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
Jade couldn’t tell if Bella was just pretending to be drunk or genuinely intoxicated. Every word she uttered dripped with a sorrow that cut deep. Who would have thought that beneath her glamorous exterior lay a myriad of bitterness and humiliation?Jade’s brow furrowed. She didn’t want to be enemies with Bella, but Bella had humiliated her repeatedly, forcing her to retaliate. Seeing Bella in this state stirred conflicting emotions within her."Enough. Stop drinking." Jade intercepted Bella's hand as she reached for another bottle, her voice stern. Jade wasn’t a saint, but she wasn’t heartless either. If Bella continued drinking like that, she was bound to get into trouble."Leave me alone," Bella snapped, her strength unexpectedly fierce as she pushed Jade away. "You just want to see me make a fool of myself. Well, here you go! Tomorrow..."Bella pointed a shaking finger at Jade, laughing bitterly. "Tomorrow, every media outlet will have pictures of me drunk and disgraced. That’s
Bella clutched her abdomen, her face ashen as she slumped onto the booth. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her consciousness began to blur."It hurts... My stomach hurts so much..."Caelan and Jade turned to see Bella collapsed on the sofa, unconscious."Bella!" Caelan cried out, rushing to her side. He gently patted her face, trying to wake her. "What's wrong? Wake up!"Bella's face twisted in pain. She murmured weakly, "It hurts... My stomach hurts."Her hand clutched her abdomen tightly, her features contorted, her complexion ghostly pale as if she might faint at any moment. Caelan noticed her hand pressed three inches below her navel and immediately realized that Bella might be suffering from acute appendicitis. He helped her up, turning to Jade. and said, "Quick, we need to get her to the hospital."Jade nodded, and Caelan lifted Bella in his arms, striding swiftly toward the exit.Samuel hurried over, covering Bella’s face with a jacket to shield her from onlooker
Bella was in such excruciating pain that she could no longer speak. The situation was critical, and there was no time to lose."Prepare for surgery immediately," Jade said gravely to the doctor. "Please help me get the patient to the operating room."The doctor, looking conflicted, glanced at Caelan, who gave a subtle nod. Resigned, the doctor gritted his teeth and began arranging the surgery.Still uneasy, he called upon a few experienced assistants to join Jade in the operating room. Jade understood that the doctor didn't trust her abilities, but saving Bella’s life was the priority, and there was no time for debates.She was determined to prove her competence through her actions rather than waste time on pointless arguments.The doctor, though still worried, watched Jade closely, ready to take over her work if necessary.However, once inside the operating room, the doctor quickly realized his concerns were unfounded. Jade's skilled techniques were impressive—not only did she
Bella awoke gradually after being wheeled out of the operating room. Staring at the ceiling adorned with white flowers, she blinked weakly. Her hand instinctively moved to her abdomen, a look of distress clouding her face."Bella, you're awake?" her assistant, who had rushed to the hospital upon hearing about Bella's accident, was by her side immediately.Seeing Bella trying to touch the wound, the assistant quickly intervened, "Bella, please don’t move. You've just had surgery. Be careful not to infect the incision."Bella forced a bitter smile, her voice choked with emotion. "Who would want a star with such an ugly scar? My career in showbiz is probably over."The assistant chuckled softly, reassuring Bella, "You're worrying too much. The surgery was a success. There won’t be any scars.""Are you kidding?" Bella's disbelief was evident. She had never seen anyone come out of surgery without a scar.Understanding her skepticism, the assistant quickly handed her the phone, smiling
Jade smiled gently as she greeted Elena and Leo one by one. "Sorry to keep you waiting.""No, no, we haven't been here long," Elena replied, her eyes scanning the area behind Jade, searching in vain for Caelan. A hint of disappointment crept into her voice as she added, "Did Mr. Fitzgerald not come with you?"Their primary purpose was to meet Caelan, so not seeing him dampened their spirits a bit. Jade's eyes sparkled with a bright light as she offered a soft smile and said, "Something came up at the company. He’ll join us a bit later.""Oh, I thought so. Mr. Fitzgerald would never miss an appointment," Elena said with a palpable sigh of relief.If Jade had not given her this reassurance, how could she maintain her standing before Leo?As they settled into their seats, Elena handed the menu to Jade. "Order whatever you like."Jade, aware of the courtesy, decided to reciprocate by ordering a few dishes that Caelan particularly enjoyed.Noticing the selection was rather light, E
Although Leo was a director, the entertainment industry was teeming with directors. Without a strong background or influence, he still had to be mindful of others' attitudes.Elena, unable to avoid his pestering, finally nodded. "Fine, I'll go, but just for one drink. If he tries to stop me, don't blame me for losing my temper.""Alright, whatever you say." Leo sighed in relief, but worry gnawed at him.Ian Ford had been eyeing Elena's beauty for some time, lacking any opportunity until now. Inviting her to this drinking party was unlikely to let her go easily. He could only hope nothing bad would happen. His face, twisted in anxiety, reflected his inner turmoil.Jade noticed their expressions, feeling a surge of tension. Although Jade hadn’t known Elena long, she admired her personality.Moreover, she was Julian’s fiancée. Even though their engagement wasn't yet annulled, it meant there was still a connection between Julian and her.Rescue or not? The decision was hers to make.
After sitting for over ten minutes, a sudden sharp sound came from the neighboring room, followed by a woman's scream. The voice belonged to Elena, but her scream was abruptly muffled.Jade's heart skipped a beat. She rose and headed toward the adjoining room, only to be blocked by Leo, who looked troubled. "Miss Severin, please don't get involved. If something happens to you, I won't be able to explain it to Mr. Fitzgerald."His expression disgusted Jade, and she felt a wave of nausea. In such moments, she became eerily calm. "So, my life matters but Elena's doesn't? If you're so scared, then just sit here..."Jade paused before slowly spitting out the words, "And continue being a coward.""I..." Leo was stunned by her words. Before he could react, Jade had already kicked open the door to the next room.Though slender, she stood in the doorway with an overbearing presence.The room was filled with smoke and chaos. Seven or eight burly bodyguards stared menacingly at Jade as she
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