She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Arranging Dinner With Freya's Father Kristian strode out of the hospital room with measured steps, Damon's words echoing in his mind.

His eyes darkened as the implications sank in. Could Freya truly be Hugh Briggs's daughter? The possibility unsettled him.

Outside, he spotted Richie Hewitt, the branch manager, waiting attentively by the door.

"Richie," Kristian summoned him with quiet authority.

Richie snapped to attention, his posture stiffening as he searched Kristian's expression for clues about the meeting with Damon.

"Find an opportunity to arrange dinner with Hugh Briggs of the Briggs Group," Kristian instructed, his voice deliberately measured, masking his true intentions. Confusion flickered across Richie's features. "Hugh Briggs of the Briggs Group?" "Yes," Kristian confirmed casually, continuing his path down the corridor. He paused briefly to glance into Ethel's room as he passed.

Richie hurried after him. "But our projects with the Briggs Group aren't core collaborations." He assumed business motives behind the request. "Wouldn't arranging dinner seem inappropriate under these circumstances?" "It's perfectly fine," Kristian replied, shifting his gaze forward again. He had already formulated his strategy to probe Hugh. "Simply mention that I find our cooperation with the Briggs Group promising and wish to explore deeper collaboration." Richie hesitated, his lips twitching with unspoken reluctance.

"What's wrong?" Kristian inquired, noticing the man's discomfort.

"Our cooperation with the Briggs Group hasn't exactly been pleasant..." Richie's face paled as memories surfaced. "During percentage negotiations, both parties maintained superficial politeness while secretly harboring violent thoughts toward each other." That collaboration had resembled nothing short of a battlefield.

The Briggs Group ranked last on Richie's list of desired business partners-they were impossibly difficult! Kristian fell silent, taken aback. He hadn't anticipated this complication, as Alerith's business dealings were managed externally. "Then devise another pretext for the meeting," he directed.

"Yes, sir," Richie agreed, though reluctance still tinged his voice.

0.0% 15:37 m2 13 ||| = = > 0 Meanwhile, Freya remained blissfully unaware that Kristian planned to meet her fatture At nine that evening, Ethel finally stirred from unconsciousness Her eyelids fluttered open to reveal the sterile white hospital room. Pain radiated through her body coding her to wince as she attempted to move. Then, a voice- one she had yearned to hear em in her threached her ears.

"Don't move," Freya cautioned gently, placing a restraining hand on her sister "You's will commened to an drip." Excitement instantly flooded Ethel's being. Joy illuminated her eyes as she turned toward the seed mice "You're back!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion.

"Yes," Freya confirmed softly. "The drip will be completed in about twenty minutes just ter sill wil frem "Okay," Ethel complied eagerly, her bright gaze fixed adoringly on Freya, drinking in her presence Freya tucked the blanket snugly around her sister's form, concerned about potental chills "Mina," Ethel murmured.

"Yes?" Freya responded attentively.

"It's so wonderful to have you back," Ethel continued, her voice warm with affection Freya's lips curved into a tender smile.

"Mina," Ethel called again.

"Yes?" "I'm overjoyed to see you," Ethel whispered, her words simple but heartfelt.

Freya playfully tapped her sister's nose, affection radiating from her expression. Focus on recovering inst." "Okay!" Ethel beamed with happiness.

Twenty minutes later, after the infusion completed, Freya summoned the night nurse Once freed from the IV, Ethel struggled eagerly to sit upright, desperate to be closer to her sister Freya adjusted the bed to a comfortable position, offered her a cup of water, and settled beside her, their reunion finally complete.

Since reuniting with Freya, Ethel's face radiated pure joy, her spirits soaring with each passing moment. "Dad mentioned you married Kristian Shaw and are planning to divorce. Is that true?" she inquired, cannsity dancing in her eyes.

Freya fell silent, contemplating the question.

The knowledge of her marriage seemed to have spread further than she anticipated "Before I address that," Freya redirected gently, her gaze settling on the bandages encircling Ethel's head, "you need to explain how you acquired these injuries." 27.6% 1537 < Chapter 23 Arranging Dinner With Freya's Father Ethel's excitement dimmed noticeably, replaced by a flicker of hesitation that crossed her features.

Freya waited with patient silence, allowing her sister the space to gather her thoughts without pressure. "You can't becangry when I tell you," Ethel negotiated, teeth worrying her bottom lip anxiously. "Alright," Freya conceded with a reassuring nod.

Ethel hesitated extensively before finally admitting, "I was beaten, though I'm uncertain about who orchestrated it.* "Share your suspicions with me," Freya encouraged, maintaining her composure despite the revelation.

"I believe it might have been Cheryl's relatives," Ethel confessed in a whisper. "But it probably bears no connection to her personally." Cheryl Newman had bectheir father's new companion in recent times.

"I only had a single morning class, so I'd arranged to go shopping with my dormmates that afternoon. Then I received an unexpected text," Ethel elaborated, reconstructing the sequence of events. "It claimed a friend of mine was in trouble and urgedto hurry to a specific location." "Which friend?" Freya probed, seeking crucial details.

Ethel hesitated meaningfully, her eyes deliberately avoiding Freya's penetrating gaze. Understanding dawned immediately on Freya. "A boyfriend?" "Uh..." Ethel confirmed sheepishly, anticipating her sister's potential disapproval.

"I didn't analyze the situation thoroughly at the tand simply rushed to the address provided. It proved to be an elaborate trap." "Could you showthe text message?" Freya requested.

"Of course!" Ethel unlocked her phone with swift fingers and presented it to her sister.

Freya examined the message carefully, committing the number to memory. "Mina," Ethel ventured cautiously.

"Yes?"

"Please don't create difficulties for Cheryl," Ethel implored, well aware of her sister's lingering resentment. "I can Confidently assure you she had no involvement in this incident." During the two years of her sister's absence, Ethel had gained significant perspective. Cheryl wasn't the villain she'd once believed her to be.

Freya paused thoughtfully before responding, "As long as she hasn't caused you harm. What traired after you arrived at the location?" She returned the phone after thoroughly examining the message.

"I was ambushed in an alleyway before reaching my intended destination," Ethel recounted with remarkable objectivity. "I caughtra glimpse of Cheryl's younger brother observing from outside the alley. Then my... boyfriend arrived, rescued me, and transportedto the hospital. Everything afterward remains a blank. Oh! I should mention-my boyfriend cbecause I texted him en route to verify if he was genuinely in trouble." 57.0% 15:37 m2 DP III O < Chapter 23 Arranging Dinner With Freya's Father Freya nodded, having assembled a comprehensive picture of the events. "Did you file a police report "Yes," Ethel confirmed with a nod.

Freya made a solemn promise. "I'll provide you with the complete truth within seven days." Ethel nodded eagerly, a mischievous sparkle igniting in her eyes.

Having successfully avoided censure for having a boyfriend, she grewm emboldened. "Now that I've shared my story, shouldn't you reciprocate with yours?" Freya was poised to respond when her attention shifted to an incoming text message from Hugh. The message read, “Kristian has requested to have dinner with me. Should I accept the invitation?"