As soon as Renee returned to school, she received a message from the director about submitting her project. She headed straight to the director's office and was surprised to find Annie already there, along with some other contestants from different grades.Originally, each grade was supposed to have one representative in the competition, but in their graduating class, there were two spots. After all, Carl had a lot of influence and power.Renee approached, but before she could say anything, the director began to scold her."Renee, you're the only one who hasn't submitted your work yet. Stop holding everyone back. Miss Simmons was the first to submit hers."Annie smiled modestly, and Renee knew exactly how Annie operated. If she argued, Annie would just start putting on an act. Renee didn't want to give Annie the satisfaction of putting on a show for everyone.So, she calmly said, "Sorry. I'll show it to you now."She opened her bag and took out her drawing board, but when she ope
On her way back to the dormitory, Renee was stopped by someone.Jackson approached her politely and said, "Ms. Lacey, Mr. Grey is waiting for you in the car. It's time for your follow-up appointment for your hand."Renee let out a cold laugh. "My hand is useless now, isn't it? This way, Uncle Carl doesn't even need to go to such lengths to make me withdraw from the competition."Confused, Jackson responded softly, "Ms. Lacey, Mr. Grey, he...""Uncle Carl should spend more time with his girlfriend instead. It would be better for their relationship. I have other things to do."Renee tried to walk around Jackson, but he quickly blocked her path."Ms. Lacey, Mr. Grey is waiting for you," he reminded her, his tone firm.Realizing that Jackson would continue to remind her until she went, Renee took a deep breath. "Let's go."Jackson nodded and gestured for her to follow. Renee got into the car without noticing the excited figure approaching from a distance, who suddenly stopped upon
Carl walked over to the window, opened it, and tossed a cigarette to his friend. He lit his own cigarette with one hand while his friend accepted the cigarette but didn't light it.His friend watched Carl through the swirling smoke and asked, puzzled, "Who exactly is this woman? She's important enough for you to personally accompany her? When Annie was hurt, you didn't even stay with her for one night. That morning, I saw you coming out of a different room. Was it hers?""Yeah," Carl replied bluntly.His friend nearly stumbled in surprise.He quickly walked over to face Carl and noticed the marks on Carl's collar. At first, he couldn't believe it, but upon closer inspection, he was stunned.Carl? With hickeys? Impossible!Carl had been with Annie for three years, and in all that time, there had never been any sign of physical affection between them—not even holding hands.His friend had known Carl since high school. While Carl went into finance, he pursued medicine, only to disc
With tears in her eyes, Annie looked at Renee. "I'm sorry, Renee. You go first. I can wait."She bit her lip hard, tears streaming down her face as she repeatedly glanced at Carl.Renee pressed her lips together and started to move forward, but a hand suddenly gripped her shoulder firmly, a blood-red ring glinting with a dangerous, predatory gleam.Carl's voice was cold. "Annie goes in first."Renee spun around, glaring at Carl.Annie looked at Carl affectionately. "Thank you, Carl. I... I can't move very well right now. Can you help me, please?"Without hesitation, Carl stepped forward, scooped Annie into his arms, and carried her into the examination room.Renee watched as the door slowly closed. Just before it shut, Annie turned her head and gave Renee a triumphant smile.Always, always, Annie came first.Renee crumpled up her examination slip and tossed it into the trash, then turned and walked away.Her hand had healed a long time ago; the bandages were just a ruse to mi
"Why don't you give it a squeeze and see for yourself?" Renee suggested, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed on the rib.One of the roommates reached out to touch her, but another quickly pulled her hand back."Renee, thank you for coming. Our dorm was never complete before. We always envied the other dorms.""Yeah, and we never understood why you were always hanging out with Wendy. After all, she... Ow!""Nothing, let's just enjoy the meal," another roommate quickly intervened, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.Renee looked at them and smiled. "I know what you're trying to say. Honestly, I should be the one thanking you.""Why?" the more naive roommate asked, genuinely puzzled."I trusted the wrong person for so long, and yet you still invited me to this dinner. Thank you."And thank you for helping me in my past life."We're just glad you see it now. Wendy had a copy of your key and would often come to our dorm when you weren't around. She said you were okay with it,
Renee shifted her attention to the final roommate, who appeared to be in a state of panic. "I... I'm not in trouble too, am I?" they stammered.Renee, feeling slightly dizzy from the alcohol, waved her hand dismissively. "No, you're fine."With a soft thud, she rested her head on the table, succumbing to the effects of the drinks.Her three roommates burst into laughter."I had no idea Renee was not only beautiful but also kind of cute.""If Wendy hadn't spread rumors, Annie would never have become the campus queen instead of Renee.""Oh, it's already 8:30! We should head back to the dorm."The three of them cheerfully helped Renee up, and together, they made their way back.Renee leaned on her roommates, not completely drunk but feeling an unexpected sense of comfort.The four of them, slightly tipsy and carefree, enjoyed the evening, with a surprising warmth in the autumn breeze.Suddenly, one roommate looked up and exclaimed, "Wow, what a beautiful night sky!"The other t
Renee quickly grasped Wendy's hand, saying, "Of course, I forgive you. I know you didn't have a choice, and I trust you." Renee's smile was warm and genuine, despite the lingering scent of alcohol.Wendy nodded vigorously, but inwardly, she scoffed. How naive. She's still holding onto those small favors I did for her. No wonder she's so easily fooled!Putting on a concerned expression, Wendy asked, "Renee, I heard you're planning to withdraw from the competition? Honestly, it's fine. We can just focus on finding a stable job. No need to push yourself too hard.""Wendy, as my best friend, shouldn't you be encouraging me instead?""I... I'm just worried you're taking on too much, that's all. I didn't mean anything else," Wendy stammered."Speaking of the competition, I noticed someone tampered with my design drafts. You have a key to my dorm room, don't you?" Renee asked, probing her.Wendy immediately started to cry, looking aggrieved. "You think it was me? We've been friends for so man
Susanne and Patrick weren't the type to keep secrets, but Renee had deliberately not told them the competition date because she didn't want them to make a big fuss. That left only one person: Travis. Just yesterday, he had called to wish her good luck. She hadn't expected him to surprise her today.Her roommates eagerly opened the box, revealing a long, silken gown in a shade of smoky lavender. The dress featured hand-sewn beads on the bodice, with pearls of varying sizes that shimmered gently under the light. The waistline flowed into two layers of ultra-thin silk, one darker, one lighter, creating a dreamy, ethereal effect."Wow, this dress is glowing even under our dorm lights! Imagine how it'll sparkle on stage!" One of her roommates mimicked an excited voice, making Renee laugh. "Stop laughing and get dressed! We need to do your makeup too."...An hour later, Renee stood like a doll as her roommates admired her. "You look stunning, Renee. If I weren't a woman, I'd probably fa
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