Chapter 182 Afraid Cyril Might Steal Her Heart


    The moment Liam heard those words, his first instinct was to sneak a nce at Kristian


    He was dying to see how Kristian would react to someone taking an obvious interest in Freys


    But Kristian didn''t give him the reaction he was hoping for.


    Right then, Kristian kept his emotions locked up tight, fully aware that this wasn''t the right time of ce to say anything


    Still, the look he gave Cyril had a quiet intensity to it-sharp, but subtle.


    "Thanks. You''re quite the charmer yourself," Freya replied politely, her lips curving into a faint, practiced smile Cyril lit up like a kid on Christmas morning


    As the conversation rolled on, he didn''t hold back in expressing his admiration, peppering Freys with questions about her interests and likes. By the end of it, even Lionel and Elvin could read him like an open book.


    (Cyril firmly believed that when a woman was exceptional, she deserved to hear it out loud.


    Elvin figured it was best to give his grandson some private time with Freya. This was, after all, the first time he''d seen Cyril so genuinely taken with someone.


    "Lionel, how about a stroll?" Elvin suggested as he got to his feet, offering Cyril a knowing, supportive nod. "Let the youngsters talk. We don''t need to hover,"


    Lionel nced over at Kristian before nodding "Sure."


    Before long, all the older folks wandered off for a private chat, leaving the younger crowd behind.


    The rest of the young men quickly picked up on Cyril''s interest in Freya. Being good friends, they knew better than to hang around awkwardly, eaching up with a reason to bow out gracefully


    Eaton was thest to go. Before leaving, he looked over at Kristian and Liam, who were still lingering, and asked, cautiously, "Liam, Kristian, do you need to double- check today''s schedule?"


    Anyone with a shred ofmon sense could tell he was politely urging them to clear out


    Liam answered easily, "You go ahead. We''ll catch up in a bit."


    "Alright." Eaton didn''t stick around.


    "Kristian," Liam murmured, nudging him in the arm, his gaze flicking between Cyril and Freya before raising an eyebrow "Shouldn''t we be heading out too?"


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    Chapter 182 Afraid Cyril Might Steal Her Heart


    "Why would we do that?" Kristian replied, face cool andposed.


    Liam smirked, throwing an arm around his shoulder and leaning in to whisper. "Don''t tell me you haven''t noticed Cyril making a move on Freya. If you can''t keep her happy, maybe it''s time to let someone else take a


    shot."


    Kristian''s eyes shifted from Cyril back to Liam, filled with disdain.


    Sure, Cyril had one of those trendy pretty-boy faces, but he wasn''t Freya''s type.


    If that had been her thing, she would''ve been with Frederick long ago-no need to wait until now.


    "You really not gonna leave?" Liam asked again, poking at him.


    Kristian t-out ignored him.


    Of course, Liam-always ready to stir things up-grinned mischievously. "What''s the matter? Jealous? Afraid Cyril might steal her heart?"


    Kristian''s lips twitched into the faintest smirk as he shot back coolly, "If you''ve got this much free time, maybe focus on your own business. I''d be happy to persuade Grandpa to introduce girls to you."


    "That might''ve worked before," Liam shot back with a grin, teeth shing. "But now? Pretty sure Grandpa would tell you to get your act together beforeing after me."


    Kristian went quiet. He knew Liam had a point. Lionel would definitelye down on him first.


    "Freya, I''m gonna go over the schedule with Kristian," Liam announced suddenly, not giving Kristian a chance to protest. "We''ll be back in a bit."


    Freya caught on quickly but only replied, "Okay."


    "Let''s move." Liam tugged on Kristian''s arm.


    For the first time, Kristian had the strong urge to strangle him. How could one person be this irritating?


    Even though he didn''t want to leave, Liam had already made the decision for him, so he had no choice but to step away for now.


    As the brothers walked off, Cyril was suddenly hit with a wave of nerves.


    He couldn''t quite figure out why-he''d always been smooth with women, confident and easygoing. But now, the right words just wouldn''te.


    "Lionel mentioned earlier that your family''s from Alerith. Did I remember it right?" Cyril asked, trying to spark something.


    Freya''s tone stayed t. "Yes."


    "My family''s from Alerith too!" Cyril''s eyes lit up. "When are you heading back? Maybe we could travel together." "Tomorrow," Freya replied after a pause.


    It wasn''t that she didn''t know how to hold a conversation-this was just who she was. She''d always been reserved, even around Trent and the rest.


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    Meanwhile, Kristian and Liam hadn''t gone to review anything.


    Instead, they''d found a quiet corner, sitting down with the schedule sheet, pretending to look it over.


    "You know," Liam began, deliberately poking the ho''s nest, "Cyril and Freya actually make a pretty decent pair. They''re close in age."


    Kristian didn''t say a word.


    Liam leaned closer, clearly enjoying himself. "Don''t you think?"


    "If you''re this idle, why not help run thepany?" Kristian''s voice turned icy, his patience running thin. "Or better yet, shut up."


    "Touchy, aren''t you? You should be d if Cyril ends up with her," Liam teased, totally unfazed. "Freya would be happy, and Mom, Dad, and Grandpa would finally get off your back. You''d get some peace for once. Doesn''t that sound good?"


    Kristian''s fingers clenched tighter around the schedule, his mood souring by the second.


    Liam leaned in again, voice yful. "Or maybe... you still have feelings for her?" "Finish this," Kristian snapped, shoving the paper into Liam''s hands before suddenly standing up. "I''m stepping


    out."


    Liam blinked, caught off guard.


    Kristian didn''t head for the door-he turned and walked straight toward Freya and Cyril.


    He knew Freya hated settings like this, ufortable making small talk with strangers.


    She''d told him that plenty of times during their two years of marriage, and he''d never left her alone in situations like this.


    Even now, even after the divorce, he couldn''t bring himself to let her struggle through it.


    Cyril was just getting into the swing of things when he noticed Kristian approaching.


    Without thinking, he asked, “Kristian? Something wrong?"


    "Freya and I need to swing by my family''s house to pick something up," Kristian said, voice cold and distant, making it crystal clear he didn''t wee follow-up questions. "Wannae with us, or would you rather chatter?"


    Cyril hesitated. He was tempted to tag along, but something in Kristian''s icy tone told him not to push it.


    "We''ll catch upter," he said quickly.


    "Then we''ll be off," Kristian replied tly. He almost reached for Freya''s hand but stopped himself just in time, remembering she wasn''t his wife anymore.


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