Secret Wife, Real Billionaire

Chapter 53 Miranda's regret

“Are you accusingof theft?” Renee was struck by the absurdity of the accusation.

Before she could even continue, Catherine had already rummaged through the kraft-paper box and retrieved the

fragile sapphire brooch.

Catherine's voice rose in anger. “This is the piecel Caught in the act, yet you deny it? Renee, you promised to

take only what belonged to you. Why did you take my brooch?”

A few onlookers began to whisper among themselves.

“Is that Renee over there?”

“And the one confronting her, Isn't she from the Hudson family?

“Accusations of theft? This will certainly be intriguing!”

Renee recognized those familiar faces of affluence and realized Catherine’s outrageous behavior was a

deliberate spectacle

Catherine was using the onlookers as pawns in her schto brand Renee as greedy and dishonest. Catherine’s

intent was clear. She wanted to smear Renee's reputation.

“Catherine to set the record straight, this brooch is mine. You sawplace it in the box,” Renee countered,

astounded by the audacity of the lie.

“Renee, how can you twist the truth like this? How can you. How...” Overcwith emotion, Catherine started to

cry.

Renee couldn't help but wonder if Catherine had taken lessons in .

How else could she cry on command?

Grace, drawn by the uproar, appeared just in tto see herdaughter in distress. She was furious.

After being briefed, Grace confronted Renee. “This brooch was a gift fromto my daughter. Are you claiming

it’s yours?”

Renee stared at Grace incredulous.

This brooch was a gift to Renee from a significant figure in her high school days, and Grace was well aware of it.

Yet now, Grace was asserting it was her gift to Catherine.

“Unbelievable, “Renee chuckled, lowering her gaze.

Every time, Grace found new ways to astonish Renee.

Grace's brow creased. “Renee, what's so funny?”

Was Renee mocking her?

“If you're so certain it's your gift to Catherine, it must be of the finest quality, correct?” Renee said, holding the

brooch up to the sunlight, its blue light captivating the onlookers.

Confused by Renee's remark, Grace hastily replied, “Certainly, it's a top-grade sapphire.”

Grace knew Renee's taste for the finer things. If the brooch weren't valuable, Renee wouldn't have bothered with

It.

Chapter 53 Miranda's Tegret

Renee couldn't help but laugh at the claim.

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Approaching Miranda Moore, one of the spectators, Rence asked, “Could you please examine this brooch, Mrs.

Moore?”

Miranda was taken aback but gladly accepted the brooch, cmining it closely.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Seeing Renee engage with the influential ladies, Grace felt her daughter being overshadowed. “Renee, everyone

knows Mrs. Moore is from a medical background. Don’t spent nonsense.”

Renee ignored Grace and smiled at Miranda. “Mrs. Moore, While your husband is indeed in medicine, isn't your

maternal family renowned in the jewelry industry?”

Miranda's smile broadened, and she nodded in affirmation to Rence. “You're well-informed, indeed. No wonder

you're the talk of the town!”

Miranda's response was a subtle rebuke to Grace's ignorance.

Due to the family’s higher status, Grace refrained from offending Miranda.

“Mrs. Hudson, I'm afraid the brooch you claim as a gift isn’t what you say it is.” Miranda handed the brooch back

to Renee, adding, “This sapphire’s color is too dark, almost black in slight. It's certainly not of the highest

quality you claim.”

Several ladies nearby couldn't help but laugh at the unfolding scene.

It was clear to any observant person that Grace and her recently returned biological daughter were conspiring

against Renee, the adopted one.

Unfortunately for them, Renee was too sharp, turning their schagainst them.

“This can’t be!” Grace stood frozen, her face a picture of disbelief.

Catherine's complexion fluctuated between fury and pallor as she grappled with the humiliation. “Renee!”

At that moment, a commanding voice broke the tension, deep and chilling.

Marcelo appeared, seated in a wheelchair, with Luke pushing him from behind.

His indifferent eyes swept over the scene, resting on Renee then moving to Grace and Catherine, his gaze

growing frostier.

“What's going on here?” His tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable note of interrogation and reproach.

Catherine tried to speak, but her words failed her.

Grace managed a forced smile. “Mr. King, what a surprise to see you here. We were just clearing up a small

misunderstanding with Renee.”

Grace had only encountered Marcelo once before, from afar at a social gathering. But the image of him in his

wheelchair had made a lasting impression, his presence as commanding as if he sat on a throne.

Now, observing him up close, Grace couldn't deny his striking features,

A thought crossed her mind. If only Marcelo hadn't been confined to a wheelchair and hated by his family, what a

match he would have been for her daughter Catherine!

“Misunderstanding?” Marcelo’s smile was laced with irony exuding an overwhelming aura. “It doesn’t appear so

to me.”

Catherine quickly interjected, “It was a mistake. | confused Renee’s brooch with the one my mother gave me.

They look similar, and that led to the misunderstanding.”

“Yes, Renee. Why didn’t you clarify things?” Grace quickly added, shifting the bltowards Renee,

“Are you both blind?” Marcelo responded coolly, his words laden with sarcasm.

Grace and Catherine felt increasingly cornered by his retort.

“Mr. King. | believe your remarks are somewhat harsh. Remember, | am your senior,” Grace responded, her voice

dripping with a mix of indignation and condescension.

Marcelo simply looked at Grace, his silent, mocking gaze speaking volumes.

“Mrs. Hudson, while we're on the subject, to be exact, you're Andrew's senior, “Miranda chimed in unexpectedly.

Considering that Catherine was Grace biological daughter and that Andrew was Catherine boyfriend, this

naturally made Grace his senior.

Grace's lips tightened in irritation.

She couldn’t fathom why Miranda continued to align with Renee, especially since she couldn't recall any past

grievances.

When the maid relayed news of a guest in a wheelchair, Rocco quickly emerged.

To his delight, it was Marcelo. His face broke into a welcoming smile.

“Marcelo, what a surprise! Why didn’t you inform us.”

“Mr. Hudson, if you can’t manage your own household, how can you handle your business affairs? Given these

circumstances, you can forget about the exclusive agency rights for the new furniture line.”

Rocco’s company was vying for exclusive rights to a new high-end furniture line, but it wasn’t from Marcelo’s

company, Confused, Rocco pondered Marcelo’s cryptic remark. His thoughts were interrupted by an urgent call

from his secretary.

“Mr. Hudson, the deal’s off! The other company has pulled out!”

“But everything was nearly finalized. We were about to sign the agreement!“Rocco responded, stunned.

Grace and Catherine turned to Rocco, aware of the deal’s importance to the Hudson family’s ambitions in the

furniture market.

“Planning to stay here overnight?” Marcelo glanced at Renee

“God,No! Let's leave,” Renee replied, still reeling from Marcelo’s unexpected intervention.

Meanwhile, Rocco's secretary continued, “I don’t know what happened. They just called to cancel, stating it was

an order from their superiors.”

It was clear they had somehow antagonized a significant figure in the other company.

Watching Marcelo and Renee depart, Rocco felt a cold dread

“Mr. King, please wait!” Now addressing Marcelo with newfound respect and apprehension, Rocco sought

clarification.

He attempted to follow but was promptly halted by bodyguards who materialized out of nowhere.

Luke, standing by, couldn’t help but smirk as he managed the situation for Marcelo. “Mr. Hudson, if you can’t

grasp this, perhaps you're not the right fit for handling those upscale furnishings.”

Reaching the car, Renee paused.

“Just a moment, please,” she requested of Marcelo, then hurried over to the group of affluent ladies.

“Thank you for your support, Mrs. Moote,” Renee acknowledged, nodding to the others. “And my thanks to all of

you as well.”

Miranda returned the gesture with a warm smile. “Miss Hudson, there's no need for such formality. Interestingly,

the sapphire on that brooch looked famillar.”

“Really?” Renee responded with genuine interest. “It was a mysterious gift from my coming-of-age celebration

at school. I've always wondered about its origins, Mrs. Moon, | must visit you soon to express my gratitude, not

just for today but also for your eldest son’s recent help with my Nana's surgery.”

Miranda glanced toward Marcelo and remarked, “Miss Hudson, there's no rush. However, your companion over

there seems to be growing impatient.”

Renee instinctively turned to see Marcelo in his wheelchair, his demeanor a mix of indifference and impatience.

He appeared eager to leave.

After thanking Miranda once more, Renee hurried back to Marcelo.

She checked her watch and muttered, “It hasn't even been five minutes.”

Why such a gloomy face?

Marcelo looked up. “Renee, are you aware of how much my tcosts per minute?”

As the CEO of KM Group, his twas indeed precious.

Renee met his gaze and queried, “Mr. King, do you calculate your tby the minute even when picking up your

wife?”

After all, it was Marcelo who had cof his own accord; Renee hadn't requested his presence. Something she

said seemed to affect Marcelo, as Renee noticed a flicker of annoyance in his expression before he entered the

car.

Despite the awkward moment, Rence found herself in good spirits.

Though Marcelo seemed displeased, he had waited for her.

“So, what brought you here so suddenly?” She inquired as she got into the car

“Someone informedthat my wife was nearly being harassed beyond endurance, “He replied nonchalantly.

Luke, in the driver's seat, glanced back at them. He knew it was Marcelo who had instructed him to keep an eye

on Renee. Learning of her predicament with the Hudson's, he had abruptly left his meeting.

Renee scoffed. She hadn't been close to any serious trouble, had she?

Neither Catherine nor Grace had managed to get the better of her.

And regarding the million-dollar transaction for the silver necklace that might hold clues to her past? That

seemed like a worthwhile investment.

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Sitting beside Marcelo, Renee experienced an unusual sense of security, likening it to a house once open to the

elements now being securely enclosed.

The house was empty, but it offered protection and a touch of comfort.

After Rence and Marcelo left, the Hudson's retreated to their villa.

The remaining society ladies began to speculate.

“Miranda, who was that man just now?”

King.

“I think Mrs. Hudson referred to him as Mr.

Since Marcelo hadn't corrected Grace earlier, it implied he was comfortable with these ladies knowing his

identity.

Now, perhaps, it was tfor sof his secrets to be unveiled.

“Yes, “Miranda confirmed. “That's Marcelo King.”

“Marcelo? My, if not for his disability, I'd have considered him a match for my daughter solely based on his looks!

Such a shame’

H

“Really? You're still into good-looking men?”

“Who isn’t? Handsmen mean beautiful children!”

Miranda was well aware that Marcelo’s condition wasn't as it seemed and that he wouldn't be interested in that

lady’s daughter.

Another lady prodded, “Miranda, why get involved in their affairs? You've now antagonized the Hudsons for

Renee's sake.” She added, “I hear your youngest son isn’t fond of Renee.”

Miranda offered a knowing smile. “You're talking about Damian, right?”

Yet, she remained silent, choosing not to divulge more.

She couldn't reveal to these ladies her recognition of the sapphire, having seen it once in Damian's possession.

Regrettably, the remarkable Renee was now married to another.