Chapter 233:
“Did you sleep with Trent Seymour?” The words tumbled out of Kristian’s mouth as his hand tightened into a fist, his eyes darkening with a storm of barely contained fury.
Freya was momentarily speechless. This accusation was absurd.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, she decided to address the misunderstanding head-on. After all, if their roles were reversed—if she had seen him with Ashley—she might have jumped to the same conclusion.
“No,” she asserted calmly.
“Can’t you just be honest for once?” The ice in Kristian’s voice was palpable as he finally unleashed his pent-up emotions.
“Do I need to show you the photos of you two walking out of a hotel room and him bidding you goodbye at your car before you’ll admit the truth?”
Freya swallowed her emotions and addressed Kristian directly.
“If you harbor doubts or mistrust me, please state it plainly.”
“Who delivered that letter to Trent? Why him specifically? If someone truly faced kidnapping, wouldn’t contacting authorities be the logical solution?” Kristian unleashed his questions as Freya had requested.
“One moment,” Freya replied.
Kristian’s anger flared. Had she genuinely asked him to wait after everything?
Freya retrieved her phone and contacted Trent, requesting the letter. After ending the call, Trent took a picture of it and transmitted it immediately.
Freya displayed the image to Kristian.
He examined every word meticulously, grudgingly acknowledging that Trent’s reputation was well-earned—even his excuses demonstrated flawless execution.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝖌𝖆𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹒𝗰𝗼𝗺
“The letter courier is currently being identified through hotel surveillance footage,” Freya clarified.
Kristian tossed her phone onto the table, regarding her with an unfamiliar, icy stare that sent shivers through her.
“Let me guess—you’ll claim next that the surveillance system malfunctioned?”
“You don’t trust me?” Freya challenged.
“In your position, would you trust me?” Kristian rose, his chest constricting with emotion.
“This letter was likely crafted by some hired hand, prepared specifically so when I questioned its authenticity, you could offer handwriting verification.”
Freya felt her throat tighten. Hadn’t her explanation covered everything thoroughly?
The coldness in Kristian’s eyes crystallized, creating a palpable distance that Freya sensed acutely. Something fundamental had severed between them. Tension saturated the air.
“Freya,” Kristian uttered her name, his voice devoid of warmth.
“I can’t fathom how profoundly I misjudged you.”
With those words, he departed.
The door crashed violently as he exited.
He had contemplated trusting her, but after witnessing her emerge from the hotel with Trent and volunteer explanations unprompted, how could trust remain possible?
The more he reflected, the more foolish he felt.
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.
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