Tiffany pinched Melanie hard. "What do you mean 'hasn't moved on yet'? She never even had the chance to move on, and now you're rubbing salt in her wounds."Hearing Tiffany's words, Melanie looked down, feeling upset. Her heart ached for Jade more than anyone else, but matters of the heart were beyond her help.Their commotion had drawn a crowd, and a sales assistant approached with the clothes, asking cautiously, "Would you still like to purchase these items?"Jade snapped out of her daze, feeling a mix of bitterness and sorrow. Forcing a smile, she replied, "Yes, please wrap them all up."The assistant sighed with relief, quickly packing the clothes Jade had picked and those Melanie had tried on into elegant shopping bags.As they left the mall, Jade maintained a faint smile, but Tiffany and Melanie were both visibly downcast. They were not foolish—they could tell Jade was putting on a brave front. However, since Jade didn’t bring it up, they refrained from mentioning anything t
Julian laughed nonchalantly, "What are you afraid of? This is Elena's territory. Without her permission, who would dare come in? Relax."His casual confidence made Melanie and Jade exchange a quick glance before turning to Julian in surprise. "The person you contacted yesterday was Elena Bennett, the new rising star?"Julian stretched his long legs and yawned lazily. "Who else? Do you think just anyone can meet Leo Tolo?"Melanie and Jade were taken aback, suddenly seeing Julian in a new light.However, they had already been in the reception room for half an hour. Apart from an assistant who had initially told them Leo was in a meeting, no one had checked on them since.Jade seemed fine with the wait, but Julian grew increasingly impatient, frequently standing up to look outside the door. "What's going on? It's been so long. Why haven't we seen him yet?"Melanie's anxiety was evident. "Could it be that he is too busy to see us?""Wait here. I'll go ask." Julian wanted to leave a
Elena felt a bit uneasy at the remark. "What do you mean by 'see you again'? Have we met before? Are we that familiar?"The warning in her eyes was obvious.Jade knew she was afraid she might bring up Elena's drunk driving incident from that day.Jade shook her head. "Miss Bennett, I'm sure you know the purpose of our visit today. We are really grateful for your help. Without you, we wouldn't have gotten this far."Jade showered Elena with praise, making her somewhat overwhelmed.Elena's attitude visibly softened, but she still looked at her warily. "Alright, alright, just get to the point."Jade smiled faintly. "Do you know when we can meet Director Tolo?"The longer they waited, the more likely something could go wrong.A flash of discomfort crossed Elena's face. After a brief pause, she said, "I came to tell you about that. You might not be able to see him today.""What?" Julian stood up abruptly, pointing at Elena. "Are you playing with us? We've been waiting for half an h
Julian had already slipped out of the door, too far away to hear Elena's angry shouts.Once outside, Melanie could no longer hold back. "Jade, are we really just leaving like this?"She had come today with high hopes, only to be disappointed at not even getting a chance to meet Leo. Leaving in such a manner felt utterly disheartening.What piqued Melanie’s curiosity even more was wondering who had taken her spot.Without slowing her pace, Jade continued forward and said, "Who said we're leaving?"Before Melanie could finish her question, she widened her eyes in surprise.That wasn’t the way out—Jade was leading her upstairs instead!Melanie blinked at the door before her, feeling a surge of apprehension. "Jade, why are you taking me to Director Tolo's office?"Just as Jade was about to explain, they heard a man's voice from inside the room.Jade quickly grabbed Melanie's wrist and pulled her to the side.The door opened, and a petite woman emerged, her voice crisp and clear.
The security guard started calling for backup while speaking into his walkie-talkie. Jade and Melanie had no choice but to step forward.Jade addressed the security guard, "We're not bad people. You don't need to be so nervous."The guard stared at Jade with suspicion, but just then, a clear voice echoed. "What are you doing? How dare you chase away my friends?"Jade looked up and saw the stylish Elena approaching. It was no surprise that she was a celebrity—Elena's aura and presence were impressive.She rolled her eyes and glared at the guard.The guard, knowing the celebrity's influence, didn't dare to provoke her further. He quickly apologized to Jade and Melanie, "I'm sorry. I must have made a mistake. Please, ladies, don't be upset."Jade didn't make things difficult for the guard and nodded, signaling for him to leave."Thank you, Miss Bennett." Jade understood that without Elena's intervention, they would be in trouble now.Elena raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment o
"Director Tolo, Melanie has a real talent for design. Could you give her a chance and take a look at her work? It won't take much of your time, and the crew is currently stalled due to costume issues. Fresh ideas might just spark your inspiration." Jade spoke with sincerity and determination, her eyes unwavering.Leo's expression softened slightly, but he wasn't one to change his mind easily based on a few words."Who are you?" he asked, eyeing Jade with a hint of admiration.Jade had the potential to be a star with her external qualities and demeanor. For a moment, Leo felt an impulse to sign her on. With the right packaging, Jade could definitely become the next big star.Jade was taken aback by the shift in the conversation but replied politely, "I'm a good friend of Melanie's. My name is Jade Severin."Leo, deeply entrenched in the entertainment industry, knew little about the outside world and therefore didn't recognize Jade's background.He nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, that's
Julian and Jade were walking back together when Julian received a phone call. Without any explanation, he left Jade behind and rushed off.Jade was relieved to have some free time and drove home by herself.…At 5:00 p.m., dark clouds covered the sky, signaling an imminent heavy rain.Just as Jade pulled up to her house, large raindrops began to fall.Expecting to get drenched, she was surprised when an umbrella appeared over her head, as soon as she stepped out of the car.Startled, she looked up to see Caelan standing in front of her.His brows were furrowed deeply, and his eyes held an intense, unreadable emotion as he looked at Jade. It was as if a thousand words were condensed into that gaze.Jade hadn’t expected him to be waiting for her at the door and was momentarily at a loss for what to do. She sat frozen in the car, unsure whether to get out or stay put.After a long silence, Caelan finally spoke. "Are you planning to sit there and get soaked?"The rain was getting
Jade looked at him in confusion. "Isn't there a new pair in the shoe cabinet? I clearly remember putting a new pair there."She wanted to step forward to check, but Caelan blocked the shoe cabinet with his body and took off his coat.His thin shirt, drenched by the rain, clung to his body, revealing his perfect physique.He reached out and unbuttoned a button on his shirt, nonchalantly saying, "Could you get me a towel?"Jade's hand, which was reaching for the shoe cabinet, froze in mid-air.The sight before her was incredibly tempting, making it hard for her to look away.Her face quickly warmed up, and she felt a rush of heat to her head, her limbs going weak.Her hand, as if scalded, quickly retracted. She turned her face away in a fluster, saying, "Sure. I'll go get one right now."Jade hurried upstairs, and Caelan watched her disappear before turning his attention to the shoe cabinet. With a cold glance, he took out the slippers and threw them outside the door.When Jade
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