Renee didn’t respond and continued upstairs, leaving Vivian behing in the room.

    Reaching the top of the stairs, Renee found herself regretting not having Chad escort Vivian out. She wondered if Vivian would bleave /bon her own.

    Vivian stood there, seething with frustration.

    How dare Renee treat her like that?

    Chad appeared discreetly, hesitating.

    “Miss Lambert, would you like to stay, or…” His unfinished words implied that it was now time for her to leave.

    Vivian managed a strained smile. “Can I wait here for Marcelo? It’s my first time at his house, and it seems inappropriate to leave so abruptly.”

    “Of course, “Chad replied.

    In his mind, he found Vivian’s unannounced visit somewhat improper, given herck of gifts or courtesies.

    In the meantime, a car stopped outside the main building of the mansion.

    The staff, once used to Marcelo being a workaholic, now observed him returning home on time each day.

    Entering the house, Marcelo immediately felt something was off.

    Before he could put his finger on it, he noticed activity in the kitchen.

    The light was on, and he heard a woman’s voice.

    His heart leapt, thinking of Renee, and he quickly made his way to the kitchen.

    There, a woman in an apron stood at the counter, her back to the door, busily adding yams to a pot.

    Was Renee cooking?

    Regardless of the oue,Marcelo resolved to appreciate her effort tonight.

    The usual coldness in his eyes softened.

    “Renee…”

    “Marcelo, you’re back!“Vivian’s voice, filled with surprise, cut him off.

    The emerging smile on his face instantly vanished.

    “Vivian,” he acknowledged, his expression clouding over.

    He hadn’t mistaken her for Renee; he simply hadn’t expected any other woman to be at his house. Vivian caught the sh of disappointment in his eyes, and her smile faltered.

    “I…came to discuss something with you. I thought I’d make you some soup while I waited,” she exined.

    Marcelo showed little interest in the soup.

    bHe /bsimply nodded and left the kitchen, asking the butler about Renee’s whereabouts.

    Renee, who had been sketching design drawings in the study, was called down for dinner. Descending the stairs, she found Vivian emerging from the kitchen with a bowl of soup.

    “Miss Hudson, dinner’s ready!”Vivian called out cheerfully, as if their earlier confrontation hadn’t urred. “Why don’t you try the mash potatoes and pork rib soup I made?”

    Chapter 168 To confirm

    Renee nced at Marcelo, who was standing by the dining tableb, /bbher /bexpression a mix of coldness and impatience.

    Marcelo inwardly sighed, feeling a sense of unease. He had just arrived home and hadn’t yet spoken a word, but it seemed Renee was already mad at him.

    “bMiss /bHudsonb, /bplease, take a scat!“Vivian called out with a smile to Renee, who paused on the stairs.

    To anyone watching, Vivian might have seemed like thedy of the house.

    By the time Renee made her way down, Vivian had already chosen the seat across from Marcelo, taking Renee’s usual spot.

    Renee, with a slight frown, approached Marcelo and looked at him with a mix of assertiveness and charm.

    “I’d like your seat, Marcelo,” she dered, aiming to sit directly across from Vivian and unsettle her.

    Vivian’s frown deepened upon hearing this. Clearlyb, /bshe had chosen her seat strategically, facing Marcelo. What was Renee doing here?

    Renee didn’t let up. cing her hand on the table, she demanded more firmly, “Marcelo, I want your seatb!/bb” /b

    This time, her voice carried a note of entitlement, almost as if she was flirting.

    Marcelo, puzzled by her request yet willing to indulge her, stood up and switched seats, amodating her whim.

    This move only served to infuriate Vivian further.

    Renee sat down with a smile on her face.

    “Happy now?“Marcelo asked, sounding both resigned and tender.

    “Yeah, I’m happy,“Renee replied, ncing at Vivian who was sitting across from her.

    She looked as though she was unting a piece of candy, clearly annoying her rival in the process.

    “Marcelo, is Miss Hudson always like this at home?“Vivian inquired, her tone implying more than she said.

    “And if she is?“Marcelo responded, confused by her question.

    He either truly didn’t catch her drift or chose not to dwell on it.

    At his response, Vivian seemed taken aback, but since Marcelo had already put the question out there, she feltpelled to respond.

    “Marcelo, even after you sat downb, /bMiss Hudson still insisted on you giving up your seat. I didn’t expect that she would be so…

    rude.”

    Her words were carefully chosen, aiming to paint Renee in a negative light.

    Marcelo brushed off thement. “She can be any way she wants with me.I don’t mind.”

    He implied that Renee demand was no big deal because he remembered her going so far as to push or kick him in anger, which was just part of their dynamic.

    Any way she wants with him?!

    Upon hearing this, Vivian couldn’t figure out if Renee’s behavior was typical or if it was just her not understanding Renee well enough. Either way, Vivian was fuming.

    Renee, catching a glimpse of this, nearlyughed out loud.

    She casually picked up a bpiece /bof abalone for Marcelo. “The chef mentioned the seafood is especially fresh today. Try some!”

    It was her way of giving a treat.

    Chapter 168 To confirm

    Marcelo looked surprised, his eyebrows shooting up as if questioning whether everything was still right with the world.

    At that, Vivian clenched her jaw and quickly grabbed a small bowl, he filled it halfway with the mash potatoes and sparerib soup she’d prepared and offered it to Marcelo. 1

    “Marcelo, have a taste. Do you think my cooking has gotten better“Vivian offered a smile and continued, “I haven’t had much chance to cook while I was overseas these past few years. I’ve only made soup for you before. Don’t you feel luckyb?/b”

    Renee shot Vivian a frosty look, which Vivian chose to ignore.

    Marcelo was about to try the soup, doing it for Sebastian’s sake.

    But just as he took the bowl, Renee suddenly stood up and rushed to the bathroom, her hand over her mouth.

    “Renee!“Marcelo was stunned and quickly set his cutleries down to follow her.

    Reneewas hugging the toilet, throwing up a lot. The intense feeling of sickness turned her face white, and tears filled her eyes, making her look both miserable and pitiable.

    b“/bWhat’s the matter? Are you okay?“Marcelo asked, holding her steady with one hand while rubbing her back with the otherb, /btoo anxious to notice his own reaction.

    Renee shook her head, took some mouthwash from a servant, and managed to say, b“/bThe soup’s smell made me want to throw up.”

    Vivian, who just walked in and heard this, was furious.

    “What is this bitch implying? How dare she insult my soup like that?” she muttered to herselfb, /bher face turning a shade of angry

    red.

    “Miss Hudson, is there something you’d like to say to me?“Vivian asked, pretending to be hurt.

    Renee muttered under her breath, “Isn’t it obvious I have an issue with you?”

    But before she could respond, her nausea saved her from answering.

    Out of the blue, Chad asked, “Mrs. King, could you be pregnant?”

    Suddenly, the room went silent.

    Renee could feel Marcelo’s grip tighten around her waist, a clear sign he was emotionally stirred. Hearing this, Vivian’s eyes went wide with shock. It felt like a direct hit.

    “Let’s get you to the hospital immediately!“Marcelo quickly scooped Renee up, his voice shaking as he spoke.

    Reneeb, /bcaught off guard, instinctively wrapped her arms around Marcelo’s neck.

    “No! I’m not pregnant!”

    cing a hand on his shoulder, she raised her voice, determined bto /bclear up the misunderstanding.

    “I just had my period a few days ago,” she whispered into his ear.

    Vivian, standing nearby, overheard the conversation and let out a sigh of relief.

    Marcelo paused, looking at Renee with disappointment.

    The fact that she had her period meant she couldn’t be pregnant.

    He had felt a secret wave of joy beneath his outward calm, spurred on by Chad’s mistaken announcement… now, it was shattered by Renee’s rification.

    “Put me down,“Renee said. “And keep that horrible soup away from me.”

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    Chapter 168 To confirm

    b“/bYou don’t have to be pregnant to need a hospital check up.” Marselo sighed.

    “I’m still hungry. I want to eat first.”

    Vivian hadn’t realized that her soup, which she had spent hours making, was ignored before Marcelo even had a chance to try bit/b. And with Renee’s dramatic performance tonight, Vivian was left speechless!

    She was convinced Renee was just acting.

    And Renee was quite convincing at it!

    “I’ve got an appointment with Wyatt. We’re heading to the hospital after dinner,” Marcelo announced, setting down his phone decisively.

    “Alright,” Renee responded, sounding defeated.

    Vivian’s grip on her fork tightened upon hearing this.

    Right after dinner, Marcelo wanted to take Renee to the hospital and arranged for a servant to take Vivian home.

    “Marcelo, I want toe to the hospital with you!“Vivian insisted. “I think I should get checked up itoo/i.”

    “What’s the matter with you?“He inquired.

    Seeing Marcelo’s concern made Vivian feel better. “It’s nothing serious. I’ve just been having trouble sleepingtely. bIt’s /bno big deal.”

    Actually, Vivian was fibbing. She wanted to apany Renee to bthe /bhospital to find out the results of her test.

    She needed to confirm if Renee was pregnant.