Chenelle was stunned by Jade's straightforward rejection, leaving her momentarily speechless. "Ah..."Seeing her surprised expression, Jade felt immensely satisfied. "Samuel, please escort Chenelle home and ensure she gets there safely.""I... I don't want to go home." Chenelle, flustered, looked to Caelan for help. "Caelan, say something! Look at how my sis-in-law is treating me!"Caelan's face darkened, and he looked at Chenelle with icy eyes. "She will soon be your sister-in-law, not your sis-in-law. Remember, respect others, Chenelle. Behave yourself."Chenelle's eyes filled with tears, and she wanted to say more, but Samuel didn't give her the chance. He reached out his hand, saying, "Miss Chenelle, let's go."Jade discreetly gave Samuel a thumbs up and, linking arms with Caelan, walked away briskly.Samuel blocked Chenelle's path, preventing her from following. Despite her anxious cries for Caelan, he did not turn back.As the two figures disappeared from view, Chenelle st
Chenelle stood at the entrance, her lonely silhouette elongated by the lights. Her eyes gleamed with venom, and her hands were clenched tightly."Why is it that, even though I’m the adopted daughter of the Fitzgerald family, I can’t get the most basic respect? Grandpa is always wary of me, the family treats me coldly, and even an assistant dares to boss me around. Why? What gives them the right to treat me like this..."Chenelle’s resentment ran deep. She only saw the disrespect others showed her but never considered why they treated her that way. To earn respect, one must first respect others.Chenelle clearly hadn’t realized this. She blamed everyone else for her problems.Taking out her phone, Chenelle dialed a number. "Hello, it’s me."A man’s voice answered, laced with anxiety and unease. "Why are you calling suddenly? Didn’t we agree not to contact each other for now?""What, don’t you miss me at all?" Chenelle’s voice held a hint of anger. "Do you know what my life is like
Slowly retracting the fork, Jade looked frustrated. How could she have forgotten that the fork was already used by her?"I need to use the restroom," Jade found an excuse to slip away, not giving Caelan a chance to refuse. She grabbed her makeup bag and headed toward the restroom.Caelan stared blankly at her departing figure, shaking his head silently. How could someone be so shy?The restaurant was upscale and luxurious, with a massive crystal chandelier cascading light from above, creating a myriad of dazzling reflections.Jade, dressed in a purple dress, had a slender waist that could be easily grasped, exuding an exceptional aura. She was like a beautiful piece of scenery, attracting the gazes of numerous men.Women in love, especially, radiated an inner and outer confidence that was utterly captivating.The restroom was located in a corner of the restaurant, requiring a turn down a hallway.As Jade rounded the corner, she was met by a cleaning lady.The cleaning lady was
Orion smiled happily, stepping to Jade’s side. He picked up her phone and aimed it at the camera, taking a selfie of the two of them.Handing the phone back to Jade, he said, "For good luck."Jade held the phone in her hand and thanked him again.Orion nodded with a smile and then left.Once he was gone, Jade pulled up the photo on her phone and examined it closely. Orion was exceptionally photogenic. She had always considered herself quite slender, but standing next to Orion, their face shapes seemed almost identical.Perhaps because of his mixed heritage, his features were more pronounced and well-defined. His complexion was enviable, flawless to the point that even his pores were invisible.Jade was engrossed in the photo when a chilling voice broke her concentration. "Enjoying it?""Yes," Jade replied instinctively, then suddenly sensed something was off. Looking up, she saw Caelan’s dark face.He was standing barely a foot away from her, his gaze as cold as ice, staring at
Caelan swiftly deleted the photos and pulled Jade into his embrace, then raised the phone to snap a picture of them together. The shutter clicked several times, capturing a few flawless shots.Jade took the phone, astonished at the results. The composition of the subjects and the background was perfect in both color and angle. "Caelan, your photography skills are amazing," she said, her admiration genuine and unfeigned. Her delight was evident, making Caelan feel pleased. "I won first place in the National Photography Golden Image Award."Jade gazed at him with awe. "Wow, you’re really that good?"Suddenly, she felt a sharp tap on her head and yelped, rubbing the spot. With a frown, she looked up at Caelan. "Why did you hit me?""You’re overacting," he said bluntly, seeing through her little ploy.Jade chuckled. "Did I get caught?"He merely shrugged and guided her back to her seat.Jade picked up her fork and knife, resuming her meal while Caelan watched her with a tender e
The appearance of Bella stirred the crowd around her.Although a current sensation had usurped much of her resources, Bella remained a seasoned actress with a commendable reputation. Additionally, her connections with both the Riley and Fitzgerald families cemented her place in the entertainment industry.Naturally, her public appearance attracted fans’ attention, prompting them to take out their phones and shout, "Bella, look this way! Over here!"Bella did not avoid the spotlight but waved elegantly, greeting everyone with grace. Her public exposure had dwindled recently, and today’s encounter with Caelan would certainly trend online. Caelan seemed aware that Bella’s greeting was a deliberate attempt to increase her visibility. Although inwardly irritated, he kept a courteous demeanor. "If there’s nothing more, we’ll be going."Bella, basking in the attention, quickly called out, "Wait a minute!""What is it?" Caelan asked, confused.Having called out impulsively, Bella hadn’
Jade's friends knew she couldn't handle her liquor, yet Bella ordered her the strongest cocktail. The intentions were clear.Caelan frowned, disapproving of the gesture, but he didn't make a scene. Instead, he leaned toward Jade and softly reassured her, "Don’t force yourself. I’ve got you covered."Caelan's words immediately put Jade at ease. As long as he was around, she didn’t need to worry about her drinking capacity. Even if she ended up drunk, Caelan would ensure she was taken care of. She flashed a gentle smile at him, her dark eyes sparkling with happiness.The cocktail arrived, and the server placed it in front of Jade."Give it a try," Bella urged, taking a swig of beer and exclaiming, "Drinking at a bar is the best! The atmosphere alone is invigorating!"Jade, determined not to give Bella the satisfaction of seeing her falter, took a cautious sip and immediately wrinkled her nose. "No, this is too much for me. Better give it to Caelan."She slid the drink over to him,
For the sake of long-term harmony, Bella decided to humble herself and accept the punishment of three drinks, which indirectly served as an apology to Jade.Caelan looked at Jade and asked, "What do you think?"Feigning innocence, Jade put on a pitiful, naive expression and asked, "Won't three martinis be too much for Bella?"Bella felt a surge of frustration, her chest heaving with agitation. She had only anticipated having to down three beers, but Jade's suggestion of martinis felt like a death sentence. Although Bella could hold her liquor reasonably well, three martinis would be pushing her limits, and she wasn't sure she could walk out of the bar with her dignity intact if she lost control.Desperately, Bella glanced at Caelan, hoping he would intervene. But he only said, "A promise is a promise. You're an award-winning actress; surely you won't go back on your word."His firm words left Bella with no room to back out."Fine, I'll drink!" she said and signaled to the barte