Chapter 80:
Upon receiving Edwin’s message, Gerard drove directly to the designated hotel.
During the journey, reflecting on earlier events, he couldn’t resist asking, “Sir, I’m uncertain whether I should inquire about something.”
“If uncertainty plagues you, refrain from asking,” Kristian snapped. “Isn’t it rather unsettling to agree to Edwin delivering your wife to your bed?”
Gerard, emboldened by curiosity, pressed on, “How does it feel to pursue her through such unconventional means?”
“Consider your year-end bonus forfeit,” Kristian fired back.
Realizing his precarious position, Gerard hastily added, “Sir, rest assured, I’ll ensure Vertex Corporation understands precisely who stands as Mrs. Shaw’s protector.”
Kristian countered, “Your quarterly bonus can also disappear.”
Gerard now genuinely wondered where he had gone wrong.
“Freya and I have already filed for divorce,” Kristian stated icily, still clutching his phone. “I’m addressing Edwin’s behavior solely because I refuse to let anyone sully my reputation.”
Gerard fell silent. Kristian divorced his wife for another woman, yet he still worried about his reputation?
Instead, he simply replied, “Yes, you’re right.”
“The semi-annual bonus isn’t necessary either,” Kristian added coldly.
Even with Gerard’s normally accommodating temperament, his composure began to fray. What mistake had he made this time?
“I believe there’s one consideration you’ve overlooked,” Gerard ventured, wracking his brain while navigating the road. “Despite your divorce proceedings, until you receive the official decree, you remain legally bound. And as long as that legal connection exists, you have an obligation to protect her from unsavory characters.”
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“She volunteered,” Kristian retorted, bristling at the memory of earlier events. “She even urged Edwin Newman to escort her to the hotel promptly.”
Gerard countered, “That’s because she knows the person waiting for her after check-in is you.”
“She harbors no affection for me,” Kristian stated flatly.
Gerard found himself at a loss for words. There was simply no suitable response.
He murmured under his breath, “Aware that she harbors no affection for you, yet you humiliated her in front of numerous onlookers. No wonder your marriage ended.”
Kristian glanced toward Gerard’s head, his eyes glinting dangerously. “What insults are you mentally throwing at me?”
“Not criticizing you,” Gerard lied smoothly, without a hint of discomfort. “Merely strategizing how to facilitate an amicable day between you and your wife.”
It was barely midday. Several hours stretched before evening arrived. Considering Freya’s attitude toward Kristian, spending even ten minutes together in the same room would border on miraculous.
Kristian disregarded Gerard’s comment, his mind wrestling with the same dilemma. Since their heated exchange at the hospital, he had recognized Freya’s aversion toward him.
Today, he only wanted her to understand that this social circle wasn’t as idyllic as she imagined.
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