She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 178

hapter 178 She Prefers Me Like This

Kristian pulled a crisp hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and passed it over with a casual flourish, saying coolly, "Keep the change."

"Damn you," Felipe snapped as he slipped the bill into his pocket.

Free money from Kristian? He wasn't about to say no.

The rest of the ride passed in complete silence, both men swallowed by their thoughts, burdened by whatever weighed on their minds.

Half an hour later, Felipe dropped Kristian off at the Shaw estate.

As Kristian stepped out of the car, the memory of what he'd witnessed at the hospital resurfaced. He paused, then said, "You might want to double-check what Farrah said about Jocelyn Watson."

"Wait a second," Felipe frowned, catching the odd note in Kristian's voice.

But Kristian kept that distant, unreadable air about him and responded coolly, "Is there something else?"

"What exactly did you mean by that?" Felipe asked.

"Nothing major. Just a word to the wise," Kristian said, his eyes unreadable. "Not everyone deserves your trust."

Something about that struck a nerve, and Felipe let out a sharp laugh.

Kristian arched a brow, confused by the reaction.

"So, let me guess. Because you misjudged Freya thanks to your first love, you think I'm misjudging Farrah because of Jocelyn?" Felipe said with a mischievous smirk.

Kristian's frown deepened slightly, clearly irritated by the jab.

But Felipe, hands resting easily on the steering wheel, seemed relaxed now. "Your problem was personal. Mine's professional. Whole different ball game."

"Is it really?" Kristian challenged.

"Of course."

"Then why did Farrah bring up Jocelyn right outside the hospital and look at you like you didn't have a clue?" Kristian pressed.

That wiped the smirk off Felipe's face.

Kristian really couldn't help himself-he always knew how to push just the right button.

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brief pause, he added, "If you can trust other women but not Farrah, she won't forgive

you know?" Felipe shot back, a flicker of panic surfacing before

"Maybe I've just learned

secretly rolled

with the conversation, he didn't bother replying and drove

his expression harden for a

barely made it a few steps when he spotted his

in his tracks, whatever emotion had lingered in his eyes

finally come around," Melinda said with a face full of relief, as though her son

twinkled with

his sides as he paused briefly before walking toward them with practiced calm. "What are

out to hold his hand. Her voice softened. "Failing once isn't the end of

second, Kristian couldn't find the

he said simply, "I was only

it," Melinda replied,

again, but years of learning to keep

his shoulder a firm pat. "Owning up to

I'll head inside,"

weight of his father's words. "You two enjoy your

and made his way

have to do this late? Isn't Lionel already

needs an excuse to duck out,” Isaac replied, serious

nodded knowingly. "Makes

a grown man now. We

"True."

faded behind him, but Kristian, overhearing it,

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slipped in as he thought about

showered, slipped into his pajamas, and lay down

always brought him a kind of peace he never found in

far from the noise and

that thought, he

had the impulse to text her-ask where she

next day came

should attend the evening banquet, then left the hotel earlier

was headed to

the trip or show up unannounced, she called

time.

home, she grabbed her gift and made