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
As Gemma left, Jade sighed visibly in relief. Everyone was gone, and no one cared about her. The hotel was a considerable distance from the Severin residence. Without any money on her, she had to tread back on her high heels slowly. Staring at the seemingly endless road ahead, she couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. Walking all the way back would likely ruin her feet.A glaring set of headlights approached from behind, making Jade instinctively move to the roadside. A limited-edition Bugatti came to a stop in front of her, and the window rolled down, revealing a handsome face."Get in." The man's voice was cold.Jade looked at Caelan in surprise, her gaze almost infatuated. She replied softly, "Thank you."Opening the car door, she cautiously took a seat. Her heart raced, and from the corner of her eye, she could only see Caelan's hand—a clean, slender one with a natural masculine power to it. She found it oddly comforting.As the car moved, Jade's hand accidentally brushe
Melvin was sitting aside, reading a book. When he saw Jade enter, he put on a fake smile and said warmly, "You're here. Come over quickly."Jade suppressed the sharpness in her gaze as she asked, "Do you need something, Dad?"Melvin gestured for Jade to sit and pushed the cake toward her. "This was specifically made for you by Mabel at my request. Try it. See if you like it."The cake looked tempting, but to Jade, it seemed like poison. She hid her disdain as she told Melvin, "I don't like it."Melvin was momentarily stunned. He had planned to use the cake to appease Jade, hoping she would help with the designs, but she had unexpectedly refused. He remembered that she used to like it."Jade, are you still upset about this morning?" Melvin asked cautiously, quickly catching on.Jade looked down to conceal all her emotions. Seeing her like this, Melvin sighed and said, "We are a family. If we had made a scene, it wouldn't have been good for our family's reputation. You and Neve wou
Satisfied, Melvin nodded. He knew Jade would never get smart. If he gave her a small benefit, she'd obediently comply."By the way, Grandma's birthday is in a few days. Wait until after the celebration to look for a place to move," Melvin said, making it clear this was non-negotiable.In Jade's previous life, she had lived cautiously with the Severins, staying meek and getting easily bullied by everyone. Only her grandmother, Leah Severin, had favored her a bit. However, Jade had lost this protective umbrella when Leah had broken her leg. Furthermore, with Leah aging and suffering from an illness, the authority of the entire household had shifted to Gemma after just a year. Since then, Jade's life had become even more difficult.The accident that had resulted in Leah breaking her leg had happened during her birthday celebration."Alright." Jade thought about Leah and felt a pang of pain. All her vengefulness was overshadowed by this pain.Thinking she was concerned about Gemma, Me
However, even though there were doubts in Gemma's mind, she dared not bring them up. After all, the Severin family was ruled by Leah, and as a daughter-in-law, she had to obey.During dinner, Melvin gathered everyone in the living room. On the table sat an exceptionally luxurious gift box. When the box was opened, it revealed a vintage bangle adorned with a luminous pearl—clearly, an item with some history.Neve's eyes widened, and she slyly tugged on Gemma's sleeve, saying jealously, "Dad is really willing to spend money on Grandma. He knows that Grandma likes antiques, so he bought this for her."Leah didn't fancy flashy things, but she had a particular fondness for antiques. Melvin, knowing her preference, had spent 3,000,000 dollars to acquire this antique bangle, which was rumored to have been worn by a queen. It showed how much importance he attached to Leah's birthday celebration."Grandma's birthday celebration is the day after tomorrow. This bangle is my birthday gift to her.
Gemma's face twisted in anger. How had she not noticed Jade's cunning nature before?Jade's mood became even more delightful when she saw the constipated expression on Gemma and Neve’s faces. She walked back to her room with a bounce in her step.After she left, Neve asked Gemma with a frown, "Mom, are you just going to let her off like that?""What else can I do? You saw it yourself. Your dad needs her help now, so I can't go too far," Gemma said through gritted teeth."Needs her help?" Neve's eyes widened. "What does he need her help with?"Gemma stood up and walked toward the sofa as she told Neve, "I heard that it's something related to the company. He’s having her design jewelry sketches or something."Upon hearing this news, Neve turned pale. Jade was actually helping their father design jewelry. Why hadn't she known about this? When had this happened?Jade only spent one night finishing the sketches for Melvin. However, she didn't immediately hand them over. She kept them
Leah, who was genuinely angry, started to cough. Brianna quickly handed her a cup of tea and comforted her. "Madam, please don't get angry. The doctor said you can't get worked up because of your illness. Besides, it's your birthday celebration today. Let's discuss any issues afterward."Leah sighed at the mention of her illness. As she grew older, her health issues increased. In the past, when she used to be in good health, she had been able to manage the household well. However, with age catching up to her, she had gradually become less capable.Eventually, she’d had to delegate one-third of the company's management to Gemma and Melvin. The two of them unfortunately lacked the ability to run the company, leading to signs of decline in the Severin Group within a few years, which had been making Leah anxious.Now that another scandal was happening, Leah was even more distressed."Jade's really disappointing." Leah sighed, disappointment filling her eyes. The person she had carefull
As soon as Brianna opened the box, her smile froze.Leah looked at her, feeling puzzled. When she looked inside the box, her face fell abruptly as well."This is the gift you prepared for me?" Leah asked Melvin angrily.Melvin took a peek, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. The box was empty, and the ancient bangle was nowhere to be seen."What's going on?" Melvin shouted at Gemma angrily.Gemma feigned panic and said, "I really don't know. Jade was in charge of the box."As soon as she spoke, everyone's gazes shifted back to Jade.Neve frowned and pretended to defend Jade. "Jade, don't mess with Grandma. Come on, show us the bangle."Jade calmly surveyed the crowd. Gemma was sipping her tea nervously. Seated beside Gemma, Neve had a smug expression on her face. Now, Leah's gaze on her was tinged with disappointment. Neve's words seemed to confirm that the bangle had been in Jade’s hands, so she was now unable to deny it. Even if she managed to bring the bangle back out, she wou
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