The man's hands were pale and elegant, his fingers like jade as they slid from her wrist to her palm, intertwining with her fingers.He gently pulled her into his embrace.Renee froze, slowly looking up to find him inches away, gazing down at her.It was Carl.His eyes were deep as the night sky, scattered with endless pinpoints of light.Both intimidating and mesmerizing.Under his gaze, her heart clenched painfully as her daughter's soft voice echoed in her memory."Mommy, why did you name me Sarah?""Because your eyes are beautiful like the stars."Like your father's.In their long, quiet gaze, her vision blurred.Not wanting anyone to see her vulnerability, she quickly avoided Carl's eyes, looking down.In the next moment, he draped his suit jacket over her head, covering most of her face.His presence enveloped her completely, and as tears welled up, she instinctively gripped their interlocked fingers.Her fingertips dug into his hand, but he didn't pull away."Let'
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
The spacious hall felt suffocating as the air around Carl chilled to an extreme, leaving everyone struggling to breathe.He remained silent.But everyone knew he was angry.He took out a cigarette box, lit one, and took a drag.Exhaling a cloud of smoke that veiled his face, he gazed at Renee through the haze, his expression unreadable."Get out."Michael also waved his hand in displeasure.Susanne helped Renee to her feet.Renee pulled her hand away, standing straight in the center of the hall, her words firm: "Since my presence here is hindering everyone, I'll move out immediately. Mr. Grey, thank you for your care over the years."She would leave with dignity and decisiveness.She would no longer tiptoe around in fear as she had in her past life.With that, Renee turned and left.The gaze that followed her was dangerous and cold....Stepping out of the hall, the side effects of multiple contraceptive pills hit her – dizziness and nausea overwhelmed her.Renee only ma
Last night?Indeed, Renee had said a lot.Unable to bear seeing Carl in such painful restraint, she had given in.In the height of passion, enduring his almost torturous teasing, she had sincerely poured out her heart.She thought then that perhaps Carl would forget everything by morning.But she would remember it all, at least knowing she had once been so close to him."Carl, I like you.""I've liked you for a long time, ever since you came to my defense the day I entered the Grey household. I've been secretly admiring you since then.""I know you won't care about me, but I... really... love you."Renee was sixteen when she entered the Grey family. Susanne had dressed her up like a doll being presented as a gift.Back then, Susanne didn't understand the understated elegance of wealthy women's fashion. She just wanted her daughter to look like a pretty doll entering the Grey household.Instead, Renee became the laughingstock of the entire family.They said she looked like a
She threw up on Carl's pristine suit, making him frown instantly.Eventually, only bile came up and she weakly slumped against the car.Jackson quickly stepped forward, offering his hand. "Mr. Grey, let me help Ms. Lacey."Carl simply shrugged off his jacket. "No need."He gave Renee a disgusted look, but still carried her into the house.Carl took her straight to the bathroom and set her on the counter. He immediately started removing her vomit-stained clothes."No! Stop!"Renee pushed against him, resisting, but in her weakened state, she was no match for him.Carl stripped off her clothes without any expression.The marks from the previous night were fully exposed under the harsh light.Embarrassed, Renee tried to push him away, but he gripped her wrist.Carl's palm was burning hot.Renee looked up, meeting his darkening eyes.Carl gave her no chance to resist, pushing between her knees and pressing close.She trembled instinctively, her whole body rejecting him.Carl