Chapter 139 They Could Just Fake It
Kristian surged to his feet, his frustration erupting like a dormant volcano.
He did exactly what Liam had told him to, but Freya still refused to change her mind.
Freya trailed after him in silence.
Downstairs, Hugh and Ethel sat tensely, their nerves strung tight with anticipation. Both were on edge, fearing that the situation upstairs might spiral into a heated argument-or worse, an outright confrontation.
Seconds stretched into minutes as they waited, the quiet around them growing heavier.
Then, atst, the sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Hugh and Ethel snapped their heads up, their eyes wide. The cold aura enveloping Kristian was palpable, even more biting than before. It was clear- whatever conversation had happened upstairs hadn''t gone well.
"Mr. Briggs," Kristian said abruptly, stopping in the middle of the living room.
Hugh turned his head on instinct, ready to answer, but then paused. He quickly recalled Freya''s hostile stance toward Kristian and decided to y it safe-he acted like he hadn''t heard a thing.
Kristian''s eyes narrowed, perceptive enough to see right through Hugh''s facade.
Unperturbed, he continued, his voice steady and deliberate, "I''ve just arrived in Alerith today and haven''t found a ce to stay. Would it be too much trouble to ask if I could stay here for the night?"
All three of them stared in disbelief,pletely thrown off by Kristian''s bold request.
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"Mina and She are young women; it''s simply improper to have a man in the house overnight,” Hugh finally blurted out, his voice shaking slightly with anger. “I must insist you look elsewhere."
Kristian simply gave a small nod. "Alright then," he said calmly.
Without another word, he turned to leave.
Before his divorce, he had never delved into Freya''s family or her connections, never stepping foot in Hugh''s
home.
Now, despite their separation, he felt a strange pull to bridge the gap he had ignored for so long.
Hugh stood by the doorway, frowning as he watched Kristian disappear into the night. That was it? He left that easily? Was he really thatpliant?
Snapping back to the present, he caught the intense gazes of Freya and Ethel fixed on him.
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Chapter 139 They Could Just Fake It
"What-What''s going on?" Hugh stammered, his voiceced with bewilderment. "You should never engage with him," Ethel dered, her lips curling into a pout as sheunched into her grievances against Kristian. "He''s too maniptive!"
Freya, who had been eyeing the neatly stacked gifts with a discernible scowl, chimed in, "Have someone return these immediately."
Without hesitation, Hugh set about making the necessary arrangements.
However, Kristian seemed to have foreseen their n. No sooner had he climbed into the car than he instructed Gerard to drive off, effectively thwarting their attempt to return the gifts.
A pang of guilt washed over Hugh as he gazed at the unimed presents. "What should we do with these now?" Freya''s response was as serene as the quiet before a storm. "Once he''s settled in Alerith, we can send them to his new ce," she suggested crisply. "If he dares to show up here again, keep the doors shut."
"Alright," Hugh said with a quiet nod, his voice steady.
Freya returned the nod and turned to head upstairs.
"Mina!" Hugh''s voice cracked the air, causing her to halt.
Freya stopped mid-step, ncing over her shoulder with aposed tone. "What is it?"
"Do you... still have feelings for him?" Hugh asked carefully, searching her expression. He wasn''t trying to pry
-he just didn''t want her getting hurt all over again. “What do you actually feel about him now?"
"No, I don''t have feelings for him," Freya responded without hesitation, her tone clear and unwavering.
In those six months, whatever tenderness she''d once felt had slowly faded away.
She was certain now-there was nothing left in her heart for Kristian.
As Freya''s figure receded into the distance, Hugh''s worry deepened. He turned to Ethel, seeking confirmation. "Do you think she genuinely dislikes him, or is she perhaps guarding her heart against more pain?"
Ethel''s confidence was unwavering as she replied, "She really doesn''t like him." "Why do you say that?" Hugh pressed, seeking deeper insight.
"Because she''s my sister," Ethel answered without hesitation, her voiceced with the pure, earnest honesty only someone young and untainted could possess.
Freya had always been refreshingly blunt. If she liked someone, she''d say it without batting an eye; if she didn''t, she wouldn''t sugarcoat her feelings. Pretending or ying games had never been in her nature.
"What if Kristian shows up again?" Hugh asked, anxiety tightening his brows. "He''s not the type to just walk away. You know he doesn''t give up that easily."
"He still believes Freya''s single, and that gives him a reason to keep going," Ethel said, her expression sincere. "As long as there''s a sliver of a chance, he''ll keep chasing it. But if he finds out she''s already with someone else,
he''ll back off on his own."
Hugh''s worry deepened, his thoughts consumed with concern for Freya. "But.
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Chapter 139 They Could Just Fake It
thinking about rtionships right now," he said, frowning slightly.
Her first marriage-her first love-had left scars too deep to ignore. After that kind
of heartbreak, it made sense that she wouldn''t be eager to date again, let alone walk down the aisle.
Ethel, on the other hand, was already several steps ahead, her eyes gleaming with inspiration. "Who says they have to actually be together?" she said, excitement bubbling in her tone. "Isn''t Trent pretty close with her? They could just fake it."
Hugh''s eyes suddenly lit up, a spark of realization flickering in them. Why hadn''t that urred to him?
Unbeknownst to him, Freya was also mulling over the same idea.
Given Kristian''s persistent nature, once he showed up, it was only a matter of time before he returned.
Locked doors wouldn''t stop him-he''d find some other way to get inside, one way or another.
She hated having her peace disrupted like this, but dodging him altogether felt like a lost cause. All she ever wanted was a quiet, uneventful life, far from chaos and confrontation.
With that thought weighing on her mind, she picked up her phone and dialed a number.
At the same time, inside Kristian''s car, Gerard stole nces through the rearview mirror, his voice cautious as he inquired, "Sir, how did things go with Ms. Briggs''s father?"
"Cancel Liam''s ck card," Kristian responded curtly, his tone final, leaving no room for questions.
Gerard hesitated, piecing together the oue. It didn''t go great, huh?
Composing himself, he replied, "Understood."
Kristian, his fingers absently brushing against his phone, contemted Freya''s recent decision to remove him from her cklist. His thoughts were interrupted as hemanded, "Go visit the Price family."
"The Price family?" Gerard echoed, his surprise evident in his tone.
Kristian nodded, a solemn hush falling over him as the car hummed beneath them.
Gerard didn''t press him for answers and simply kept driving. The second heid eyes on Frederick, he instantly understood what Kristian had in mind. Frederick had never imagined he''d bump into Kristian during one of his rare trips back home. Fate certainly had a wicked sense of humor.
As Kristian and Gerard stepped into the Price family''s residence, the warmth of Frederick''s father''s greeting enveloped them, his smile broad and infectious. The moment he found out Kristian hade all this way just to see Frederick, he wasted no time nudging his son, reminding him-again and again-to be gracious and respectful.
Despite agreeing outwardly, Frederick''s casual shrug hinted at his internal dismissal of the advice.
Settled into the plushfort of the living room, the two men delved into conversation.
Frederick, donned in a crisp white sweatshirt that entuated his youthful exuberance
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Chapter 139 They Could Just Fake It
nerves with a veneer of casualness.
He ventured first, his voice tinged with a forced lightness, "Mr. Shaw, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"
Kristian, leaning forward, his demeanormanding the room despite his role as
a guest, didn''t waste a moment. "How much do you actually know about Freya?"
His tone was direct, almost piercing.
Frederick stiffened, his casual facade crumbling slightly.
"Not much," he admitted, a bit too hastily. "You might want to talk to Trent about her. He''s closer to her than I am."
"Sinde
Kristian''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Sinde neither of us knows much, why don''t we explore this together?" His suggestion, smooth and coaxing, wasced with an earnestness that was hard to ignore. "As her friend, isn''t it a failure on your part not to know even the basics about her?"
Caught off guard, Frederick''s mind raced.
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