She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 69

Chapter 69 Was Ashley Deceiving Him

If it were any other day, Freya would have stirred awake by now.

Instead, she remained in a deep slumber, her body surrendering to complete exhaustion.

At the door, Kristian pressed Freya's limp finger against the lock, granting them access.

He carried her up to the second floor. Unfamiliar with the layout, he methodically opened doors until the second room revealed Freya's personal belongings scattered about.

With gentle movements, he removed her shoes and eased her onto the bed. Just as his fingers reached for her collar to help her change, her eyes snapped open.

Her hand darted out, gripping his wrist with surprising strength.

"It's me," Kristian murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Recognition flickered in her eyes before they fluttered closed again, her consciousness slipping back into the realm of dreams.

Kristian's brow furrowed as he observed this reaction. Had something in her past conditioned her to this defensive awakening?

Her response seemed less like normal waking and more like an instinctive safety check-a survival mechanism that needed confirmation of security before allowing her to drift back into vulnerability.

After changing Freya into her nightclothes, Kristian settled beside the bed, watching her peaceful form.

The realization struck him that despite their connection, he knew precious little about her history or the experiences that had shaped her.

His phone vibrated against his leg, interrupting his thoughts.

The screen displayed a message from Gerard, "Are you free now?"

Kristian tucked the blanket around Freya's shoulders before slipping out with his phone, careful not to disturb her rest. He descended to the living room, flicked on the lights, and initiated a call.

Gerard perked up instantly at the connection.

His employer was still awake.

"Good evening, Mr. Shaw," he said promptly, a hint of nervousness coloring his tone.

Kristian's voice remained measured,

Bradley's illness and I've completed

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69 Was Ashley Deceiving

"The findings differ somewhat from your

positioned himself by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into

and treatments for stomach cancer abroad," Gerard explained, carefully framing the

the phone clutched in his hand as realization dawned: "You're suggesting Ashley's critical

diplomatically, seeking to avoid uncomfortable conclusions. "She might have undergone

another word, Kristian terminated

when Ashley had called him. She had mentioned receiving her diagnosis report just one day before their breakup. The document allegedly confirmed her terminal condition, accompanied

their separation, the examination must have occurred only days

didn't purge their systems

him? The thought materialized

drive her to such deception? If she desired his companionship, why

thoughts swirled through

a message to Gerard, "Is your investigation

"To eliminate any possibility of error, I conducted three separate verifications, with identical results each time." Kristian absently rubbed his phone,

initiated a call.

you'd be angry with me," Ashley confessed, addressing the matter directly. "I don't understand my own behavior earlier.

us now," Kristian replied, his lips parting slightly. "Once

Ashley's body tensed involuntarily.

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68 Was Ashley

as her deception hung precariously in the balance "Oh, plow Aunt Howe yourself. I've already had one recently. I'm perfectly

his eyes betraying a flicker of concern "Having you

subtle investigation had

to retire early, Kristian ended the call and stretched out on the sole for the

awakened in her bedroom, momentarily disoriented. Her recollection X only to sitting in Kristian's passenger seat,

Then consciousness had returned.

her confusion and prepared to slip her feet into slippers when

pajamas

much contemplation, she understood Kristian had been