Chapter 233 Visiting Josiah


    Cheryl had always treated him and his daughters with genuine warmth at least, that''s how Hugh feit


    Freya stood to the side, quietly watching it all unfold, choosing not to step in. She turned to Hugh and said lightly, “She and I are heading back first. Take your time and talk things through"


    "Alright,” Hugh replied, his voice calm and firm, not a hint of hesitation in his tone.


    This wasn''t something to be brushed off. It needed a proper, honest conversation.


    It was one thing if he had been misunderstood-but for Freya, someone so sincerely kind, to be wrongly


    used? That just didn''t sit right with him.


    Once Freya and Ethel were in the car and driving away, Ethel immediately turned, curiosity brimming. "What


    were you two talking about? And why did Ms. Newman react like that?"


    Freya didn''t hold back. She gave her a brief rundown of what she and Cheryl had discussed.


    Five minutes was all it took for Ethel to piece the puzzle together in her mind.


    "So, she was faking it in front of Dad just now?" Ethel was stunned. She never would''ve imagined Cheryl being that kind of person. "Why would she pretend like that? She wasn''t always like this."


    "When people''s interests are threatened, their true selves tend toe out," Freya said inly. "After what 1 told her, she probably realized all the illusions she built hade crashing down."


    “But she didn''t have to pin all the me on you,” Ethel said, her temper ring


    She used to really believe in Cheryl. If Freya hadn''t returned, she might''ve fallen right into that mother-daughter duo''s trap-and even ended up feeling bad for Vivien, maybe even giving her shares in thepany.


    Seeing Ethel pout, frustrated and upset, Freya reached out and gave her cheek a yful poke. “What''s going on in that little head of yours?"


    "I just feel so stupid for not seeing them for who they really are," Ethel murmured, leaning in closer. "If you hadn''te back, I''d probably still think they were good people."


    Freya gently patted her on the head. "They were real smooth with the act. You had no reason to suspect them -it''s nothing to me yourself for."


    It was pure coincidence that Freya had bumped into Vivien at the office and started to connect the dots.


    Ethel, still young and full of trust, wasn''t the type to suspect anyone easily.


    "I''m still so mad!" Ethel huffed, puffing out her cheeks once more.


    Freya couldn''t help but ruffle her hair. She told her not to stress over it too much.


    When they got home, Ethel headed straight for her room, her phone pressed to her ear, chatting away with her


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    boyfriend.


    Freya saw herpletely swept up in her little bubble of romance and let her be.


    At that age, a sweet, innocent love like that was something to be cherished.


    Evening rolled in before they knew it.


    While they were getting ready for dinner, Hugh called to say he wouldn''t being home tonight.


    Once the call ended, Freya and Ethel sat down to eat together.


    All throughout dinner, Ethel kept sneaking nces at Freya, her lips parting now and then like she wanted to say something, but always holding back at thest second.


    Freya noticed. "Go on, what''s been eating at you all day?"


    Ethel''s eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"


    "You kept staring at me over breakfast-and again while we were watching TV this morning," Freya said, familiar with her every little quirk. “So, what''s going on?"


    "It''s not that big of a deal. I just..." Ethel fumbled for words, her cheeks turning pink.


    Freya gave her a look and made a wild guess. "Is it about your boyfriend?"


    Ethel blinked like she''d just seen a ghost.


    How did Freya always know?


    "Yeah... it''s about him," she admitted atst, deciding to just say it. "He wants to meet you."


    Freya lifted an eyebrow. "Meet me? What for?"


    "He''s still too nervous to face Dad," Ethel confessed, sheepish. "He figured it''d be


    better to meet you first-then


    talk to Dad after graduation."


    "When?" Freya asked without missing a beat.


    "You''ll meet him?" Ethel''s whole face lit up with joy.


    "Yes."


    "Thank you!" Ethel beamed.


    If Freya agreed, talking Hugh into it would be a thousand times easier.


    She was sharp, that one.


    "Don''t thank me just yet," Freya said, lifting a hand. "If it''s on the sixth, I might not


    be able to make it. I''ve got something to take care of."


    "It''s not the sixth," Ethel said quickly, grinning. "It''s on the seventh."


    Freya''s chopsticks froze halfway to her mouth.


    The seventh?


    Wasn''t that the day her captain was supposed toe back?


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    Ethel caught the shift in her expression. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing." Freya said smoothly. She didn''t want to ruin Ethel''s excitement. "Just let me know where it''ll be once you''ve decided."


    She was already nning it all out-on the evening of the sixth, she''d tell Trent she had to take a business trip, meet up with Ethel and her boyfriend on the seventh, and then go straight to the airport afterward.


    Alerith was a massive ce. The odds of running into her captain were slim to


    none.


    With the n set, Freya felt more at ease.


    By noon the next day, Hugh was back. Neither of them brought up Cheryl-not even in passing. They just slipped back into their routine like nothing had happened.


    Time didn''t wait for anyone. Before long, the sixth had arrived.


    Freya was up early, packing up some documents and a gift she''d prepared for Josiah.


    This time, she didn''t bother calling the driver-she decided to drive herself.


    She texted Josiah with her license te number and took the familiar route toward his house.


    The guards, already informed, waved her in without a hitch.


    She arrived shortly after nine.


    Josiah met her with a bright grin. "You finally made it. Do you even remember how


    long it''s been since youst dropped by?"


    "My bad," Freya said, handing him the gift. "I''m here to make up for it."


    "No need to bring gifts when you''re visiting!" Josiah scolded yfully, though his


    eyes twinkled. "Come on, y


    a few rounds of chess with me. I''m sick of those same old geezers."


    "Sure," Freya agreed with a soft chuckle.


    A soldier brought over the chessboard and pieces..


    Normally, Josiah hated any kind of distraction while ying.


    If someone talked too much, he''d bark at them without batting an eye-even his


    oldest friends weren''t spared.


    But today, he broke his own rule.


    After a few moves, his mind drifting, he nudged his knight forward and said casually, "Freya."


    "Yes?" Freya answered, moving her rook across the board.


    "Do you have a crush on someone?" he asked, sliding a pawn and sneaking a nce at her face.


    Freya kept her focus on the board, assuming it was just the usual nosy concern from an elder. "No." "How about I introduce someone to you?" Josiah offered, thinking of Ellis, who''d just arrived but left again to visit other old-timers. Freya paused mid-move.


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    Chapter 233 Visting Josiah


    Josiah wasn''t letting it go. "I promise he''s dependable."


    "I was married before-and I just got divorced not long ago, freya said, her voice steady. "I''m not looking to get into another rtionship anytime soon."


    Josiah''s face fell. He blinked, clearly taken aback. His brows knit together. "What?


    When did that happen?"


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