Chapter 106:
Her expression revealed uncontainable satisfaction, while internally she dismissed Freya as intellectually deficient.
Freya initiated a call to Lionel, who answered promptly.
“Hello, Lionel, this is Freya speaking,” she began with measured lightness, her tone deliberately gentle. “I must communicate something significant, so prepare yourself accordingly.”
Lionel, who cherished Freya deeply, participated in her conversational approach. “I’m adequately prepared. My dear, please proceed with your message.”
“Miss Bradley asked me to have a word with you and Melinda on her behalf,” Freya explained with forthright honesty. “She’s hoping for your blessing on her marriage to Kristian and to be welcomed into the Shaw family.”
The smile on Ashley’s face wavered, her gaze locking onto Freya with an intensity that betrayed her surprise at the directness of the request.
She had not anticipated such blunt honesty from Freya.
“She might as well keep dreaming,” Lionel scoffed dismissively.
“Understood,” Freya replied cheerfully.
After some light conversation, Lionel let out a quiet sigh and finally hung up, clearly not wanting the call to end.
Freya turned to deliver the news to Ashley, whose displeasure was evident. “I’ve conveyed your wishes, and Lionel’s advice was to keep dreaming.”
“You did that deliberately!” Ashley accused, her realization dawning late but with force.
Freya simply confirmed, “Yes, I did.”
𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢: ⳑ𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒𝖼𝗈𝗺
Ashley’s voice rose in anger. “Why would you sabotage me like that? If you were opposed, you could have just declined!”
Freya sipped her coffee calmly, choosing not to respond.
Ashley’s hands balled into fists at her sides, her frustration palpable. Lionel and Melinda’s disdain was nothing new, but Freya’s actions had just exacerbated the situation, potentially ruining any chance of improving Lionel’s opinion of her. How could Freya do that?
“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that Lionel and Melinda’s fondness means you belong in the Shaw family,” Ashley spat, her voice dripping with contempt. “Without Kristian’s approval, you’re essentially a nobody.”
Freya’s reply was serene. “You’re right.”
As Ashley clamped her jaw tight, rage bubbled within her.
In stark contrast, Freya remained seated across from her, her demeanor untouched and aloof, exuding an effortless grace.
This only intensified Ashley’s sense of foolishness.
“Anything else you wish to add?” Freya inquired, her tone light and unconcerned.
Though Ashley yearned to storm out, memories of a recent ordeal held her back, and with eyes brimming with tears, she ventured, “Was it you who orchestrated that incident at the hotel?”
“No,” Freya answered simply.
“You’re denying it before I even specified what happened,” Ashley shot back, her suspicions firm.
“Kristian mentioned it,” Freya disclosed, without stirring the pot further. Her eyes held Ashley’s briefly, a silent exchange, before suggesting coldly, “Perhaps you should visit a hospital for a brain examination, maybe even consider a CT scan.”
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