Chapter 47:
A pause. Then, after weighing his words carefully, Gerard asked, “Are you really in love with Miss Bradley?”
Kristian’s gaze lingered thoughtfully on Freya before shifting, now laden with a mix of steadiness and confusion. “What do you mean?” he asked sharply.
Gerard leaned forward, his expression serious as he posed a weighty question. “Do you truly love Miss Bradley, or are you merely haunted by shadows of past feelings and unresolved yearnings?”
Kristian’s brow furrowed slightly, a hint of discomfort in his tone. “What are you getting at?”
The air between them grew thick, charged with unspoken thoughts.
“I’m worried you’re confusing past sparks with something real now,” Gerard remarked, his voice low and earnest. “You could miss a real chance at happiness with your wife.”
Kristian’s response was a silent one, his mind racing.
He knew his heart’s depth for Ashley; memories of her gentle company and shared laughter still had the power to soothe him.
Had their paths not diverged, they might have already been bound by marriage.
“There’s actually a straightforward way to see if your feelings for Miss Bradley are genuine,” Gerard went on, a playful smirk tugging at his lips, hinting he knew something interesting. “But I doubt you’re ready for it.”
Kristian’s interest piqued. “What is it?”
“Loving someone is a flash of heat, a quiet, irresistible pull.” Gerard leaned in closer, his voice a hushed whisper meant for Kristian’s ears only. “Think about it—do you feel any real desire for Miss Bradley? Any genuine physical attraction?”
The way Kristian’s expression shifted so quickly left no doubt he got it immediately.
𝔽𝗂𝗋𝖲𝗍 𝖘𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 at ⳑ𝖆Ⱡ𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀․ⅽ𝗈𝗆
Gerard pressed on, his gaze intense, “Do you feel it?”
Kristian’s gut reaction was a firm, unhesitating no.
Neither in his past nor in the present had he harbored such sentiments towards Ashley. All he wanted was to cherish her and help her build a life brimming with happiness.
But Freya…
The mere thought of Freya caused a slight crease to form between Kristian’s brows. He fixed Gerard with a piercing look, his expression one of firm rejection. “What works for you doesn’t necessarily work for me.”
If Gerard’s insinuation held any truth, it would suggest that Kristian harbored genuine feelings for Freya, an idea he found completely ludicrous.
Gerard, perceiving the depth of Kristian’s denial, chose silence.
He could envision the scene a month later, with the divorce papers freshly signed: Kristian, isolated in his expansive villa, clutching at memories to stave off loneliness.
Kristian’s brother had read him like a book; Kristian was in dire need of confronting his own setbacks.
After loading her last box, Freya approached Kristian, her tone blunt and direct. “All my things are moved out. I’ll reach out once the mandatory waiting period ends to finalize the divorce.”
“Wait.” Kristian’s voice halted her in her tracks.
.
.
.