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

Pain radiated through her body coding her to wince as she

reached her ears.

hand on her sister "You's will commened to

drip."

Ethel's being. Joy illuminated her eyes as

her voice thick

in about twenty minutes just ter sill wil frem "Okay," Ethel complied eagerly, her bright gaze fixed adoringly

her sister's form, concerned about potental

"Mina," Ethel murmured.

"Yes?" Freya responded attentively.

to have you back," Ethel continued, her voice warm

lips curved into a tender

"Mina," Ethel called again.

"Yes?"

Ethel whispered, her words simple

nose, affection radiating from her expression.

beamed with

the infusion completed, Freya

nurse

to sit upright, desperate to

bed to a comfortable position, offered her a cup of water, and settled

reuniting with Freya, Ethel's face radiated pure joy, her spirits soaring with each passing moment. "Dad mentioned you married Kristian Shaw and

in her eyes.

silent,

seemed to have

I address that," Freya redirected gently, her gaze settling on the bandages encircling Ethel's head, "you need to explain

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23 Arranging Dinner

excitement dimmed noticeably, replaced by a

with patient silence, allowing her sister the space to gather her thoughts without

when I tell you," Ethel negotiated, teeth worrying her

conceded with a reassuring

extensively before finally admitting, "I was beaten, though

it.*

Freya encouraged, maintaining

have been Cheryl's relatives," Ethel confessed

bears no connection to her

father's new companion

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 to hurry to

probed, seeking

eyes deliberately avoiding Freya's

on Freya.