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
Renee quickly stepped forward, reaching out but not daring to touch Travis, afraid of causing him more pain."Travis..." she said, her nose stinging with emotion, feeling even more guilty. If it weren't for her, Travis wouldn't be in this state.Travis looked at her, gently pulling her to sit on the edge of the bed. He raised his hand to wipe the corner of her eye. The autumn night was cold, and Renee wasn't dressed warmly. Her hair was slightly disheveled from her rush to the hospital, with a few strands clinging to her damp eyelashes, making her reddened, moist eyes even more captivating.His hand lingered on her cheek, reluctant to move away. He smiled softly, trying to reassure her, "It's really nothing. Should I get up and walk around to prove it?"Renee quickly grabbed his hand to stop him. "Don't move around. You're too old to be joking like this."He stared at her with a smile, saying nothing, but for a moment his gaze flickered to something behind her. Renee sensed this a
Renee pressed herself against the wall, her face pale and her mind filled with memories of Travis's fate in her past life. And now, Carl wanted to destroy Travis again—the only person in the Grey family who had been kind to her!Her breath caught, and her fingertips dug painfully into the wall. A few seconds later, she turned and quietly left.Renee returned to the hospital room. Travis was in pain from his injuries, finding it difficult to even turn over, but he immediately offered a gentle smile when he saw her."Renee, I thought you weren't coming back.""I wouldn't do that," Renee said as she sat down by the bed. "Travis, I forgot to ask earlier—how did the accident happen?""There's a special pastry in the city. I wanted to bring some back for you to try. I was just in a hurry, that's all," Travis explained briefly.Renee noticed a flaw in his story. "Travis, the driver was behind the wheel. No matter how urgent you were, the driver wouldn't risk your life..."Travis's eyes
Renee followed Patrick downstairs. He answered a phone call, responding with a few "mm-hmms."Then, he glanced at Renee apologetically. "Renee, I'll have the driver take you home. I need to pick up a document from the office.""It's okay, Uncle Patrick. I've called an Uber on my phone," Renee declined his offer, remembering that Susanne was waiting for him at home and that it would take a while for a car to arrive in this area."You're always so worried about inconveniencing others.""Uncle Patrick, your driver's here. You should go. Mom's been complaining that you've been coming home late recently," Renee urged, gently pushing him toward the car."I'll bring her a late-night snack. That'll cheer her up," Patrick said with a smile."Yes, yes, you two lovebirds go on, then."Renee closed the car door and waved goodbye. After watching Patrick leave, she checked her Uber app. The driver was still five minutes away.Just then, a car pulled up in front of her. The window lowered hal
Renee never imagined Carl could be so reckless.Despite the late hour, there were still many people around the hospital. Yet he brazenly slipped her hand under his sweater.Her icy fingers touched his burning waist, causing her to let out an involuntary gasp.People turned to look at the sound. She quickly lowered her head, struggling fiercely, but he held her hand firmly against his waist.Renee curled her fingers, feeling taut muscles beneath her palm, unable to escape.If anyone took a step closer, they'd see her hand inside his sweater.She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but the heat from his skin felt alarmingly high.Panicked, she warned, "Uncle Carl, you're crazy. What if someone takes a photo?"Carl fixed her with a cold stare. "You weren't afraid to come see Travis dressed like this late at night, but you're scared to be with me? Then why did you enter my room that time?"Renee hesitated, not daring to meet his eyes. Once, she had loved this man passionately.
Since Annie was hiding at home to terminate her pregnancy, Renee could proceed with her other plans.Taking advantage of a bathroom break, Renee called her mother, Susan."Mom, is Uncle Patrick at the office today?""Yes, why?""I was thinking of having lunch with him."As she spoke, Renee glanced down at the shopping bag by her feet containing Carl's overcoat. She feared Carl might suspect something if she approached him directly. Having lunch with Patrick while returning Carl's coat would seem more natural.Susan considered for a moment before replying, "Better not. Your uncle's surely swamped today."Surprised, Renee asked, "Does he have a big client meeting?""No," Susan hesitated, then sighed. "Your uncle says Carl is ill. He jumped into the pond to save you, then brought you to the hospital soaking wet. Last night, with Travis's accident, he stayed up all night finishing Travis's work. Then he went to the office this morning. He's only human; how could he not get sick?"
Ding.The elevator doors opened to reveal a bright hallway. Standing there, one could look down through the glass walls on both sides and see the building's interior.At the end of the hallway stood a pair of imposing double doors made of solid wood. Though simple in design, they exuded authority.The assistant carefully pushed open the doors, revealing to Renee a spacious two-story office of about 2,000 square feet.A wall of windows offered a panoramic view of the surrounding buildings.A spiral staircase led upwards, presumably to Carl's private area.Renee was momentarily stunned by the sunlight flooding the tiled floor. This was her first glimpse into Carl's professional world.Nearby, Patrick rose from a small conference table when he heard them enter."Renee, what brings you up here?"Renee snapped back to attention, holding up the insulated bag. "I brought you lunch. Mom said you've been working hard lately, so I ordered something special.""You didn't have to go to a
Patrick quickly took the tray and held it out to Renee. "Why don't you take this up to Carl? He's been busy all morning and hasn't eaten yet."Renee looked at the steaming porridge. At this point, she had no choice but to take the risk."Okay," she said, taking the tray and heading upstairs.By the time she reached the door, her palms were sweating.As she hesitated, a hoarse voice came from inside."Come in... Renee."Hearing this, Renee nearly dropped the tray.She felt completely transparent to Carl. Could she really outmaneuver him?But she couldn't give up. Even if she failed, she had to try.Taking a deep breath, Renee pushed open the door.The room was simply decorated, mostly in gray tones.By the floor-to-ceiling windows, sheer curtains filtered the harshest light, casting a soft glow on Carl.Though one hand was still attached to an IV, the gentle light gave him an indescribable air of languid weariness. Even his typically cold, handsome face seemed softer.It wa
Wedding dress?When Renee heard those two words, she couldn’t help but feel the irony.Counting the time Annie had tried on wedding dresses, this was the second time she was involved. And both times, it was for Carl’s fiancee.It was as if these weddings couldn’t happen without her as a witness.She glanced at Ruby, who was smiling radiantly, her joy pure and simple. Unlike Annie, Ruby wasn’t manipulative; her invitation was sincere.It was precisely because of this that Renee felt like the bad guy.She was about to come up with an excuse to refuse when her phone buzzed.A sudden sense of foreboding hit her.Sure enough, it was a message from Susanne.“Mr. Grey has asked me to help prepare for Carl and Miss Sanders’ engagement party.”The weight of it crushed her.Whether Susanne would offend both the Sanders and Grey families—or remain unharmed—all hinged on Renee’s response.Her hands trembled as she typed out a reply:“Got it.”Ruby seemed to notice something was off a
Ruby didn’t notice anything unusual about Renee’s demeanor. She pulled out her phone and said excitedly, “Look, we took so many photos! I’m thinking of using some of them for the engagement party and wedding. Can you help me pick a few?”Renee glanced at Ruby’s phone. The photos of Ruby and Carl, both smiling brightly, felt like tiny stabs.Ruby, a young woman nurtured by love and privilege, carried an effortless elegance. Her joy seemed pure and contagious. Her smile was magnetic, lighting up every photo.Even Carl, standing beside her, looked more at ease than usual. The two of them looked perfect together—every photo captured their harmony.Renee, on the other hand, felt awkward, unsure where to direct her gaze.“They’re all great. You two should decide,” she said with a forced smile, quickly steering the conversation elsewhere. “By the way, why did you come to see me?”Ruby clapped her hands as if just remembering. “Oh, right! I almost forgot, I got so excited. The tie clip y
Hearing her mention fire, Carl froze.His mind drifted to the dreams he’d had countless times—the little girl who hated him, and the ending that always played out the same. In every dream, the girl ran into the flames, holding the hand of a woman whose face was always blurred. The two of them would smile at each other before disappearing into the fire.Taking advantage of his hesitation, Renee broke free from Carl’s grip, putting a few steps of distance between them.Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and desperation. “Uncle Carl, I can’t win against you. I know that. But I’m still a person. Haven’t you and your father humiliated me enough? Do you really need everyone pointing at me, calling me trash, for you to finally be satisfied?”Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.Carl reached out, but all he caught was the coat draped over her shoulders.Renee stopped briefly, pulling off the coat without looking back. She continued walking until her figure disappe
Carl didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and led her into the car.Outside the window, the scenery blurred as they drove, snow starting to fall again after some time. When the car finally stopped and the door opened, a fresh layer of snow blanketed the ground.As Renee stepped out, a cashmere coat was draped over her shoulders. The faint scent of Carl surrounded her, pulling her back into reality. She found herself standing in front of a villa.The sprawling garden, now blanketed in white, held a dreamlike beauty, hinting at how enchanting it must look when the flowers were in full bloom. Renee could almost picture it clearly.Because this was the house where she had set herself on fire in her previous life.Eight years of marriage had turned this beautiful home into a gilded cage.Staring at the house, her voice was icy as she asked, “What’s the meaning of this?”Carl’s gaze darkened slightly, his tone calm. “I’ll have someone pick up your belongings f
Joey assumed Renee had forgotten and went to the kitchen to retrieve the item. She placed it in front of her—a sleek yet extravagant men’s watch.Renee recognized it instantly. It was Carl’s watch.She knew because she had a matching women’s version.But she clearly remembered tidying up the kitchen the previous night, and the watch hadn’t been there. Unless… the person who had been with her during her fever was Carl.Levi hadn’t explicitly said the soup was his doing; she had simply assumed.As the dreamlike memories replayed in her mind, Renee’s hand trembled, spilling the ginger tea.Joey quickly grabbed some napkins to clean up. “What’s wrong?”Renee turned to the window, then suddenly grabbed the watch and dashed out.Inside the elevator, she watched the descending numbers, silently counting down. Her hand braced against the wall, her emotions a tangled mess. She had told herself over and over to let go, to stop pursuing this path.But she had to know the truth.She had
Joey pointed to Levi’s suit, drawing Renee’s attention to it. She suddenly realized that Levi’s suit was from the same brand as the one Carl had been wearing when he had brought her home, his face covered. Aside from a few subtle differences, they looked almost identical to the average person. Levi and Carl also had similar builds, which explained why Joey had mistaken him. “Joey, it’s not what you think,” Renee quickly tried to explain. But Joey wasn’t listening. She stood protectively in front of Renee, as though shielding her from making a bad decision. “Renee! You promised me you’d never go back to your ex!” “Ex?” Levi repeated thoughtfully, glancing at Renee with a faint smile tugging at his lips. Renee felt a wave of frustration, like she might faint from embarrassment despite being on the mend. Joey, oblivious, continued in a righteous tone, “Sir, what’s the point of showing up now? When Renee needed someone the most, you ignored her. Being sweet after the f
Warm water slid down Renee’s throat, easing the discomfort. She gradually calmed down as a gentle thumb brushed her lips, as if the person in front of her were handling something precious.He leaned closer, his heated breath falling softly on her face.Instinctively, Renee held her breath. Even though her vision was blurry, she could feel how close he was—so close that the slightest movement would bring their lips together.Just then, the medicine’s effect fully kicked in. Renee’s body went limp, and she collapsed onto the couch.The next moment, a tall figure leaned over, pulling her tightly into his arms. His heartbeat thudded steadily in her ears, a sound that was oddly comforting.In her half-conscious state, she felt a soft touch on her forehead.“Sleep,” a low voice murmured, deep and magnetic, lulling her into the darkness.When Renee opened her eyes again, she saw a white ceiling above her. She reached up to touch her forehead—thankfully, the fever had broken.But her b
“What do you mean by that? I’m not so old that I can’t run this family anymore!” Michael’s voice was sharp, his pride bristling. He hated being reminded of his age—it was his greatest fear.Carl’s tone was flat and unaffected. “Your health should come first.”Michael froze in his seat, his face turning pale with anger. But as a man who had managed the vast Grey family empire for years, he quickly regained his composure.He pulled out two documents and placed them in front of Carl, smoothly shifting the topic. “Here’s the list for the New Year’s gala invitations. Take a look.”Carl opened the list. It was almost identical to previous years—except for one addition: Susanne.“She’s your sister-in-law, after all,” Michael said coldly. “No matter what, she’s still part of the Grey family. Now that Linda is gone, it’s time for her to start contributing.”“Is that so?” Carl’s dark eyes locked onto Michael’s.Michael then gestured to the second document, his gaze sharp and calculating.
Carl sat silently through the night.At dawn, Ruby slowly opened her eyes. Seeing him still by her side, she felt both happy and guilty.Weakly, she said, “Carl, I’m sorry for making you stay with me all night.”Carl snapped out of his thoughts and slowly stood up. “I’ll get the doctor.”As he turned to leave, Ruby grabbed his hand.“Carl, I really like you. Can we be together? Of course, you can say no,” she said softly.Carl lowered his gaze to her, his expression unreadable. He gently pulled his hand away. “Let the doctor check on you first.”Watching him walk away, Ruby bit her pale lips, her eyes welling up.The doctor came to examine her and confirmed that she was out of danger. Soon after, she was transferred to a regular hospital room.Carl helped her lie down and said in a low voice, “Your brother will be here soon.”Ruby immediately grabbed his arm, her tone slightly anxious. “Carl, are you leaving?”“I got a message from home. I need to go back,” Carl replied, his