"Jade, how does it feel to be lying in bed like the living dead?"Jade Severin, who had just gotten out of surgery, struggled to open her eyes. When she did, she saw the radiant Neve Severin standing by her bed."Sis—Neve..." Jade tried to speak, but her voice came out hoarse and unintelligible.A car accident had wrecked her life, leaving her once-smooth skin wrinkled and her hands ruined by burns, while her sweet voice had been lost amid this tragedy. Jade, who had been a top-notch medical expert, had become a worthless shell of her former self."You miserable creature, do you know how disgusting you look right now? It brings me immense joy. Perhaps you still don't know that your current state was my doing." Neve gloated by Jade's ear. "Let me enlighten you. Lloyd has already slept with me. He said he feels nauseous just looking at you."The revelation that Lloyd was involved with Neve hit Jade like a ton of bricks.No, he wouldn't do this! He loved her so much that he had told her h
How had it all turned out like this?No, Caelan couldn't be dead..."Looks like you really didn't know," Neve snorted before she continued. "The reason you weren't burned alive on the spot is that Caelan went all out to save you. Unfortunately, he wasn't so lucky and he got blown up right then and there. He was completely unrecognizable. It was pathetic, to say the least.""Ah..." It felt like Jade's chest had been punched, and she let out a desperate scream, glaring at Neve with a resentful gaze.Why? Why Caelan?She had kept him at a distance, ignoring his care and love, only to discover that he was the only one who had truly loved her. She had been blind."Tsk, look at your pathetic state." Neve laughed scornfully as she waved a syringe in front of Jade's eyes. "Since you're in so much pain, let me be a good sister and help you on your way." Dawn was close after all this darkness.Jade's head ached, her body felt like it was being reassembled, and the pain she felt reached
The edge of the fragment was sharp, so when Jade pressed it softly, a line of blood appeared on the bald man's neck. The two other men were taken aback by Jade's ruthless demeanor. "You crazy woman, who do you think you're trying to scare? I don't believe you'll actually do it.""Really?" Jade smirked, pressing down with the shard a little more. Blood immediately streamed from the bald man's neck. "If he dies, both of you will be accomplices. I'll tell everyone the three of us did it together.""You're insane!" Both men shouted simultaneously, looking at Jade as if she were mad."You forced me to do this!" Jade shouted back, unafraid. "Since it's come to this, we might as well die together."The bald man woke up then, fear draining the color from his face when he saw that Jade wouldn't mind dying. "No, no, please don't. Don't mess around. We were just following Ms. Neve's orders. Get back at her."Discovering this was indeed Neve's doing, Jade sneered inwardly. She glanced at the bald
Caelan's demeanor was cold and distant. When he told her to leave, it wasn't a joke. Jade didn't want to provoke him, so she quickly got dressed.Her figure was well-proportioned with graceful lines—a perfect, slender body that any woman would envy. However, Caelan's gaze showed no sign of desire. Seeing that she was dressed, he jutted his jaw toward the door and coldly uttered a single word. "Leave."He seemed like an intimidating king looking down at her, evoking awe. Suppressing the swell of emotions in her, Jade nodded lightly in gratitude and made her exit.Just as she reached the door, she heard a commotion outside."What, did she really do such a thing?" The speaker was none other than Jade's father, Melvin Severin.Hearing Melvin's voice again fueled Jade's resentment. In her previous life, she had trusted him so much that she had treated him like her biological father, only to be deceived and lied to in return. Their supposedly deep father-daughter bond had been merely a ploy
Jade's eyes met Caelan's, which were icy and contained a hint of a warning. It seemed like if she didn't handle this well, she would get into trouble.She stepped away from Caelan's embrace and looked at everyone calmly. "Mr. Fitzgerald is a bit intoxicated, so I helped him up here to rest. Is there a problem?""But what about your dress?" Neve still wouldn't let it go, as if Jade's embarrassment was vital for her own survival.Jade tugged at the hem of her dress, smiling confidently. "I accidentally got that dress dirty."Everyone looked relieved, understanding everything now."Mr. Fitzgerald never indulges in carnal pleasure. Besides, he is well-dressed. How could he have anything to do with Ms. Jade? This might have been set up by someone," someone whispered."Who knows? There is plenty of intrigue in wealthy families. Let's just enjoy the show," someone else sneered.These remarks reached Melvin's ears, making him scowl. He glared at Gemma, who lowered her head guiltily."A
Gemma signaled to Jade, but Jade pretended not to notice, almost infuriating Gemma. Trying to erase the harm Neve had caused her by casually remarking this was just kids messing around was nothing short of wishful thinking. Jade withdrew her hand, gazing coldly at Gemma."Neve is 20 years old already. Two years older than me. How could she not know the severity of her actions? Or does she make such mistakes because she lacks maturity?"This shut Gemma up, making her glare daggers at Jade. How dare this little b*tch mock Neve by referring to her as a mentally immature kid?"Mom, why are you glaring at me so fiercely? Even though I'm not your biological daughter, I've always treated you as my real mother. You wouldn't want to treat me unfairly, right?" Jade retorted.Gemma wanted nothing more than to kill Jade for daring to threaten her openly in front of everyone. She was reluctant to ask Neve to apologize to Jade.She looked at Melvin, as if seeking help, and Melvin, who was biased as
Jade's words made Neve turn pale instantly. She nervously looked at Jade, unable to comprehend how this formerly timid and meek woman had suddenly transformed into a different person. If this matter were thoroughly investigated, it would undoubtedly be traced back to her.Melvin also knew that the banquet had been organized by Gemma. If it hadn't been for her deliberate arrangement, how could those three men have appeared unnoticed? He glanced at Neve, who looked uneasy, then at the ice-cold Caelan.After a lot of contemplation, he turned around and delivered a resounding slap on Neve's face before angrily saying, "You're too willful! Apologize to your sister right now.""Dad?" Neve screamed, covering her stinging face in disbelief. For the sake of that wretched b*tch, her dad had actually hit her. Not only that, but he was demanding an apology."What are you still standing there for? Go and apologize at once," Melvin demanded, sounding enraged.Neve dared not defy him, so she reluctan
The force of Melvin’s slap left Gemma's face swollen in no time. However, she dared not cry or make a scene. She just stood aside and held her cheek, her eyes filled with resentment but her tone extremely respectful. "I made a mistake."Melvin glared at her with lingering anger. He turned to Neve and said, "And you. You're not allowed to leave the house in the next few days unless I give you my permission. Stay in and reflect on your actions.""Dad..." Neve urgently called out for Melvin, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She clutched her chest, staggered, and collapsed."Ms. Neve, what's wrong?" a servant exclaimed, watching Neve fall to the floor.Melvin rushed over with a swift step, hastily supporting her. "Neve! Oh, Neve! Someone call a doctor!"Chaos ensued. No one had expected Neve to suddenly have an episode."Quick, take her to the hospital," Gemma urged.Neve was carried away to the hospital on a stretcher.Once everyone left, Gemma went over to Jade, raising her hand to