Chapter 38 Comforting Lionel
Frederick replied to Ethel, "After all, I''m Freya''s closest confidant."
He then replied to Trent with a curt, "Not yet."
One of his other friends chimed in eagerly, "Living the high life now, aren''t you? Did you snag her autograph while you were at it?"
"This is infuriating! I begged Freya to take me before, but she t-out refused!" anothermented.
"All this excitement over a car race? I''ve shared a bed with her, and you don''t hear me boasting about it."
Frederick shot back, "You three love-struck fools have no right to speak!" The three friends chorused with glee, "Poor lonely heart, stew in your envy!" Frederick''s irritation mounted steadily.
From his position in the passenger seat, his exasperation was inly visible. "Freya, they''re mocking me as a ''lonely heart''!" Frederick protested.
"Don''t fret-I''ll be joining those ranks soon myself," Freya answered thoughtfully. Frederick''s expression brightened instantly.
He hastily ryed Freya''sment back to the group, his annoyance somewhat diminished. Freya navigated the outskirts for some time, finally arriving home at one in the morning. Stretched out on her bed, her mind gradually settled.
A revtion dawned on her. Whenpared to a marriage with Kristian, solitary life brought her genuine
contentment.
She had friends with whom she could share life''s peaks and valleys, and romance wasn''t essential to her
existence.
nroughout the following days, Freya embraced this liberated mindset.
She devoted most of her hours to examining the materials Hugh had provided.
Had Melinda not called, she might have remained in Alerith until her divorce papers
arrived.
Seeing Melinda''s name shed on her screen, Freya initially wanted to disregard it. Yet when the device rang again, she reluctantly answered.
15:41
<
Melinda began, "Hello, Freya."
"Melinda."
"Could youe to Jeucwell?" Melinda asked, her tone carryingyers of emotion she rarely revealed, aware of Freya''s previous visit. "Lionel copsed from fury after discovering the terrible actions Kristian took against you. He''s currently under medical care."
Freya clutched her phone with heightened tension.
Lionel had consistently shown her exceptional kindness, surpassing even her biological grandfather''s affection.
"I''lle," she conceded.
After ending the call, she notified Frederick and Ethel.
Ethel listened with concern and inquired, "May I apany you?"
“I need to address those matters alone,” Freya exined gently to her sister. "Once your break begins, whenever you wish to see jeucwell, I''ll show your around the city,"
Ethel urged, "Please call if anything happens. Don''t shoulder everything yourself."
"I will," Freya agreed with a nod.
"Mina!" Ethel called out again.
"Yes?"
"You can confide everything in me," Ethel emphasized.
Freya paused, contemting her sister''s words.
She approached Ethel, affectionately tousled her hair, and offered a gentle smile. "I''m heading out now."
Ethel insisted on driving her to the airport, a gesture Freya epted.
By the time her ne touched down in Jeucwell, afternoon had progressed to three o''clock.
Freya secured transportation and called Melinda for the hospital''s location.
Upon her arrival, she discovered Lionel had been transferred to a regr room and had regained consciousness, though hisplexion appeared ashen and his usual vitality diminished.
"Freya?" Melinda spotted her immediately.
Freya carried a package containing fruits and nutritional supplements that Lionel favored.
After setting her offerings aside, she greeted everyone present. The room held only four upants: herself,
Melinda, Lionel, and Kristian.
Kristian slouched in his dark attire, his impably tailored ck suit contrasting sharply with his dejected demeanor. The vivid red handprint marking his cheek stood out prominently against his pallor. Had Lionel struck him in anger?
"Freya,e closer." Lionel''s entire countenance brightened visibly upon seeing her.
22.1%
O Q
15:41
m3
=
III
<
Chapter 38 Comforting Lionel
Freya approached his bedside.
She harbored genuine concern for the elderly gentleman. Throughout these past two years, she had discovered in Lionel a fascinating individual-erudite yet refreshingly progressive in his thinking.
Their rtionship had evolved into something authentically resembling that of grandfather and granddaughter.
"I''ve been informed of everything that transpired." Lionel sped her hand his eyes brimming with remorse as he confessed, "My family has grievously wronged you. I bear responsibility for failing to raise my grandson
properly."
"The fault lies entirely with him," Freya reassured Lionel, her tone deliberately gentle. "Neither you nor other
family members of his shares any me in this."
Kristian nced over at her words. Was she emphasizing this deliberately for his benefit?
Lionel''s internal conflict intensified, his guilt toward Freya deepening with each passing moment.
She was such an extraordinary woman. How could Kristian fail to treasure her presence in his life?
7
"Rest assured, as long as I draw breath, that woman will never enter marry him," Lionel dered with grave certainty. "Should he dare to go against my will, I shall end my life before him."
"Grandpa!" Kristian''s expression revealed his dismay at the deration.
Lionel refused even to acknowledge Kristian; his fury toward his grandson remained unabated.
Freya recoiled at Lionel''s pronouncement, hastening to calm him. “Lionel, that approach would be most counterproductive."
"Have you a superior alternative?" Lionel inquired.
"Indeed I do," Freya affirmed.
"Please borate," Lionel encouraged.
Freya continued thoughtfully, "You should embrace life withplete vitality-that
would constitute the greatest deterrent possible."
"Truly?" Lionel questioned. -
"Absolutely." Freya cajoled him, determined to prevent his distress, "If I couldn''t secure approval from my beloved''s family, I would be utterly terrified. The mere mention of their name would send me into anxious
trembling."
Kristian cast a sidelong nce her way. Her talent for crafting persuasive nonsense remained remarkably
impressive.
"I should like to see who would dare express disapproval!" Lionel took her statement with utmost seriousness, his indignation mounting as he dered, "You have my word that while I remain, I shall be your steadfast advocate. Should anyone dare voice opposition against you, I shall have quite the stern conversation with them."
"Then you must prioritize your health above all else," Freya expertly soothed him, adding, "You are my happiness."
1 to
49.0%
15:41
m2 PP
13
<
Lionel nodded with conviction. "So be it."
The pair continued their conversation, conspicuously excluding Kristian from their
exchange.
Melinda massaged her temples and sighed to herself.
"If only you were my granddaughter," Lionelmented wistfully.
Freya fell into momentary silence. How could she possibly respond to such a
sentiment?
Lionel suddenly addressed her, "Freya."
"Yes?" Freya directed her attention toward him..
Lionel proposed unexpectedly, "Why not maintain your connection to our Shaw family?"
"Pardon?" Freya stared in astonishment.
“I shall disinherit him,” Lionel pronounced solemnly, genuinely contemting the possibility as Kristian''s standing in his estimation continued to plummet. “Then you shall be the rightful sessor to my family business, with the Shaw Group under your management."
Freya carefully selected her response and inquired, "Have you ceased to hold affection for me?"
"How could that ever be possible? You are as precious to me as my own granddaughter!" Lionel''s spirits elevated considerably.
"Then why would you burden me with inheriting the Shaw Group merely to generate ie for Kristian to squander?" Freya yfully challenged the elderly man, deftly redirecting hisplicated thought process. "He holds shares in the Shaw Group. Even inplete idleness, he continues to receive dividends. I would wee such an expulsion."
Kristian remained speechless at her cunning redirection.
Lionel contemted her words briefly before conceding, "You are right. We cannot permit this rascal to benefit undeservedly."