly at Jade's jeans and shirt. "You're not really going on a date dressed like that, are you?"Jade also found it a bit inappropriate, especially since it was their first date. However, most of her wardrobe consisted of casual clothes, with only a few formal options like evening dresses."What should I do?" Jade lamented."Go buy something," Melanie said excitedly, grabbing Jade's hand. "I've been wanting to go shopping anyway, but I have a condition. You have to treat me to coffee later."Jade rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Accompanying me shopping is just an excuse. You really just want coffee, don't you?""Of course not! You're my top priority," Melanie teased.The duo left the school happily, heading straight to the mall.…Half an hour later, Jade picked out a dress—a s
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