Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 556

Clayton's residence.

When Jade woke up, she stared blankly at the ceiling.

The place looked somewhat familiar.

Thinking Brandon had smuggled her out of the country, she shot up in terror, her chest heaving as she frantically scanned the room.

The door opened, and Susanna stood there, glaring at Jade with cold resentment.

Jade froze. Before she could process what was happening, Susanna's face instantly shifted into a mask of pure, hypocritical sweetness. "Clayton, Jade is awake," she said with a bright smile.

To Jade's absolute shock, Clayton walked into the room.

He was carrying a bowl of oatmeal, which he set on the bedside table. His expression remained icy, making it impossible to read his mood.

It took Jade a long time to recover. Her heart pounded furiously before she finally accepted reality: she had been saved. Clayton had saved her.

"You were almost taken away. Clayton saved you," Susanna said with a plastic smile.

Jade took a deep breath and looked at him. "Thank you..."

Clayton didn't acknowledge her thanks. He just glanced at Susanna. "Susanna, go eat first. I need to speak with her."

Susanna rolled her eyes at Jade reluctantly before finally leaving the room.

Jade wanted to warn him that Susanna's identity was a complete fabrication, but knowing Clayton wouldn't believe her anyway, she decided to keep her mouth shut.

"Don't overthink this. I saved you because of Reginald," Clayton said, pulling an envelope from his pocket. "Before Reginald passed away, his health was already failing. He pushed through his illness to leave this letter for you."

Clayton had been just as surprised that on his deathbed, Patriarch Reginald White had thought of Jade.

The shock in Jade's eyes morphed into fear. Her fingers trembled as she hesitated to touch the envelope.

"Reginald said that you aren't inherently bad, but Brandon plays dirty, and you would inevitably become his collateral damage. Since you're of White blood, he asked me to keep you alive," Clayton stated.

Without waiting for her reaction, Clayton turned and walked out.

Brandon was an illegitimate child born from his mother's sordid, underhanded schemes, but Jade was different...

Reginald's once elegant and forceful handwriting had become weak and shaky, yet he still meticulously outlined a path forward for her.

He predicted that White Corporation would face dangerous times after his death. Nicole had the ability to sustain it, but she needed time and allies.

The path Reginald had charted for Jade was to wholeheartedly and selflessly assist Alicia. Doing so would ultimately save herself.

Alicia was inherently kind and maintained clear boundaries of loyalty and revenge. If Jade was sincere, Alicia would absolutely protect her.

With Alicia's backing, Brandon and The Gentleman would have to think twice before touching her.

Tears splashed onto the paper. Jade never imagined that her grandfather would think of her, let alone secure an escape route for her, in his final moments.

She had always believed Nicole was the only one in his eyes.

In that instant, Jade realized how astronomically wrong she had been.

If she hadn't spent her life envying Nicole, if she hadn't been twisted by Brandon's psychological manipulation, if she had simply loved her grandfather and stood by him and Nicole when Brandon attacked... she wouldn't be in this desperate, unsalvageable nightmare today.