?Chapter 404:


    Trent fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling in.


    After a long pause, he asked, “They haven’t returned yet?”


    Freya knew exactly who he meant.


    “No rush. That man’s target is Kristian. He’s using my past connection with him as leverage.” Freya had been clearing her mind of distractions, trying to make sense of everything. “This time, we have the advantage in the dark, while he’s exposed.”


    She vividly recalled what had happenedst time—how close she hade to losing her life.


    Trent, sitting in front of hisptop, adjusted his sses and asked the question that Freya hadn’t yet considered. “Why would he target Kristian?”


    The moment the words left his mouth, Freya froze. Her mind raced, trying to connect the dots.


    But try as she might, she couldn’t find a single link between Kristian and that man.


    “I’ll look into it,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.


    “Alright,” Trent replied, his voice steady. “But before you make any moves or interact with him, let me know. I’ll back you up.”


    Freya murmured her agreement and ended the call.


    She stared at the photo on her phone, a familiar wave of relief washing over her. Thank goodness they’d disguised their faces back then. It meant the man couldn’t recognize them.


    If not for that, things could have gone south in an instant.


    Just as she hung up, a knock sounded at her car window. She turned, and there stood Ashley, looking as uncertain as ever.


    Freya rolled the window down.


    Fresh stories here gα?ησν????s?c?m


    Their eyes met in silence.


    Ashley hesitated, her expression torn. “Are you really nning to have me tell him like that?”


    “Yes.”


    “For real?”


    “For real.”


    Ashley studied Freya’s resolute face for a moment before letting the question go. Without another word, she offered Freya a few final insights—how tomunicate with the man, how to keep him calm, and other helpful tips she’d gathered.


    “Oh, one more thing,” Ashley said, pausing mid-step as if remembering something vital. “He’s suspicious by nature. If he doesn’t have leverage on you, he won’t truly use you.”


    Freya nodded, understanding the weight of Ashley’s warning. Considering the man’s abilities, now that she was back in Alerith, it was only a matter of time before he started digging into her past. When that moment came, he would likely leverage her family to exert pressure or perhaps exploit some other weakness she hadn’t anticipated.


    Freya started the engine and drove off, her mind already working on how to handle what wasing.


    Meanwhile, Kristian, after hanging up on Freya, sat waiting for her call toe through again. He believed she’d exin everything. But as time dragged on, the phone remained silent.


    Gerard, standing nervously in the office, let his imagination run wild.


    Ashley wanted to kill Kristian? Had her love for him turned into hate?


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