Chapter 68:
Freya tensed with worry. Would her sister reveal her true identity?
“She’s your wife?” Ethel finally gazed openly at her sister.
Kristian offered an ambiguous response. “For the moment.”
“For the moment?” Hugh pressed.
“We’re proceeding with divorce,” Kristian stated evenly, carefully observing Hugh’s reaction.
If Hugh were truly Freya’s father, surely he would bristle at this revelation.
Yet Hugh betrayed no emotional response. He wasn’t one to pry into others’ personal affairs or engage in idle gossip. Questioning further would risk exposing her daughter’s identity and potentially derailing her plans.
Ethel seized the opportunity to confront Kristian, excitedly turning to Hugh, “Dad, don’t you think Mr. Shaw’s wife resembles someone from our past?”
Hugh’s puzzled eyes silently asked, “What are you doing?”
Ethel looked back, as if saying, “I’m showing Kristian that Freya has allies.”
Hugh’s concerned look warned, “Don’t expose Freya!”
Ethel’s eyes reassured, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
Hugh remained unconvinced, anxiety evident in his expression.
“Who?” Hugh interrupted their silent exchange with a verbal question.
“My bodyguard from elementary school, Freya,” Ethel improvised, her eyes sparkling with calculated excitement.
Hugh and Freya both fell silent.
Kristian’s brow creased slightly as he murmured, “Bodyguard?”
Find your imagination at galn ovels ; con
“Freya?” Hugh cautiously played along. He genuinely floundered for a response; this deviation wasn’t part of their planned script.
Ethel, skilled in improvisation, crafted a fictional past while subtly implicating her father. “When I was nine, don’t you remember bringing home a girl five years my senior? You assigned her to protect me, ensuring I wouldn’t face bullying outside school.”
Hugh’s forehead wrinkled in concentration. How should he respond? Pretend to recall this fabricated memory or continue feigning ignorance? Sheila was indeed five years younger than Mina. But without prepared lines for this unexpected scenario, he dared not speak carelessly, fearing one wrong word might unravel everything.
“Back then, I was bullied and shoved down the stairs—the principal had to call you in,” Ethel stated, her voice imbued with firm resolve. “You even accompanied the police to review the security footage…” Her tone intensified with sincerity as she spoke.
Aware that feigning ignorance might only escalate matters, Hugh decided to play along, feigning a moment of enlightenment. “Ah, that Freya?”
“Yes, exactly!” Ethel exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
“Are you Freya Briggs?” Hugh inquired, seeking confirmation of her identity.
Caught off guard by their convincing performance, Freya responded with a composed, “Yes.”
“Wait… Freya? Is that actually you?” Ethel bubbled over with joy, her demeanor reminiscent of a seasoned actress. “I’m the girl with the short hair you rescued from the pond when I tumbled in as a child. Everyone called me Sheila in the past. Do you remember?”
“Yes, I do,” Freya affirmed, nodding.
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