Chapter 243:
She frowned, remembering what Gerard had said earlier.
She unlocked her phone and sent Trent a quick message letting him know she was safe.
Then she paused on Kristian’s name in her contact list. She typed out a message about the fire being out, then deleted it. Instead, she sent a short message and a picture. The picture lit up on Kristian’s screen.
Her message read, “The marriage certificate is fine. Not burned.” The picture showed their marriage certificate still intact, lying neatly on a table.
Kristian, still in the car, saw the message and nearly exploded with frustration. He was at a loss for words. Freya had really mastered the art of getting under his skin.
He didn’t reply. He just turned off his phone and tossed it aside, his face growing darker.
Gerard peeked at him through the mirror and immediately looked away, swallowing hard. The air felt colder now.
Freya’s message was simple. He cared about the certificate—so she made sure to show him it was safe.
After sending it, she went back to her unread messages and found one from Lionel, sent hours ago.
“Will you attend my 80th birthday banquet?” it read.
She typed back, “I’m not sure yet.” Lionel held a strong position in their circle. If the Briggs Group needed a representative, she could attend.
Her divorce from Kristian was set for August 31st. Lionel’s birthday was on September 15th.
She didn’t know what responsibilities awaited her in Alerith, so she couldn’t promise anything yet.
Shortly after the message was sent, Freya’s phone lit up with Lionel’s incoming call.
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She swiped to answer with a quick, “Hello, Lionel.”
“Am I interrupting anything, Freya?”
“Not at all.”
“Do you have time tomorrow evening?” Lionel asked, his tone hopeful. “Isaac and Melinda have returned from handling their affairs, and considering your pending divorce from Kristian, they thought a meal together might be appropriate.”
Freya hesitated, letting the silence stretch between them.
She and Kristian had just shared dinner at the Shaw family’s residence on Friday. Though only Liam and Lionel had been present, it still qualified as a family gathering.
“Melinda has been eager to see you since her return yesterday,” Lionel continued, filling the silence. “Would you like to speak with her?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Freya replied, unwilling to face Melinda’s persuasive charm. “I’ll attend tomorrow night.”
“Wonderful.” Relief colored Lionel’s voice.
After exchanging goodnights, Freya waited for him to disconnect. The prospect of another family dinner weighed heavily on her mind. She massaged her temples, placed her phone on the charger, and retreated to freshen up.
That night, she slept without disturbance.
The day’s exhaustion had seemingly claimed every ounce of her energy.
While Freya descended into peaceful slumber, Kristian lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
He didn’t waste time contemplating whether Ashley’s words after her deception had been sincere; instead, his thoughts revolved around Freya and Trent. Did she truly understand the kind of man Trent was? The more he dwelled on Freya’s relationship with Trent, the more tangled his emotions became.
Eventually, fatigue overcame his restlessness, and he surrendered to sleep.
.
.
.