Chapter 5

"If Adam's mom loves you that much, why don't you just marry her? Forget about being her daughter-in-law. Wouldn't it be better to be her wife instead?" Renee said coolly.

Her tone was calm, her words smooth and unhurried. But somehow, every syllable hit like a slap.

Kayla's face flashed through a mix of emotions—from shock to anger. She hadn't expected Renee to be so sharp-tongued.

"Y-you're just jealous!" Kayla snapped. "You know Adam loves me, that's why you won't divorce him. You're just trying to get under my skin!"

Renee didn't even flinch. Instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a message to her assistant, asking for a change of clothes.

Then, she looked up, gave Kayla a mock thumbs-up, and spoke in a sugary tone like she was talking to a clueless toddler: "Wow, Princess Kayla is so smart. Good job."

"You… you witch!"

Kayla was fuming. But no matter how angry she got, she couldn't win. Not against Renee. Frustrated and furious, Kayla stormed out of the room.

A few minutes later, Adam returned. Just as Renee opened her mouth to ask about the discharge papers, he cut her off with a scolding.

"Renee, did you bully Kayla?"

She blinked, stunned. So, Kayla had run off crying and played the victim.

"I didn't," Renee said flatly, shaking her head.

Adam's voice rose as he retorted, "Don't lie to me. I saw her leaving the hospital in tears! I told you, she's Julian's little sister. I've known her since she was a kid! She's like family to me! Can you stop acting like this? How do you expect me to explain to her brother if you keep treating her this way?"

Every word hit like a punch to the chest.

Renee leaned back against the pillows. Her long lashes lifted slightly as she looked at Adam, the man she had known so well. Too well. But right now, this version of him didn't feel like the man she remembered.

This wasn't the gentle, thoughtful man who used to love her so deeply he couldn't even raise his voice at her. Now, he was yelling at her. And for someone else at that.

Though her heart sank deeper and her throat tightened, Renee managed to ask, "Have you finished the discharge paperwork?"

Knowing that Adam wouldn't believe her even if she explained, she changed the subject on purpose.

"You seem totally fine to me, so why don't you go do it yourself?" he snapped.

With that, he turned and stormed out. The door slammed behind him.

Renee sat there, staring at the empty space where he once stood. Her beautiful eyes, once bright and full of light, now looked dull. She felt like a wounded deer deep in the forest, left to lick her own wounds in silence.

She looked down and laughed bitterly. From the worried look on Adam's face when he first arrived, to the angry way he stormed out just an hour later, it was clear who really mattered to him.

His "Princess Kayla" came first, always.

In the end, Renee had no choice but to go downstairs alone to handle the discharge paperwork.

The hospital was crowded, so she had to wait in line.

When it was finally her turn to handle the paperwork, she was surprised to find out she had a refund of over four thousand dollars waiting. She explained her situation briefly to the staff and asked for the phone number of the kind person who had helped her.

Back in her hospital room, Renee's assistant had already brought her clothes. She changed quickly and went straight home. As expected, Adam wasn't there.

Upstairs in the bedroom, memories of all the sweet moments she had shared with him flooded her mind—the laughter, the gentle touches, the happiness. For a moment, she let herself get lost in the fading warmth of those memories.

Outside, a bird sang on a tree branch, its clear call pulling Renee back to reality. She shook her head, then started packing her things. The designer bags in her closet and the sparkling jewelry in her jewelry box were gifts Adam had painstakingly chosen for every little occasion.

He used to care about her so deeply. Now, his cold indifference was such a sharp contrast that Renee still couldn't quite get used to it.

She spent the entire morning packing up the bags and jewelry, then drove to a luxury resale shop to sell everything all at once. She made 25 million, which she planned to use for charity.

After she was done, she sat in the car and called her best friend, Alison Zeller. The phone rang for a while before she answered.

"Hey, you silly goose! Did you finally remember me?"

Renee sighed. "Alison, I want to rent a place."

"Did you have a fight with your jerk husband?" Alison asked, quickly realizing that something was wrong.

"Sort of," Renee said quietly. She didn't want to spoil her friend's vacation abroad, so she kept it simple. "Just a little fight. I just want to get away for a while and calm down."

"That scoundrel! If he's hurting you, I swear I'll tear him apart when I get back!" Alison said fiercely. Then, she added, "But hey, forget renting. I've got a place at Platinum Heights. You can just move in there. It's been empty anyway. Doesn't matter if you stay for a little while or even a couple of years."

After they finished chatting, Alison sent Renee the building number and the security code. Since Renee had nothing else to do today, she decided to drive to the place.

Platinum Heights was an upscale riverside residence nestled in one of Harbor City’s most prestigious neighborhoods. Land here was precious, and every home was decorated with luxury and style. It was a place where rich people gathered.

Renee had always known Alison was wealthy, but even though they had been best friends for years, Alison never talked about her family's wealth, and Renee never asked.

As Alison had already spoken to the security guards, Renee got into the neighborhood easily and headed towards Building A, Unit 2. While waiting for the elevator, she replied to some important work messages on her phone.

Ding.

When the elevator doors opened, Renee stepped inside without looking up.

"Ugh!"

Suddenly, she bumped right into a solid chest. The impact made her nose sting, and her eyes watered from the surprise.

"Ow…" Renee covered her nose and gasped.

Through her blurry, watery vision, she saw a man wearing a deep red shirt and a silver necklace. His strong chest was clearly visible beneath the fabric. Looking up, she saw a face with sharp, defined features. The elevator lights cast a soft golden glow around him, making his features look almost magical. Even through her tear-filled eyes, she could see how incredibly handsome he was.

Wait… his clothes looked a lot like the man who had saved her yesterday.

Even with that thought running through her mind, Renee hurriedly apologized, "I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going."

As Jasper looked at the woman standing so close to him, surprise flashed in his eyes.

Her again?

His gaze settled on Renee. Her long hair was pinned up casually with a claw clip, soft bangs framing a beautiful face—rosy lips, pearly white teeth, perfectly shaped brows, and captivating eyes.

She wore a loose off-shoulder denim dress that made her fair skin look even whiter. Her long, graceful neck and delicate collarbones were both sexy and elegant. Without a trace of makeup, she still carried herself with effortless elegance, a beauty that could turn heads.

Even the small bandage on her forehead didn't take away from her beauty. But those tear-filled eyes made her look fragile and helpless, someone one couldn't help but want to protect.

Why was it that every time Jasper ran into this woman, she always looked so lost and vulnerable?