?Chapter 700:


    “They’ve been asking in the group chat when we’re all meeting up again,” Ellis added smoothly as he started walking toward the car, neatly steering the conversation away. “Apparently, you’re the hot topic in the chat.”


    Freya blinked, caught off guard.


    Thest time they’d tried to meet, the n was scrapped entirely—everything turned upside down the moment news broke that Kristian had been shot.


    She’d missed her catch-up with Greta and Riley too—one more thing swept away in the chaos.


    “If you’re not feeling up to it, I can cover for you,” Ellis offered, ncing at her with a faint softness in his voice. “I’ll handle the excuses.”


    “It’s okay,” Freya assured him, her voice lighter now, as if a weight had finally been lifted. “I’ll talk to them once we’re back.” Ellis gave a small nod, satisfied. “Alright then.”


    They slipped into the car, falling into easy small talk as the engine purred to life.


    On the sidelines, the instructor remained where he stood, utterly bbergasted by their apparent disregard for him.


    With a scowl, he whipped out his phone and dialed Ellis’s number. He was done holding back. That heartless, woman-chasing traitor was about to get an earful.


    After all, he had lent them the whole damn ce, and all Ellis had promised in return was a meal.


    And yet… where was that promised meal?


    Ellis hadn’t even bothered with a goodbye—just sped off with Freya like the world owed him nothing. What an absolute jerk!


    Inside the car, Ellis turned the key in the ignition, ready to leave. However, just as he was about to pull away, his phone vibrated against his thigh.


    With a quick nce at the caller ID, a flicker of annoyance crossed his dark eyes. Without a second thought, he declined the call and quickly sent a dismissive text. “Do us all a favor and quit being the third wheel.”


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    After shooting off the message, Ellis powered down his phone and tucked it away, resolute in his mission to avoid any unnecessary distractions.


    He’d finally coaxed Freya out for a breath of fresh air. There was no way he was about to let anyone mess that up.


    The instructor stared nkly at the message lighting up his screen,pletely at a loss.


    Without wasting a second, he hit the call button and tried Ellis. But all he got was Ellis’s voicemail.


    He was left speechless. He narrowed his eyes at the car that had just driven off, jaw tight with irritation. “Fine. Let’s see how long youst without turning your phone back on.”


    Ellis, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about ruffling his friend’s feathers. They’d been pulling tricks on each other since childhood.


    To be fair, they only ever reached out when it suited them.


    By the time they rolled into the city, the clock had already ticked past four in the afternoon.


    Ellis drove Freya straight home.


    There was no use heading to the office at this hour. Besides, he and Melvin had already squared away everything that mattered. Freya had nothing left to stress about.


    Once they arrived, Freya unlocked the door.


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