142 Renee’s disappointment


    Marcelo requested Luke to obtain Ro’s contact and promptly dialed the number.


    “Hello, Mr. Hudson, Marcelo speaking,” he announced as soon as the call was connected.


    Ro was surprised, but quickly settled into a friendly chat with Marcelo, unperturbed by being addressed formally despite being his father–inw.


    Marcelo courteously endured a brief period of ttery before interjecting, “I’m calling to extend birthday wishes to Naomi and to inquire if today’s invitation for my wife is solely for the birthday or if there’s another motive.”


    His question subtly questioned if the real intent was to involve Rence in something else under the guise of a birthday celebration.


    Despite discussing seemingly mundane matters, Marcelo’s tone conveyed an understated intensity, causing Ro to feel an inexplicable pressure.


    “What’s on your mind, Mr. King?” Ro asked, his initial thought being that Renee might have expressed concerns to Marcelo. “Mr. Hudson, I just want to ensure that my wife isn’t being put in an ufortable position, “Marcelo replied, seeking confirmation about Renee’s current whereabouts.


    “Mr. King, please be assured. Renee is my daughter as well, and I would never allow her to be mistreated, “Ro responded, lying. “She seemed delighted to visit and has just left. Next time, you should join her for dinner.”


    Relieved by his advice to his wife against pressuring Renee into assisting Catherine, Ro felt reassured.


    Marcelo ended the call.


    He reflected on Ro’s im that Renee had recently left from the Gordons‘ house, which conflicted with the person he had seen earlier.


    So she couldn’t be at Venus Bar.


    “Renee, you’re back so soon…What’s the matter? Where’s Marcelo?“Sarah asked.


    Renee had barely stepped inside when Sarah caught sight of her troubled face.


    Marvin stirred as Renee walked in. He opened his eyes briefly, recognized her, and then, with a sigh, leaned back against Sarah’s shoulder, closing his eyes once more.


    He wondered why Renee hadn’t left with Marcelo.


    Did Marcelo not care enough to ensure she was with him?


    Renee’s eyes widened in surprise at seeing Marvin and Sarah so close together.


    “Move a bit,” Sarah whispered to Marvin. “Your head’s heavy. Rest on the sofa.”


    Marvin grumbled in protest, “But the sofa’s too hard.”


    Sarah looked confused. She thought to herself in bewilderment, “What’s wrong with the sofa?” After all, she had spent a fortune on that sofa!


    “I’m okay,” Renee quickly said, diverting her attention from Marvin lounging against Sarah. “T Marvin’s subordinate mistook someone else for him.”


    She chose to avoid discussing the real issue at hand.


    She didn’t want to cry right now,she felt too sad to talk about it.


    asn’t Marcelo earlier;


    Chapter 142 Renee’s disappointment


    <b>“</b><b>If </b>you’re


    upset about something, you can tell me. You’ve seemed distracted, “Saral? said, her tone reflecting her concern. “I visited the Hudson family today…“Renee began, sharing her experience at the Hudson’s house and their request involving Catherine. She deliberately omitted mentioning, Naomi’s involvement, hoping it was just an idental oversight. Yet, as she recounted her visit, the unsettling images of Vivian and Marcelo together kept shing in her mind.


    It was this revtion, not her visit to the Hudson’s, that had truly shocked her.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, her face a mix of confusion and vulnerability that she couldn’t hide. “You don’t have to help if you don’t want to.Catherine is not worth your time!” Frustrated, Sarah gently pushed Marvin’s head off her shoulder and moved to Renee’s side, offeringfort. “Renee, it’s okay to talk about what’s really bothering you.”


    Sarah sensed Renee wasn’t beingpletely honest.


    The mere mention of Catherine and the Hudsons didn’t seem enough to upset Renee to this extent.


    Renee squeezed her eyes shut, holding back her tears, and managed to say in a strained voice, “Right, I won’t help her!”


    She refused to dwell on the thoughts of those two.


    Marvin, abruptly pushed aside, observed Renee coldly, then rechecked the message from his subordinate.


    It was definitely Marcelo!


    He wasn’t mistaken.


    Marvin’s dissatisfaction with Marcelo grew even further.


    How could Marcelo fail to console his own partner, leaving her to seek sce in lies with Sarah? “Do you have something to say to me?” Renee caught Marvin’s scrutinizing gaze.


    Marvin didn’t mince words. “You should consider finding another partner.”


    Sarah, unaware of the full situation, moved quickly to cover Marvin’s mouth, saying, “Don’t mind him, Renee. He’s not in his right mind.”


    Eager to avoid any encounter with Marcelo upon her departure, Renee bid farewell to Sarah and left.


    She needed some time alone.


    Now, the private room was left with only Sarah and Marvin.


    “Marvin, ever since your brain got all mixed up, you’ve be quite gossipy. Stay out of other people’s romantic business, will you?”


    Sarah lectured Marvin, her ever–present tagalong.


    Marvin gave Sarah a look of pity. “My subordinate made no mistake. “Marcelo is Renee’s husband. How could he not recognize his own partner? Even if what your subordinate said is true, if she denied it, we should believe her…”


    Sarah trailed off as her thought process came to a grinding halt.


    That’s right, Renee might have been deceiving her. She had seemed disturbed upon her return to the room.


    She must have encountered something downstairs!


    With a sense of urgency,Sarah dashed to the hall, Yet, in the throng of hundreds of booths teeming with people, Marcelo was nowhere to be found.


    When she came back to the private room, Marvin’s gaze was fixed on her with an intense stare. “What’s wrong?” Sarah frowned.


    “Would you recognize me?” Marvin asked earnestly.


    Sarah was baffled, not understanding his point.


    Chapter 142 Renee’s disappointment


    Marvin pressed on, asking, “If I weren’t your spouse, would you still recognize me?”


    <b>The </b>question caught Sarah off guard, her cheeks flushing. “Of course you’re not my spouse, you’re… No, this is silly…. I’m not going to bicker with you.”


    Sarah yearned for the Marvin she was used to.


    The one who, despite his dangerous cunning, had a level of predictability, not like now with his bizarre outbursts.


    Concerned, Sarah turned to Vance, who was in charge of keeping an eye on Marvin.


    “Marvin looks fine on the outside, but should we consider a psychologist?”


    Her focus solely on the conversation, Sarah was oblivious to the brief change in Vance’s expression.


    Vance dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. “No, seeing a psychologist isn’t necessary for Mr. Hill”


    What if that psychologist could actually clear Marvin’s mind?


    Sarah exhaled a weary sigh. With Vance present, she felt her hands were tied regarding Marvin’s situation.


    She could only hope for his quick mental recovery.


    The word “psychologist” caught Marvin’s attention. It seemed familiar.


    Had he not visited one recently?


    In the bathroom, the sound of water echoed.


    It sshed from the shower head, filling the space with a rising mist.


    Renee stood under the steady stream of water, wishing it could wash away her thoughts of the scene at the bar.


    But it was futile.


    Surprisingly, she found herself less angry than anticipated.


    Instead, disappointment settled in, a heavy feeling directed mostly at herself.


    She pondered why she continued to hold on, knowing there was a chance of losing from the very beginning.


    unge scent