?Chapter 458:


    “You know,” Liam began, deliberately poking the ho’s nest, “Cyril and Freya actually make a pretty decent pair. They’re close in age.”


    Kristian didn’t say a word.


    Liam leaned closer, clearly enjoying himself. “Don’t you think?”


    “If you’re this idle, why not help run thepany?” Kristian’s voice turned icy, his patience running thin. “Or better yet, shut up.”


    “Touchy, aren’t you? You should be d if Cyril ends up with her,” Liam teased, totally unfazed. “Freya would be happy, and Mom, Dad, and Grandpa would finally get off your back. You’d get some peace for once. Doesn’t that sound good?”


    Kristian’s fingers clenched tighter around the schedule, his mood souring by the second.


    Liam leaned in again, voice yful. “Or maybe… you still have feelings for her?”


    “Finish this,” Kristian snapped, shoving the paper into Liam’s hands before suddenly standing up. “I’m stepping out.”


    Liam blinked, caught off guard.


    Kristian didn’t head for the door—he turned and walked straight toward Freya and Cyril.


    He knew Freya hated settings like this, ufortable making small talk with strangers.


    She’d told him that plenty of times during their two years of marriage, and he’d never left her alone in situations like this.


    Even now, even after the divorce, he couldn’t bring himself to let her struggle through it.


    Cyril was just getting into the swing of things when he noticed Kristian approaching.


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    Without thinking, he asked, “Kristian? Something wrong?”


    “Freya and I need to swing by my family’s house to pick something up,” Kristian said, his voice cold and distant, making it crystal clear he didn’t wee follow-up questions. “Wannae with us, or would you rather chatter?”


    Cyril hesitated. He was tempted to tag along, but something in Kristian’s icy tone told him not to push it.


    “We’ll catch upter,” he said quickly.


    “Then we’ll be off,” Kristian replied tly. He almost reached for Freya’s hand but stopped himself just in time, remembering—she wasn’t his wife anymore.


    Freya followed Kristian, convinced they were headed to his family’s residence.


    From a distance, Liam observed with utter bewilderment. Never had he anticipated Kristian employing such a direct tactic to interrupt the conversation between Cyril and Freya.


    Curiosity gnawed at him—what could Kristian possibly have said to make Freya willingly depart with him, abruptly ending her discussion with Cyril?


    With this question lingering in his mind, Liam sauntered over with the schedule clutched in his hand, feigning ignorance of the situation. “Why did Kristian and Freya leave?” he inquired casually.


    “He mentioned needing to take Freya back to your family home to retrieve something,” Cyril responded honestly, concealing nothing.


    “Are you serious?” Liam stretched the words, cing a reassuring hand on Cyril’s shoulder. “Fetching something is hardlyplicated. You could have asked me to go instead.”


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