*RENEE*I frowned, "What are you talking about?"“Of course I already know that you aren’t related to Naomi and I also know you take her as your Grandmother.Catherine told her that you tied the knot with Marcelo because of her. After getting married, you became Marcelo’s slave, a laughingstock in the social circuit.Naomi, all anxious, rushed to see you."Andrew’s words slithered in, injecting venom into my heart and squeezing the air out of me.“Renee,the truth is, you hurt Naomi!"Andrew had sought me out for this very reason,he knew what had happened from the start.It was no coincidence that he came driving around KM Group knowing I would come running out and that I would need a ride.Otherwise, how could there have been such a coincidental encounter where I happened to bump into him?My lips quivered as I asked, "How... How could Catherine stoop so low?"Naomi didn’t deserve this!Naomi had also taken good care of Catherine.Even if their ties weren't tight, Catherine shouldn't have
*RENEE*"I wasn't on a date with him! Hold on, have you been having me followed?"My eyes widened in disbelief.How else could Marcelo have known about my encounter with Andrew?Suddenly, I felt herself being lifted effortlessly by Marcelo.My world spun, and before I knew it, I was pushed against the sofa.My body twisted uncomfortably, but it was his firm grip on my jaw that truly unsettled me.I felt trapped, like a bird ensnared."You regret marrying me,huh?”His voice was cold, his face dangerously close to mine. "Can't get over him? You felt forced into this marriage? Marrying me only because he betrayed you? Is that it, Renee?""Having me followed?"I was incredulous and furious. "Marcelo, have you no respect for privacy?"Anger filled me, intensifying her frustration.His own anger manifested in chilling calmness. "Upset because you're embarrassed?"“What the fuck..."I scoffed at the absurd
Although unsure of Marcelo’s intentions, Renee sensed it wasn't going to be favorable at all.Below, music played, and people danced wildly, their movements uninhibited.Some were drinking and dancing, others were intimately entwined.It was a scene of decadence."What are you suggesting?""Dance by that window. If you raise one hundred thousand dollars in bids, I'll persuade Wyatt for you."The Dove Island Club hosted a competition for female dancers every Saturday night, with the most popular dancer receiving a bonus.In this world, popularity often equated to financial gain, especially amongst the wealthy.“Marcelo, you want your woman to dance for others' amusement?" Renee was incredulous.Marcelo clarified, "Mrs. King, you are just my nominal wife, not my woman."Being his nominal wife and being his woman were distinctly different. The former could be a mere title, while the latter implied intimac
*RENEE*From the initial consultations to the preoperative preparations, and finally the surgery itself, everything was expedited efficiently.By ten o'clock that evening, the operating room door opened.The surgeon, clad in a green gown, removed his mask, revealing features that resembled Damian’s but with a more mature and scholarly air. His gold-rimmed glasses added to his refined appearance."Mr. Moore..."Before I could inquire,Wyatt interjected, "The surgery was a success."This prompt response addressed the concerns I had.I let out a sigh of relief, my prolonged tension dissipating as if I had been reborn.“Mr. Moore, I can't thank you enough for stepping in. Without Professor Wells, you were my only hope for Grandma,"Renee said, gratitude evident in her voice.“If you want to express thanks, you should thank your husband.It was indeed a rare occurrence for him to ask for my help,"Wyatt suggeste
*MARCELO*I have my schedule memorized by me because I am someone who rarely forgets things.After I left the styling,I attended an international conference.There,I sternly rebuked each participant.I was a man of few words, my reprimands were often non-verbal.My stare alone left many wondering what they'd done wrong. They were utterly baffled. Jason visited KM Group to see me.He sighed. "Marcelo, are you in a foul mood these days? Your executives are all complaining to me, accusing you of being heartless."Their complaints weren't entirely serious, I was sure.They just knew of Jason’s close ties to me and hoped he might uncover if they had inadvertently offended me, leading to my aloofness.I glanced up, uninterested. "Don't you have better things to do?""Yeah." Jason settled in a chair across from me. "Well, I need to enjoy the perks of being a boss. I guess you don't relate to that kind of pleasure."
*RENEE*Upon hearing words, I paused, momentarily taken aback. Then, it dawned on me that he was referring to me nearly losing my temper in front of Catherine just now.I haven’t yet decided how to respond.In that earlier encounter, whatever I might have said would have been to my disadvantage. The focus had shifted to me, an outsider, accused of usurping Catherine’s life.Catherine, as the legitimate Hudson heiress, naturally held the upper hand.Marcelo stepping in had been a reprieve for me.And now he wanted me to teach Catherine a lesson.I smiled.He was on my side.It was quite touching because I’ve never really had anyone on my side before.I looked at him and murmured quietly, "Thank you."I was also grateful he hadn't publicly embarrassed me that night at Dove Island club before so many eyes.It was surprising that he actually had some good in him.***********************MARCELO*I merely snorted in response.Thanking me?Her gratitude seemed like an afterthought to me.I o
**********"Does Andrew’s predicament please you?" he asked, assuming she'd be upset.Renee’s eyes spakled with delight.Seeing her ex-fiancé in distress brought her undeniable joy.The final item was unveiled, a set of diamond bracelets.The allure was immediate, eclipsing the previous items in desirability.Wealthy bidders prepared to vie for it, possibly as a lavish gift.Marcelo, without hesitation, raised his paddle. "Two billion."His bid cast a hush over the crowd."What the fuck? Two billion right off the bat? Did he even leave room for others to bid?" Someone whispered, "Who is that man? The one next to Renee!""I don't have a clue! But such extravagance... he's richer than Andrew!""That's Marcelo King,isn’t it?"“Impossible! Marcelo isn't favored in the King family and doesn't have that much money. Plus, Andrew didn't even greet him when he got here.That man can not be the same Marcelo that is supposedly an outcast in the King family.”As the auction wrapped up, the winning
************Ten minutes later.Renee sat in the back of the Maybach, her hands placed demurely on her knees, resembling a child caught in a misdeed."So, Mrs. King, was that your idea of a discussion?" Marcelo’s fingers drummed on the armrest.Renee, rolling her eyes, muttered, "Didn’t you leave?""I returned to fetch my wife," retorted Marcelo.But Renee was skeptical.She shot him a doubtful look, unconvinced by his pretext.In their sham marriage, trust was a luxury, and she suspected his true motive was to keep her away from Andrew."Well, I intended to have a constructive conversation with Catherine," She explained, redirecting the conversation and justifying her actions. "However, she was uncooperative, so I had to resort to that."Marcelo knew Renee was a woman of strong will and that intrigued him a lot.Catherine always ended up overpowered in Renee’s presence.Yet now, Renee portrayed herself as having no other option, sounding almost wronged.She was such a mischievous lia
“No, it wasn't me!"Catherine blurted out in a knee-jerk reaction. But as she realized the undeniable truth in the surveillance footage, she quickly shifted her story. "I just lost my balance. It was an accident. I didn't mean to hit the table!"Renee was unaware of Catherine’s presence near the champagne tower since she was out of her line of sight. Now, she was convinced that Catherine had intended the incident.Marcelo, however, was uninterested in Catherine’s excuses.“I'm giving you a chance to apologize," he said sternly. He pointed to another champagne tower and instructed Catherine, "Go stand there and pull the table yourself."His demand wasn't unreasonable. He wanted Catherine to understand the potential harm she had nearly caused Renee.“No, I can't!"Catherine refused, shaking her head in terror and shielding her face.She feared the glass could cut her, potentially scarring her face. She then tried to shift the blame to Renee. "You weren't even hurt. You can't do this to me
"A marriage alliance..." Vivian muttered, her voice trailing off.The news had caught her completely off guard.Catherine’s satisfied grin grew wider as she saw the shock etched on Vivian’s face.“Miss Lambert, do you still see yourself as the other woman? Are you ready to be outplayed by someone so cunning?"“Why are you telling me this?" Vivian quickly regained her composure. "You're with Andrew. We both understand his connection to Marcelo. If I marry into the King family, the Lamberts will support Marcelo. That can't be good for you."It didn't make sense for Catherine to be helping her.Catherine just shrugged. "I can't stand watching that Renee enjoy a good life. Isn't that reason enough?"************The birthday ceremony then began. Paul had two sons and a daughter. Today, his daughter was notably absent. She was the family's outcast, having married young and moved abroad with her husband. She had almost cut all ties with the Kings.Renee vaguely recalled that she had been cl
Renee watched Vivian with a knowing smile.Vivian, unable to utter the words, bit her silver teeth and continued to gaze at Marcelo, silently begging for his help.Considering her relationship with his brother, Marcelo reassured, "It's okay not to call her that."If his brother were still alive and married to Vivian, they would have referred to Vivian as "sister-in-law."Renee’s smile stiffened slightly, but it didn't matter to her. She didn't need Vivian’s acknowledgment as "sister-in-law," and the thought of it even disgusted her.She didn’t want Marcelo and Vivian to be seen as siblings.She wanted Vivian to have nothing to do with her husband.Was that too much to ask?Meanwhile,Jessica showed a keen interest in the piece Renee had composed and started discussing it with her.Finding the conversation uninteresting, Marcelo decided to step out to the balcony for a smoke. Seizing the opportunity, Vivian followed him.“Marcelo, are you angry with me for siding with your father today?"
Feeling a pit in her stomach,Renee was about to relinquish her hold when Marcelo spoke.“No, thank you." He refused Vivian directly.Marcelo waved in the direction of Damian, who was standing nearby. "Damian will keep you company.”Vivian and Damian were already acquainted.“Huh? Oh, sure. I'll take it from here,"Damian replied.He was startled at first, and then bewildered by the sudden task that was thrown in his face. But he didn't want Marcelo to leave Renee alone and go with another woman, so he agreed without a second thought.The smile froze on Vivian’s face, and her eyes darkened. She swallowed and quickly composed herself. "Well," she said, forcing another smile at Damian. "I'm afraid I will have to trouble you in the meantime."Damian paid no mind to her strained expression and carried on as he would with an old friend.“It's no trouble at all. We were just about to play dice, do you care to join us?Renee is quite good at it. Why don't you give it a try?"Damian offered.Wyat
At a high-end shopping center downtownNana’s clothes were easy to choose, as they only needed to be decent and comfortable. It didn't take long for Renee to pick out a set of clothes for her.Jessica, on the other hand, had a dignified temperament, but there was still a girlish look in her eyes. Renee spent over an hour, picking the right clothes for her.“Hello, please show this..."“Pack this dress for me!"Renee was about to ask the saleswoman to bring her the dress so that she could get a better look when a woman's arrogant voice interrupted her.“Miss Hudson, you also like that dress?" Alma, who just entered the shop arm-in-arm with a man, smiled at her smugly. "Too bad. Vivian wanted it for an elder of the King family."“Is that so?" Without hesitation,Renee snatched the dress from the saleswoman and strode straight to the cashier. "I'll take this dress, thank you."Whoever paid the bill owned the dress.Alma was stunned. She didn't expect that Renee would be so brazen!"Don't
Only by firmly embracing this woman did he truly feel her presence, as if this was the only way to ensure she wouldn't be taken away by anyone else.Seeing that her protests had no effect,Renee gave in.She remained seated on his lap, taking a sip of milk tea from the cup she had opened and then donned disposable gloves to begin eating the fried chicken.Why did she have the feeling that he had become so assertive without her even noticing? "Marcelo..."“What is it?" he replied without looking up from the documents, his profile still displaying its usual angular and somewhat aloof demeanor.“Do you like to…you know…have…make physical contact with me because you’re in love with me?”Renee had this question in mind but hesitated to voice it.She had noticed a change in his attitude, a growing closeness and indulgence between them. However, he had never explicitly expressed his feelings for her, even though she had made attempts to draw those wordsIn the end,Renee decided not to push fur
Renee frowned, clearly annoyed. But Vivian had presented a valid excuse for joining. Turning her down would make it look like she was causing unnecessary trouble.*************A comprehensive check-up had been set up by Wyatt, leaving Renee feeling a bit apprehensive when she spotted the progesterone and HCG test items on the list.Despite her assurance to Marcelo that she wasn't pregnant, he had taken the initiative to schedule tests to detect early pregnancy.This left Renee pondering whether Marcelo was secretly hoping for her to be carrying their child or if he was trying to prevent it from happening.It tugged at her heartstrings, as she couldn't help but lean towards the latter possibility.After all, they had consistently used birth control during their intimate moments, and Marcelo had never shown much interest in the prospect of parenthood. The only time he ever mentioned pregnancy and childbirth was during the heat of the moment, which Renee understood as mere empty words s
Renee didn't respond and continued upstairs, leaving Vivian behind in the room.Reaching the top of the stairs,Renee found herself regretting not having Chad escort Vivian out. She wondered if Vivian would leave on her own.Vivian stood there, seething with frustration.How dare Renee treat her like that?Chad appeared discreetly, hesitating.“Miss Lambert, would you like to stay, or..." His unfinished words implied that it was now time for her to leave.Vivian managed a strained smile. “Can I wait here for Marcelo? It's my first time at his house, and it seems inappropriate to leave so abruptly."“Of course,"Chad replied.In his mind, he found Vivian’s unannounced visit somewhat improper, given her lack of gifts or courtesies.In the meantime, a car stopped outside the main building of the mansion.The staff, once used to Marcelo being a workaholic, now observed him returning home on time each day.Entering the house, Marcelo immediately felt something was off.Before he could put hi
Catherine’s gloating tone was a stark contrast to her demeanor after being expelled from the University.“Oh, congratulations,"Renee responded, her tone indifferent.Why should Catherine’s pregnancy matter to her?She had no intention of spending any money on a baby shower gift.That money would be better spent elsewhere!Catherine, expecting a different reaction, noticed Andrew’s gaze lingering on Renee.Frustration washed over her face as her smile faded.“You better find a way to explain that past incident to Nana!" she snapped at Renee, then turned to Andrew. "Come on, let's show your parents the baby's report."“What incident?"Sarah inquired, puzzled.Renee just shook her head, feigning ignorance. "No idea what she's talking about."Yet, the need to explain things to Naomi was indeed pressing.Sarah, still confused, wondered aloud, "Is Catherine delusional? What the hell was going on in her head?"Renee speculated, "She's likely worried I still have feelings for Drew."Considerin