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.

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Meanwhile, Freya remained blissfully unaware that Kristian planned to meet her fatture

At nine that evening, Ethel finally stirred from unconsciousness

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

reached her ears.

hand on her sister "You's

drip."

Joy illuminated her

she exclaimed, her voice thick

"The drip will be completed in about twenty minutes just ter sill wil frem "Okay," Ethel

tucked the blanket snugly around her sister's form, concerned about

"Mina," Ethel murmured.

"Yes?" Freya responded attentively.

wonderful to have you back,"

lips curved into

"Mina," Ethel called again.

"Yes?"

overjoyed to see you," Ethel whispered, her words simple

affection radiating from her expression. Focus

Ethel beamed

the infusion completed, Freya summoned

nurse

from the IV, Ethel struggled eagerly to sit upright,

offered her a cup

"Dad mentioned you married Kristian Shaw and are

in her eyes.

fell silent, contemplating

her marriage seemed to have spread further than

her gaze settling on the bandages encircling Ethel's head,

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23 Arranging Dinner

excitement dimmed noticeably, replaced by a flicker of hesitation

silence, allowing her sister the space

tell you," Ethel negotiated, teeth worrying

conceded with

extensively before finally admitting, "I was

it.*

Freya encouraged, maintaining

believe it might have been Cheryl's

no connection to

become their father's new companion in

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 urged me

probed, seeking

eyes

dawned immediately on