?Chapter 729:


    “I’m taking you to meet someone,” Freya said, deciding to prepare him gently. “You can see if you like being around him. If you do…” She trailed off, trying to find the right words for someone with the mind of a five-year-old.


    Before she could figure it out, Kristian’s voice cut through the silence, low, fragile. “You’re not going to leave me, are you?”


    “No,” Freya said at once.


    Kristian’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes swimming with quiet dread. So, in the end, she didn’t want him after all.


    Freya noticed the shift in his mood. Remembering his fragile mental state, she tried to ease him. “I just want you to see who you feelfortable with. If you meet him and you like him, I can…”


    “I only want to be with you!” Kristian broke in before she could finish.


    “I don’t like anyone else.”


    He hadn’t been happy with that doctor before—not one bit. He wanted nothing to do with that man.


    Freya didn’t say anything back. She figured it made sense—Kristian hadn’t been around many people.


    Before meeting her, the only person he’d spent much time with was Lawrence. And Lawrence was a doctor. For a kid, spending so much time with someone constantly poking and prodding could build natural resentment. Maybe that was all this was.


    They arrived at the apartment building where Kristian had been staying.


    Gerard was already waiting at the entrance—he’d skipped work for the day.


    As soon as he saw Freya step out of the car, Gerard started to greet her—then spotted Kristian stepping out from the passenger side to stand beside her.


    “Mr. Shaw, you…” Gerard started.


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    Kristian gave him a wary stare, then edged behind Freya, as if Gerard were some bad guy.


    Gerard blinked, confused. What on earth was happening?


    “Ms. Briggs… what happened to him?” he asked.


    “He’s lost his memory. Mentally, he’s five,” Freya exined. She figured it was safe to be honest—Gerard was someone Kristian trusted. “He’s just a little shy with new people right now.”


    Gerard gave Kristian a few lingering nces.


    It sounded like something ripped from a soap opera—amnesia and all. But he didn’t push for more details on the doorstep. He punched in the code and led them upstairs.


    After pouring them each a ss of water, he leaned in and finally asked what was really on his mind.


    “Ms. Briggs,” he said in a hushed tone, “are you sure Mr. Shaw actually lost his memory and isn’t just faking it?”


    Freya stared at Gerard, utterly dumbfounded. Why was everyone—first Isaac, now Gerard—reacting like this the moment she mentioned Kristian’s condition?


    Her confusion only deepened. ncing at Kristian, who had been quietly well-behaved the entire time, she turned back to Gerard and asked, “Why are you even asking that?”


    “It just feels a little… unreal,” Gerard admitted, scratching his head.


    “He really has lost his memory,” Freya said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “After I brought him homest night, I watched him closely. Trust me, there’s no way he’s faking it.”


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