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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intended to say more, but after a brief pause, he added, "If you

Felipe shot back, a flicker of panic surfacing

distant, cold. "Maybe I've just learned

rolled

with the conversation, he didn't bother replying and

circling in his mind made his expression harden for a moment. He tamped down the emotions stirring inside him

few steps when

in his tracks, whatever emotion had

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

twinkled with

loosely at his sides as he paused briefly before walking toward them with practiced

cheerfully, reaching out to hold his hand. Her voice softened. "Failing once isn't the end of the world. What matters is learning from it

Kristian couldn't find the right

he said simply,

get it," Melinda replied,

again, but years of learning to keep a straight face helped him stay

pat. "Owning up to your past is a sign you're

take care of. I'll head inside," Kristian said, eager to

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

and made his way

possibly have to do

an excuse to

knowingly. "Makes

a grown man now. We

"True."

behind him, but Kristian, overhearing it, felt a mix of emotions

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in as he thought about how he'd once helped his father

into his pajamas,

family home always brought him a kind of peace he never found in

from the noise and rush, he

he picked up

text her-ask where she was,

next day

told Hugh he should attend the evening banquet, then left the hotel earlier

was headed to the Shaw

to waste the trip or show

time.

grabbed