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."

line went

how quick Ashley had been to think on her

look and waved frantically,

word I've said is the truth, I swear. Just-please don't hurt my grandma and brother," Ashley pleaded, her voice

"Whether they stay safe depends on

that, the call ended before Ashley

sat there, slowly rolling his phone

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

phone was rigged with K's system?" the man questioned. "Absolutely," the woman replied, her long hair

fell silent, deep

tabs on Ashley's phone. Wherever

it." The woman gave a brisk

signaling Ashley to move their conversation to the living room-likely to avoid

didn't question it

brought up Kristian because he'd have the skills to back up the story. That

know," Freya replied coolly, a knowing look flashing in her

relieved, then recalled something from the call.

"He mentioned someone."

"Who?"

"K."

paused, her expression

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explained, "He asked why my phone had a fortified system installed

your

"Sure. Here you go."

fetched her new

program, and after everything was set up, handed it back to Ashley, motioning

that about?" Ashley asked as

app to

Ashley nodded. "Alright."

with

app was her own creation, cloaked under layers

tried to hack into the phone,

"Freya."

"Yeah?"

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

dumb luck," Freya guessed. "He might've

then checked her

she noticed a

dismissed it as

new phone.

screen going

was his hacker." Freya didn't sugarcoat it. "Given the way he operates, he probably just reviewed the cameras near your