Chapter 21:
Kristian’s complexion darkened with irritation. “You might be impotent, but I’m certainly not.”
“If I were truly impotent, then how do you explain your existence?” Isaac shot back, his retort sharp and biting.
Stunned into silence once more, Kristian stood frozen, the tension palpable.
“Kristian, why are you just standing there?” Lionel’s voice sliced through the awkward silence, cold and disapproving as if Kristian were a stranger rather than his own grandson. “Bring the fruit over to Freya, now.”
Kristian carried the fruit over to Freya with a heavy sigh, placing it gently before her. He then slid into the seat next to her.
Just as he was about to mention the divorce to Freya, Lionel interjected with a pointed observation, “Freya seems reserved, reluctant to touch the fruit. As her husband, shouldn’t you be offering some encouragement? Why sit there in silence?”
“So, just to confirm, am I adopted?” Kristian finally blurted out.
Melinda shook her head firmly. “No, you’re not.”
Isaac, with a sly smile, joked, “You were part of a special promotion.”
Kristian just stared, completely at a loss.
Breaking the uneasy quiet, Freya took a deep breath and addressed the group with a sense of resolve. “Isaac, Melinda, Lionel,” she began, her tone serious yet gentle, “we need to discuss something important today.”
Melinda and Lionel leaned forward, their faces lighting up with anticipation. “Are you pregnant? How many months? When did you find out?”
Freya’s heart sank at their enthusiasm, knowing she was about to shatter their expectations. “I’m planning to divorce Kristian,” she announced softly, her voice steady.
R𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒯h𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 🅐t g𝓐l𝓷ovєls.𝓬•𝓶
The room’s atmosphere shifted dramatically, turning cold and tense as the words hung heavily in the air.
Melinda’s hand froze above the fruit, Lionel’s grin slipped away, and Isaac folded his newspaper with a frown. The gravity of the announcement settled over them like a heavy fog.
“Why the sudden decision to divorce?” Melinda broke the silence, her voice a careful blend of concern and curiosity.
Freya began, her tone resolute, as if she were tying off a loose end that had bothered her for too long, “Well, I simply don’t love him anymore.”
“That’s understandable,” Melinda responded, her words measured.
Lionel exhaled a sigh of relief, as if releasing a burden he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying.
Across the way, Isaac sent a sharp, unreadable glance towards Kristian.
“That is fine,” Lionel declared with a blunt nod. “Isaac and I will stand behind you as you refine your leadership skills. Freya, you’re going to make a formidable president for Shaw Group.”
For them, love fading felt like nothing more than a small inconvenience.
Emotions could be cultivated, and as long as there weren’t any deep issues, they were confident in their ability to maintain their relationship with Freya.
“We’re serious about this.” Kristian interrupted, his voice carrying a newfound assertiveness. “Everything’s already set in motion. We’ll file the papers on Monday, and once the waiting period passes, we’ll finalize the divorce.”
“Who exactly told you to speak up?” Melinda snapped, irritation flaring in her tone.
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