"Miss Lacey took a taxi home. Here's the surveillance footage.""Tomorrow," Carl said coldly."Yes, sir."...When Renee got home, she was exhausted. After showering, she collapsed onto her bed.As soon as she closed her eyes, tears began falling uncontrollably.She buried her face in her pillow, which quickly became soaked.The pain felt like countless needles piercing her heart, forcing her to grip the pillow corner to stop herself from shaking.Suddenly, the room grew cold. She sat up in fear as a dark figure loomed over her."Who's there?""It's me."In the dim night light, Renee made out the man at the foot of her bed.Carl.Still startled, she grabbed her pillow and threw it at him."Get out! How did you get in? This is breaking and entering! I can call the police!"He tossed her phone from the table onto her blanket."Go ahead. Call them."Looking at the lit phone screen, Renee suddenly understood."Uncle Carl, here to delete videos again? So protective of your
Nancy, having spent all evening focused on Chris, only now noticed that Annie was wearing the same outfit as the woman in the video."You..." she frowned at Annie.Annie responded with horror: "You can't suspect me! I was with Carl."Nancy's gaze wavered with uncertainty.Chris stubbed out his cigarette, grinding it with his foot. "Seems someone targeted Miss Simmons and just used Nancy. Miss Simmons, have you offended anyone recently?"Annie pretended to think carefully. "Well... it must be Renee.""Though we've had our disagreements, she shouldn't have used Nancy like this. I wonder if she has more fake videos?""If these get posted online, what will become of us?"Her eyes welled up with tears.Nancy's eyes blazed with anger. "She wouldn't dare!""Don't worry about me," Annie consoled. "I'm just glad you two cleared up your misunderstanding. You should head home."Nancy left without another word.Annie and Chris exchanged knowing smiles."The bar's security footage was
Renee gritted her teeth, trying to stay calm."Fake videos? Did Annie tell you that? No wonder she can fool you so easily - you're so gullible!""You! Think I'm joking? Let me remind you - my father oversees construction safety in this district. One word from me, and Renee Lacey will cease to exist!""So this is how your father runs his office. The Larson family must have quite a history of dirty dealings," Renee sneered.Nancy's face twisted with malice."Throw her in again!"Renee was repeatedly plunged into the foul pool, nearly drowning each time.When they finally pulled her up, her breathing was faint, but her eyes still held their defiant glare.Nancy felt inexplicably irritated. "Where are the videos? This is your last chance!"Renee glanced around, then asked, "I'm curious - why are you the one confronting me? Who sent you?""Shut up! Don't try to create discord!""Discord? I don't know anything," Renee turned away.Nancy scoffed and stepped closer."Renee, are yo
The burly man handed the bag to Nancy.Renee quickly gave her the unlock codes.Nancy checked everything on both phone and computer, finding only work files and casual chats - no videos or photos as claimed.She frowned, still suspicious.While secretly cutting her ropes with the tile underwater, Renee suggested, "Miss Larson, if you think I'm hiding something, you can have an expert search deeper."Nancy took her advice.Watching the progress bars flash on the screens, Renee felt slightly relieved.Her devices were full of four years' worth of design work and drafts - searching through it all would take time.Perfect for cutting through her bonds.But just as she was nearly done, the search finished unexpectedly."Miss, there's nothing."Nancy grabbed Renee's phone in disbelief.Renee felt conflicted. She had Carl to thank for erasing everything so thoroughly."Impossible!" Nancy yanked Renee forward. "You're tricking me again?"Renee stayed calm. "And wait for you to ki
As per regulations, family members are not allowed to observe the cremation process.Renee Lacey had paid extra to enter the cremation room, her hand tightly gripping the cold metal frame of the gurney.The air felt scorching, with specks of ash floating in the sunlight.Perhaps they were the remains of previous cremations.Soon, her precious child would become just like those specks.Renee wore a black dress, the smallest size barely concealing her emaciated frame.Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, now held an eerie calmness.She reached out to touch the pale, stiff little hand beneath the white sheet, placing two pink origami stars in Sarah's palm."Sarah, wait for mommy."It was time.The staff member gently pulled Renee away and lifted the sheet, revealing Sarah's face.Eight years old, yet still so small and thin, with visible ribs and a sunken area below them.Staring at her daughter's frail body, Renee's tears welled up once again.She had failed to protect Sar
She was back!She had actually returned!Ignoring the confused glances around her, Renee pinched herself hard.The pain that shot through her body instantly brought tears to her eyes!"Why are you crying? It's as if our Grey family has wronged you!"A stern voice came from the front of the room.Renee snapped back to reality and looked up, meeting the disapproving gaze of Carl's father, Michael Grey.She immediately lowered her head, appearing as humble as ever, but her body trembled with uncontrollable excitement.Scornful whispers filled the air around her."So young, yet so ill-behaved. Bold enough to drug Carl and climb into his bed, causing a scandal throughout the city. Clearly trying to force Carl to take responsibility, but now too scared to admit it. I wonder who raised her.""She's not really one of us. Our Grey family would never raise such a shameless person. They've even found her diary online, full of her crush on Carl. How embarrassing! We paid for her college
Annie Simmons, the daughter of a fallen noble family, became the most envied woman in the city when Carl unexpectedly announced their relationship three years ago. Despite objections from Michael, they even held an engagement party.Outsiders viewed Annie as beautiful, kind-hearted, elegant, and noble. However, only Renee knew Annie's true nature. If she weren't a designer, Annie could have been an Oscar-winning actress.With Annie's cunning mind, she surely understood Renee's implication.Her wedding to Carl had already been postponed for three years; she was desperate to marry into the Grey family.Sure enough...Annie immediately stepped forward, standing in Renee's former spot and bowing respectfully."Michael, it was me!" she confessed. "Renee and I have similar figures and somewhat resemble each other, so people misunderstood."However, a voice of doubt from nearby questioned her explanation. "But the internet exposed Renee's secret love diary dating back five or six years
Under Carl's icy gaze, Renee pressed her lips tightly together, trying to stay calm.But the eight years of pain from her past life made her fingers tremble uncontrollably, and she turned her face away forcefully.Carl stopped looking at her, his voice dripping with disdain: "Trying to get pregnant in secret?"Renee frowned deeply, glancing sideways at Susanne.Susanne had bought the pills. Could she still be entertaining the idea of marrying Renee to Carl?But under Carl's cold stare, Susanne was already shaking like a leaf.More than the patriarch, Susanne feared Carl.She wouldn't dare to meddle right under Carl's nose.What was really going on here?Renee looked up, surrounded by gazes from all directions.Among them, one stood out.Annie.Her lips held a half-smile that reminded Renee of unpleasant memories.Sure enough, the next moment.Annie turned her back to the others, grasping Renee's hand, and spoke earnestly: "Renee, I'm sorry, but I can't help you deceive Car