Jade glanced at the brand Julian was using and realized she didn't recognize it. They were all high-end foreign brands. When she checked the prices, she gasped—they were in the three-figure range. A single set of skincare products cost as much as the rent of an average family's house. It was truly extravagant."Jade, this is for you." Julian appeared with large bags and handed Jade a beautifully packaged set of cosmetics.Jade took a look and found it was a set of high-end women's cosmetics. She didn't expect Julian to be so considerate. "Thank you." Jade appreciated Julian's gesture and didn't want to reject his kindness, so she accepted the gift.Upon seeing her accept the gift, Julian's face lit up with a smile. He patted his chest and said grandly, "To thank you for taking me in, dinner is on me tonight. Order anything you like."Jade wasn't particularly hungry, so she said, "You decide. I'm fine with anything.""Alright, I'll take care of everything." Julian started searchi
"Sure, as you wish," Jade replied nonchalantly."Yay, let's go!" Julian hopped out excitedly, with Jade following behind and the bodyguards discreetly in tow.…They spent an hour eating, and by the time Jade emerged from the restaurant, the city lights were already dazzling.Julian rubbed his stomach, looking satisfied. "I'm full—that was absolutely delicious."His eyes caught sight of a Ferris wheel in the distance, and he pointed excitedly. "Jade, I want to ride that. Will you come with me?""Huh?" Jade hadn't expected such a request and felt a bit awkward. "That's for kids.""Please, just this once? I've never ridden it before. My parents passed away early, and I didn't have anyone to take me when I was little..." Julian's voice grew softer, and his face showed a pitiful expression that was hard to refuse.Jade was defeated by his plea and reluctantly agreed. "Fine, but only for 20 minutes, and then we must go home. I still have homework to finish.""Deal, I promise." Juli
Julian gazed at Jade's profile, a smile constantly playing on his lips. A thought arose from the depths of his heart—he wanted to be with Jade forever, never to be apart."Jade, I like you," he confessed.Startled by his voice, Jade turned to look at Julian, only to find him gazing at her with an expression of infatuation that was indescribably endearing.She chuckled softly and replied, "Little rascal, do you even know what it means to like someone?"Julian frowned in dissatisfaction. "I'm not a little rascal. I'm almost an adult."He didn't like Jade calling him a little rascal—it made him feel so distant from her. He could sense that Jade always treated him like a younger brother. However, he didn't want to be her little brother. He wanted to be the person Jade could always rely on."Yes, you're not a little rascal. You've grown up," Jade said. She did not want to argue and casually brushed him off.Julian saw through her perfunctory response, his face betraying his disappoin
Earlier, the dim lighting had obscured her vision, preventing her from noticing the presence of another person in the room. Now that her eyes had adjusted, Jade saw a man sitting on the sofa.The man's features were deep and sharp, carrying a hint of cold indifference. He was staring straight at her. It was Caelan!Jade's heart was in turmoil, uncertain whether it was panic or fear that rendered her speechless. How long had he been there? Why was he there?"Who turned your room into this mess?" Julian kicked aside a balloon at his feet and casually switched on the room's light.The bright light flooded the room, exposing the three of them and instantly freezing the atmosphere.Julian glanced at the stunned Jade and then at the cold, piercing eyes of Caelan, quickly understanding the situation.He knew that this imposing man was the one Jade liked.A strong wave of jealousy surged within Julian. His tall frame moved to shield Jade as he faced Caelan directly, asking with disple
Caelan abruptly turned around, his gaze locking onto Julian like an enraged leopard. The icy coldness in his eyes was enough to make anyone shiver. He stepped forward, grabbed Julian by the collar, and growled through gritted teeth, "Get out."The tension between them was palpable, a powder keg ready to explode. The air was thick with hostility.Jade saw the situation escalating and quickly stepped between them. She urgently addressed Caelan, "You should leave.""You want me to leave?" Caelan looked at Jade in disbelief as if he couldn't comprehend the words coming from her mouth.His grip on Julian's collar gradually loosened. Fixing his gaze on Jade, he asked, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"Unable to meet Caelan's eyes, Jade averted her gaze and kept her face cold. "There's no reason. Just go."She repeated her command twice.Caelan suddenly let out a bitter laugh, nodded, and said, "Fine, as you wish."He opened the door and left without looking back.It wasn't until
With a deep sigh, Jade composed herself and called out toward the door, "I'm fine. I'm getting up now.""Alright, I'm coming in." Julian's voice was noticeably excited. He knocked on the door symbolically before pushing it open, sticking his head inside and playfully sticking out his tongue at Jade. "Good morning."Julian's uninvited entrance made Jade's head throb with frustration.Just as Jade was about to express her displeasure, Julian strolled in with confidence. His eyes lit up upon seeing Jade's room. "Wow, Jade, your room is beautiful."Julian's eyes sparkled as if he were seeing something wondrous. He admired every piece of decor, unable to hide his delight.Jade stood aside with a cold expression. From the moment Julian entered her room, her mood had soured. She disliked anyone intruding into her space, especially a man.Julian finally noticed something was off from Jade's reaction. He toned down his smile and said seriously, "Don't be mad. I'm here on official business
Julian finished a pack of snacks, patting his shrunken stomach. He looked pitifully at Jade, like a little puppy. "I'm so hungry. Can we go eat?"There was nothing to eat at home, and Jade wasn't in the mood to cook for him.After thinking for a moment, she nodded. "What do you want to eat?"The mention of food perked Julian up. He raised his hands and exclaimed dramatically, "Gyro! I want gyro. I can eat a whole pig.""What? Gyro?" Jade frowned. "Who eats gyro this early in the morning?!"Julian, unfazed, retorted, "I want gyro. Back on the island, Immanuel wouldn't let me eat this or that. I'm starving for it."Jade rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Why wouldn't Immanuel let you eat gyro?"Julian rested his chin on his hand and replied pitifully, "Because he says gyro is junk food."Jade was rendered speechless.Since it was boring for just the two of them, Jade called Tiffany and Melanie to join them. The two were delighted to get a free meal.They agreed
"Do you know her?" Jade asked, puzzled.Julian averted his gaze, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "How could I possibly know a celebrity? I just think she doesn't compare to you at all."His expression and tone clearly indicated he was hiding something. Since he was unwilling to explain, Jade didn't press further. She had no interest in prying into others' private matters.The two had been sitting in the private room for nearly 20 minutes, and Tiffany and Melanie had yet to arrive.Julian, growing increasingly anxious, frequently checked his watch. "Are those two riding snails? Why aren't they here yet? I'm starving."Jade also felt the wait was getting too long. Just as she took out her phone to call Melanie, her phone rang. Seeing it was Melanie, she quickly answered. "Hello, Melanie."Melanie's tearful voice came through the line. "Jade, something terrible has happened. I made a huge mistake."Jade's heart tightened at the sound of her friend's sobs, but she remained cal
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