"How do you know my mom's symptoms?" Renee pressed.Dr. Percy hesitated, then quickly turned away: "I scheduled a CT scan. We need to hurry."Seeing this, Renee immediately took the wheelchair from the driver and pushed Susanne forward.Susanne turned her head slightly: "It was Carl. He noticed something wasn't right when he saw me at the ceremony, so he made an excuse to let me leave. He also asked Dr. Percy to arrange this. Don't get all angry just because I mentioned him.""I'm not." Renee protested."Hmph."Susanne gave her a 'stop being stubborn' look.Outside the CT room, Dr. Percy wrote a number on a card and handed it to Renee."I can't go in with you. This is your number - you're next. Just show it when you go in.""Okay."Renee glanced at the card.The numbers looked familiar, but she couldn't place why.Just then, the door opened, and without looking closely, Renee quickly wheeled Susanne inside.After the CT scan, Dr. Percy took them to see the department head.
Renee bent to pick up the paper and froze in place.Dr. Percy looked confused: "Why are you just standing there?"Renee showed him both papers: "Look at this."Dr. Percy glanced casually at first, then froze himself."Whose number is this? Why is the handwriting exactly like mine?"The 9s, 6s, and 1s had distinctive tails - his personal signature style.No wonder Renee had found Joey's note familiar.She'd seen the same writing on Dr. Percy's medical records.Suddenly, Renee remembered Joey mentioning her date was a doctor.She looked up at Dr. Percy: "Are you dating? Someone named Joey?"Dr. Percy started: "How did you know? I matched someone on tinder but I haven't had time to meet her yet, I..."They locked eyes, both realizing something.Dr. Percy spoke angrily: "When Connor did poorly in school as a kid, after my dad punished him, he started forging my parents' signatures. Eventually, he could copy anyone's handwriting perfectly."He moved to make a call.Renee grabb
Dr. Percy startled: "Why did she drop it here? Why not just call out to me?""Someone was watching her."Carl had already reviewed all security footage on his way over. The cameras showed Renee looking around nervously, clearly being watched.Opening the crumpled paper - the same two sheets Dr. Percy had seen earlier.Dr. Percy quickly put it together: "Earlier she was staring at these papers, asking if I was dating someone named Joey. Who's Joey?""I know who." Carl turned to Jackson, "Call Renee's neighbor."Jackson nodded and made the call.Carl waved the papers at Dr. Percy: "Explain this."Dr. Percy's face darkened in frustration: "It's Connor. He knew my mother was urging me to find a girlfriend. He forged my handwriting to date Joey - Renee's neighbor. But why would he go this far just for Annie?""Chris, have you considered this isn't just about Annie? He's targeting you too. You've always been his cover for wrongdoing." Carl hit the nail on the head."..."Dr. Percy
Renee jerked her face away from Travis's touch.His hand hung in the air before lowering with a light laugh: "Still mad?”He spoke as if soothing an upset lover.But his tone made cold sweat break out all over Renee's body.She struggled: "What do you really want?"Travis studied her for a few seconds, ignoring her anger, speaking gently: "You must be hungry. Sit down and eat something."He sat down gracefully, signaling the flight attendant.When Renee refused to sit, the guard behind her forced her down by her shoulders.The attendant poured champagne and served freshly cooked steak.Travis raised his glass to Renee, inviting a toast.Renee sat with clenched fists, refusing to participate."Renee, at this point, fighting me won't do you any good."Travis watched her through his champagne glass.Renee felt chilled to her core, suffocating as if being stalked.But he was right.What could she do at 30,000 feet?She didn't even know where they were going.Renee took a d
"I know it's hard for you to believe all this now. That's fine - we'll have plenty of time ahead.""Renee, don't hate me. I didn't want to become like this, but I had no choice."Renee frowned, sensing something behind his words: "Who gave you that choice?"Travis didn't answer. Instead, he approached her and replaced her steak with his pre-cut one."Eat. Stop being stubborn. Uncle Carl might let you have your way, but I won't. What I want, I must get it regardless… And what I can't have... I'll destroy rather than let others have it, especially Uncle Carl."He said this with a smile, but his tone was ruthless.His love for her was real, but so was his hatred for Carl.Renee glanced at the hand on her shoulder: "How can I eat? I'm already here - it's not like I can escape."Travis waved at the guard, who released her.He pushed the plate toward her with a warning: "Renee, don't try anything. No one knows where you are, not even Uncle Carl. No one can save you."He patted her
When Renee woke again, someone was standing by her bed, watching her with dark, sinister eyes.She scrambled up in alarm when she recognized who it was.Linda Clark.She looked nothing like the elegant, dignified Mrs. Grey she remembered.The Clark family's downfall had clearly taken its toll - her hair was streaked with silver, dark circles under her eyes.Once she'd merely seemed frail; now she radiated an aura of death.Renee got off the bed, stepping back: "Mrs. Grey, what do you want?"Linda remained silent, smoothing her hair before gracefully taking the chair opposite, her movements still those of a society woman.Once settled, she looked up disdainfully at Renee."We were so close that night. You and Carl could have been ruined forever."Renee froze, suddenly understanding."It was you that night."Looking at the face before her, the events of that night became clearer.Fall was crab season.Linda had arranged a crab feast at one of the Grey family hotels.The Gr
She quickly sent Carl a string of numbers, then swiped left to delete the chat.Only when Linda's eyes started to roll back did Renee finally release her grip.She truly wanted to strangle Linda.But in this life, her journey was just beginning. She'd promised Sarah she'd be different.She wouldn't let these people ruin the rest of her life.Once free, Linda screamed like a madwoman: "Help!"The door burst open as Travis, his wound freshly bandaged, rushed in with guards.Travis pulled Renee away: "Renee, calm down! If it weren't for Carl, my mother and I wouldn't be in this situation. He forced us into this!"Hearing this, Renee went completely still, her already pale face turning whiter as she glared at Travis with reddened eyes."You knew? You were part of it?"Travis realized he'd said too much.Linda, being helped up, clutched her throat and spat furiously: "Of course he knew! He's the one who put you in Carl's room!"Renee stared hard, breathing rapidly as she struggl
The hospital room fell silent.Carl, smelling of cigarettes, stared coldly at the numbers on the screen."What do the numbers before 4 represent?""1 is home, 2 is my workplace, 3 is leaving the city," Susanne answered immediately, not daring to delay.Mother and daughter had only each other, so they had to be careful.In her younger years, Susanne had been stalked by men.Later, when beautiful little Renee became a target for predators too.The pair created this code - if there was trouble and they couldn't call, they'd send a message.Renee was young then, and they only went between home and work, so they hadn't needed many numbers.Patrick speculated: "Could Renee have been taken out of state?"Susanne frowned: "Even if she was taken out of state, that would be 4. She knows I'd understand - she wouldn't make a mistake. Why send 5?""International."With that word, Carl turned and left the room.Jackson and Dr. Percy followed him out.Worried Carl might fixate, Dr. Perc
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