Everyone looked at Jade, who suddenly appeared, in fear. They were horrified, and the timid ones collapsed on the floor as their legs went weak.Melvin gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his forehead. His throat made strange gurgling noises as he was unable to catch his breath. He then… fainted.The service staff hurriedly massaged him and patted his back, and he gradually regained consciousness. He glanced around but didn't see Jade, so he thought he was seeing things."Did she come back?" Melvin muttered weakly.The service staff's expressions were strange, and no one said a word."Father, are you referring to me?"The sudden voice plunged Melvin into panic again. Looking up, he saw Jade's pale, lifeless face. He screeched in panic and tried to back away, pointing at Jade and stuttering, "Y-You, are you... a ghost?"Jade stood in front of him, her gaze icy. "Where is Grandma?"Melvin looked at her before glancing at the shadow on the floor and sighing in relief. "You're hu
"Jade, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and enter."Melvin, lying on the floor and unable to move, turned to the family's bodyguards for help. "What are you waiting for? Get them out of here."The bodyguards looked conflicted, none of them daring to step forward. After all, Caelan hadn’t come alone. He was accompanied by a large group of bodyguards—all tall and menacing, their gazes flashing with hostility. Their mere presence was more intimidating than ordinary people, making the family's bodyguards seem like softies in comparison."Come on, let's go in." Caelan stepped forward and held Jade's hand.She struggled but couldn't break free. "Let go, I can walk by myself."Caelan didn’t loosen his grip. Instead, he held on tighter, his gaze fixed on Jade. "You can hit or curse me if you want, but now is not the time to be stubborn. Grandma is waiting for you."Jade's heart lurched, her nose tingling and her eyes welling up. "Grandma… Grandma..."She stumbled into the house and sa
Brianna frowned as she pondered. "Madam doesn't like sweets, but Zoey made those desserts personally. She took a bite, said they were delicious, and kept them all," she replied."Zoey?" Jade felt something was off. Zoey making desserts for Leah out of the blue and the timing of Leah’s fall seemed too coincidental.Seeing Jade's puzzled expression, Brianna nodded. "Yes, she made the sweets. Do you think there's a problem, Ms. Jade?"Jade nodded. "Are there any leftovers of the desserts?""Unfortunately, no." Brianna shook her head regretfully. "It's strange. I distinctly remember there were some leftovers, but we couldn't find them anywhere."They were cunning, erasing all traces. It wouldn't be difficult to find out if the desserts were tampered with. All they needed to do was perform an autopsy on Leah."I want to open the coffin and perform an autopsy on Grandma," Jade told Brianna. "Guard the door for me. No one is allowed to come in."Brianna stared at her in astonishment, t
Unfortunately, Melvin had not only refused to investigate Leah’s death but also had her body cremated. He wanted to seize control of the Severins as soon as possible.With Jade back, Marcus felt more confident. Despite Melvin's objections, Marcus was determined to close the gates with his men."What are you doing? Is this mutiny? Have you forgotten who's in charge now? She's just a brat. What has she fed you to make you follow her lead?" Melvin fumed. He had finally found an opportunity to take control, but Jade had ruined it all.Marcus looked calmly at Melvin and bowed slightly. "Apologies, Mr. Melvin. Ms. Jade wants to uncover the truth behind Madam's death as a show of filial piety. We owe our current lifestyle to Madam's care. It's time for us to do something for her."After speaking, Marcus ignored Melvin and went to close the gates.In an instant, Melvin was isolated. He glared at Jade but lacked the courage to argue with her, as most of the household obeyed her commands.
Zoey looked like she was being bullied and unfairly treated, and Melvin's heart ached to see her cry. He glared at Jade and scolded, "You jinx! Haven't you caused enough misery to the Severins? Do you have to destroy us completely before you're satisfied?"People are dying left and right in this family, and now even my mother's gone because of you. You won't even spare someone as kind and gentle as Zoey. Are you even human?"Melvin rebuked Jade, shifting all the blame onto her. He never stopped to think that if it weren't for those people causing their own downfall, they wouldn't have ended up in this situation. Jade was the victim, but he had twisted the truth and made her out to be the aggressor.Unable to bear it any longer, Brianna spoke up for Jade. "Mr. Melvin, you can't say that. If it weren't for Madam Gemma framing Ms. Jade, she wouldn't have ended up in jail."Ms. Neve has always harbored jealousy and resentment toward Ms. Jade and made things difficult for her at every t
There was a slight twitch in Zoey's face as she looked at Melvin with a hint of uncertainty. Forcing a smile, she said, "Anything you say."Melvin appreciated Zoey's sensible and considerate nature. Seeing her by his side boosted his confidence. He stepped forward and addressed Jade. "You can investigate, but I have a condition."Jade had anticipated this. She asked, "What condition?""If Mom died of natural causes, you have to leave the Severins empty-handed. You can't take anything with you, not even a blade of grass," Melvin said, looking at Jade with disdain.He was confident because he had already checked the surveillance footage and hired professionals to fix it, but they had told him it was impossible to restore. Jade's claim that she could fix it was just wishful thinking.Brianna's anger flared. The current success of the Severins was inseparable from Jade's efforts. If it weren't for her reviving the struggling Severin Group, the family would probably have gone bankrupt
Jade's sudden return disrupted all of Zoey’s plans. She had thought she could leave once Leah’s funeral was over, but now she was trapped. What should she do? More importantly, if Jade managed to repair the surveillance footage, everyone would know Leah hadn't died naturally. What then?Zoey collected herself, pressing her hand to her forehead to calm down. Suddenly, she snapped open her eyes. If she acted preemptively, the truth might never come out. Having made up her mind, she felt somewhat relieved.…Night fell, and the Severin mansion was engulfed in an eerie silence. Leah’s memorial hall emitted a pale light in the darkness. In her photo, she smiled as usual, but no matter how Zoey looked at it, a chill ran down her spine. She quickly left and headed toward the security room in the backyard.This night was destined to be restless, with some taking desperate measures while others lay in wait.A security guard was on duty in the surveillance room. When he saw Zoey, he looked
Zoey looked at Jade in horror and resentfully exclaimed, "You tricked me!"Jade calmly tossed the USB drive aside with a laugh. "How else would you have told the truth?""You..." Zoey turned pale. She closed her eyes, determined not to speak."Did you drug Grandma's dessert? Did you push her down the stairs? How can you sleep at night after such ruthless deeds?" Jade asked rapidly, each question striking Zoey's heart like a dagger.Shaking her head, Zoey repeatedly denied, "N-No, it wasn't me. It wasn’t me!""Then who was it?" Jade stepped forward, pressing on. "Your presence is a conspiracy against the Severins. You're educated and refined. I've observed you. You walk cautiously, afraid of harming even ants. How could someone like you harm an elderly person?""I-I..." Zoey's panic intensified, pushing her to the brink of collapse. She sobbed and crouched on the floor, covering her ears. "Please stop asking. I don't know anything. Please, I beg you."Jade wasn't about to let her
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