That was why Cooper sounded sarcastic when Jade called.Jade knew he was a bit moody, so she said with a smile, "Cut it out. I have something to ask you.""Go ahead, what's up?" Cooper knew that Jade rarely asked for help, so when she did, it must be something she couldn't handle herself.Jade knew Cooper's forte and figured he could help.Cooper almost guessed her intention as soon as she spoke. He chuckled. "Who do you want me to investigate?""Smart of you to figure out my plan so quickly." Jade knew he'd fall for it, so she preemptively praised him. "I want you to help me look into Sophie's situation and find out who's behind the smear campaign against her."Recently, Sophie had been targeted in various scandals, and it seemed someone was deliberately attacking her.Jade knew who was behind it but lacked evidence. She feared Sophie wouldn't be able to handle it if it went on.Cooper was aware of Sophie's situation, so he understood when Jade mentioned it. Sophie was good fr
Sophie was buried in a place with lush greenery and rolling hills. Kayden commissioned a statue in her honor, encircled by vibrant flowers, and employed someone to keep it clean.Seeing Sophie's statue, Jade was overcome with an indescribable sadness. Only days ago, Sophie had been alive and well, but now she was gone—leaving behind no words, only a sudden departure from this world.With tears filling her eyes, Jade placed a bouquet of lilies at the foot of Sophie's statue. "Sophie, rest in peace. I will avenge you."…Since Sophie's passing, Kayden had fallen apart, drowning himself in alcohol every day.If his service staff hadn't called Jade, she wouldn't have known the extent of his decline.Pushing open his door, she found his room littered with empty bottles, the air thick with the stench of alcohol and smoke—an unbearable sight."Kayden, do you plan to keep wallowing like this forever?" Jade walked in, kicking away the bottles in frustration. Sophie had not been avenged,
After reading the letter, Jade cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.Kayden yelled anxiously, "What did she say? Please tell me, please!"He tried to snatch the letter from Jade's hand, but she pushed him away, pointing her finger at him. "Kayden, you're not worthy of Sophie. You've let her down!"Kayden shook his head, murmuring, "Give me the letter… Please, give it to me."He looked no different from a wreck now.Jade felt a mixture of anger and hatred as she threw the letter in his face. "Read it yourself."She then walked out. She was afraid she might lose her temper and hit Kayden if she stayed any longer."Argh!" Kayden's roar from inside the room sounded like a wild beast releasing its pent-up frustration.Jade's phone rang, so she stepped outside to answer it. "Hello, this is Jade."Because she had just cried, her voice sounded nasal.Cooper paused on the other end of the line. "Were you crying?""Have you found the culprit?" Jade took a deep breath, t
Kayden staggered out, holding the bottle, while Jade stood still, her sharp gaze fixed on his back.The servant stepped forward to stop Kayden from doing something foolish, but he harshly pushed the servant away."Mr. Kayden, please calm down," the servant pleaded, getting up and clinging to Kayden's legs, immobilizing him.Kayden struggled, roaring like a trapped beast, "Get off me! I must avenge Sophie!""Ms. Severin, please persuade Mr. Kayden," the servant pleaded tearfully with Jade. "If he continues like this, he'll get into trouble."Jade's expression turned cold, her words cutting. "Let him be. If he insists on delivering himself to the enemy, let them catch him. There's no need to seek revenge for Sophie anymore. He's offering himself up. It's as good as reuniting with Sophie.""Sophie, Sophie..." Kayden suddenly regained his senses, whispering her name before slumping to the floor, dispirited. "What should I do to avenge you?"Approaching Kayden, Jade asked, "Do you de
"How did you figure out there was something wrong with the servant?" Owen asked, puzzled.Jade replied as she drove, "I noticed something was off about him as soon as I entered Kayden's mansion. Kayden was already heavily intoxicated, yet the servant was still chatting and laughing with the maid, showing no concern for Kayden's well-being. It wasn't until he saw me that he put on a fake anxious act, but his acting skills were just too poor.""Oh, I see." Owen had to admire Jade's observational skills. Most people wouldn't notice these details.…Owen carefully followed the servant, watching as he arrived at Lloyd's doorstep, glanced around, and entered.Owen snapped a few photos of the servant, then quietly left.…"Did she really do that?" Lloyd frowned as he absorbed the servant's report. Jade shouldn't have given up on Kayden so easily. Why did she suddenly stop caring about him?The servant nodded, his expression sincere. "Mr. Lloyd, everything I've said is true. Jade is so
Owen reported everything he had seen to Jade when he went back.Jade couldn't help but huff, letting out an annoyed laugh. She hadn't expected that Lloyd would resort to using his good looks to keep the Zeal Group. Unfortunately, Nina was likely to suffer as a result."It seems that he's trying to regain Paul's support. With him around, the Zeals have a stronger backer." Jade analyzed the situation carefully."Do you mean that Lloyd is planning to marry Nina?" Owen asked.Jade shook her head. "It's too early to say. Lloyd is a man who dislikes compromising. He's lowering his standards now, but that doesn't mean he will do so forever. As long as he keeps Nina happy, Paul will naturally support him.""Using a woman to climb the ranks is pretty low," Owen said with disdain, clearly looking down on Lloyd."Just watch. We might see some results in a few days." Given the precarious state of the Zeal Group, Lloyd's only future would be ruined if he wasn't able to stabilize the company.
Nina sat on the bed in her bridal gown with a blissful smile. She couldn't believe it—Lloyd had actually agreed to marry her. It was a dream she'd had since childhood, and now that it had come true, she was overwhelmed with happiness.Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang. Lloyd stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. His gaze fell on Nina, who was sitting on the bed, but in his intoxicated state, he did not see Nina, but Jade, the woman he loathed.The two figures overlapped in his vision, merging into one face—Jade's face."Honey, why did you drink too much? Come over here and rest," Nina said, getting up to support Lloyd, her gaze tender. She was deeply in love with him and willing to do anything for him, even to the point of sacrificing herself.Lloyd leaned against Nina, frowning as he looked at her chubby face. He pinched her cheeks, complaining. "Why have you gained so much weight? You're different from before."Lloyd was unhappy to see that Jade's face had gotten so chub
Nina was blissful at the moment. Even though Lloyd treated her roughly, she was willing. After some time, Lloyd stopped and collapsed on the side, completely knocked out.Nina looked at his handsome profile with joy in her heart."Jade..." Lloyd, who had already fallen into a deep sleep, uttered Jade’s name just as Nina was about to fall asleep.Nina, who was stunned, thought she had misheard. She leaned closer and asked, "Honey, who are you talking to?""Jade, Jade, Jade..." Jade's name continued to spill from Lloyd's lips, leaving Nina stunned in place. How ironic that her husband was calling out another woman's name on their wedding night.Nina sat on the bed in a daze, watching Lloyd sleep peacefully, unsure of what to do. Lloyd loved her and had married her. Why, then, was he calling out Jade's name in his sleep?Nina couldn't accept this reality. Her heart slowly shattered into countless pieces.The next day, Lloyd woke up, groggily staring at the ceiling, his mind blank
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