Jade gazed at the modest father-daughter duo in front of her, feeling a wave of warmth. She gently pushed the necklace back toward them and said with a smile, "If she likes it, let her have it. The design drafts mean a lot to me, far more than any necklace could."The little girl looked up at her father with a pitiful expression and said, "Daddy, today is my birthday, and you didn’t get me a present."She had been captivated by the necklace from the moment she saw it. Her longing gaze made it hard to refuse.Sony thought for a moment and then told Jade with an apologetic look, "In that case, we'll accept it.""This is what you deserve," Jade replied with a smile at both of them before leaving the office with her entourage.As she left, the staff gathered around the employee holding the necklace.Someone knowledgeable among them suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my God, it's a diamond! Such a large one must be worth hundreds of thousands.""Diamond?" Sony was stunned. He had never seen a r
The bed in the hospital room had already been freshly made by the nurse, and all of Melanie's belongings were gone.Jade stepped forward and grabbed the nurse, urgently asking, "Where is the patient who was in this room?"The nurse looked confused and shook her head. "She was discharged a while ago.""Discharged?" Jade was anxious. "Melanie still has a head injury. How could she be discharged?""It was at the patient's own request. We couldn't stop her," the nurse said.Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a note, handing it to Jade. "She left you this message."Jade quickly took the note and opened it, frowning as she read it."What’s going on?" Tiffany asked, feeling increasingly uneasy due to the numerous recent events.Melanie's sudden departure added to her anxiety.Jade handed the note to Tiffany and said wearily, "Melanie's family had an emergency, so she went home.""An emergency?" Tiffany took the note and saw Melanie's handwriting:
The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before someone picked up. The moment it connected, Rebecca's voice burst into desperate sobs. "Melanie, you useless girl, come back now! Your father... Something’s happened to him…"The rest of Rebecca’s words faded into a blur.Melanie’s mind went blank, overwhelmed by a storm of curses and harsh words. Her father had taken a job at the mines just to pay for her university tuition. Now, the mine had collapsed, leaving the fate of those inside uncertain.Melanie felt as though all strength had drained from her body. The phone slipped from her trembling hand, her body shaking violently.A wave of unprecedented terror engulfed her. Her father was her only family. If he were gone, what would she do?"Please drive faster, just a bit faster," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Her voice, filled with near-desperation, brought a twisted sense of pleasure to Shane.The more helpless Melanie was now, the more grateful she would be to
Shane had never been threatened like this before, especially by a woman like Melanie.She had neither beauty nor family background to boast about. A woman without any redeeming qualities, yet she dared to lose her temper at him. It was simply incomprehensible.Shane sneered. "Melanie, you'd better know your place. You’re the one asking for my help, and this is your attitude?" Melanie snorted coldly, utterly unafraid. "If it weren't for your family's mine, I might still hold some respect for you. But with your family involved, if you dare to cross me, I’ll expose everything and ruin the Bancroft family's reputation."Though typically carefree, Melanie had picked up some of Jade's stubbornness over time.She often heard Jade say that people bullied the weak and feared the strong. The more submissive one were, the more easily they would bullied. But when one feared nothing, no one could do anything to them.Shane frowned, glancing at Melanie with a hint of confusion. He couldn't fa
"Get lost! Get lost!" Shane snapped irritably, striding directly toward Melanie.Shane swore to himself that he would make Melanie pay for this. This woman had no idea what she was getting into.Melanie rushed to the scene of the incident. The area was covered in a thick layer of coal, the polluted air was choking, and the cacophony of noise was overwhelming. It was suffocating.People kept trying to stop Melanie along the way, asking her what she was doing there. She glared at them, responding sharply. "I'm your employer' boss. Dare to stop me?"Melanie's domineering attitude made people hesitate to stop her. When they saw Shane following closely behind her, they assumed she was his girlfriend. After all, why else would she claim to be his ancestor?"Oh, so you're Mr. Bancroft's girlfriend. Please, come in." The person in charge quickly deduced her importance to Shane. Getting on her good side could be beneficial for his future.The situation was urgent, so Melanie deliberately
Security guards rushed over, stunned by the scene before them. The infamous Shane, unafraid of anything, was now being threatened by a woman.He was half-kneeling on the ground, his expression twisted with anger. His finely tailored clothes were covered in dust, and his well-groomed hair was disheveled. He cut a sorry figure.Holding the steel rod, Melanie calmly addressed the surrounding guards, "If you don't want anything to happen to your boss, you'd better step back.""Melanie, how dare you?" Shane had never suffered such a humiliation, especially not in front of so many people. As a man, his pride and dignity were shattered.He tried to salvage some semblance of his manhood, but Melanie wasn’t about to give him the chance. She pressed the steel rod against his carotid artery and snarled, "Shane, do you think I won’t?!"The sharp end of the rod broke the skin, and blood began to seep out.Feeling the warm trickle down his neck, Shane realized Melanie wasn’t bluffing. This mad
Shane always liked to use power and money to get things done, and he would never act according to anyone else's demands unless compelled by extreme measures.Not wasting any more words on Shane, Melanie dragged him toward the scene of the incident. The person in charge and several security guards trailed behind them, all wearing distressed expressions.The security team trailed behind nervously, terrified that with one slip of Melanie's small hand, Shane would fall victim to her wrath.More than ten hours had passed since the incident, and the current situation was unclear.The person in charge informed Melanie, "Miss Melanie, I understand your feelings, but based on the information we have, the situation below is dire. Any forced rescue attempt could cause another collapse, and the chances of survival for those below are extremely slim."Naturally, Melanie knew what he was saying, but she couldn't stand by and watch her father perish miserably."I don't care. I must see him aliv
To prevent the door from being forced open, Melanie barricaded it with a table and chairs. She called out defiantly, "If you don't agree to my terms, I’ll drag this out as long as it takes."There was no food or water in the room, and Melanie didn’t believe they would risk starving Shane just to oppose her demands.The people outside, in charge of the situation, were as frantic as ants on a hot stove.After some hushed discussions, they called out, "We need to report this to our superiors, Miss Newell. Please give us some time."After all, their superiors were Shane's parents. If Shane’s parents learned that Melanie had taken him hostage, the situation would become even more complicated.Melanie had prepared herself for the worst possible outcome. She didn’t care what happened to her, but she was determined to save her father."Shane, tell them if they don’t act soon, I won't be so nice," Melanie threatened, feigning a stance ready to strike.Terrified, Shane flinched and pulled
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