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
Jade sat on the sofa, listening to Caelan's words. When he reached a certain point, she couldn't help but interrupt, "Wait a minute.""Hmm, do you have a question?" Caelan asked.Jade bit her lip and asked, "How did you know I went there?"She distinctly remembered not running into Caelan. To avoid him, she had even pulled Melanie to hide.So how did Caelan know?Caelan raised an eyebrow casually and said, "I saw your car, as well as you and Melanie coming out of the studio. Director Tolo called me afterward, saying he would consider Chenelle's work. If she doesn't come up with a satisfactory design, he won't use it."'So that's how it is!'Jade let out a sigh of relief and glanced outside at the rain, which had lessened.It was getting late, and it wasn't appropriate for Caelan to stay any longer. She decided to hint for him to leave. "The rain has lightened, maybe you should—"Before she could finish, the room suddenly plunged into darkness, followed by a thunderous boom.J
Caelan didn't take the umbrella, his expression somewhat complex."No need," he said, before turning and walking away without looking back.Jade stood there with the unopened umbrella, feeling a bit lost as she watched him leave. An indescribable feeling churned within her.She glanced at her phone—it was almost 10:00 p.m., and Julian still hadn't returned. It was pouring outside, and he had no friends or family in Centus. Could something have happened to him?Jade's heart was restless, filled with a foreboding sense of unease.After waiting another 15 minutes with no word from Julian, she couldn't sit still and decided to call him.The phone rang for a long time before someone finally answered just as Jade was about to hang up."Hello," said a woman's voice.Jade thought she must have misdialed and checked the number again. It was definitely Julian's.While Jade was guessing who the woman could be, the voice spoke again. "Are you Jade?"This time, Jade heard clearly. It was
Julian frowned, clearly displeased. "Why are you so concerned about my affairs? Mind your own business and continue being a superstar. Do you have feelings for me or something?"Let me tell you, Elena—it's absolutely impossible. Even if every woman in the world died, I still wouldn't marry you."Julian's words were firm and final, igniting a fire in Elena's heart. As a famous actress with both the looks and the figure, she was used to being admired by everyone—everyone except Julian, who seemed to regard her with utter disdain."Julian, don't push it. Just because we have a childhood engagement doesn't mean I can't do anything about it. If you threaten me with it again, I'll have my father call it off and embarrass the Ortons."This topic always infuriated Elena. She was five years older than Julian, yet they were betrothed since childhood.Initially, it didn't bother her much, but as they grew older, there was no sign from either family about canceling the engagement.The Benn
Who else but Immanuel would care so much about the Orton family's fate?He was worried that Julian's reckless behavior might anger Caelan, which was why he had called Elena to monitor Julian.Elena raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by Julian's quick reaction. She regained her composure and neither admitted nor denied anything. "Since you've guessed it, I won't waste my breath. Just stay put here for the next few days and don't go anywhere. Don't cause me any trouble.""Stay here with you? In your dreams!" Julian suddenly leaped at Elena, reaching out to snatch her phone.Elena hadn't expected Julian to attack her suddenly. In her panic, she hid his phone behind her. Julian collided with her, causing her to lose her balance and fall onto the sofa.With a loud thud, the two of them crashed into each other.Elena felt a heavy weight on her as Julian pressed down on her like a mountain.Then, their lips met unexpectedly in a soft kiss.Their eyes widened in shock."Ah!" Ele
The kitchen emitted a slight noise as Caelan focused intently on making breakfast, completely unaware of Jade's astonishment.If he turned around now, he would see a woman standing there with her mouth agape in utter shock.Steam wafted from the pot, and Caelan scooped a small spoonful of the soup to taste, nodding in satisfaction.He then turned off the gas stove and poured the soup into an exquisite porcelain bowl.He set the soup on the table, serving a bowl to Jade and then one for himself.Glancing back at the still-stunned Jade, he called out, "Aren't you coming over?"Jade seemed to awaken from a nightmare, descending the stairs with a heavy head and light feet, saying softly, "Oh."She sat stiffly at the table like a robot, hesitated for a moment, and then picked up a slice of bread, taking a gentle bite.The faint aroma of milk immediately filled her mouth, soft and sweet.Caelan couldn't help but chuckle at her cautious demeanor. His infectious smile instantly dispel
Caelan's name lingered in Jade's mind like a spell, constantly swirling around her thoughts.Her entire focus was on Caelan, and she failed to notice the subtle changes in the familiar path she usually walked.On the street, there were balloon arches every few meters, adorned with colorful flowers that were quite attractive.People on the street occasionally glanced at her, chuckling and pointing.Jade finally sensed something was off. She suddenly looked up and saw an advertisement board by the roadside, plastered with the words: [Jade, I like you!]In order to ensure everyone knew who she was, there was even a photo of her on it.Large and small, numerous billboards filled the entire street with the same message.Jade felt as if she had been stripped naked and was being ogled by everyone.She nervously glanced around but couldn't find the culprit.Just as she was about to flee, a huge screen on a commercial building displayed her photo.The screen flashed, and large words a
The instructor nodded, and the team began to lower the safety wire σλοςλυ.Even though Julian was a bit afraid of heights, he couldn’t afford to show any fear with so many people watching.Suppressing his inner terror, he gradually approached Jade.As he got closer, he could see Jade's expression more clearly. It wasn’t one of surprise but rather one of anger.Julian's heart skipped a beat. Did he mess this up?When he was still three meters from the ground, he suddenly stopped moving.Julian struggled a bit, but he remained stuck in place.Looking up at the rooftop, the instructor waved at him and shouted, "Wait a moment, the rope is stuck. We’ll fix it right away."Julian's face darkened. He could only awkwardly wave at Jade and say, "Hold on, it’ll be fixed soon."Jade paced below like an agitated lioness, looking up at him. "Julian, have you had enough of this?""I’m not fooling around. I really like you, which is why I’m confessing in this way," Julian said, wishing he c
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