Secret Wife, Real Billionaire

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Chapter 85 Bitter taste

Renee's need for air finally forced him to break the kiss, though clearly, he hadn't had his fill. “Achoo!”

She sneezed again, bending away. As she tried to speak,Marcelo pushed her against the wall to kiss her again.

This kiss was more intense, almost punishing.

Renee felt a twinge of pain,

“Hmmp!”

ng for breath as she pounded on his chest.

Marcelo finally released her when her breath beclabored. His gaze was lustful, and his hand, which had

been cradling her head, slid down to the back of her neck.

He held it gently yet firmly, akin to how one would hold a delicate kitten, and spoke in a low, raspy voice.

“Renee, do you remember who | am to you? Huh?”

Renee, gasping for air, met his eyes.

His hand had found its way to the front of her jeans.

“My husband. You're my husband,” she managed to say, quickly grasping his hand, uncertain of his intentions.

Marcelo nodded, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. “Good, you remember.”

He then withdrew his hand from her clothing.

Renee realized then that this was Marcelo’s way of reprimanding her for not informing him about her business

trip.

She had been nearly breathless from his intense kiss. Annoyed, she glared at him, muttering, “If you catch my

cold, you'll only have yourself to blame.”

Marcelo, nonchalant, tossed his coat onto the shoe caband proceeded further into the room.

Renee, unable to bear the sight of his coat lying there, hesitated for a moment before hanging it up. Standing by

the bed and loosening his tie, Marcelo said, “I'll drive you back to the set tomorrow morning.”

Renee had planned to use her work as an excuse to leave, but his words thwarted her plan.

“But | don’t have a change of clothes or pajamas.”

Marcelo fetched a white shirt from the wardrobe and handed it to her. “This will have to do.”

She was speechless. She didn’t want to ‘make do,’ but requesting pajamas would only prompt him to buy them

immediately, which seemed more embarrassing.

Resigned, she took the shirt and headed to the bathroom, nearly colliding with Marcelo who had stopped

abruptly in front of her.

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“Mrs. King, are you planning to joinfor a bath?“Marcelo raised his eyebrows playful

Renee snapped back to reality. “No! You go first,” she blurted out, her mind foggy from the cold.

An hour later, Renee emerged from the bathroom to find Marcelo lounging against the headboard, engrossed in

his laptop.

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He looked up briefly, his gaze lingering on her in his shirt before he quickly averted his eyes, masking the

intensity within them.

The way she looked in his shirt made him want to strip her naked.

Renee noticed an extra glass of water on the nightstand, under which lay a note with the bold directive: “Take

your medication.”

The water, slightly green, clearly contained cold medicine granules.

She felt a wave of reluctance.

Marcelo tapped his knuckles on the table, hinting for Renee to drink it.

“I don’t want to,” She protested. “Drinking more water would helpget over the cold faster.”

Marcelo met Renee's gaze, his expression an amusing mix of amusement and resignation.

A little sheepish, Renee asked, “You...Why are you looking atlike that? The medicine is extremely bitter. And

if

| drink this and you kisslater, you'll just end up with a bitter taste in your mouth, right?”

She added a hint of threat to her words.

Marcelo’s eyes lowered, concealing a smile tinged with helplessness.

“I'm in a meeting,” he said.

With a frightened look on her face, Renee was shocked.

Was he serious?

Cautiously, she peered at his laptop screen, only to find curious eyes staring back from a small video window.

She felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

“That's enough for today’s meeting. Ignore anything you shouldn't have heard,” Marcelo declared into the

laptop, then closed it and set it aside.

“Why didn’t you tellyou were in a meeting? Don’t people usually use headphones? And why was your

microphone on?”

Renee's expression was a mix of annoyance and disbelief, thinking Marcelo was being utterly insensitive.

“It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it.” He dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. Not a big deal?

Maybe not for someone as audacious as he was, but for her it was mortifying.

As she stewed in her frustration, Marcelo reassured her, “They're the executives from the company’s branch in

France.They don’t know you.”

After a moment of silence, Renee found herself unexpectedly reassured by his words.

Marcelo then nodded towards the cold medicine on the bedside table, urging her to take it.

He actually remembered to make her drink the medicine.

“I really don’t want to drink it...” She resisted, intending to avoid taking the medicine at all costs. Remembering

her past reluctance to use medicine on her knees when she was drunk, Marcelo reached out his hand. “Give it to

me,” he said.

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Renee, puzzled, handed him the glass.

Expecting him to discard it, she was taken aback when he took a sip himself. Before she could react, he was

pulling her close, his hand cradling the back of her head.

The warmth of his lips met hers, and the bitter taste of the medicine touched her mouth. Shocked, Renee’s eyes

widened.

Regaining her senses, she pushed Marcelo away and stepped back, leaning against the head of the bed.

She covered her mouth with her hand, her ears flushed red and looked at him with a mix of surprise and

shyness. “Marcelo, you...that...“Renee stuttered in disbelief.

Marcelo glanced at her red ears for a moment, still holding the glass of medicine. “Would you like to drink it?” he

asked.

Renee hesitated.

She knew he was asking if she wanted to drink it herself or if she wanted him to help her.

Taking a deep breath, she reached out a shaky hand. “I...I'll drink it myself.”

She was determined to do it on her own!

Marcelo nearly laughed seeing her gulp down the medicine.

Renee, known for her dignity, yet so delicate, was afraid of pain and medicine.

After returning the empty glass to the bedside table, Renee was lost in thought. If only she had known this would

happen, she might have acted differently!

Suddenly, Marcelo reached for her shirt.

“Hey! Don’t... | need to go to work tomorrow. | can’t miss it or be late!” Renee stepped back, wary.

Marcelo just adjusted her collar and said coolly, “You're overthinking it.”

Renee was at a loss for words.

Was he making fun of her? It wasn’t her fault. His shirt was simply too large!

Frustrated by having to take the medicine and his teasing, Renee turned her back to him and climbed into bed.

I'm going to sleep!” she declared.

Marcelo gently wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, his favorite way to sleep lately.

He playfully bit her ear and whispered, “Renee, you should feel lucky you're sick.”

Otherwise, he might have kept her awake all night!

After the medicine, Renee slept so deeply that she didn’t hear her phone ring.

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Marcelo glanced at the caller ID, took her phone, and stepped out of the bedroom, closing th

r behind him.

“Renee, it’s Nana,” cthe elderly voice over the phone. Naomi spoke gently. “I heard Catherine was

blacklisted by a bar because of you. Could you please ask the bar's owner to apologize? You've always been

capable and well- connected since you were young, so...”

Marcelo’s expression turned stern. He cut her off, “Mrs Naomi, this is Marcelo.”

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A brief silence followed, then panic tinged the voice on the other end. “Is that Marcelo? Why... Why isn’t Renee

answering?”

“Renee’s asleep. Mrs. Naomi, she can’t assist with Catherine's issue. It’s best you don’t bother her again,

understood?” Marcelo’s tone was firm.

Naomi, ever the savvy elder, quickly grasped the implicit warning in his words.

Taken aback, she simply replied, “I understand.”

After ending the call, Marcelo stared at the word

“My Nana” on the screen, a cold glint in his eyes.

Renee had once sought his help because of Naomi, and now Naomi was calling Renee.on behalf of Catherine.

He felt so sorry for Renee.