"That's enough." Leah, who was furious, slapped Melvin. "Even now, you still haven't realized your mistake. You have truly disappointed me. If you don't agree, then you shall deal with this mess on your own."Leah was panting from anger, and Jade hurriedly tried to calm her down. "Grandma, please don't get angry. Think of yourself."She genuinely felt sorry for Leah and couldn't bear to see her getting so upset.Leah, who was livid, ignored Melvin."Mom, I agree, I promise." Melvin lowered his head in despair. He knew Leah was genuinely angry this time. If she didn't help him, he would be done for."Mom, what do you plan to do?" Melvin was extremely afraid. Once the scandal erupted, the Severin Group's stocks would plummet instantly. At that point, not even the gods would be able to save him, and the Severins might go bankrupt.If they wanted to save the Severin Group, they could only reveal something even bigger that was beneficial to the Severin Group. What could be bigger than
At noon, the Fitzgeralds sent someone to pick up Jade. What surprised Jade was that the person who came turned out to be Caelan. He sat in the car with an air of nobility, his expression stern and his presence unwelcoming.Jade suddenly lost the courage to speak to him. She cautiously got in the car and sat stiffly on one side.Samuel, who saw Jade get seated, started the car and drove off.The atmosphere in the car felt dense, making even breathing difficult.Jade's heart was racing, and she sat rigidly in her seat like a stone. She didn't speak because she was too nervous. Caelan didn't speak because he thought the whole situation was absurd. Both of them were silent, each lost in their own thoughts, and the tension didn't ease even after they got out of the car.Kennedy, however, was delighted to see Jade. "Jade, you'll have to live with this brat for a while. If he dares to bully you, just tell me and I'll straighten him out."Caelan frowned. "Live with me?"He clearly hadn'
"Get lost, you..." The pain coursing through Gemma made her gasp repeatedly. Even in such a miserable state, she refused to bow down in front of Jade."When I recover, I'll make sure you pay for this," she vowed.Jade's smile faded from her face, getting replaced by a sneer. "You won't have that chance.""What do you mean?" Gemma asked warily.Jade found a chair by the hospital bed and sat down, speaking slowly. "Dad won't want a woman with ruined looks. Don't delude yourself into thinking you will still be Mrs. Severin. He will definitely divorce you.""You're talking nonsense," Gemma retorted, her chest heaving with anger. Despite her agitation, she seemed confident. "Melvin won't divorce me. He doesn't have the guts."Seeing her so convinced, Jade couldn't help but feel sorry for Melvin. The woman he had been sharing a bed with for so many years had turned out to be a venomous snake.In her previous life, Gemma had collected evidence of Melvin's tax evasion to control him.J
Jade felt that Gemma had to know something, but even if she asked her now, she wouldn't tell her. That was okay, she would wait—until Gemma herself spoke up and begged her.When Jade returned to the villa, Caelan hadn't come back yet. She thought for a moment, brewed a cup of lemon tea. and placed it on the table. It was Caelan's favorite. She also left a note under the cup—[I won't disrupt your life].After doing all this, she returned to her room. She took a shower and went to bed, preparing for the press conference the next day.When Caelan returned home, he visibly paused when he saw the women's slippers at the door. He had lived alone for many years, so having someone else around felt a bit strange. He saw the lemon tea on the table and pulled out the note beneath it. He glanced at it before crumpling it up and throwing it in the trash. Then, he picked up the lemon tea and took a sip.…When Jade and Caelan appeared together at the press conference the next day, she was still
Waiting turned Gemma's love to hatred and caused her to have a twisted mindset. The news of Jade and Caelan's impending engagement fueled her rage even more. Looking at her ugly reflection in the mirror, she angrily smashed it. Since returning home, she had smashed all the mirrors in the house.Melvin finally reached his breaking point after initially avoiding her. He couldn't take it anymore. "Let's get a divorce."Gemma looked at him resentfully. "Melvin, do you have no conscience? You begged me to marry you. Now that I'm disfigured, you want to abandon me? Are you even human?""You know you're disfigured, huh?" Melvin sneered. "I'm the Severin heir. If others find out how ugly you've become, where will I hide my face? Regardless of whether you want a divorce or not, you have to agree."He slapped the prepared divorce agreement on the table. "If you sign the divorce agreement without a fuss, I will still give you some money. If you don't listen and cause trouble, I have ways of d
The servant looked troubled. "Mrs. Gemma said that if you don't see her, she'll kneel outside the door indefinitely."The Severins were currently in the spotlight. If Gemma knelt outside, it would definitely attract the paparazzi."Grandma, why don't we let her in and hear what she has to say?" Jade suggested. Gemma was desperate, so when pushed to the edge, she could be capable of anything.Leah thought for a moment and said, "Let her in."The servant led Gemma in. She was wearing a headscarf, sunglasses, and a mask, so she was completely covered. She was no longer the glamorous woman she used to be.As soon as she entered, she knelt down and sobbed uncontrollably. "Mom, please save me.""What are you doing?" Leah was displeased with Gemma's actions. "If you have something to say, say it. Kneeling like this will make others think I've mistreated you."Gemma stood up and took off her sunglasses. When she raised her head, she saw Jade and a hint of astonishment flashed in her e
Jade would never believe that Gemma would truly repent, but she couldn't say that to Leah. She could only say vaguely, "Grandma, why don't we observe her for a couple of days before coming to a conclusion?"With the enemy in the dark and herself in the light, Jade was in a passive position. If Gemma stayed under Leah's nose, every move she made would be scrutinized."Okay, let her stay here for a couple of days," Leah said, not believing that Gemma could undergo such a drastic change in character either.Gemma busied herself in the kitchen, but unfortunately, she didn't know how to do anything and made a mess of things. Afraid of annoying Leah, she went to clean the house.Her humble attitude made the household servants shake their heads. Jade suddenly understood that Gemma was taking a step back to move forward. She was playing the emotional card."Jade, why don't you try on that dress for me?" Leah was now completely focused on Jade's engagement ceremony. Though it wasn't real,
This time, no matter what happened, Jade wouldn't let Gemma succeed. She was determined to let Gemma reap what she had sown....The news of Caelan's engagement had already spread throughout Centus.On the day of the engagement, the elites of upper society all came to congratulate them, making it a grand occasion.Jade sat in the lounge and looked down from the second floor, seeing that the guests were all either rich or influential. Prominent figures from the business world and politicians were both present, showing the Fitzgeralds’ status in the city.Kennedy was wearing a suit, looking spirited with Caelan by his side as they chatted with the guests.Jade saw Melvin among the guests. He seemed very confident today, unlike his usual submissive self, and he kept basking in the compliments of the crowd."Congratulations, Jade." The door of the lounge opened and Neve walked in wearing an elegant princess dress.She had a fake smile on, mixed with many complex emotions—jealousy,
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