*MARCELO
I was a light slowper, the tiniest bit of noise woke me up.
I had barely shut my eyes that night when I was walkened by footsteps.
Topened my eyes to see Henre healing for the bathroom.
My eyes remained open until she came out.
It seemed as if she was barely awake because I was surprised when she slid into bed next to me.
Isa sharply as her scent reveloped me She slept so soundly next to me,ber peace seemingly unbreakable.
1 sette
How could she sleep so peacefully while my own peace was beling shattered by her.
Not Lar
Iid back on the bed and tried to wake her up.
It wasn’t fair that I was the <b>only </b>one who couldn’t sleep.
With that<b>, </b>called out “Rence.”
She didn’t stir.
My voice grew louder.“en”
Instead of answering me she nestled deeper into the pillow.
Was she such a deep sleeper?
My eyes dted when she rolled over and ced her head on my chest.
I blinked, nervously as she nestled against me, pressing her body on mine
My body stiffened,a suppressed groan escaping my lips.
Her knees brushed my thigh and pressed against my crotch.
I felt myself hardening.
How dare this woman seduce me in her sleep?
I stared down at her her delicate face looked so soft, her cheeks were flushed and she looked simply gorgeous
<b>My </b>gaze shifted to the condoms.
I felt like grabbing one, making her lie of her back spread her beautiful legs and barry myself deep inside her.
Fuck!
That felt incredible just by thinking about it.
My dick <b>hardened </b>even morp
After a tough hesitation,I shut my eyes
My fists clenched and I resisted the urge to push her away from
She was killing me.
For the rest of the night I couldn’t sleep at all.
<b>“</b>RENEE
I felt sofortable and I didn’t want to wake up but I could tell it was morning
Yawning I opened my eyes and sat up feeling groggy and disoriented.
I scanned the room and I was startled to see Marcelo seated on the left side of the bed.
And why the heck was I on the bed?
I was supposed to be on the couch!
“Why_what_._how?
My braingged in the morning.
I was baffled as I pointed alternately to me and Marcelo unable to figure out how I got into the bed.
TH
the
Did he perhaps
I quickly checked underneath the nket.
I still had my clothes on.
That was a good sign
And I felt no difort of a sort.
Marc turised wound and just stared at me,expresslessly.
I nced at the vacant couch and asked.“<b>Why </b>did you <b>m </b>
Maybe he didn’t want me to have a still neck.
mave me from the couch?”
Marcelo wasn’t that considerate,
Then what happened?
I stared at his face and noticed the dark circles under his eyes.
<b>“</b>Why would I do that?Trust me I didn’t want to sleep beside you at all.”
It didn’t <b>seem </b>as if he was lying
I taked my brain trying to remember and eventually I pierced my actions together,
I recalled getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and thening back, I had instinctively gotten into the bed.
I couldn’t exactly me myself,
I wasn’t used to sleeping on a couch and it wasn’tfortable at all.
“Ikaw your couldn’t be that considerate “I murmured.
He leaned closer. “What did you just say<b>?</b>”
I <b>lowered </b>my head.“Nothing”
I swallowed when he copped my chin, lifting my head
Marcelo’s eyes were captivating and I felt so drawn to him.
His face drew closer, his warm breath on my skin, allowing me to see my reflection in his eyes.
“Renee,I had a rough night because of you You should find a way to make it up to me
His hand brushed my cheek and I was surprised to find that contact pleasing
I wanted him to keep touching my face.
I also wanted to argue that his rough night wasn’t my <b>concern </b>
But considering I had moved to his bed myself,I acknowledged my fault.
I was in the wrong
After I finished my morning routine, a maid ryed a message.
<b>We </b>were to attend a memorial service at the King’s family small <b>church</b>,
It was only for members of the family and <b>also </b>those who joined the family by marriage or <b>adoption</b>.
So I know Catherine won’t be there.
At least she won’t make trouble for me at such a solemn event
We went to the church and I noticed Marcelo <b>was </b>colder than usual.
It must not <i>be </i>easy for him.
To lose both his father and brother.
I wanted to believe he didn’t kill his brother.
I looked around all the urns of the dead rtives of the Kings,I noticed <b>a </b>spor seemed to be missing.
Why was there an empty space?
Renee’s thoughts were interrupted when Andrew inquired, “Grandpa, where is talina’s turn ?” 1
Marcelo’s eyes darkened, he let out a chuckle as if amused by some private joke.
Him and <b>Andrew </b><b>didn’t </b>share the same grandmother. Andrew’s grandmother was <b>Paul’s </b>mistress.
<b>“</b>Quiet.” Gary, sensing Paul’s reluctance to speak, silenced Andrew.
Andrew, looking between <b>Marcelo </b>and Renee, couldn’t suppress his frustration.
Truumidiately, all eyes turned towards Paul and Marcelo.
shifted provocatively towards
“Grandpa, my father is your own son, and Grandina dedicated her life to you. Doesn’t she deserve a <b>ce </b>here?” This gaze <b>ni </b>Marcelo<b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Is </b>someone <b>jealous</b><b>?</b>”
Renee knew the King’s family’s hurbulent history.
Gary, Andrew’s father, was Paul’s child from a past <b>air</b><b>,</b>Gary’s mother had insisted on living in the Kings‘ house, disrupting Paul’s married life withi Marcelo’s Grandmother, even attempting to usurp her position.
She cured Gary
<b>Gary </b>against Marcelo’s father and literally rained the whole family.
How could such a woman, who had <b>torn </b>apart Marcelo’s family<b>, </b>be honored here or receive Marcelo’s respect?
In that moment, Renee saw Marcelo in a new light: <b>a </b>solitary figure doin to a lone beast atop <b>a </b>mountain. He was untouchable yet profoundly isted, teetering on the brink of an abyss.
The King family <b>members </b>exchanged nces, their eyes shifting between Gary’s family and <b>Marcelo</b>.
After a tense silence, Macelo finally dered,
“Her ashes can be ced here.”
Paul was stunned.
“Fetch my mother’s ashes!” Gary, ted, Instructed a maid
Marcelo spoke again, his tone mischievous yet ominous. “If you dare bring her ashes, I’ll destroy them.”
“How dare you“!
“<b>Paul </b>exploded in rage “You cold, defiant bastard You! Why are you that aggressive?”
Marcelo’s smile was barely there<b>, </b>icy and faint.
His threat to destroy the ashes was no idle im.
The ceremony dissolved into chaos<b>, </b>with the ashes of Paul’s first love staying elsewhere
Everyone in the King family seemed to be scared of Marcelo,even his Grandpa.
As everyone excited the church, Renee,reflecting on Marcelo carlier vulnerability, whispered to him, “<b>Your </b>grandfather removed those ashes intentionally. He still considers your feelings.”
Marcelo’s response was a cynical sneer.
Renee braced herself for his harsh words.
Predictably, Marcelo remarked, “Mrs.King, <b>don’t </b>overestimate others.”
ww
If <b>Sebastian</b>, his brother, hadn’t been overlypassionate, he wouldn’t be reduced to ashes now, Paul had never truly cared for Marcelo or his father.
His favorite <b>son </b>had always been Gary.
And now they wanted to rip where they didn’t sow
They wanted his father’s wealth.
He was more concerned with his image, wanting to avoid a scene at the church.
Suddenly, <b>a </b>shout pierced the air. “Look out!”
A young boy, about six, ran into Marcelo’s wheelchair.
Located on high ground, the church’s exit was <b>a </b>slope, and Marcelo’s wheelchair began hurtling down <b>it </b>
“Marcelo!”
Without a second thought, Renee sprinted after the runaway wheelchair.
Het white dress billowed behind her as she raced down the slope, leaving onlookers amazed at her swift reaction.
Hallway down the slope, Renee finally reached his wheelchair,
However, the inertia behind its swift motion <b>was </b>overwhelming, causing her legs to buckle, one knee hitting the asphalt hard.
Once the wheelchair halted, a sharp pain radiated from her injured knee,
“Are you okay?“Rence asked Marcelo with concem, Looking up, she met his deep, unreadable gaze. His <b>eyes </b>were like <b>a </b>vast abyss, hiding his true
emotions.
“Renee, why did you do that?” Marcelo’s tone was <b>a </b>mix <b>of </b>confusion and concern, a rare feeling for him.
“L..” Renee begin, but Marcelo quickly leaned down, lifting her into his arms.
Unable to stand firmly, she instinctively grasped onto him, one hand on his chest, the other on <b>his </b>thigh.
The sensation of his muscr form and his unique <b>scent </b>momentarily overwhelmed her, prompting her to try to <b>stand </b>on her own.
Marcelo noticed the stark contrast of her blood against her white dress and her skin, making the wound appear more severo,
“Do you think I needed your help?” he asked coldly.
He felt an urge to tend to her wound, despite his usual indifference.
In the rush of the moment, Renee had forgotten that <b>Marcelo</b><b>, </b>often seen <b>in </b><b>a </b>wheelchair, was not actually disabled,
Moreover, Marcelo wouldn’t recklessly endanger himself, especially not for those he deemed unworthy.
“Look, I disturbed your sleepst night, and now I’m hurt because of you. Let’s <b>call </b>it even, <b>okay</b>?” Renee tried to lighten the mood.
She certainly had a knack for negotiation!!
Marcelo found himself wondering whether Renee’s actions were born of cleverness or recklessness. “Mr. King, are you okay?
“Thank goodness you’re sate!”
The other members of the King family soon caught up with them.
A woman turned to the boy and scolded him, “You little rascall You nearly hurt Marcelo! Say sorry to him! Marcelo won’t be angry with you because of it.
The speaker was the boy’s mother, holding him protectively.
How did a six–year–old manage to push the wheelchair?
Was it an ident, or was there more to it?
Yet, the woman swiftly deflected any me from her son.
“It’s alright, so let’s move on,” Gary casually dismissed the situation
Strikingly, no one apologized to Marcelo.
“Get a wheelchair for my wife,” Marcelo instructed a maid, ignoring the family’sck of concern. He turned to Renee, who had been watching him, her expression a mix of disbelief at the King family’s attitude and confusion over hisposure.
“Marcelo, they…”
“Just sit,” he cut her off.
He instructed the maid to ensure Renee remained seared in the wheelchair, safeguarding her injured knee from farther harm
Before Renee could protest, Marcelo wheeled himself towards the boy’s parents.
“Ouch!”
“God, he’s bleeding!”
“Marcelo, what are you doing? Are you insane?”
“Get a doctor, now!”
In the ensuingmotion, cries of pain stood out starkly.
Marcelo’s voice,ced with <b>a </b>cold edge, followed. “Sorry, my wheelchair slipped.”
Blood?
Perfect. Let them share in his wife’s pain.
The King family doctor treated Renee’s wound, finding it to be superficial. Rest would be enough for her recovery. However, the boy’s parents suffered a broken bone and a stitched forehead, enduring their injuries in silence. Marcello’s patience had reached its limit, and be informed Luke toe pick them up
Renee watched him, puzzled by his actions on the slope, reminiscent of a mischievous child seeking retribution.
“What are you staring at “Marcelo’s eyelids lifted as he met her gaze.
“You just
“I have no patience for brats, and they should learn not to mess with someone disabled. Marcelo nced at her knee. “That looks dreadtul!”
*Excuse me? No woman likes to hear any part of her <b>is </b>ugly, <b>even </b>if it’s a word!
Heure tried to reason, “The wound will heal, then it won’t look so bul”
“Then bral quickly,” he urged bet
A Maybach pulled up is front of Marc’s house.
As Bener opened the door to get out, Marcelo had alreadye around to her side, his arms sliding under her knees and back, lifting her.
Surprised<b>, </b>Renee found herself seated in Marcelo’s wheelchair.
She blinked, unsure how to respond.
“My kurse is just superficially Injured, not broken,” Reser feltpelled to remind him.
“Don’t test my patience,” Marc warned.
He frowned at the sight of the bulky bandage on her love.
Rence was baffled, What?
What had she done to upset him?
She absentmindedly touched the wheelchair’s armrest, then did a double take.
The armrest was studded with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds!
Marcelo was living extravagantly!
<b>“</b>Why do you often use a wheelchair if there’s no need to hide your leg’s condition at your house?” she asked, feeling funny about him pushing her in his wheekhair.
At his house, everyone was devoted to him, ensuring there was no threat of espionage from Gary’s sid