Chapter 69:
How could she possibly forget? This little mischief-maker had wandered off to gather lotus flowers and had accidentally fallen into the pond. Even as Freya had pulled her to safety, she had clung tightly to a lotus flower.
Kristian turned his gaze toward Freya, studying her more intently. “Why haven’t you ever spoken of your ties to the Briggs family?”
“Do people usually bring up decade-old stories in daily conversation?” Freya shot back.
Kristian was left at a loss for words.
Ethel extended a warm invitation, her voice bubbling with cheer. “Freya, come join me over here!”
Freya moved to sit beside her.
Their conversation flowed easily, filled with fond memories of days gone by.
One moment they were laughing over how Freya had bravely confronted bullies on Ethel’s behalf, and the next they chuckled about the times Freya had craftily covered for Ethel’s secret snack raids.
“You’ve transformed so dramatically over the past decade,” Ethel remarked as she clasped Freya’s hands, her eyes glimmering with sentiment. “If it weren’t for your unmistakable face, I might not have recognized you at all.”
Kristian watched quietly, a slow realization settling in—it was probably true.
Ethel, ever protective of her sister, saw a perfect moment to challenge Kristian. She turned to him with a determined look. “Mr. Shaw, may I inquire about the reasons behind your decision to divorce Freya?”
“Our personalities just clash too much,” Kristian responded, his tone dismissive.
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Ethel faced Freya, searching her eyes. “Is that really the case?”
“Yes.” Freya nodded, albeit reluctantly.
A flicker of doubt crossed Ethel’s face. She knew her sister well enough to tell she was holding back the truth!
“Perhaps a divorce is for the best,” Ethel stated boldly, her voice firm and resolute. “Don’t worry, I know plenty of wonderful rich men. I’ll introduce you to them. They’ve all been eager to meet the woman who was my guardian angel back in the day.”
“Sure, I’m in,” Freya murmured, understanding that Ethel was merely playing her part.
Kristian’s expression tightened, a flicker of displeasure flashing across his face at Ethel’s remark.
“Miss Briggs, do you find pleasure in playing matchmaker?” Kristian’s voice carried a sharp edge of hostility.
“Not particularly,” Ethel responded with a confident shrug. “I just enjoy looking out for Freya. She’s a remarkable woman and truly deserves the best.”
“So, what makes you think you know who suits her best?” Kristian pressed, his tone challenging.
Ethel waved off his concern with a dismissive gesture. “Simple. I’ll introduce her to a selection, and she can pick whoever captures her heart,” she declared.
Kristian found Ethel’s meddling more than just irritating.
They were still in the midst of finalizing their divorce, and here was Ethel, unabashedly planning to introduce Freya to potential suitors right in front of him—a move devoid of any tact.
“This discussion should be postponed until after their divorce is finalized,” Kristian interjected, his voice laced with icy disapproval. “Regarding the collaboration, I’ll send someone to the Briggs Group another day to go over the details with you, Mr. Briggs. I’ll leave Miss Briggs to rest for now.”
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