Chapter 72:
The pain was more than physical.
Silently, Kristian slid into his car, slumped back into the seat, and shut his eyes.
The air inside the car grew thick with tension.
With no destination given, Gerard simply let the car drift through the streets.
After a stretch of time, Kristian’s eyes flickered open, veiled in a deep, unsettling darkness. He murmured, “Gerard.”
“I’m listening.”
“Do you think she’s right?” Kristian inquired, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Gerard paused, his words teetering on the brink of agreement. “Well…”
“If she truly didn’t care about the money, why then did she demand such a hefty sum in the divorce?” Kristian pressed, his demeanor growing increasingly frosty.
Trying to rationalize her actions to himself, he added, “Her intentions seem noble on the surface, but deep down, isn’t she just another opportunist?”
Gerard felt compelled to defend her. “I wouldn’t say she is like that, not at all.”
“She must be quite persuasive to have even swayed you,” Kristian remarked, his tone sharp, his skepticism about Freya deepening.
Feeling slightly cornered yet maintaining his composure, Gerard explained, “Under the law here, assets acquired during the marriage are considered joint property. It’s perfectly normal for her to claim half.” He cautiously omitted the fact that even Kristian’s brother sided with Freya.
“I never laid claim to her assets,” Kristian countered coldly.
“That was your decision,” Gerard pointed out.
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Kristian’s voice chilled the air further. “Gerard!”
“Sir, there’s something you might not want to hear.” Bracing himself, Gerard continued, determined to offer a different perspective, “The truth is, you were unfaithful. She showed considerable restraint by not leaving you destitute.”
Kristian’s face soured at the accusation. “Since when have I been unfaithful?”
Gerard maintained a fixed gaze on the road, opting to remain silent.
Kristian’s irritation was mounting by the second.
At that moment, Gerard’s phone started ringing.
Glancing at the caller ID, he twisted around slightly and said, “It’s Miss Bradley on the line.”
“That’s on you,” Kristian retorted with a scowl, his mood souring further. “Haven’t you figured out that I’m not supposed to contact her now?”
Gerard nodded slightly, deciding to return the call later, and focused back on driving.
Meanwhile, Freya made her way back to the hospital.
Inside, Hugh lingered by the window in the hospital room, anxiously awaiting her return. Despite the strains in their relationship, as a father, he felt compelled to protect Freya and shield her from any mistreatment.
After a restless thirty minutes, Ethel could no longer keep her peace and turned to Hugh. “We need to get to the bottom of why my sister is divorcing Kristian when she gets back. We can’t stand by and watch her suffer like this.”
“Agreed,” Hugh nodded solemnly.
They were about to delve deeper into their conversation when the hospital room door swung open.
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