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
An inexplicable feeling crept over Annie, making her believe that this child could be her key to everything she ever wanted. Yet, for reasons she couldn’t comprehend, those things she thought were within reach now seemed to be slipping away. With a sense of defeat, she meticulously prepared for her visit to the Grey family estate, thinking that if she could secure Carl’s affection today, an early birth by a month wouldn’t seem suspicious.But she hadn’t expected to overhear such shocking news.Her hand, resting on her lower abdomen, tightened until pain radiated through her body. It was clear now that this child wouldn’t stay. Carl wasn’t going to be with her today; that much was certain. In that case, Renee’s child would have to accompany hers in their downfall. Then, Carl would have no reason not to marry Renee under Michael’s orders.Annie let go of her belly and touched up her makeup with a powder compact. Then, she removed her earrings and placed them in a small jewelry box she
Renee had imagined countless scenarios, even considering that Annie might try to blame her for a miscarriage, painting her as the villain. But she hadn't expected Annie to push her straight into the icy waters of the lake.The Grey family's man-made lake was deep, and in an instant, Renee was submerged in the bone-chilling water. She struggled, reaching for help, but the freezing water rushed into her mouth, silencing her cries. Just as she began to believe this was the end, she heard Annie's panicked shouts."Help! Renee fell in the lake!" Annie's cries quickly drew a crowd.But by then, Renee's coat had soaked up the water, weighing her down as she sank further. Her strength waned, and she could feel herself slipping under. Suddenly, she felt strong arms pulling her up, lifting her onto the bank. She choked on the water she'd inhaled, her vision blurry, but she could make out the face of the man holding her.It was Carl.He leaned over her, his wet hair dripping as he stared at
Susanne's body was damaged after giving birth to Renee, leaving her unable to have more children.Michael's oldest child only had one son, Travis. The second daughter-in-law couldn't have any more children, and if Carl married someone who couldn't bear children, how could he possibly agree?Noticing Renee's gaze, Annie instinctively covered her stomach.This gesture struck Renee as odd.In her past life, Annie had run away pregnant because Renee had married Carl first.But now, there was no obstacle between them. If Annie announced her pregnancy, their marriage would be a natural progression.Why wasn't Annie keeping this child or even daring to reveal the slightest hint of it?"Renee, I know you're hurting, but it's okay. The worst is yet to come. Carl said he'd marry me after the partnership is signed.""See? I told you, no matter what happens, he'll always choose me. You're just a free distraction."Annie let out a mocking laugh, then turned and left the room after her boas
Renee hadn’t anticipated how things would unfold. She’d expected a confrontation, maybe a fight, but certainly not to be yanked by the neck into an emergency room, where she found herself face-to-face with three gynecologists, all staring at her in confusion.Chris leaned back, recounting the scene with exaggerated gestures. “You know what they asked me? They actually looked me in the eye and said, ‘Dr. Percy, what pregnancy are we supposed to be saving here? Menstrual cramps?’”It took a moment, but the implication of his words finally hit Renee. Her face remained expressionless, and she looked away without saying anything.Unaware of her reaction, Chris looked around. “Where’s Carl? I thought he’d be here, keeping an eye on you.”“He’s gone,” Renee replied coldly.He had stayed only to make sure she’d be awake to hear his warning not to speak out.Noticing the tension, Chris quickly added, “Uh… I’ll go check on your medications.”As soon as he left, Susanne stepped closer, ope
At that time, Annie was a renowned jewelry designer with her own studio and brand. She had given birth to Carl's first son, and it seemed like even the air around her shimmered with confidence and success. Wendy, always by her side, had also risen to luxury, dressed in designer clothes and casually carrying a small Chanel bag worth over twenty thousand dollars. Wendy, once a college student who worked part-time alongside Renee and dreamed of a brighter future, had become a far cry from that person; her aura had darkened.Wendy toyed with her chain strap, her tone dismissive. "Renee and her daughter rarely leave the house now. Even Michael can't do anything about it. If it weren't for me and Nancy, you wouldn't have had any evidence to frame Renee for plotting against you and your son. Besides, Nancy helped you get the matching sample. If she ever found out that you were using her...""Shut up! Are you threatening me?" Annie's face twisted, her eyes flashing with fury."Miss Simmons,
After hearing Susanne's words, Renee's mind was in turmoil. She couldn't think of anyone whose initials were CP. After pondering for a moment, she could only say, "Mom, can you keep an eye out and let me know the next time they have a gathering?"Susanne didn't immediately agree. Her voice betrayed her unease as she asked, "Renee, what are you planning to do? I thought you wanted to stay away from Annie and her group?"Renee pressed her lips together and walked to the window, gazing at the stars. She used to think that way, it was true. She had promised Sarah that she would be a happy jewelry designer, that she would climb higher and higher, to make up for past regrets. So all along, her only thought had been to break free from her original fate and fulfill her promise to Sarah.But when she lay in the hospital bed, listening to Carl threaten her to favor Annie, blood spreading from her lower body, it felt like reliving the pain of losing Sarah. If she hadn't taken birth control