Jade pointed at the dancers on the poster, smiling mysteriously. "Don't you want to do what you love?""What I love?" Tiffany thought for a moment before she replied, "I only love dancing. It's my biggest dream..."Suddenly, her eyes brightened as she looked at Jade's enigmatic smile, realizing something. "Are you suggesting that I should go dance?""'Exactly. With your reputation, you could give dance classes in Centus. Many people would come just to learn from you. Once you have your own career, the McAuleys won't be able to control you anymore."Jade's words pierced Tiffany's heart like a shot of adrenaline.Dancing, dreaming, breaking free from the McAuleys’ control—it was everything she had ever wanted.As she thought about it, her face fell again. "But it must cost a lot of money to teach in a prime location like Centus, right?""You don't need to worry about money. I can support you. I've even picked out a few locations for you to consider. Take a look and see if they're
Tiffany was both shocked and delighted. Just yesterday, she had been worried about dissuading her parents from marrying her off, and she had woken up to this good news today.Since this was in the newspaper, it'd be too late even if the McAuleys opposed it.As she looked at Jade's bright eyes and recalled her words yesterday, a realization struck Tiffany. "Did you arrange this too?""It wasn't me. I don't have the energy to pave the way for them." Jade quickly denied it before adding, "I just gave Raelyn a little guidance. Given her ambitious nature, do you think she'd pass up such a great opportunity?"Tiffany chuckled. "You certainly understand her temperament."Since Raelyn had come to the McAuley family, she had been belittling Tiffany just to get noticed by Warren. Now, she had finally achieved her goal.Jade and Tiffany went to school together and didn't see anyone from the McAuley family looking for Tiffany.Both the McAuley and Fitzgerald families were currently a mess,
Lloyd studied finance and had never encountered such a setting before. He instantly broke out in a cold sweat.However, Jade calmly walked back and forth in the room, searching for her studying material. Seeing Lloyd struggling to stand there, she teased him. "What is it? Are you here to learn medicine today?"As she spoke, she lifted the cloth covering the cadaver, revealing a dissected corpse.Lloyd turned pale with fright, his legs trembling, but Jade continued to introduce him to the anatomy of the human body without a hurry.Jade was still talking when Lloyd couldn't take it anymore and ran out of the classroom, dry heaving in the process. Jade scoffed. "I thought you would last at least a minute. Turns out it was less than 30 seconds."She covered the body again with the cloth and bowed respectfully. "Sorry for being rude."She wasn't superstitious. She simply said so out of respect for the cadaver.When Jade left the classroom, Lloyd was still crouched under the tree, ret
Was there a hidden secret?As soon as Asher left, Emmy's emotions stabilized a bit, but she clung to Jade's sleeve, trembling all over. The fear was deep in her bones and soul. Jade could still feel her shivering, even though she was being comforted by everyone."It's okay, Emmy, it's okay." Jade stroked Emmy's back, her voice seemingly magical as it gradually dispelled Emmy's fear.Emmy calmed down, but she no longer smiled like before. She seemed like a puppet without a soul, hollow and lifeless.Hunter gave her some medicine, and she obediently swallowed it before falling into a deep sleep.Seeing her sleeping so soundly, Jade and Hunter stepped out."Does she have these episodes frequently?" Jade asked cautiously.Hunter shook his head helplessly. "As long as she doesn't see Asher, nothing usually happens. We're at our wit's end. You also saw how much medicine she took, but there's been no improvement."Jade had some thoughts, but she couldn't say anything at the moment wit
Jade patiently looked at the pattern Emmy had drawn, but no matter how she looked at it, she couldn't make sense of it. Asking Emmy didn't yield any answers either, so she had to give up. However, the pattern was deeply imprinted in her mind. Since this was something from Emmy's innermost thoughts, it must have a special significance.In the following days, Jade went to the Alridges’ daily to keep Emmy company. With each visit, Emmy's mood became more stable, and she hardly showed any signs of irritability anymore. Hunter noticed this and was delighted. He wanted to thank Jade for her help with Emmy, so he talked to his parents about preparing a generous gift for Jade during the holidays. Francis and Vanessa agreed. As long as something was good for Emmy, they would support it.Apart from spending time with Emmy, Jade's remaining time was devoted to dealing with the Zeal Group. She aimed to disrupt Lloyd and Asher's plans before they could cause more harm.By now, she had already
Jade pushed her sunglasses up her nose and told the security guard, "I'm here to discuss a partnership with Mr. Hallam. Could you please inform him?"The security guard sized up Jade and, seeing that she wasn't joking, said, "Please wait a moment. I'll inform him right away."The security guard hurried into the building and returned a few minutes later. He opened the door and respectfully told Jade, "Our director is expecting you, Miss. Please come in."The psychiatric hospital was in a remote area, surrounded by desolation. The security guard couldn't fathom what kind of partnership would attract the attention of a high-class lady like Jade. He didn't dare delay, so he had quickly informed the hospital director, Griffin Hallam.Griffin, who had been dozing off in his office, perked up when he heard the news, hastily instructing the security guard to invite Jade in while he personally brewed coffee, opened the windows, and tidied up the room.When Jade and her entourage entered, G
Griffin looked up abruptly, his expression panicked, and beads of sweat dripped down his forehead as he looked at Jade.What kind of profit could a small psychiatric hospital make? He had set up a gambling den inside the hospital, where no one cared no matter how much one gambled. The profits he had made over the years were considerable. He had thought that this money-making scheme was hidden well, but Jade had easily revealed his secret, her words laced with a hint of threat.Griffin was furious and anxious, his face turning pale as he looked at Jade. Finally, he relented. "Who... Who are you?""It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is whether you're willing to cooperate. If you give me who I want, I'll give you the money, and your secret will be safe. If you don't cooperate, then..." Jade smirked alluringly, but the smile looked chilling in Griffin's eyes.He couldn't believe that this beautiful young girl was so ruthless."Fine, I agree." Griffin gritted his teeth. At this p
"Over here!" someone called out soon. "Found him!"Jade hurried over and saw through a window a person with disheveled hair and an emaciated body. He was shackled to an iron pipe and curled up into a ball, looking almost childlike from severe malnutrition."Kayden Zeal!" Jade shouted through the window, trying to get a better look at his face. However, he kept his head down. He was as unresponsive as if he were dead.Jade urgently told the bodyguards, "Quick, kick the door down."The bodyguards kicked the door open, and the first one rushed in to turn on the light, only to recoil at the sight before him. There was a pool of blood on the floor, and Kayden’s wrists were bloody, the flesh gruesomely torn."Miss, he did this to himself," the bodyguard said, visibly disturbed. "What kind of torment must he have endured to attempt suicide this way?"Jade quickly checked Kayden for any sign of breathing and found a faint pulse. "Hurry up, we need to get him to a hospital."The bodyguar
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