?Chapter 450:


    Their yful back-and-forth was practically a daily ritual. Still, no matter how often Lionel poked fun, he never truly got mad at Kristian, and Kristian never took any of it to heart.


    Kristian noticed Lionel watching him and raised a brow. “What’s wrong?”


    “I’m trying to figure out the odds of Freya being drawn in by that face of yours.” Lionel looked genuinely pensive, as though this was a question worthy of deep reflection. “I hear young women these days go for pretty boys. Your cousin’s like that. So are all those girls on TV.”


    Kristian might’vecked confidence in a lot of areas, but not when it came to his looks. For that, he could only thank his parents—those genes matched up a little too perfectly with Freya’s preferences.


    “Why not try switching up your hair or wardrobe a bit?” Lionel had never been a fan of men putting too much effort into their appearance. To him, it felt like a hit to masculinity.


    But now, he was ready to throw all that aside just to help his grandson catch Freya’s eye.


    Kristian looked genuinely puzzled. “I thought you didn’t like Freya at first. Why the change of heart?” Lionel had always been old-fashioned, even hoping Kristian would marry someone of equal status.


    When Kristian first married Freya, Lionel had been openly displeased. Butter on, even before knowing Freya’s background, he’d started thinking Kristian might not even be good enough for her.


    It was aplete turnaround.


    “Because Freya’s a kind soul.” Lionel didn’t go into his usual speech about what Freya had done for him.


    “Even though I didn’t take to her at first, she’s always treated me with respect.” He looked back fondly, a soft note in his voice. “Even when you weren’t around, she was kind to me.”


    Kristian stayed quiet, listening.


    Your imagination takes flight on g?lnσν???s


    “She’s genuine. Kind. Got a good heart.”


    “Yeah,” Kristian agreed softly, but his mind was already drifting to old memories of Freya.


    “‘Yeah’ is all you’ve got?” Lionel scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “If you can’t win her back, then don’t bother getting married at all.”


    Kristian didn’t even hesitate. “Alright.”


    Lionel stared at him, narrowing his eyes like he was trying to see right through him. “You serious?”


    “Yeah,” Kristian answered, calm and sure.


    He’d been married once, yet still felt clueless about what it really meant.


    But watching his parentstely, he thought maybe he was starting to get it. Just a little.


    “Alright then,” Lionel said.


    They chatted a bit more, and just as Lionel was about to ask Kristian to call Freya and find out where she was, the butler walked in with her.


    “Ms. Briggs has arrived.”


    Both Lionel and Kristian turned toward the door.


    Sure enough, Freya hade. Lionel immediately got to his feet, his face lighting up. “Freya!”


    “Happy birthday, Lionel,” she greeted him.


    She was dressed in a soft-toned sweater and a beret, her look gentler than usual.


    Lionel beamed. “Thank you,e on in, have a seat!”


    “Sure.” Freya nodded politely.


    As she settled in, the butler stepped over and handed Lionel a box. “Sir, this is the gift Ms. Briggs brought for you.”


    “Your being here is more than enough. No need for presents.” Still, the grin on Lionel’s face gave him away.


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