Jade pushed the case of money toward Griffin, along with a plane ticket and a suitcase, and handed it all over to him. "I've prepared everything for you. Don't come back if I don’t instruct you to and don't leave on your own. If the Zeals find you, you'll suffer."Her words were not just a scare tactic. The Zeals had imprisoned Kayden in the psychiatric hospital with the intention of slowly torturing him to death. If anything went wrong, Griffin would be the first to take the fall.Sweat beaded on Griffin's forehead as he nervously accepted the items, noticing that the ticket was for Columbus."Once you get to Columbus, someone will meet you there. Just cooperate with my people and don’t wander off." Jade warned him. "If the Zeals find you, even I won’t be able to protect you.""Okay, okay, I’ll remember." Griffin nodded repeatedly. Considering how cruel the Zeals were to Kayden, they would be even less merciful to a pawn like him. He took the items and left with the person Jade ha
"Ms. Severin, we follow Mr. Fitzgerald's direct orders," the doctor replied."Good, bring him in." Jade stepped aside to make way for the medical team, which helped move Kayden into the ICU.It wasn't until that night that Kayden finally woke up. As soon as he did, the doctor informed Jade, "Ms. Severin, he's awake.""Alright, I'm on my way," she replied before heading to the ward. She saw Kayden lying there with a vacant look in his eyes.Unsure of his mental state, she stood about a meter away from his bed and asked, "Are you awake?"Kayden moved his eyes around a bit, staring blankly at Jade and not responding to her question.Jade glanced at the medical staff and said, "Please step out. I need to speak with him privately."The doctor and nurses nodded and left the room.Now that she was alone with Kayden, who lay on the bed with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought, Jade broke the silence. "Kayden, you can stop pretending. I know you're conscious."Although Kayden di
Jade approached Kayden, looking at his gaunt face, and continued. "Kayden, only I can help you now. If you want revenge, cooperate with me and get your strength back.""Who are you, and why do you want to help me? Why should I trust you and cooperate with you?" Kayden was still skeptical. He couldn't figure out Jade's goal. After being betrayed by his closest kin, he trusted no one."I'll gradually reveal who I am to you. If you want to win back Sophie, you must trust me," Jade said calmly.When he heard Sophie's name, Kayden's defenses weakened."Who did she marry?" His voice was indescribably sad, but his eyes flashed with anger. He loved and hated Sophie at the same time. Why had she gotten married so soon? Had all their promises to each other been lies?Kayden felt like there was a huge rock on his heart, causing him unbearable pain. Though he wanted to cry, his eyes were dry and filled with endless dejection."I want to see her. I have to ask her about this directly. This is
"Stella, this is for you." Jade pushed the gift toward Stella.Stella was a bit embarrassed. "You shouldn't have brought anything. Why the formality between us?"Despite her words, Stella’s eyes lit up when she saw the gift. "Oh my, how did you know I’d like this? It’s beautiful."She picked up the cup, examining it lovingly from every angle, clearly delighted. Finally, she feigned annoyance and scolded Jade playfully. "Don’t be so polite next time, okay? I know you don’t like to owe people favors, but that rule doesn’t apply to me.""Got it," Jade replied with a smile.They chatted for a bit longer, until an assistant entered and informed Stella, "Ms. Odell is here.""That's quick. I'll go out to meet her now. Jade, come with me," said Stella as she stood up to see Sophie, clearly indicating she had a good rapport with her.They went to the VIP room where Sophie was already waiting. She was wearing a sky-blue dress suit, her figure graceful and her makeup impeccable, embodying
Seeing Sophie's direct approach, Stella dropped the act. She asked all outsiders to leave the room before speaking openly to Sophie. "Since you figured it out, I won't beat around the bush. The reason I asked you to come here today is important, but it’s not for me—it's for Jade."She motioned for Jade to come forward and sit beside her.Sophie eyed Jade curiously, scanning her face as if she was searching her memory and finding nothing. She asked with a hint of confusion, "What would you like to discuss with me, Ms. Severin?""I'm here to inquire about someone," Jade said, cautious not to shock Sophie by telling her that Kayden wanted to see her, as she wasn't sure if the name Kayden still had any effect on Sophie. She needed to probe first."Oh? Who would that be?" Sophie was confused but still polite out of respect for Stella. "Go ahead and ask. I'll help if I can."Jade looked at her coolly and replied with a smile, "Kayden Zeal."The name hit Sophie hard, her face turning pa
Stella then shot Jade a look that asked her to keep her mouth shut.Sophie's heart eased slightly, but before she could even take a breath of relief, Jade suddenly asked, "Do you still love Kayden?""Who I love or don't love is none of your business, and I don't owe you an explanation. You seem like an educated person, Ms. Severin, so how could you ask such a foolish question? I really thought too highly of you." The sarcasm in Sophie's gaze was evident—Jade had completely infuriated her, so she was done being polite.Pushing past Jade, Sophie started to head for the door, but Jade blurted, "Kayden wants to see you."After executing a series of tests, Jade was sure that Sophie still loved him.As expected, Sophie halted, her body trembling slightly, though her face showed indifference. "He and I are over. Why would we see each other? He left without a word six months ago, and now he came back looking for me? Is this a joke?"Sophie's tone shocked Jade. Clearly, Sophie was unaware
Sophie looked pale as she grabbed Jade's hand emotionally. "Where is Kayden? I want to see him."Seeing her distressed state, Jade hesitated to tell her about Kayden's plight."Please let me see him?" Sophie pleaded pitifully.Jade softened and agreed. "I can arrange for you to see him, but his situation is quite complicated right now. You should prepare yourself mentally.""He must have suffered a lot."Kayden had been locked up in a mental hospital for six months, so just the thought of it was horrifying. No one could endure living in such a place, not even for a month."Alright, I'll take you to see him now." Jade turned to Sophie and advised her. "Whatever you see, stay strong."Her words made Sophie even more anxious, but she nodded tentatively. "Okay, I promise."As they walked out, the maid who had been waiting for Sophie outside walked over. "Madam, are you feeling unwell? You look very pale."Sophie shook her head, feigning nonchalance. "No, I just didn't sleep well.
Kayden slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing Sophie in front of him, he stared intensely at her. He tried to sit up but found out he was too weak, ultimately collapsing back on the bed. "Sophie, why? What is all this about?"Feeling emotionally charged, Kayden wanted to grab Sophie and demand answers.However, Sophie couldn’t bear to look at his pitiful state any longer. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as she left the hospital room wailing."Sophie, Sophie..." Kayden's hoarse, desperate cries echoed behind her.Sophie ran out, but Jade did not leave. The separation between Sophie and Kayden had already led to many misunderstandings, and it couldn't be resolved with just a few words. It was up to Jade to untangle this knot."Haven't you always wanted to understand why she married Kerrigan?" Jade stood before Kayden, her tone calm. "I'll tell you why."“Why? Why did it come to this? She swore she'd only marry me. Why did she marry that overambitious man?” Kayden, who was very agi
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