She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 206

Chapter 206 I'll Pay You

"If you don't feel like talking, then don't." Cend, y the yoga, urthseves out of Melvin with a bit of

persistence "Let's just yang dowling"

Gerard prided himself on his impressive alcohol tolerance

But there was one critical truth Gerard had completely overload. The sharpest ons die wore the m weakness to

bait their prey

From the very start, Melvin had laid out a careful trap, danging past the right topje to wet Ceret's convey -his

entire setup was designed to lure him in.

And regrettably, Gerard-usually sharp and perceptive as Kristian's right-hand man-don't we wy of it coming

As he watched Melvin seem to slide deeper into drunkenness, Gerard thought maybe just one more drink as

Melvin would spill.

One more glass.

Then another.

And another still...

They knocked back drink after drink in relentless succession.

Eventually, the alcohol began to take a toll on Gerard too. When he saw Melvin's cheeks flush and his eyes glaze

over, he figured the moment had arrived.

He slung an arm around Melvin's shoulder and leaned in, trying for a heart-to- heart, "Sometimes it's better to let

it out than drown in booze. Con-what happened between you two?"

"She's got feelings for someone else," Melvin mumbled, his voice low and muffled. His tone had shifted subtly,

and he still clutched his glass in hand.

Even if Freya were sitting right there, she'd never have guessed he was putting on an act.

His expression, his pauses, even his body language-every movement was executed with such precision it looked

entirely genuine.

Gerard blinked, his mind slightly fogged.

Seizing the sliver of clarity he still had, he pressed further, "So how long were you two actually together?"

Melvin hesitated, then gave a small shake of his head.

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Even pretending to be drunk, he wasn't one for talking much.

But Gerard misread the silence entirely, assuming it cfrom heartbreak so deep it left Melvin speechless.

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Chapter 206 I'll Pay You

Otherwise, why would his friend have dragged him out for an impromptu night of heavy drinking?

"Wait a sec." Gerard said suddenly, his thoughts churning "Weren't you pretending to be Ms. Briggs's boyfriend

before? Could it be your actual girlfriend misunderstood and duped you because of that?

"She doesn't even know | like her." Melvin said, irritation bleeding into his voice. He couldn't believe Gerard

was this thick.

But to keep him drinking, Melvin let his emotions show-lips set in a bitter line, and he tossed out a carefully

measured clue.

Gerard mulled it over.

So... it was a secret crush?

The realization struck him, and he looked at Melvin with newfound curiosity. He hadn't expected the cool and

aloof Melvin to be harboring quiet affection for someone. But who was this woman? Why had he never heard a

word? Melvin had never once mentioned her.

"Who is she?" Gerard asked, thinking he was finally getting somewhere.

Melvin glanced at him, the look in his eyes clearing like a fog lifting. It was as though Gerard's question had

sobered him. Shaking his head, Melvin said quietly, "I can't tell you."

"You can't... tell me?"

Gerard's curiosity now bordered on obsession. He looked at the bottles between them and topped off their

glasses. "Alright, then. One more drink. Maybe it'll drown your sadness."

"Sure," Melvin replied, his voice cool and composed.

Gerard doubled down, pushing drink after drink on Melvin, determined to wear him down.

He figured if Melvin just drank enough, he'd cave.

His plan was simple: let Melvin get wasted while he played along and stayed relatively sober.

But what Gerard hadn't accounted for was Melvin's stubbornness-even under the influence. Every tMelvin

took a shot, he insisted Gerard match him.

Ten minutes later, Gerard's head was spinning like a top, and the room felt like it was tilting.

Seeing him like that, Melvin knew the moment had come.

Before he could speak, Gerard threw his arm over Melvin's shoulder again and slurred, "I've drunk more with you

tonight than | ever do at Mr. Shaw's business dinners. Can't you at least tellwho you've got a thing for?"

"I'll tell you-if you answer one question first." Melvin set his glass down, his drunken haze vanishing in an instant.

In its place was the calm, razor-sharp gaze of a man completely in control.

Just like that, he was back to his usual self-cool, measured, untouchable.

Gerard squinted at him. "Huh?"

"What did you and Kristian talk about with Freya's grandfather today?" Melvin asked, his tone deceptively casual,

though his eyes stayed locked on Gerard's face.

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Gerard immediately recoiled, pulling his arm back and eyeing him warily. "Wait are you trying to trap me?"

Melvin was momentarily stunned. How was Gerard not drunk yet? That didn't make sense. Gerard should've

been flat out by now.

"I'm not telling you anything!" Gerard grumbled, shaking his head like a defiant child. "Mr. Shaw said this stays

between us. It's top secret!"

"I'm not Freya. You can tell me."

Melvin's voice was calm, reassuring-laced with just enough sincerity to sound believable.

Gerard's cloudy mind struggled to keep up. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Okay... but not a word to anyone," Gerard said, letting his guard drop completely. "Especially not Ms. Briggs."

"My lips are sealed," Melvin promised, sounding perfectly convincing

“My boss made a deal with Mr. Miguel Briggs,” Gerard revealed, his tongue loose and unfiltered. “He gave him

exactly what he wanted in exchange for a promise- to stop forcing Ms. Briggs into arranged dates or marriage."

Melvin froze, his usually composed eyes darkening with a flicker of surprise.

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"He didn't know what he had until he lost it," Gerard went on, slumping over the table as he mumbled.

"Honestly, I'm still in disbelief over everything he did." Melvin stayed quiet, thoughts racing behind a still

expression. Should he tell Freya about this? And if he did, how would she react?

"You seriously can't tell a soul." Gerard sat up suddenly, his flushed face scrunched with drunken solemnity. "I'm

trusting you because you're my buddy. But

if you spill the beans, I'm screwed."

"I'll pay you," Melvin said without blinking.

Even though Gerard was just an assistant, he held a modest share in Shaw

Group and earned a substantial salary with hefty bonuses.

But Melvin, managing Anita International Group, owned ten percent of the

company.

Though newer than the Shaw and Briggs Goups, Anita International was a titan in Al and chip tech, dominating

both domestic and global markets.

Countless corporations had lined up with offers to acquire their patents-but Freya turned them all down.

If she ever decided to sell, she'd be the richest figure in the entire sector.

Not that she ever cared about wealth.

"Swear you won't say a word," Gerard murmured, finally slumping forward and passing out cold.

Melvin cast him a glance, then paid the bill and called for a cab.

He hauled Gerard to a nearby hotel, booked a room, and dumped him on the bed without ceremony. Standing in

the elegantly furnished suite, Melvin looked down

at his flushed, unconscious face, his expression

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< Chapter 206 Ill Pay You

unreadable.

Just as he was weighing whether to tell Freya the truth, Gerard's phone started to

ring

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