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
The touch sent an electric current through her body, making her tremble uncontrollably.Noticing this, Carl’s gaze deepened. He leaned in closer, and a drop of tea from his collar dripped onto her stomach.Renee trembled even more visibly.A dark desire surged in Carl's eyes as he stared directly at her, his gaze unapologetically filled with want."Just as sensitive as that night.""No!” Renee shot back."Is that so? You weren't saying that then," he chuckled, a wicked glint in his expression.The thumb with the ring on it brushed away the drop of tea on her abdomen. The smooth crystal felt unusually warm against her skin—comfortable yet strangely unsettling.Renee's abdomen contracted slightly, and she let out a soft gasp, which Carl quickly silenced by kissing her again."Mmm…"Carl was out of control!If the Grey family discovered them, her life would be screwed!But Renee’s strength was no match for his, and he effortlessly lifted her, pressing his lips to hers.Suddenly, there was
After brewing the tea, Renee carried it into the living room. It was a rare occasion to have so many people gathered together, and even the usually stern face of Michael had softened with a few smiles.Once she had served the tea, Renee quietly stood behind Susanne and Patrick, blending into the background, almost invisible.Just then, Carl walked in, his collar still damp from the spilled tea.Linda noticed and asked, "Carl, you're usually so meticulous. How did you get your clothes dirty?"Carl sat down, picked up his tea cup, and glanced at Renee before replying indifferently, "The cat brushed against me."Linda sipped her tea and chuckled, "That's an interesting cat. Did it manage to hit your lips too?"Carl blew on his tea and casually responded, "Mm. It's quite strong."Upon hearing this, Renee immediately lowered her head, feeling her face grow hotter by the second.After some casual conversation, Mr. Grey mentioned that he was going to take a nap, and the others began t
Wedding dress?When Renee heard those two words, she couldn’t help but feel the irony.Counting the time Annie had tried on wedding dresses, this was the second time she was involved. And both times, it was for Carl’s fiancee.It was as if these weddings couldn’t happen without her as a witness.She glanced at Ruby, who was smiling radiantly, her joy pure and simple. Unlike Annie, Ruby wasn’t manipulative; her invitation was sincere.It was precisely because of this that Renee felt like the bad guy.She was about to come up with an excuse to refuse when her phone buzzed.A sudden sense of foreboding hit her.Sure enough, it was a message from Susanne.“Mr. Grey has asked me to help prepare for Carl and Miss Sanders’ engagement party.”The weight of it crushed her.Whether Susanne would offend both the Sanders and Grey families—or remain unharmed—all hinged on Renee’s response.Her hands trembled as she typed out a reply:“Got it.”Ruby seemed to notice something was off a
Ruby didn’t notice anything unusual about Renee’s demeanor. She pulled out her phone and said excitedly, “Look, we took so many photos! I’m thinking of using some of them for the engagement party and wedding. Can you help me pick a few?”Renee glanced at Ruby’s phone. The photos of Ruby and Carl, both smiling brightly, felt like tiny stabs.Ruby, a young woman nurtured by love and privilege, carried an effortless elegance. Her joy seemed pure and contagious. Her smile was magnetic, lighting up every photo.Even Carl, standing beside her, looked more at ease than usual. The two of them looked perfect together—every photo captured their harmony.Renee, on the other hand, felt awkward, unsure where to direct her gaze.“They’re all great. You two should decide,” she said with a forced smile, quickly steering the conversation elsewhere. “By the way, why did you come to see me?”Ruby clapped her hands as if just remembering. “Oh, right! I almost forgot, I got so excited. The tie clip y
Hearing her mention fire, Carl froze.His mind drifted to the dreams he’d had countless times—the little girl who hated him, and the ending that always played out the same. In every dream, the girl ran into the flames, holding the hand of a woman whose face was always blurred. The two of them would smile at each other before disappearing into the fire.Taking advantage of his hesitation, Renee broke free from Carl’s grip, putting a few steps of distance between them.Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and desperation. “Uncle Carl, I can’t win against you. I know that. But I’m still a person. Haven’t you and your father humiliated me enough? Do you really need everyone pointing at me, calling me trash, for you to finally be satisfied?”Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.Carl reached out, but all he caught was the coat draped over her shoulders.Renee stopped briefly, pulling off the coat without looking back. She continued walking until her figure disappe
Carl didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and led her into the car.Outside the window, the scenery blurred as they drove, snow starting to fall again after some time. When the car finally stopped and the door opened, a fresh layer of snow blanketed the ground.As Renee stepped out, a cashmere coat was draped over her shoulders. The faint scent of Carl surrounded her, pulling her back into reality. She found herself standing in front of a villa.The sprawling garden, now blanketed in white, held a dreamlike beauty, hinting at how enchanting it must look when the flowers were in full bloom. Renee could almost picture it clearly.Because this was the house where she had set herself on fire in her previous life.Eight years of marriage had turned this beautiful home into a gilded cage.Staring at the house, her voice was icy as she asked, “What’s the meaning of this?”Carl’s gaze darkened slightly, his tone calm. “I’ll have someone pick up your belongings f
Joey assumed Renee had forgotten and went to the kitchen to retrieve the item. She placed it in front of her—a sleek yet extravagant men’s watch.Renee recognized it instantly. It was Carl’s watch.She knew because she had a matching women’s version.But she clearly remembered tidying up the kitchen the previous night, and the watch hadn’t been there. Unless… the person who had been with her during her fever was Carl.Levi hadn’t explicitly said the soup was his doing; she had simply assumed.As the dreamlike memories replayed in her mind, Renee’s hand trembled, spilling the ginger tea.Joey quickly grabbed some napkins to clean up. “What’s wrong?”Renee turned to the window, then suddenly grabbed the watch and dashed out.Inside the elevator, she watched the descending numbers, silently counting down. Her hand braced against the wall, her emotions a tangled mess. She had told herself over and over to let go, to stop pursuing this path.But she had to know the truth.She had
Joey pointed to Levi’s suit, drawing Renee’s attention to it. She suddenly realized that Levi’s suit was from the same brand as the one Carl had been wearing when he had brought her home, his face covered. Aside from a few subtle differences, they looked almost identical to the average person. Levi and Carl also had similar builds, which explained why Joey had mistaken him. “Joey, it’s not what you think,” Renee quickly tried to explain. But Joey wasn’t listening. She stood protectively in front of Renee, as though shielding her from making a bad decision. “Renee! You promised me you’d never go back to your ex!” “Ex?” Levi repeated thoughtfully, glancing at Renee with a faint smile tugging at his lips. Renee felt a wave of frustration, like she might faint from embarrassment despite being on the mend. Joey, oblivious, continued in a righteous tone, “Sir, what’s the point of showing up now? When Renee needed someone the most, you ignored her. Being sweet after the f
Warm water slid down Renee’s throat, easing the discomfort. She gradually calmed down as a gentle thumb brushed her lips, as if the person in front of her were handling something precious.He leaned closer, his heated breath falling softly on her face.Instinctively, Renee held her breath. Even though her vision was blurry, she could feel how close he was—so close that the slightest movement would bring their lips together.Just then, the medicine’s effect fully kicked in. Renee’s body went limp, and she collapsed onto the couch.The next moment, a tall figure leaned over, pulling her tightly into his arms. His heartbeat thudded steadily in her ears, a sound that was oddly comforting.In her half-conscious state, she felt a soft touch on her forehead.“Sleep,” a low voice murmured, deep and magnetic, lulling her into the darkness.When Renee opened her eyes again, she saw a white ceiling above her. She reached up to touch her forehead—thankfully, the fever had broken.But her b
“What do you mean by that? I’m not so old that I can’t run this family anymore!” Michael’s voice was sharp, his pride bristling. He hated being reminded of his age—it was his greatest fear.Carl’s tone was flat and unaffected. “Your health should come first.”Michael froze in his seat, his face turning pale with anger. But as a man who had managed the vast Grey family empire for years, he quickly regained his composure.He pulled out two documents and placed them in front of Carl, smoothly shifting the topic. “Here’s the list for the New Year’s gala invitations. Take a look.”Carl opened the list. It was almost identical to previous years—except for one addition: Susanne.“She’s your sister-in-law, after all,” Michael said coldly. “No matter what, she’s still part of the Grey family. Now that Linda is gone, it’s time for her to start contributing.”“Is that so?” Carl’s dark eyes locked onto Michael’s.Michael then gestured to the second document, his gaze sharp and calculating.
Carl sat silently through the night.At dawn, Ruby slowly opened her eyes. Seeing him still by her side, she felt both happy and guilty.Weakly, she said, “Carl, I’m sorry for making you stay with me all night.”Carl snapped out of his thoughts and slowly stood up. “I’ll get the doctor.”As he turned to leave, Ruby grabbed his hand.“Carl, I really like you. Can we be together? Of course, you can say no,” she said softly.Carl lowered his gaze to her, his expression unreadable. He gently pulled his hand away. “Let the doctor check on you first.”Watching him walk away, Ruby bit her pale lips, her eyes welling up.The doctor came to examine her and confirmed that she was out of danger. Soon after, she was transferred to a regular hospital room.Carl helped her lie down and said in a low voice, “Your brother will be here soon.”Ruby immediately grabbed his arm, her tone slightly anxious. “Carl, are you leaving?”“I got a message from home. I need to go back,” Carl replied, his