Chapter 30:
The mere mention of Trent’s name was enough to fan the flames of Kristian’s annoyance. He snapped, glaring at Felipe, “Don’t you have anything better to do than dig up gossip?”
“Nope,” Felipe retorted, his smile broadening, clearly enjoying the rising tension.
The three had been inseparable since they were kids, which explained why Felipe and Zander could weather Kristian’s storms of temper with such ease.
Kristian, feeling trapped in a maelstrom of emotion, fixed his eyes on Zander. His friend’s aloofness pricked at him, stirring memories of a clip from a reality show he and Freya had once watched. It was enough to reignite his anger.
“You really think you’re not a jerk, huh?” Kristian snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Must be nice, sipping drinks without a care in the world!”
Zander, caught off guard, furrowed his brows in confusion. What did he do to deserve this?
Felipe slung an arm around Zander and chuckled with a devilish glint in his eye. “Oh, let’s not waste breath on a cuckold.”
Kristian, never one to mince words, especially not with them, shot back. “Worry about your own mess, Felipe. At least Freya isn’t expecting another man’s child.”
That jibe struck a nerve. Felipe’s mischievous grin stiffened into a mask of discomfort.
Zander, still puzzled, shifted his stance. He inquired softly, “What’s all this about?”
“Weren’t you the one who called this meeting?” Felipe interjected, his tone now tinged with bitterness. “Out with it then.”
Kristian, momentarily sidetracked from Freya, sighed deeply. “Look, I need a favor. Keep an eye on Ashley for me, will you?”
Nore chatpers 𝖌Ɐ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.c0n
The air was thick with the weight of unspoken debts as both men understood how uncommon it was for Kristian to owe anyone a favor. Their conversation, however, pivoted sharply when one of them voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
“Ashley is back?”
Kristian answered with a calm, almost distant tone, “Yes.”
“Are you divorcing Freya for her?” Zander probed, his voice laden with a mix of disbelief and concern.
“Yes,” Kristian admitted, his tone flat but resolute.
Seizing the moment, Felipe chimed in with a biting tone, “Did you forget how she left you before, almost shattering you?”
Kristian’s expression softened slightly as he explained, “It turned out to be nothing but a misunderstanding. She set the record straight six months back.”
He continued, sharing more than he usually would. “Freya has asked me not to see Ashley until everything is finalized with the divorce, so I need you two to keep an eye on her during this time.”
Zander, recalling his encounters with Freya, noted her gentle demeanor. “She wasn’t angry about it?”
Reflecting for a moment, Kristian replied, “Not really.”
Felipe scoffed, his cynicism clear. “Honestly, she acts like you’re nothing to her. Feels more like she married your money, not you.”
“She’s not like that,” Kristian countered quickly, a protective edge to his voice.
“You’ll see when she starts asking for her share during the divorce,” Felipe retorted with a smirk, his words sharp. “People often wear masks of dignity and integrity, but who really knows what lies beneath? People can be extraordinarily greedy.”
Kristian’s frown deepened, a tangible weight of resistance settling into the creases of his brow as he processed Felipe’s words.
.
.
.