?Chapter 310:


    Kristian’s grip on his wine ss grew chillingly tight.


    Oblivious to the looming storm, Gerard continued, “Mr. Seymour—he’s always so gentle and patient with Ms. Briggs, always eager to see things from her angle. That, I think, is the very essence of true love.”


    Kristian remained silent, his response unreadable.


    Frozen in the cool air, he rose, setting his wine ss on the table with a soft clink, casting a final, indifferent nce at the figure sprawled on the sofa.


    Seizing the only nket from the sofa, Kristian ascended the stairs with a dismissive, frosty air, leaving Gerard behind without a second look.


    Come morning, Gerard awoke, curled up on the sofa, the chill of the room biting at his skin.


    Struggling to piece together the fragmented memories of the night before, his mind drew a nk after drinking with Kristian.


    What exactly had transpired? And why was he waking up here, in this unweing chill?


    “Wake up already, and clean yourself up,” Kristian instructed briskly, standing near him, dressed impably in a tailored ck suit, his frigid aura sharper than ever. “After you’re done,e and report what you discoveredst night.”


    Gerard sat up, dazed and confused.


    As he sshed cold water on his face, Gerard’s mind spun relentlessly, searching for any clue about how he had possibly angered Kristian.


    Sure, Kristian was notoriously aloof and hard to please, but he’d never made Gerard sleep on the sofa beforest night had been an unfortunate first.


    Once he’d finished freshening up, Gerard approached cautiously and spoke up. “Did I do something wrong?”


    “No,” Kristian answered curtly, his attention fully devoted to his breakfast, an indifferent chill radiating from him.


    Gerard hesitated, awkwardly gripping a ss of milk. “You sure?”


    “No,” Kristian repeated tly, lifting his eyes with icy calmness. Then he ruthlessly added, “You only said that I don’t measure up to Freya’s standards.”


    Gerard went rigid, his entire body frozen mid-motion.


    “And you also said I have a philistine nature,” Kristian concluded coldly.


    “Sir, this must be a misunderstanding,” Gerard pleaded, his stomach knotting with dread for the difficult days looming ahead. “I truly believe you and Ms. Briggs belong together—a perfect match.”


    Kristian deliberately set down his fork, ncing up from his breakfast with measured calm. “Yet you suggested Trent would suit her better, didn’t you?”


    Gerard stood frozen in shock.


    What foolish remarks had spilled from his lips duringst night’s drinking session, and how had Trent be entangled in this mess?


    “Since you hold him in such high regard, you can work for him starting today,” Kristian announced, dabbing his mouth with elegant precision as he finished his meal. “Someone as unremarkable as myself clearly doesn’t merit your exceptional talents.”


    “I—I waspletely wrong,” Gerard stammered, panic rising in his chest. “You can’t possibly take seriously the nonsense I babble when intoxicated. I swear, in my heart, you are way better than Mr. Seymour.”


    Kristian rose from his chair with deliberate slowness. “Do you mean that?”


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