Chapter 135 This pointing


    Chapter <b>135 </b>This painting


    “Wee to my house!” Renee said with a yful lift of her chin. “If Mr. King doesn’t mind, you’re wee to stay at my ce for the night.”


    Marcelo couldn’t suppress a chuckle.


    He was well aware of his wife’s financial independence and wealth, but he hadn’t anticipated her owning such a splendid property in such a prime location.


    Hisughter, a rare and open expression on his usually reserved face, caught Renee off guard. Her heart momentarily raced before she quickly shifted her focus.


    She busied herself with arranging the bouquet of red roses in a vase.


    Outside, fireworks began to light up the night sky.


    The New Year’s fireworks painted the sky in vivid hues, casting a festive glow over the room.


    Renee beckoned Marcelo to the balcony, overlooking the bustling crowd in the square below, all admiring the fireworks.


    She knew the scene below was a blend of chaos and excitement, a stark contrast to Marcelo preference for solitude.


    Lost in the spectacle of the fireworks, Renee was unaware that Marcelo’s gaze was fixed on her.


    Her profile, bathed in the fireworks‘ glow, seemed ethereally beautiful. Marcelo, no stranger to admiration for his own looks, saw an unparalleled beauty in Renee.


    This woman, seemingly docile, was full of surprises, capable of stirring his heart in unexpected ways.


    The events he had found mundane earlier now seemed different, all because of her presence.


    Marcelo’s expression suddenly grew serious. “Did you spend New Year’s with Andrew before?”


    Renee turned to him, puzzled. “Why would I do that? I’d rather use that time to prepare for my exams.”


    Her past engagement to Andrew hadn’t included shared New Year celebrations.


    Andrew had his social circle, and she had her studies. She had never wanted to spend her time on him.


    Marcelo found some measure of satisfaction in Renee’s response.


    Suddenly, Renee leaned forward, her elbow propped up, her chin resting on her hand. Her eyes sparkled slyly as she gazed at Marcelo, reminiscent of a yful fox.


    “Marcelo, do you get jealous when Andrew is mentioned?” she asked, a teasing smile ying on her lips.


    Marcelo, maintaining his stoic demeanor, retorted, “Don’t tter yourself.”


    “Is that so?” Her head tilted, her tone yful yet provocative. “I may not have spent New Year’s with Andrew, but I did spend it with someone else.”


    His expression tightened, a hint of danger flickering in his eyes. “Who?”


    His posture suggested he was ready to confront whoever it was.


    “Why would I tell you if it doesn’t matter to you?” Renee countered.


    Marcelo grumbled in displeasure, reaching out to pinch her chin, about to say something. <ul><li></li></ul>


    Chapter 135 This painting


    Then, Renee shifted the conversation to a more serious note “Marcelo,are you in love with me?”


    He paused, visibly caught off guard..


    Her earnest gaze, filled with vulnerability, seemed to demand an honest answer.


    Was he in love with her?


    Marcelo had never really pondered this question.


    Such matters of the heart were often the concerns of the younger, more romantic souls.


    Yet there she was, his wife, still so young at twenty–two, seeking reassurance.


    Marcelo wanted to ask her the same question.


    Was she in love with him?


    But he hesitated, unsure whether it was from the fear of asking, or perhaps the fear of the answer.


    He was acutely aware that their marriage hadn’t been her choice.


    “What do you think, Mrs. King?” Marcelo gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her earlobe. His gaze softened, resembling the warmth of melting ice.


    Would he be this tender if he didn’t harbor some affection for her?


    As they stood there, the New Year countdown began from the square below.


    “Five!”


    “Four!”


    “Three!”


    “Two!”


    “One!”


    The New Year’s bell chimed amidst the fireworks.


    Dong! Dong! Dong!


    “Happy New Year, my Renee, “Marcelo whispered, cradling her face and leaning in to seal the moment with a kiss.


    Amidst a spectacr fireworks disy, Marcelo’s thoughts swirled.


    Was he in love with her?


    Well, the answer was evidently clear.


    She was his, after all.


    This New Year’s Eve was far from ordinary. It was alive with gossip and revtions.


    ? Ind


    The elite of the city were abuzz with the unexpected turn of events at Andrew’s grand celebration or Bar. The discussion was more intense than Renee’s dramatic change from a top socialite to an orphai… uncertain lineage.


    Chapter 135 This painting-


    Some of them derived a sense of schadenfreude from Andrew’s antics.


    “So what if I am a poorly graded student? Andrew of the King family is in the same boat! I may be a poorly graded student, but at least I don’t pretend to be something I’m not! I don’t just avoid pretense; I also don’t embarrass myself like Andrew did!”


    The elite families reveled in this turn of events, all but the King family.


    At the King’s house, Andrew was in a dire situation. He knelt in the study, being beaten by his father, Gary, who was outraged by Andrew’s recent debacle.


    “I invested so much to set you up for sess, and this is how you repay me? You squandered five hundred million to be aughingstock. What stupid act have youmitted now? Huh? You are so fucking useless! I should just kill you!” Gary huffed.


    In a fit of humiliation and rage, Andrew blurted out, “It’s your fault! You bastard!I took after that!If you were as smart as Marcelo’s father was, the King family business would already be mine. You im you’re setting me up, but it’s all for yourself!”


    “What? You, you!” Gary, driven to the brink of fury, raised the stick again.


    “Ungrateful punk! I ought to end you!”


    Andrew’s usations had hit a nerve, pushing Gary to his limits.


    “Gary, enough! He’s our only child. What we need to focus on is resolving this situation!“Felicia implored as she wrapped her arms around Gary, her voice filled with anxiety and sorrow. She pleaded, trying to quell Gary’s wrath, “Paul is already displeased with all this.”


    Paul,who always valued the family’s reputation, had consented to Marcelo’s removal from the family’s power


    structure.


    This decision wasn’t solely because Marcelo wasn’t his preferred heir;Marcelo had also tarnished the family’s name and caused Paul personal shame, making him unsuitable as a family leader.


    But now, with Marcelo heading the KM Group and posing a threat to the King Group, Andrew’s failures were all the more ring. His academic dishonesty,ckluster performance inpetitions, and penchant for bragging had alle to light.


    Gary feared Paul’s disappointment in Andrew.


    C


    Felicia gestured to Andrew, urging, “Apologize to your father, right now!”


    Andrew, though loath to submit, relied on Gary for financial support and influence.


    Reluctantly, he mumbled, “Sorry, Dad, I acted rashly. Please forgive me.”


    Gary’s anger somewhat abated and lowered the stick. He then asked Andrew, “Do you know who owns Dove Ind Bar?”


    “No,“Andrew replied, puzzled by the sudden change in topic.


    “And who put that information on the screen?” Gary prodded further.


    “No idea.”


    “It was Marcelo!” Gary’s frustration with Andrew’s ignorance was palpable. “With yourck of awar can you everpete with Marcelo?”


    how


    Chopter 135 The poindig


    Andrew, taken aback, echoed, “Marcelo?”


    The realization that he had been inadvertently funding Marcelo all these years through hisvish spending on Dove Ind Bar was a bitter pill to swallow.


    Overwhelmed by this revtion, Andrew’s shock quickly turned to fury.


    The day’s humiliation, bing a citywide joke, enduring unbearable ridicule – it was all Marcelo’s doing?!


    Gary had been also surprised to learn Marcelo controlled Dove Ind Bar. The source of Andrew’s information wasn’t hard to trace, likelying from an insider at Crestmont University or the King family, as they had ess to donation records.


    In the King family, Marcelo was the only one who resented them.


    “Marcelo’s actions have embarrassed you and our family<b>. </b>Talk to your grandfather, act <b>pitiful</b>.” Gary added, “You know what to say, right?”


    “Yes!” Andrew nodded in understanding. <ul><li></li></ul>


    Renée woke up feeling sore, as if she’d been hit by a car.


    Despite the delightful and sweet sexual experiences with Marcelo, he always left her with a significant aftereffect. Sitting up took effort. She reached for her bedside table, and Marcelo handed her a warm ss of water.


    He was looking sharp in his attire, he shifted hisptop aside, turning his attention towards her. Renee thanked him, her voice hoarse until the warm water soothed her throat.


    She usually kept water by her bed for the morning thirst and was surprised that Marcelo noticed. “Want more?” He asked, noticing her empty ss.


    Renee, recalling the exact same words he asked after each round and how she always kept saying yes because she wanted more and more made her blush right now.


    She looked at him nervously.


    Marcelo’s usually emotionless face showed a teasing smile. “What’s on your mind, Renee?”


    He seemed to remember those intimate moments as well.


    She blushed harder and looked away and said, “It’s nothing!”


    Obviously, Marcelo didn’t believe her.


    “You know exactly what I’m thinking…” she hissed.


    Marcelo, in a good mood after spending a wonderful night with her, leaned in to kiss her.


    Renee covered her mouth, saying, “I haven’t brushed my teeth yet!”


    He seemed to forget every time!


    His kissnded on her hand, sending a warm tingle through her heart.


    “I’ve told you, I don’t mind,” he smiled.


    Chapter 135 This ponds


    After changing, Renee noticed changes in the living room.


    The decorative wine was now a Lafite, and the coffee set was an antique from four centuries ago. Even the empty coffee jar was filled with premium coffee.


    Renee was confused by the additions when Marcelo approached her, just finishing his call.


    She questioned, “These things…”


    “Do you like them?“Marcelo asked.


    He had chosen the coffee set to match her taste.


    It wasn’t about liking them.


    Renee pointed to the porcin. “Is that antique… real?”


    Marcelo looked displeased.


    His expression silently announced that he would never use fakes.


    Renee froze. She hastily exined, “It’s just that I can’t use it for coffee, right?”


    “Why not?” He asked. “I have plenty even if you break it.”


    She couldn’t say a word.Renee felt out of her depth with such wealth.


    Marcelo pointed to arge painting. “I have the original. I’ll get Luke to bring it.”


    It was a medieval replica, valuable but not as much as the original. But it was also made by a famous painter 100


    years ago.


    Renee acquired it at an auctionst year.


    Marcelo stressed “original,” still mad by the fakement.


    Renee declined, “No, thanks. I don’t really like this painting.