Chapter 293:
As they drove back, Freya’s mind seemed to wander, and she asked, “Besides today, have you done anything else illegal?”
“No,” Ashley responded quickly, almost too quickly.
Freya nodded without another word, turning the car toward the city. By the time they arrived at an apartment complex, the sun had set, and the clock had ticked past seven.
As they stepped out of the car, Freya turned to Ashley and said, her voice steady but intense, “No matter who you’re up against, don’t let them control your conscience. I can protect your family, but I can’t save you from losing your moral compass.”
Ashley froze, struck by the weight of Freya’s words.
Her heart swelled with a mixture of joy and disbelief as she swallowed hard. “You… you’re really willing to protect my family?”
Freya didn’t respond right away, turning away to leave.
Her promise wasn’t for Ashley, but for the sake of those two innocent, vulnerable souls.
Ashley watched Freya walk away, a strange sense of trust filling her. Freya hadn’t said much, but something in her quiet strength spoke volumes.
Freya made a call using a public phone to ensure Ashley’s family was safe and settled.
As she approached her own apartment door, something niggled at her, a sense that she had forgotten something important.
When she was taken, the door had been left open. Frederick had called her earlier, saying he’d arrived in Jeucwell. With the hours that had passed and the door ajar, it was clear he must have thought something had happened to her.
With a sense of urgency, she opened the door and stepped inside. She was about to head to the living room to grab her phone when she caught a familiar, anxious voice.
“Trent, have you found Freya yet?” Frederick’s voice trembled with concern.
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Freya sighed, closing the door with a bittersweet sense of relief. As the door clicked shut, Frederick, still clutching the phone, walked over to her.
Seeing her standing there, his eyes widened in surprise, and he lost track of whatever Trent was saying on the other end.
“Freya?” he said, his voice barely a whisper.
“Mina’s back?” Trent’s deep voice came through the phone, echoing with tension.
“Yeah, yes,” Frederick replied quickly, his relief palpable.
Trent’s voice softened, and he gave his orders. “Give her the phone. I need to speak to her.”
“Okay,” Frederick said, almost as though he were still processing everything. He handed the phone to Freya, his hands shaking slightly. “Freya, it’s Trent.”
Freya took the phone, assured Trent she was safe, and briefly explained the situation.
“Glad to hear you’re alright,” Trent said, his tone now lighter. “You should also let Kristian know you’re okay.”
“How does he know?” Freya asked, still a little confused.
“This afternoon,” Trent explained, “when Frederick found out you were missing, he thought it was someone with a grudge against Kristian. So he asked me to check with him.”
Freya massaged the bridge of her nose, her voice tinged with resignation as she muttered, “Understood.”
Once the call ended, she scrolled through her contacts to find Kristian’s number. She attempted to reach him several times, each attempt thwarted by an automated voice telling her the call couldn’t be connected.
With a thoughtful frown, she opted to send him a message, reassuring him of her safety.
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