?Chapter 581:


    “Wait,” he said, stopping her. “Did something happen between you and Mina?”


    Cheryl nced at Freya, her eyes red, but said nothing, as if determined to milk every drop of pity from the moment.


    Watching her, both Ethel and Hugh instinctively assumed Cheryl had misunderstood Freya—when in reality, she was simply putting on a show.


    Cheryl had always treated him and his daughters with genuine warmth—at least, that’s how Hugh felt.


    Freya stood to the side, quietly watching it all unfold, choosing not to step in. She turned to Hugh and said lightly, “She and I are heading back first. Take your time and talk things through.”


    “Alright,” Hugh replied, his voice calm and firm, not a hint of hesitation in his tone. This wasn’t something to be brushed off. It needed a proper, honest conversation.


    It was one thing if he had been misunderstood—but for Freya, someone so sincerely kind, to be wrongly used? That just didn’t sit right with him.


    Once Freya and Ethel were in the car and driving away, Ethel immediately turned, curiosity brimming. “What were you two talking about? And why did Ms. Newman react like that?”


    Freya didn’t hold back. She gave her a brief rundown of what she and Cheryl had discussed.


    Five minutes was all it took for Ethel to piece the puzzle together in her mind. “So, she was faking it in front of Dad just now?” Ethel was stunned. She never would’ve imagined Cheryl being that kind of person. “Why would she pretend like that? She wasn’t always like this.”


    “When people’s interests are threatened, their true selves tend toe out,” Freya said inly. “After what I told her, she probably realized all the illusions she built hade crashing down.”


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    “But she didn’t have to pin all the me on you,” Ethel said, her temper ring.


    She used to really believe in Cheryl. If Freya hadn’t returned, she might’ve fallen right into that mother-daughter duo’s trap—and even ended up feeling bad for Vivien, maybe even giving her shares in thepany.


    Seeing Ethel pout, frustrated and upset, Freya reached out and gave her cheek a yful poke. “What’s going on in that little head of yours?”


    “I just feel so stupid for not seeing them for who they really are,” Ethel murmured, leaning in closer. “If you hadn’te back, I’d probably still think they were good people.”


    Freya gently patted her on the head. “They were real smooth with the act. You had no reason to suspect them—it’s nothing to me yourself for.”


    It was pure coincidence that Freya had bumped into Vivien at the office and started to connect the dots.


    Ethel, still young and full of trust, wasn’t the type to suspect anyone easily.


    “I’m still so mad!” Ethel huffed, puffing out her cheeks once more. Freya couldn’t help but ruffle her hair. She told her not to stress over it too much.


    When they got home, Ethel headed straight for her room, her phone pressed to her ear, chatting away with her boyfriend.


    Freya saw herpletely swept up in her little bubble of romance and let her be. At that age, a sweet, innocent love like that was something to be cherished.


    Evening rolled in before they knew it.


    While they were getting ready for dinner, Hugh called to say he wouldn’t being home tonight.


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