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
Caelan maintained a stern expression. He had initially thought he had wrongly accused Chenelle, but he wasn't easily fooled and could clearly see the hostility Chenelle harbored toward Jade.Just as he was about to defend Jade, Kennedy spoke up. "Since you know your mistake, you should reflect on it. Speaking without thinking and offending others, how can you expect them to be courteous to you?"Kennedy rarely displayed such a commanding demeanor. When he did, Chenelle's face turned pale with fear.She wanted to seek Caelan's support, but his expression was even more severe than Kennedy's, leaving her too frightened to speak."Yes, I understand my mistake, Grandpa. Please don't be angry. It was my fault for speaking to Miss Severin that way," Chenelle quickly admitted her error. She didn't want to leave a bad impression on Kennedy, especially given her unique status.Kennedy gave her a brief, indifferent glance and then allowed her to enter the house.At the dinner table, Caelan
"Alright!" Kennedy slapped his thigh, laughing heartily. "I have been waiting for this moment. Albert, bring the item."Kennedy beckoned to Albert, leaving everyone puzzled about what he was planning.Albert approached, carrying a rectangular box.Kennedy took the box, unlocked it, and retrieved something from inside. Turning to Jade, he said, "Jade, come here."Jade looked at Caelan, who nodded encouragingly, then walked up to Kennedy.In Kennedy's hand was a jade bracelet, glistening under the light, clearly valuable."This bracelet is the heirloom of the Fitzgerald family. Today, I'm passing it to you." When Kennedy produced the bracelet, Caelan's expression changed, showing surprise and joy.From their reactions, Jade knew the bracelet was significant.Anything deemed an heirloom by the Fitzgerald family must be extraordinary."No, Grandpa, I can't accept this." Jade quickly declined, but Kennedy's face hardened with a hint of anger. "What? You don't want to be my granddau
Kennedy laughed heartily after speaking, while Jade shyly lowered her head, giggling softly. She occasionally cast playful glances at Caelan.Chenelle felt as if her throat was stuffed with cotton, her smile rigid. It took her a moment to squeeze out the words: "Sister-in-law."Kennedy, still chuckling, waved his hand and said, "Alright, enough teasing. It's getting late. Everyone should head home.""Okay, Grandpa, we'll be off then." Caelan stood up, pulling Jade to her feet, and bid farewell to Kennedy.Today, Kennedy unexpectedly brought out the family heirloom, which truly surprised Caelan."Go on now." Kennedy's eyes crinkled with his smile as he gestured for everyone to leave.Caelan and Jade walked out hand in hand, with Chenelle trailing behind them in silence, her gaze fixed on the bracelet on Jade's wrist, deep in thought.As night fell, the city lights sparkled brilliantly.Jade got into Caelan's car, and they headed home.In the car, Jade gently touched the bracele
However, Jade thought of someone who made her very uneasy."Chenelle, she..." Jade hesitated, unsure how to start.After all, Chenelle was the Fitzgerald family's adopted daughter. If Jade spoke ill of her, would Caelan think she was being petty?As soon as she opened her mouth, Caelan guessed what she was about to say."You don't need to worry about that. I'll talk to Chenelle. It's my fault that you felt uncomfortable today." He took Jade's small hand in his large one, gave it a gentle squeeze, and then let go.His smile was sincere, not just a perfunctory gesture.Somehow, Jade's heart calmed down. As long as Caelan was there, all problems seemed insignificant."Thank you," Jade said sincerely, looking at Caelan with deep affection. A sweet feeling slowly spread from her heart.Seeing her womanly demeanor, Caelan smiled. "What are you thanking me for?""Thank you for being by my side. Thank you for always loving me the same way..." Jade counted on her fingers one by one, bu
Jade observed Julian's expression as she spoke, noticing that this young man, like a child, had a stubborn obsession with the things he couldn’t have."I'm getting married soon. Don't waste your time on me," Jade said firmly while taking Caelan's hand and giving Julian a faint smile.Julian's eyes reddened as he looked at their tightly clasped hands, his voice filled with unwillingness. "What? You're marrying this man?!"His eyes were full of disappointment, and his gaze at Jade was a mix of anger and urgency. He had waited for her all day, only to receive such news."Yes, I’m marrying Caelan. We will be together for the rest of our lives. Julian, I never loved you—I’ve always seen you as a brother." Jade let out a long sigh of relief after speaking her mind.Julian stared at Jade, his voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Then why did you let me move into your home? Do you know how happy I was when you agreed? Now you’re telling me you never loved me? Do you know how heartbroke
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