She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 379:

“Mina,” he called out, summoning the nerve just as she reached the stairs.

Ethel had once suggested that if he wanted to rebuild his relationship with Freya, he had to speak more often.

Freya paused, hand resting on the banister, and glanced down. “What is it?”

“Can we sit down and talk?” Hugh asked, cautiously, his face tinged with unease. “It’s been ages since we just talked or even watched TV together.”

Those words gave Freya pause.

Images of a younger Hugh sitting beside her during her childhood, trying to cook despite his utter lack of skill, surfaced in her mind. Despite the resentment simmering in her heart, she came back downstairs.

He had let her mother down, but he had still been a decent father. Seeing her come down, Hugh breathed a quiet sigh of relief, feeling that maybe—just maybe—Ethel’s advice had merit.

“There’s something I want to get your opinion on,” he said with a nervous twitch, pressing his lips together. “Should we formally announce your identity? If you’re okay with it, I could host a banquet and announce it then.”

ever happening again. His daughter

make a big show of it, but no need to keep it under wraps

a shadow of disappointment flickering across

they chatted about other things, a thought occurred to Hugh—something he had long meant to say. But the words snagged in his throat, tangled

noticed immediately. “Is

????

“There is,” Hugh admitted.

“What is it?”

Hugh faltered, his

bring himself to speak it aloud, worried it might tear apart the fragile

matter had already lingered

struggle, Freya pieced it together and said bluntly, “Are you planning to register your marriage with Vivien’s mother?”

you know?” he

holding back her emotions. Then,

taken aback, his eyes wide, momentarily too stunned