The little girl looked confused, but her mother gently pulled her back.“Don’t call her old. That’s not polite.”“But Uncle Carl isn’t old, so his wife must not be old either,” the little girl said innocently.Renee’s face flushed as she awkwardly laughed, finally managing to pull her hand free from Carl’s grip.The girl’s mother glanced between them, clearly understanding the situation but choosing not to comment. With a knowing smile, she said, “We run a little diner near the university. Stop by if you have time.”“Sure,” Carl replied.Renee couldn’t help but feel that her instincts were right. They seemed like genuinely warm and easygoing people.As the family of three walked away, Renee pressed her lips together. She felt a strange mix of closure and uncertainty, like things had settled but weren’t fully resolved.If so much had been happening behind the scenes in her previous life, who was truly to blame for what had happened to Sarah and herself?Her thoughts drifted bac
“Have the driver bring the car around,” Carl instructed, glancing briefly at Renee before turning to leave. “One week. I’ll expect it then.”With that, he strode quickly toward the backyard.Renee blinked in surprise. Expect what? Who agreed to this?She moved to follow him but was stopped by Patrick.“Renee, let it go,” he said, his tone firm but kind. “Linda’s not in a good mental state right now. You don’t want her taking it out on you. Go check on your mom instead.”“Alright,” Renee agreed after a moment. He was right—after everything that had happened, getting further involved in the drama of the main house was a bad idea.As she watched the two men leave, she turned and headed toward the backyard to find Susanne.Pushing open the door, Renee was surprised not to hear Susanne’s usual boisterous energy. It wasn’t until she reached the second floor that she found her mother sitting by the window, staring into the distance.“Mom, what’s wrong?”Susanne jumped at the sound of
Linda’s funeral was so simple it didn’t even measure up to an average person’s. Ordinary people at least mourn for three days. She was cremated hastily, buried in a small plot of land, and that was it.Travis wanted to organize a small memorial service for her, but every call he made went unanswered. No one wanted to show up—except for the very people Linda had most sought to harm.Even her beloved brother, Leon Clark, had fled the country with his entire family, taking all the money he could.The irony was that Leon’s escape was only possible because Linda, clinging to her final breath, had tipped him off.It was hard to feel anything but indifference toward her end.Renee hadn’t intended to come, but Susanne had wanted to pay her respects.In the cold, desolate wind, Travis appeared in a black suit, his face gaunt, cheeks sunken as if the life had been drained out of him.He lowered Linda’s urn into the small grave, placed the headstone, and just like that, a person’s life cam
Walking with a limp was awkward enough, but the current situation was far worse. Everyone in the city knew Carl. Watching him carry Renee upstairs so openly, all eyes naturally fell on her.Flustered, Renee lowered her head and pretended to adjust her hair to shield her face.Carl glanced down at her and asked coolly, “Am I embarrassing you?”In the past, she might have blushed. But now, her guard was fully up.Thinking quickly, Renee rubbed her eyes and mumbled, “No, I think something got in my eye.”“Hmm.” Carl didn’t press further.When they entered the crowded elevator, the noise level rose, and Carl set her down. Moments later, a wheelchair-bound patient was wheeled in, making the space even more cramped.Before Renee could adjust herself, Carl placed an arm around her, guiding her into the corner.The elevator was filled with chatter and phone calls, but all Renee could hear was the steady sound of Carl’s breathing, uncomfortably close.He leaned down slightly, his warm
When Chris saw Renee, there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.Sensing the awkwardness, Renee spoke first. “Dr. Percy, I twisted my ankle. Can you check if the swelling can go down quickly? I have a very important event tomorrow.”Hearing that Renee still trusted him, Chris nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”As he examined her injury, Chris rattled off advice and instructions like a worried parent. Finally, he hesitated, then said softly, “Renee, I’m sorry.”Renee waved it off with a reassuring smile. “It wasn’t your fault. Don’t overthink it.”Relieved by her response, Chris dropped the formalities. After icing her ankle, he prepared a medicated patch. While Jackson went to pick up the medication, Chris brewed tea for both Carl and Renee.As Chris handed them their cups, his usual chatty nature returned. “How’s your sleep been, Carl? Still dreaming about that little girl?”Renee froze mid-sip.
Renee felt too embarrassed to say anything directly. She placed her teacup down and said, “I’m done. I should head back now.”Before she could leave, Carl also put down his cup and stood. “I’ll take you home.”“That’s not necessary. I’m feeling much better,” Renee replied quickly, instinctively tugging at her pants. The moment she stood, she felt a telltale rush—her period had started.Carl glanced at her briefly. “I’ll ask a nurse to bring a wheelchair and take you to the restroom.”“Okay.” Renee nodded, relieved he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.Once seated in the wheelchair, she declined the nurse’s help, insisting she could manage on her own. After borrowing a pad, she wheeled herself to the restroom. To avoid any accidents, she chose the accessible stall.But as she approached, she realized someone was already inside.Just as she was about to move to another stall, a soft voice came from inside. “Excuse me, do you have a pad? I can’t move easily.”The voice sounded genui
Renee barely had time to react as Carl picked up the items scattered on her couch—a half-finished scarf, various balls of yarn in different colors, and several abandoned projects. She had tried a few rows with certain colors, only to dislike them and set them aside, leaving a trail of unfinished work.She’d been stuck deciding between dark red and black. Carl already had plenty of black things, so she leaned toward the dark red. But worried he might prefer black, she’d started a second scarf in that color. Now, with the scattered yarn and projects on display, it looked as if she’d put in an excessive amount of effort.“Are all these for me?” Carl asked, his tone indifferent as he examined the scene.His question made Renee feel self-conscious, as if she’d read too much into her own intentions. She awkwardly tried to block his view of the items on the couch. “No, I haven’t knitted in ages, so I’ve been practicing. I bought extras to get the hang of it again.”Ignoring her explanatio
Repay a favor.Carl’s lips curled into a faint sneer as the words echoed in his mind.At the Grey Estate.The butler knocked softly before entering the study. Michael was practicing yoga, his movements slow and deliberate. He paused when he caught sight of the butler from the corner of his eye. Accepting a towel from a maid, he gestured for the rest of the staff to leave before taking a seat.“How’s Marcus doing?” Michael asked while wiping his brow. “Once he’s back, I’ll need to have a good talk with him. Acting out like that over some woman—it’s disgraceful for the eldest son of this family.”The butler handed him a cup of tea, his expression tense. “Sir, the team you sent to deal with the woman and her child has reported back…”Michael’s brow furrowed. “What did they say?”The butler hesitated. “Mr. Marcus’s small diner caught fire a few days ago. Though the blaze wasn’t severe, all three members of his family died from smoke inhalation.”“Ridiculous!” Michael slammed the te
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