"What? Do you still think Annie will help you? Wendy, let me tell you something - you actually had a chance to escape yesterday.""What... what do you mean?" Wendy grabbed Renee's arm, shaking it violently.Renee yanked her arm free and said coldly: "First chance - I refused to give you the key card, but you were so eager for a shortcut that you stole it.""Second chance - Annie was right in front of me and didn't even notice you were gone. If she cared about you at all, she would've noticed something was wrong. She had plenty of time to stop you.""Third chance - the room I booked wasn't isolated. There were guests on both sides. One scream would have brought help, but you stayed quiet because you didn't want them to discover you weren't me.""Wendy, haven't you brought this all on yourself?"Hearing this, Wendy's bloodshot eyes turned lifeless. She collapsed to her knees like a fallen leaf.Renee turned away.Behind her, Wendy choked out bitterly: "I really thought we were th
When Renee entered the office, Annie wasn't there.Her colleagues were huddled together, discussing something.Seeing Renee, they waved her over: "Renee, that was brilliant how you turned the tables at the banquet.""Yeah, finally saw Wendy's true colors. I feel stupid for pitying her and buying her meals before.""And get this - the Rockefeller just announced they're terminating their partnership with Clark Corp due to their misconduct."Terminating the partnership?Renee froze, reaching for her phone to check the news when Susanne called.She stepped away from her colleagues to answer."Mom.""Renee, thank goodness we listened to you and didn't invest in Clark Corp's deal. You won't believe it - all the investors' money is locked up! Clark Corp is in chaos! They can't even manage their cash flow, and that celebration alone cost them over ten million!"Susanne sounded almost gleeful."Ten million? How?""They hired celebrities to perform, but with Wendy's scandal, the show
Hearing this, Richard's expression softened slightly."Why hasn't Nancy contacted you yet?""Don't worry, I have a way to make her come to me," Annie assured him.Richard looked at her and sighed: "Annie, don't blame me for being harsh. The Simmons fortune will be yours eventually. It'll give you status when you marry Carl, won't it?"Annie recognized her father's tactic - a slap followed by candy.But she needed family wealth to marry Carl with dignity."I understand.""Have your mother help you cover up, then go to work this afternoon. Don't let people think you're hiding out of guilt," Richard ordered."Yes."Annie nodded, not daring to defy her father.After Richard left, Yvette brought high-coverage foundation and did her makeup carefully.Yvette sighed softly, warning: "Annie, the family's lost a lot of money. You must hold onto Carl. Don't let anyone get between you.""I know! Stop nagging!"Annie's face turned cold. If it weren't for Renee, how could she have ended
Since meeting Carl again after her rebirth, Renee knew she wasn't strong enough to fight him.She'd focused on her immediate surroundings, hoping to gradually forge a path and eventually avenge Sarah.But she'd overestimated herself - every move she'd made had been in Carl's control.It was all a deception!Renee got into the taxi in a daze, her body rigid as wood. The driver had to call her several times before she responded."Miss, where to?"“East Springs Street."She answered weakly, watching the scenery blur past, feeling pressure build in her chest.Tears threatened to spill, but before weakness could take over, she bit down hard on her hand, forcing back the emotions.At her destination, Renee hurried into a tea shop.The clerk brought out her ordered set of crafted tea cups.Michael loved tea and collected these tea cups.Though he hardly needed more expensive tea cups, she had to show the gesture.Even if he barely glanced at them.Carrying the gift, Renee headed
Linda and Travis stood with bowed heads, their earlier arrogance gone.On the other side stood Patrick and Susanne, both looking uncomfortable.Susanne gave Renee a cautious glance.Renee immediately presented her gift box: "Michael, excuse the intrusion. I bought this gift, I hope you'll like it.""Mm, you shouldn't have."Michael barely glanced at the box, clearly uninterested.But he approved of Renee knowing her place.Guests should act like guests - that line must never be crossed.He waved to the butler, who had a servant take the gift away, not even asking what it was.Renee had expected this dismissal and felt nothing.She quietly stood beside Susanne, trying to be invisible.The room fell silent, but the tension kept building.Suddenly, Linda knelt at Michael's feet, clutching his sleeve."Father, I was wrong. I'll never dare again. Please, help our family - spare a thought for us, a widow and orphan."Michael, hardened by years in business, showed no mercy to fa
Caught off guard by Linda's sudden attack, Renee lost her balance and fell.Her hands instinctively shot out to break her fall, landing right on the broken teacup shards.Pain shot through her body, leaving her defenseless against Linda's assault.Susanne rushed to help. "Let go of my daughter!"But Linda, desperate to exonerate Travis, had shocking strength!She yanked at Renee's scarf, shrieking: "Father, look! I have proof! I'll show you she's been seducing Carl!"The scarf tightened around Renee's throat, choking her. Just as she felt her neck might snap, Patrick finally pulled the frenzied Linda away.The scarf came with her.Susanne quickly shielded Renee: "Renee, are you alright?"Renee tried to answer but could only cough. "I'm... fine."Susanne glared at Linda: “Linda, have you lost your mind?""Ha! Better worry about explaining to Father why your daughter has Carl's belongings when she's supposedly cut ties with him!"Linda held up Renee's scarf triumphantly.Ren
Linda frantically searched the front of the scarf but couldn't find Carl's name embroidered in gold thread."Impossible! It must be on the other side!"Despite turning the small piece of fabric inside and out three times, she couldn't find her proof.Michael's patience wore thin: "Well? Found anything?"Linda's eyes bulged as she kept muttering: "I'll find it! I know I will!"“Dear Linda looking for this?"Carl pulled out another scarf from under his coat, clearly showing his name embroidered on it."How? This isn't right!" Linda stared at Carl in disbelief.Carl casually draped the scarf over his armchair, saying coolly: "Everyone knows how important this scarf is to me. Why would I give it away so carelessly?"Renee felt someone watching her, but when she looked up, she saw nothing. Perhaps it was just her imagination.Humiliated, Linda turned on Renee with venom."Renee, if you're innocent, why were you so desperate earlier?"Renee collected herself and stepped forward:
Renee's heart stopped.By the time she noticed Travis's sinister look, it was too late.Travis signaled to Linda.As Renee reached for her scarf, Linda yanked it away, nearly making her fall.Though she caught herself, the bite marks on her neck were now visible to Michael.Linda grabbed her hand, pointing at the marks: "Father, look! I wasn't lying! This proves she's been with Carl! These are clearly a man's bite marks!"Renee covered her neck: "No! This has nothing to do with Carl!""You keep denying it, but what about when you slept with him? Don't tell me it was an accident! We know your dirty intentions! You're just like your mother - using your body to climb the social ladder!"Linda grew more heated, dragging Susanne into it.Seeing Patrick about to intervene, Renee quickly stepped forward.She didn't want to cause trouble for Patrick and Susanne - their position in the family was already precarious."Mrs. Grey, how would my involvement with Carl benefit you? Why are