Chapter <b>108 </b>Weak <b>little </b>woman
Damian, who had been looked after by his older buddies since childhood, had never felt such intense pressure from Marcelo, the most reserved among them. For a moment,his mind went nk.
“My gut tells me there’s something wrong.“After thinking for a while, Damian added, “It felt odd when you asked me to go with you to see Renee on my mom’s birthday.”
Marcelo let out a soft chuckle, picking up his ss to drink.
Damian took a sip too. “And that day you left, I noticed Renee wasn’t wearing the hairpin I gave her.”
Marcelo’s gaze lifted to Damian.
After drinking, Marcelo’s eyes became deep and bright, as if he could see through people’s hearts. “Did you start doubting Renee because of something I did?” Damian nervously licked his lips.
Licking one’s lips is often a sign of anxiety.
“You’re missing a detail.“Marcelo’s, tapping his fingers on the table, said, “You had a meal with Reneest night.”
Marcelo’s statement aligned with Damian’s suspicions.
Damian sighed. “Marcelo,st night… It was just a casual hangout with her. You know, a friendly gathering. I don’t have any romantic feelings for her, especially since she’s your wife. My mom already told me that.”
Marcelo sneered inwardly. To make time for a casual meeting with Damian, Renee had turned down going to the party with him. Staring at Damian, who sat across from him with his head down, Marcelo asked, “Does it bother you that we’re married?”
“Not at all.” Damian picked up another ss of wine and gulped it down. He was stopped by Marcelo when he picked up another ss of wine.
Marcelo handed him a bottle of stronger wine, saying, “This one hits faster.”
Damian took the bottle and downed a few mouthfuls of wine.
As the alcohol took effect, Damian’s gaze at Marcelo changed.
“Marcelo, you might not know but back then,half the guys in our ss had a thing for Renee, but I…” Damian pointed at himself and said with a hint of pride, “I was in the other half. But…”
He hesitated, then added less confidently, “There were still plenty who secretly admired Renee in that half.”
Marcelo was aware that he should not be concerned about that.
It wasmon for attractive, smart girls to be popr in their high school days.
He also knew of Renee’s reputation as a top socialite.
However, hearing these things from Damian made Marcelo feel somehow frustrated.
“A bunch of upperssmen and underssmen chased after Renee too.“Damian’s voice dropped to a hush, as though sharing a secret, saying, “Guess what, in our group, the Shawn family’s younger son and the Lee families‘ sons secretly fancy Renee.”
Marcelo inquired, “You are saying both Lee families‘ sons like Renee?”
Two Nn families from the city had made it into the top ranks of the wealthy elite.
Damian nodded. “Yeah<b>, </b>both sons.”
Marcelo recalled visiting a restaurant outside studio city that served delicious food. It turned out to be owned <b>by </b>a son from <b>one </b><b>of </b>the Lee families<b>. </b>
Chapter 108 Weak little wornan
He felt a sudden urge to wreck that restaurant
“And what about you? Do you like her too?” He asked Damian.
Damian appeared exhausted from his drinking. He gazed at Marcelo, wine bottle in hand<b>, </b>seemingly oblivious to Marcelo’s earlier question.
Eventually, he said, “Marcelo, Renee has many admirers, yet here you are, still fighting with her.”
“She’s the one picking fights with me, “Marcelo corrected him.
“She picks fights with you?“Damian felt a twinge of jealousy. He had known Renee for over a decade but never witnessed her engage in arguments with any man.
Her interactions with men were either polite or cold courtesy<b>. </b>
For all these years, Damian had been on the receiving end of her cold demeanor, which left him feeling downhearted.
Damian quickly came back to his senses and asked, “Why is she fighting with you? Is it <b>because </b>of the rumors about you and Vivian?“Damian seemed to have hit upon an answer, muttering to himself, “That must be the reason. You two shouldn’t just argue. You should end things.”
Marcelo, resisting the urge tosh out at Damian, asked with a frown, “What rumor?”
“You haven’t heard? International media are specting about your romantic involvement with Vivian.“Damian tried to find the news on his phone but failed. Frustrated, he threw the phone down. “I can’t find the article.”
Marcelo didn’t even know about it before.
“That’s absolute nonsense.”
He knew how the media loved fabricating stories.
“But people believe it’s true. Vivian even posted something that sort of indirectly confirmed it. Had I not known you were married, I too would’ve believed you were with Vivian.” Damian stood up, visibly upset.
“I’ll have Luke handle this.” Marcelo said to Damian, “Sit down.”
Having reached a conclusion, Damian leaned back on the sofa and said obediently, “Alright.”
“I need to go. Tell your friend to keep youpany. I’ll take care of the bill.” Marcelo then left the private room in his wheelchair.
Damian was left confused about the situation. “Marcelo, you invite me here and then just leave?”
The wheelchair continued to move.
“Mr. King.“Luke was waiting just outside the private room.
Luke, maintaining a serious expression, inquired, “Did Vivian post something?”
Luke was unsure. “I’ll find out immediately. Please give me a moment.”
Damian<b>, </b>when sober, denied having feelings for Renee.
Yet, when intoxicated, he consistently avoided the topic.
<b>The </b>more Damian behaved like this, the clearer it became to Marcelo.
Even if Damian remained unaware of his feelings for Renee, Marcelo understood that if Damian didn’t equally like Renee,how could he have known about every single person that has ever been interested in Renee.
If Damian didn’t have feelings for Renee, everything she does and happens in her life should’ve been none of his business.
Chapter 108 Weak little wornan
He wouldn’t have stood up for her, even whert drunk.
He wouldn’t have insisted he didn’t like her while defending her.
The cold winter wind brushed against Marcelo’s face.
He gazed at the bustling traffic in the distance, pondering Damian’s words.
Marcelo had been aware of Renee’s poprity, but it wasn’t until now that he truly grasped the extent of desire she ignited within their social circle.
Renee, once a noble youngdy, lost her status and was forced into marriage with him by the Hudson family.
All of a sudden, he felt a sense of fortune in these twists of fate.
Without them, he might never have had the chance to marry Renee
“Mr. King, I found it.“Luke presented his phone to Marcelo, exining, “Vivian posted this five days ago. Many people thought you were the one who posted it.”
The post featured an Indian mask.
It was captioned, indicating that it was made by Mr. King.
**
Renee had just started her nap when the iing call interrupted her.
The caller ID was unfamiliar.
“Hello.”
“Renee, are you still in bed? Did you forget that you need toe and watch the show?” The voice on the other end spoke in
fluent French.
Renee suddenly woke up and jumped up from the bed. “No, no. I’ll be there on time.”
The caller concluded the call with a discontented snort.
Renee hurriedly prepared herself. She chose a subtle yet stylish velvet long dress. It gracefully reached her ankles, blending the elegance of a gown without being overly formal, ideal for a private show.
Dressing this way was unusual for Renee. When Chad noticed her attire, he inquired, “Mrs. King, are you heading out? Will you be back for dinner?”
“I’m going to the Green Winery for a show,“Renee replied while slipping on her shoes. “It ends around five. I should make <b>it </b>back for dinner.”
The exclusive show’s attendees included prominent figures from the fashion industry, editors of variou and women from top–tier families.
shion magazines,
Upon her arrival, she quickly became the center of attention. For months, she had been a hot topic in their social circles. She hadn’t taken more than a few steps inside when she was approached by someone, greeting, “Renee.” Turning towards the voice, she saw Felicia, Andrew’s mother, adorned in a mink coat, with exquisite makeup, Felicia stood surrounded by wealthydies, Hermes bag in hand, exuding an air of superiority. “Hello, Mrs. King. “Renee nodded at her.
Felicia smirked. “I heard Marcelo hasn’t been too fond of youtely. Just the other day, he was seen with a female celebrity at a party. How can you still enjoy a show in such a situation? Oh, I see. You are capitalizing on the opportunity to utilize his wealth and influence. The Hudson family wasn’t invited here, were they? Did you get your invitation through Marcelo?”
Felicia had always held a grudge against Renee for mocking the King family’s house.
Chopter 108 Weak little wornan
Recently, her son Andrew faced embarrassment at a bar, an incident that Renee was involved in, fueling Felicia’s <b>resentment </b>
even more<i>. </i>
“Renee, relying on your looks to attract men won’t sustain you forever. Let me introduce someone suitable for <b>you</b><b>,</b><b>” </b><b>a </b>woman with short hair interjected, “My nephew is twenty–four<b>, </b>currently single. I think you are not bad.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Herod, but I’ll have to decline.” Renee wasn’t interested in meeting Maggie Herod’s nephew.
“I think you should ept it, Renee. You’re quite a serial dater, aren’t you? You were engaged to my son, and then suddenly you’re with Marcelo.” Felicia chuckled. “Mrs. Herod, tell Renee about your nephew. Maybe she is actually curious about him.”
The women around Felicia joined in theughter.
Hearing Felicia’swords, Maggie was overjoyed. “My nephew is Hennan Coleman, quite the celebrity. Though the Coleman family is in business and outside our circle, they earn about ten million dors a year.”
Beside Maggie was her daughter Laura Herod.
Laura said, “Renee, you don’t even know who your own parents are. Frankly, if I hadn’t taken a liking to Mr. King, my mom wouldn’t have considered introducing my cousin to you.”
Maggie’s aim was clear; she hoped to trap Renee with her nephew, giving her daughter <b>a </b>chance with Marcelo.
Renee couldn’t help butugh outright. “What a small world! I’m acquainted with Herman. Isn’t he the one caught in a scandal for cheating and other fraudulent activities, all while pretending to be a big star? I’ve heard his father is embroiled in awsuit over illegal business dealings.”
Maggie’s expression soured as Renee continued, “You might not know, but Herman’s misfortunes likely started after he offended me.”
“What?Renee, did you really bring trouble to my cousin’s family? Why are you so cruel?” Laura’s face turned livid and pale and her lips were trembling.
They had thought Renee was a weak little woman!