Jade perked up, looking at Caelan eagerly. "Come on, tell me. What's your plan?""And what will I get out of it?"Jade motioned for Caelan to come closer with a finger, and he complied, despite looking confused. She planted a quick kiss on his cheek before he could react and jumped back, grinning. "There's your reward. Now spill."Seeing her sly grin, Caelan couldn't help but chuckle. He cleared his throat and said, "Follow me."Without further explanation, he took her hand and led her outside.Jade was puzzled. "You still haven't told me."Caelan smiled without saying anything and continued leading Jade forward.Instead of returning to their respective engagements, be it Caelan's dinner appointment or Jade's annual gala, Caelan led Jade to a private room. Once seated, he called Samuel. "Round up some people and cause a scene at Lloyd's place. Just make a commotion, no injuries.""Got it, understood." Samuel hung up and went to carry out Caelan's instructions.Jade looked at C
The scene was chaotic, to say the least."What's going on?" Lloyd was seething from anger as he glared at the people barging in.He had hoped to win some people over at the event, but it had all been ruined by these people, who had stormed into the venue, fueled by alcohol, and begun wreaking havoc. They had overturned tables and harassed female staff members.When security came, they didn't dare intervene, so they turned a blind eye.Jordan approached with furrowed brows. "Mr. Zeal, these people are from the Fitzgerald Group. Seems like they've had a bit too much to drink and they are causing trouble."Lloyd gritted his teeth, his face darkening. "Unbelievable. Climbing all over me now, huh.""Mr. Zeal… The Fitzgerald Group isn't to be trifled with," Jordan said cautiously."What's there to be afraid of? Although the Zeal Group may not be what it used to be, Caelan can't just toy with us however he pleases. Send out a message. Tie up these people and hand them over to security.
Wayne watched helplessly as Samuel disappeared from his sight. He tried calling out to him, but there was no response."What am I going to do now?" He had intended to rely on Samuel to resolve the situation, but now, with no resolution and Samuel gone, he felt cold sweat breaking out on his skin.The Zeal Group was still waiting for a response. How was he going to explain?"Mr. Badley, what do we do now?" Wayne's subordinate also looked troubled, the stress almost making him pull his hair out.After some thought, Wayne had an idea. "We wait. I refuse to believe he won't come back."The two of them made up their minds and decided to wait in the corridor.Samuel couldn't help but chuckle as he observed Wayne's actions in secret. He sent a message to Caelan.[The security manager is blocking me at the door. The Zeal Group is in chaos. Lloyd will probably come knocking soon. Should we send someone to intercept him?]After reading the message, Caelan placed the phone on the table an
Lloyd's bodyguards stepped back, and he inwardly cursed them for being useless. Stepping forward, he addressed Caelan. "Mr. Fitzgerald, if you have any grievances against me, you could have just said so. Isn’t sending people to cause a scene at my event a bit excessive?"Facing Lloyd's accusation, Caelan merely deflected. "And this is your reason for breaking down the door? The esteemed CEO of the Zeal Group acting like a thug and bringing so many people to cause a ruckus in front of me."Caelan stood before Lloyd, actually looking down at him. "Mr. Zeal, where's your sense of decorum?"Caelan had silenced Lloyd with just a few words. Lloyd glared at Caelan, knowing he was being scolded but unable to retaliate. His current demeanor did lack dignity.Taking a step back, Lloyd didn't directly answer Caelan's question because no matter how he answered, he would fall into Caelan's trap."Excuse my subordinate for acting recklessly, Mr. Fitzgerald. I'm here for an explanation. Your emp
Lloyd and Jordan exchanged a glance. Jordan, who caught on, spoke out to give Lloyd a way out. "Mr. Zeal, we've always had good relations with the Fitzgerald Group. Calling the police over such a trivial matter is not worth it. I suggest we downplay the situation and let it go."Wayne, who had been anxious, nodded in agreement with Jordan. "Yes, yes, let's all talk it out."Since he had been given an opportunity to de-escalate, Lloyd was inclined to follow suit. However, a light on his keychain kept flashing incessantly. Instantly, his expression changed drastically.Something had gone wrong in the lab."I need to get back to the office right away," Lloyd told Jordan, already hurrying off, looking visibly anxious.Jordan understood immediately what was worrying him. The keychain had an integrated system to detect intrusions into the lab. The flashing indicated that someone had indeed breached the lab. Only Lloyd and Asher had access to the lab, so the activation of the alarm syste
Kayden knew the layout of the Zeal Group better than anyone else. Outside Lloyd's office window was a large platform. Jumping off the balcony seemed like a dead end, but the extension of the building east of the balcony became Kayden’s lifeline.With swift movements, Kayden leaped from the balcony, executed a roll upon landing, and reached the ground safely. His agility left the bodyguards dumbfounded. Who would have thought he'd be so daring?Though the two buildings were close, there was still a gap of at least three meters. If Kayden hadn't executed the jump perfectly, he could have fallen from over 20 stories, risking certain death. "Quick, chase him! What are you waiting for?" Asher, who felt frustrated and anxious, knew his own life would be on the line if Kayden escaped. Those test subjects in the lab had been hard to come by, and without the key back, he'd have to destroy everything.The bodyguards chased after him, but with a building between them, Kayden managed to escap
Owen opened the car door and shouted at the dumbfounded Kayden, "Get in the car, quick!"When the masked men realized someone was assisting Kayden, they reacted swiftly, shouting, "Stop them! Don't let them get away!"They moved to intercept Owen, but before they could reach him, he kicked them down. Just as they were about to pounce again, Owen's associates arrived. A scuffle ensued, and amidst the chaos, Owen managed to shove Kayden into the car, then hit the gas and swiftly drove away from the scene.Back at the hotel, Lloyd was livid when he heard about Kayden getting the lab keys."Get him back at any cost," he ordered, striding out and instructing Jordan. "Destroy everything in the lab immediately."If the keys fell in Kayden's hands, the illicit activities in the Zeal Group's lab would be exposed to the public eye. Lloyd had worked hard to stabilize the Zeal Group, and the exposure would mean endless years behind bars.Jordan, who was aware of the severity of the situation
Jordan stood by Lloyd's side, feeling equally distressed as he watched Lloyd's dejected expression. Suddenly, he remembered something important. "Mr. Zeal, what will happen to Mrs. Zeal now that we're leaving?"Lloyd snapped his head up. If Jordan hadn't reminded him, he would have forgotten about Nina's existence altogether. It seemed like he hadn't seen her since the party had begun. Thinking of Nina filled him with irritation."We're too preoccupied to worry about her. She'll suffer if she follows us. If she stays, Paul will take care of her."Right from the beginning, Lloyd hadn't included Nina in his life plans. While preparing to escape, he had even ignored her existence.The wind on the rooftop was chilly, making Lloyd shiver. Suddenly, Jordan pointed southwest and exclaimed, "Mr. Zeal, look! What's that?"Lloyd followed his gaze and saw a building southwest with billowing smoke, flames shooting into the sky."Isn't that the Zeal Group tower?" Jordan, who was shocked, exam
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