Chapter 131 Very young


    Chapter 131 Very young


    The unexpected arrival of Laura took everyone by surprise


    Renee instinctively nced towards the back door.


    Marcelo, still seated there, appeared unfazed by Laura’s entrance, as though he had anticipated her arrival.


    “Good afternoon, everyone,” Laura began, microphone in hand. “I am the daughter of the chairman of Herod Group, and Herman’s cousin. Should you doubt my identity feel free to verify my background online. I’vee today because I’ve heard someone spreading false information about my family.”


    Her gaze deliberately settled on Catherine, who was standing in thest row.


    “While it’s true that Herod Group is facing some operational challenges, these issues are unrted to Renee. The difficulties stem from internal matters within our family, which we are actively addressing. I am confident we will ovee these obstacles and emerge stronger!”


    Catherine, visibly shaken, copsed into the chair.


    Why was Laura…here defending Renee?


    Was she out of her mind? How could she side with Renee?


    As reality sank in, Catherine noticed her ssmates pointing and whispering about her.


    Their looks of disgust and contempt felt like sharp ps to her face.


    She felt like a clown!


    Overwhelmed with embarrassment after embarrassment, Catherine abruptly stood up and fled the room.


    Howard watched her retreat, his expression thoughtful.


    Despite the unforeseen disruption, the lecture concluded smoothly.


    “Renee, I apologize for today’s incident. We were at fault,” Howard admitted, feeling responsible. He had suspected Catherine of being problematic but hadn’t anticipated her tant disrespect.


    At Bellbanks University, renowned for its academic integrity and strict discipline, Howard had never encountered someone like Catherine. The situation was unprecedented for him.


    Renee brushed off the matter lightly. “It’s no big deal. It’s just my personal issue with Catherine.”


    She didn’t me the student union for the incident, recognizing that Catherine, as the University student, had every right to attend.


    Howard, a hint of red coloring his ears, mentioned the earlier jokes. “And I hope thements from my ssmates earlier…didn’t bother you.”


    It took Renee a few moments to realize he was referring to the teasing questions about himself. “It’s fine. They like to joke around. I get it!“Renee was unbothered by the yful banter.


    Joke around?


    Howard, upon hearing her dismissal of the matter as mere fuss, felt a twinge of disappointment. As Renee nacked up, she nced towards the back door, noticing the absence of the man who had been there earlier.


    “I have to leave now, Howard. You can message me on W******p if you need anything.” With a quick farewell, Renee headed for the back door.


    Chapter 131 Very young


    “Renee…” Howard began to speak but then stopped, his words unspoken as he sighed inwardly.


    “Hey! She’s already gone!” Howard’s roommate emerged from backstage, nudging him yfully. “Saw you having lunch with Renee today. Any progress?”


    Howard replied somewhat irritably, “Did you not see there was a third person with us?”


    “A good–looking guy in a wheelchair<b>, </b>right? Who’s he? He was all suited up.”


    “Just a sponsor of the school,” Howard exined.


    His roommate let out a relieved breath.


    “Phew, not her boyfriend, then! He’s handsome but looks older. He can’t be her boyfriend.”


    Was that so?


    Howard, momentarily reassured, quickly changed the subject. “When do the final exams for the school of finance finish?”


    “This week. They’ve been bombarded with homework this semester, and the final exam covers only three areas,” his roommate informed him. “Are you nning to do something about Catherine for Renee’s sake?”


    He then cautioned, “Think it through. You’re a Lee, but Catherine’s no ordinary girl. Rumor has it that her boyfriend is Andrew King from the King family, and she has quite a following.”


    Howard affirmed calmly, “I’m aware of what I’m doing.”


    Yet, he recognized that exposing Catherine now wasn’t the best strategy.


    Patience was required.


    Renee, clutching her bag, hurried through the long, undivided corridor outside the back door.


    Marcelo was nowhere in sight, but she found Laura leaning against a wall.


    “He’s already left,” Laura said, smoothing her hair.


    Marcelo had received an urgent call requiring his immediate return to KM Group.


    Catching her breath, Renee managed to say, “Thank you for earlier.”


    Laura dismissed her gratitude. “Don’t thank me. Marcelo said he’d spare my family’spany as long as I helped you.”


    Renee, puzzled, asked, “Is he really behind your family’s troubles?”


    “Not entirely.”


    The Herod family had long relied on several key partnerships. Marcelo had merely hinted at discontent, prompting these allies to sever ties with the Herods, exacerbating their already precarious situation.


    The Herod family, aware of theirpany’s issues, saw this as an opportunity to address them. Changing the subject, Laura revealed, “I’m going abroad.”


    Renee, surprised, asked, “I thought you didn’t want to leave?”


    Renee, being close in age to Laura, was aware of the Herod family’s earlier attempts to send Laura abroad for


    Chapter 131 Very young


    education, efforts that Laura had resisted, preferring to stay at home.


    “It was his order,” Laura exined with a shrug. “I confessed my feelings to Marcelo, and he told me to stay out of his sight.”


    Renee was at a loss for words. She found Marcelo’s approach somewhat overbearing


    Remembering Laura’s assistance, Renee offered, “If you really don’t want to go abroad, I could talk to him for you.


    11


    “No need,” Laura declined. “I’m not interested in a man who’s married. I confessed to him in ignorance of his marital status, but when I saw how much he goes out of his way to protect you…”


    He went out of his way to protect her?


    Did Laura perceive her rtionship with Marcelo in that light?


    Renee’s heart quickened as she reflected on Marcelo’s recent actions. His intervention in the Herod family’s affairs, his request for Laura to assist her, and his insistence on Laura leaving the country…all pointed towards a protective stance towards her.


    Laura continued, “About the financial issue in my family, Marcelo intervened already. He used your name to invest his own money. You’re now a shareholder in our family business. Just wait for the dividends.”


    “What?“Renee was taken aback. “Why would he…”


    Resolving a listedpany’s financial crisis was no small feat. It was as if Marcelo had given her a significant


    sum.


    “You’ll have to ask him about that,” Laura advised. “A man spending a lot on a woman doesn’t always imply affection, but a man willing to invest such an amount might not be indifferent either.”


    Renee’s thoughts were still upied with Laura’s words and the revtion that Marcelo had invested in her name as she headed back home from school.


    She had witnessed Marcelo’s kindness on several asions recently but had chosen to ignore it. Aware that she upied the role of Mrs. King, she was uncertain about how long this status wouldst.


    Although, she kept telling herself that one day he might abandon her and she should be ready for that but deep down,she didn’t want to let go of him.


    She didn’t want to stop being Mrs King, Marcelo’s wife. <ul><li>Her desire wasn’t rooted in being part of the King family, nor was it because Marcelo led KM Group, or even his physical abilities. </li></ul>


    Her wish was not to continue as Mrs. King of the King family, but to remain as Marcelo’s wife…Marcelo’s woman.


    Looking out the taxi window, she noticed the streets adorned with festive decorations and banners proiming “Happy New Year.”


    She smiled recalling it was December 31st, the year’s final day.


    It was the evening of New Year’s Eve.


    Suddenly,Renee instructed the taxi driver, “Please, let’s head to the KM Group building instead.” She then opened W******p.


    Renee texted Marcelo, “What time will your workday end today?”


    Chapter 131 Very young


    Within half a minute, Marcelo responded with a phone <b>call </b>


    “What’s up?” he asked.


    A spontaneous smile appeared on her face as she proposed “I’m inviting you to join a youthful New Year’s Eve celebration. Will youe?”


    Marcelo had grown notably sensitive to the term “youthfultely.


    “Renee, are you implying I’m old?” he teased, recalling how her principal had also made a simr hint that afternoon.


    Renee quickly shook her head. “No, it’s just an invitation to celebrate New Year’s Eve together.”


    Marcelo eyed the mountain of paperwork on his desk, which would likely take another three hours.


    With a hint of weariness, he replied, “Come to the office and wait for me.”


    Recalling her previous ufortable experiences with executives on the CEO’s office floor, Renee declined, “I’d rather wait for you at the coffee shop downstairs.”


    Marcelo responded with a hint of sarcasm, “Renee, you’re willing to wait for Howard but not for me?”


    “When did I ever wait for Howard?“Renee wondered where he got such an idea.


    “Then join me as my interpreter.“He altered his request.


    Renee was momentarily lost for words.


    Were there no interpreters avable?


    Wasn’t itmon knowledge that all of his secretaries spoke at least threenguages?


    But considering Laura’s earlier advice, she paused before agreeing.


    She thought it wouldn’t hurt to go, especially since it was almost closing time.


    Surely she wouldn’t be so unlucky as to run into any of the executives again!


    After all, why would any executive visit the CEO without a good reason?


    After hanging up, Marcelo summoned Luke to his office and inquired, “How do young people celebrate the New Year?”


    . Luke looked confused, not understanding Marcelo’s choice of words.


    Feeling the need to point out the obvious, he reminded Marcelo, “You’re only thirty, sir.Thirty–one soon but still very young.”


    The remark lifted Marcelo’s spirits and deepened his appreciation for the subordinate who had loyally served him for such a long time.


    “Your end–of–year bonus is doubled,” Marcelo announced, feeling generous. Then he added, “I never bother with dull events like New Year’s Eve.”


    Luke understood what Marcelo was trying to convey.Marcelo had never shown any interest in such eve… and had no idea how young people like Luke celebrated.


    But why would Marcelo ask for opinions if he found the event boring?


    Chapter 131 Very young


    Luke had many unspoken responses, but he kept them to himself.


    Chapter 12 Het Pe


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