?Chapter 845:


    Right as the clock struck midnight, four messages popped up on her phone. Each one simply read, “Merry Christmas.”


    One came from Kristian, another from Ellis, and the remaining two were from Farrah and Melvin.


    As for the group chat with her friends, it was already overflowing with messages.


    Freya responded to each message and briefly chimed in on the group thread. Just like that, Christmas had officially begun.


    The next day, Freya awoke to yet another greeting from Kristian, followed by his question, asking, “When are youing to pick me up?” Freya hesitated to answer.


    The holidays weren’t quite over, and she knew both Melinda and Lionel would want to hold onto Kristian just a little longer. If she showed up to collect him soon, Lionel would no doubt feel reluctant to let him go.


    But Kristian wasn’t one to give up easily.


    By mid-afternoon, somewhere around two or three o’clock, he called her directly.


    “Freya, Merry Christmas!” His voice bubbled with cheer.


    “Merry Christmas,” she replied calmly.


    “When are youing to get me?” he asked bluntly, skipping over any pleasantries. “Tomorrow morning or afternoon?”


    “Can we wait a couple more days?” Freya asked.


    Kristian went quiet. His eyes flickered with emotion, and though his face remainedposed, his stubbornness was impossible to miss. He held himself back and replied in a carefully measured tone, “You don’t want me anymore, do you?”


    “That’s not true,” Freya said softly, her eyes drifting toward the snow outside. “You finally made it home. Melinda and Lionel must be so happy to have you back. If you leave so soon, how will they feel?”


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    “Then when should Ie back?” Kristian pressed again.


    “How about after the New Year?” Freya suggested. “I’lle pick you up then.”


    “Then I want a reward!”


    “Alright,” Freya agreed without hesitation.


    After convincing him, she let out a quiet breath of relief.


    But as always, time slipped away far too quickly.


    Before she knew it, it was the day after the New Year. Freya kept her word and made the trip to Jeucwell to pick Kristian up. The moment he saw her, his whole face lit up like a child’s, and he dashed toward her with unrestrained joy. “Freya!”


    Freya quickly raised a hand to stop him, bringing him to a sudden halt right in front of her.


    Kristian blinked at her, ying up his innocence. “What are you doing?”


    “People might see us,” Freya said, lowering her hand as she tried to exin herself. “I shouldn’t…”


    But before she could finish the word “hug,” Kristian moved swiftly and pulled her into a warm embrace.


    For a second, Freya stood frozen, unsure how to react to his sudden move. Her first instinct was to push him away, but he let go just before she could. His face wore a smile full of innocent satisfaction. “Reward.”


    Freya blinked. “What?”


    “You said if I stayed home until today, I’d get a reward,” Kristian reminded her, ying the part wlessly. “My reward is your hug.”


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