Chapter 167:
A contemplative hush descended upon the group.
Meanwhile, Kristian seethed internally.
The memory of Freya refusing to share transportation with him before an audience made him want to retrieve her forcibly and demand an explanation for her behavior.
Yet he restrained himself. He recognized that by the time he arrived, Liam would have departed, and Freya would deny him entry. After their previous encounter, she had likely altered her security codes.
In this particular aspect, he understood Freya completely.
Freya had indeed resolved never to grant Kristian access again. As buildings blurred past her window, she turned to Liam. “Do you and Kristian maintain an amicable relationship? I doubt it.”
“Indeed we do,” Liam clarified. “Were that not the case, considering my words and actions, he would have confronted me decisively long ago.”
Freya expressed mild astonishment. She had misjudged the dynamic between the brothers.
Liam consistently challenged Kristian, while Kristian appeared perpetually on the verge of reprimanding him. Their combative interactions scarcely suggested harmony.
“Our brotherly communication differs from conventional siblings. I derive pleasure from provoking him and observing the ensuing drama. Though he invariably responds with irritation, his threats remain empty—merely verbal posturing,” Liam explained enthusiastically.
“That’s unexpected,” Freya remarked with genuine surprise.
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“He tolerates my behavior because of a childhood incident,” Liam recounted with a wistful smile. “As a child, Kristian maintained a reserved demeanor, rarely speaking. If someone directed ten sentences toward him, he might respond with just one. This reticence made him unpopular among some kids, who eventually ganged up on him. That particular day, while searching for Kristian, I discovered him surrounded by a group of kids and instinctively took a blow for him. Consequently, I lost consciousness, which terrified him. Since that moment, he’s demonstrated exceptional protectiveness toward me.”
“Mmm,” Freya murmured thoughtfully. The revelation defied her expectations.
Liam glanced sideways at her, his lips curving upward. “Freya.”
She turned toward him. “Yes?”
“Have your feelings for Kristian truly dissipated?” Liam inquired.
“They have,” she affirmed.
“Excellent—maintain that stance,” Liam advised, his words catching Freya off guard as usual. “Throughout his life, he’s encountered minimal resistance and few genuine obstacles. Your challenging presence introduces a valuable lesson.”
Freya remained silent, lowering the window to welcome the rush of evening air.
As they continued their journey, approximately two or three kilometers from her residence, Freya glimpsed a solitary figure dressed in a white sweater waiting at an intersection ahead.
Peering through the windshield, she recognized Ashley’s unmistakable silhouette.
At that precise moment, Ashley spotted Freya in the passenger seat. Before Freya could contemplate Ashley’s unexpected presence, the woman launched herself toward the vehicle with alarming intensity. Liam slammed the brakes immediately, his customary relaxed expression evaporating instantly.
The proximity proved too close—despite the screeching brakes, the vehicle still collided with Ashley’s body.
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