Chapter 615:
“Of course!” Frederick answered proudly, missing the trap entirely. “I was the first to know about her marriage and divorce—way before Trent and Riley.”
Trent coughed softly, hand to his mouth.
Frederick paused mid-sip, concern flickering across his face. “Trent, you feeling sick?”
“No,” Trent replied.
Now Frederick was truly stumped.
What the hell was going on today? Why was Trent acting so strange?
“Let’s play a few more rounds,” Ellis said as he stood up, grabbing a racket. “By the time we’re done, Freya should be here.”
“Trent, your turn,” Frederick said.
“He probably wants you to play,” Trent replied smoothly.
“I just played with him.”
Frederick looked baffled. “You go.”
“Trent’s in better shape than you, so it’s you who needs more exercise,” Ellis cut in. “With those skinny arms and legs of yours, you could use the exercise.”
Frederick felt a chill crawl down his spine. Why did it feel like he was walking into a trap?
No way.
He hadn’t done anything to tick Ellis off.
“Fine.”
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As they started the match, Frederick was already feeling the burn. He could return every shot, but each one was like a full-body workout, and after just a few rounds, he was already gasping for air.
Sweat drenched his face as he bent over, hands on his knees. “I can’t — I’m wiped.”
“It’s only been, what, two or three years since I last saw you, and you’re already this weak?” Ellis looked genuinely surprised.
Frederick had always ranked at the bottom physically, but he hadn’t been this bad. Now, a short match had him dead on his feet.
Frederick’s face fell.
This was bad.
“Come train at my base for a bit,” Ellis suggested, genuinely worried about his condition.
Frederick and Trent both turned at once, confused. “Base?”
“A training base I got approved,” Ellis explained quietly. “Some retired team members train there too.”
Frederick looked like he might cry.
Looked like more hellish workouts were in his future.
“What did Freya say before she left?” Ellis asked.
“Huh?”
“What was she going to do?”
“I don’t know…” Frederick stammered, eyes darting around at the sudden question. “Why not ask her yourself when she gets back?” Freya had told him not to breathe a word to Ellis.
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