Secret Wife, Real Billionaire

Chapter 174 He can walk!

“A marriage alliance...” Vivian muttered, her voice trailing off.

The news had caught her completely off guard.

Catherine's satisfied grin grew wider as she saw the shock etched on Vivian's face.

“Miss Lambert, do you still see yourself as the other woman? Are you ready to be outplayed by someone so

cunning?”

“Why are you tellingthis?” Vivian quickly regained her composure. “You're with Andrew. We both understand

his connection to Marcelo. If | marry into the King family, the Lamberts will support Marcelo. That can’t be good

for you.”

It didn’t make sense for Catherine to be helping her.

Catherine just shrugged. “I can’t stand watching that Renee enjoy a good life. Isn't that reason enoug

The birthday ceremony then began. Paul had two sons and a daughter. Today, his daughter was notably absent.

She was the family’s outcast, having married young and moved abroad with her husband. She had almost cut all

ties with the Kings.

Renee vaguely recalled that she had been close to Marcelo’s late father.

Andrew and his parents took turns offering their congratulations on stage, but Marcelo stayed away.

Nevertheless, the guests remained effusive and flattering to Marcelo after the ceremony.

Renee, not one for such superficial business interactions, was standing next to Marcelo when she overheard a

know?” curly-haired man in his thirties ask, “Who was playing the violin earlier? Do you

“No, but Drew’s girlfriend is quite the violinist. She’s probably the one,” his friend suggested.

“The lady in the red dress?” the man with curly hair inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Upon getting a nod, he made a beeline towards Catherine. “Ma’am, your violin performance was breathtaking!

I've never heard that piece before. Did you compose it?” His excitement was palpable as he handed her his

business card. “I'm Gerardo Lyons. Are you interested for a collaboration?”

Catherine was momentarily speechless. Gerardo Lyons was a big nin music production, renowned for

turning artists into stars. His productions invariably climbed the charts. Beyond his professional prowess, he

hailed from a distinguished family, bringing with him a wealth of resources. For Catherine, he was the dream

collaborator she had always hoped for.

“Yes! I'm definitely interested!” she responded eagerly. Collaborating with Gerardo could be her ticket to

stardom.

Gerardo’s enthusiastic praise drew the attention of many nearby guests.

Andrew, overhearing the conversation, wondered when Catherine had learned to play the violin. But seeing the

admiration in everyone's eyes, he decided to hold his questions for now.

“But | missed a few seconds of the performance,” Gerardo admitted. Trying to recall the melody, he hummed.

“Yes, that's it. You've got a great ear!” Catherine agreed, though she hadn't actually heard the music herself.

Gerardo paused, his head tilted in thought. Something didn’t quite add up. His humming didn’t seem as fluid as

the music he had heard earlier.

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Just then, Jason, who happened to be passing by, chimed in “Gerardo, the music you enjoyed in the yard came

from the second floor. This lady has been here in the hall the whole time. You've mistaken her for someone else.”

Realization dawned on Gerardo. That was right! He turned to the woman before him, noticing her sudden fluster.

She opened her mouth to speak but seemed at a loss for words.

Feeling duped, Gerardo’s tone becaccusing. “Oh, | remember you. Weren't you in that talent show? There's

no way you could have played the music | heard earlier with your musical skills.” His expression said i. all,

verging on calling her out on her audacity.

“I...I can explain, Mr. Lyons!“Catherine stammered, panic-stricken. She knew she had just offended Gerardo.

Laughter broke out from the surrounding crowd. “I heard that girl from the Hudson family got kicked out of

university for her poor attitude and performance. Looks like it’s true.”

The whispers grew, speculating on her being expelled so soon after enrollment for such impersonati

Andrew, face set in a stern expression, glared at Catherine and swiftly turned away. “Don’t follow me!

commanded.

His disgust was evident. Even the baby she carried couldn't make him stay.

Gerardo, ignoring Catherine, turned back to Jason, insisting on finding out who had played the violin.

Catherine was left standing in an awkward silence. Hushed whispers filled the air around her.

“I can’t fathom why Andrew's still with her,” someone muttered.

“Maybe she’s got stricks in bed,” another voice suggested, a hint of mockery in their tone.

A wave of anger washed over Catherine. Then, a thought struck her - Renee had followed Marcelo upstairs

earlier!

Renee, again.

Why did it always have to be Renee?!

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Meanwhile, Renee, feeling out of place next to Marcelo, whispered, “I think I'll go find Damian.”

“Why him?“Marcelo asked, a hint of displeasure in his voice.

Renee looked at him, puzzled. Because she got along well with Damian recently.

“Marcelo, don’t be so possessive. Everyone knows she’s yours, “Wyatt interjected, trying to ease the tension.

Marcelo pondered for a moment. He knew Damian well enough and realized he couldn’t keep Renee away from

Damian forever.

They were just friends anyway.

He shouldn't be so paranoid all the time.

“Alright, go ahead,” he said, affectionately stroking her hair.

“Please show smercy on Damian, Renee, “Wyatt said with a smile. “Don’t beat my brother too badly at

cards.”

Renee grinned, waving as she left. “For you, Wyatt, I'll go easy on him!”

The gathered presidents exchanged surprised glances. When had Renee becso close with Wyatt that she

could casually joke about Damian?

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Chapter 174 He can walkt

Renee...she had truly changed from the person she once was

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As Renee made her way across the hall to join Damian and others in the side hall,Vivian called out to her. “Miss

Hudson, please wait!”

She had been observing Renee and Marcelo for a while, waiting for a moment when Renee would be alone.

Renee glanced at Vivian but didn’t stop walking.

Vivian, determined, blocked Renee’s path. “I know the truth,” she said bluntly. “You married Marcelo not out of

love, but because your family forced you to.”

Renee paused, squinting slightly at Vivian.

Vivian let out a chuckle, as if she had uncovered a great secret. “It’s all because of the Hudso arrangement. And

you,” she continued. “You're not even the Hudson family’s real daughter.”

u King families’

Renee faced Vivian with an indifferent gaze. “So what?” she asked coolly. “Does that change the fact that I'm his

lawful wife now?”

Vivian was indifferent to Renee's words. Renee had married Marcelo, but the future of their union seemed

uncertain.

“Miss Hudson, do you know why Marcelo didn’t askto call you my sister-in-law?“Vivian taunted. Renee

replied with disinterest, “I don’t care to know.”

She regretted engaging with Vivian. She would have rather stayed with Marcelo, enduring his tedious business

discussions.

“Miss Lambert, now that you have finished speaking, why don’t you step out of my way before becoming a

nuisance?” she said sharply.

Vivian was speechless, taken aback by Renee’s words. Frustrated and angry, she changed tactics. “I too have a

marriage arrangement with the King family!” she declared.

Renee was stunned, feeling as if the world had gone silent except for Vivian's words, echoing like a curse.

“Marcelo couldn't make me, a woman bound by another arrangement, call you, a usurper of that arrangement, *

sister-in-law’, “Vivian sneered.

Renee, shocked, took a moment to process this. “You and Marcelo were arranged to be married?” she finally

asked, disbelief in her voice. She quickly dismissed the idea. “Impossible. How can one person be part of two

arrangements?”

Vivian didn’t miss a beat. “Wasn't Andrew the Hudson family’s first choice?” she asked. Then she added, “Miss

Hudson, perhaps you should check if the negative rumors abouthave vanished. You thought you could outwit

me. | told you, once | tell Marcelo about it, he'll always take care of anything relating to me.”

Renee's face lost all color.

She remembered that the original arrangement was with Andrew, but it had been changed to Marcelo at the last

minute. A troubling thought crossed her mind.

Had she inadvertently ruined the bond that might have existed between Marcelo and Vivian?

Vivian, having achieved what she set out to do, quietly made her exit.

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As she passed Catherine, who was glaring at Renee, she whispered something only they could hear, pretending

to talk to herself, “Be careful with those champagne glasses. They might fall.”

Renee, still in a daze, was standing near a towering seven-ter champagne setup.

Seizing the moment, Catherine made her move. She feigned a slip, bumping into the table holding the

champagne glasses.

“Watch out!” someone yelled.

The tower of glasses cascaded towards Rence, all eighty-four of them crashing down.

Vivian couldn't hide her sly grin.

Marcelo, who had been watching Renee, acted instantly. He moved with incredible speed, using one hand to her

head with his suit jacket and the other to wrap Renee in a protective embrace, shielding her from the f glasses.

The sound of shattering glasses filled the air as the champagne glasses hit the floor.

The champagne drenched the carpet and splashed onto Marcelo’s suit and his back. Yet the woman he held was

mostly unscathed, her smoky purple dress only slightly damp at the corner.

A hush fell over the room.

Renee, feeling her heart race, blinked slowly as she looked at Marcelo’s legs. She lifted her gaze to him, her eyes

wide with disbelief and panic.

“You...” she began, but couldn't finish as others started to react.

“Marcelo,Marcelo... he stood up!” someone called out.

“Marcelo moved faster just now than | ever did in high school. He doesn’t look like someone who's been disabled

for years!” another voice remarked.

“How...how could this be possible?”

The room buzzed with astonishment.

Members of the King family rushed in, their faces etched with shock. The incident had left them speechless, their

expressions empty of any other emotion.

A few insiders, aware of the true situation, appeared particularly distressed. None had anticipated Marcelo’s

sudden movement.

Renee, her nerves frayed, clutched Marcelo’s hand. Her voice quivered as she spoke.

“Marcelo, you...How could you....why...” she hesitated, wondering why he had stopped pretending.

“Should | just sat by and watch my wife get hurt?” He retorted. He quickly turned his attention to Renee, asking

with concern, “Are you okay?”

Renee's eyes flickered, feeling a warmth in her heart. She took a moment before shaking her head in response.

But so many people saw...”

“Don’t worry about it, “Marcelo reassured her, gently patting her back. He couldn't help but let out a small

chuckle.

“Renee, are you...are you going to cry right now?“His voice though loud, was for her ears only. “This look of

yours, I've only seen it in bed,” he teased.

El

Chapter 174 He can walk-

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Renee was too overwhelmed to even decide how to react to his inappropriate joke.

“Marcelo, your legs...”Paul’s voice, aged and trembling, carried a mix of emotions.

It was hard to tell if he was shocked, happy, or frightened.

Gary and his family members stared intently at Marcelo, as if trying to unravel a mystery.

Marcelo stood up slowly, his eyes scanning the room before resting on a security camera in the upper-right

corner.

“Bringthe footage from the last ten minutes,” he instructed the staff member who was cleaning up.

Everyone in the room grasped his motive. He was determined to find out who was responsible for the cham

tower's collapse and deal with that person.

“Marcelo! Your legs...“Gary exclaimed, a mix of shock and skepticism in his voice. “Have you been fool whole

time?”

“l owe no one any explanation as to how | can walk right now.And | think you all can focus on that later.For now, |

need to know who tried to hurt my woman!” He said, loudly.

The crowd was still in shock.

Andrew was visibly disturbed, his thoughts racing.

Marcelo can walk?

How?

When?

How could he now compare himself to Marcelo, or make Renee regret her choice?

Catherine's face drained of color as she worried about the surveillance footage. She hoped it hadn't captured her

involvement.

Vivian was overcwith regret and jealousy. She realized that her actions had led to Marcelo revealing his

secret to protect Renee, his wife in nonly.

She didn’t even know when he started walking again.

He had gotten into an accident with his brother which had rendered him paralyzed from waist down.

But now, he can walk and stand showing no difficulty.

It clearly meant that he had recovered a long tago.

Her teeth clenched and she wanted Marcelo even more now

The guests remained silent, their internal shock preventing them from whispering in such a tense situation. The

only sound was the attendants cleaning up the broken glass

Wyatt, wanting to protect his friend, brought the wheelchair over to Marcelo and put on an act.“Marcelo, your leg

isn’t fully healed. You shouldn't stand for too long. Sit down quickly.” His eyes subtly conveyed a message-

remember, recovery wasn't instantaneous. Keep up the act

But Marcelo kicked the wheelchair away from him.

“Where is the footage?!“He demanded, angrily.

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Renee was too overwhelmed to even decide how to react to his inappropriate joke.

“Marcelo, your legs...”Paul’s voice, aged and trembling, carried a mix of emotions.

It was hard to tell if he was shocked, happy, or frightened.

Gary and his family members stared intently at Marcelo, as if trying to unravel a mystery.

Marcelo stood up slowly, his eyes scanning the room before resting on a security camera in the upper-right

corner.

“Bringthe footage from the last ten minutes,” he instructed the staff member who was cleaning up.

Everyone in the room grasped his motive. He was determined to find out who was responsible for the

champagne tower's collapse and deal with that person.

“Marcelo! Your legs...“Gary exclaimed, a mix of shock and skepticism in his voice. “Have you been fooling us this

whole time?”

“I owe no one any explanation as to how | can walk right now. And I think you all can focus on that later. For now,

| need to know who tried to hurt my woman!“He said, loudly.

The crowd was still in shock.

Andrew was visibly disturbed, his thoughts racing.

Marcelo can walk?

How?

When?

How could he now compare himself to Marcelo, or make Renee regret her choice?

Catherine's face drained of color as she worried about the surveillance footage. She hoped it hadn't captured her

involvement.

Vivian was overcwith regret and jealousy. She realized that her actions had led to Marcelo revealing his

secret to protect Renee, his wife in nonly.

She didn’t even know when he started walking again.

He had gotten into an accident with his brother which had rendered him paralyzed from waist down.

But now, he can walk and stand showing no difficulty.

It clearly meant that he had recovered a long tago.

Her teeth clenched and she wanted Marcelo even more now!

The guests remained silent, their internal shock preventing them from whispering in such a tense situation. The

only sound was the attendants cleaning up the broken glass

Wyatt,wanting to protect his friend, brought the wheelchair over to Marcelo and put on an act.”Marcelo, your leg

isn’t fully healed. You shouldn't stand for too long. Sit down quickly.” His eyes subtly conveyed a message—

remember, recovery wasn't instantaneous. Keep up the act

But Marcelo kicked the wheelchair away from him.

“Where is the footage?!” He demanded, angrily.

Chapter 174 He can walk-

“The surveillance footage is here,” announced an attendan

Marcelo reviewed the footage on the tablet. When he raised

to the core.

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Chapter 174 He can walkt

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“The surveillance footage is here,” announced an attendant, having fetched it with remarkable speed.

Marcelo reviewed the footage on the tablet. When he raised his head, his icy gaze landed on Catherine, chilling

her to the core.

Chapte

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