Secret Wife, Real Billionaire

Chapter 169 Holding her close

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Renee frowned, clearly annoyed. But Vivian had presented a valid excuse for joining. Turning her down would

make it look like she was causing unnecessary trouble.

A comprehensive check-up had been set up by Wyatt, leaving Renee feeling a bit apprehensive when she

spotted the progesterone and HCG test items on the list.

Despite her assurance to Marcelo that she wasn’t pregnant, he had taken the initiative to schedule tests to

detect early pregnancy.

This left Renee pondering whether Marcelo was secretly hoping for her to be carrying their child or if he was

trying to prevent it from happening.

It tugged at her heartstrings, as she couldn't help but lean towards the latter possibility.

After all, they had consistently used birth control during their intimate moments, and Marcelo had never shown

much interest in the prospect of parenthood. The only the ever mentioned pregnancy and childbirth was

during the heat of the moment, which Renee understood as mere empty words spoken in the passion of the

moment.

“Marcelo, | have a favor to ask of you, “Vivian addressed Marcelo as soon as Renee entered the examination

room.

Marcelo turned his attention to Vivian, curious about her request.

Vivian began to explain her predicament, “I had a previous collaboration with a luxury brand, but due to

unforeseen circumstances, the jewelry shipment didn’t reach our partner on time. | informed them in advance

and assured them of compensation for the breach of contract. It seems that someone might be trying to create

trouble. They are insisting on holdingaccountable, and numerous magazines are also making a big deal out

of it...I'm not sure how to handle this situation.”

Although Vivian didn’t explicitly state it,Marcelo grasped the underlying message-she was in trouble and hoped

he could help resolve it.

Without much hesitation and without seeking further details about the brand in question,he assured her, “I'll

arrange for Anna to handle it.”

Vivian's face lit up with relief, and she happily linked her arm with Marcelo, expressing her gratitude, “Thank

you,Marcelo. You're incredibly kind.”

Although Renee didn’t agree to assist, Vivian found a way to navigate the situation with Marcelo’s support.

“Vivian, | made a commitment to my brother to look out for you so he can always be at peace, “Marcelo

reminded firmly, withdrawing his arm as he spoke.

He had always been reserved when it cto physical contact with others, with the exception of Renee.

The smile that had graced the corners of Vivian's mouth froze momentarily, but she understood the unspoken

message.

Marcelo’s claim that it was due to Sebastian's final wish might have been the surface reason, but Vivian believed

that even without that request, Marcelo would still extend his assistance.

The results had confirmed that Renee was not pregnant. Despite feeling a bit queasy, it was because her

stomach was feeling off, not due to any pregnancy-related reasons.

Marcelo remained composed throughout, his face revealing no signs of disappointment or any other emot

“Miss Lambert, aren’t you here for a check-up?“Renee turned her attention to Vivian, who had been standing

beside Marcelo.

Her implication was clear: why hadn't Vivian left yet?

Marcelo had been entirely focused on Renee until he realized that Vivian, who had initially mentioned coming for

a check-up,

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had not left.

Vivian tried to offer an excuse, her smile tinged with awkwardness “I just thought | might be having trouble

sleeping due to jet lag.”

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Renee put on a false smile as she remarked, “You've been back hfor almost two weeks, and you're still

struggling with jet lag.”

Vivian could only force another awkward smile, all the while cursing Renee in her thoughts a thousand times

over.

She had viewed Renee as nothing more than a temporary amusement for Marcelo and believed that Renee had

no reason to feel superior.

Throwing up at night was typically attributed to catching a cold.

On that particular night,Marcelo held Renee close in his arms, tucking her securely under the quilt. “Is it just me

or is it a little hot in here?“Renee asked, using euphemistic language after a couple of failed attempts to break

from his tight embrace.

“Well, that’s not up to the patient, “Marcelo responded with a stern expression.

He couldn't bear the thought of her catching a chill right under his watchful eyes.

With her lips pursed, Renee suddenly recalled that she had taken an early pregnancy test earlier that day.

“Marcelo, do you...do you want to have a baby?” She asked out of the blue, her nerves inexplicably getting the

better of her.

His eyes narrowed as he processed her question.

“I...I just asked casually, “She quickly added, her anxiety palpable.

She couldn't quite fathom why this question had suddenly popped into her head.

“Not at the moment, “He replied calmly.

After Renee returned from the hospital, she vomited twice more. Her pallid face lingered in his thoughts, causing

him to worry about her well-being.

Renee was still young and fragile in his eyes, and he didn’t want her to endure the hardships of pregnancy at this

stage of her life.

She lowered her gaze to conceal her disappointment, feeling the weight of Marcelo’s reluctance for her to

becpregnant. The recent harmony in their relationship had given Renee the illusion that they were in love

and had a typical marital life like any other couple.

However, Marcelo had never explicitly admitted to having romantic feelings for her.

She understood that a man’s kindness toward a woman didn’t necessarily equate to love.

Sensing Renee’s emotional turmoil, Marcelo gently stroked her face with his fingertips and asked, “What's

troubling you?”

“Nothing, “Renee replied, no longer interested in pursuing the subject.

“Do you want to sign a contract with Harvillston?“He inquired.

“No,” She declared.

Marcelo frowned at her answer.

He appeared as if he were considering buying the company that Renee had intended to contract with.

Renee explained her plan. “I'm planning to establish my own studio, and | can utilize Freddy's existing team for

ie.”

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She believed that being her own boss would grant her more freedom to choose when and how she worked With

her growing strength, reputation, and resources, she no longer felt the need to rely on a large company.

Fortunately, Freddy had previously established a stuhere, which meant she wouldn't even have to assemble

a management team if she collaborated with him.

Marcelo, however, had a rather indifferent reaction to the mention of Freddy. He held Renee close, his expression

devoid of emotion, and told her, “Don’t think about him right now. Just get srest.”

It was Freddy again.

The mention of Freddy seemed to stir.something within Marcelo,ut he was relieved that Freddy posed no threat,

as he was uninterested in women.

Almost simultaneously, the staff of Peerless Grace unveiled the trailer and the release date, along with the

announcement that Renee was the styling director for the . Netizens eagerly delved into the costumes and

props of the cast, scrutinizing the materials released by the team.

The consensus was clear-Peerless Grace was a visual masterpiece. Its historical elements were meticulously

designed, earning it praise for perfection.

Smedia outlets even speculated that Peerless Grace had a strong chance of winning the Best Styling Design

award, provided that the '’s plot lived up to expectations.

Renee's value soared once more in the industry.

When she arrived at KM Group to finalize her contract expiration agreement, the members of the design

department were reluctant to see her go.

As Renee emerged from the reception room, she overheard employees outside discussing her departure.

“Miss Hudson is not only beautiful but also possesses a pleasant temperament. She's highly professional and

competent, and having Freddy and Light as collaborators only adds to her appeal. It's a shshe’s leaving our

KM Group.”

“I heard from a reliable source that Renee was planning to join Harvillston as a senior manager. Why the sudden

change?”

“That can’t be true. My cousin works in Harvillston’s HR department, and she mentioned that a senior manager

is indeed joining the company soon, but that person is returning from abroad. It can’t be Renee.”

“I think sof you have too much free ton your hands.” Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by

the director who had accompanied Renee.

He scolded them sternly, and everyone fell silent.

“Miss Hudson, I'm so sorry. I..."

“It doesn’t matter.”

Renee, however, was unperturbed. She had no intention of joining Harvillston, so the discussion about her

potential role there as a senior manager was of little concern to her.

Somehow, Renee's thoughts turned to Vivian.

When she checked the internet, she was taken aback to find that all the negative news about Vivian had

suddenly vanished.

Before she could dwell on it further, the director halted her.

“Miss Hudson, please hold on a moment,” he said in a hushed tone. “Mr. King has requested your presence in his

office.” Renee made her way up to the thirty-eighth floor, a place she had becquite familiar with over time.

The staff in Marcelo’s

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Chapter 169 Holding her chose

secretary's office were used to her visits and promptly directed her to his office.

“Where's Anna?“Renee couldn’t help but ask the secretary guiding her.

“Anna is on a business trip,” cthe reply

Renee nodded, though she was somewhat perplexed.

As Marcelo’s personal secretary, Anna typically accompanied him on business trips.

With Marcelo presently in the office, it raised questions about why Anna had embarked on a solo trip.

Despite her curiosity, Rence knocked on the office door, and it promptly swung open.

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Marcelo was engrossed in a phone conversation, his bluetooth headset in place. He silently beckoned Renee to

approach with a wave of his hand.

However, Renee remained still and made no sound, her senses picking up on the faint aroma of food in the air.

In the spacious office, nearly a hundred square meters in size, she finally located the source of the delightful

scent-a bucket of fried chicken sitting on Marcelo’s desk.

Once he had concluded his phone call,he inquired, “Why are you standing so far away?”

“Did you hang up yet? | wasn’t sure if you were in another video call, “She responded cautiously, her feet glued

to the sspot.

She hadn't forgotten the lesson she had learned previously.Marcelo chuckled.

At this point, all the senior executives in the company were aware that he had a girlfriend, and it was too late for

Renee to maintain her guard.

“It'll get cold if you don’t eat now,” he remarked, drawing her attention to the meal he had prepared.

Renee walked up to the desk and was delighted to discover that the fried chicken and milk tea were her favorite

spots in the city.

It was a thoughtful gesture on Marcelo’s part, a reminder of a promise he had made to her.

Before she could express her gratitude, Marcelo abruptly tugged her hand, causing her to stumble and fall onto

his lap.

Her buttocks met his strong and warm thighs, and she couldn't help but feel a rise in her body temperature.

With one hand holding her waist and the other cupping her face, Marcelo leaned in and planted a kiss on her

cheek, catching her off guard with his unexpected affection.

“Renee, we've shared many intimate moments. Why are you still so shy around me?” he teased, his eyes finding

amusement in the reddening of her earlobes.

“This is the company,Marcelo. Please, let's not get carried away! “Renee scolded, glaring at him as she pushed

against his chest.

There had to be a clear line between what happened in the bedroom and what happened outside of it.

“Renee,what’s on your mind?“Marcelo playfully tapped her head and continued, “It’s my fault. | was worried

about you being sick these past two days, so | didn’t satisfy you.”

“Marcelo! Watch what you say! Don’t be so shameless!”

Gently placing her hand over his mouth, Renee shot him a playful yet stern look.

In his eyes, Renee resembled a kitten attempting to appear fierce. However, instead of coming across as

intimidating, she only seemed incredibly adorable to him.

He smiled. “Perhaps | can demonstrate how shameless | can be when we get home.”

Renee found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

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In a cheerful mood, Marcelo decided to put an end to the playful bater, affectionately tousled her hair, and

encouraged her, saying, “Now, enjoy your meal.”

“How do you expectto eat like this?”

Gently patting his hand, which still rested on her waist, Renee silently conveyed her desire for him to release his

grip.

“Our lips aren't locking, so you can still eat with your mouth.”.

“Um...I'm not quite accustomed to this.” How could she eat in peace sitting on his lap?

She was getting turned on right now.

“Then get used to it, “He replied with a hint of determination in his voice.

He maintained his hold around her waist with his right hand while his left hand picked up a pen, and he started

to review sdocuments.

Although he typically disliked physical contact with others, Renee was a unique exception.

He relished the sensation of holding her close.

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