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
Melvin and Zoey's wedding plans were underway, and Leah was thrilled to witness Melvin's increasing maturity with each passing day. Sometimes, she couldn't help but think that if Zoey could have a child or two, he wouldn't be lonely in his later years.The household buzzed with activity as preparations for Melvin's engagement unfolded.When Jade arrived, she was surprised by the elaborate decorations, making it feel more like a wedding than a simple engagement. It was clear that Leah had wholeheartedly embraced Zoey."Ms. Jade, you're here." Brianna saw Jade and hurried over, saying, "Madam was just talking about you, and here you are."Jade glanced around and asked, "Where's Grandma?""She's in the living room talking to Anna," Brianna said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to Jade's surprise."Anna… Does she come here often?" Jade asked casually."Yeah. She comes over to help whenever she has time. She's such a good child," Brianna replied.Jade frowned but maintained her com
The bottles of red wine in the cellar were treasures Leah seldom indulged in, only bringing them out for special guests. Serving Zoey with these bottles of wine indicated her significant place in Leah's heart.Zoey gracefully navigated through the cellar, surprised, as she remarked, "I never expected Madam Leah to have such a wine collection."Jade casually glanced at the bottles but kept her focus on Zoey. "Yes, Grandma loved red wine when she was young. She built a vineyard specifically to collect them. These are her collections over the years. Quite impressive, isn't it?""Ms. Severin, do you also enjoy red wine?" Zoey suddenly asked.Jade smiled. "I only drink occasionally.""Oh," Zoey replied softly, then lowered her gaze to the bottles.Suddenly, Jade asked, "Do you love my father?"Zoey didn't expect Jade to ask such a question out of the blue. She flushed with embarrassment as she ducked her head. "Why are you suddenly asking this?""Don't be nervous. I'm just asking ca
Everyone was startled by the sudden turn of events. The hot soup Zoey was holding was aimed directly at Leah. If it spilled, Leah would definitely get burned.Leah was also stunned, forgetting to move out of the way.Just then, Zoey made an unexpected move. She held the soup bowl firmly, tilting the bowl so the hot soup spilled on her instead.With Zoey's scream, the bowl fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. The hot soup smoked as it spilled over the floor."Aunt Zoey!" Anna exclaimed, rushing over to support Zoey. She shouted, "Quick, call an ambulance!"Leah didn't expect Zoey to get scalded to save her. She was shocked and distressed. "You silly child, why did you let the soup spill on yourself? How can I live with myself now?"Everyone was in a flurry.Jade quickly approached Zoey, grabbing her unburned hand and placing the burned one under running water. After some basic treatment, they sent her to the hospital.Leah wanted to go too, but Jade reassured her, "Grandma
Zoey fell to the side, while Anna strode forward. Zoey didn't care about her own injuries, limping along to catch up.Once the two were far enough away, Jade emerged from the corner. As she watched Zoey leave, she fell into deep thought. She hadn't guessed wrong—there was really something wrong with Zoey and Anna. What was Anna's purpose in getting close to Leah, though?To figure out Anna's intentions, Jade needed to find clues from Zoey."Master, help me look someone up." Jade sent Zoey's photo to Owen.Ten minutes later, Owen came back with information. "Zoey, 45 years old, high school education..."All the information was as ordinary as could be, without any flaws. But the more flawless it seemed, the more suspicious it became.Since Owen couldn't find out anything about her, Jade had to turn to Caelan for help. She called him several times in a row, but he didn't answer. This was highly unusual as Caelan always had his phone with him, even during meetings. Could something ha
Jade smiled outwardly, but inside, she was gripped by pain. It made sense why Caelan hadn't responded to her calls, and why Samuel seemed uneasy, attempting to deter her from going upstairs. It became apparent that this wasn't the right moment for Caelan.Jade felt a pang of foolishness. How could she have been so certain she was indispensable to him?Caelan hadn't anticipated Jade's arrival, especially not under these circumstances. The disappointment evident in Jade's eyes made him realize a fundamental problem—she didn't trust him."Ms. Severin, it's not what you think!" Samuel hurriedly stepped forward to explain, seeing that Caelan didn't say a word.Jade smiled coldly. "Is that so? What is it then?"With that, she turned and walked away. Jade's heartache paled in comparison to her concern over Caelan's demeanor. However, he remained silent, his gaze indifferent. It seemed she held little significance in Caelan's heart."It's entirely my fault. I failed to clarify things wit
Jade felt increasingly agitated as she struggled to push thoughts of Caelan from her mind. His face, with its tenderness, smiles, and indifference, seemed to haunt her every attempt at distraction.Despite her efforts to suppress these memories, they only seemed to grow stronger, pushing her closer to the edge of a breakdown.In a desperate bid to ease her troubled mind, Jade rose from her seat and reached for a bottle of red wine. She poured herself a glass, hastily consumed its fiery contents, and felt its warmth spread through her body, gradually soothing her restless nerves."Wine truly is a wonderful thing," Jade mused, swaying the glass in her hand as she gazed at its contents through blurry eyes, a faint chuckle escaping her lips.With each successive gulp, Jade felt the intoxicating effects of the alcohol taking hold. She sank into the soft cushions of the sofa, her heavy eyelids drooping as she stared blankly at the ceiling above.Memories of her past life flooded her min
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