Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Let's Go Say Hi To The Folks Next Door 9 "Sure," Kristian agreed, his voice tinged with the usual patience he reserved for Freya's whims.
As Freya continued to quietly eat, her thoughts wandered, puzzling over Kristian's presence.
Kristian couldn't help but grapple with the squestion. Even after settling into a private room with his friends- Felipe Yates, always hungry for , and Zander- Kristian's mind replayed the earlier scene he couldn't shake off.
The image of Freya and Trent, seated unusually close at an expansive table, nagged at him.
"What's on your mind?" Felipe prodded with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "You mentioned wanting to discuss something earlier. Why the brooding silence now?" "It's nothing," Kristian muttered, dismissing the inquiry with a wave of his hand, his brow furrowed in irritation. Felipe exchanged a knowing look with Zander.
Thriving on the thrill of the intrigue, Felipe couldn't help but stir the pot. "I heard Trent's reputation has been spotless for nearly three decades-always distant, never tangled up with any woman. Seems like he's not as aloof as the rumors made him out to be." "That's for sure," Zander chimed in, his voice smooth as he took a leisurely sip of his drink, his expression unreadable.
The mere mention of Trent's nwas enough to fan the flames of Kristian's annoyance. He snapped, glaring at Felipe, "Don't you have anything better to do than dig up gossip?" "Nope," Felipe retorted, his smile broadening, clearly enjoying the rising tension.
The three had been inseparable since they were kids, which explained why Felipe and Zander could weather Kristian's storms of temper with such ease.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKristian, feeling trapped in a maelstrom of emotion, fixed his eyes on Zander. His friend's aloofness pricked at him, stirring memories of a clip from a reality show he and Freya had once watched. It was enough to reignite his anger.
"You really think you're not a jerk, huh?" Kristian snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Must be nice, sipping drinks without a care in the world!" Zander, caught off guard, furrowed his brows in confusion. What did he do to- deserve this? Felipe slung an arm around Zander and chuckled with a devilish glint in his eye. "Oh, let's not wast 1 on a cuckold." 0.0% 15:32 m2 P 0 < Chapter 12 Let's Go Say Hi To The Folks Next Door Kristian, never one to mince words, especially not with them, shot back. "Worry about your own mess, Felipe, At least Freya isn't expecting another man's child." That jibe struck a nerve. Felipe's mischievous grin stiffened into mask of discomfort.
Zander, still puzzled, shifted his stance. He inquired softly, "What's all this about?" "Weren't you the one who called this meeting?" Felipe interjected, his to now tinged with bitterness. "Out with it then." Kristian, momentarily sidetracked from Freya, sighed deeply, "Look, I need a favor. Keep an eye on Ashley for me, will you?" The air was thick with the weight of unspoken debts as both men understood how uncommon it was for Kristian to owe anyone a favor.
Their conversation, however, pivoted sharply when one of them voiced the question on everyone's mind. "Ashley is back?" Kristian answered with a calm, almost distant tone, "Yes." "Are you divorcing Freya for her?" Zander probed, his voice laden with a mix of disbelief and concern.
"Yes," Kristian admitted, his tone flat but resolute.
Seizing the moment, Felipe chimed in with a biting tone, "Did you forget how she left you before, almost shattering you?" Kristian's expression softened slightly as he explained, "It turned out to be nothing but a misunderstanding. She set the record straight six months back." He continued, sharing more than he usually would, "Freya has askednot to see Ashley until everything is finalized with the divorce, so I need you two to keep an eye on her during this time." Zander, recalling his encounters with Freya, noted her gentle demeanor. "She wasn't angry about it?" Reflecting for a moment, Kristian replied, "Not really." Felipe scoffed, his cynicism clear, "Honestly, she acts like you're nothing to her. Feels more like she married your money, not you." "She's not like that," Kristian countered quickly, a protective edge to his voice.
"You'll see when she starts asking for her share during the divorce," Felipe retorted with a smirk, his words sharp. "People often wear masks of dignity and integrity, but who really knows what lies beneath? People can be extraordinarily greedy." Kristian's frown deepened, a tangible weight of resistance settling into the creases of his brow as he processed' Felipe's words.
He almost retorted that Freya wasn't the type to care about money, but a flicker of doubt held him back, haunted by her recent requests.
His mood soured further, the annoyance prickling under his skin making it increasingly difficult to s.
flavors of his meal.
the 26.3% 15:32 O Q X+ X+ < Chapter 12 Lets Go Seyle To The Fobs Sext Door Every now and then, his eyes flickered towards the door of the private room, drawn by a restless anticipation he couldn't quite shake off If Freya truly had something to hide about her relationship With Trent, she would've cforth with an explanation by now. Instead, thirty long minutes had ticked by without a word from her, fueling his unrest with a sigh, he took another distracted sip from his glass, his thoughts churning uneasily.
From across the table, Felipe and Zander exchanged glances, acutely aware of the tension radiating off Kristian As the silence stretched on, the atmosphere thickened with unspoken words until Felipe could no longer bear the heavy air. He rose, casually slipping a hand into his pocket, his voice breaking the quiet. "Let's go say hi to the folks next door." "No!" Kristian's voice was sharp, a flat refusal hanging between them Freya was the one who had every reason to feel guilty and reach out to him.
Sensing Kristian's wounded pride and stubborn stance, Felipe pressed on, a gentle coaxing to his tone, "Trent traveled all the way from Alerith to Jeucwell; shouldn't we at least greet him?" There was a moment's hesitation, a flicker of conflict across Kristian's features before Zander's hand cto rest reassuringly on his shoulder. "Let's go." Finding a decent reason, Kristian got up from his seat and followed them.
The three of them were strikingly attractive, each standing tall, their presence commanding enough to turn heads anywhere they went.
Luckily, the exclusivity of the members-only restaurant provided a semblance of privacy from unwanted attention.
Side by side with Zander, Kristian left the subtle art of introductions to Felipe, who was particularly skilled in such social niceties.
Felipe approached the door with a confident stride and knocked expertly, waiting for the soft sound of approval from within before entering.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
His keen gaze quickly swept across the room, pausing briefly on Freya before warmly settling on Trent With abroad smile. "Mr. Seymour, what an unexpected pleasure to encounter you here in Jeucwell!" he exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. "You flatter me, Mr. Yates," Trent responded, his tone laced with courtesy as he dabbed at his lips with a napkin.
"And this must be..." Felipe's voice trailed off enticingly as his eyes shifted back to Freya, leaving his sentence hanging in the air.
Yet, Freya chose to remain enveloped in silence.
Over their two-year marriage, Kristian had never officially introduced Freya to his circle, though she had briefly met them at various social events.
It was hard for her to believe that Felipe was truly unaware of her identity.
56.3% 15:32 +x+ 2 m 13 < Chapter 12 Let's Go Say Hi To The Folks Next Door "Just a friend," Trent replied with a shrug.
"Mr. Seymour, would you mind if we join you?" Felipe inquired boldly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "It would be wonderful to becacquainted." "Today isn't a good day," Trent replied with a courteous smile, maintaining his poised composure. "Perhaps on another occasion, we can share a delightful meal together." His refusal was so final that Felipe, unable to press further, shot an inquisitive look towards Freya.
Trent, known for his strategic maneuvers, wouldn't reject an offer so outright unless his relationship with Freya actually meant something to him.
Felipe, not one to give up and still smarting from an earlier slight by Kristian,
made another offer, his tone laced with a hint of mischief. "How about a this," he offered, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "We have the m private room next door. After you finish here, perhaps we could all meet for a chat?" This time, Trent hesitated. Instead of a direct refusal, he turned to Freya, seeking her input with a silent, questioning gaze.
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