Chapter 54:
Freya acknowledged this with a noncommittal sound.
Silence descended upon the room like a heavy curtain.
Hugh’s gaze lingered on her, almost tangible in its intensity. He wondered if she had found happiness during her years away from what had once been home.
“You…” Hugh began, then faltered.
“I’ll stay here at the hospital,” Freya interjected, her voice carrying the chill of winter as she stated firmly, “You should go home.”
Hugh remained silent, wrestling with unspoken questions.
He desperately wanted to ask about her life these past two years but recognized she would offer no answers.
After careful deliberation, he ventured only one question, “Between you and Kristian…”
“We’re going through a divorce,” Freya replied simply, settling into the chair beside the bed, her attention fixed unwavering on Sheila.
Hugh understood that Freya had no desire for extended conversation. After offering a few words of genuine concern, he reluctantly departed from the hospital room.
As he exited, he encountered Frederick in the hallway.
“Mina probably rushed back without eating anything,” Hugh remarked, familiar enough with Frederick to speak candidly. He glanced back toward the hospital room before adding, “Please make sure she gets a proper meal later.”
“You can count on me,” Frederick agreed readily.
Understanding the strained relationship between Freya and Hugh, Frederick refrained from further comment.
𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 — 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖙 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹐𝖼𝗈𝗺
After Hugh’s departure, Frederick entered the room with a playful gleam in his eye. “Freya, guess who I spotted while parking the car?”
Freya shot him a warning look that clearly communicated, “Disturb Sheila’s rest, and you’ll find yourself promptly ejected from the room.”
“Your husband,” Frederick whispered conspiratorially.
Freya raised her eyebrows slightly, skepticism evident. “Are you certain?”
“Absolutely positive. He arrived in the Shaw Group’s corporate vehicle from the Alerith branch,” Frederick elaborated, his tone tinged with unmistakable gossip. “Do you think he somehow discovered your whereabouts and came specifically to see Sheila?”
Freya remained thoughtfully silent.
Mentally retracing each step from disembarking the plane to parting ways with Kristian, she confirmed she had revealed nothing about her destination.
“Impossible,” she finally stated.
“Why?” Frederick whispered, careful not to disturb the sleeping patient.
“He doesn’t know I’m here,” Freya explained with characteristic brevity, “nor does he know I’m Sheila’s sister.”
For the first time, Frederick felt completely bewildered. “What exactly do you mean?”
“I never revealed my true identity to him,” Freya clarified, her composure unwavering.
“Not telling him doesn’t guarantee he can’t discover it independently,” Frederick reasoned, familiar with Kristian’s resources. “Whether in Jeucwell or Alerith, his network is extensive. Many people would readily assist him.”
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