Chapter 31:
He almost retorted that Freya wasn’t the type to care about money, but a flicker of doubt held him back, haunted by her recent requests. His mood soured further, the annoyance prickling under his skin making it increasingly difficult to savor the flavors of his meal. Every now and then, his eyes flickered toward the door of the private room, drawn by a restless anticipation he couldn’t quite shake off. If Freya truly had something to hide about her relationship with Trent, she would’ve come forth with an explanation by now. Instead, thirty long minutes had ticked by without a word from her, fueling his unrest.
With a sigh, he took another distracted sip from his glass, his thoughts churning uneasily.
From across the table, Felipe and Zander exchanged glances, acutely aware of the tension radiating off Kristian.
As the silence stretched on, the atmosphere thickened with unspoken words until Felipe could no longer bear the heavy air. He rose, casually slipping a hand into his pocket, his voice breaking the quiet. “Let’s go say hi to the folks next door.”
“No!” Kristian’s voice was sharp, a flat refusal hanging between them. Freya was the one who had every reason to feel guilty and reach out to him.
Sensing Kristian’s wounded pride and stubborn stance, Felipe pressed on, a gentle coaxing to his tone, “Trent traveled all the way from Alerith to Jeucwell; shouldn’t we at least greet him?”
There was a moment’s hesitation, a flicker of conflict across Kristian’s features before Zander’s hand came to rest reassuringly on his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Finding a decent reason, Kristian got up from his seat and followed them.
The three of them were strikingly attractive, each standing tall, their presence commanding enough to turn heads anywhere they went. Luckily, the exclusivity of the members-only restaurant provided a semblance of privacy from unwanted attention.
Side by side with Zander, Kristian left the subtle art of introductions to Felipe, who was particularly skilled in such social niceties.
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Felipe approached the door with a confident stride and knocked expertly, waiting for the soft sound of approval from within before entering.
His keen gaze quickly swept across the room, pausing briefly on Freya before warmly settling on Trent with a broad smile. “Mr. Seymour, what an unexpected pleasure to encounter you here in Jeucwell!” he exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm.
“You flatter me, Mr. Yates,” Trent responded, his tone laced with courtesy as he dabbed at his lips with a napkin.
“And this must be…” Felipe’s voice trailed off enticingly as his eyes shifted back to Freya, leaving his sentence hanging in the air.
Yet, Freya chose to remain enveloped in silence.
Over their two-year marriage, Kristian had never officially introduced Freya to his circle, though she had briefly met them at various social events.
It was hard for her to believe that Felipe was truly unaware of her identity.
“Just a friend,” Trent replied with a shrug.
“Mr. Seymour, would you mind if we join you?” Felipe inquired boldly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. “It would be wonderful to become acquainted.”
“Today isn’t a good day,” Trent replied with a courteous smile, maintaining his poised composure. “Perhaps on another occasion, we can share a delightful meal together.”
His refusal was so final that Felipe, unable to press further, shot an inquisitive look towards Freya.
.
.
.