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.

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

employee," Freya murmured, her

blinked, thrown

one thing. But cleaning up his messes? Tell me,

stiffened;

heartbeat, all five men stared at her with something dangerously close

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

gestured to the bags weighing them down. "A single one

The blow landed perfectly.

"Well, anything you'd

of eyes widened

in ways

playing hero for his darling, let's put his money to

black card between her fingers, her voice quieter

her. She hadn't realized Kristian's departure would still claw at

now, all she wanted was to drain his

and the bodyguards

Freya resumed shopping, the card clutched like

But as she sat down to eat, he appeared like a storm, his presence slicing through the restaurant's

he seized Freya's wrist and

against the car door, pain radiating through her.

a whip crack, "Why hurt

didn't you? I gave you everything you wanted, the house, the car, the money.

looked like vengeance personified, his

I—" Freya's confusion

glass. "You planned this.

distracted while your hired man ran her down. You know I'd die before

frost, the kind that

His absurd accusation had an ironic

lips curling in derision. "How poetic. Turning betrayal

frayed, his

Why would I trash my fresh start-my freedom-over someone

dropped lower, a blade pressed to