Annie was Wendy’s quickest way into high society, and sacrificing that for someone like Lucy wasn’t worth it. Wendy would likely have used this opportunity to curry favor with Annie, sharing the plan with her. Together, Annie and Wendy could make a quick escape, no matter what happened.Lucy realized this too late and glared at Renee with resentment. “You switched the room numbers. How did you know I’d end up here?”“You’re too predictable,” Renee replied smoothly. “You purposely put that photo of Ms. Xander’s husband front and center on your desk. I knew you’d want to come here to admire your handiwork.”Lucy clenched her teeth. “Fine, you got me. But you didn’t really win either.”After all, there were still Annie and Wendy to contend with. Renee paused at the door, giving her a cool glance. “You were never my target.” With that, she walked away.---Back in the ballroom, the lights dimmed as Renee slipped in. Annie stood beside Carl, looking eager as she awaited the mysterious
In the car, Carl and Annie had just settled in when the gloved driver turned around with an apologetic look toward Carl.“Sir, if we’re not going to the office, I’ll take Berrile Road.”“Alright,” Carl replied briefly, closing his eyes to rest.Annie noticed that the driver wasn’t the usual one and asked curiously, “Why the change in drivers? This one doesn’t seem to know the roads well.”Carl’s eyes remained closed, his voice cold as he replied, “A new driver can learn the routes. But anyone who doesn’t recognize their employer has no place here.”A faint crack appeared in Annie’s expression, her freshly manicured nails digging into the leather seat, but she maintained her smile. “Understood.”They didn’t speak again until they reached her home. Not daring to invite Carl inside, Annie muttered a quick goodbye and practically bolted out of the car. Carl didn’t linger either; he simply drove off.Feeling drained, Annie barely made it into the house before a wave of nausea hit her
"You… you're just jealous of me! You couldn’t even keep a man!" Lucy shouted, throwing her suitcase to the ground.Mandy merely scoffed, walking away without even bothering to respond to such a pointless accusation."What do you mean by that? Explain yourself!" Lucy lunged toward Mandy, but Bella, Mandy’s assistant, stepped in between them.Bella called over security. "Escort her out. And don’t forget her trash."Lucy was unceremoniously tossed out, with her belongings thrown after her. Renee, watching the scene, felt little sympathy—Lucy had brought this upon herself.As Renee returned to her work, she noticed Annie sitting on the other side of the room, her hand covering her mouth as if she were unwell. When Annie thought no one was watching, she got up and left her seat. Renee found it odd and was about to take a closer look when her phone buzzed."Tomorrow I’ll be home. Are you coming by?""Yes.""I’ll make your favorite dishes. Come early and spend some time with me.""Al
The gynecology department wasn’t particularly unusual, but Renee immediately noticed a familiar silhouette among the women passing by: Annie. Even though she was bundled up tightly, that distinctive figure was unmistakable to Renee, even across lifetimes. What was Annie doing at the gynecologist’s office?“Renee, are you okay?” Linda called out, pulling her back to the present.“Yes, I’m fine. I’m coming,” Renee replied, quickly catching up to her. When she glanced back, Annie had already disappeared from sight.Linda pointed to the staircase. “This way to the upper floors.”Nodding, Renee helped Linda up the stairs, though her mind was elsewhere. Could Annie just be passing through the gynecology hallway for convenience?Once they reached the upper floor, Renee found a spot for Linda to sit and wait for her check-up. The specialist at this hospital was a friend of Linda’s and someone she trusted deeply. Despite the many options for private care, Linda preferred to wait rather tha
"Huh? I..." Renee blinked, startled, before she realized the doctor had mistaken her for someone else."Early pregnancy symptoms, a bit of spotting—make sure to rest and be mindful of your diet.""No, Doctor, I—" she tried to explain."Alright, next," the doctor interrupted, waving her off. The next patient had already started to enter, so Renee just let it go and hurried out.As she turned to leave, she collided with someone. "Sorry," she muttered, lowering her head to apologize. But as she tried to walk away, her wrist was suddenly grabbed tightly."You lied to me? You're pregnant."The usually calm and collected voice was now laced with anger. Renee looked up, stunned to see Carl in front of her.What was he doing here? Was he with Annie? But Annie had come for an abortion, not a check-up. Before she could sort out her thoughts, his grip tightened, making her wince."Let go. That hurts. I’m not pregnant," she managed to say.Carl narrowed his eyes but loosened his grip a bi
"I... She's pregnant! I feel like I've been completely played. That woman even tricked me into getting her a mental health certification!" Chris practically shrieked, realizing he'd been duped by Renee."Enough," Carl interrupted, holding the phone away from his ear impatiently.Chris quickly shifted gears. "For a potential miscarriage, the most important thing is rest, and she should be careful with her diet. She absolutely can't overexert herself.""Alright.""So what's your plan? Given her situation... When that rumor broke out, if she had admitted to that night with you, you could've easily married her with public support. Even your father couldn't have objected. But she refused. Tell me honestly, when you were so eager to help your father pressure her to confess back then, you had your own agenda, didn't you?" Chris chuckled mischievously.Carl lowered his gaze. "Goodbye.""Hey, being in denial won't work! You need to show your good qualities!" Chris shouted."I already hav
Renee surveyed the vast round table, remembering the last time she'd sat here—facing off against Annie and her mother in a heated confrontation. At the head of the table, Michael sat in his crisp suit with a slightly stern expression. Out of respect, Renee greeted him with a polite, "Good afternoon, sir."He waved his hand dismissively. "Sit down and eat."Renee eyed the table laden with seafood, swallowing hard. But with Michael present, she carefully selected the beef in front of her, opting not to indulge in the seafood. She reminded herself that she wasn't just representing herself; she was here for Susanne too. Knowing Susanne's position in the Grey household, she had to be mindful of her actions.Just then, Susanne piled a serving of seafood onto her plate—sashimi, scallops, and a generous bowl of lobster bisque. Susanne whispered casually, "Eat up now. Later, I'll get you some black truffle risotto, crab cakes, and grilled prawns."Renee nodded gratefully, mouthing a silent
In the bathroom, Renee leaned over the sink, vomiting until her stomach was empty. After rinsing her mouth three times with fruit-flavored mouthwash, she still tasted bitterness. As she stepped out, a figure blocked her way.“Move,” she said, feeling drained.Carl stood there, watching her. “Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?”Renee found his concern almost laughable. “Are you only acting this way because you think I'm pregnant? Have you forgotten you once said if I ever got pregnant, I should get rid of it?”Carl’s expression darkened. Renee recalled Michael’s warnings and how he treated her daughter, Sarah, in her past life. Since Star was an unwanted girl, Michael had refused to acknowledge her as part of the Grey family. When Annie returned with a son, the internet buzzed with stories of how Michael adored his eldest grandson, claiming that he was Carl’s only child. Everyone had ridiculed Renee and her daughter, alleging that all her scheming had been for nothing.Now, Mich