bChapter /b213 bTo /bbbring /bbeveryone /bbtogether /b

    +15 bBONUS /b

    Marcelo settled onto the couch and in the next moment, he gently drew her closer, lifting her to sit bon /bbhis /bp with his arms encircling her waist.

    This position was unmistakably intimate.

    b“/bAh!”

    Caught off guard, she didn’t resist but allowed him to embrace her.

    b“/bHave you been troubled?” He inquired, softly.

    Renee pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

    Marcelo guessed that Naomi must have been involved.

    With aforting gesture, he gently massaged the back of her neck and reassured, “bIf /bbyou’d /brather not deal with her, then don’t. There’s no reason to feel guilty or ashamed.”

    “But Nana wasn’t like this before.” Lowering her head to look at her fingertips, she mumbled, “She bwas /balways so kind to me before.”

    “Reneeb, /bpeople’s feelings may change over the time.”

    He noticed her silence and let out a sigh.

    b“/bDo you think Jessica is kind to me now?” he suddenly asked.

    b“/bVery kind.” Her response came from genuine observation.

    Every time they met, Jessica always greeted Marcelo with open arms and a smile, her affection and warmth unmistakable and sincere.

    Marcelo chuckled.

    From thisughterb, /bshe heard coldness.

    Her eyes widened in surprise at his reaction.

    The two were close to each other. The moment she turned her head, the tip of her nose brushed against his.

    For a brief moment, Marcelo gazed into her eyes before softly pressing his lips to hers.

    It was ba /bgentle kiss.

    She was uncertain whether his kiss was meant to offer her bsce /bbor/bb… /bbif /bhe was seeking it for himself.

    Chapter 213 To bring everyone together

    “Ever since I can remember, I’ve been prone to illness,” Marcelo told her.

    “Were you unwell often as a child?” But she had never noticed that.

    He was capable of working tirelessly through the night without showing any signs of poor health!

    “Yes. Back then, when my father died and she started to lose herself, she wanted to seek sce from Paul who looked exactly like my dad. Whenever I fell sick, Paul had to visit me. And Jessica, she was actually happy about it.”

    Noticing her shocked look, he realized she had figured it out.

    “Yes, she drugged my meals. In the cold winter, she handed me only a light jacket and forced me to bow until my forehead ached…She deliberately made me sick to draw Paul’s attention.”

    Renee instinctively sat up straighter. “Why…how could grief make her like that?”

    “I don’t understand it too” Marcelo interjected, “She’s not a bad person. After achieving her goal of meeting Paul, she often broke down in tears and begged me for forgiveness.”

    However…Was her apology meaningful?

    Renee understood it was not.

    It was much like her current aversion to seeing Naomi again.

    “It must have been tough on you.” She didn’t know what to say.

    Marcelo simplyughed, and said indifferently, “I was alright.”

    “I had no idea…I’m sorry…I’m sorry that I thought you were cold–blooded to Jessica.”

    With empathy for Marcelo, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, hoping to transfer some strength to

    him.

    Marcelo had intended to tell her more.

    Following the loss of his father, his illnesses soon stopped bringing Paul to his side. Those were the days he faced harsh criticism from his own mother, who dismissed him as worthless.

    Jessica, in her rage, would strike him. Sometimes, he would be locked in a cramped, dark cupboard and not allowed to eat, go to school, or talk to anyone.

    Compared to such treatment, the difort from his illnesses seemed trivial.

    Yet, he found it hard to watch her get upset.

    He didn’t wish for her to be overly concerned about him.

    Chapter 213 To bring everyone together

    He didn’t want her to be burdened with sadness.

    So he decided to keep those terrible memories to himself.

    “Renee, I don’t want you tofort me by telling you this.” Marcelo tenderly held her face, meeting her gaze. “Just because Naomi showed you kindness once doesn’t mean you should overlook her wrongs. It’s okay to put yourself first sometimes. Being overly moralistic can be self–defeating.” Marcelo didn’t mention the great help Leo had offered him.

    Despite the terrible treatment by his mother, Marcelo grew up healthy and knowledgeable due to Sebastian’s significant contribution.

    “Alright, I understand,” Renee responded with a nod, embracing Marcelo once more.

    “Very good, girl.”

    He shifted his gaze and pressed a kiss against her neck.

    It was as if Marcelo, who had just revealed his vulnerability to console her, had vanished. He nted more kisses along her neck.

    He gently sucked on her delicate earlobe.

    All of a sudden, her body stiffened.

    “Marcelo, you got a boner!”

    “Well, Mr. Wright… Renee said that she’s not mad at me…She’s not pointing fingers at me!” Naomi’s voice shook as she stood in front of the man, her body trembling with fear.

    Kristopher yed with a bracelet on his wrist. Such a calm action now seemed so horrible in Naomi’s

    eyes.

    “Haven’t you ever considered why she is not ming you but doesn’t wish to see you? Naomi, what

    you’ve done to her cuts deep, too deep to fix.”

    “Oh no! It wasn’t like that! I didn’t do it! I…I was always so nice to her, and she knows it!”

    “Naomi, you’re fooling yourself.” Kristopher looked up and said, “The one who was truly nice to her is me.”

    Naomi quivered in fright.

    She realized he was correct.

    The kind soul to Renee was indeed the man in front of her, whose face she had recognized for years yet

    knew so little about!

    Chapter 213 To bring everyone together

    Kristopher, losing his patience, moved to leave.

    Naomi, with hands showing their age, clung to the wheels of the wheelchair.

    “Please! I’m begging you! Don’t cut off my medication!”

    “Remember, the medicine that can save your life can also end it, I’ve told you this.”

    Naomi threw out a final warning, saying, “If you don’t let me livefortably, aren’t you scared I’ll spill everything to Renee?”

    “Go ahead and try?”

    A smirk appeared on Kristopher’s face, showing he wasn’t worried.

    He was confident in his n, unafraid of threats.

    Clothes tumbled to the floor…

    A seductive vibe filled the air, disrupting the office’s usual seriousness.

    “Marcelo, have you gonepletely mad! This ce is yourpany! We’re in an office!”

    Renee regretted making things clear.

    Perhaps acting clueless might have prevented this “beast” in front of her from taking advantage!

    “As you said, it’s mypany.”

    He kissed her, emphasizing the word “my“.

    Who else but the boss could wee someone into his private space without asking?

    At that moment, Renee caught on to his unique tastes.

    He was chasing excitement!

    He did this on purpose!

    Right then, Marcelo’s phone rang.

    She nced over, noticing Wyatt’s name shing on the screen.

    “Wyatt is calling for you!” Renee said, urgencycing her voice.

    Marcelo showed his irritation with a click of his tongue, holding Renee close as he picked up the call

    with his one hand.

    Chapter 213 To bring everyone together

    Renee, being so near, could clearly hear their conversation.

    “Marcelo, everyone’s aware you’re married now, and they’re wondering why they weren’t invited to the

    wedding celebration!”

    Wyatt seemed to be seeking a reason to bring everyone together.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!