Chapter 53 Miranda’s regret
“Are you using me of theft?” Renee was struck by the absurdity of the usation.
Before she could even continue, Catherine had already rummaged through the kraft–paper box and retrieved the fragile sapphire brooch.
Catherine’s voice rose in anger. “This is the piecel Caught in the act, yet you deny it? Renee, you promised to take only what belonged to you. Why did you take my brooch?”
A few onlookers began to whisper among themselves.
“Is that Renee over there?”
“And the one confronting her, Isn’t she from the Hudson family?
“usations of theft? This will certainly be intriguing!”
Renee recognized those familiar faces of affluence and realized Catherine’s outrageous behavior was a deliberate spectacle
Catherine was using the onlookers as pawns in her scheme to brand Renee as greedy and dishonest. Catherine’s intent was clear. She wanted to smear Renee’s reputation.
“Catherine to set the record straight, this brooch is mine. You saw me ce it in the box,” Renee countered, astounded by the audacity of the lie.
“Renee, how can you twist the truth like this? How can you. How…” Ovee with emotion, Catherine started to
<b>cry</b>.
Renee couldn’t help but wonder if Catherine had taken lessons in drama.
How else could she cry onmand?
Grace, drawn by the uproar, appeared just in time to see herdaughter in distress. She was furious.
After being briefed, <b>Grace </b>confronted Renee. “This brooch was a gift from me to my daughter. Are you iming it’s yours?”
Renee stared at Grace incredulous.
This brooch was a gift to Renee from a significant figure in her high school days, and Grace was well aware of it.
Yet now, Grace was asserting it was her gift to Catherine.
“Unbelievable, “Renee chuckled, lowering her gaze.
Every time, Grace found new ways to astonish Renee.
Grace’s brow creased. “<b>Renee</b>, what’s so funny?”
Was Renee mocking her?
“If you’re so certain it’s your gift to Catherine, it must be of the finest quality, correct?” Renee said, holding the brooch up to the sunlight, its blue light captivating the onlookers.
Confused by Renee’s remark, Grace hastily replied, “Certainly, it’s a top–grade sapphire.”
Grace knew Renee’s taste for the finer things. If the brooch weren’t valuable, Renee wouldn’t have bothered with
It.
Chapter 53 Miranda’s Tegret
Renee couldn’t help butugh at the im.
+25 <b>BUNUS </b>
Approaching Miranda Moore, one of the spectators, Rence asked, “Could you please examine this brooch, Mrs. Moore?”
Miranda was taken aback but dly epted the brooch, cmining it closely.
Seeing Renee engage with the influentialdies, Grace felt her daughter being overshadowed. “Renee,everyone knows Mrs. Moore is from a medical background. Don’t spent nonsense.”
Renee ignored Grace and smiled at Miranda. “Mrs. Moore, While your husband is indeed in medicine, isn’t your maternal family renowned in the jewelry industry?”
Miranda’s smile broadened, and she nodded in affirmation to Rence. “You’re well–informed, indeed. No wonder you’re the talk of the town!”
Miranda’s response was a subtle rebuke to Grace’s ignorance.
Due to the family’s higher status, <b>Grace </b>refrained from offending Miranda.
“Mrs. Hudson, I’m <b>afraid </b>the brooch you im as a gift isn’t what you say it is.” Miranda handed the brooch back to Renee, adding, “This sapphire’s color is too dark, almost ck in <b>some </b>light. It’s certainly not of the highest quality you im.”
Severaldies nearby couldn’t help butugh at the unfolding scene.
It was clear to any observant person that Grace and her recently returned biological daughter were conspiring against Renee, the adopted one.
Unfortunately for them, Renee was too sharp, turning their scheme against them.
“This can’t be!” Grace stood frozen, her face a picture of disbelief.
Catherine’splexion fluctuated between fury and pallor as she grappled with the humiliation. “Renee!”
At that moment, amanding voice broke the tension, deep and chilling.
Marcelo appeared, seated in a wheelchair, with Luke pushing him from behind.
His indifferent eyes swept over the scene, resting on Renee then moving to Grace and Catherine, his gaze growing frostier.
“What’s going on here?” His tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable note of interrogation and reproach. Catherine tried to speak, but her words failed her.
Grace managed a forced smile. “Mr. King, what a surprise to see you here. We were just clearing up a small misunderstanding with Renee.”
Grace had only encountered Marcelo once before<b>, </b>from afar at a social gathering. But the image of him in his wheelchair had made asting impression, his presence asmanding as if he sat on a throne.
Now, observing him up close<b>, </b>Grace couldn’t deny his striking features,
A thought crossed her mind. If only Marcelo hadn’t been confined to a wheelchair and hated by his family, what a match he would have been for her daughter Catherine!
“Misunderstanding?” Marcelo’s smile wasced with irony exuding an overwhelming aura. “It doesn’t appear so
to me.”
Catherine quickly interjected, “It was a mistake. I confused Renee’s brooch with the one my mother gave me. They look simr, and that led to the misunderstanding.”
“Yes, Renee. Why didn’t you rify things?” Grace quickly added, shifting the me towards Renee,
“Are you both blind?” Marcelo responded coolly, his wordsden <b>with </b>sarcasm.
Grace and Catherine felt increasingly cornered by his retort.
“Mr. King. I believe your remarks are somewhat harsh. Remember, I am your senior<b>,</b>” Grace responded, her voice dripping with a mix of indignation and condescension.
Marcelo simply looked at <b>Grace</b><b>, </b>his silent, mocking gaze speaking volumes.
“Mrs. Hudson, while we’re on the subject, to be exact, you’re Andrew’s senior, “Miranda chimed in unexpectedly.
Considering that Catherine was Grace biological daughter and that Andrew was Catherine boyfriend, this naturally made Grace his senior.
Grace’s lips tightened in irritation.
She couldn’t fathom why Miranda continued to align with Renee, especially since she couldn’t recall any past grievances.
When the maid ryed news of a guest in a wheelchair, Ro quickly emerged.
To his delight, it was Marcelo. His face broke into a weing smile.
“Marcelo, what a surprise! Why didn’t you inform us.”
“Mr. Hudson, if you can’t manage your own household, how can you handle your business affairs? Given these circumstances, you can forget about the exclusive agency rights for the new furniture line.”
Ro’spany was vying for exclusive rights to a new high–end furniture line, but it wasn’t from Marcelo’spany, Confused, Ro pondered Marcelo’s cryptic remark. His thoughts were interrupted by an urgent call from his secretary.
“Mr. Hudson, the deal’s off! The otherpany has pulled out!”
“But everything was nearly finalized. We were about to sign the agreement!“Ro responded, stunned.
<b>Grace </b>and Catherine turned to Ro, aware of the deal’s importance to the Hudson family’s ambitions in the furniture market.
“nning to stay here overnight?” Marcelo nced at Renee
“God,No! Let’s leave,” Renee replied, still reeling from Marcelo’s unexpected intervention.
Meanwhile, Ro’s secretary continued, “I don’t know what happened. They just called to cancel<b>, </b>stating it was an order from their superiors.”
It <b>was </b>clear they had somehow antagonized a significant figure in the otherpany.
Watching Marcelo <b>and </b>Renee depart, Ro felt a cold dread
“Mr. King, please wait!” Now <b>addressing </b>Marcelo with newfound respect and apprehension, Ro sought rification.
He attempted to follow but was promptly halted by bodyguards who materialized out of nowhere.
Luke, standing by, couldn’t help but smirk as he managed the situation for Marcelo. “Mr. Hudson, if you can’t grasp this, perhaps you’re not the right fit for handling those upscale furnishings.”
Reaching the car, Renee paused.
“Just a moment, please,” she requested of Marcelo, then hurried over to the group of affluentdies.
“Thank you for your support, Mrs. Moote,” Renee acknowledged, nodding to the others. “And my thanks to all of you as well.”
Miranda returned the gesture with a warm smile. “Miss Hudson, there’s no need for such formality. Interestingly, the sapphire on that brooch looked famir.”
“Really?” Renee responded with genuine interest. “It was a mysterious gift from my <bing</b>–of–age celebration at school. I’ve always wondered about its origins, Mrs. Moon, I must visit you soon to express my gratitude, not just for today but also for your eldest son’s recent help with my Nana’s surgery.”
Miranda nced toward Marcelo and remarked, “Miss Hudson, there’s no rush. However, yourpanion over there seems to be growing impatient.”
Renee instinctively turned to see Marcelo in his wheelchair, his demeanor a mix of indifference and impatience.
He appeared eager to leave.
After thanking Miranda once more<b>, </b>Renee hurried back to Marcelo.
She checked her watch and muttered, “It hasn’t even been five minutes.”
Why such a gloomy face?
Marcelo looked up. “Renee, are you aware of how much my <b>time </b>costs per minute?”
As the CEO of KM Group, his time was indeed precious.
Renee met his gaze and queried, “Mr. King, do you calcte your time by the minute even when picking up your wife?”
After all, it was Marcelo who hade of his own ord; Renee hadn’t requested his presence. Something she said seemed to affect Marcelo, as Renee noticed a flicker of annoyance in his expression before he entered the car.
Despite the awkward moment, <b>Rence </b>found herself in good spirits.
Though Marcelo seemed displeased, he had waited for her.
“So, what brought you here so suddenly?” She inquired <b>as </b>she got into the car
“Someone informed me that my wife was nearly being harassed beyond endurance, “He replied nonchntly.
Luke, in the driver’s seat, nced back at them. He knew it <b>was </b>Marcelo who had instructed him to keep an eye on Renee. Learning of her predicament with the Hudson’s, he had abruptly left his meeting.
Renee scoffed. She hadn’t been close to any serious trouble, had she?
Neither Catherine nor Grace had managed to get the better of her.
And regarding the million–dor transaction for the silver ne that might hold clues to her <b>past</b>? That seemed like a worthwhile investment.
Sitting beside Marcelo, Renee experienced an unusual sense of security, likening it to a house once open to the elements now being securely enclosed.
The house was empty, but it offered protection and a touch offort.
After Rence and Marcelo left, the Hudson’s retreated to their vi.
The remaining societydies began to specte.
“Miranda, who was that man just now?” <ol><li>King. </li></ol>
“I think Mrs. Hudson referred to him as Mr.
Since Marcelo hadn’t corrected Grace earlier, it implied he <b>was </bfortable with thesedies knowing his identity.
Now<b>, </b>perhaps, it was time for some of his secrets to be unveiled.
“Yes, “Miranda confirmed. “That’s Marcelo King.”
“Marcelo? My, if not for his disability, I’d have considered him a match for my daughter solely based on his looks! Such a shame‘
Η
“Really? You’re still into good–looking men?”
“Who isn’t? Handsome men mean beautiful children!”
Miranda was well aware that Marcelo’s condition wasn’t as it seemed and that he wouldn’t be interested in thatdy’s daughter.
Anotherdy prodded, “Miranda, why get involved in their affairs? You’ve now antagonized the Hudsons for Renee’s sake.” She added, “I hear your youngest son isn’t fond of Renee<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Miranda offered a knowing smile. “You’re talking about Damian, right?”
Yet, she remained silent, choosing not to divulge more.
She couldn’t reveal to thesedies her recognition of the sapphire, having seen it once in Damian’s possession.
Regrettably, the remarkable Renee was now married to another.