"Emmy, are you awake?" Jade whispered, calling Emmy's name a couple of times.Emmy's eyes remained tightly closed, but tears streamed down her cheeks. Seeing this, Jade became emotional. She sat back down beside the bed and gently held Emmy's hand. "Emmy, why won't you open your eyes if you're awake? Don't be afraid, I'm here."Jade felt Emmy's grip on her hand tighten slightly, and she could sense the fear emanating from her."What's wrong, Emmy? Do you have something to tell me? Don't worry, I'm here with you."As soon as Jade finished speaking, Emmy opened her eyes. Tears continued to flow silently as she looked at Jade."Jade, I'm scared.""Don't be afraid, sweetheart. I'm here," Jade said soothingly, wiping Emmy's tears with a tissue. "You're safe now. No one will hurt you.""Jade..." Emmy burst into tears, and Jade hurriedly pulled her into a comforting embrace. Emmy curled up in Jade's arms, feeling so fragile that it was heart-wrenching."Don't be scared, Emmy. Did you
When Francis and Vanessa arrived and entered the hospital room to see Emmy, they hurried over to her in distress. "Emmy, you scared Mom and Dad to death."Emmy looked at them with terror in her eyes, not letting anyone get close. Whenever her parents approached, she buried her head under the covers, ignoring them."What's going on?" Vanessa asked anxiously. Emmy was the apple of her eye, so seeing Emmy like this tore at her heartstrings.Hunter looked at Jade in confusion. Jade sighed and gestured for them to follow her outside."What happened?" Hunter asked anxiously.Jade looked at Hunter and his parents with a grim expression, unsure how to broach the subject. She took out her phone and handed it to Hunter. "Listen to this."Earlier, she had recorded her conversation with Emmy on her phone. She couldn't bring herself to tell Francis and Vanessa directly, fearing they wouldn't be able to handle it, so she let Hunter be the one to break the news to them.Hunter took Jade's phon
Asher didn't care about Hunter at all. He walked slowly downstairs. When he saw Jade following Hunter, a hint of disdain flickered in his eyes. "Ms. Severin, don't you think you're making yourself at home a bit too much here? Coming and leaving the Alridges’ place as you please... Are you planning to become the mistress of this house?"Asher walked to the refrigerator, opened the door, and took out a can of beer. He opened it and started drinking."You bastard, I'm going to kill you today." Hunter was already livid. Upon hearing Asher insult Jade as well, he couldn't hold back any longer. He grabbed a stick and swung it at Asher.Asher wasn't prepared, so he had to take the blow. He turned to Hunter angrily. "Are you crazy? You hit me?""Yes, I hit you, you animal!" Hunter retorted, swinging the stick again.Asher grabbed it and asked through the pain, "Why are you even calling me an animal? I bet you've been bewitched by this woman. You’re acting crazy all the time.""You have t
Hunter was filled with hatred, yet he felt helpless against Asher. The incident had happened too long ago, and without evidence, Asher would be released even if they arrested him. Hunter buried his face in his hands, feeling extremely restless. How could he make Asher face the consequences for his actions?Seeing Hunter's guilt-ridden expression, Jade felt deeply upset. If she had known this would happen, she would have kept the truth from him.After comforting Hunter, she left the Alridge residence. She didn't know how she managed to leave, she only knew that a fire was burning in her chest, as if it wanted to turn her organs into ash.Agony penetrated Jade's bones, causing her to suffer immensely. With stiff steps, she unknowingly made her way back home. Collapsing on the sofa, she wearily closed her eyes. Her nerves had been stretched taut for days, like a tightly-wound string, so she fell asleep as soon as her body sank into the soft couch.When Caelan found Jade, she was sleep
Caelan breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid it wouldn't suit your taste. It's been a while since I last cooked, so I'm a bit rusty."Jade paused while eating, looking surprised as she looked up at him. "You used to cook? Why haven't you ever mentioned it?"Caelan calmly ate his congee, a faint smile on his face. "Hmm, I used to when I was very young, but I stopped later on."Jade's heart clenched. Since he’d said that he used to cook when he was very young, his mother must have still been with him back then. These were secrets buried deep in Caelan's heart. If Samuel hadn't told Jade, she would never have known about his dark childhood."Eat more." Jade picked up a piece of food and placed it in Caelan's bowl.Caelan gave her a smile and began eating.Admittedly, his eating manners were very elegant. Every movement was perfect, making one want to scream in admiration. Jade wasn't one to swoon, but she couldn't help getting lost in Caelan's handsome looks.After finishing the
Listening to Caelan, Jade felt butterflies in her stomach. She had never seen him speak to her with such intensity or such an affectionate gaze. An answer was on the tip of her tongue, but she was afraid of disappointment. She could only stare at Caelan blankly, struggling and feeling fearful inside. She was afraid Caelan's answer wouldn't be what she wanted. How would she handle it? Should she continue dating him or turn away with a cold face?"What's wrong?" Caelan looked at her blank expression with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He reached out to tuck a strand of Jade's hair behind her ear, then gently kissed her forehead while she continued to stare in fear.Jade hastily took a step back, shaking her head frantically. "N-Nothing."Her face was already red. She berated herself inwardly, feeling utterly useless. It was just a kiss. Why couldn't she muster the courage to even look him in the eye?Taking a sip of water from the glass on the table, Jade suppressed the fluttering
In the car, Caelan had already instructed Samuel to check the surveillance around the mall and on each floor and had dispatched additional personnel to search.They arrived 20 minutes later. As soon as the car stopped, Jade opened the door and jumped out."Brianna!" From afar, Jade saw Brianna anxiously sitting in the rest area of the mall with two staff members standing in front of her. Jade ran to Brianna, her arrival calming Brianna down. Brianna, who had red eyes, looked at Jade and said emotionally, "Ms. Jade, you're here! It's my fault for not keeping an eye on Madam.""Why are you the only one here? Where are the other servants?" Jade asked. Leah was old, so she usually had two or three people accompanying her when she went out. Today, only Brianna was with her, which puzzled Jade.Brianna looked guilty as she said, "Madam said she didn't want so many people following her. I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn't listen. It's all my fault for indulging her.""Where did G
The person coming toward them was none other than Melvin's new girlfriend, Zoey.Both Jade and Leah were surprised, and their thoughts were remarkably similar—the world was really small after all. Anna actually knew Zoey.As Zoey approached, she saw Jade and Leah and greeted them with a smile. "Madam Leah, you're here too."Then, she turned to Jade and smiled. "You must be Jade. I've heard Melvin mention you."Zoey's smile was obviously not as warm as it was when she looked at Leah. It was rather indifferent, with a hint of hostility.Jade wasn't surprised by Zoey's attitude. After all, she held a low position in Melvin's eyes. Because of her, Melvin had lost his job, his wife had gone to jail, his daughter had committed suicide, and his son had disappeared. Anyone in Melvin's shoes wouldn't be friendly to Jade. Melvin probably considered her a jinx and endured her presence only because of Leah."Hello." Jade greeted Zoey with a faint smile, acknowledging her.Zoey apologized to
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