?Chapter 606:


    His gaze flickered from Freya to Ellis—and at the sight of that impable face, his heart clenched.


    Nearby, Gerard couldn’t help sneaking a few looks at Ellis.


    That face, that vibe. This man could absolutely rival Kristian.


    “Good day, Ms. Briggs,” Gerard greeted with curiosity. “And who’s this?”


    “A friend of mine,” Freya replied coolly.


    She deliberately avoided mentioning that Ellis was her captain. No need to invite assumptions or unnecessary chatter.


    Still, Freya had no idea just how deeply those words had struck Kristian.


    A friend of hers? Was he Freya’s boyfriend? Wasn’t she the one who always imed she couldn’t stand getting too close to any man? So why hadn’t she pulled away from this man who stood beside her like he belonged there? Did she actually have feelings for him?


    Kristian’s thoughts spun like a hurricane inside his head.


    Had logic not kept his emotions in check, he might’ve stormed up to her and dragged her away on impulse, demanding to know what was going on between them—just like he had before.


    But now, he wasposed, painfully aware of his ce.


    To her, he was nothing more than an ex-husband. He had no right to bother her anymore.


    “Let’s go.” Ellis cut through the tension. “Trent and Frederick are still waiting over there.”


    “Okay,” Freya replied.


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    She didn’t spare Kristian a second nce, brushing past him like he was just another stranger on the street. The space between them stretched wide, until it felt like they no longer existed in the same world.


    Kristian stayed rooted in ce, unable to move, lost in thought. The image of Freya’s cold, distant face as she passed him kept reying in his mind, like a slow, haunting reel.


    “Mr. Shaw? Mr. Shaw? Mr. Shaw!” Gerard called out several times.


    Finally, he raised his voice.


    Kristian didn’t so much as flinch. “I can hear you.”


    “Should we go now?” Gerard asked gently. He knew Kristian was hurting, but some things couldn’t be soothed with sympathy.


    Kristian said nothing.


    Gerard didn’t dare say another word.


    Moments passed. Then, without warning, Kristian turned and started walking in the direction Freya had gone.


    Gerard blinked in surprise and hurried after him, lowering his voice. “You’re divorced. Even if she has someone new, you’ve got no right to interfere.”


    Kristian stopped cold in his tracks, the air around him instantly chill.


    Gerard’s heart skipped a beat.


    Damn it. He’d hit a nerve.


    “You think that’s someone she likes?” Kristian’s voice was eerily calm, detached—but his eyes betrayed him, brimming with turmoil.


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