?Chapter 355:


    “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 just hiding it?”


    “Perhaps guarding her heart against more pain?” Hugh’s concern deepened, but Ethel’s confidence remained unwavering.


    “She really doesn’t like him,” Ethel replied with certainty.


    “Why do you say that?” Hugh pressed, seeking deeper insight into his daughter’s feelings.


    “Because she’s my sister,” Ethel answered without hesitation, her voice full of 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 hesitation; if she didn’t, she wouldn’t pretend otherwise. Pretending or ying games had never been her style.


    “What if Kristian shows up again?” Hugh asked, anxiety tightening his brow. “He’s not the type to just walk away. You know he doesn’t give up easily.”


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    “He still believes Freya’s single, and that gives him a reason to keep chasing,” Ethel said, her expression sincere. “As long as there’s even a slight chance, he’ll keep trying. 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… I don’t think she’s even thinking about rtionships right now,” he said, frowning slightly.


    Her first marriage, her first love—those scars ran too deep to ignore. After such heartbreak, it made sense that she wouldn’t be eager to date again, let alone think about marriage.


    Ethel, however, was already several steps ahead. Her eyes gleamed 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 considering 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?”


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