Caelan was wearing a sharp suit. His gaze was icy, his expression rigid, and the chill radiating from him sent shivers down everyone's spine.As the heir of the Fitzgerald Group, he stood at the pinnacle of the Centus elite. He held everyone's fate in his hands. The board of trustees was shocked by his arrival and terrified by his words.Apologize?Did Caelan really expect them, all prominent figures in their respective circles—bank presidents, government officials, etc.—to apologize to Jade, a mere fledgling, who had barely made her mark?This was humiliating.The atmosphere in the room froze, and no one dared to speak up, even though they all felt disdain deep down. If they had to apologize to Jade, they might as well drop dead."Mr. Fitzgerald, isn't this a bit unreasonable? I'm a bureau head, yet you expect me to apologize to a young girl like Jade? What about my reputation?" Khloe was the first to speak up, shooting a glance at Larry as she spoke.Larry understood her mea
Vincent watched the board of trustees with a smile, a cunning gleam in his eyes. Previously, these people had treated him like a doormat because of their power and influence. Seeing them groveling now made him feel like he was finally getting his dues.While everyone else's minds were racing, Jade stood frozen in place, staring at Caelan. It felt like a thunderbolt had struck her heart, and she experienced a growing sense of exhilaration. Being held in such high regard felt unexpectedly good."Mr. Fitzgerald, is everything settled now?" Khloe's fawning grin was completely different from her earlier haughty demeanor.Larry also dropped his authoritative stance, bowing as if he were a lowly servant, afraid of offending the bigwig before him.Samuel glanced at Caelan and realized Caelan's mind was not on these clowns. He waved his hand and informed the board, "You can leave now.""What about the blackmail?" Khloe asked cautiously."Since all of you have apologized, there's no need t
Jade felt pliant in Caelan's arms, her unique scent greeting him and momentarily stunning him.Jade felt Caelan tense up and smiled, her arms tightening around him. "Thank you for standing up for me. Thank you...""For liking me" was what she would have said if she had finished her sentence.Caelan slowly lifted his arms, letting them hover above Jade's shoulders, his fingers curling and then straightening before he gently held on to her shoulders. Her embrace felt warm, and he liked it."How childish," he said, even though he actually liked it a lot.Jade didn't mind, knowing that Caelan was wary of physical closeness due to childhood trauma. The fact that he didn't push her away on the spot was already a win."Mr. Fitzgerald." Samuel suddenly pushed the door open, saw the scene, and quickly backtracked.Caelan, however, nonchalantly let go of Jade and called out, "What's the matter?"Samuel's heart was pounding. He realized he had walked in at the worst possible moment. He sh
Quincy looked at Jade skeptically. "I said so many bad things about you. Aren't you going to retaliate?""I admit that I don't harbor good feelings for you, but Clotheap University isn't owned by the Severins, and I don't have the power to decide your fate either. You encouraged other students to fight with me and slander me—this is an undeniable fact. Your punishment is up to the school authorities, understand?"Quincy breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Jade's words. "As long as you don't retaliate, I don't mind waiting for the school's decision."Jade felt speechless. It seemed like Quincy was treating her like some kind of gang boss. Caelan's actions today would probably intimidate quite a few people, but it was better this way, as people would avoid provoking her all the time."Do you still have something to say?" Melanie asked when she saw Quincy lingering there.Quincy hesitated for a moment, looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then told Jade, "I know who sent the
The guy spoke with a frivolous tone, and his expression was even more contemptuous. "Women like her will do anything for money. She's a server at the club, but as long as the customer pays, she'll drink, sing, and even let you touch her without saying a word."Low laughter echoed around, mostly guys’ laughter. It seemed that Lilith's reputation wasn't a secret among them anymore.Jade didn't want to listen to the guy's vulgarity anymore, so she grabbed Melanie and left."I never expected Lilith's reputation to be this bad. What kind of decent person would work at a place like that?" Melanie lamented.Jade was indifferent. She hadn't interacted with Lilith much. The only time had been in the cafeteria, and Lilith had given off the impression that she was bossy and hard to get along with.As for what those guys had said, Jade couldn't agree, nor could she approve of it. She wouldn't know what kind of person Lilith was until she saw her with her own eyes.Jade walked briskly ahead,
The security guard saw that Jade seemed sober and Melanie had stopped shouting, so he left."Jade, are you going to let her go just like that?" Melanie complained. "She's definitely Lilith. I remember the birthmark on her neck. I can't be mistaken."Jade signaled to her to calm down and explained slowly. "I know she's Lilith, but you saw that she wouldn't admit it no matter what. If we keep making a scene, it won't benefit us in any way.""Then what should we do?" Melanie was at a loss."Let's wait outside. She'll finish her shift eventually." Jade smirked.Melanie immediately understood and snapped her fingers. "Right, let's play the waiting game."An hour later, Lilith finally walked out of the club. She looked around cautiously, relieved to see no one around, and kept walking. She was wearing a cap and a mask, covering herself securely, as if she was deliberately avoiding someone."She's finally out," Melanie said excitedly, ready to grab Lilith. However, Jade stopped her.I
The man raised his fist to strike Lilith's head, and she instinctively protected it, bracing herself for the expected pain."Stop!" Just then, a crisp voice rang out.The man halted his fist and looked around, only to see two young, pretty girls standing at the end of the alley. Compared to Lilith, they were even more beautiful and elegant. They looked almost like movie stars.The three men instantly ogled them, drooling like wolves seeing the juicy piece of meat they'd been longing for."Oh, where did you come from? Did you skip school to be a hero?" The man who had intended to harm Lilith earlier whistled at Jade, leering at her greedily."Yo, I'll take the skinny one. You can have the curvy one, okay?" One of the man's henchmen pointed at Melanie, swallowing hard.Melanie, who felt sick, retorted, "In your dreams. Take a good look at yourself before you speak."Lilith had never expected Jade and Melanie to come to her rescue. She stood stunned there for a moment, then reacted
She had seemed all tough just now, but she instantly turned into a fangirl.Jade and Melanie exchanged a glance, feeling that the change was a bit swift."Ahem, alright. Stop staring. You don't want your eyeballs to fall out." Melanie blocked Lilith's line of sight forcibly.Lilith reluctantly averted her gaze, reverting to her normal expression. She said insincerely, "Thank you."Jade didn't mind her attitude and got straight to the point. "Lilith, why did you frame me?" she asked.Lilith stiffened, her guilty eyes darting around. "Since you know it was me, I don't have much to say. What you want to do with me is up to you."Her words angered Melanie. "You not only framed someone without a word of apology, but you also sound so self-righteous. Maybe I should expose what you did to the school and give you a taste of public scorn too."Lilith's eyes welled up suddenly as she looked resentfully at Melanie, still as stubborn as a mule. "Do as you please. Report me if you want.""H
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