?Chapter 963:


    The cold caught ire off guard. She’d expected him to act like a gentleman, but here he was, asking her to wait outside in the chill.


    Ellis kept quiet and steered the car into the underground garage.


    The apartmentplex’s security was airtight—only registered residents and vehicles made it past the gates, which meant ire couldn’t follow them inside.


    Freya picked up on the subtle friction in the air. “Are you not on good terms?” she queried.


    “Sort of,” Ellis answered without a flicker of emotion. “But our parents are friends. I can’t just blow her off. I’ll go talk to her for a bit.” Ellis didn’t personally care, but he couldn’t disregard his family’s wishes.


    Turning to Freya, he questioned her. “Want toe with me?” He knew Freya sometimes felt uneasy, and he refused to give her any reason to doubt him.


    He believed in loving her without secrets or half-truths.


    Freya hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s fine. You should go alone. She probably has something private to say, and I don’t want her to feel awkward.”


    Ellis’s voice grew gentle but firm. “Freya, you know you’re my girlfriend, right?”


    “I know,” she said, offering him a small, reassuring smile.


    He held her gaze and stated firmly, “There’s nothing in my life you’re not allowed to know—unless it’s confidential or work-rted. I mean that.”


    Freya faltered, her lips parting as if to answer, but she found herself at a loss for words.


    Ellis didn’t give her a choice. “You’reing with me,” he said, leaving no room for argument, his voice low and steady as he opened the door for her.


    Unable to refuse him, Freya slid out of the car and fell into step beside him.


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    She knew healthy boundaries mattered, and she’d never been the type to cling or meddle. Even if Ellis met ire alone, she trusted himpletely.


    Sensing her confidence, Ellis intertwined his fingers with hers, his grip warm and reassuring as they made their way across the pavement together.


    ire had been pacing outside, ncing at her phone, when Ellis finally appeared—Freya right by his side.


    One look at them together told ire everything. In her eyes, Freya’s presence could only mean she’d shown up to keep an eye on Ellis, unwilling to let him meet another woman alone.


    “Eli!” ire called, her voice bright as she hurried over.


    But Ellis met her enthusiasm with a frosty distance. His tone dropped all traces of old familiarity. “I prefer Ellis now.”


    ire pouted, undeterred. “But I’ve always liked calling you that.”


    “Then get used to it,” he replied evenly.


    Freya blinked, ncing at Ellis, surprised by his bluntness.


    That icy tone left no doubt—whatever warmth had once existed between him and ire had long since vanished.


    ire’s lips pressed together in defeat. “Fine,” she muttered, her tone barely hiding her annoyance. But she pushed on, “By the way, I couldn’t get through to you after ourst call. Was your phone off or something?”


    “I blocked your number,” Ellis noted without a hint of apology.


    ire stared at him, dumbfounded.


    Even Freya looked over in shock.


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