22.46


    Chapter 274 He'' Protected


    Someone He Cares About


    Isaac was utterly speechless.


    His mind kept looping back to how Kristian always reacted whenever he was reprimanded.


    Every time, without fail, Kristian would change the subject, sidestep the


    confrontation with the subtlety of a seasoned diplomat.


    Then, wordlessly, Isaac set the newspaper on the side table, rose from his seat, and said, "Let me get you some fruit."


    "Get out of here," Lionel said dismissively.


    Without protest, Isaac turned and walked off, phone in hand.


    He stepped into the backyard and dialed Freya''s number. His voice, as ever, was calm andposed,ced with quiet authority. "Hello, Freya."


    "Hello, Isaac."


    "I''m alone right now. Melinda''s not with me." Isaac had always treated Freya with kindness.


    She had so much bottled inside her, aching to be spoken aloud, but at that moment, the words simply wouldn''te.


    Isaac and Melinda were genuinely kind people. If she were to bring them such grim news, wouldn''t that be too cruel?


    "What''s wrong?" Isaac''s voice filtered through again, steady and gentle.


    "Could I meet with you?" Her voice trembled with hesitation. “This isn''t something I can exin over the phone."


    Isaac was a perceptive man. The tone of her voice, the phrasing-he pieced it together quickly. "Did something happen to Kristian?"


    At those words, a knot rose in Freya''s throat.


    She couldn''t even understand why that one sentence hit her so hard.


    Struggling to keep herposure, she managed a faint, "Yes."


    "Where are you?"


    "In Jeucwell."


    0.0%


    22:46


    +4


    +4


    X+


    ㄨㄨˋ


    X+


    O <


    <


    Chapter 274 He Protected Someone He Cares About


    "Send me the address. I''lle over "


    "Okay."


    Once the call ended, Freya sent him the address.


    Isaac lingered in the backyard for a beat, then turned and went back inside. In the kitchen, he sliced up a te of fruit with methodical precision and carried it out with his usual quiet


    Lionel remained unimpressed, grumbling. "Get out of here. Don''t get in our way."


    "I''ve got something to take care of. I''m heading out," Isaac said, picking up a piece of fruit and offering it to Melinda. "Coming with me? Or would you rather stay and watch TV with Dad?"


    "Just go ahead," Melinda replied, unbothered as always by his ns.


    Isaac paid Lionel no mind. As was his habit, he gave Melinda a light kiss on the cheek and headed out.


    She epted it withoutment, her eyes glued to the television drama.


    Lionel shot Isaac a disdainful nce, then turned his attention back to the screen. Neither of them noticed anything out of the ordinary.


    Isaac walked to the garage, got into his car, and drove himself to the address Freya had sent.


    They had arranged to meet at a quiet café.


    Freya arrived first. She stared at the item in her hand, heart pounding. Though her face remainedposed,


    ther insides were in knots.


    After twenty minutes, Isaac arrived.


    He entered wearing a sleek ck overcoat, his short hair and tall frame exudingposed authority.


    The moment he stepped in, his eyesnded on Freya, seated quietly in a corner. She looked the same as ever, only a little more worn around the edges.


    Seeing her like that, Isaac had a sinking feeling that things were worse than he''d feared.


    When Freya looked up, she saw Isaac walking toward her.


    She rose, meaning to greet him, but the words caught in her throat.


    "Sit," Isaac said, already easing into the seat across from her.


    Freya pressed her lips together, and as she sat down, finally managed to greet him.


    "Don''t be so nervous." Isaac''s voice was soft, reassuring. "What happened to Kristian?"


    Freya opened her mouth to exin, but instead handed over the medical file she''d received from Lawrence. "Please look at this first. Kristian just had surgery and hasn''t woken up yet. His condition... isn''t good."


    Isaac''s heart gave a subtle jolt, but his hand remained steady as he took the file. Hisposure was unshaken throughout.


    22.5%


    22:46


    23


    10


    III O


    < Chapter 274 He needs to C#m Xxx


    "So, when he wakes up. There''s a chance he might be paralyze o flickered as he


    read, but he recovered swiftly, the voice throat resting


    Treys didn''t often the truth "Yes"


    tesac kept flipping through the file


    With every page, the weight in fils cheat grey


    Be a mora patapfad jabar''s gaze


    But outwardly, he was sill business methodical, detached, like he was sewing a


    stack of reports


    When he reached the final page, treys spoke op ''I''m sorry"


    "For what?


    "Kristian ended up like this because he took a bullet for me she didn''t sugarcoat it.


    "He was hurt protecting me. I feel responsible"


    Isaac paused, and for a moment, a flicker of real emotion passed through him. "A bullet?"


    Freya recounted everything-Brendan''s trap, how Kristian had shielded her and taken the shot,ying ont all the crucial facts.


    Lawrence had shown her the wound. Given its location, its timing-if Kristian hadn''t stepped in, there was a ny percent chance she would have been hit. Looking back now, it was clear: Brendan had aimed for her.


    He wanted Kristian to suffer just as he had.


    Isaac listened in silence. When Freya finished, he gave her a small, reassuring smile, just like always. "Don''t take all the me. He made his choice-to protect someone he cares about. That''s something to be proud of"


    "I..." Her guilt was etched all over her.


    "You need my signature, right?" Isaac had already spotted the consent form she was holding


    Caught slightly off guard, Freya handed it over. "Yes."


    Isaac opened it, gave it a quick once-over, borrowed a pen from the café owner, and signed with practiced ease.


    He handed the form back without the slightest change in tone. "Focus on his recovery. I''ll hide it from Melinda


    and my


    dad."


    "Okay." Freya felt the guilt settle even deeper.


    "Freya." Isaac spoke her name gently.


    She looked up, her eyes shadowed with guilt and a storm of unspoken thoughts.


    His smile was calm and kind. "Don''t carry this alone. It''s not your burden to bear.


    If you''re alright, he''ll be alright too."


    "I..." She had so much to say, but the words wouldn''te.


    "You should head back." Isaac ced the consent form in her hand. "Don''t waste any more time."


    1170


    22:46


    10


    $$+jjus/


    < Chapter 274 146 Protected Somente caves Abou


    Freya nodded


    She left the cafe with hirn


    As Isaac was about to get into his car, Freya finally gathered the nerve to say


    what had been weighing on her.


    Her voice wavered with regret. "I''m sorry"


    "There''s nothing to apologize for tease looked every bit thepassionhelder. "Your happiness has always been Kristian''s priority. I should be the one thanking you for helping me keep this from Melinda and my dad."


    Melinda and Lionel were fiercely protective of Kristian. If they found out what had happened, who knew how they''d react.


    "Oh, and don''t tell Liam about this either," Isaac added before stepping into his


    car.