Their discussion eventually turned toward Kristian.
Ethel’s expression changed subtly. “Mina, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you.”
“What is it?” Freya’s interest piqued immediately.
Ethel hesitated. “It’s about Kristian.”
Freya tensed, an uneasy premonition washing over her.
Squirming under Freya’s intense gaze, Ethel bit her lip nervously and confessed, “This morning, I had a brief conversation with Dad. When I learned Kristian was bringing you to meet him, I persuaded Dad to relocate the meeting here.”
Freya blinked in surprise. “Are you serious?”
“I just wanted to see what he’s like in person,” Ethel admitted, acknowledging her mistake yet unable to suppress her curiosity. “After all, he was practically family at one point.”
Freya fell into contemplative silence. Her sister certainly excelled at complicating her already precarious situation.
“Mina?” Ethel ventured softly.
“Can you act convincingly?” Freya asked without accusation.
Ethel paused momentarily, then nodded casually. “I can.”
“If Kristian agrees to meet here, when you see me, pretend we’re strangers,” Freya instructed, concerned about Ethel’s theatrical abilities. “And avoid making eye contact with me altogether.”
“Understood.” Ethel nodded firmly.
Freya continued urgently, “Also, curb your curiosity about him. Remember, he’s not your brother-in-law – merely a business partner of the Briggs Group.”
“Got it!”
“Most crucially, never mention having a sister. Coordinate this with Dad beforehand and maintain absolute discretion.”
Ethel readily agreed to every condition.
She had heard countless stories about Kristian’s remarkable accomplishments, his business acumen, and his flawless decision-making that had elevated him to…
Legendary status in corporate circles. Though she had glimpsed him at business functions previously, she never imagined he would become her brother-in-law.
Shortly after concluding her instructions to Ethel, Freya received Gerard’s call inquiring about her location for pickup. He mentioned the meeting venue had been changed to Ethel’s hospital. Unwilling to travel far for Gerard’s convenience, Freya simply stated she would wait at the hospital before ending the call.
As she departed the hospital, she stopped briefly at a small market outside to exchange some cash.
At precisely half-past five, Gerard arrived with Kristian at the hospital, where they met Freya.
Kristian had changed into an impeccably tailored gray suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and trim waist, giving him the appearance of a fashion model, though his demeanor radiated an even more pronounced coldness.
“Mrs. Shaw,” Gerard greeted her with a slight smile.
Freya corrected him firmly, “Just call me Freya.”
Both Gerard and Kristian lapsed into momentary silence.
“Is someone in your family hospitalized here?” Kristian’s penetrating gaze surveyed the surroundings as he posed this critical question.
Freya replied evenly, “No.”
Kristian’s scrutiny intensified as he studied her face. “Do you honestly expect me to believe that?”
“Whether you accept my answer or not remains entirely your concern,” Freya countered sharply.
Since Ashley’s unfortunate incident, she had recognized that Kristian’s trust in her had completely evaporated.
Gerard remained silent nearby, unwilling to intervene in their confrontation.
“If no one in your family is hospitalized here, perhaps you could explain why your phone’s step counter barely exceeds two hundred steps today?” Kristian produced his phone, opened the tracking application, and revealed her data without hesitation.
His demeanor grew noticeably colder as he recalled the fleeting shadow he had glimpsed outside Ethel’s hospital room yesterday, a figure strikingly similar to Freya.
“Coming from any significant distance, wouldn’t that number be substantially higher?” Kristian’s penetrating gaze intensified, creating palpable pressure.
“I never imagined love could so thoroughly erode someone’s rational thinking, but now I have living proof,” Freya remarked with unmistakable contempt.
Her words left both Kristian and Gerard momentarily speechless.
“There exists a remarkable invention called a taxi,” Freya added icily. “Traveling by vehicle naturally wouldn’t register steps.”
Both men immediately recognized this logical explanation.
Gerard glanced toward his boss, thinking once again that Kristian’s cognitive sharpness seemed diminished when compared to Freya’s quick thinking.
Kristian’s confidence faltered visibly.
Though Freya’s explanation was technically flawless, her overall demeanor didn’t suggest someone who had rushed over from a distant location.
“Sir, we should proceed inside,” Gerard interjected, sensing the escalating tension. “After visiting Miss Briggs, we still have important matters to discuss with Mr. Briggs.”
Kristian continued examining Freya intently.
Freya permitted his scrutiny without flinching.
After several uncomfortable moments, Kristian finally withdrew his gaze and moved purposefully toward the inpatient department. Freya exhaled subtly with relief, touched the currency in her pocket reassuringly, and followed behind him.
She had exchanged cash specifically in case Kristian demanded proof of her transportation payment – a receipt she couldn’t possibly provide. If questioned, she could simply claim she had taken a taxi and paid with cash.
Since he hadn’t pursued the matter, she needn’t worry about saying too much and inadvertently revealing inconsistencies.
The path from the hospital entrance to Ethel’s room wasn’t particularly lengthy, yet Kristian deliberately slowed his pace.
He was testing Freya, attempting to determine whether she truly lacked knowledge of Ethel’s ward location.
At a crossroads, Gerard chose the right path, while Kristian deliberately veered in the wrong direction.
He watched, curious about Freya’s next move.
But Freya didn’t waste a moment contemplating her choice. Whether consciously or not, between Kristian and Gerard, she would instinctively follow Gerard.
This lesson had been ingrained in her by Kristian himself.
Gerard glimpsed his boss heading astray and paused to call out, “Sir, Miss Briggs’s room lies this way – you’ve taken a wrong turn.”
Kristian pivoted back toward them.
The trio resumed their journey together.
Kristian’s eyes settled on Freya, who maintained perfect composure. “How did you know which way was correct?”
“It’s always right to follow Gerard’s lead,” Freya answered, dissolving his suspicions with those simple words.
Both men lapsed into silence.
Gerard fidgeted inwardly, genuinely worried about potential misinterpretations of his relationship with Freya.
He’d accompanied her shopping, arranged her meals, and served as her chauffeur whenever she ventured out. What if his boss began to suspect something more? The thought truly unsettled him!
Kristian sighed with frustration, yet noting Freya’s ordinary demeanor, he hastened his steps toward Ethel’s hospital room.
He was merely testing Freya; business matters could be delegated later.
Meanwhile, Hugh smoothed his attire and asked Ethel to verify his appearance before inquiring, “Do I project authority?”
“Absolutely,” Ethel responded.
“You mean it?” he pressed.
She nodded firmly. “Without question!”
“Enough to intimidate Kristian?” he ventured further.
“That’s difficult to predict…” she replied candidly.
In her experience, Kristian had never cowered before anyone; others always feared him instead.
Hugh recognized this truth, and his expression hardened as he contemplated how to assert dominance over Kristian.
After all, he needed to confront the man who had hurt his daughter!
Just as these thoughts circled his mind, his secretary opened the door and announced with professional crispness, “Mr. Briggs, Mr. Kristian Shaw from Shaw Group has arrived.”
“Send him in,” Hugh directed.
“Right away.” The secretary promptly escorted the visitors inside. Conducting business in a hospital room marked a first for both Hugh and Kristian.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.