Chapter 53 Emting Felipe''s Tactics


    "Alright, you two, enough about women," Felipe interrupted, weariness evident in his voice. "Can''t we shift to another topic?"


    "Have you resolved your problem?" Kristian inquired, his sour mood apparent as he deliberately tried to dampen his friend''s spirits.


    Felipe hesitated mid-pour, then responded with feigned casualness, "Only things that trouble me deserve to be called problems. What I''m experiencing doesn''t even register on that scale."


    "Have you discovered who fathered her child?" Kristian pressed deliberately, twisting the knife.


    Felipe mmed his ss onto the table, hisposure finally cracking. "How exactly am I supposed to determine that? You understand how chaotic the entertainment industry is. Directors, producers, co-stars-she herself probably can''t identify the father of her child."


    A heavy silence descended between Kristian and Zander.


    "You''re exaggerating," Zander ventured after a moment. "I believe she''s quite amitted actress."


    "Is there anyone you actually dislike?" Felipe snapped, his temper ring. "She''s wonderful, Freya''s wonderful -apparently everyone you''ve ever encountered is wonderful."


    Zander retreated into silence.


    Felipe drained his drink in one swift motion, attempting to quell the frustration simmering within him.


    The thought of his wife carrying another man''s child constricted his chest painfully.


    "If it bothers you this much, why not divorce her?" Zander suggested, striking a vulnerable spot. "She seems quite eager to end things with you."


    A cold gleam shed in Felipe''s eyes as he retorted, "If I divorce her, how else can I make her understand what betrayal truly feels like?"


    "You''re crazy," Zander concluded bluntly.


    Felipe had no desire to remain any longer or continue the conversation.


    He stood abruptly and addressed Kristian, "I''m heading out. Enjoy yourselves."


    As he prepared to leave, he seemed to recall something important.


    He extracted a small perfume bottle from his pocket, spritzed himself generously, then produced a fresh lipstick. He applied it to his palm and pressed it against his cor, creating a distinct mark.


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    Both Zander and Kristian watched his peculiar ritual with bewilderment.


    Kristian wrinkled his nose at the overpowering fragrance. "What the hell are you doing?"


    "Giving her a taste of her own medicine," Felipe exined dispassionately,


    discarding both items as he spoke with unsettling calmness.


    "That''s certainly an unconventional approach," Zander remarked.


    "What an absolute fool," Kristian muttered.


    "I can hardly find an actual woman to leave lipstick and perfume on me," Felipe exined matter-of-factly, disying no embarrassment. "She betrayed me once; I''ll ensure she experiences that sting of betrayal repeatedly."


    "If she no longer cares for you, no amount of perceived betrayal will affect her," Zander cautioned. "But if she still harbors feelings, this could deeply upset her, and stress isn''t beneficial for a pregnant woman. It might harm the baby."


    Felipe''s posture stiffened momentarily before he dismissed the concern with a wave. "It''s not my child, so why should that concern me?"


    With those words, he departed.


    However, both Zander and Kristian noticed him discreetly wiping away the lipstick mark as he exited.


    "Let''s leave as well," Zander suggested to Kristian.


    Kristian''s gaze lingered on the abandoned lipstick and perfume, his eyes darkening perceptibly. "You go ahead." "Okay." Zander donned his mask and hat before departing.


    At eleven that night, Freya had just returned home from her meeting with Trent and finished showering.


    As she prepared for bed, her phone vibrated, capturing her attention. She answered on speaker, "Gerard?" "Yes." Gerard nced nervously at his boss in the back seat, steeling himself before continuing, "I need to discuss something with you. Are you at home currently?"


    "I am," Freya confirmed.


    She had a good impression of Gerard, appreciating his courage to stand against Kristian.


    Gerard felt a surge of remorse, mentally apologizing to Freya repeatedly as he replied, "I''lle up to see you then."


    "Alright."


    The call disconnected abruptly.


    Gerard pressed his lips together anxiously, ncing at Kristian. "I''vepleted the task as requested."


    "I''ll overlook your previous indiscretion, but should it happen again, your position at Shaw Group will be terminated," Kristian stated firmly, draping his suit jacket over his arm, his crisp white shirt contrasting


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    Chapter 53 Emting Felipe''s Tactics


    sharply with his dark trousers.


    "Understoodpletely," Gerard acknowledged.


    Kristian exited the vehicle with purposeful movements, striding foward Freya''s residential building.


    "Wait!" Gerard called after him.


    Kristian paused, his chiseled features emanating a cool detachment, entated by the stark white of his shi against the evening darkness.


    "Should I perhaps secure amodations nearby where you might refresh yourself before meeting Ms. Briggs Gerard suggested tactfully, his eyes briefly noting the telltale lipstick smear on Kristian''s cor.


    When Kristian had summoned him at nine o''clock for transportation, he had responded without hesitation. However, the sight that greeted him-his immacte boss marked with lipstick and enveloped in heav perfume-had been utterly unexpected.


    Even during Kristian''s rtionship with Ashley, such evidence of intimacy had never been visible. Thei physical contact had rarely extended beyond consoling gestures.


    Yet tonight, the lipstick stain and overwhelming fragrance suggested considerable proximity with someone.


    Kristian responded with biting coldness, "Am I required to bathe and change clothing before I''m permitted in her presence?"


    "Not at all, sir. It''s simply that you''re currently disying a woman''s lipstick mark and carrying a rather potent perfume scent," Gerard exined carefully, indicating the stain. "Meeting your wife in this state might create an fawkward situation."


    "That''s precisely the intention," Kristian said firmly.


    In reality, he couldn''t fully articte why he was emting Felipe''s tactics.


    Yet after contemting Zander''s observations, he found himselfpelled to discover whether Freya retained any emotional connection to him.


    Human nature contains inherent contradictions-despite his proimed indifference toward her, despite his reluctance to see her, he now engaged in this peculiar behavior seeking confirmation.


    With these conflicting thoughts upying his mind, he continued forward. Gerard observed Kristian''s departure, smacking his forehead in resignation before deciding to relinquish his


    concerns.


    After all, Freya was proceeding with the divorce from Kristian anyway. Meanwhile, Freya moved about her apartment infortable loungewear that highlighted her gentle demeanor. Her very presence seemed capable of soothing even the most turbulent emotions.


    When knocking disrupted the evening quiet, she approached the door without hesitation.


    She had considered installing a video doorbell but had ultimately decided against


    it, believing her residence there would be temporary.


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    Chapter 53 Emting Felipe''s Tactics


    Consequently, when she opened the door to find Kristian standing before her, her


    brow creased visibly with


    displeasure.


    "Why are you here?" she questioned directly, making no attempt to mask her


    annoyance.


    "I instructed Gerard to contact you," Kristian exined, his suit jacket still casually draped over his left arm, his pristine white shirt lending him an air of refined elegance. "I need to talk to you..."


    The absolutest person Freya wished to encounter was Kristian. The absolutest thing she wanted to hear from his lips was that he wanted to talk to her.