She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 53

Chapter 53 Emulating Felipe's Tactics

"Alright, you two, enough about women," Felipe interrupted, weariness evident in his voice. "Can't we shift to another topic?"

"Have you resolved your problem?" Kristian inquired, his sour mood apparent as he deliberately tried to dampen his friend's spirits.

Felipe hesitated mid-pour, then responded with feigned casualness, "Only things that trouble me deserve to be called problems. What I'm experiencing doesn't even register on that scale."

"Have you discovered who fathered her child?" Kristian pressed deliberately, twisting the knife.

Felipe slammed his glass onto the table, his composure finally cracking. "How exactly am I supposed to determine that? You understand how chaotic the entertainment industry is. Directors, producers, co-stars-she herself probably can't identify the father of her child."

A heavy silence descended between Kristian and Zander.

"You're exaggerating," Zander ventured after a moment. "I believe she's quite a committed actress."

"Is there anyone you actually dislike?" Felipe snapped, his temper flaring. "She's wonderful, Freya's wonderful -apparently everyone you've ever encountered is wonderful."

Zander retreated into silence.

Felipe drained his drink in one swift motion, attempting to quell the frustration simmering within him.

The thought of his wife carrying another man's child constricted his chest painfully.

"If it bothers you this much, why not divorce her?" Zander suggested, striking a vulnerable spot. "She seems quite eager to end things with you."

A cold gleam flashed in Felipe's eyes as he retorted, "If I divorce her, how else can I make her understand what betrayal truly feels like?"

"You're crazy," Zander concluded bluntly.

Felipe had no desire to remain any longer or continue the conversation.

He stood abruptly and addressed Kristian, "I'm heading out. Enjoy yourselves."

As he prepared to leave, he seemed to recall something important.

He extracted a small perfume bottle from his pocket, spritzed himself generously, then produced a fresh lipstick. He applied it to his palm and pressed it against his collar, creating a distinct mark.

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watched his peculiar ritual with

the overpowering fragrance.

a taste of her own medicine," Felipe explained

he spoke with

certainly an unconventional approach,"

an absolute fool," Kristian

leave lipstick and perfume on me," Felipe explained matter-of-factly, displaying no embarrassment. "She betrayed me once; I'll ensure she experiences that sting

perceived betrayal will affect her," Zander cautioned. "But if she still

he dismissed the concern with a wave. "It's not my child, so why

words,

Kristian noticed him discreetly wiping away the

leave as well," Zander

eyes darkening perceptibly. "You go ahead." "Okay."

home from her meeting with Trent

attention. She answered on speaker, "Gerard?" "Yes." Gerard glanced nervously at his boss in

"I am," Freya confirmed.

a good impression of Gerard, appreciating

of remorse, mentally apologizing to Freya repeatedly as he

"Alright."

The call disconnected abruptly.

together anxiously, glancing at Kristian. "I've

previous indiscretion, but should it happen again, your position at Shaw Group will be terminated," Kristian stated firmly, draping his suit

27.7%

Emulating Felipe's

his

"Understood completely," Gerard acknowledged.

with purposeful movements, striding

Gerard called

a cool detachment, accentated by the stark white of his shi against the

Ms. Briggs Gerard suggested

without hesitation. However, the sight that greeted him-his immaculate boss marked with lipstick and enveloped in heav perfume-had been utterly

during Kristian's relationship with Ashley, such evidence of intimacy had never been visible. Thei physical contact had rarely extended beyond consoling