?Chapter 875:


    Kristian didn’t return to his own apartment. Instead, he checked into a hotel. Coincidentally, it wasn’t far from Freya’s home and was right along her usual route.


    After getting settled, Kristian took Gerard’s phone and handed him a new one, this one tightly monitored.


    “Use this for your calls and work stuff,” Kristian said, his mind sharper than ever. “It’s synced with my phone. I’ll know exactly who you contact and what you send.”


    “Isn’t this a little extreme?” Gerard hadn’t expected Kristian to go this far.


    He figured that even if his phone got taken and he couldn’t remember Freya’s number, he could contact his dad and get Freya’s number that way. After all, that’s how he’d reached herst time.


    But now, there was zero privacy.


    “There’s no way to get in touch with her without me knowing,” Kristian said coldly, setting his terms. “It’s not up to you whether it’s extreme or not. Your job is to follow the instructions.”


    If Freya didn’te for him within the next two days, Kristian wouldn’t hold back anymore. He’d make sure she agreed to be with him—on his terms.


    Gerard felt like he was in over his head. From the way he’d spoken to Freya before leaving, she was probably expecting a message.


    If none came, she’d assume Kristian was fine. And that meant she likely wouldn’te looking.


    Gerard finally decided it was time to say something real to Kristian. “If you really care about Ms. Briggs, maybe talk things through instead of acting out like this.”


    “Acting out?” Kristian’s eyes turned dangerous.


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    Gerard braced himself. “Storming off after she turns you down—what else do you call it?”


    “I’m not acting out,” Kristian said seriously.


    He’d done exactly what she asked of him. He’d behaved. And still, she hadn’t chosen him.


    If Ellis had been the one to confess first today, would she have shot him down so firmly? He didn’t think so. She had always treated Ellis better. If Freya knew what Kristian was thinking right now, she’d probably explode. Sure, she was on good terms with Ellis. But it wasn’t like she’d been cruel to Kristian either. Aside from being a little distant at first, she’d always considered his feelings.


    After Freya got home, she called Kristian.


    He saw the call. But he didn’t pick up.


    Gerard couldn’t make sense of it and asked him straight out, “Why didn’t you answer?”


    “She rejected me. I’m heartbroken,” Kristian said slowly, his eyes locked on the screen where her name was still shing. “If I answer on the first try, what pride do I have left?”


    If she’d called a third time, he would’ve answered in a heartbeat.


    But it never came to that. She didn’t call again.


    After seeing that he hadn’t picked up, Freya left it at that. In her mind, if he saw the call and was in the right mood, he’d return it—or at least text.


    If he was upset and still stewing over the rejection, another call would only make things worse.


    So she stopped at one.


    After that, she messaged Gerard, gave him basic instructions to keep an eye on Kristian, and told him to get in touch if anything happened.


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