Chapter 501: Renee at the Door

Marcus Stone returned home with a dark expression, slamming his briefcase onto the sofa the moment he stepped inside. His wife, Catherine, peeked out from the kitchen at the commotion before silently retreating.

"Another unpleasant visit to the Stone family?" Catherine asked calmly, handing him a cup of hot tea.

Marcus accepted the cup and sighed heavily. "The old man's favoritism is nothing new."

Catherine didn't respond. She knew her husband too well—a decisive man at work, yet hopelessly tangled when it came to family matters. Over the years, she had learned to let it go. After all, he was the one choosing to endure the frustration.

Just then, the phone rang abruptly. Marcus answered—it was his brother, Adrian Stone. After a ten-minute conversation, the gloom on his face vanished completely.

"What's got you so happy?" Catherine asked curiously.

Marcus grinned mysteriously and suddenly swept her into his arms, spinning her around. "That's a secret!"

"Put me down!" Catherine laughed, playfully hitting his shoulders. This stern-faced man only ever showed such childish affection when they were alone.

Night deepened, and the bedroom lights soon went out, leaving only the moonlight streaming through the window.

The next day, wedding invitations from the Stone family were sent out like snowflakes. Elena Ward and Adrian Stone sat in the living room reviewing the guest list, both dressed in crisp military uniforms—their chosen attire for the ceremony.

"This is perfect—dignified and sharp," Elena said, adjusting her collar with satisfaction. "Much better than those gaudy bright ceremonial outfits."

Adrian Stone nodded, his gaze tender as he watched his bride. Then, the doorbell rang.

The moment he opened the door, his smile froze. Renee Foster stood on the doorstep, her eyes swollen like peaches, clearly having cried the entire way there.

"Adrian..." Renee sobbed, lunging toward him.

Adrian swiftly sidestepped, his brow furrowing. "Renee, control yourself."

"Control myself?" Her voice rose sharply. "After all these years waiting for you, this is how you treat me?" Her glare shifted past him, landing venomously on Elena in the living room. "What makes her so special?"

Elena set down the guest list and walked calmly to Adrian's side. They stood shoulder to shoulder, their military insignias gleaming under the light.

"Renee," Adrian said firmly, "I've only ever seen you as a sister. Now, please leave."

Renee's face paled instantly. Her lips parted, but no words came out. The air in the room thickened, as if time itself had stopped.