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
"Miss Lacey, it's me, Jackson," came a voice from outside."What is it?" Renee asked, suppressing her pain."Mr. Grey wants you to come over."Come over? For what? To see the aftermath of his wild night with Annie?Renee felt a surge of anger and blurted out, "I'm already resting. Tell Uncle Carl that instead of finding time for me, he should take care of himself. Maybe he should take some health supplements in the future."With that, she lay back down on the bed.Outside, Jackson was left confused by the rejection. He could only turn and head back to the study Ms. Johnson had temporarily arranged for Carl."Mr. Grey, Miss Lacey says she's sleeping.""You believe her nonsense?"Carl sat in a wooden armchair by the window, legs crossed, one hand supporting his chin, the other flipping through a contract."Well... she might really be tired. But she still seems concerned about you, Mr. Grey," Jackson said."Oh?" This was surprising. She cared about him? The only man she cared a
"Waaah... I'm so scared. I'm terrified of the dark. I can't see... Ah!"It sounded like Wendy had tripped, her footsteps clearly becoming unsteady.From the sounds, Renee could tell Wendy was stumbling in her direction.And right in front of her was Carl.Wendy really knew how to take advantage of a situation.There was a sound of bodies colliding. Wendy had succeeded in her plan.Renee was about to smirk when suddenly a dark figure blocked her path.She froze, unable to react as a familiar presence pressed against her.Caught off guard, Renee found herself being kissed, forgetting even to escape.The man's scent was like cold winter air in sunlight, carrying a biting warmth after mild sunshine.His kiss wasn't forceful; it was far gentler than his previous domineering ones. It felt more like he was trying to silence her, his breathing uneven yet restrained.Renee was brought back to reality by the groans of those who had fallen to the floor.Then, from the other end of the
"Come here," Carl said.Renee hesitated, unsure of his intentions. But with no way out, she approached him.As soon as she sat down, he took her injured hand, pulled out a burn ointment from his pocket, and applied it to her wound.Renee was surprised—how did he know? The cool sensation soon replaced her confusion, making her body instinctively relax.Combined with the scent of the candles, the world seemed to come into clearer focus.Carl kept his head down, his expression hidden as he spoke softly, "How did you know about Ms. Johnson's past? That news from ten years ago—after the accident, she had all reports withdrawn."Renee tensed up again at his words, her fingers curling involuntarily.She looked at Carl, feeling a bitter amusement. She had him to thank for this knowledge, in a way. In her past life, she had overheard fragments of information outside his study door. Though unclear, it wasn't difficult to piece together with some research.But she certainly couldn't tell
Take the initiative.Renee's mind was in turmoil, but her body instinctively stiffened. She lifted her gaze and locked eyes with him. In the dim light, his eyes felt like a bottomless abyss.Carl, propping his chin in his hand, watched her with faint amusement, a barely-there smile tugging at his lips. The sight reminded Renee of painful memories, causing her to turn away in humiliation.Biting down hard on her lower lip, the taste of blood filled her mouth, but it wasn’t enough to quell the burning torment inside. Desperate for control, she bit even harder.Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her jaw as her lips parted, blood trickling down the corner of her mouth.Carl’s eyes narrowed, a flash of anger darkening his gaze.He was angry.“You hate this so much? Then why did you mess with me in the first place?”Renee remained silent, refusing to meet his gaze.Abruptly, the grip on her chin tightened.She winced in pain and lifted her eyes to meet his. Her lashes were damp wi