"If you dare ruin the Clark family, I'll destroy you again."Again? What did that mean?Renee looked at Linda suspiciously. She hadn't immediately worried about Travis, but about the Clark family.Renee was about to speak when Travis suddenly sat up in bed, interrupting."Renee, enough. Stop arguing.""Mom, Renee did help me. Don't talk to her like that. Please wait for me outside."Travis gently pushed Linda.Linda shot Renee a warning glare before leaving the room.Finally, only Renee and Travis remained.Travis reached out to Renee, but she dodged him.She said coldly, "Don't you have anything to explain to me?"Travis's face darkened as he lowered his hand. "Renee, you don't understand.""I don't understand? So you can just use me? I treated you like a friend and family. I cared about your kindness to me. I worried about you and your mother being mistreated. Is this how you repay me?" Renee demanded."I don't want to be your friend or family!"With that, Travis sudd
Slap!Renee's hand struck Travis's face, turning it to the side.His expression instantly contorted into something terrifying.The next moment, he grabbed Renee's wrist and yanked her towards him."Is this how you treat him too?""Let go of me!"Renee struggled fiercely, but Travis threw her onto the hospital bed.The momentum caused her to knock some files off the foot of the bed.As papers scattered, she noticed Travis's signature on one of them.As if she'd seen something shocking, she ignored the pain in her body and grabbed the paper, examining it closely."Is this your signature?" Renee pointed at the name."Yes."Travis, realizing it was just a hospital bill, didn't think much of it.Renee suddenly realized how terribly wrong she'd been."The dress for my competition... you didn't buy it, did you?"Travis's face tensed, but he remained silent."And the lawyer's letter to sue Annie's fans... that wasn't you either, was it?" Each word Renee spoke tasted bitter as s
She had always thought Carl didn't want to see her and her daughter. To protect Sarah from any backlash, she deliberately avoided Carl, taking Sarah with her.As Renee was lost in thought, a sudden bolt of lightning illuminated the sky, casting an ominous shadow over the family library. The following thunderclap felt like it tore a hole in her heart.She could almost feel her blood surging, accompanied by an uncontrollable panic.When Renee came to her senses, Susanne had brought her back to the courtyard and was drying her hair with a towel."Go to your room and change your clothes quickly."As soon as Susanne said it, she remembered that Renee had moved out. To reassure Michael, the family patriarch, Renee hadn't left a single item behind.Susanne's eyes reddened. She pressed her lips together and said, "I'll get you some of my clothes."Renee nodded numbly.After changing, Susanne looked at Renee's pale face and said worriedly, "I'll make you some tea."Renee quickly grabbe
The Grey Family LibraryThe two-story building stood at the highest point of the Grey estate. Its high beams were repainted with gold leaf annually. Above the fireplace mantel hung an ornate family crest, symbolizing the Greys' status and power.Before the grand oak desk, Michael, usually the epitome of stern dignity, showed anger for the first time.He glared coldly at Carl standing in the center of the room. "You've disappointed me greatly. Who leaked the contract details?"Carl's chiseled features remained impassive. Behind him, the storm raged outside the windows, but he stood with an air of cold indifference."No one. I carelessly let the Clarks find a loophole.""You!" Michael's eyes bulged with rage, his face twitching. This wasn't the answer he wanted.The incident needed a scapegoat. How else could he explain it to the family and their business associates?Michael took a deep breath, hinting, "Didn't Renee visit Grey Enterprises?"Resolving this would be simple. The o
As they entered the room, Carl silently lay face down on the bed.Dr. Percy lifted the coat covering Carl's back and gasped. Despite the security chief's restraint, the first three lashes had clearly been delivered with considerable force. The water-soaked whip had left particularly nasty welts, as if barbed wire had torn into the flesh."Good God, why did they beat you again? Last time it was because of Renee and you..." Dr. Percy trailed off, suddenly realizing something. "Is it her again? Is she your nemesis or something?"Carl shot him an icy glare.Even Patrick coughed twice nearby, clearly disapproving of Chris's comment about Renee.Dr. Percy awkwardly fell silent and put on gloves to clean the wounds. Finally, he sighed with relief. "Apart from three deeper cuts, the rest aren't serious. Whoever hit you managed to avoid vital areas. You'll heal with some rest."He then took out some anti-inflammatory pills from his bag and handed them to Carl.As Carl sat up to take the
The rain was falling steadily.Patrick quickly entered the house, nearly bumping into Renee."Uncle Patrick.""You're here. Why are you standing in the doorway? Come in and sit down.""Uncle, Mom and I saw you go to the family library earlier. Did something happen?" Renee asked cautiously.Patrick looked at her and sighed softly. "Renee, if you want to know, go see Carl. You'll find your answers there."His eyes seemed to be hinting at something.Renee's heart raced, and she felt unsteady. She grabbed the doorframe, her fingertips almost digging into the solid wood, but she felt no pain.After a few seconds of deep thought, she shook her head."Never mind. It's not necessary."Whatever happened in the library, and no matter how complicated the process, at least she had achieved her goal.This would surely cost Carl dearly.Patrick noticed Renee's recent changes and asked, puzzled, "Renee, what's wrong with you? Why are you so hostile towards Carl? He's not as terrible as yo
Carl took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around his face like a mask, hiding his expression.In the tense silence, Renee's heart skipped a beat. She clenched her fists, willing herself to stay calm.Carl stubbed out his cigarette. "Let her go," he said flatly.Renee looked away, watching raindrops slide down a nearby leaf. "Uncle Carl, thanks for your help, but I won't be needing it anymore," she said coldly.His hand froze mid-motion as he watched her retreating figure.A phone ring broke the silence. It was Ms. Johnson."Still alive?" she asked."Barely," Carl replied dryly.She chuckled. "You called it. Someone made their move, and now your dear niece must be worried sick, huh?”Carl pinched the bridge of his nose. "She just cut ties with me."Ms. Johnson burst out laughing. "Well, why don't you come over and let me nurse you back to health?""I'll pass.""Ha!" she scoffed. "You wish you could, but she's already bailed! That's what you get for being all ta
Renee inwardly cursed Carl's shamelessness, but when she saw the blood on his hand, she hesitated for a moment.In that brief second of distraction, the man before her suddenly leaned toward her.Instinctively, she reached out to support him, catching a strong whiff of alcohol."Uncle Carl, are you crazy? You're drinking while injured?""Mm. Wasn't feeling great, so I had a bit."His chin rested on Renee's forehead, his voice low and tired.Renee felt the heat from his forehead and wavered internally, but reason won out over sympathy.She pushed against his chest. "Uncle, you're drunk. Let me call Jackson to take you home.""He left.""Then I'll call Annie. She'll take good care of you."Renee avoided his gaze, stepping back to create distance between them.Carl leaned against the doorframe, looking down at her with a neutral expression."That's very thoughtful of you."Renee caught his sarcasm and bit her lip. "Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Carl. I'll make that call