Chapter 586:

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Kristopher, a photographer, was famous for an award-winning series that captured the silhouette of a girl as she grew from childhood into her teenage years. The images never showed her face, yet the outline was unmistakable. They were eerily similar to the anonymous works displayed on the island—each one depicting Renee.

In the bathroom, Renee was halfway through brushing her teeth when her phone rang.

It was Sarah. Her voice sounded urgent. “Renee, have you seen the news?”

Renee rinsed her mouth quickly. “Not yet. I just woke up.”

𝗟a𝘁𝘦𝘴𝗍 с𝗵𝗮𝘱𝘵𝖾𝘳s 𝗈𝗻 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗻𝗼v𝗲𝘭𝘴.с𝘰𝗆

“It’s about Marcelo,” Sarah said, urging her to check the headlines immediately.

Renee’s breath caught as she read the breaking update:

“KM Group’s CEO acquitted on charges of brother’s death, citing mental health diagnosis.”

The news had broken in the early hours. By the time the stock market opened at 9:00 a.m., shares of both KM Group and King Group were in free fall.

The night before, King Group’s shareholders had called an emergency meeting and firmly opposed Marcelo taking leadership. Now both corporations were under siege by the media. Under that level of public scrutiny, no amount of damage control seemed possible.

Renee’s face drained of color. She rushed back into the living room, visibly shaken.

“What’s wrong?” Marcelo asked, noticing her distress and the worry in her reddened eyes.

“You…” Renee’s voice trembled. “Marcelo, I’m sorry. I had no idea there was such an uproar about you and your brother last night. I…”

Her words trailed off as her mind spun.

How had she stayed oblivious until now? She had mistaken his heavy mood for something else entirely, never realizing what had been exploding online.

Marcelo reached out and gently wiped a smudge of toothpaste from her face.

“Don’t worry, baby.”

The gloom that had been hanging on him because of Kristopher faded in the face of Renee’s panic.

“But…” Renee started, then stopped, swallowed by the weight of it.

“It’s not a big deal.” Marcelo patted her waist lightly. “Go finish brushing your teeth.”

Only then did Renee realize her toothbrush was still in her hand.

Not a big deal?

How could this possibly not be a big deal?

That question stayed with her as she finished freshening up.

“You’re done?” Marcelo asked, a note of surprise in his voice. “Don’t you usually take longer?”

“That’s because I do skincare,” Renee replied.

She wasn’t in the mood for skincare now.

Marcelo walked over, took her hand, and led her back to the washstand. Then, with open curiosity, he pulled open her dresser drawer.

“How do I use these bottles?” he asked.

“Start with this one, then this, then this, and finally this,” Renee explained, listing the order: toner, lotion, essence, and facial cream.

Marcelo frowned slightly as he picked up the toner, looking openly displeased. He unscrewed the cap—and to Renee’s horror, poured it straight into his palm.

“Hey! Don’t pour that much!” she cried, stopping him just in time.

Half the toner bottle flooded his hand and spilled down.

Renee went silent, stunned. Marcelo stared at the mess, equally stunned.

“How am I supposed to use it?” he asked, confused. “Is this… liquid?”

“You’re going to apply it?” Renee asked, just as confused.

“No,” Marcelo clarified. “I’m going to help you apply it.”

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. He didn’t want her to get upset—or abandon her routine—because of him.

“Then hold still,” Renee said.

She dipped her fingers into the toner pooled in his palm, glanced at the mirror, and patted it onto her face. When she still had some left, she picked up a little more and patted it onto Marcelo’s face as well.

Marcelo’s eyes widened slightly.

“Haha!” Renee couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Mr. King, you may be naturally beautiful, but even you can benefit from skincare.”

“Who are you calling naturally beautiful?” Marcelo gritted out.

That kind of compliment was usually reserved for women.

After the toner, Marcelo picked up the lotion, apparently remembering her instructions.

He imitated her movements and applied it to her face.

Renee watched him closely, then frowned. “Marcelo… what’s wrong? You seem a little off.”

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