"Ms. Lacey, it's bad news. The private room is empty. The waiter said they left over two hours ago.""Who arranged this dinner?" Renee asked urgently."It was... Mrs. Simmons, Ms. Simmons' mother. She said she wanted to introduce a big client and apologize to you.""Apologize to me? Without inviting me? What kind of apology is that?" Renee stood up, ignoring her foot pain. "Go to the manager right now. Tell them to save the security footage. Do you know any other drivers in the Grey household who are on good terms with you?""Yes.""Please ask one of them to drive me there.""No problem, Ms. Lacey."Hanging up, Renee threw on a coat and limped quickly to the mansion's entrance.The driver was already waiting.As soon as she got in, they sped towards the restaurant.Jackson, who was about to leave the Grey estate, saw Renee getting into the car and quickly dialed Carl's number.Carl was changing clothes, his shirt unbuttoned as he answered the phone."What is it?""Ms. Lace
Renee followed the signs to the private rooms, with David by her side, scanning their surroundings. "Ms. Lacey, what if the manager doesn't cooperate?" David asked. Renee halted outside a room, her face hardening with determination."Whether he cooperates or not, I'll make him cooperate today!" she declared. With that, she strode toward the hotel's fire alarm and forcefully pressed it.Instantly, alarms blared throughout the hotel, and everyone rushed toward the exits.Renee and David, however, headed in the opposite direction, searching inward. Even after checking the innermost rooms, they found no trace of Susanne and Patrick, not even a familiar face."Ms. Lacey, we still can't find them," David reported. Renee's palms grew sweaty, her body weakening.Could her rebirth not prevent the accident that had befallen Susanne and Patrick?As panic set in, a waiter burst out from a nearby door.Renee grabbed her, pointing at the door. "What's in there?""It connects to the k
It was Jackson.He lowered his leg and stepped aside.A man in all black approached, seemingly restraining something under the harsh fluorescent light, exuding danger.He glanced at Renee on the ground, then pulled her up.Renee winced in pain; her palms had been scraped raw from the fall.The man's eyes swept over her wounds, his deep voice resonating, "Don't move.""But my mom and Uncle Patrick..."Renee tried to pull away to rescue them from the garbage room.Carl signaled to David and Jackson, who rushed in.He forcefully pulled Renee behind him and said, "How can you save anyone like this? Wait here."Then, turning his signet ring, he approached the manager. His deep eyes gleamed with menace.Seeing who had arrived, the manager didn't dare make a sound despite his pain. "M-Mr. Grey."Carl looked down at the manager's sycophantic behavior and placed his polished Oxford shoe on the manager's twisted ankle."Ah!" The manager couldn't hold back his scream."Lies come wit
On the other end of the line, Annie laughed dismissively."What do I want? No wonder you're clueless. How could a woman from the gutter like your mother raise a decent daughter? She's turned you into nothing but a gold-digging tramp. As the future Mrs. Grey, shouldn't I clean up this mess?""You love taking what isn't yours? Well, I'll make you spit it all back out, just the way you took it!""Feeling bad now? You little witch! You deserve every bit of this!"Annie burst into laughter, as if wishing her words could turn into daggers to cut Renee to pieces.Where was the gentle, elegant image the public knew?Renee lowered her eyes, her voice cold. "After all that, you still haven't said what exactly you want.""It's simple. Give up your spot at Mandy's studio. If you do, I promise I'll treat you well from now on, and... your mother too."Annie's freshly manicured nails tapped against her phone screen, making a clicking sound.Contempt mixed with threat in her voice."Annie, I
Renee turned around, meeting Carl's cold eyes."No calling the police."His voice carried an undeniable authority.Under the harsh fluorescent light, his dark eyes accentuated his dangerously handsome face, piercing and severe.Renee clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling. Her face was pale and ashen as she struggled to ask, "Why? Just because they're from the Simmons family? Do we deserve this?""Why am I always the one sacrificed when something goes wrong?""EVERY SINGLE TIME..."Carl remained silent, his expression unnervingly calm.Renee, however, was like a hysterical madwoman. She lowered her gaze, staring at their shoes.A pair of sneakers and a pair of handcrafted leather oxfords - a stark reminder that they were never meant to intersect.She laughed bitterly at herself, mocking her own futile efforts."Fine. No police. I hope you never regret this decision, Uncle Carl."She snatched back her phone and stormed into the hospital room, slamming the door shut.Ja
Renee dismissed Chris's question and went straight to the purpose of her visit.Chris was stunned into silence.After a moment, he hesitantly asked, "Are you certain?""Yes.""Okay."Having achieved her objective, Renee left.Chris closed the door and immediately called Carl."Carl, Renee came to see me.""I know," Carl responded quietly.Chris paused, "You already suspected?""Mm.""Huh." Chris leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen. "Your niece can't outsmart you, but aren't you concerned she might do something reckless?""It's fine."Carl's tone was calm, almost as if he was prepared to support her.Chris grimaced, "Fine, fine. Your niece, your problem. But you didn't have to reveal my name, did you?""Reveal your name how?""Did you tell her I go by Christina? It's driving me crazy!""I didn't say anything," Carl said, his voice dropping.Chris's pen fell to the floor. Suddenly, the room felt cold.He glanced around nervously, "To be honest, I'm considering goi
Carl glanced up casually, but his gaze was intense and possessive.Renee looked stunning in a crimson cocktail dress with a brown leather belt. Her porcelain skin and elegant figure caught everyone's attention. She wore a delicate platinum chain around her slender neck, its subtle sparkle seeming to emanate from her skin, captivating everyone.Mrs. Simmons, Yvette Williams, noticed Carl's gaze and set down her teacup with unnecessary force, causing a clink that drew everyone's attention. Adjusting her branded silk shawl, Yvette turned to Susanne with a polished smile, her narrow eyes betraying a hint of mockery."Susanne, you've gone to such trouble. Your formal welcome is quite impressive. I hope we didn't disturb your rest last night?" Yvette's mention of the previous night caused Susanne to tremble slightly, but Renee squeezed her hand to offer support.Renee met Yvette's malicious gaze with a beaming smile. "Mrs. Simmons and Annie are dressed so formally, so naturally we at th
Yvette's hesitation piqued everyone's curiosity, and all eyes turned to Patrick and Susanne.Susanne's face turned pale, making her lipstick seem unnaturally bright.Patrick gripped her hand, his usually kind face showing discomfort.He wanted to say something, but he had been too drunk yesterday to remember anything. All he knew was what Susanne had told him.Without proof, no one would believe them.At that moment, Renee caught his eye, giving him a subtle signal.Patrick nodded imperceptibly, "It's nothing.""That's good. I'd feel terrible otherwise," Yvette said, patting her chest dramatically.Hearing this, Michael. frowned, "What happened?"Yvette put on a troubled expression. "I heard Patrick had a potential business partner he wanted to impress, so I arranged a dinner for them. Who knew Patrick and Susanne would drink so much? I had to apologetically send the client away.""Then I heard they fell into the dumpster area behind the restaurant. I hear it's full of flies