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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20:35

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and Kristian watched his peculiar

the overpowering fragrance. "What

her

both items as he

an unconventional

an absolute

hardly find an actual woman to leave lipstick and perfume on me," Felipe explained matter-of-factly, displaying no embarrassment. "She betrayed me once; I'll

her," Zander cautioned. "But if she still harbors feelings, this could deeply upset her, and stress

a wave. "It's not my child, so

words, he

Zander and Kristian noticed him discreetly wiping away the lipstick

as well," Zander

gaze lingered on the abandoned lipstick and perfume, his eyes darkening perceptibly. "You go ahead." "Okay." Zander donned

that night, Freya had just returned home from

she prepared for bed, her phone vibrated, capturing her attention. She answered on speaker, "Gerard?" "Yes." Gerard glanced nervously at his boss in the back seat, steeling himself before continuing, "I

"I am," Freya confirmed.

Gerard, appreciating

mentally apologizing to Freya repeatedly as he replied, "I'll

"Alright."

The call disconnected abruptly.

together anxiously, glancing at Kristian. "I've completed

will be terminated," Kristian

27.7%

53 Emulating

his dark

"Understood completely," Gerard acknowledged.

the vehicle with purposeful movements, striding foward Freya's residential

Gerard called after

accentated by the stark white of his

perhaps secure accommodations nearby where you might refresh yourself before meeting Ms. Briggs Gerard suggested tactfully, his eyes briefly noting the telltale

hesitation. However, the sight that greeted

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