Chapter 177:
Freya met her gaze, her eyes steely. “If you truly wish for forgiveness,” she began, her voice cold, “then keep your distance from Kristian. Vanish from his life, and never cross his path again. Do this, and perhaps I might forgive you.”
Stunned, Ashley bit her lip, the sharp pain grounding her swirling thoughts. “But…”
Freya wasn’t finished. Her challenge hung in the air, heavy and ominous. “Why? Can’t you do it?” she scoffed disdainfully. “Or perhaps, if that’s too much, prove your sincerity. Slap Kristian—twice. Maybe then, I’ll believe your regret.”
Under the weight of Freya’s words, Ashley clenched her fists beneath the blankets, her nails digging into her palms. A deep-seated hatred for Freya simmered within her, threatening to boil over.
Yet, with a tremble in her voice, she persisted, “Ms. Briggs, I must admit, this mess is my doing. Kristian shouldn’t be blamed…”
Freya’s response was swift, her tone icy. “I know,” she said, eyes glinting with cunning. “And I’m asking you to slap him—not to punish him, but to serve as a sharp reminder that he should be more cautious about the people he surrounds himself with.”
Kristian remained a silent, brooding figure in the backdrop.
Liam arched an eyebrow, intrigued by the unfolding drama.
Ashley, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, bit her bottom lip, the picture of someone wronged and sorrowful.
The sharp crack of her own slap echoed as her hand struck her face, leaving angry red marks on her pale skin.
It was a desperate, theatrical gesture meant to garner Kristian’s forgiveness and shift his displeasure toward Freya.
“What are you doing?” Kristian’s voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing in confusion and concern.
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Choking back a sob, Ashley responded, her voice laden with self-reproach, “I acted on impulse, selfishly so. I can’t bear to slap you, nor can I bear the thought of leaving your side. All I can offer is my deepest apologies and do whatever it takes to earn Ms. Briggs’s forgiveness.”
If she were keenly aware of Liam’s significance to Kristian, she would have tactfully kept him out of the fray. Nevertheless, she believed Freya was out of her league.
“That’s enough.” Kristian finally spoke, his voice tinged with exasperation. “Let’s put an end to this.”
“That’s hardly enough,” Liam chimed in, his tone casual yet cutting. “If someone can make false accusations and then escape with minimal consequences—merely shedding a few tears, admitting their mistake, and staging a self-punishment—are we not setting a precedent that mistakes can simply be cried away?”
“And what do you want?” Kristian’s stare was penetrating, a clear warning flashing in his eyes as he faced Liam, signaling him to tread carefully.
Restraint was never Liam’s strong suit; he always pushed limits. With a mischievous gleam in his eye, he insisted, “Why not make her kneel down for a while as punishment?”
He grinned, adding, “Just for half a day, to let off some steam.”
Ashley’s heart pounded furiously in her chest as she looked up. Could Kristian actually consider such a suggestion?
“Liam!” Kristian’s voice carried a stern warning.
“Come on, your bias is showing,” Liam noted, throwing a casual arm over his shoulder. “Tell me, if your wife had falsely accused Miss Bradley, would you let her off the hook so easily?”
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