Why is Renee always so popular?The next moment, Wendy lifted her tear-filled eyes and looked at the male colleague beside her. With a slight sway, she fell into his arms, hiding her face.“I’m sorry, I get a bit carsick sitting in the back,” she said softly.The man, faced with a woman throwing herself into his arms, had no resistance and immediately smiled, wrapping his arm around her.“It’s okay, I’ll hold you steady.”“Thank you, you’re so kind.” Wendy forced herself to sound grateful, determined to tarnish Renee’s image in Carl’s mind.…Inside the cab, Renee exhaled in relief. “Thanks, Lucy.”Lucy patted her chest and explained, “No problem, but be careful with that friend of yours. She went around telling everyone this morning that she’s your best friend. A lot of male colleagues are trying to get close to you through her.”“I know,” Renee replied, her expression calm. Wendy’s behavior didn’t surprise her at all.“Oh, by the way, I saw Wendy chatting with a male collea
"Renee, please don’t say that. Uncle Carl has his reasons for everything. Just take care of yourself while I’m away," Travis replied hastily, trying to reassure her.So she was right.Renee clenched her phone, a wave of anger surging through her. Carl was so ruthless that he was willing to remove anyone who helped her, just to protect Annie.Travis had been sent on so many business trips, one after another, gradually being pushed away from the core of the Grey family’s power, until he, the eldest grandson of the family, was eventually exiled abroad. Carl truly was a cold and heartless man.Standing in the chilly wind, Renee lowered her head and said softly, “I’m sorry, Travis. It’s my fault you’re in this situation.”“Don’t be silly. You’re overthinking this. Maybe Uncle Carl is just really busy negotiating with Ms. Johnson from Hillside Estates, and he can’t go himself, so he’s sending me instead,” Travis said, still defending Carl.But Renee picked up on the familiar name.“Ms
The man hit the ground with a thud.Renee looked up, startled, to see Carl approaching. His eyes held a playful yet menacing gleam.“Quite popular with the guys, aren’t you?” His deep voice carried a hint of mockery.It was Carl.Renee shifted her stance, realizing she couldn’t take him on directly. She decided to switch tactics, lifting her leg to kick him. But Carl was quick; he caught her leg mid-air and pulled her closer with ease. Her clothes brushed against his belt buckle, which only made her angrier.“Let go!” she demanded.“No gratitude at all,” Carl murmured, his voice low and rough.“I don’t need your help! I can handle this myself!” she shot back.Before she could say more, Wendy and the others arrived, their footsteps echoing in the narrow, dimly lit alley. Renee’s heart pounded in her chest.Just as they were about to reach them, Carl kicked the unconscious man deeper into the shadows and grabbed Renee’s chin, pulling her into a sudden, forceful kiss.“Mmph!” Renee’s eyes
After escaping, Renee didn’t dare stay at a hotel near the school. Instead, she chose one closer to the studio. Before getting into the cab, she glanced back at the intersection.A luxury car had pulled up. Carl, dressed all in black, stepped out and slid into the vehicle. The car window rolled down just a crack, revealing a pair of dark eyes watching her, brimming with a dangerous calmness in the night.It was as if he was telling her: You can't get away.A chill ran down Renee’s spine. She turned around and got into the cab without looking back.Meanwhile, Jackson entered the car as well.“Mr. Grey, Miss Lacey reported those guys for drunk driving and even provided Wendy Sanders’ name.”Carl, seated in the back, slowly rotated the ring on his finger and raised an eyebrow.“She’s getting smarter now. With the way she used to be, anyone could have taken advantage of her.”“She’s someone who needs to be kept hidden.”Jackson frowned and cautiously asked, “Mr. Grey, about Miss L
Just then, Annie arrived. After being briefed on what had happened, she frowned and shot a disapproving look at Wendy.Idiot, she thought. Can’t even handle something this simple without causing trouble.Seeing that everyone was there, Renee knew it was time to wrap things up. She mimicked Wendy's earlier tone, speaking with feigned concern, "Wendy, you should apologize quickly. If this gets out, it won’t be good for you or the company. After all, you were the one who went out drinking with them. Isn’t that right, Miss Simmons?"She directed the question at Annie. In her past life, Annie and Wendy had teamed up countless times to frame her. Now it was their turn to get a taste of their own medicine.Everyone turned to Annie, knowing her words carried weight as Carl's fiancée. Not wanting to get involved in this mess, Annie forced a gentle smile. "Wendy, apologize now. As a woman, you should be more careful in the future."Wendy stared at Annie in disbelief, her bruised face turnin
The sharp sound of a slap echoed in the air, and blood began to seep from the corner of Wendy’s mouth. Annie gripped her by the neck and hissed, "You couldn’t even handle such a simple task. All these years, I’ve been wasting my time giving you so many benefits! Do you really think you’d even step foot in this building without me?""Wendy, since you’ve chosen to be a lapdog, you’d better do your job properly!"With that, Annie violently shoved Wendy aside. Already weakened from the earlier beating, Wendy had little strength left. When she crashed into the wall, it felt as if her body fell apart, leaving her crumpled on the floor.Annie, in her sleek lambskin heels, strode over and stood before her, the pointed toe of her shoe pressing against Wendy's face."This afternoon, we’re going to Hillside Estates to meet Ms. Johnson. I’ll come up with an excuse to bring you along. Find a way to make her hate that woman. Got it?""I got it." Wendy nodded, gritting her teeth.Annie pulled o
Especially since Renee was sitting directly across from Carl. He sat with his legs crossed, his long fingers resting thoughtfully against his forehead, staring at her with clear interest.Flustered, Renee quickly looked down, searching for the button on her seat to turn it toward the driver's side. Instead, she accidentally pressed the massage button. A buzzing sound filled the car, adding to her embarrassment.As she frantically fumbled for the right button, a pair of hands casually rested on the armrest of her seat. Carl leaned slightly toward her, and his cool, fresh scent washed over her. Startled, she instinctively leaned back to avoid getting too close, but it was impossible to escape his gaze.Their eyes met briefly before she hurriedly looked away. He, on the other hand, simply lowered his eyes and nonchalantly pressed a few buttons on her armrest.Finally..."It's broken," Carl said, without a hint of concern."..."Renee looked up at him. His long eyelashes flickered a
As Renee felt something brush against her foot, she paused mid-sip, slightly startled. Lowering her gaze, she noticed a polished leather shoe resting beside her high heel. Her feet, size 37, were average—neither big nor small—but now, compared to the man’s shoe, they looked like a child’s toy.Her eyes traced up from the shoes, following long legs wrapped in sleek black trousers, the sharp crease in the fabric exuding a sense of restrained power. Renee didn’t look for long, assuming the contact had been accidental, and instinctively moved her foot away.But just as she shifted, the driver abruptly hit the brakes. The sudden stop sent her body jolting forward, and in the process, her foot slid across Carl’s leg, leaving a faint scuff on his pants. To her dismay, she also noticed that his pant leg had ridden up slightly.Renee froze, her expression tense. She could feel his gaze—a dark and dangerous look—from across the way. Quickly, she tried to withdraw her foot, but it was too late
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