?Chapter 380:


    But Freya had misunderstood one thing.


    To Hugh, Freya and Ethel meant everything. If either of them refused to ept Cheryl, he wouldn’t go through with the marriage—even if it seemed unfair to Cheryl.


    More importantly, from the very beginning, he had made it clear to Cheryl that he might never marry her.


    Seeing how emotional he became, Freya felt a twinge of conflict. She wondered if herte mother would me her for this decision—or if it would have broken her heart to see Hugh in this state.


    But thinking it through, her mother probably wouldn’t. She had always been the kind of woman who treated Hugh gently, with quiet patience and unwavering kindness.


    She was soft-hearted to the core.


    “Let me know what day works for you, and I’ll arrange the meeting,” Hugh said, fumbling slightly.


    “I’m not avable on the 15th or 16th,” Freya replied, her tone unreadable. “Any other day is fine.”


    “How about the 10th?”


    “Okay,” Freya said, and with that, Hugh felt one burden lift off his shoulders.


    After Freya returned upstairs to rest, Hugh called Cheryl to let her know about the meeting with Freya on the 10th.


    Cheryl agreed.


    Once everything was in motion, Hugh also messaged Ethel.


    His n was to take both Ethel and Freya together, and if all went well, he’d consider setting a date to officially register the marriage. Meanwhile, Cheryl lived in a duplex apartment Hugh had bought, with Vivien residing there as well.


    Overhearing the call, Vivien’s face twisted with frustration, her cheeks puffed out like a child denied her way. “Why can’t I go? Aren’t I your daughter too?”


    “He still minds what you did before,” Cheryl said coolly. She was elegant and poised, the kind of woman Ethel once described as genuinely kind. “I told you not to upset him.”


    “I didn’t know Freya Briggs was his daughter,” Vivien argued, feeling wronged. She had always behaved her best around Hugh, and he had genuinely liked her. But because of Freya, everything had fallen apart. Vivien seethed with resentment.


    “You were in the wrong back then, so stop acting like the victim,” Cheryl replied, her tone calm but unyielding.


    Vivien’s face was clouded with frustration, but she couldn’t deny the truth that gnawed at her—she was indeed at fault.


    Still, the mere thought of losing all the fruits of her hard work because of Freya sent ripples of unease through her mind.


    After a long, hesitant pause, she finally broke the silence, her voiceced with uncertainty. “Do you think Mr. Briggs will ept me again after this?”


    Cheryl studied her for a moment, her gaze sharp but silent.


    She knew exactly what kind of man Hugh was. Given the mess Vivien had made of things before, it was unlikely he would so easily offer her forgiveness.


    “You should first get a handle on your behavior,” Cheryl advised after a heavy silence. “One wrong move, and it could alle crashing down. I hope you understand that.”


    Vivien swallowed her frustration, the words stinging but necessary. Days passed in a blur, with Freya bncing her work between Briggs Group and Anita International Group.


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