She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Why Hurt Ashley

Gerard Todd, Kristian's ever-dutiful assistant, hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sir, should I go ahead and book a restaurant?"

Kristian massaged his temples, irritation flashing across his face. "No need."

He knew Freya was venting her frustration. If splurging eased her temper, so be it -he'd let her spend freely.

The moment the words left his mouth, his phone vibrated. Another alert flashed- over thirty million had just vanished from his account.

Gerard averted his eyes, while the four bodyguards stood stiffly, arms laden with shopping bags like silent, overburdened mules.

Freya strode out of the jewelry boutique and casually handed her latest purchase to Gerard, whose hands were conspicuously empty. Just as she turned to

continue her spree, Kristian's phone rang.

His posture shifted instantly. The tension in his shoulders eased, his frown softening as he glanced at the caller ID. Long fingers cradled the phone, his voice uncharacteristically tender as he answered. "Hello, Ashley."

Gerard and the bodyguards exchanged startled glances. Had their boss forgotten Freya was standing right there?

"Ashley was in a car accident on her way to a hospital follow-up. She's

unconscious—still in surgery," the voice on the line blurted, frantic. "Please come. She kept calling your name before they took her in."

"Send the address. I'm on my way." Kristian's chest constricted, the words sharp with urgency.

He ended the call, his gaze flickering to Freya.

An explanation hovered on his lips, but he swallowed it. Instead, he turned to Gerard and the bodyguards. "Stay with her. Buy whatever she wants. If it doesn't fit in the car, have it delivered by this afternoon."

"Yes, sir," the five men chorused.

Without another word, Kristian strode off, leaving Freya and the others in his wake.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the group.

a polished smile. "Mrs. Shaw, don't worry. Mr. Shaw will return once he

loyal employee," Freya murmured, her tone laced with

blinked, thrown by

"Being his assistant is one thing. But cleaning up his messes? Tell me, Gerard-have you ever seen a man ditch his wife mid-date to run to

stiffened;

five men stared at her with something dangerously

into wealth-knowing her husband had left her for another woman while she was expected

to the bags weighing them down. "A single one

The blow landed perfectly.

"Well, anything you'd

pairs of eyes widened in

worked in ways

his darling, let's put

her fingers,

her. She hadn't realized Kristian's departure

wanted was to drain his

the bodyguards

Freya resumed shopping, the card

would linger at the hospital all day. But as she sat down to eat, he appeared like a storm, his presence slicing

could react, he seized Freya's wrist and hauled

car door, pain radiating through

came like a whip crack,

that hit-and-run driver, didn't you? I gave you everything you wanted, the house, the car, the money. What more

vengeance personified, his

Freya's confusion

His voice could've frosted glass.

hired man ran her

that seeped

something colder, sharper. His absurd accusation had an ironic effect-it drained

met his gaze, lips curling in derision. "How poetic. Turning

Kristian's control frayed,

delusional." She didn't flinch, status be damned. "Think. Why would I trash my fresh start-my freedom-over

exactly why." His voice dropped