?Chapter 358:


    Frederick’s resolve faltered at those words.


    In that moment, he was no longer the cheerful, carefreepanion always seen by Freya’s side. A shadow of seriousness fell over his youthful features, marking a sudden, striking maturity.


    He locked eyes with Kristian, his voiceced with conviction. “Freya’s not going to do anything. She knows exactly the kind of man I am. Even if something does happen, she’ll believe in me—because we’re friends.”


    The seven of them had never wavered in their faith in one another. Their bond ran deep, built on years of unwavering loyalty and trust. They teased,ughed, and messed around, but when it really mattered, they had each other’s backs without question.


    Frederick interjected, his tone earnest, “If your affection for Freya is genuine, you should honor her wishes.”


    He regarded Kristian critically, seeing him as somewhat foolish in matters of the heart. “If you can’t manage that, then at least stop dragging her into your mess and causing her pain.”


    A cold aura enveloped Kristian, his demeanor turning frosty. He shot back, a hint of challenge in his voice. “And on what grounds do you advise me so boldly?”


    “As a friend of Freya’s,” Frederick answered without skipping a beat.


    Kristian’s expression hardened, his lips pressed into a thin line. Deep down, he knew he couldn’t just walk away from Freya—not until he resolved the turmoil of his own emotions.


    Noticing Kristian’s resolve, Frederick pressed on, “I’m aware of the strains between you and Freya. How can you profess to care for her if youck trust in her?”


    Kristian’s chest tightened as the words sank in, igniting a flicker of unease he didn’t show on his face.


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    “Tell me, if Freya were in a room with your family and tragedy struck, wouldn’t you harbor suspicions?”


    Frederick responded immediately, his voice firm, “No. I know exactly the kind of person Freya is—I trust her with my life.”


    With the air thick between them, the conversation drew to a close. Kristian offered Frederick a deep, unreadable look, then stood and exited without another word, leaving the weight of their exchange hanging in the air.


    As Frederick watched Kristian stride through the door, he exhaled deeply, feeling the mmy sweat soaking his back. The intensity that Kristian exuded was just too overwhelming for him. His heart had raced wildly, his nerves jangling with fear. Kristian was not just intimidating—he was downright terrifying.


    Seeking some semnce of sce, Frederick quickly tapped out a message in the chat group. “Freya, I think you owe me something for calming my nerves. I was practically petrified by Kristian just now!”


    Meanwhile, Freya was anxiously awaiting a call from Melvin. Earlier, when she had tried reaching him, he was swamped and had merely texted her to wait. Upon seeing Frederick’s message, her curiosity piqued, and she queried, “What did he want from you, exactly?”


    Fred’s reply came swiftly, tinged with a mix of jest and seriousness. “He wanted me to spy on you, to feed him information. He even dangled a billion as bait, but I turned it down, for your sake, of course. Don’t you think you owe me a littlepensation? Maybe just a small token, say, half a billion?”


    Freya raised an eyebrow and asked with a teasing edge in her voice, “Are you really sure that’s what you want?”


    Realizing he might have overstepped, Fred backpedaled quickly, assuring her he was merely joking. After all, Freya was someone he held in high regard, someone he truly respected. He knew well enough that any attempt to extort money from her would surely backfire.


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