Chapter 584:

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“It’ll take some time,” Daniel replied, sharing what he had found and the concern his family felt. “My older brother, Glenn, is coming back next month. He’s looking forward to meeting you.”

Marcelo had been relaxed—until Daniel mentioned Glenn.

At the name, something shifted in Marcelo’s expression. A subtle seriousness settled over him, as if he’d just been reminded of the Lambert family’s most formidable figure.

After Daniel and Susanna left, the apartment quickly settled back into a quiet lull.

𝗥ea𝖽 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗇𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝗏i𝖼е oո 𝗀а𝗅𝗇𝗼𝘃e𝗹𝗌.𝘤о𝘮

“Marcelo, is it just me, or were you a little more cordial with Daniel after you talked?” Renee asked, noticing the subtle change in the way Marcelo had treated him.

“It’s your imagination,” Marcelo said, brushing it off. In truth, his slight shift in attitude was nothing more than basic respect for his brother-in-law—especially with Glenn returning soon.

Still, the question of how Renee had ended up with the Hudsons after being taken from the Lambert family continued to weigh on him.

Was it coincidence, or had someone arranged it?

“What’s this?” Renee couldn’t help asking when her eyes landed on a row of elegantly wrapped boxes arranged on the tea table.

Because they’d had guests earlier, she had held back her questions.

“They’re for you.” Marcelo nodded toward them. “Go on. Open them.”

Renee started to sit at the tea table, eager to see what was inside, but Marcelo effortlessly scooped her up and carried her to the sofa, setting her down with casual ease.

“The floor is cold,” he said.

Renee was speechless. It was the height of summer—the floor being cold was the least of her worries. She bit her lip, a quiet protest forming, but her curiosity won out. She leaned forward and began unwrapping the boxes with childlike excitement.

Inside, she found a gold spoon, a gold piggy bank, an emerald necklace, a laptop, a limited-edition umbrella, a fountain pen, a dress, diamond earrings…

Each item had a small card attached, numbered in order from one to twenty.

“These are…” Renee’s voice faltered as the meaning dawned on her. She looked up at Marcelo, astonishment and realization mixing in her gaze.

“My baby deserves everything—more than anyone,” Marcelo said.

He had chosen gifts for every year, from Renee’s first birthday to her twentieth.

He understood what she still felt about his past partiality toward Vivian, and he wanted to close that emotional distance.

Warmth spread through Renee’s chest, her lingering resentment easing under the weight of his thoughtfulness. She picked up the fountain pen marked with the number eight and murmured.

“What kind of person buys an eight-year-old a Montblanc pen?” Renee asked, smiling despite herself. The mix of generosity and extravagance left her suspended between amusement and tenderness.

Marcelo ruffled her hair gently, his voice soft with affection. “My baby deserves one.”

“Marcelo, with how serious you always look, I would’ve thought you were the strict type,” Renee said, still staring at the spread of gifts. “But you’re surprisingly indulgent.”

She didn’t realize how much she was inviting him to tease her.

Without warning, a ticklish breath brushed her neck, followed by a light, playful kiss. Renee jolted, and Marcelo took the chance to lean close to her ear, his voice carrying quiet mischief.

“I can’t know how much I’ll spoil a baby until we have one of our own,” he murmured.

In one swift motion, he lifted her and settled her on his lap. In the midst of their playful struggle, the gold piggy bank slipped from the table and clattered onto the floor.

“My gift!” Renee exclaimed, reaching for it.

Marcelo pulled her back with a low chuckle. “It’s sturdy. It won’t break.”

“But—” she began to protest.

“No ‘buts,’” he cut in gently, intertwining his fingers with hers. His voice dropped into a soothing murmur. “Baby, I need you right now.”

Renee thought of his brief trip abroad and their sweet reunion. Warmth rose in her chest. The excitement of having him back had left her both exhilarated and worn out, craving a moment of rest after the intensity of their night together.

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