Catherine’s face contorted in shock.

She had locked Renee in the room. How did Renee get out?

And where was the effect of the drug she had used?

Renee looked perfectly okay.

As Catherine pondered this, she began to feel unusually warm, attributing it to her mounting frustration.

“Rence isn’t in there. She’s with Marcelo?” someone in the crowd whispered.

“Can someone exin what’s going bon/b?“Bence basked/b, maintaining bher /bposure.

Felicia’s gaze bore Into Renee. “Catherine said she saw you enter that man’s room. Such behavior is uneptable in our family. We had toe out and investigate!”

The usation of infidelity was almost explicit, aiming to disgrace both Renee a and Marcelo

“So, what did your investigation reveal?“Renee asked, her voice steady,

“Why weren’t you in the room as Miss Hudson imedb?/b“Gary inquired, his eyes searching Renee’s face for any telltale signs.

Renee shot back, “I’m curious myself. Why would Catherine say I was to that room?Catherine, exin this clearly to us.”

All eyes now turned to Catherine, the instigator of the drama.

Catherine’s forehead grew hot with anger as she focated her re on one. “I saw you going into this room with my own eyes,” she insisted,

“Really?” Renee’s gaze shifted to Marcelo, her fingers lightly pinching his shoulder. “But I’ve been in our bedroom with my husband the entire time,”

The pinch was a discreet cue and ba /bsubtle warning to Marcelob. /b

If he didn’t y bnice/bb, /bhe’d be bseen /bas a cuck

Marcelo, however, seemed more intrigued by her use of the words “my husband.”

The words bstirred /bsomething in him, a feeling he had never felt before.

“About ten minutes ago, a maid brought clothes for my wife, She’s been with me all evening.“Marcelo interjected, effectively ending the debate.

This detail, backed by a witness, confirmed Renee’s presence in their broom /bearlier.

Whispers spread among the onlookers. “Why did she need clothes thiste at night?”

Had they gotten too excited and inexplicitly run out of clothes to wearb? /b

Andrew’s frustration simmered.

Renee’s apparent closeness to Marcelo, especially so soon after their marriage, felt like a direct affront to him, her former fiance.

Unaware of the misconceptions swirling around her, Renee calmly faced Catherine. “Miss Hudsonb, /bI’ve been with my husband in our room, and the maid

can vouch for that. You im I should be here, though. So, who’s mistaken? My husband and the maid, or your eyesight? Huh?”

“L..“Catherine hesitatedb, /bnot daring to assert that Marcelo had colluded with the maid to deceive them.

Yet, it was unmistakable She had locked Renee in that room!

Catherine’s thoughts swirled in confusion. A fiery sensation overtook her, her breathing turned shallow and bquick/b, and ba /bstrange urge to disrobe overwhelmed bher/bb. /b

Suddenly, her gaze collided with Marcelo, who sat emotionless in his wheelchair. His eyes were icy, devoid of any empathy, as if he were observing someone condemned

bA /bshiver crept up her spine.

The chill was swiftly reced by an intense heat, grawing at her very sanity.

Something was amiss with her.

She suddenly felt so hot and bothered.

“Catherine bwhat’s /bhappening? Exin yourself!” Andrew’s patience was fraying

All eyes were on her, anticipating her response.

“L.. perhaps bI /bwas mistaken.“Catherine had no choice but to bear the humitionb. /b

“Miss Hodson, byou /busually have sharp vision. How could you be mistaken? Weren’t byou /bjust using me of infidelity with such conviction?“Rerice

wasn’t about to let her off the hook.

“L.. It was dien, and I couldn’t see that well” If it wasn’t for the crowd, Catherine would bhave /bpped Renee by now.

She hated that she still couldn’t in Renee no matter what

“Andrew, I feel sick.“Catherine clung to Andrew, her voice quivering her expression one of innocence Andrew, seeing Catherine’s reliance on bhim/b, chose to step in. b“/bbIt’s /bba /bmisunderstanding. Let’s leave it at that. bI’ll /bescort Catherine to her room.”

His words met no opposition from the King family.

Renee, however, disagreed

“A misunderstanding?” Sheughed lightly. “I’d overlook the false usationb, /bbut her actions disrupted our peace, summoning us here for no reason. Is this how you resolve issues, Gary? She was clearly taunting Gary for his partiality.

‘Address the issue your girlfriend caused!” Gary addressed Andrewb, /bbvisibly /bupset, before storining out.

bTo /bshield her son,Felicia demanded of Catherine, “Miss Hudson, we need an exnation!TM

Catherine felt disoriented, an involuntary urge to lean on Andrew emerging. Her mind was in turmoil, even contemting tearing her clothes boff/b.

She wanted any release bof /ba soft.

Her body felt so foreign that staying became unbearable.

Biting her lip, she bowed her head. “I’m deeply sorry. Today, I acted with the best intentions but ended bup /bbcausing /bdistress to everyone.”

bShe /bsubtly implicated Renee, suggesting she was attempting to expose Renee’s infidelity.

“Does ‘everyone‘ include me? I must have missed that.“Renee’s face lit up with a serene, graceful smile. Reneel You “Catherine, boiling with rage, her bface /bbred/b, managed to say, “I apologize, Reneel bam /bsorry She needed to escape this ce immediately and return to her broom/b.

Now she began to suspect that the drug intended for Renee had somehow been consumed by her instead

*Miss Hudson, your apology seems forced. I can’t ept it as sincere.“Renee, in her refusal to let bthings /bslide, had numerous tactics at her disposal Marcelo, his hands sped, fingers interlocking a gesture those close to him knew indicated his amusement–seemed pleased.

Watching Renee barn the tables was a rare treat for him.

So, this was the real Renee

“I am sincerely sorry! I ept full responsibility for today’s events!“Catherine, on the brink of tears, felt a mix of anxiety and injustice.

Renee responded thoughtfully, “It’s reassuring to hear a genuine apology from you.”

Just as Catherine exhaled in relief, preparing to depart, Renee spoke up. “Miss Hudson, it seems you’ve overlooked how your actions nearly caused my husband to be falsely bused /bdue to your mistaken vision.”

Catherine’s bhands /bballed into fists, her anger teetering on the edge of eruption.

Would this bitch ever stop? Now she had to apologize to Marcelo, the one person she wished to avoid?

“Rence, can’t you see Catherine is feeling sick?” Andrew had allowed Catherine to apologize to Renee but drew the line at her apologizing to Marcelo

“Really? I didn’t noticed.” Renee sneered.

What concern was Catherine’s well–being to her?

Catherine’s mind was elsewhere, her sense bof /breason fading, a pressing need to leave consuming her. “Mr. Kingb, /bbfor /bwhat I use your wife of,I’m truly sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“Get out of my sight, “Marcelo cut her off sharply, his tone filled with contempt and repulsion.

A fool’s apology was nothing but a wax in his ears.

Catherine’splexion turned ashen. Swallowing the insult, she implored Andrew, “Drew, I feel terrible. Let’s bgo/bb.. /b

With a stern look at Renee and Marcelo, Andrew lifted Catherine up and hurried to his room.

Outside, the night wind stirred the leaves

Rence wheeled Marcelo away.

He didn’t inquire about the eventsb, /byet bshe /bsensed his anticipation for an exnation.

Renee recounted the evening’s happenings to him, omitting how Catherine had exploited the Ring family’s secret. She only mentioned Catherine’s approach for a certain matter.

At the mention of drug, bMarcelo’s /bexpression turned graveb, /ba mix of revulsion and menace apparent.

Had Renee actually consumed the tainted wine and been confined in that room.

Marcelo would surely hold Catherine and the Hudsons ountable!

She was his now!

No may bwas /ballowed to touch even a strand of her hair..

“Was I clear etwugh?” Reare sought confirmation,ring yet to receive his reaction.

Come on! Say something about it!

Marcelo’s expression had reverted to its customary aloofness. He nced up, his lips slightly parted, “Should Imend your cleverness?”

Had she been truly astute, she bwouldn’t /bhave ventured out at all.

Renee found herself at a loss for words.

She was indeed clover! Why couldn’t he avowledge that?

After they entered the room, Marcelo stood up and headed into the bathroom.

The sound of water running soon echoed through the space.

He had a penchant for cleanliness, habitually showering upon returning home,

But thers, Reise realized one big problem.

In this room, there was only one bed!

Her

gaze fixed on the lone, sizable mahogmy bed, she stood rooted to the spot. How would they manage sleeping arrangements tonight?

Surely Marcele wouldn’t be keen on sharing the bed with her?

With this thought, Renee quickly got into the bed.

Oh God

When Marcelo emerged from the bathroom, he found Renee in the middle of the bed, only her head visible above the nket. She appeared indifferent, yet her bwide /beves asionally thicked his way.

“Mr. King, you wouldn’t want to share the bed, bwould /byou?” Her bright eyes shane under themplight, her look implying, “I’m good here! You figure our where you’ll sleep!”

Marcelo nearlyughed mockingly.

Did she genuinely think he had no ns to join her on the bed?

Renee’s smirk abruptly disappeared as she watched Marcelo calmly approach the bed.

She swallowed as he bapproached /bwith all gloriously like a predator ready to pounce on its prey.

“RENHE

Marcelo had juste out of the shower so libs Tale was still wet.

He had a dark green bathrobe on, its belt hanging loosely Each step he took towards the bed offered clearer glimpses of his defined chest and muscles

My holy grew warm with owed.

Unlike any other man, Marcelo’s bphysique /baffected me so much?

bThe /bmattress dipped as be sat downl

Marcelo perched on the edge of the bed,one leg bent bcasually/b, drying his hair with a towel from the nightstand.

I blinked and then he nced at me.

“You look disappointed What?bAre /byou bready /bfor bme/b?Do byou /bbwant /bbme /bto fuck you tonightb?/b”

My lips parted in shock.

How can he be so ray with his words?

Why did I feel that he wanted to have with me right now?.

I

i thought be hated me..

My eyes fleetingly noticed several colorful boxes on the nightstand

Are those…condoms?

Did bhe /bget

them?

My heart pounded and I stared at his eyes.

Was he going to sleep with me became he finally considered me as his real wife?

I knew myself very well.

I wasn’t someone who bcould /bcasually have sex.

Heck, I’ve had some opportunities in the past where I could just have sex,bcasually /bbut I didn’t.

Because I knew that once I allowed any man have all of me, I wouldpletely be all over that man.

That was why I wanted it to be special to be with a man that I was totally sure would love me.

Would Marcelo ever love me?

Thighly doubted that

I’ve never experienced true love with men before.

It’s like I’m cursed.

If I went on with sleeping with him tonight, might end up unable to ever stop falling for him.

But this couldn’t be stopped for long but I wasn’t ready yet.

1 have to get my emotions in check first

“No.“I shook my head “T…I’m tired.lj

I just want to

o sleep.”

With that, I turned away from him and closed my eyes.

I didn’t think that he would actually join me on the bed after my rejection

But then, the nket lifted and a warm and slightly damp presence grazed my back

My reflexes kicked in and I bolted from the bed only to stumble as Inded bat /bthe edge.

I was sure Marcelo would stop me from falling but he didn’t and I rolled off to the floor.

b“/bOuch. “I grunted as I sat up and bred /bat me “You..you bcould’ve /bhelped me you know.”

Heshrugged “You didn’t ask for my help ”

His rxed posture was ba /bstriking contrast to his usual reserved and icy exterior.

I needed a few seconds to process why he was acting like this.

He could barely stand my presence before so why would he get into bed with me?

But do I still need to feel fear?

Talready bold him nob. /b

He wouldn’t force me, would he?

Maybe there was really nowhere else for him to go in this house.

And bsharing /bthe bed bdidn’t /bnecessarily mean we’d have sex tonight.

With these thoughts, I stood to my feet and bI /bcautiously retreated a step.

“What is it?“Marcelo asked me.

“you…I’m notfortable sharing the same bed with you so I’m going to take the couch.“With that, I hurried off to the couch andid down

I felt safer here.

I heard him bchuckle /band I pouted.

Was he seriously enjoying tormenting me?

The room fell silent and I stared at his direction on the bed litis eyes were closed

Had he fallen asleep?

I thought about what Andrew had told me about his brother?

Granted, I knew the Kings bfamily /bwas all about taking each other down to be more powerful than the other.

But Marcelo wouldn’t couldn’t have killed his own brother,right?

“You’re notfortable with sharing the same bbed /bwith me yet you won’t stop staring at me from the couch ?Do you want me toe to the couch?”

His voice snapped me back to reality.

1 gulped realizing I had been staring at him for quite a while.

I quickly closed my eyes and tried to sleep.