It wasn't until Mandy said, "Let's continue with the competition," that the tension eased.The host quickly shifted gears. "Thank you, contestants. Please take a moment to rest while we invite the next participant to the stage."Renee descended from the stage with a smile, but Annie quickly followed behind her."Did you know all along?" Annie demanded."Ms. Simmons, what are you talking about? I don't understand. That wasn't your work, so what could I possibly know?" Renee replied, feigning confusion.Annie glanced around to ensure no one was listening and lowered her voice. "Why did the necklace break?"Renee smiled faintly. "You didn't even bother to adjust the specs after copying my design? You can't even plagiarize properly?"With that, she turned to walk away, but after a few steps, she paused and looked back at Annie. "Didn't Uncle Carl warn you not to overdo it when he gave you the design? That ring was truly awful.""Renee Lacey!" Annie was livid, nearly losing her pois
Renee accepted the heavy trophy, her expression blank, as she gazed out at the audience. It felt like an invisible hand was clutching her throat, suffocating her, and reminding her of the challenge of escaping a predetermined fate—especially when facing an opponent with powerful support.But in the next moment, she tightened her grip on the trophy. In her past life, she hadn't even qualified to compete, but now she held a trophy that threatened Annie's victory. Finally, the cursed fate that had haunted her was starting to shift.One day, her desired path would align with her destiny.Renee lifted her head and smiled at the audience, especially at the owner of those dark eyes—Carl Grey.No one could bring her down anymore, unless... she fell on her own.In the audience, Jackson approached Carl and leaned in to report quietly, "Mr. Grey, it's done.""Good."Carl picked up his teacup, locking eyes with Renee, narrowing his gaze to hide his displeasure. Her dazzling smile under the
She might not have intended to target Carl directly, but being photographed next to him would undoubtedly lead to the picture going viral online, giving her the exposure she desperately needed.Lucy understood that people are naturally self-serving, so she wasn't wrong to seize this opportunity.Renee stepped aside and smiled at Lucy. "Go ahead. The ink-wash effect of your dress will complement Mr. Grey in the photo."She even gave Lucy a reason.Lucy hesitated for a moment, then thanked Renee and moved to stand on Carl's other side.Renee positioned herself at the far end.As everyone settled into position for the photo, Carl raised his hand to block the camera.In a low voice, he said, "The contestants should be in the center."With that, he subtly removed Annie's hand from his arm and moved to the far end, right next to Renee.Instinctively, Renee tried to distance herself from Carl, but he suddenly placed his hand on her back.His warmth seeped through the thin fabric, ca
This turn of events was unexpected for Renee. Annie was determined to discredit her and would stop at nothing.Annie knew exactly who had copied whom, yet she was now trying to frame Renee for plagiarism. The word "inspiration" had been cleverly chosen.The reporter reminded everyone that Renee had seen Annie's design drafts before the competition. If Renee confessed to "borrowing," it would imply that Annie was superior and that her own entry needed to draw from Annie's work.If Renee denied it, she would appear stubborn in refusing to admit the truth, casting doubt on the legitimacy of her second-place finish.Annie, attempting to play the peacemaker, chimed in, "Oh, please don't say that. If Renee found inspiration in my work, I'm honored."Then, with feigned sadness, she added, "But the reason I included the sun in my design was because I see the sun as a symbol of Mr. Grey. It's his light that makes everything so wonderful. Knowing that my idea was borrowed is disheartening."
"Don't move," Travis whispered.Renee looked at him, confused. "What's the matter?""You have some confetti in your hair. Let me get it out."As Travis reached out to delicately remove the stray pieces of confetti, his fingers intertwined with her hair, his gaze shifting as he moved in closer to catch a whiff of her hair's fragrance.Realizing their proximity, Renee blushed and quickly shielded her head with her hands."I... I forgot to wash my hair. Does it smell weird?"Travis let out a light chuckle. "No, it smells nice.""Big brother, you're really good at teasing," Renee said, feeling a bit embarrassed."Come on, my car is by the side entrance.""Okay."They walked together, side by side, and Renee instinctively twirled a lock of her hair—a small, shy gesture she did without thinking.Meanwhile, from a distance, Carl observed this with a stern expression, his aura growing increasingly dark and ominous. With a sharp click, he ignited a cigarette, taking a deep drag befor
At the restaurant.After the waiter served the dishes, Renee noticed that all the food on the table was her favorite. She looked across at Travis, her heart filled with warmth and gratitude."Travis, I can't believe you remembered all of this."Travis smiled gently as he ladled a bowl of soup for her. "Of course, I remember. I also know that you have a big appetite, but you hold back at the dinner table at home."Renee looked down at the steaming bowl of soup in front of her, feeling a wave of emotion wash over her. She couldn't help but lift her gaze to the kind and attentive man sitting across from her.She couldn't ignore his fate any longer.In the end, Travis lost everything. He was exiled to a distant country and was never able to return, not even when Linda wished to go back home before she died. Her wish was denied by just one person—Carl.Carl was a ruthless man who showed no mercy. But in her previous life, Renee had been under Carl's tight control and only had fragmen
Once again, he smeared her reputation to protect Annie.In her previous life, Carl had silenced the rumors by using her after a single night together. He had also used her hard work to pave the way for Annie's success.And now, it was happening again.Renee lost her appetite. She put down her phone, feeling helpless, and turned to look out the window, struggling to catch her breath.Travis, sitting across from her, noticed her change in demeanor and frowned. "What's wrong? You look a bit pale."Renee took a sip of water, trying to steady herself. "It's nothing. I'm just full."This had nothing to do with Travis, and she didn't want to involve him.Travis watched her for a moment, then gently reached out. "You're all grown up, yet you still manage to get food on your lips.""What?" Renee asked, confused.Before she could understand, Travis leaned in and wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb.Taken aback, Renee instinctively pulled away. "I-I can do it myself.""It's al
When Renee returned to her dorm, her roommates greeted her with a cake and flowers they had prepared in advance."Congratulations! Welcome back!""Thank you."Renee felt touched as she accepted the flowers from her roommates."Renee, I watched the video where you explained your jewelry design. I don't know why, but it almost made me cry.""And when you stood up to Annie, it was so satisfying to watch.""By the way, don't stress about the online drama. We've shared all your past grades, and most people can see the truth. Annie's "accidental" like? I'm sure she regrets it now."Surprised, Renee quickly checked her phone.Although the online discussions hadn't completely turned around, more and more people were starting to see through the situation."Look at her official school record. Are you seriously suggesting Renee slept with every single professor? There are also female professors on that list.""Accidental like? Some people are just incredibly dense. If they had any commo
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