Chapter 71 Celebrating
Their Impending Return...
Kristian''s phone lit up with a message while he drove.
Upon reading it, his expression darkened as he pressed the elerator, speeding toward a suburban vi.
When he arrived, Felipe and Zander were immersed in a mobile game, while Liam darted about restlessly.
Only Freya and Trent sat together, engaged in conversation.
Though nothing about their distance or dialogue seemed unusual, the mere sight of them together disturbed Kristian deeply, stirring an urge to separate them.
"Finally decided to grace us with your presence," Liam teased, setting a wine bottle on the table and tugging Kristian forward, "We''ve been stuck waiting for over half an hour."
Kristian remained frosty as Liam pulled him down to sit.
With his arrival, all six were now present.
Telipe nced toward Trent, fidgeting with his phone as he questioned Liam, "There''s nothing special about today. Why gather everyone here? And why include Trent Seymour?"
"Who said today isn''t special?" Liam announced abruptly.
Everyone turned toward him, bewilderment etched across their faces.
After filling each ss with wine, Liam remarked with calcted casualness, "In four days, my brother and his wife finalize their divorce. We''re celebrating their impending return to singlehood."
Zanderpressed his lips, averting his eyes.
Felipe cleared his throat softly,
Liam, characteristically brazen, showed no hesitation.
"That certainly warrants celebration," Trent interjected, clearly relishing the drama as he raised his ss first.
Seeing his provocation seed, Liam lifted his ss with a satisfied smile. "Freya, let''s toast."
Freya didn''t faiter, raising her ss promptly.
"What''s holding you back, Kristian?" Liam prodded, nudging his arm. "Haven''t you been craving this divorce for ages? Or perhaps you''ve had a change of heart?"
Kristian fized him with a prating stare, sharp enough to cut ss.
Liem, unintimidated, had weathered that cial gaze countless times throughout their childhood.
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Chapter 71 Celebrating Their Impending Return To Singlehood
Tension radiated from Kristian as he observed Freya and Trent''s sses hovering near each other, almost touching. In a sudden surge of spite, he thrust his ss against theirs with a jarring clink
The crisp sound reverberated throughout the spacious vi.
Felipe and Zander exchanged knowing nces, both reaching the same conclusion: Liam was doomed today.
"Felipe, Zander, why stand there like statues?" Liam asked, wanting full
participation to enhance the entertainment value of hister schemes. "This is a milestone in my brother''s life."
The pair cleared their throats awkwardly, reluctantly lifting their sses with conflicted expressions.
All six raised their sses and drank. Felipe merely sipped, setting down his barely touched ss.
Liam and Zander followed suit with minimal consumption.
Only Kristian, Freya, and Trent emptied their sses entirely.
As Kristian lowered his ss, he couldn''t help but notice both Freya and Trent
had drained theirspletely -as if eagerly anticipating the final dissolution of the marriage bonds.
The atmosphere grew heavy with difort.
Felipe immediately regretted his decision to attend. Had he known Liam''s supposedly casual gathering revolved around this topic, he would have declined the invitation.
To him, this wasn''t entertainment; it was merely sharing in the frigid tension between estranged spouses. "Seymour, I heard you''re perpetually single and have never maintained a romantic rtionship?" Liam feentinued stirring trouble, seemingly oblivious to the palpable tension.
Trent maintained his characteristic poise as he replied, "That''s correct."
"What are your thoughts on Freya?" Liam persisted, deliberately ignoring
Kristian''s piercing re. "I''ve heard you two share a close friendship. She''s on the
verge of bing avable. Any intention of pursuing her?"
"That entirely depends on her wishes," Trent responded diplomatically,
condensing his answer to one carefully measured sentence.
Liam sensed the approaching climax of his orchestrated drama. "Freya, what''s your impression of him?"
"He''s exceptional," Freya answered with calcted neutrality.
Liam''s lips curved into a mischievous smile as he inquired yfully, "And what about my brother?"
"Aplete scumbag Freya dered without hesitation.
She felt no concern about tarnishing Kristian''s reputation; everyone present was well aware of his actions and this intention to divorce her for his former me. Labeling him a scumbag seemed entirely justified.
Felipe couldn''t suppress his startled reaction and coughed.
We had to admit that Freya possessed remarkable audacity.
"Can''t you simply shut up and enjoy your meal? Kristian fixed Liam with a disapproving stare, his words Bripping with sy dudum
Chapter 71 Celebrating Their Impending Return To Singlehood
Liam grinned broadly. "Food exists for savoring, not for silencing conversation. Can''t you understand such a simple truth? How did Freya ever fall for someone of your limited intelligence?"
Kristian found himself momentarily speechless.
"Let''s initiate a game," Liam suggested, advancing to his next nned activity. He was determined to go all out for his brother''s sake. "Since we''re all intimately acquainted here, let''s y Truth or Dare. Thoughts?"
"I''m game," Felipe conceded.
Zander nodded in agreement. "Fine by me."
Kristian''s cold gaze swept methodically across them, analyzing their unexpectedpliance. What possessed these two to participate?
Felipe kept his eyes downcast. As long as he avoided looking up, he could evade Kristian''s intimidating stare. Liam had previously tempted him with an irresistible offer. Had Felipe known Truth or Dare would be introduced in such circumstances, he would have firmly declined.
Now thoroughly entangled in this scheme, escape was impossible.
"Kristian, will you participate?" Zander asked.
Kristian desperately wanted to stand and depart.
However, considering Liam''s unpredictable nature, he reluctantly agreed.
Freya had initially resisted ying; such games had never appealed to her. But Liam''s relentless persuasion eventually wore down her resistance.
Thus, all six participantsmenced the game.
There were no ying cards or traditional game equipment. Instead, Liam produced six small porcin discs, which he had prepared beforehand.
"These six white discs include only two with inscriptions-one marked ''big'' and another marked ''small-while the remainder are nk," Liam exined, revealing his extensive preparation for this asion. "The person receiving the ''big'' disc may interrogate or challenge the recipient of the ''small'' disc. Let''s begin!"
He distributed the discs with decisive movements.
Freya sensed something suspicious about the arrangement but couldn''t precisely identify the issue.
In the initial round, Kristian received the "small" disc, while Trent obtained the "big"
one.
Seeing she wasn''t involved, Freya''s suspicions temporarily subsided, and she absentmindedly engaged in the
game.
"Kristian, do you select truth or dare?"
"Dare!" Kristian''s response emerged cold and concise.
"Seymour, you may issue your challenge," Liam announced, assuming the role of
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Chapter 71 Celebrating Their Impending Return To Singlehood
Every element of tonight''s gathering had been meticulously arranged to
manipte Kristian and Freya.
These initial rounds merely served as preliminary warm-up exercises for what
Liam had truly nned.
She Took The House, The Car, And My Heart