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
Albert was about to leave when Kennedy reminded him, "Prepare a gift for Giselle on my behalf. Say it's for her parents."Even though Kennedy felt somewhat bad for rejecting Giselle's visit, it was insignificant compared to his grandson's happiness.Giselle had been waiting for some time outside the Fitzgeralds’ gate. Normally, she wouldn't need to announce herself when visiting the Fitzgeralds, but she had been left to wait outside today.Ever since she had heard about Caelan's engagement, she had been unable to sit still, so she had come over today to find out what was going on. She found it puzzling that Kennedy refused to see her."Sorry, could you please inform him again? Tell him it's urgent," Giselle said anxiously.Albert shook his head firmly. "He isn't feeling well today and he won't be seeing any guests. Ms. Withrow, please come back another day.""Alright, I will," Giselle said reluctantly, forcing a smile as she walked away.A cab came to a stop in front of her, and
Kennedy had been waiting impatiently, so when he heard Jade's voice, he quickly patted Caelan on the shoulder. "Go check outside. See if Jade is here?"Caelan finally glanced up at Kennedy, saying helplessly, "Grandpa, I have a meeting shortly. I really have to go."He had seen through Kennedy's intentions long ago and he had stayed behind just to avoid disappointing him. Now that Jade was here, he naturally wouldn't stick around any longer. He grabbed his briefcase and headed out, coincidentally meeting Jade at the door.Caelan's imposing figure made Jade nervous, prompting her to step back and make way. Seeing her fearful response, Caelan paused. "Grandpa's blood pressure has been a bit high lately, so the doctor suggested that he eat lighter."Jade, who had been lost in thoughts of recipes, snapped back to reality upon hearing Caelan's voice. "Oh, okay, got it."Since moving into his villa, it seemed as if they lived in parallel worlds. Their paths never intersected, and they n
No matter how well-planned things were, there would always be room for error, especially when it came to a delicate girl like Jade.Kennedy picked up the phone and made a call. It was quickly answered. "Come over here. There's a task I need to assign to you.""Now?" the other person asked."Yes, right now."Half an hour later, Jade's dishes were ready. The servants helped set them on the table, and Kennedy looked at the spread of exquisite dishes, unable to contain his smile. "Jade, your culinary skills have improved again. Just looking at these dishes makes my mouth water."Blushing at the praise, Jade offered a dish to Kennedy. "Grandpa, you always tease me. Try it and see if it's good."Kennedy didn't touch his chopsticks. Instead, he chuckled mysteriously. "No rush, we'll eat later.""Are we expecting guests?" Jade asked.Kennedy nodded. "Someone will be coming later."Jade set down her cutlery too and waited, wondering who could make Kennedy wait like this.Around ten mi
The nightmares caused by Jacob in her past life had left Jade depressed and scared, always avoiding and evading him. However, her weakness and retreat had only made Jacob more aggressive, thinking she was easy to bully and taking advantage of her even more. Since she couldn't hide, she decided to bravely face this.Jade suppressed her anger and calmly told Kennedy, "Sorry, Grandpa. I have something to attend to, so I need to leave."Kennedy knew she was struggling with the Severins, where every step required double the effort of an ordinary person. He felt even more sorry for her. "Go ahead. If you need anything, give me a call."Kennedy was like a sturdy mountain, providing Jade not only with security, but also with the mental support and courage to face any difficulties.Jade was deeply grateful to Kennedy. At the moment, she couldn't do anything. She could only do her best to prevent the Fitzgeralds from getting harmed.After leaving the Fitzgeralds, Jade didn't let Kennedy's d
Jade remained calm after hearing Giselle's threat and looked at her with a sarcastic smile. "Your methods consist solely of spreading rumors, causing trouble, undermining my position in Caelan's heart, using all your resources to suppress me, and threatening and intimidating me. Besides these, do you have any fresh tricks up your sleeve?"Giselle looked at Jade in shock, panic welling in her heart. What Jade had said was exactly what she had planned to use against her. Was this woman a demon? How could she see through all her thoughts at a glance?"You—You're talking nonsense." Giselle desperately tried to conceal her panic, but her heart was pounding non-stop. In front of Jade, she felt like she was transparent. She hadn't even made a move, and she already felt like she had lost."Ms. Withrow, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Jade said confidently. Then, she added, "Oh, by the way, I should be starting my internship at the hospital soon, so please take care of me then.
Jacob sighed and said modestly, "I won second prize at the International Vien Mojart Piano Competition. I'm afraid this might affect my future."Leah valued Jacob greatly, as he was the hope of the Severins—the sole heir of the family. His glorious achievement made Leah feel overjoyed. However, she couldn't help but wonder if Jacob's future would be jeopardized because of Gemma's actions. Even though Gemma was despicable, her actions seemed insignificant compared to Jacob's future.Neve quickly chimed in. "Grandma, Jacob is the hope of the Severins. If he has a stain on his reputation, how will he face the world? It would be unbearable for him."Leah lowered her gaze, internally struggling with conflicting thoughts.Then, a crisp voice broke in. "Actually, releasing Mom would be a stain on Jacob's reputation instead. Everyone knows what Mom has done. She even dared to poison Grandma. If she were released, how would others view us?"Jade walked in confidently, facing the sun. She h
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