Chapter 3 What happened was due to fate

"Are you okay?" Nolan inquired, noticing Oralie's tightly clenched hands and her efforts to bite back the pain.   "Can I use your bathroom? I need cold water," Oralie requested wearily, quickly moving towards the door that she assumed led to the bathroom. Nolan calmly observed her movements and awaited the next development with excitement and curiosity. Deep down, he had his own suspicions.   As time passed, although Oralie tried to immerse herself in cold water to alleviate the internal heat, it seemed to be ineffective. The aphrodisiac injected into her body is an extremely potent substance.   On Nolan's end, seeing the girl stay in the bathroom for an extended period made him a bit anxious about potential trouble. Consequently, he forcefully knocked on the door.   "Hey, are you okay?" Nolan asked loudly, receiving only silence in response. Feeling uneasy, Nolan was about to break down the door to rush in when it abruptly opened, and Oralie appeared. Suddenly, Nolan's eyes widened from surprise to astonishment as he saw Oralie standing in front of him with only a bath towel wrapped around her.   So his prediction was correct. This girl was trying to seduce him with her body. Nolan felt an urge to laugh heartily at that conclusion. Consequently, he looked at the girl with a hint of amusement and disdain.   "Are you trying to seduce me for some purpose?" Nolan began to speak, but before he could finish his sentence, Oralie silenced him with a kiss. I was briefly surprised, but Nolan then forcefully pushed Oralie away.   Before Nolan could utter curses or even kick her out of the room, Oralie spoke:   "Please help me. I can't take it anymore," Oralie pleaded, her eyes expressing complete helplessness. "No matter what I do, I can't escape this uncomfortable feeling. Can you help me... or kill me?" Observing Oralie's desperate demeanor and noticing the scratches all over her body, Nolan realized that she had been drugged by an aphrodisiac. To control herself, Oralie had intentionally inflicted wounds on her own body. However, in the end, she still couldn't resist the dreadful effects of the drug. Her courageous actions left Nolan slightly amazed and impressed. Yet doubts about her true motives and background lingered in his mind, and he refused to let go.   "Please," Oralie pleaded, trembling and almost collapsing to the floor. Seeing her in such a state, Nolan felt a twinge of pity.   "I can help you, but I won't take responsibility for you afterward," Nolan warned coldly.   "That's fine; I will not demand responsibility from you." Oralie accepted because, at this point, her only reason for wanting to live was to exact revenge on the person who had caused her so much pain. The one who had forced her to sacrifice valuable assets to survive. And from what little consciousness remained, she thought that someone like Nolan was better than the man who had bid on her before. And who knows? Maybe in the future, she won't encounter the handsome man in front of her again.   Nolan said nothing more; he approached Oralie and began to assist her. Honestly, Nolan couldn't resist the seductive and enticing figure of Oralie. And in his mind, if this girl was sent by the enemy to approach him, he would play along and have some fun with her. Afterward, dealing with her wouldn't be a problem.   They initiated with a slow kiss, progressing from hesitant caresses to an escalating intensity that heightened over time.   “You are a virgin.” Nolan exclaimed with a hint of panic, halting his actions when he discovered that the girl was still a virgin. This was something Nolan did not expect. Typically, the girls chosen by enemies to approach him had more experience.   "Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter now," Oralie replied wearily, trying to downplay the painful truth.   "Aren't you remorseful?" Nolan asked sincerely. If she wanted, he could stop in time.   "It's inevitable, but I have a strong reason to live. So... you don't need to feel sorry for me," Oralie said sincerely.   If Oralie said so, Nolan had no further objections. He regained his composure and continued his actions. That night, Oralie officially became a woman. She felt guilty towards her future husband, but for the sake of survival and revenge, she had to accept this sacrifice. …   At this moment, in the mansion that belonged to Mary's family,.   Mrs. Daisy Cook was sitting on the sofa, enjoying her coffee, when Jade came down from upstairs. Seeing her mother on the sofa, she walked closer and inquired.   "Mom, is there something you want to talk to me about?"   "This Saturday, do you have any plans?" Her mother asked eagerly.   "On that day, I'm going to attend a friend's birthday party." Jade hesitated as she added, "Mom, could you give me some money to buy a gift for my friend?"   "Forget it." Mrs. Daisy's voice was cold as she issued the command.   "But, Mom, please." Jade jumped up, raising her voice. "You've never forbidden or forced me to do anything before. Why are you acting strange today?"   Knowing her daughter misunderstood her, Mrs. Daisy tried to remain calm to explain:   "There's no birthday. You have to accompany me to a dinner gathering."   "So boring." Jade complained, slouching onto the sofa. "The gathering is yours; why drag me into it? Older people talk about things that don't interest young people like me."   "This is a very important matter. You must be present." Mrs. Daisy emphasized it sternly.   "What's so important?" Jade retorted, "Why does it involve me?"   "You're about to be introduced to your future husband's family, dear." Mrs. Daisy informed her, leaving Jade gaping. "Reconsider your behavior and actions. Don't cause any trouble to make me lose face." Hearing that, Jade immediately showed her opposition:   "I told you, Mom, I wouldn't get married. Why do you keep forcing me?" She raised her head defiantly, speaking almost as if shouting at her mother.   "Jade..."   Jade cut her off, not letting her mother speak. Her tone was scornful as she continued:   "Do you even know what kind of person Nolan Jackson is? He's not only cruel and ugly but also lame. I heard he even enjoys violence against women. Does Mom want her daughter to marry someone like him?"   "If you insist, I'll die to show you."   Jade screamed, adamantly opposing this arranged marriage. Why did she have to replace Oralie to marry Nolan? This was absolutely unacceptable. The more she thought about it, the more furious Jade became.   "Who told you such absurd things about Nolan Jackson?" Mrs. Daisy tried to control her emotions, seeking to understand the situation.   "Everyone out there is talking about him, Mom. I hear it all." Jade chuckled through tears and blamed, "You don't love me, do you?" Mrs. Daisy reflected for a moment and then spoke.   "We don't know the real truth. It's just rumors. You'd better not listen indiscriminately, threatening yourself."   "It must be true for people to talk, Mom." Jade argued loudly, "Why would they make up stories?"   Unable to present a better argument, Mrs. Daisy found another excuse to pressure Jade.   "Even if that's the case, so what? They have money and power, my dear. Nolan is the heir of the Jackson family. You'll have a comfortable life as his wife."   "Are you sure I'll be treated well in that family? Or will it not be as you expect?" Jade asked a very wise question.   Mrs. Daisy immediately responded with confidence, relying on some basis that wasn't clear. Maybe she's too delusional.   "Trust me, Jade. They won't dare to mistreat you. The promise between the Jack and Mary families is not a joke. It's like a curse. Anyone who goes against it will face consequences."   "What are you basing that on?"   "On intuition and my calculations, don't worry; I won't let you suffer. Whatever you want, I'll make sure you get it." Mrs. Daisy tried to reassure her daughter. She promised Jade that she wouldn't let her be disadvantaged. However, Jade still had no intention of submitting. "But I don't like it, Mom. Please don't force me." Jade expressed her thoughts directly, infuriating Mrs. Daisy.   "No more talking." Mrs. Daisy asserted with a threatening tone, "I told you to listen. If you dare to resist, I will cut off all your allowances. You will have to work to earn your own money."   "You can't do that, Mom." Jade exclaimed, showing strong resentment, "If you do that, I'll die to show you. When that time comes,   "Try it and see. I'll show you how weighty my words are. If you choose death, it's your loss." Mrs. Daisy showed no leniency in the face of her daughter's threats. She maintained her firm and stern demeanor.   "Mom, please reconsider." Jade pleaded, tightly holding Mrs. Daisy's hands. How could she marry someone as vile as the rumors suggested? It was hard to accept. It was all Oralie's fault.   "No turning back." Mrs. Daisy decisively ended the argument by saying, "On that day, you should prepare yourself to look elegant and beautiful. Don't embarrass me."   In the end, Jade reluctantly complied with Mrs. Daisy's wishes. Resisting would only bring her more suffering, and Jade didn't want to live a miserable life, being looked down upon by others.