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
Julian was like an unrelenting ghost, stirring her life into chaos.In the car, Caelan's face was as dark, his expression as unpleasant as it could be.Jade knew exactly why he was angry, but explaining would only make things worse, and she felt no need to justify herself right now.As they approached a traffic light, Jade told the driver, "Let me out at the next stop."The driver didn't respond but glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing Caelan's icy expression, and instantly understood.He neither slowed down nor stopped but continued driving forward.Jade grew anxious. "Stop the car. I need to get out."The driver, sweating slightly, cautiously replied, "Miss Severin, we're almost at the university. Please be patient."Jade was well aware they were nearing the university. The reason she wanted the car to stop was to avoid being seen getting out of Caelan's vehicle."No, I need to get out now," Jade insisted, looking at Caelan with a pleading expression. "Caelan, can you ask
The car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, speeding along the highway as the buildings on either side rapidly receded.A chilling frost seemed to emanate from Caelan, filling the air. Even though Jade was seated in the back, she could feel the cold emanating from him.The car's incredible speed frightened Jade, causing her to grip the handle tightly."Caelan, stop the car! This is dangerous!" she shouted.It was rush hour, and the road was bustling with traffic.Jade watched in terror as Caelan maneuvered the car through the sea of vehicles, narrowly avoiding collisions multiple times.Caelan ignored Jade's pleas, his gaze fixed straight ahead. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel, veins bulging. With a sharp turn, he merged onto the highway.Jade watched helplessly as they got further and further from the university. Caelan showed no intention of stopping. Instead, he sped up as they entered the highway, causing Jade's anxiety to spike."Caelan,
Caelan's weight made it hard for Jade to breathe. When she opened her mouth to gasp for air, he took the opportunity.His tongue invaded, sweeping dominantly and wildly across every inch of her mouth as if declaring that she belonged to him."S-Stop," Jade murmured, her mind blank from his intense kisses. A shred of rationality told her this needed to end.But Caelan's kisses only grew more fervent, like a storm overwhelming her last bit of sanity.Jade suddenly felt a chill and realized with shock that her clothes were no longer covering her body."No!" she exclaimed, pushing Caelan away with all her might and pulling her disheveled clothes back into place.She looked at Caelan with wide, frightened eyes, like a startled rabbit. Her dark eyes were misty, making her appear even more pitiful.Caelan snapped back to his senses, realizing how despicable his actions were. He had almost violated Jade right there."I’m sorry, I lost control," he muttered, hastily returning to his sea
Jade nestled in Caelan's embrace, feeling the rhythmic beat of his heart and fighting the urge to break down and cry.She tried to hold back, but tears still streamed down her face despite her efforts."Caelan, if I hadn't told you I love you earlier, would you really have driven the car into the sea with me?" Jade asked, her voice trembling.Caelan shook his head. "No.""No? But you really scared me just now," Jade said, still feeling a lingering fear. Her legs were still weak."Even if it meant dying, I wouldn't let you die," Caelan said and gazed deeply into Jade's eyes, enunciating each word slowly. "But I would make you watch me die. I wanted you to regret it deeply so that I would be etched into your heart, becoming a man you could never forget, even if you got married and had children in the future. I would still hold an irreplaceable place in your heart."He spoke lightly, but his words sent chills down Jade's spine.Was this really the calm and composed Caelan she knew?
Caelan looked at Jade with a helpless expression, watching her shoulders shake with suppressed laughter. Clearly, she had witnessed quite an amusing scene."I didn't hear anything, really," Jade said, looking at Caelan with a serious face. Still, she couldn't hold it in for more than three seconds before bursting into laughter.Caelan, infected by her laughter, started laughing too."Little rascal, haha..." Jade laughed so hard she bent over, tears streaming down her face. "So Grandpa always calls you that..."Caelan's face turned a deep shade of red, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Hey, could you stop laughing like that?""No way, I just can't stop," Jade said. Her waist ached from laughing so much, and she leaned on the railing for support. "I've never heard Grandpa scold you like that before, it's just too cute.""Cute?" Caelan's eyes widened in disbelief, his face turning even redder. "You can't tell anyone about this."Jade shook her head. "I can't promise that. What if one day
Just as the item was about to crash onto her head, a large hand appeared out of nowhere, catching it in the nick of time.Caelan firmly held the item, his brows furrowing tightly as he looked across the shelf with a piercing gaze.A petite figure stood there, caught red-handed by him."Chenelle, what are you doing?" Caelan hadn't seen if it was Chenelle who pushed the shelf down, as the merchandise blocked his view. However, she was standing right across from him, making it hard not to be suspicious.Chenelle blinked her large, pretty eyes, filled with confusion. Upon seeing Caelan, she beamed with joy. "Caelan, why are you here too?"There was no trace of panic on Chenelle's face. Instead, she wore a sweet smile, appearing innocent and pure.The doubt in Caelan's eyes dissipated, and he nodded at her. "Hmm."Jade, still shaken, patted her chest and glanced at the item in Caelan's hand. If such a large box had fallen on her, it would have caused her serious trouble."Miss Sev
"Chenelle, help carry these." Caelan handed the gift boxes to her, a hint of warning in his eyes.Under his icy gaze, Chenelle felt a shiver run down her spine. She had no choice but to obediently take the items and follow behind him slowly.Seeing Jade walking beside Caelan with empty hands filled Chenelle with resentment. She glared daggers at Jade's back, wishing she could burn holes through her.As they arrived at the Fitzgerald residence, Kennedy had already been eagerly awaiting them.Upon seeing Caelan and Jade hand in hand, his eyes lit up with joy."Jade, come in and sit down," Kennedy warmly welcomed her.He personally escorted Jade inside, casting a discreet disapproving glance at Caelan, still holding a grudge for his previous troublemaking.Kennedy's subtle expressions didn't escape Jade's notice. She stifled a laugh and mouthed to Caelan, "Good luck with that."Caelan could only respond with a helpless, indulgent smile.Their interaction turned Chenelle's eyes re
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