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
Julian stood still, feeling utterly isolated. Acidic bitterness welled up inside him, and he desperately wanted to find a secluded spot to cry his heart out."Julian!" A sudden female voice snapped him back to reality. He looked up to see Elena rushing toward him, panic written all over her face."Why are you here?"Elena pinched Julian secretly, though he was still immersed in the pain of his heartbreak and didn't even flinch at the pain.Elena grasped Julian firmly, squeezed out a smile, and turned to Jade. "I'm so sorry for the trouble, Jade. I'll take him back now."Their relationship had always been a mystery. Julian had never mentioned it, and Jade felt it impolite to ask.Hearing Elena speak, she realized their relationship was not simple."Then, I'll leave it to you," Jade replied with a faint smile.As Elena began to drag Julian away, he yanked his arm free, challenging her, "Elena, who are you to command me?""You little brat!" Elena glared at him, her eyes widening.
Back inside the house, Caelan pressed Jade onto the sofa and kissed her passionately.He only let go when their lips were red and swollen.Caelan's fingers brushed against her rosy lips, his voice hoarse as he said, "If you don't want me to devour you, you better feed me."The intense heat in his eyes almost melted Jade.Jade pushed against him, but he didn't budge. Blushing deeply, she said, "You need to let me get up first."Caelan chuckled softly and straightened up, allowing Jade to climb off the sofa.She adjusted her clothes and headed toward the kitchen.At Kennedy's house, she knew Caelan hadn't eaten much. It was normal for him to be hungry at this hour.In the fridge, she found eggs, tomatoes, and beef, but no leftover pasta.Jade took out the ingredients and grabbed a mixing bowl and some flour.Caelan walked over. Seeing her preparations, he curiously asked, "What are you doing?"Jade poured the flour into the bowl, slowly adding water and stirring it. "I'm makin
Jade leaned affectionately against Caelan, her eyes full of tenderness.Caelan placed the washed dishes on the drying rack, shook his head, and smiled. "No need."The two walked out of the kitchen together.Jade glanced at the time. It was almost 10:00 p.m."You..." Jade cleared her throat, unsure whether to invite him to stay or to send him away. No matter what she said, it didn’t seem appropriate.Caelan noticed her hesitation, gently tapped her nose, and smiled. "I’ll leave when you fall asleep.""Okay." Jade smiled faintly, her eyes full of reluctance, and added lightly, "Or, you could stay?""Are you sure?" A dangerous glint flashed in Caelan’s eyes as he looked at Jade with a burning gaze. "If I stay, you might be in danger."His words were so blatantly suggestive that Jade blushed instantly. "Then I’m going to bed.""Alright, I’ll join you." Caelan tenderly took Jade’s hand and led her upstairs.As they entered the bedroom, Jade hesitated.Being alone in a room with a
As Caelan spoke, his eyes filled with profound sadness, and his brow furrowed deeply. "I don't know why my mother left me. I cried and shouted, trailing behind her, hoping she would look at me. But she never turned around, walking away so heartlessly."I cried out, trying to make her stay, but my father held me tightly, dragging me back home. "Later, I secretly found out her address and ran away to find her. I thought she would be happy to see me, but she coldly shut the door in my face and told me never to seek her out again."Upon hearing that, Jade's heart clenched tightly.An 8-year-old child had to muster immense courage to overcome the fear of seeking out his mother.He had been full of hope, longing to see her.But instead, he was met with a cold, unfeeling face.At that moment, Jade hugged Caelan tightly, wanting to use her warmth to soothe his frozen heart."You have me now. You will never be alone again."Caelan hugged Jade back forcefully, his voice hoarse. "Do you
Caelan approached her like a prince charming, step by step.Hand in hand, they laughed joyfully in her dream.Jade was awakened by their laughter. She opened her eyes and realized she had a wonderful dream.The dream was so Elenad that even upon waking, she couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion.The phone rang, and Jade picked it up to see it was a call from Elena.She answered the call, and Elena's voice came through. "Good morning, Miss Severin."Jade glanced at the clock, still groggy, and saw it was only a little past 6:00 a.m. She muttered, "It is early indeed. Miss Bennett, are you calling to make sure I get up early?"Her humor made Elena laugh softly. "I have something to discuss. Are you interested?"Since Elena had brought it up, it would be rude for Jade to refuse, especially after she had helped Melanie."Go ahead, what is it?" Jade said, rubbing her disheveled long hair.Clearing her throat, Elena said, "Here's the thing. Our production team is short
Jade put down the phone and ran her fingers through her tousled hair. Her gaze fell on the empty side of the bed, recalling the scene from the previous night when she and Caelan had lain there, wrapped in each other’s arms.She turned over, got out of bed, and went to freshen up.After getting ready, Jade picked up her phone to call Caelan. Just as she found his number, his call came through.Her eyes lit up, and she quickly answered. "Hello?""Awake?" Caelan's deep voice resonated through the phone. "Come downstairs now. I bought breakfast and will be there soon.""Okay, I'll be right down," Jade replied, feeling pleasantly surprised. Caelan had bought her breakfast. The feeling of being taken care of was wonderful.Jade hurried downstairs, and as she reached the lobby, Caelan walked in.Dressed in casual clothes, he exuded energy and looked exceptionally approachable, like the boy next door. If the journalists saw him, their eyes would surely pop out in surprise."Good mornin
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