"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
But Carl didn’t move.For a moment, Renee thought she caught a glimmer of amusement in his dark, brooding eyes. As the light from the tunnel grew brighter, she suddenly felt a tightness in her shoulder—she had forgotten to fasten her seatbelt.The car emerged from the tunnel, and the interior brightened. Carl now sat across from her, legs crossed, completely composed, as if the earlier intimate moment at her ear had never happened.Renee raised her hand, feeling the need to take a sip of tea to calm herself. But when she lifted the cup, she noticed something strange—it was full again, despite the earlier spill.When had it been refilled?A sudden thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly glanced at Carl across from her. He lazily sipped from his own cup, and there, at the rim, was a faint trace of lipstick.Him...Renee’s mind buzzed, her lips tingling with the realization.Annie, sitting diagonally from them, noticed the brightness filling the car and immediately glanc