Chapter 90:
Hugh’s uncertainty grew, but he hesitated to press the issue, wary of truly irritating Freya.
Freya, meanwhile, had spent the entire morning enveloped in sleep. It was only in the late afternoon, around three or four, that she stirred to check the time and…
Freya noticed a new text message on her phone. “This is Ashley. Could you possibly reach out to Kristian for me? There’s a matter of some urgency I need to discuss with him.”
Freya paused, taken aback. Were mistresses really so bold these days, contacting the wives directly? She quickly dismissed the message and continued with her day. She wasn’t trying to play the martyr, nor did she care to get involved in Kristian’s affairs.
And honestly, the message felt off—like something wasn’t adding up.
Out of everyone at Shaw Group, Ashley had sent the message to the one person who had the least patience for her.
Freya viewed the situation with growing suspicion, her instincts on high alert.
Her phone erupted in a series of urgent vibrations.
Lifting the phone, she recognized the caller ID—it was the same number that had messaged her earlier. Clearly, it was Ashley on the other end.
With a cautious press of the answer button, Freya also activated the recording feature, just to be safe.
As the call connected, a soft, somewhat pained voice floated through the speaker. “Is this Ms. Briggs? This is Ashley Bradley. Could you possibly hand the phone to Kristian? There’s something urgent I need to discuss with him.”
“No,” Freya responded sharply, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
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“It’s b-bully important that I speak with him,” Ashley insisted, her voice a mixture of pleading and urgency. “I’m practically begging you.”
“You really have some nerve,” Freya retorted, never one to mince words with her. “Why would you think it’s appropriate for me to connect you with Kristian?”
A heavy silence fell on Ashley’s end.
Freya issued her cutting conclusion. “People should have some self-respect, don’t you think?”
“Ms. Briggs…” Ashley attempted to interject.
But Freya, undeterred, ended the call abruptly, blocking and deleting Ashley’s number from her phone.
She was determined not to entertain any more of Ashley’s interruptions.
To be honest, she had no idea what was going through Ashley’s head.
“Please, I’m desperate to see Kristian. He’s been steering clear of me because of your agreement, yet I need him by my side more than ever now.”
Freya stared at the message from yet another unfamiliar number, her features tightening visibly.
The notion of a mistress imploring a wife for access to her husband was downright ludicrous.
“I must tell you, I’m carrying Kristian’s child!”
Ashley’s messages followed one after the other, each more startling than the last, but it was the final confession that hit with the force of a thunderclap.
Ashley was pregnant—and the child was Kristian’s.
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