?Chapter 440:


    “Yes.”


    Even with her reassurance, Hugh still seemed unsure.


    If this really were just another work event, he could make a brief appearance and duck out.


    But ever since Briggs Group and Shaw Group started working together two years ago, this was the first time Shaw Group had sent a formal invite.


    Back then, events like annual banquets had nothing to do with the Briggs family.


    “What if they figure out I’m your father and want to talk to me? Should I talk to them?” Hugh asked, his nerves creeping back in.


    Freya didn’t reply right away.


    She turned and looked at him.


    Hugh only grew more uneasy under her gaze. “Should I?”


    “This is a normal corporate event. As the chairman of a business partner, your job is to show up. That’s it,” Freya said again. “Just act like yourself.”


    “Just be myself? I don’t need to go around chatting like we’re all buddies?” Hugh pressed.


    Freya responded, “That’s unnecessary.”


    “Alright.” Hugh looked a little calmer, but deep down, he was still a bundle of nerves.


    He had no clue what the Shaw family was really like.


    Even though Freya had told him they’d treated her well and that Lionel adored her, as her father, Hugh couldn’t help but worry.


    Over the past two years, he’d thought about reaching out more times than he could count—but in the end, he held back, afraid of upsetting her. Two years.


    To an adult knee-deep in work, it shed by in the blink of an eye.


    And before anyone realized it, time had passed.


    Full cont3nt h3re: g??lnovels.??????


    Meanwhile, back at the Shaw estate, as everyone scrambled to get things ready for Lionel’s 80th birthday, Kristian went straight to see his grandfather.


    Still wearing the suit from his flight, his sharply defined features gave off a cool, distant charm. He stepped forward and greeted him with a crisp, “Grandpa.”


    Lionel didn’t so much as nce his way.


    Liam leaned in and reminded Lionel, “Grandpa, Kristian’s back.”


    “So what?” Lionel scoffed, a cold snort escaping him as he made no effort to hide his disdain for Kristian.


    He had spent the entire day waiting, only for Kristian to show up alone. Fully aware of where he stood in the Shaw family after thest fallout, Kristian had already made peace with the shift in dynamics. His talent for adapting swiftly had always been one of his strengths.


    Noticing Lionel’s disinterest, Kristian didn’t take it personally. Instead, he settled into his seat with practiced ease and took a leisurely sip of his coffee.


    The moreposed Kristian appeared, the more agitated Lionel became.


    Eventually, after making a half-hearted move on the chessboard with Liam, Lionel tossed in the towel.


    “I’m done,” Lionel muttered irritably, the scowl on his face deepening. He added, not-so-subtly, “Some people just know how to crawl under my skin.”


    Kristian’s lips curled faintly into a knowing smirk. “Is it really worth getting all worked up just because I didn’t bring your beloved Freya back?”


    His remark only served to further infuriate Lionel. “Then why did you even bothering back at all?”


    “Shall I leave, then?” Kristian asked coolly, his every move—right down to sipping his coffee—exuding calm sophistication.


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