?Chapter 394:


    “I believe one was her father’s partner,” Gerard replied.


    Kristian muttered that he understood and hung up, his mind racing.


    Was Freya upset because of that?


    He closed the door and returned to his study, his thoughts a storm. As for Freya, she sank back into the rear seat of the car, closing her eyes to steal a moment of rest.


    Though all she’d done was have lunch and shop with Ethel, she felt mentally drained.


    She was so exhausted that she didn’t want to deal with anything. Ethel noticed the shift in her sister’s demeanor and hesitated before speaking. “Mina?”


    “Are you unhappy?”


    “What makes you think that?”


    “Since we left the restaurant today, you’ve seemed… off. You’ve acted like your usual self, but I can tell.” Ethel gently took Freya’s hand, offering silentfort.


    Freya smiled faintly and gave Ethel’s hand a reassuring pat. “I just miss Mom a little.”


    From childhood, their parents had seemed to be deeply in love. In Freya’s memory, they’d never argued—not even raised their voices at each other.


    But now, doubt crept in. Did her father ever truly love her mother?


    An hourter, the sisters arrived home.


    When they stepped inside, Hugh was still sitting in the living room. Seeing them enter, he stood and called out, “Mina.”


    Freya froze, her steps halting. Her aloofness returned in full force, her tone and posture cold and indifferent. “What is it?”


    “Can we talk?”


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    “Mina…” Ethel’s voice was filled with concern.


    “You go upstairs first,” Freya said firmly.


    There were things she didn’t want Ethel to hear. She would shoulder the burden of these ufortable matters herself. Ethel deserved a life where she couldugh freely, untouched by the world’s weight. Ethel hesitated but eventually made her way upstairs. She didn’t want to make things harder for her sister.


    Once Ethel was gone, only Freya and Hugh remained in the living room. Outside, the night had already fallen. The lights inside were bright, but they did little to dispel the darkness that weighed on Freya’s heart.


    Hugh opened his mouth to speak, but the words seemed stuck, trapped by a heavy guilt.


    “I have a question to ask you,” Freya said, breaking the silence.


    Hugh looked at her, a mix of guilt and affection in his gaze. “Go ahead.”


    “Did you and Mom ever truly love each other?” Freya’s eyes were fixed on him, unwavering, as if silently demanding the truth.


    Hugh froze, his mind momentarily nk. One thought rose to the surface: Mina knew the truth.


    Freya saw the change in his face and pieced together the answer. “Is it hard to answer?”


    Hugh’s voice was strained, almost a whisper. “Mina…”


    “You only need to answer yes or no,” Freya insisted, trying to remainposed.


    “Your mother and I married for convenience. Not many couples in arranged marriages truly love each other.” Hugh looked away, his expression clouded with regret. “Your mother and I didn’t marry for love. But we both loved you and your sister deeply. That was never in question.”


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