Leo had just been slapped, and instead of putting on his usual airs, he held his cheek in guilt. "I had no idea something like this would happen. You were just supposed to accompany him for drinks. How did it escalate into this mess?" His tone implied that Elena was at fault.Jade couldn’t stay silent any longer. Her voice was firm as she shot back, "Do you even count as a person? You knew full well that Ford had been lusting after Elena for a while, yet you sent a young woman to accompany him."Did you truly not know she’d be in danger? Or did you know and still went ahead? Reaching your level of vileness is truly disgusting."Elena's verbal tirade was something Leo might have accepted, but Jade was a different matter. Her opinion represented Caelan’s stance. If she held a grudge against Leo, it would jeopardize the investment.Realizing this, Leo quickly adopted a fawning expression. "Oh, Miss Severin, you misunderstand me. How could I be that kind of person? If I’d known Ian w
Caelan left with Jade in tow, their strides purposeful and unyielding.Following closely behind, Elena took a few steps before halting and turning back to Leo.He, clinging to old ties, attempted to appeal to her with desperate eyes. "Elena, I know you are the best. Could you speak on my behalf?"As he rushed forward with a hopeful expression on his face, Elena's demeanor shifted. She smiled in satisfaction before swiftly changing her expression and delivering a stinging slap across his face.The sound echoed sharply, leaving Leo’s cheek visibly swollen. He clutched his face, rage contorting his features as he spat out, "Don’t think just because the Fitzgeralds are backing you, I can’t touch you. A single call from me, and you won’t get another role."Elena’s eyes narrowed, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. She crossed her arms, gazing at Leo with disdain. "Do you really think it’s over just like that?"A flicker of unease passed through Leo. "What do you mean?""You've offend
"No need for you to step in. It’ll only create more chaos. Leave it to me," Jade reassured her calmly.Elena's frustration was palpable over the phone. "I can't believe someone would be so malicious as to post such nonsense online! If I find out who did it, they’re going to pay.""Whoever is behind it clearly isn't afraid of being caught. Otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered to slander me," Jade replied with a hint of indifference, her hands busily searching for study materials.Elena, worried, asked, "Are we just going to let them get away with this?"Concerned about Jade being hounded by this issue, Elena feared it would cause her more trouble.Biting the end of her pen in thought, Jade studied an anatomy chart and responded nonchalantly. "How could they? They can't really harm me. If I let myself get worked up over every little thing like this, I'd be exhausted all the time. The best approach is to ignore it. They'll stop once they see it doesn't bother me.""I hope you're r
Melanie was swiftly taken to Centus Hospital after the incident, which had caused quite a commotion and attracted a crowd of students.The area outside was packed with onlookers, some even capturing the scene on their phones. Speculations ran wild, with many saying that Jade had offended someone, leading to this trouble and causing Melanie to get hurt as collateral damage.Regardless of the rumors, the university had already contacted the authorities.The police arrived promptly, initiating an investigation.Meanwhile, Melanie was rushed for treatment. The wound on her forehead required five stitches but wasn't too deep. Despite the scar on her temple, it would be mostly concealed by her hair.Soon, Melanie regained consciousness. Grasping Jade's hand, she kept murmuring, "My drafts, my drafts."Understanding her worry, Jade quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Melanie. I’ve placed all your drafts on the table. They're safe.""Jade, could you bring them to me? They're everything
Jade realized the gravity of the situation—if the drafts leaked, Melanie’s sleepless days and nights would be in vain. With this on her mind, she hurried out and found the dean, Jeremiah."Mr. Lowe, I need to ask you something," Jade said, her usually calm demeanor replaced by frantic urgency. Even in the face of disaster, Jade typically remained composed, but today, her eyes were wild with panic, her voice trembling."Jade, take your time and tell me what's wrong," Jeremiah said, his heart pounding with anticipation of some catastrophic revelation.Jade took a deep breath, her expression turning grave. "I need to know if anyone has entered my dorm room and taken anything from it. It’s crucial to me."Jeremiah sighed in relief. From his perspective, what could a student possibly have that was so important? He answered lightly, "No one has been in there except the police for the investigation."In truth, he was hiding some details. The scene had been chaotic, and before the police
200,000 dollars might not seem like much to an adult, but for a student, it’s a substantial amount. It was enough to cover university expenses, and with frugality, one could even graduate without worrying about money.Jade's offer had truly sparked everyone's motivation. Who wouldn't want that 200,000 dollars? Especially when a single clue was worth 10,000 dollars. Jeremiah was standing outside, trembling with anger and pointing at the door repeatedly. "Jade, what do you think you’re doing? If everyone acted like you, what rules would we have left?"Jade glanced at him coolly and replied, "As long as it helps Melanie retrieve her drafts, I’d offer more than 200,000 dollars. As for the rules, if I’ve indeed violated them, then let the punishment fall on me alone."With those words, she walked away with an air of confidence.While watching her retreating figure, Jeremiah's eyes widened in fury. "W-What kind of attitude is that? I'm the dean; can’t I even say a few words to her?"T
"Who would be shameless enough to steal Melanie's drafts? If I find out who did it, I'll make sure they regret it!" Jade fumed.The loss of Melanie’s design sketches felt worse than losing a limb. Jade was overwhelmed with heartache and hadn't dared to inform Melanie, fearing how she would take the news.Noticing Jade’s distress, Julian felt an unspoken heaviness in his chest. He feigned a light-hearted demeanor, patting his chest as he reassured Jade, "Don't worry. I'll find a way to get Melanie's drafts back."Jade cast a weary glance at him. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"Her words deflated Julian's confidence, leaving him unable to offer a viable solution.As Jade walked on, Julian trailed behind, shamelessly asking, "Jade, where are you heading?""To the hospital," she replied curtly.They had been back at Clotheap University long enough for Melanie to start suspecting something. Rather than let her imagination run wild, Jade decided it was better to come clean.
Julian had never been the kind to show sympathy, even if the other party was a stunning beauty. "A simple 'sorry' doesn't cut it. Do you realize how dangerous that was? You nearly caused an accident!" He banged on the car door relentlessly. "Stop talking and get out here to apologize."Jade was equally furious. This wasn't a proper apology. If she were truly sorry, she would have gotten out of the car already. What kind of apology was it to hide inside?Under the mounting pressure from both Jade and Julian, the driver finally pushed the car door open and slowly stepped out. As soon as she emerged, Jade and Julian were left dumbfounded. The woman wore a loose dress that concealed her figure, but once she got out, her rounded belly became obvious. She was pregnant.Recalling how aggressively they had both pressured her, Jade felt a burning shame. She had been harassing a pregnant woman for an apology. "I'm sorry, I..." The woman, protective of her belly, looked at them cauti
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