?Chapter 361:


    Because he saw Freya’s face.


    And just like that, Gerard froze—mind gone nk. He almost let out a curse. It was Freya! How on earth could it be her?


    “Ms. Briggs, what are you… doing here?” Gerard’s thoughts scattered like dry leaves in the wind.


    Freya raised an eyebrow, feigning mild surprise, though her tone was as calm as a stillke. “Mel invited me to dinner. Do you know him?”


    Gerard stood there in stunned silence. Mel? She called Melvin by his nickname? She hadn’t even called Kristian that way before.


    “We’ve been friends since we were kids,” Gerard replied, his thoughts in chaos, desperately trying to make sense of the situation.


    Freya simply nodded. “I see.”


    Gerard felt a wave of panic rising. He looked at Freya, who resumed eating as though nothing had happened, then turned to Melvin and said, “I need to talk to you. Come with me.”


    “Later,” Melvin declined immediately. “I’m having dinner with Freya.”


    Gerard’s breathing hitched.


    “It’s fine. Go on,” Freya said calmly, her tone collected. “Gerard probably needs to discuss something important.”


    “Alright,” Melvin agreed.


    He followed Gerard out into the hallway, ncing back once, his concern for Freya unmistakable. “Make it quick. Freya’s waiting.”


    “Call it off,” Gerard said sharply.


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    “What?” Melvin replied, confusion evident.


    “I’m telling you to back away from Ms. Briggs.”


    “Oh, that’s right,” Melvin said casually, as if struck by a passing thought. “Did you two know each other?” He maintained a steady tone, not a flicker of unease crossing his face.


    Gerard, his voice firm with intention, said, “You’ll have to answer me first.”


    He wasn’t just fishing for details—he was hoping Melvin would walk away from this mess before it spiraled. Kristian wasn’t the type to y nice when crossed. “Do you even know who she was married to?” Gerard asked, his eyes narrowing.


    “Not a clue,” Melvin replied without missing a beat. “Never thought to ask.”


    Gerard adjusted his sses slowly, a knowing smile ying on his lips. “She was married to my boss,” he said. “Kristian Shaw.”


    Melvin offered nothing more than a calm, almost indifferent, “Oh. I see.”


    Gerard blinked, caught off guard by how little Melvin seemed to care.


    “You’re aware of my boss’s reputation, right?”


    Fraught with concern, he couldn’t mask the worry etching his voice. He leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Listen, if he catches wind of you chasing after Ms. Briggs, trust me, he won’t let you off easy.”


    “But they’re no longer together, right?” Melvin’s response was straightforward, cutting through the caution with a hint of defiance.


    “Yes, they’ve split, but it’s not as simple as you think,” Gerard replied, struggling to find the right words. He looked earnestly at Melvin, his hands gesturing helplessly. “Just trust me on this one, Melvin. For the sake of your own future, it’s better if you back off now.”


    “I can’t do that,” Melvin dered, his resolve firm.


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