Chapter 118 Sleep With Marvin
As Renee drove, she glanced at the time and dialed Ryland’s number.
The moment Ryland picked up, his voice brimmed with excitement.
“Renee! What the hell happened over there? The rumors are wild! Injuries, chaos–I heard all kinds of things. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I—” Renee said.
Before she could finish, Ryland cut in, his tone turning even more dramatic. “Wait, I just heard something insane. They’re saying you and Marvin… were in bed, and someone ended up dead. You didn’t actually—”
Renee rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw the back of her skull. “Are you serious? Where do people come up with this garbage?”
Even over the phone, Ryland could sense her irritation and figured it was best to change the subject. Before he could, however, he heard her exhale sharply.
“Find out if William is still at the banquet,” she instructed.
“Already did. The second you left, he bolted after you like a madman,” Ryland replied without hesitation.
Renee froze for a second, caught completely off guard. He left to look for her or what?
Just then, another call came in. William.
“I’ll call you later,” she told Ryland, about to hang up. But something nagged at her. “By the way, do I give off the vibe of someone desperate? Why do people act like I’d just jump into bed with anyone? Next time you hear that kind of nonsense, tell them to come to me directly. I dare them.”
Without waiting for his response, she ended the call and picked up William’s.
The moment she answered, his voice came through, tense and urgent. From the
the background noise, she could tell he was in a moving car. “Nene, where are you? Are you hurt?”
She hadn’t completely shaken off her irritation, and hearing William’s voice only made her mood worse.
She knew exactly why people said what they did. She had built that reputation herself. Years ago, in a reckless bid to enrage William, she had partied hard, flaunting her company with men, even letting rumors run wild that she had spent nights with an entourage of male escorts.
Everyone in Tofral remembered that version of her.
And now, they all assumed she was willing to bed just about anyone. If that was how they saw her, maybe she should teach those bold enough to test the theory a lesson.
“Nene, answer me,” William pressed, his concern unwavering. “Are you alright?”
Renee cleared her throat, completely disregarding his concern. Instead, she asked with a teasing lilt, “So, you’ve heard the news, haven’t you? Apparently, I was in bed with Marvin and ended up getting hurt. William, listening to all this, are you really not the least bit fazed?”
The wind roared through the phone from William’s end, but he didn’t respond.
Meanwhile, Marvin nearly tumbled over in outrage upon hearing Renee.
Renee smirked. “William, drop the act. Playing the devoted lover doesn’t suit you.”
She paused for a moment, and then added with deliberate ease, “I’m at a clinic near the hospital. Come pick me up if you don’t mind.”
With that, she ended the call. Marvin, still reeling, was practically vibrating with panic.
“Renee… do you have a death wish? Or do you just want me dead?”
She arched a brow. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
“Are you kidding me? You just told William we slept together! We haven’t even so much as held hands! He’s going to bury me alive!”
Renee’s only response was a slight turn of the wheel. Without missing a beat, she stepped on the gas.
That was when Marvin realized something was off. They weren’t heading back to the hotel. She had changed the route.
His pulse spiked. “Where the hell are we going?”
Renee chuckled, a low, knowing sound. “What’s wrong? Getting nervous? I’m taking you somewhere safe.”
