Chapter 49 Her end of the bargain
Ten minutester.
Renee sat in the back of the Maybach, her hands <b>ced </b>demurely on her knees, resembling a child caught in a
misdeed.
“So, Mrs. King, was that your idea of a discussion?” Marcelo’s fingers drummed on the armrest.
Renee, rolling her eyes, muttered, “Didn’t you leave?”
“I returned to fetch my wife,” retorted Marcelo.
But Rence was skeptical.
She shot him a doubtful look, unconvinced by his pretext.
Ina
In their sham marriage, trust was a luxury, and she suspected his true motive was to keep her away from Andrew.
“Well, I intended to have a constructive conversation with Catherine,” She exined, redirecting the conversation and justifying her actions. “However, she was uncooperative, so I had to resort to that.”
Marcelo knew Renee was a woman of strong will and that intrigued him a lot.
Catherine always ended up overpowered in Renee’s presence.
Yet now, Renee portrayed herself as having no other option, sounding almost wronged.
She was such a mischievous liar, eh!
After giving her <b>exnation</b>, Renee noticed Marcelo’sck of response. She looked up, only to see him resting with closed <b>eyes</b><b>, </b><b>evidently </b>uninterested in further discussion. She exhaled in relief. Being caught in a conflict was certainly not ideal.
Especially because Renee had consistently cultivated an image of gentleness and decorum, her facade effectively disarmed those in her presence.
As they approached a junction, Renee announced, “I need to visit the hospital. If it’s out of your way, you can drop
ine off here.”
She was prepared to hail a taxi.
Luke, who was driving the car, instantly sensed the tension emanating from Marcelo in the back seat.
Marcelo seemed upset.
Yet, when Luke nced over, his face was impassive, betraying none of the mounting pressure,
“Head to the hospital, “Marcelo instructed.
“Right <b>away</b>,” Luke acknowledged.
Renee stole a nce at Marcelo, puzzled.
His considerate attitude tonight was… strange.
He even offered her a ride to the hospital.
Was he happy that he spent billions?
Marcelo’s luxurious car halted at the entrance of the hospital’s inpatient department.
Renee quickly thanked Marcelo and hurried into the building
Luke nced at Marcelo, who had just lit a cigar. The smoke framed Marcelo’s striking features, his deep eyes fixated on the hospital’s entrance, as though he could see Rence through the walls. Noticing Marcelo’s reluctance to <b>leave</b><b>, </b>Luke inquired, “Should we wait for Mrs. King?”
Marcelo shifted his focus to Luke. “How long do you think she’ll take?”
Luke pondered, knowing Renee’s dedication to Naomi.
She would likely be there for some time.
Marcelo proposed a wager. “ce a bet with your bonus.”
Luke, pondering <b>the </b>stakes as his bonus was double his sry, paused in uncertainty.
Marcelo,
with a deft flick of his slender index finger, tapped the cigar, sending ashes cascading down.
This small gesture subtly revealed his growing impatience
“Maybe two hours?“Luke made a reluctant guess, going against his better judgment.
Marcelo, with a faint smile, countered, “Ten minutes.”
Ten minutes?
That seemed highly unlikely to Luke.
Yet, he held back his doubts, not wanting to offend Marcelo
Admitting such would imply Renee didn’t prioritize Marcelo, a notion that Luke reluctantly considered might be
urate.
Nervously, he nced at his watch.
As the minute hand neared the ten–minute mark, Renee, d in her gradient purple dress, hurried out of the hospital.
Luke, amazed, couldn’t resist praising, “Wow, Mr King, how did you know that?!”
Marcelo seemed uninterested in conversing with Luke.
His attention was fixed on Renee, whose expression conveyed a mix of loss and bewilderment.
She appeared disoriented, like a stray animal, alone and deste.
Lost in thought, Renee didn’t notice Marcelo’s steady gaze until she was nearly at the Car.
He didn’t leave.
His presence was a silent affirmation; he had expected her return.
Ten minutes earlier.
Heading to Nana’s room, Renee was halted by Grace, who was lingering in the corridor,
“Why are you here?” Grace’s eyes held contempt as she surveyed Renee. “Such attire in a hospital…Isn’t that
Inappropriate?”
Renee, realizing she was still in her evening dress, replied, I was at an event. I’ve got a change of clothes in Nana’s room.”
Grace, ever critical, sneered, “So, the party’s over, and now you’re here to y the doting saint?”
Renee felt her anger rise.
Grace herself was no model of devotion, yet dared to judge ethers.
Before Rence could respond, Grace drew her to the ward’s door, pointing through the ss.
Nana rested in her hospital bed<b>, </b>encircled by <b>Ro </b>and other members of her family.It turns out that the Hudsons had been able to find other rtives of Naomi. Despite her allment, her <b>face </b>lit up with a smile, evidently pleased by their presence.
This contented smile was something Bence hadn’t witnessed on Naomi’s face throughout her time caring for her.
“See? Blood rtions matter,” Grace remarked, adjusting her hair. “You’re not her family, Renee, you don’t need toe here.”
Not her family?
The phrase sent a shiver through Renee’s heart.
Why was Naomi staring at Ro so <b>dotingly</b>?
Was she aware that Ro refused to help in her surgery?
Was she aware that Ro’s daughter had put her in this condition!
“Yes, I’m not her family,” Renee retorted icily. “But where were you and her ‘family‘, when she was in dire need?”
“Where we were doesn’t matter.She worked for us not you in the past. Know your ce, Renee.”
Facing Grace’s duplicity, Renee inhaled deeply, fighting to keep her anger at bay.
“Leave now! Naomi is having a great time catching up with her family. Don’t ruin it for her.Get out.“Grace said, showing no mercy.
If the Naomi’s family knew it was Renee who cared for Naomi in their absence, they’d surely condemn Ro and
Grace.
So, Grace was determined to keep Renee away.
Leaving the hospital, Renee <b>was </b>haunted by the sight of Naomi’s smiling face and Grace’s words.
*Naomi is having a great time catching up with her family
Rence had consistently shown Naomi the respect and care befitting a granddaughter.
Yet, she wasn’t truly considered as family.
When Renee exited the building, she encountered Marcelo, leading to an awkward pause.
Her return, <b>once </b>filled with hope<b>, </b>had turned into a swift, disheartening exit. Marcelo, putting out his cigar, asked with a slight parting of his lips, “Ready to go?”
Renee, after a brief moment of hesitation, gave a nod and opened the car door.
In the car, a heavy silence enveloped them.
Luke, as always, kept his words to a minimuin, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Marcelo, typically reserved, rarely spoke.
Renee watched the city lights blur past the window, feeling a chill.
After some time, she broke the silence. “I went up, saw the Hudson’s<b>, </b>and decided toe back down.” She felt obliged to exin, especially since she was in Marcelo’s car
Marcelo, however, didn’t respond, as if he hadn’t heard her.
Luke then understood.
He recalled Marcelo’s earlier instruction to inform the Hudson’s toe see Naomi.
It was a trap for Renee.
He felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Perhaps the night had softened Renee’s guard, her words flowing more freely. “Does blood really matter so much, Marcelo?I genuinely love Nana <b>so </b>why aren’t I considered as her family?They even found some rtives of hers yet I can’t find any of mine.”
There <b>was </b>a subtle note ofint in her voice.
Marcelo turned to her, gently holding her chin, ensuring their eyes met.
on love
He lightly tapped her cheek. “Mrs. King, thedy in that room is not rted to you no matter how much you
have.” her. Until you find your own kin, <b>I’m </b>the closest thing to family you
Returning to the house felt strange to Renee after a week’s absence.
She understood she didn’t belong with the Hudson’s.
But this ce didn’t feel like hers either.
Once in her room, she remembered the unresolved deal with Marcelo.
She hadn’t yet delivered her end of the bargain.
Renee was determined not to be indebted to anyone, much like her stance with the Hudson family. Looking at her reflection, she changed into her robe.