bChapter /bb204 /bThe bfort /b

    “You…believe me?”

    “I’m sorry.” Marcelo sighed.

    He felt remorse for causing her suffering, demonstrating patience as he acknowledged his mistakes.

    Marcelo kissed Renee gently, a gesture offort rather than passion.

    Renee felt a surge of pent–up emotions at that moment, desperate to be released.

    She inquired, “What about Light?”

    “I’m sorry about that too. And yes, she will be leaving Harvillston.” He acknowledged the extent of

    Renee’s distress.

    “I’ve read reports about you two at a hospital and a hotel. Were they just for a health check–up and casual conversation under a nket? There were rumors about Vivian being there for a pregnancy test.” Renee

    detailed each incident.

    Marcelo was incredulous. He frowned. “Renee, I’ve always been devoted to you. You are the only woman I

    am intimate with.”

    The term “intimate” brought Renee memories of their shared moments.

    Her cheeks flushed. “This is serious!”

    b“/bYou were the one who doubted me first,” Marcelo snorted.

    She was at a loss for words. Why did he shift the me to her?

    “What prompted your visit to the hospital with Vivian? And why did you end up at a hotel?” Renee

    inquired.

    “She visited someone who was unwell, and I apanied her to the hotel where she was taking a break

    Marcelo reflected briefly, “I’ll bring you to visit the patient tomorrow.”

    “Okay.” Renee nodded. Was he concerned that she might doubt him, so he decided that they would visit the patient together as a way of testifying to his words?

    At the mention of the pregnancy test, Marcelo involuntarily cast a nce at Renee’s trim midsection. She caught his eye, her body briefly tensing, a movement too rapid for him to perceive.

    He insisted on not wearing a condom when they had intimacy the night before.

    Howeverb, /bshe had taken medication afterward.

    “Would you like to have the porridge now?” He presented the porridge to her once again.

    Chapter 204 Thefort

    Renee shook her head, stating, “I’m not fond of mushroom chicken strip porridge.”

    She was aware that the shop no longer offered that porridge, attempting ito /icreate a challenge for Marcelo in the hope that he would cease bothering her.

    To her surprise, he swiftly returned with the porridge.

    Marcelo had discerned her initial motives.

    Nevertheless, this yful maneuver failed to incite anger in him.

    He lightly tapped her forehead and inquired, “What would you prefer to eat then?”

    “Marcelo, you haven’t apologized to me.” Ellie held her silence briefly. “You need to say, ‘I apologize.”

    He let out a cold, meaningfulugh. “You truly understand how to leverage the situation.”

    Renee stressed, “For it to qualify as an apology, you must say, ‘I apologize.”

    He emitted a disapproving sound, indicating reluctance. “But I said I’m sorryb./bb‘ /b

    Renee tucked in her chin, her eyes revealing a hint of resentment and usation. “You harmed me

    yesterday, and you deceived me.”

    “I apologize.”

    The two words carried reluctance and concession, along with a subtle but genuine unease.

    Renee’s lips formed a contented smile.

    Marcelo once again went to purchase dinner for Renee.

    Feeling restless, Renee strolled to the ward’s entrance.

    Before long, a handsome and graceful man in a wheelchair was wheeled toward her.

    Instead of hospital attire, he sported a loose, striped cotton–linen shirt, entuated by a distinctive

    bracelet adorning his left wrist.

    “Miss Hudson, what a surprise!” Kristopher greeted her.

    “Mr. Wright, encountering you in this ce is unexpected!” Renee smiled.

    Kristopher’s countenance disyed clear indications of illness.

    The individual propelling his wheelchair was a blonde, blue–eyed man, identified by Renee as a prominent cardiac surgeon.

    Kristopher appeared unfazed by the fact that a highly acimed expert was pushing his wheelchair.

    Chapter 204 Thefort

    :

    “Are you unwell?” Kristopher inquired.

    Renee shook her headb, /bstating, b“/bJust a fever, but it has subsided. How about byou/b?b” /b

    b“/bbIt’s /bjust a minor ailment.” Kristopher’s eyes conveyed warmth. “May I have the honor of inviting byou /bfor ate–night snack? I want to thank byou /bfor showing me the wayst time.”

    “Thanks, but no thanksb. /bbMy /bhusband has gone to fetch me ate–night snack.” Renee declined. “Assisting byou /bwas no trouble, bMr. /bWright. Please don’t concern yourself. Take care of your health.”

    Kristopher’s smile diminished slightly as he bid farewell to Renee.

    He turned the wheelchair away.

    Once he was fully facing away from her, the residual smile disappeared entirely.

    b“/bKristopher, was that the Miss Hudson you were hoping to encounter?” The doctor was curious. “She is undoubtedly a rare beauty, but as your primary physician, I don’t believe it’s worth leaving your room to

    meet her.”

    Kristopher appeared to disregard the doctor’s words, mumbling to himself, “Did she reconcile with Marcelo? Did they resolve things so swiftlyb?/b”

    “What are you referring to?” The doctor didn’t fullyprehend.

    “I dislike witnessing her cing such significance on someone else.”

    Observing Kristopher fidgeting with the bracelet on his wrist, an indication of his sour mood, the doctor refrained from saying more to prevent further distressing him.

    The phone rang, and Renee realized that Marcelo had left his phone behind.

    She had no interest in his calls.

    However, she noted the caller ID: Vivian.

    Renee frowned involuntarily, paused for a moment, and then answered the call.

    b“/bMarcelo, I really didn’t mean for the rumors to start. Can we talk about it? I…”

    “This is Renee,” She interjected.

    Vivian’s tone, initially soft and dependent, turned considerably colder. “Miss Hudson, why do you have Marcelo’s phone?”

    “I’m his wife. Why do you find it odd that his phone was in my possessionb?/b” Renee shot back.

    Chapter 204 Thefort

    Her abrupt hostility puzzled Vivian.

    She somehow had the courage to confront her.

    “Would you mind passing the phone to Marcelo? I need to speak with him,” Vivian urged her.

    “No.” Renee reclined on the bed, adopting a rxed posture like a cat.

    “You!” Vivian was surprised by the direct and upromising rejection.

    “bIf /byou have something to convey, I can deliver the message for you,” Renee generously offered. “Rest assured, I won’t twist the information like you might. I’ll convey it exactly to Marcelo.”

    “No need!”

    Vivian hung up, incensed by Renee’s insinuation.

    Renee spected from Vivian’s urgent tone in wanting to speak with Marcelo that he might have caused

    trouble for Vivian, as she was the one spreading rumors about their rtionship.

    Upon Marcelo return, Renee candidly stated, “Vivian called you, and I picked up.”

    “What did she sayb?/b” Marcelo inquired.

    He brought her the porridge, shrimp dumplings and a side dish.

    “Why would she say anything to me? She was seeking you,” Renee snorted.

    She started eating, her mood soured by Vivian’s call.

    Marcelo hummed, refraining from further inquiry.

    Following a pause, Renee raised her gaze.

    “Aren’t you nning to return her call?”

    “If I did, would you still have the appetite ito /ieat?” Marcelo stood against the wall, arms crossed, noting her sarcasm. “If I upset you again, you might choose not to return home with me tomorrow.”

    He disyed unexpected self–awareness.

    Renee was about to concur when she sensed something was amiss.

    She said, “I hadn’t intended to igo /ihome tomorrow anyway. I have sses Bellbanks University.”

    “I’ve conversed with your department head, and your sses are deferred until next week.” He preferred Renee not to hasten back to sses without a full recovery.

    “That poses significant inconvenience for the department and the students,” Renee remarked with a frown.

    Chapter 204 Thefort

    Marcelo remained indifferent. “I contributed ten million as a special schrship for your department. I’m certain your department head and students are quite pleased.”

    Renee found herself without words.

    Undoubtedly, that would bring them bjoy/b.

    She had no retort.

    Now that he had coordinated with the department, Renee couldn’t reverse it and instead reached out to her studio to rearrange her work.

    With the “Peerless Grace” promotion kicking off next week and the production extending an invitation to her, she seized the opportunity to restructure her schedule.

    Medication induced drowsiness, and after freshening up, she settled into bed.

    During her sleep, she sensed someone raising the nket, followed by warmth snuggling close.

    Renee awakened instantly, her body reacting quicker than her mind, delivering a forceful elbow to the person behind her.

    “Mrs. King, are you attempting to murder your husband?”

    Marcelo dodged her attack and gently took her hand.

    Upon recognizing the voice, a wave of relief washed over her. “What are you doing, Marcelo?”

    “I want to sleep next to you.”

    She gestured towards the caregiver’s bed. “No! That’s where you should sleep.”

    Marceloughed softly and wrapped his arms around her.

    “Please, I want to hold you like we used to when we slept together.”

    He held her close, breathing in her scent, which calmed his thoughts.

    Soon, he drifted off to sleep, sumbing to the exhaustion from nights without rest.

    Renee noticed his breathing slow down, bing deep and steady. The warm breath from his nose lightly brushed the back of her neck.

    She tried to shift away from the sensation.

    Her movements woke him up. Marcelo held her tighter, making it clear she wasn’t going anywhere,

    Renee turned to face him. He furrowed his brows, giving her a stern look. It was as if he was a dragon guarding his treasure from an enemy.

    Chapter 204 Thefort.

    She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth from his chest, feeling as though she was near a cozy oven.

    She turned to find a morefortable position.

    He murmured softly, “Babe, try not to move…”

    She then fell into a deep sleep.

    As dawn broke, a nurse knocked on the door three times before entering the room with a cart of

    medications and injections.

    She was surprised to find the couple closely huddled together on the narrow hospital bed.

    The woman was curled up in the man’s arms, her face pressed against his chest, while the man gently

    held her waist.

    The extra bed meant for caregivers was untouched.

    It seemed they preferred thefort of being together over sleeping separately.