?<strong>Chapter 618:</strong>


    Theo raised his ss and clinked it against Freda’s, a cruel smile on his lips. “Because I don’t love you,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “All that kindness I showed you? It was nothing more than a charade to secure your family’s cooperation!”


    Freda’s eyes welled up with tears at his words, but she forced herself to remainposed. “Then why not keep up the facade? You’ve lost so much money and resources by refusing to marry me. Isn’t that a heavy price to pay?”


    Theo’s expression turned colder. “I don’t want Elyse to find out that I’ve been seeing you. The loss from breaking up with you is a price I’m willing to pay.”


    Freda opened her mouth to argue, to tell him that his obsession with Elyse was pointless and that a future with her was the best choice. But she found herself at a loss for words, feeling like a fool. Could they be together if Elyse wasn’t in the way? She wasn’t really sure.


    Theo’s impatience grew as he saw the tears threatening to spill from Freda’s eyes. Thest thing he wanted was a scene. Wouldn’t everyone there see him as a jerk then? “Are we done here?” he snapped. “Can I go now?”


    Freda longed to stop him, but his look of disdain pierced her heart. She swallowed her thoughts and said, “Go ahead.”


    Theo’s contempt for her was palpable. She had no reason to hold onto him. Trying to make him stay would only make her look more pathetic. Freda stood rooted to the spot for a few minutes, trying to gather her emotions. This event, once vibrant, now seemed utterly meaningless. She just wanted to go home.


    Lifting the hem of her dress, she moved slowly through the crowd toward the exit of the hall.


    “I didn’t expect to see Gavin here. He’s always so low-key and avoids lively gatherings.”


    “Yeah, it was a real surprise. And to hear him y the violin so beautifully…”


    Freda subconsciously paused, eavesdropping on a conversation between two people about Gavin.


    “But when will he think about marriage? I want to introduce him to my daughter.”


    “I’m trying to find out too. I’d love for my niece to have dinner with him.”


    Freda couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. What was it about Gavin that made everyone eager to pair him off? He seemed so ordinary, nothing special to her!


    After leaving the hall, Freda got into her car and drove home. Once she was back, she went through her nightly routine before lying down on her bed, phone in hand. She dialed Alena’s number.


    Alena was in the middle of her skincare ritual. When she picked up the call, she asked casually, “What’s going on, sweetie?”


    “Theo has never loved me,” Freda murmured, staring up at the ceiling.


    Alena was taken aback. “What happened?”


    Freda recounted the events of the banquet to Alena. After listening, Alena was silent for a long moment before she asked, “What are you nning to do next?”


    “I don’t know,” Freda admitted. “I don’t have any specific ns, but I’m starting to take over some of my father’spany’s business and projects. I guess I’ll be busy with work.”


    Alena thought for a moment and said, “I don’t think you should give up entirely. I’ve always told you that you’ve been too amodating with Theo. He looks down on you because of it, treating you like a doormat. You need to stir his possessive instincts before you confront him.”


    Freda turned over, contemting. “You want me to get closer to Gavin to draw Theo’s attention?”


    “Exactly!” Alena confirmed. “Aren’t you curious about his family background? This could also be the perfect chance to investigate.”


    “Your idea is tempting,” Freda said, rolling on the bed with a sigh. “But I didn’t take the initiative to approach him since ourst unpleasant encounter.”


    “So what? Are you just going to give up that easily? If there’s even a glimmer of hope, you should seize it.”


    Freda licked her lips, realizing Alena had a point. Given her attributes, even if Theo didn’t love her, he wouldn’t entirely disregard her. With renewed determination, Freda sat up and began to regale Alena with tales of Gavin’s disy at the banquet.


    “Gavin is like a peacock, strutting around and catching the eyes of every girl there. So many people want him to marry their daughters. It’s unbearable,” Freda said.


    Alena asked, puzzled, “Why do you despise Gavin so much? Maybe he’s not as bad as you think!”


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