She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 233

Chapter 233 Visiting Josiah

Cheryl had always treated him and his daughters with genuine warmth at least, that's how Hugh feit

Freya stood to the side, quietly watching it all unfold, choosing not to step in. She turned to Hugh and said lightly, “Sheila and I are heading back first. Take your time and talk things through"

"Alright,” Hugh replied, his voice calm and firm, not a hint of hesitation in his tone.

This wasn't something to be brushed off. It needed a proper, honest conversation.

It was one thing if he had been misunderstood-but for Freya, someone so sincerely kind, to be wrongly

accused? That just didn't sit right with him.

Once Freya and Ethel were in the car and driving away, Ethel immediately turned, curiosity brimming. "What

were you two talking about? And why did Ms. Newman react like that?"

Freya didn't hold back. She gave her a brief rundown of what she and Cheryl had discussed.

Five minutes was all it took for Ethel to piece the puzzle together in her mind.

"So, she was faking it in front of Dad just now?" Ethel was stunned. She never would've imagined Cheryl being that kind of person. "Why would she pretend like that? She wasn't always like this."

"When people's interests are threatened, their true selves tend to come out," Freya said plainly. "After what 1 told her, she probably realized all the illusions she built had come crashing down."

“But she didn't have to pin all the blame on you,” Ethel said, her temper flaring

She used to really believe in Cheryl. If Freya hadn't returned, she might've fallen right into that mother-daughter duo's trap-and even ended up feeling bad for Vivien, maybe even giving her shares in the company.

Seeing Ethel pout, frustrated and upset, Freya reached out and gave her cheek a playful poke. “What's going on in that little head of yours?"

"I just feel so stupid for not seeing them for who they really are," Ethel murmured, leaning in closer. "If you hadn't come back, I'd probably still think they were good people."

Freya gently patted her on the head. "They were real smooth with the act. You had no reason to suspect them -it's nothing to blame yourself for."

It was pure coincidence that Freya had bumped into Vivien at the office and started to connect the dots.

Ethel, still young and full of trust, wasn't the type to suspect anyone easily.

"I'm still so mad!" Ethel huffed, puffing out her cheeks once more.

Freya couldn't help but ruffle her hair. She told her not to stress over it too much.

When they got home, Ethel headed straight for her room, her phone pressed to her ear, chatting away with her

0.0%

00:38

214

FREE

III

о

233

boyfriend.

her little bubble of

innocent love

rolled in before they knew

called to

Freya and Ethel sat

and then like she wanted to say

"Go on, what's been

surprise.

watching TV this morning," Freya said, familiar with her every little

a deal. I just..." Ethel fumbled for words, her cheeks turning

look and made a wild guess. "Is it about your

like she'd just

did Freya always

it's about him," she admitted at last, deciding to just say it. "He

an eyebrow. "Meet me? What

too nervous to face Dad,"

meet you

to Dad

asked without missing

whole face lit up with

"Yes."

"Thank you!" Ethel beamed.

it would

sharp,

thank me just yet," Freya said, lifting a hand. "If it's on the sixth, I might

it. I've got something to

not the sixth," Ethel said quickly,

halfway to

The seventh?

her captain was supposed

35.9%

00:38

214

III 0 <

the shift in her expression. "What's

want to ruin Ethel's excitement. "Just let me know where it'll be once you've

out-on the evening of the sixth, she'd tell Trent she had to take a business trip, meet up

a massive place. The odds of running into her captain were

none.

the plan set, Freya

them brought up Cheryl-not even in passing. They just slipped back into their routine like nothing had

anyone. Before long, the

was up early, packing up some documents and a gift she'd prepared

she didn't bother calling the driver-she decided to drive

number and