She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Me With Walls, Wheels, and Wounds 245

Chapter 245 Who is K

"What?" Ashley's voice faltered, her mind drawing a complete blank.

She couldn't tell whether she'd been caught red-handed, or if-as Freya had warned-he was just fishing.

bluffing his way through.

The man's voice slithered through the speaker, low and threatening. "You should know-I'm not exactly the

patient type."

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about..." Ashley managed to say, struggling to keep her voice

steady.

"You don't understand? Then, care to explain why there's a system fortified by 'K' embedded in your phone?" There was a heavy malice in his presence-something cold and suffocating. "Since you're staying quiet, maybe your little brother and grandmother can help convince you to talk."

"I really don't know anything!" Ashley's voice cracked, trembling near tears. "Please, don't hurt them!"

His tone turned icy, like steel about to snap. "This is your final shot. Aside from you, who else has touched your phone? Tell me, and I'll reward you. Don't, and you'll find out what happens."

Those last words slithered into her like venom, sending a shiver down her spine. Her limbs went rigid, and even breathing felt like a task too great.

"Still refusing to speak?" The man's voice came again, dark and coiled like a devil in the shadows.

Ashley jerked instinctively, her body reacting with a deep, involuntary fear.

Freya caught that and gently reached for Ashley's free hand, her grip warm, her gaze calm.

In that instant, Ashley's panic began to ease, if only slightly.

Her eyes, swollen with emotion, turned toward Freya. Her lips were pale, as if one more word might make her

cry.

"I haven't given it to anyone, I swear. It's always been with me-except..." Ashley trailed off, her eyes unfocused

like she was sifting through memories.

The man immediately latched onto it.

"Except what?" he pressed.

"I... I lost it once, not long after I got back from overseas," Ashley said slowly, her words soaked in hesitation. "But other than that, it's always been in my hands."

"How'd you lose it?"

"I don't know... I went out for a bit, and when I got back, it was just gone. After I told Kristian, he managed to

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retrieve it for me."

the line went dead

aback by how quick Ashley had been to think

look and waved frantically, like

I swear. Just-please don't hurt my grandma and

simply responded, "Whether they stay safe depends on

that, the call ended before

slowly rolling his phone between

typing in front of the laptop and asked in a smooth tone, "Check the surveillance

unusual." "Are you certain that her phone was rigged with K's system?" the man questioned. "Absolutely," the woman replied, her long

fell silent,

"Keep tabs on Ashley's phone. Wherever she goes, whoever she meets-I

The woman

move their conversation to the living room-likely to avoid any hackers

didn't question it and

the skills to back up the story. That way it'd sound

Freya replied coolly, a knowing look flashing in her

from the

"He mentioned someone."

"Who?"

"K."

her expression

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my phone had a fortified system installed

me your phone,"

"Sure. Here you go."

fetched her new

into her laptop with a data cable, ran a program, and after everything

that about?" Ashley asked as she

that app to reach me," Freya said.

Ashley nodded. "Alright."

with

was her own creation, cloaked under layers

if someone tried to hack into the phone,

"Freya."

"Yeah?"

even know about my situation? And how did he know I was on a call just

just dumb luck," Freya guessed. "He might've called the

hesitated, then

noticed a missed call notification

flustered state, she'd dismissed it as another

new phone.

screen going

Freya didn't sugarcoat it. "Given the way he operates, he