Chapter 154:
He observed the shift in her demeanor as she caught sight of him. A pang of jealousy over Gerard’s presence made his tone unusually harsh.
“Not thrilled to see me, are you?”
Freya’s response was terse. “Quite the opposite, actually.”
“You have a particular fondness for Gerard?” Kristian probed further, his voice laced with a hint of insecurity.
Freya retorted with a frosty edge, “I tend to prefer the company of those who possess a semblance of common sense.”
“Freya!” Kristian’s voice rose, a mix of frustration and disbelief echoing in the space between them.
“Either speak your truth or leave,” Freya countered sharply, her voice icy.
“You’re this agitated over a mere apology?” Kristian challenged, his annoyance palpable as he revisited an old grievance. “When you masterminded that viral slander against Ashley, did you even pause to consider the fallout?”
At his words, Freya’s resolve wavered, her wish for his absence so intense she could almost quantify it—a million just to see him vanish. His accusation hung heavily in the air, rendering her silent.
Kristian felt a pang of discomfort at her quietude; he would have preferred her fiery retorts or cutting remarks over her silent treatment.
Interrupting the tense moment, Kristian’s phone buzzed to life.
Glancing at the display and seeing the name “Liam,” his brow furrowed in irritation. He excused himself to the balcony of the study, answering the call. “What’s up?”
“Do I need a reason to call?” His younger brother Liam Shaw’s voice came through, light and teasing, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere Kristian left behind. “Hey there, my dear brother.”
gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.k𝗈𝗺 – 𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓴
“Keep wasting my time and you’ll find yourself out on the street,” Kristian warned, his voice icy with menace.
Liam let out a low chuckle, his demeanor still relaxed. “Oh, if you were to throw me out, Grandpa would have a fit.”
“What is it that you want?” Kristian pressed, his impatience evident.
Their interactions were infrequent at best, and Kristian was certain Liam hadn’t called without an ulterior motive.
“Grandpa sent me to snoop into your romantic entanglements,” Liam admitted with an easy air. “Word has it from Gerard that you ended things with your wife to chase after your ex.”
Kristian held his silence.
Undeterred, Liam continued, “To be honest, I’m all for your decision to divorce. You’ve always been too guarded, and it wasn’t fair to her.” Still, Kristian said nothing.
Liam wasn’t finished. “I know a few charming folks who’d consider it their lucky day to meet your wife. I’ve checked them out; they carry no torch for any former flames and will be wholly committed in their relationships. Above all, they will trust their partners implicitly.” Liam’s tone was bold, unafraid of crossing lines.
Kristian’s hand tightened around the phone, his breaths becoming shallow and forceful.
He knew Liam well enough to understand that his brother was serious. Liam was a man of action; he’d make good on his promises.
“Our divorce decree hasn’t come through yet.” Kristian finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.
.
.
.