Groggy in the darkness, Jade felt herself sinking as if transported back to darker days."You're just a dog raised by the Severins. If I say kneel, you don't crawl.""Hahaha, look at her! Doesn't she resemble a dog?!""You worthless piece of garbage, not even worthy of cleaning up after me."Endless curses, endless humiliation... In the dark, damp room, no one showed any concern for her life.…Lying pale on the hospital bed, Jade couldn't shake off her nightmare. Her forehead burned, and she had been feverish for a day without waking up.Caelan remained by her bedside, brows furrowed, tightly holding her hand.He was just a step too late, and Jade had been tortured like this. If he had been any later, would he never see her again? The mere thought of that possibility made his heart ache so intensely he struggled to breathe.Samuel's brows were knit tightly too, his expression grave as if ready to devour someone. Upon learning of Jade's accident, he had hurried to brief Kenned
In his current state, Caelan appeared as though he had been in a brawl and emerged defeated."You..." Jade attempted to speak, but her throat was parched, as if she'd ingested sand, rendering speech a struggle.She reached for Caelan's face, but his large hand clasped hers firmly, causing her to frown in an attempt to withdraw, but her efforts were futile due to her weakened state.Caelan gazed at Jade with intensity, holding a glass of warm water and delicately spooning some into her mouth. His voice was gentle. "Drink slowly."As the water trickled down her throat, Jade felt a measure of relief, the burning sensation subsiding."How long have I been asleep?" she asked weakly.Caelan smiled faintly. "Not long, just a day. You were too tired."'Surprisingly long…' Jade couldn't help but furrow her brow.Her body was too weak. Just this level of torment, and she couldn't take it. It seemed like she needed to prioritize fitness on her schedule."Is there any food?" Jade asked, s
Jade had her meal like a deer in headlights. Caelan wasn't just feeding her—it was downright criminal. Every move and every glance of his had the power to captivate."Okay, I'm full now." Jade pushed the bowl away, refusing to eat anymore.Caelan looked at the empty bowl and nodded in satisfaction. "Good, then have some fruit.""Okay." Jade obediently nodded. She really should replenish her vitamins.Caelan brought over an apple and began peeling it for her. As he looked up, he caught Jade staring at him with wide eyes, prompting him to chuckle."What are you laughing at?" Jade looked puzzled and muttered under her breath, "Just because you're handsome."Caelan smiled warmly and reached for a tissue, leaning in to delicately wipe a stray morsel of food from the corner of Jade's mouth. His movements exuded gentleness as if he were cradling the most precious treasure in the world.A soft breath escaped Caelan, brushing against Jade's face and sending a shiver down her spine as if
Who would have a grudge against them? Could the other party be deranged?Caelan tapped the table and asked Jade, "Do you remember the big fire at the Zeal Group?"Jade's eyes widened a bit. "Are you suggesting that they are the living subjects from Lloyd's laboratory?""That's just my speculation. Whether it's true or not, we'll have to wait for the police investigation to come out," Caelan replied.Jade bit her lip. She remembered being puzzled at the time. Despite the lab being completely burned down in the fire, there was only Asher's body. It turned out that those living subjects had already been moved away.It was just that she couldn't find any evidence at the time. Who would go to such lengths to help Lloyd? What were they after, taking such a big risk?"Knowing the source of these bodies will make it easier to investigate. We just need to check the surveillance footage from the Zeal Group that day, and we're bound to find something," Jade analyzed carefully.Kennedy nodd
Caelan glanced at Cooper coldly, looking very displeased. He had seen this kid getting too close to Jade multiple times, obviously up to no good.Jade looked a bit embarrassed as she glanced at Cooper, whose expression changed noticeably. He sneered at Caelan. "If you had the ability, would you have stood by and watched Jade being taken away, powerless to help? Look at what she's been through, almost losing her life.""That's a matter of the Fitzgeralds, none of your business," Caelan retorted coldly."Of course it's my business. Jade is akin to my aunt, so I have a responsibility to protect her," Cooper shot back.Caelan snorted. "I don't have a nephew like you.""As if I want an uncle like you…""I'm not interested in that either."They went back and forth, sparking a heated debate.Jade and the others in the room were dumbfounded. Was this really the aloof Caelan Fitzgerald? He and Cooper seemed like two kids quarreling.Jade felt overwhelmed. How did she end up with such i
"That's right," Cooper replied. "While researching this virus, the Zeal Group is also developing a vaccine. Isn't the intention obvious enough?""He'll release the virus and introduce the Zeal Group's miracle drug. It's a goldmine." Melanie also realized it.The atmosphere in the room grew solemn as everyone exchanged worried glances. With the development of the virus by the Zeal Group, the entire Centus now hung precariously in Lloyd's grasp."Thank goodness we caught wind of this early." Tiffany exhaled, visibly relieved, her hand resting on her chest.However, Jade couldn't muster the same optimism. Recollections from her past life reminded her of Lloyd's extensive business network, particularly his close ties with an overseas pharmaceutical giant called Best of Both.Best of Both ranked among the top ten on the Phorbes List, boasting a blend of modern and holistic approaches to pharmaceuticals with a formidable global presence and influence.In her previous life, Jade had foc
Leah was the most important person to Jade, her sole family in the world. Despite not sharing blood, their connection surpassed even that of biological grandparents and grandchildren.At the sight of Leah, Jade felt her nose tingle. It was as if a bullied child had found their parent—her eyes welled with tears.Leah's heart ached as she saw Jade's distress. Gently, she reached out and caressed Jade's face, her voice filled with concern. "How did it come to this? These darned people! Are they picking on the Severins because we have no one else?""I'm sorry, Grandma. It's my fault for not protecting Jade." Caelan knew Leah's words were meant for him. He had solemnly promised Leah that he would protect Jade back then, but the result? He let her get hurt.Leah pulled a face, snorted lightly, and looked at Kennedy. "How come you're stumped in this mess too?"Kennedy sighed. "Oh, now you're blaming me too, old lady?""Alright, Grandma, I'm fine. It's not related to them," Jade said war
Once word of Lloyd's arrest spread, the Zeal Group's stocks plummeted drastically, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy within days. All employees were sent home, and the company was shuttered. In addition to money laundering, investigators uncovered various tax evasion schemes.Cooper retrieved surveillance footage from the Zeal Group fire and observed several boxes being gradually removed before the blaze erupted. Inside those boxes were the victims' bodies.The revelation of the Zeal Group's experiments on living subjects quickly made headlines, with major media outlets rushing to report the scandal.With such compelling evidence, Lloyd was likely facing a lifetime behind bars.The Zeal Group collapsed in a single night. While some celebrated, others mourned, but none felt the blow more profoundly than Nina. She had gone to great lengths to assist Lloyd, only to be left in this dire situation.Some witnesses claimed to have seen Nina leaving Centus overnight, but her destinatio
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