Chapter 65:
As she departed the hospital, she stopped briefly at a small market outside to exchange some cash.
At precisely half-past five, Gerard arrived with Kristian at the hospital, where they met Freya.
Kristian had changed into an impeccably tailored gray suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and trim waist, giving him the appearance of a fashion model, though his demeanor radiated an even more pronounced coldness.
“Mrs. Shaw,” Gerard greeted her with a slight smile.
Freya corrected him firmly, “Just call me Freya.”
Both Gerard and Kristian lapsed into momentary silence.
“Is someone in your family hospitalized here?” Kristian’s penetrating gaze surveyed the surroundings as he posed this critical question.
Freya replied evenly, “No.”
Kristian’s scrutiny intensified as he studied her face. “Do you honestly expect me to believe that?”
“Whether you accept my answer or not remains entirely your concern,” Freya countered sharply.
Since Ashley’s unfortunate incident, she had recognized that Kristian’s trust in her had completely evaporated.
Gerard remained silent nearby, unwilling to intervene in their confrontation.
“If no one in your family is hospitalized here, perhaps you could explain why your phone’s step counter barely exceeds two hundred steps today?” Kristian produced his phone, opened the tracking application, and revealed her data without hesitation.
His demeanor grew noticeably colder as he recalled the fleeting shadow he had glimpsed outside Ethel’s hospital room yesterday, a figure strikingly similar to Freya.
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“Coming from any significant distance, wouldn’t that number be substantially higher?” Kristian’s penetrating gaze intensified, creating palpable pressure.
“I never imagined love could so thoroughly erode someone’s rational thinking, but now I have living proof,” Freya remarked with unmistakable contempt.
Her words left both Kristian and Gerard momentarily speechless.
“There exists a remarkable invention called a taxi,” Freya added icily. “Traveling by vehicle naturally wouldn’t register steps.”
Both men immediately recognized this logical explanation.
Gerard glanced toward his boss, thinking once again that Kristian’s cognitive sharpness seemed diminished when compared to Freya’s quick thinking.
Kristian’s confidence faltered visibly.
Though Freya’s explanation was technically flawless, her overall demeanor didn’t suggest someone who had rushed over from a distant location.
“Sir, we should proceed inside,” Gerard interjected, sensing the escalating tension. “After visiting Miss Briggs, we still have important matters to discuss with Mr. Briggs.”
Kristian continued examining Freya intently.
Freya permitted his scrutiny without flinching.
After several uncomfortable moments, Kristian finally withdrew his gaze and moved purposefully toward the inpatient department. Freya exhaled subtly with relief, touched the currency in her pocket reassuringly, and followed behind him.
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