"Are you out of your mind?" Jade couldn't help but chuckle in exasperation. "I don't know where you get such a sense of superiority. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror to see what kind of person you are?"How could he make such an audacious claim she could only belong to him? Good lord."Jade, aren't you only interested in Caelan because he's wealthy?" Lloyd retorted."I like him not because of his money. Even if he were a pauper, I'd still like him," Jade countered.Arguing with Lloyd was pointless. Jade turned to leave, but Lloyd stopped her. "Jade, you will regret this."Jade huffed. "What I regret most is wasting time with you here."As she was about to leave, something suddenly occurred to her. She turned back to Lloyd. "Do you know that Neve committed suicide?""Oh, really?" Lloyd responded indifferently, but Jade caught a fleeting killing intent in his eyes. "I didn't know."His expression indicated he already knew or had anticipated it.The more Jade looked
Jade looked at Leah, her heart aching. Seeing the younger generation of the family wither away at Leah's current age was nothing short of cruel."Grandma, I promise you, as long as Jacob stops bothering me, I can go easy on him."Leah burst into tears, nodding repeatedly. "Good, good. I knew you were a good child."…A few days later, Neve's death was determined to be suicide by hanging after the autopsy. Although Jade had her doubts, she had no evidence to prove otherwise, so she had to accept it. After a simple funeral, Neve was laid to rest.While standing in front of Neve's grave, Jade's expression was cold. She placed a bouquet on the grave, saying, "Our grievances are settled now."After two lifetimes of entanglement, it all ended up as nothing but a pile of dirt.…A week later, Jade returned to school with everything in order at home."Jade, are you alright?" Melanie asked, noticing Jade's tired expression.Jade shook her head. "I'm fine, just a bit tired from all
Hunter rubbed his shoulder and smiled at Jade. "I'm not a delicate flower. Why would I need to go to the infirmary? It'd be too embarrassing if people found out.""Don't be so stubborn and end up suffering. What if something happens and you regret it later?" Jade advised, her eyes scanning for the person who threw the ball.They were so far from the basketball court, yet someone had still managed to hit them with the ball. It was absurd."Who threw the ball? Come out!" Jade called out, expecting no one to confess.To her surprise, a few people actually stepped forward.Lloyd, dressed in sportswear and followed by a few others, slowly walked over. His face was dark, and his gaze toward Hunter was filled with hostility."I threw it," he replied disdainfully, his eyes fixed on Jade as if she were his prey.Seeing him angered Jade, especially with the creepy way he looked at her. However, she wasn't afraid of Lloyd. He was not someone to be trifled with, but Jade was not one to be p
Jade called Owen and asked him to come and help."I'm a girl, I can't play basketball against you. It's not too much to ask for a few people to help, right?" Jade flashed an inexplicably charming smile at Lloyd.Charmed, Lloyd blurted without thinking, "Of course."He regretted it a bit after saying it.Not only did Owen come over in person, but he also brought a few of his men. Each of them stood tall at 1.8 meters, casting an imposing presence that immediately overshadowed Lloyd.The contrast between the martial artists and Lloyd's team was stark. They were clearly outmatched, both in height and strength."Captain, how are we supposed to play? They're trained. Going against them is like crashing an egg against a rock.""Yeah, their physiques are terrifying. I might get a fracture just from a collision."Before the match even started, Lloyd's team members were intimidated and discouraged remarks flowed from them.It was only then that Lloyd realized Jade had tricked him. Sinc
In just a few minutes, the number of replies in the post reached over ten thousand."Wow, Jade, you're so popular!" Melanie exclaimed.Jade hadn't expected Lloyd to be so scheming. He deliberately used the bet as a gimmick to make such a big deal out of it.If she lost, it would be embarrassing for her and Hunter. Lloyd would not only gain popularity but also use this incident to bring fame to his company. It was truly a lucrative deal.After figuring out his intentions, Jade couldn't help but smirk. She wouldn't be a stepping stone for his success.Jade approached him, raising her chin slightly as she scanned the arena. "Lloyd, you've made such a big fuss just to humiliate me in front of everyone, right? Since you want to make a big deal out of it, why don't we play an even bigger game?"Lloyd was happy with the current situation. He enjoyed being surrounded by people, which made him feel superior to Jade."Oh, what big game do you want to play?" Lloyd asked nonchalantly, almos
Caelan maintained a stoic expression, though his frosty stare on Lloyd intensified. "Zeal, you stirred up trouble but can't handle the consequences like a man. You're clearly at fault yet shamelessly challenged for a match. Truly, you've surprised me."Compared to Lloyd's sarcastic remarks, Caelan was the one with the sharpest tongue. Once he struck, his enemy would be left with no way out.While few people knew the reason behind Lloyd and Jade's bet, Caelan openly revealed it. Upon hearing that, murmurs of disapproval arose among the crowd. Making such a fuss with a girl over a trivial matter was ungentlemanly.The whispers from the crowd made Lloyd's face burn with embarrassment. He had intended to humiliate Hunter to win Jade's favor, but it had backfired."But your generosity is truly admirable. What a bold move to bet with 10,000,000 dollars," Caelan added nonchalantly, watching Lloyd's face turn beet red.Lloyd had only felt a bit embarrassed before, but now he felt comple
Caelan raised an eyebrow slightly, a response of sorts."Why is this fellow so dull? You either nod or speak one word at a time. Can't you say a few more words?" Jade muttered.When Caelan was tongue-lashing Lloyd earlier, he wasn't this sparing with his words.Caelan chuckled and gently held Jade's hand.Jade flushed red. She tried to pull her hand away but found it tightly held, realizing that Caelan was doing it on purpose.The small gestures between them ignited Lloyd's jealousy.Hunter saw Lloyd's scowl and couldn't help but chuckle."What are you laughing at?" Lloyd snapped."I'm laughing because your jealousy is dripping," Hunter replied.Lloyd reeled back his gaze, directing his anger toward Hunter. "Don't forget, if you lose, you'll not only embarrass yourself in school but also become the laughingstock of the country, with all the major websites live-streaming this.""Oh, really?" Hunter smiled. "Are you so sure that I'll lose?"Hunter's confidence stunned Lloyd.
Hunter looked at the referee with a dissatisfied expression.His teammates also spoke up for him indignantly."Are you kidding me? Hunter didn't even touch him, yet you're giving us a yellow card for his dive?"The players ran to the referee, all expressing their anger and demanding fairness. They surrounded the referee, their emotions running high.Despite the referee's repeated warning whistles, the players showed no fear. Owen's oldest apprentice, Liam Vaughan, especially threatened the referee with clenched fists.The referee paled in fear and kept backing away.Meanwhile, Lloyd and his teammates watched the show. The more Hunter and his teammates lost control of their emotions, the more it worked in their favor.Jade could see everything from the sidelines and couldn't help but feel anxious for Hunter and his teammates. If they allowed Lloyd to lead them by the nose, they would undoubtedly lose.Just as Jade was hesitating whether to remind Hunter, she saw him calm his tea
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