Chapter 131 An Uninvited


    Guest


    Freya stopped short in her track.


    "You know, if you say it that way, Mina is definitely going to suspect something is off and ask what''s going on with you." Ethel continued to initiate the conversation. "And then, if you im everything is fine, she won''t buy it. She''ll be convinced there''s something you''re hiding. That way, she will try to talk to you. You are so clumsy!" Ethel added a final remark.


    Freya turned to the naughty Ethel


    asked questions every student dreaded, "How many schrships have you won since you started college? Are all your certificationsplete? How are you preparing for graduation? Do you have your career path figured out?"


    "Every year,pleted them all, and I''ve even secured a spot for grad school. I''m justzing around at home now." Ethel chuckled, breezing through the questions.


    "Really?" Freya turned to her.


    Her eyes and tone were soft but filled with an underlying intensity that made Ethel feel a sense of danger.


    "And what about ns for your future?" Freya pressed on, "Like, are you thinking about marrying your boyfriend?”


    Ethel coughed ufortably.


    She regretted her earlier remarks to her sister. This was just a mild rebuke; had she been more daring, the consequences would have been worse.


    At that moment, the doorbell suddenly rang.


    Ethel quickly set down her snacks, jumped up, and dered, "I''ll get the door!" Then she hurried off.


    Hugh reflected on Ethel''s words, pursed his lips, and cautiously offered, "Mina, why not stay a bit longer? It''s rare to see you; we should catch up."


    "Good night," was all Freya said.


    Hugh dared not speak further. "Alright, good night."


    Just then, Ethel walked back in.


    Her eyes flickered uncertainly between Freya and Hugh.


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    Freya asked, "Who was at the door?"


    "Umm..." Ethel hesitated, unsure of what to say.


    Her father had always warned her against bringing up Cheryl and Vivien before Freya.


    Now that Vivien had unexpectedly shown up, she was flustered.


    "Who is it?" Hugh pressed further.


    Ethel shot Hugh a meaningful look.


    He got the hint right away-it had to be Cheryl or Vivien. Weren''t they told not to disturb him tonight? Why then had someone shown up?


    "His new partner?" Freya asked.


    "No!" Ethel retorted sharply.


    "Vivien Garza?" Freya tried again.


    Ethel looked at her sister with a mix of shock and curiosity. "How... how did you guess that?" How did she know that name?


    “Let her in,” Freya said calmly. She was curious about what Vivien wanted.


    Ethel nced at Hugh for confirmation and, upon receiving a nod, she went to open the door for Vivien. Hugh had been silently reprimanding Vivien in his thoughts. Typically, Vivien was considerate, so why choose to stir up drama just when he hoped to enjoy some undisturbed time with Freya?


    To avoid any misunderstandings with Freya, he rified, "Before you returned, I had called them and expressed my wish to spend today just with you all at home, without any interruptions. I''m not sure why she suddenly appeared."


    "It''s fine," Freya said, unbothered.


    She suspected Vivien might havee because of Edwin, or possibly Vivien hoped to use her current situation to her advantage.


    Soon enough, Ethel ushered Vivien in.


    Vivien looked visibly startled to see Freya, and her gaze turned to Hugh with a hint of shock. Her expression seemed to question how Hugh dared to bring Freya here. Wasn''t he worried his daughter might find out?


    "Vivien, what brings you here?" Hugh asked with courtesy.


    "I need to discuss something with you." Vivien moved closer to Hugh, biting her lip. "Could you tell them to give us a moment?"


    Hugh was startled. Did she understand the weight of her request? These were both his precious daughters! Asking them to leave could easily make them feel like he favored his "new daughter" over them.


    "Say whatever you need to right here," Hugh insisted, keenly aware of Freya and Ethel''s feelings. "They are part of this family, not outsiders."


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    Chapter 131 An Uninvited Guest


    Vivien clenched her fists. Was Ethel really so quick to ept Freya''s presence? "What I need to discuss is rather sensitive. Are you sure it''s alright to talk about it here?" She measured her words carefully, recalling her uncle''s advice.


    Hugh was perplexed. How sensitive could it be?


    Vivien took a deep breath, stepped closer, and whispered, "I know about your rtionship with that investment advisor."


    "And so?" Hugh asked, quite inly. So what if Vivien knew? Freya was already working at Briggs Group, which meant she didn''t mind being in the public eye.


    He had always hoped that his rtionship with Freya would be known.


    Vivien was taken aback by his casual response.


    Her brow furrowed in confusion and she blurted out, "Aren''t you worried that Ethel will find out about this?"


    "What are you even talking about?" Hugh grew increasingly baffled with each word. Freya''s identity as his daughter was a fact Ethel had always been aware of,


    so what was there to fear? Could Vivien be losing her mind because of her dismissal?


    "Are you aware that your investment advisor has also been involved with Kristian Shaw from the Shaw Group?" Vivien raised her voice slightly and her eyes even flickered threateningly towards Freya.


    Hugh and Freya paused, surprised that she knew this.


    This information was meant to be confidential, known only to a select few.


    Freya had settled back into the couch, eyeing Vivien as though she were a fool.


    Seeing Mina''sposed expression, Hugh''s forehead creased with concern as he asked sternly, "Who told you?"


    "My uncle," Vivien replied.


    "And how would he be privy to this?" Hugh pressed further.


    "The rtionship between her and Kristian was facilitated by him." Vivien was no


    longer scared and blurted it all out.


    Both Hugh and Ethel looked puzzled.


    Ethel popped a piece of fruit into her mouth, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Facilitated by your uncle?"


    "Yes!" Vivien said with great confidence.


    At this point, there was no use in hiding the truth.


    Her uncle had sent her a message instructing her to find Hugh and sort out the


    video issue to avoid a defamationwsuit.


    The only way forward was to speak with Hugh directly.


    "You''re not on the same page." Freya gently corrected, "The ''rtionship'' Vivien was talking about is a specific type of transaction within the circle, not an actual romantic rtionship."


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    Chapter 131 An Uninvited Guest


    With Freya''s rification, Hugh and Ethel caught on.


    Ethel''s expression turned into a scowl, showing her growing dislike for Vivien.


    Filled with rage, Hugh red at Vivien and, for the first time, raised his voice as he pointed to the door. "Leave now!"