Chapter 42 Do You Perceive Me As Easily Manipted
Ashley fished her phone from beneath the pillow, her eyes fixed on the number that had remained silent for nearly a month. Her pulse quickened as a shiver crawled down her spine.
Though her finger lingered over the hang-up button, the thought of potential repercussionspelled her to. answer with evident anxiety.
"Hello..." Her voice quavered in the stillness.
"Why did it take you so long to answer?" The voice, though gentle, made her breath hitch in her throat.
Ashley trembled visibly, her words colliding with one another. "I was in the bathroom and didn''t hear it."
"How are things progressing?" the man inquired.
"They have thirteen days remaining in their waiting period before the divorce bes final," Ashley exined. "After that, they''ll receive the divorce decree."
"Are you certain Kristian will marry you after his divorce?" The man spoke unhurriedly, almost pleasantly, yet his tone instilled an involuntary dread within her.
"Yes, I''m certain." Ashley gulped audibly, beads of perspiration glistening on her forehead. "He''s already informed his family. Once he obtains the divorce decree, he''ll marry me."
"Alright," the man responded, disying no interest in extending the conversation. "Remember to adhere to the n after your marriage. Should you harbor any ulterior motives, you understand the consequences."
Ashley''s heart fluttered anxiously as another chill raced down her spine.
Just as he prepared to disconnect, a realization struck her, and she summoned the courage to interject, "Wait
a second!"
Silence stretched across the line.
Her phone-clutching hand grew slick with cold perspiration. "Was it you who orchestrated the car ident and arranged for someone to assault me?" She bit her lip, her heart pounding against her ribcage.
The man neither confirmed nor denied the usation, simply stating, "I prefer to handle matters personally." Ashley''s mind emptiedpletely, her curled fingers scarcely able to maintain their grip on the device.
After the call terminated, her phone slipped from her grasp, and her strength evaporated, leaving her copsed
on the sofa.
It wasn''t him, nor was it Freya. Then who could it possibly be?
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She remained motionless for thirty full minutes before recovering herposure. Suddenly remembering something crucial, she retrieved her phone and erased the call record between them.
Afterward, she sat transfixed, a single thought consuming her consciousness. Kristian must never discover this.
Never!
After concluding their conversation, Kristian contemted Ashley''s words, set aside his tasks, and departed to locate Freya.
Gerard approached with additional paperwork, his characteristic smile illuminating his features. "Sir, several documents require your signature..."
"ce them on the desk," Kristian directed,
"They''re urgent and must be signed immediately," Gerard persisted.
Kristian halted mid-stride.
His gaze turned frigid, and his thin lips parted with evident annoyance. "If they were truly urgent, why didn''t you present them earlier? Why dy until now?"
Gerard fell silent. He was merely fulfilling his duties as messenger.
"Let them wait and learn from this experience," Kristian dered dismissively before exiting.
Shortly after his departure, a figure emerged from the shadows, approaching Gerard with curiosity. "Gerard, what did the bossmunicate to you? He seemed rather displeased."
Gerard nced at the inquirer and recounted Kristian''s words verbatim.
The trio of onlookers registered shock.
"Did he truly express that?"
"Is he experiencing conflict with his wife?"
"I believe they''re proceeding with divorce."
Gerard''s attention pivoted toward the trio.
The perceptive group members exchanged nces, while the woman who had mentioned divorce sped her hand over her mouth in astonishment. "No way! Did my spection hit the mark?"
"Our boss and his wife maintain an excellent rtionship," Gerard replied. Though outwardlyposed, their conjecture startled him internally. "And I must remind you to refrain from investigating the boss''s personal
affairs."
Should these individuals discover Kristian and Freya''s impending divorce, the entire office would learn of it by tomorrow''s dawn.
While they exercised discretion regarding professional matters, their capacity for disseminating gossip exceeded
all others.
Gerard released a silent sigh before returning to his responsibilities.
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Chapter 42 Do You Perceive Me As Easily Manipted
Kristian''s journey from thepany headquarters to Freya''s apartment consumed over an hour.
By the time he arrived at her doorstep, the clock had already struck 12:30 PM.
Freya was partaking in her lunch. Upon hearing the door''s rhythmic knocking, she approached it, mentally prepared to dismiss Ashley should she appear once
more.
To her considerable surprise, Kristian stood before her.
"What brings you here?" Freya''s antipathy toward both him and Ashley had depleted her patience entirely.
"We need to discuss something," Kristian stated, attempting to enter uninvited.
Freya obstructed his path, tapping the door twice with her knuckles. "Did you fail to observe the words on the
door?"
Kristian surveyed the surroundings, noting nothing unusual.
"What words?" he inquired.
"No Kristian Shaw or pets permitted." Freya''s crimson lips articted each syble with emphasis.
Kristian advanced nheless, cornering Freya against the door and enveloping her within his arms. "Have I been too lenient with youtely, making you think I''m easy to talk to?"
"That inquiry should originate from me," Freya countered, regarding him with evident contempt. "Do you perceive me as easily manipted, allowing you and Ashley to harass me in session?"
"You, easily manipted?" Kristian questioned skeptically.
Previously, he might have considered her susceptible to influence. However, since
his mention of divorce, she had undergone aplete transformation.
Freya had exhausted her willingness for further verbal exchange.
Were it not for her desire to facilitate a smooth divorce proceeding, she would
have expelled him immediately.
"Communicate your purpose or depart if you choose not to." Freya had abandoned all pretense of courtesy
toward him.
"Why did you convey those particrs to my grandpa?" Kristian finally addressed
his central concern, gazing down at her. "You understand his aversion to Ashley. Such statements only intensify his prejudice against her."
Freya challenged, "And that''s my problem?"
"You instigated it," Kristian asserted.
"Should you desire another punch in the face, continue speaking." Freya''s eyes reflected cial indifference. That incident represented a significant blemish in Kristian''s personal history. Mere recollection of it elicited difort within him.
"I genuinely rmend psychological evaluation for both you and Ashley." Freya struggled toprehend his profound transformation and added, "I''ve never encountered individuals with such distorted ethical frameworks."
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Chapter 42 Do You Perceive Me As Easily Manipted
Kristian''s expression darkened considerably. "What do you mean?"
"You vited our marital covenant," Freya dered. "You engaged in infidelity
with Ashley Yet you persistently approach me, even using me of callousness.
Do you truly believe I submit easily to intimidation?
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