?Chapter 441:


    Lionel felt an overwhelming urge to strike him with his cane. What an insufferable brat!


    He could trust neither Kristian nor Liam—unlike Freya, who never failed him.


    “Calm down, Grandpa. She’ll be in Jeucwell tonight,” Kristian said, cing down his teacup with a grace that seemed almost theatrical. “She’sing with her father.”


    At that, Lionel’s expression froze, a flicker of unease darting across his features.


    He asked, almost cautiously, “I remember Freya once mentioned things weren’t great between her and her family. Did you meet them in Alerith?”


    “I did,” Kristian answered, his eyes darkening slightly. “Looks like things have smoothed out between them.”


    Lionel’s expression rxed a touch in response.


    But then, another thought intruded, and his brows furrowed inplicated emotion. “And how did things go between you and them?”


    “At first, everything was fine,” Kristian replied, his voice measured and calm. “But halfway through the conversation, Freya threw me out. Haven’t seen them since.”


    “Well done!” Lionel said without missing a beat.


    Kristian was left speechless. He didn’t even bother questioning whether he was truly Lionel’s grandson. After all, Lionel would only deny it.


    “Should we prepare something?” Lionel asked, clearly uneasy. “You’ve been married to Freya for two years and haven’t even met her family. Now that her father’sing, shouldn’t we make an effort?”


    Looking back on it, Lionel couldn’t help but feel a twinge of shame. Kristian had married Freya without notifying her family—ignoring even the most basic formalities. It was absolutely mortifying.


    “No need,” Kristian replied. “Freya wouldn’t appreciate it.”


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    Lionel blinked, startled by the response. So did Liam. Both turned to Kristian as if he’d just grown a second head.


    Catching their strange looks, Kristian arched a brow. “What’s with the faces?”


    “I have reason to believe you’re not actually my brother,” Liam said, as irreverent as ever.


    Lionel chimed in, “I’m inclined to agree.”


    Kristian’s brow ticked up slightly, realizing they were poking fun at him.


    “What’s that supposed to mean?”


    “You haven’t considered Freya’s feelings once in thest six months,” Lionel said tly.


    He had watched how Kristian treated Freya over the past half-year, initially assuming their marriage was just going through a rough patch. Onlyter did he discover it had everything to do with Ashley.


    In the beginning, when they first tied the knot, Kristian had been good to Freya. Had he kept it up, they might’ve had children by now instead of heading for divorce.


    Kristian stiffened, just slightly.


    “I warned you. You’d regret divorcing her,” Lionel said, his disappointment evident. “But you wouldn’t listen.”


    Liam raised an eyebrow and teased, “Starting to feel that regret now, huh?”


    “No,” Kristian replied firmly.


    “Good,” Lionel shot back with a sharp re. “Some of my old friends are dying to introduce their grandsons to Freya. I’ll be sure to arrange a meeting.”


    Kristian was at a loss for words. He was convinced Lionel’s only goal was to provoke him. “She won’t agree.”


    “It’s just a casual meet-up. Not a marriage proposal. Just some young people getting to know each other,” Lionel said, his scheming barely concealed. “Why wouldn’t she be open to that?”


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