Since Gemma had been arrested, Melvin had asked her for a divorce, and he had been single until now. Leah didn't care about his affairs, but she had never expected him to bring a woman home. She knew exactly what Melvin was up to.What was on the tip of her tongue—telling him to come in—was forcibly changed to "Say I'm not feeling well and ask him to leave.""Uh..." The servant looked conflicted and sought help from Jade.Jade also found it inappropriate to deny Melvin entry with his guest, so she stepped forward to persuade Leah. "Grandma, you haven't seen Dad in a long time. Why not let him in to see you? It would not be good for him to stay single forever. If he has someone by his side who cares about him, you’ll feel reassured too."Leah wasn't opposed to Melvin remarrying. She was just afraid of another cunning woman like Gemma entering the family and causing trouble. As she considered Jade's advice, Leah's hard heart softened a bit. "Shall we meet them then?""Just a quick l
Zoey looked anxious and glanced at Melvin, seemingly wanting him to make a decision. Melvin couldn't figure out Leah's intentions either and said anxiously, "How about I accompany her?""Why do you need to tag along when a lady is changing clothes?" Leah asked Melvin to stay, pretending to be angry. "Do you think Brianna won't be able to take care of it properly?"Zoey became even more anxious. "No, that's not it. I just thought it would be too much trouble. Since you said so, I'll go upstairs with Brianna to change."Brianna led Zoey upstairs, and Melvin's eyes followed her closely, as if he was afraid she might run away.Seeing Melvin's demeanor, Leah knew he genuinely liked Zoey."Tell me, how did you two meet?" Leah asked directly, making Melvin breathe a sigh of relief.He glanced at Leah with slight resentment. "Mom, if you have a question, just ask directly. Why beat around the bush?""Where is she from, and do you know everything about her family background? I won't acce
Zoey looked pleasantly surprised. She wanted to decline, but when she saw Melvin giving her a signal, she shyly accepted it.Leah then instructed Brianna to prepare dinner and insisted that Zoey stay for the meal, which was basically an indication that she more or less accepted Zoey's presence.After dinner, Melvin left with Zoey happily. Meanwhile, Jade stayed by Leah's side, massaging her shoulders. She was gentle and skilled, and Leah closed her eyes in contentment as she chatted with her. "Jade, what do you think of Zoey?""It's hard to say for now. We'll have to wait and see by interacting with her," Jade replied.Leah nodded. "Alright, let's observe for a while longer."Suddenly, she remembered something. "How are things progressing between you and Caelan?"Upon hearing the topic shift to herself, Jade quickly found an excuse to leave. "Oh, Grandma, I just remembered something I have to take care of. I have to go."Before Leah could react, Jade grabbed her bag and rushed o
After seeing the prosthetic limb in Jade's hand, Emmy angrily slammed the door shut, ignoring Jade and Hunter's calls to open it."Emmy, can you please open the door?" Hunter knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.He leaned against the door to listen, only to hear a loud thud against the door panel, followed by Emmy's screams. "Go away, go away!""Hunter." Jade patted Hunter's shoulder, signaling to him to go over.Hunter followed Jade to the side, looking helpless. "I'm sorry, Jade. Your good intentions were wasted."Jade smiled, shaking her head. "Why is Emmy reacting so strongly? I remember she said she wanted to stand up."Hunter was the clearest about Emmy's situation. There had to be a reason for her resistance to the prosthetic limb.There was a complicated look on Hunter's expression before he began to tell Jade about Emmy's past. "Actually, Emmy has worn a prosthetic limb before, but the technology was not mature back then. It was clumsy to walk wit
Emmy's eyes lit up at Jade's words. "Jade, you're right. I've been too cowardly by wanting to escape and never facing this head-on. Your words have encouraged me a lot. I should be brave, like the girl in the story, and face life courageously.""So, do you want to put on the gift I prepared for you?" Jade tempted her. "You'll be able to stand up by wearing it, and I'll take you to see the ballet."Emmy nodded vigorously. "Yes, I want to stand up. I want to walk out of this room and embrace the sunshine outside.""Emmy, trust me, I won't let you down." Jade happily walked out and waved to Hunter, who was downstairs. "Bring it up."Hunter looked up in surprise and disbelief. "Emmy agreed?""She did," Jade said with a smile."Alright, I'll come up right away." Hunter took the prosthetic limb and ran upstairs, looking at Emmy with excitement in his eyes. He dumbly watched Emmy for a moment, unable to say a word.It was Jade who took the prosthetic limb and personally helped Emmy put
The memories slumbering deep in Emmy's mind stirred restlessly like butterflies breaking free from their cocoons. They tore at the bindings around them, each movement accompanied by stabbing pain.Emmy stared at Asher, her head pounding, yet she couldn't recall anything. Her heart raced in her chest, and a voice deep within her kept shouting, "Hide, hurry up and hide, hide now!"Jade watched Emmy anxiously. If Emmy didn't face Asher now, all of Jade's efforts would be in vain. No, she had to help Emmy."Emmy, do you remember the story I told you? Don't avoid it. You can do this." Jade's voice gave Emmy immense courage at this critical moment.As though a sharp ax was breaking the shackles on Emmy's body, her breathing was stabilized, and she stopped retreating. Mustering up her courage, she faced Asher and made a move that shocked everyone."Asher, you're back." Emmy didn't run away or lose control of her emotions. She greeted Asher calmly.Her reaction stunned everyone, includin
Jade had just mentioned it casually, so she didn't push it any further when Emmy said she didn't want to go."I know a really good cake shop. How about we go there?" Jade asked tentatively."Cake?" A hint of longing glowed in Emmy's eyes. Jade could tell from Emmy's expression that she had made the right call.They drove straight to the cake shop, where Emmy ordered a Black Forest cake and a mango milkshake. Jade and Hunter got coffee for themselves.Desserts had a way of lifting people’s spirits. After eating the cake, Emmy forgot about all her troubles."Jade, the cake here is so delicious." Emmy's mouth was covered in cream, making her look like a dirty little kitten.Hunter handed her a napkin to wipe her mouth, telling her indulgently, "If you like it, I'll buy it for you every day.""Really? I knew you were the best, Hunter." Emmy grinned brightly with indescribable cuteness.The cake shop was located in a mall, and through the glass windows, they could see the entire pan
The doctor looked at Hunter with a complex expression, appearing hesitant to speak. Then, he glanced at Jade, who was standing aside, and asked, "And who is this?"Unable to bear it any longer, Hunter said anxiously, "Doctor, she's my friend. Just say what you have to say. Is my sister's condition worsening?"Emmy's sudden collapse had left Hunter feeling very uneasy. In addition, the doctor's hesitant demeanor only added to his uncertainty.Mistaking Jade for Hunter's girlfriend, the doctor cleared his throat before saying, "When we examined Ms. Alridge just now, we found that her hymen has been torn."Hunter's mind went blank at the news. A torn hymen... He couldn't possibly not know what that meant.He stared at the doctor in disbelief, and it took him a moment to speak. "That's impossible. Emmy is very young. She hasn't even had a boyfriend..."But then it dawned on him, and his face twisted with anger as he looked back at the doctor, understanding the implication of his word
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