Reporter Riley froze, his face turning pale. He pointed at the screen frantically. "So what if it was? Doesn't this just prove that Renee gave me false information to frame Ms. Simmons?" The crowd nodded in agreement.Renee, however, calmly looked at Annie and asked, "Ms. Simmons, don't you know who really leaked this information to the reporter? Care to comment?"Annie panicked for a moment, then quickly said, "What does this have to do with me? It wasn't me!"Renee stared at her, "Ms. Simmons, did I say it was you? I'm just saying that we cleared everything up in the dean's office that day. So why didn't you clarify when the reporters and fans misunderstood me?"Annie couldn't answer and resorted to crying to cover up.Renee said kindly, "Ms. Simmons, please don't cry. It makes it seem like I'm bullying you. Why don't you just explain things publicly for me?"Asking Annie to explain for her now was practically torturing her. Annie clearly didn't want to, so she looked at Carl
Renee's calmness caught everyone by surprise.This person, once the most marginalized in the Grey family, was no longer timid or speaking with a lowered head.She stood on the stage, standing for herself.Her gaze was clear and determined, sweeping over Carl's cold and dangerous face without any trace of retreat.As the situation turned, all cameras focused on Reporter Riley and Annie.Riley, feeling uncertain, instinctively looked towards Annie.Annie frowned slightly, giving him a meaningful look.Riley loudly rebutted, "Ms. Lacey, you can't slander Ms. Simmons and me just because I asked you a few questions!"Annie, with reddened eyes, said, "Renee, I know you're angry that the school secured a competition spot for me. I just wanted an apology. I've already agreed to settle with the police. If you insist on this, I'll withdraw. I just ask that you stop making trouble. This is putting the Grey family and Carl in a difficult position."Using retreat as a strategy was Annie's most comm
However, Annie felt overwhelmed by the skeptical gazes from those around her. If she couldn't provide an explanation, her carefully maintained image would crumble.Annie pressed her lips together, a glint flashing in her eyes. She said, "Renee, have you forgotten why we're here? We're here to discuss your role in instigating someone to harm me. I gave you the chance to apologize and reach a settlement. Only with a settlement can you avoid trouble."When playing the victim didn't work, she resorted to threats.Unfortunately, she was wrong again.Renee turned to look at the female officer.The officer spoke seriously, "Ms. Simmons, we have investigated the man who intended to harm you. He has no criminal record, only a daughter who needs money for medical treatment. We checked his account and found a deposit from an overseas account that matches the surgery cost. It's only a matter of time before we trace the owner of that account. But we can clearly state that Ms. Lacey doesn't hav
"Mr. Michael Grey.""He was the one who firmly believed in my innocence and arranged this press conference for me.""Although I'm not related to the Grey family by blood, they... treat me like their own and would never harm me.""Thank you, thank you very much."Renee bowed deeply to Mr. Grey.No matter how angry Mr. Grey was, he could only smile and nod at the crowd, rendered speechless.But this move quickly defused the Grey family's public relations crisis.The press conference ended.Renee quickly caught up with the female officer, saying gratefully, "Thank you. If you hadn't found evidence against Calvin Henderson, I would have..."The officer asked her colleagues to take the others to the car first, then looked at Renee with difficulty."It wasn't me. It was Carl Grey's doing. Those girls were all found by Mr. Grey's people in just one night. Before, when we approached them, no one dared to get involved with the Henderson family.""What did you say?" Renee was so shock
Annie's face turned pale. As Carl reached for the USB drive, she snatched it, then "accidentally" dropped it on the ground.Finally, she "unintentionally" crushed the USB drive with her high heel.She apologized with a regretful expression, "I'm sorry, Carl. It wasn't on purpose. I just wanted to take it for you."Renee looked at the shattered USB drive and turned to leave.Whether Carl saw the contents or not didn't matter. What mattered was that Annie had shown her guilt.Everyone had seen it. That was enough.As she left the hall, Susanne caught up with her."Are you crazy, giving the evidence to Annie?""Mom, did you really think we could protect the evidence?" Renee asked rhetorically."You could have just played the audio earlier. Then everyone would have known Annie's true face.""Do you want to stop living in the Grey family? Do you think Carl would let us off?"Susanne underestimated Carl's feelings for Annie.In her past life, she had died because of this relation
When Renee regained consciousness, she found herself in the hospital.Her eyes fluttered open, but her mind was still foggy. She heard voices conversing by her bed."How is she?"A deep, familiar voice with a hint of danger."Mr. Grey, she's fine now. I stake my career on it - Ms. Lacey's hand will fully recover."Hand?Hearing this word, Renee slowly awakened, her half-open eyes focusing on the name tag of a white-coated figure by her bed."Head of Neurology, Dr. Francis Miller"A familiar name.She remembered.In her past life, when Annie cut her hand while cooking, Carl had anxiously called in the best neurologist to examine her.That same day, Renee had gotten an opportunity to redesign jewelry for a major brand, but her hand's nerves were severed by a fleeing robber.She had begged the hospital to find the best neurologist, only to be told the doctor had been taken by Carl to treat Annie's minor cut.She had called Carl, pleading desperately, but he had said, "Can't you stop overr
Back at school, Renee entered her dorm room and found that her roommates were still out, likely attending interviews as mentioned in the group chat. She opened her locker and squinted at the contents inside. Just as she was about to reach for something, she heard a voice behind her."Renee."Startled, Renee turned around to see Wendy rushing up to her, slapping herself hard."Renee, I'm so sorry!""I was scared of being poor, and Reporter Riley said he just wanted to use your account to say a few things. I believed him."My mom always complains that college is a waste of money, which is why I fell for it. Please have pity on me."Wendy continued slapping herself while attempting to emotionally manipulate Renee.Renee remained silent, pretending to be stunned as she watched Wendy repeatedly slap herself.Wendy didn't dare stop, only ceasing when her face turned red from the slaps. Renee finally stepped in."Stop hitting yourself. It's too late for apologies now."She looked do
As the sound of the door locking clicked behind her, Renee already knew who was approaching without even turning around. The tea canister in her hand slipped and rolled across the floor.The canister made a full circle before finally stopping in front of a pair of men's leather shoes.Renee hurried to pick it up, but before she could, a pair of hands slid around her waist from behind, cold as a serpent, tightening their grip.She found herself trapped against the tea table, and the heat from above slowly spread down to her ears, causing her breathing to become erratic.His lips brushed against her ear, his voice deep and laced with a hint of amusement. "Do you enjoy being led around like this so much?”The warm breath tickled her ear like a feather, making Renee feel itchy.She wanted to escape, but as soon as she moved, the pressure behind her grew more intimidating, forcing her to stay still.The presence behind her enveloped Renee, and she could even feel the heat of his chest thr