?Chapter 802:


    “When did you leave?” Freya asked, already standing on the balcony with the phone pressed to her ear.


    “Yesterday.” Lawrence didn’t keep anything from her and even added, “Kristian’s follow-up should be scheduled after the New Year. Don’t stress too much. Oh, and there’s something I forgot to mention.”


    Freya’s voice was calm. “What is it?”


    “Kristian’s cognitive function has gotten a bit better.” Lawrence’s voice came slow and low. “But it’s still unstable. Try not to let him get too worked up.”


    Freya’s brows pinched ever so slightly.


    Something didn’t sit right with her.


    “Ms. Briggs, is your signal acting up?” Lawrence asked in his usualid-back tone.


    “Before the Butterfly Ind incident, what kind of deal did you make with Kristian?” Freya thought it through before getting straight to the point. “Just tell me. I’ll help you once—for free.”


    Lawrence was caught off guard. And the offer was tempting. Enlisting K’s help could be costly. But if she was involved, sess was all but guaranteed.


    “You’re really putting me in a tough spot here,” Lawrence said gently.


    Freya didn’t reply.


    After a moment’s silence, Lawrence seemed to relent. “Telling you now won’t change anything. And besides, I gave Kristian my word.”


    “You sure you won’t say it?”


    “I can’t,” Lawrence stuck to it.


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    Freya recalled the conditions they discussed back before Kristian’s rescue—every single word. “Do you remember the promise you made when you asked me to call Jacob in to save Kristian?”


    Lawrence paused. Jacob’s demands shed through his mind. A billion dors—and a favor owed. “I do…” he said, voice faltering.


    “My favor is this: cancel whatever agreement you have with Kristian,” Freya said.


    Lawrence pressed his lips together. “It’s already toote.”


    Freya frowned. “What do you mean?” But Lawrence didn’t go into it.


    “What was your deal with him?” Freya pressed again.


    “Hello?” Lawrence yed dumb. “Ms. Briggs, are you there? Hello? Is your signal okay?”


    Then, without warning, he hung up.


    But Freya didn’t give him the chance to vanish.


    She called him back immediately, not letting him turn his phone off or slip away unnoticed.


    Lawrence rubbed his temples, sighing yet again over the fact that Kristian had ties to Freya. It made everything moreplicated.


    “Is the signal better now?” Freya asked, her voice steady—but Lawrence could tell she was irritated.


    He knew if he kept dodging, it would only make things worse.


    After a pause, he finally said, with some hesitation, “Yeah.”


    “I need to know the details of the deal you made with Kristian,” Freya said again.


    “I really can’t say anything about that,” Lawrence replied, sounding defeated. His eyes flickered with emotion. “I know I owe you the truth, but the deal I made with Kristian explicitly forbids me from revealing anything to anyone. Freya, there’s an…”


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