The security guard took two steps back, then kicked the door forcefully.With a bang, the door opened wide.Inside, the room was brightly lit.Leah sat on the sofa, dressed neatly, looking as graceful and majestic as a deity. Upon seeing Gemma barge in with her men, Leah didn't even blink. She stared at them sternly with an imposing gaze.Leah's demeanor gave Gemma an uneasy feeling. She couldn't shake the feeling that Leah must have something up her sleeve. Otherwise, where had she gotten the confidence to confront her?However, the room was not that big, and everything was visible at a glance. Apart from Leah, there was no one else there. Besides, the entire mansion was under Gemma's control. What did she have to fear?"Mom, it's inappropriate to disturb you at this late hour." Gemma hypocritically approached, sitting down in front of Leah."You're here anyway," Leah said slowly.When she saw that Leah was alone, Gemma's courage grew. "Mom, I'm here today to discuss something
Leah opened her eyes and looked sternly at Gemma. "So, if I sign it, you'll let them go?""Mom, what are you saying? I haven't done anything. I only have the Severins’ best interests at heart. How could I harm them?" Gemma said cunningly.Leah snorted and slowly reached for the pen. She stopped at the signature line. "I can give you the Severins, but I have one condition."Seeing victory within reach, Gemma was ecstatic. "Mom, even if you ask for ten conditions, I'll still agree.""Give Jade 1,500,000 dollars and send her abroad," Leah said firmly. "If you don't agree, I won't sign."Upon saying that, she actually put down the pen.Gemma was seething with hatred. At this point, Leah was still thinking of Jade. She didn't know what that little b*stard had done to earn Leah's favor. Despite what Gemma thought, her expression remained unchanged.Now, as long as she could coax Leah into signing, whether Jade lived or died would be up to her when she got control of the Severins’ shar
If it weren't for that lightning bolt that had reminded Jade of the past, she might have fallen victim to Winston's plot as well."Mom, you're so biased!" Gemma shouted indignantly. "She's just an adopted daughter, yet you've put in so much effort to train her, not only in academics but also by secretly teaching her to drive. I really don't understand, who is your real granddaughter?""Is driving that difficult?" Jade sneered. "I just observed a lot and learned. It's not what you imagine."Gemma was speechless. She knew that Jade was clever, but she had never expected her to be this clever."To be defeated by a brat like you despite my cleverness… Hahaha... I would have strangled you long ago if I had known." Gemma laughed hysterically, as if she had gone mad.In spite of her plotting, she hadn't anticipated that she would end up in this situation today."Please take her away. I never want to see her again," Leah said politely to the police. "I will sue Gemma for attempted murder
However, the smarter Jade was, the sadder Leah felt. Compared to Jade, the incompetence of the Severin descendants became more apparent.Leah had asked herself more than once—why couldn't Jade be her real granddaughter?Jade was undoubtedly talented and adept at strategizing. With the Severins in Jade's hands, Leah could rest assured even in death.Unfortunately, Jade wasn't her biological granddaughter.Leah fell asleep amidst this lament, and Jade felt slight disappointment upon seeing the despair in Leah's eyes. However, this feeling of disappointment only flashed by. Even if she wasn't Leah's real granddaughter, she would still treat Leah as her own grandmother.After such a big incident, Jade couldn't sleep peacefully. She decided to stay in the living room and personally keep watch over Leah.When Brianna saw this, she couldn't help feeling a bit guilty. "Ms. Jade, you should go back to your room and rest. I'll handle things here."Brianna had been punched and injured too.
Neve stood up in frustration upon seeing her pleas fall on deaf ears, glaring at Jade and cursing. "Mom was right. You're just a b*stard, an ingrate. I'm the Severin heiress. What right do you have to step on my head? Get out of the way. I must see Grandma today."Neve tried to barge in but was stopped by security."What are you doing? Don't you have eyes?" Neve, who saw that the security guards would only obey Jade's orders, couldn't help but grow angry. "Do you know who I am? You blind fools, how dare you stop me?"While they were at a standoff, Brianna walked out of the house, catching Neve's eye and giving her some hope. "Brianna, did Grandma agree to see me?"Brianna glanced at her and shook her head. "Madam said that no amount of pleading will work. Gemma broke the law and must be punished. If you continue to make a scene, Madam said...""What did Grandma say?" Neve began to panic, as she sensed from Brianna's attitude that Leah was no longer as affectionate with her as befo
Due to Leah's poor health and the shock she had endured, she fell ill and had to remain bedridden. Meanwhile, Gemma's case was entrusted to a lawyer."Madam, may I ask if you have any requests?" Mark Rae, the lawyer, asked professionally.Leah's anger had not subsided, so she solemnly replied, "I have only one request. She must face legal judgment, and she must get the death penalty."Mark nodded, taking note of each point. He was not surprised by Leah's reaction at all. Gemma's crimes warranted the death penalty, and he was confident about the case."Madam, rest assured, I will not let you down."Leah nodded and looked at Jade while telling Mark, "If you need to discuss anything, you can talk to my granddaughter. She calls the shots."Leah's words held deep meaning, and Mark couldn't help but glance at Jade, feeling surprised. He hadn't expected the Severins’ youngest heiress to hold such a special place in Leah's heart."Alright, noted," Mark said.Leah still looked somewhat
Jade slowly stood up, staring straight at Gemma with a sharp gaze that she had to constantly dodge."Tell me, what are you really afraid of?" Jade asked.Gemma avoided eye contact as she said, "What's there for me to fear in a nobody like you? I just can't stand the way you act all sweet and innocent in front of Leah, fooling her completely. Even though your last name is Severin, it doesn't matter. You don't have the Severin blood running through your veins, yet that old fool is ignoring Neve completely because of you."As she listened to Gemma's words, it seemed like she genuinely only cared about her own children. She feared that Jade would win Leah's favor and inherit everything, so she had been targeting her all along.Jade bit her lip, silently contemplating this. Could she have been overthinking things?"How much do you know about my background?" Jade asked again.Gemma looked at her as if she were a monster, laughing scornfully. "You've caused me so much misery. Do you rea
Jade naturally paid no attention to Gemma's screams—after all, she deserved it all. As for Neve, she wouldn't be shown any mercy either. A leopard can't change its spots. Jade didn't believe that Neve would mend her ways after just one setback.In the afternoon, Jade wanted to go to the orphanage to look for clues, but a phone call from Kennedy interrupted her plans. "Jade, how are things over there?"After the big incident with the Severins, Kennedy had been keeping an eye on them. Jade felt guilty. Kennedy had done her such a big favor, yet she hadn't even thanked him."I'm sorry for making you worry, Grandpa. Everything here is under control, and we're just waiting for the trial," she replied.Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Caelan, who was reading on the balcony. He felt annoyed. As Jade's fiancé, Caelan should have been concerned about her, but he seemed indifferent.Kennedy pretended to be angry on the phone. "You still remember that you need to report to me
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