?Chapter 575:


    The Briggs Group was built from the ground up by her parents’ partnership, and Freya wasn’t about to let anyoney a finger on it.


    Ethel’s eyes gleamed with surprise. “Are we really going?”


    “For real?” Hugh echoed.


    Freya nodded firmly. “Yeah. For real.”


    Seeing that she meant it, Hugh gave Vivien his answer. “We’ll be thereter.”


    “Great! Mom and I will be waiting,” Vivien responded quickly.


    Once she hung up, she passed the news along to Cheryl.


    Cheryl was just as taken aback. Her tone turned light. “Did Freya really agree to this?”


    “Yes,” Vivien replied truthfully. “After she said yes, Mr. Briggs and…”


    Ethel agreed too.”


    Cheryl didn’t respond right away.


    Vivien stood quietly, knowing better than to speak out of turn with her mother.


    “From now on, you need to get along with Freya and Ethel,” Cheryl said seriously. “But don’t overdo it.”


    “As long as Freya doesn’t object, I can marry Hugh.”


    “But… I’ve already upset her before,” Vivien said nervously.


    “Everyone makes mistakes. Just behave properly from now on,” Cheryl told her firmly. “This time, don’t mess things up.”


    Vivien fidgeted, gripping her sleeves. “Okay.”


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    Cheryl nced at her, as if she had more to say, but ended up releasing a long, weary sigh.


    She didn’t linger, and got to work preparing lunch for five—something that would take a while.


    Back at the breakfast table, Freya was still sipping her drink. Ethel, unable to contain her curiosity, asked softly, “Mina, didn’t you really dislike them before? Why go now?”


    Hugh turned toward Freya too, clearly wondering the same thing.


    “Ms. Newman is Dad’s current partner,” Freya replied inly. “It’s only right for him to be with her on her birthday.”


    Ethel’s gaze softened, a flicker of understanding in her eyes, while Hugh felt a quiet ache in his chest. If only Freya didn’t always have to be the mature one.


    “I won’t stay long,” Freya added. “I’ll leave right after lunch.”


    Normally, she wouldn’t have bothered going. But this time, she intended to have a word with Cheryl.


    She knew things couldn’t drag on like this. Eventually, people would start whispering about Cheryl being Hugh’s kept woman, and that kind of gossip wouldn’t do any favors for his name.


    “If you don’t want to go, you really don’t have to. Don’t force yourself,” Hugh told her after a moment of thought.


    “I’m not forcing anything,” Freya said, finishing thest of her milk. Then she looked at Hugh and gave him a heads-up. “I’m mostly going to talk to her about your situation. She needs to make a decision—either stay or go.”


    Hugh nodded. He trusted Freya not to act rashly. “Alright.” He understood exactly what she meant.


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