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
As Ms. Johnson observed the figure standing by the flower beds, she raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on her. Just as she was about to speak, Annie walked directly up to Ms. Johnson and extended her hand."Hello, Ms. Johnson. I'm Annie Simmons, Carl’s fiancée."Ms. Johnson glanced at Annie, then at her outstretched hand, and smiled lightly. "I'm sorry, Miss Simmons, but I've just been pruning the flowers. My hands are too dirty."Annie's hand hung awkwardly for a moment before she lowered it. As soon as she did, Ms. Johnson took a towel from a servant to wipe her hands, then moved closer to Carl, completely ignoring Annie.Ms. Johnson sat down next to Carl, pouring him tea while addressing the others. "Please, sit down. Mandy has already given me your information, so there's no need for lengthy introductions. I'm quite easy-going."Her words carried a clear implication. Annie gripped her purse tightly, a flash of malice crossing her eyes. This old woman—what an act she was
After hearing this, Ms. Johnson laughed even louder.Lucy was about to stand when Renee reached out to stop her, wanting her to hold back from speaking too hastily. But Lucy avoided Renee's hand and stood up, unwilling to be outdone."I also think the camellia flower suits Ms. Johnson better," Lucy chimed in. "After all, this place is full of beautiful flowers, which shows that Ms. Johnson truly appreciates them."Ms. Johnson smiled as she twisted her ring, her thoughts unreadable.At this point, Wendy stood up as well and spoke with feigned humility, "Ms. Johnson, although my skills might not match theirs, I believe the Padparadscha suits you better. A strong woman like you, radiant and confident, naturally needs something more eye-catching."Ms. Johnson turned to stare at Wendy, resting her chin on her hand with a raised eyebrow. "You're quite interesting. You have some unique ideas.""I don't deserve such praise. I'm just speaking my mind," Wendy replied, her head bowed, a mix
As Renee observed Wendy's innocent smile, she knew that both Wendy and Annie were getting restless. How could they possibly allow her to shine in front of Ms. Johnson? Rather than trying to defend against hidden attacks, it might be better to give them an opportunity and counter their moves directly.On the way to the restroom, Wendy kept sneaking glances at Renee.Finally, she spoke with a probing tone, "Renee, why didn't you stop me when I spoke earlier?"Renee had anticipated this question and had her answer ready. She took Wendy's hand with an expression of regret. "Wendy, I thought you were just here to deliver a gift. How could I have known you'd try to steal the spotlight? You didn't tell me beforehand, so how could I have stopped you?""I wasn't trying to steal the spotlight. I genuinely thought that ring looked good," Wendy hurriedly explained, afraid Renee might become suspicious."Of course I believe you. I just don't know if Ms. Johnson will think you were trying to be
Just as Ms. Johnson was about to discuss the contract details, she suddenly heard someone cry out."Fire! Fire! Help!"Carl glanced at the pavilion, then turned and ran out.Ms. Johnson extinguished her cigarette, clicking her tongue. Her estate hadn't been this lively in years....The estate was close to the mountains, and as it was autumn, dry leaves often blew in from the hills. Because of this, fire prevention was taken very seriously.The fire was quickly extinguished by the estate staff. However, the special small garden had suffered, its beautiful flowers now charred beyond recognition.Renee ran out of the restroom when she heard the commotion, only to see Carl rushing over from a distance.As he neared the restroom, a figure threw herself into his arms."Carl, I'm alright. It's just that the fire started so suddenly; it was terrifying.""Mm," Carl responded softly, his furrowed brow visibly relaxing.Renee stopped a few steps away from the pair. She looked up and m
As Wendy was dragged out by the servant, she struggled. "Let go of me, let go!"She was brought before everyone, trembling.Ms. Johnson coldly surveyed Wendy. "Why were you hiding there? Did you start the fire?"Wendy collapsed to the ground, shaking her head vigorously. "Ms. Johnson, it wasn't me, truly! I just went to the restroom with Renee. When I didn't see her at the door afterward, I decided to walk around. I got lost, and a servant had to bring me back."She pointed to a servant at the edge of the group, who nodded, confirming her story.Ms. Johnson's eyes narrowed as she turned to Renee and Annie. "So it's down to you two. But this lighter belongs to Miss Simmons, which means..."Annie, tears in her eyes, choked out, "I have a witness too. I ran into a gardener earlier and chatted with her. You can ask her yourself."At Ms. Johnson's signal, the housekeeper quickly fetched the gardener, who nodded emphatically. "Ms. Johnson, Miss Simmons was indeed talking to me about f
"Oh?" Ms. Johnson's expression shifted, the amusement fading from her voice as she coldly asked, "How so?""You wear your camellia ring on your pinky, avoiding all fingers associated with love," Renee explained."Ten years ago, your newlywed husband died in a car accident. There was actually another person at the scene—his lover, a woman who loved camellias. She died clutching a camellia your husband had given her. Even this Hillside Estates was a gift from your husband to her, bought with your money. Now it's your trophy."Renee walked toward the burned garden, suddenly turning to face Ms. Johnson's icy expression.She spoke softly, "Ms. Johnson, these flowers were blooming exceptionally well."Ms. Johnson replied coldly, "Of course they were. They received special care. But what does this have to do with you burning them?""You come here every year, Ms. Johnson, canceling all work to lose yourself. I just thought it was a waste for a capable, bold woman like you. You don't even
When Annie heard they would have to share a room, she leaned shyly toward Carl."Ms. Johnson, this is rather embarrassing," she murmured.Ms. Johnson raised an eyebrow and smiled. "If Miss Simmons feels uncomfortable, I can arrange a separate room for you." She lifted her hand, about to call for the butler.Annie’s smile froze, and she quickly replied, "Ms. Johnson, you have such a wonderful sense of humor. Thank you."Ms. Johnson gave her a knowing look, wondering why she bothered with this act of innocence.Overhearing the possibility of changing rooms, Renee briefly considered finding an excuse to switch, but before she could speak, her thoughts were interrupted by Ms. Johnson receiving a phone call. With no other option, Renee headed to her assigned room.Just as she turned, Wendy suddenly grabbed her arm from behind."Renee, are you scared to be alone? Do you want me to keep you company?"Renee’s arm trembled, her jaw clenched, but she quickly composed herself. Keep her co