She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 173

Chapter 173 Dining Together

Freya's eyes lingered on Alan for a beat longer than necessary. She couldn't shake the feeling that something

was off with him today.

Kristian had picked up on it too, though he kept his thoughts to himself and simply gestured toward the

restroom.

Once Alan disappeared inside, it was just Freya and Kristian left standing outside.

Neither of them said a word.

With anyone else, the silence might've turned awkward, stifling even. But between Freya and Kristian, there was

a strange, unspoken ease-an odd sort of chemistry that needed no conversation.

Inside the restroom, Alan pulled out his phone and typed out a few messages to Freya.

"Please doa favor and ask Kristian to delete last night's surveillance footage." "Just this once, and | swear I'll

listen to anything you say after this."

"Please, Mina?"

He waited patiently.

Freya always replied as soon as she saw his messages.

But one minute passed. Then two. Three... By the tfive had crawled by, there was still nothing from her.

Growing restless, he typed again, “Did you see my messages?"

Freya, meanwhile, wasn't even glancing at her phone.

She had a habit of switching it to silent mode in the evenings, and tonight was no exception-she hadn't seen a

single message, nor had she checked.

Kristian, noticing how long they'd been idly standing, finally spoke. "Why don't we sit in the living room for a bit?

Alan might be a while."

"Okay," Freya murmured in reply.

They went and sat on the sofa, simply existing beside each other in silence.

Kristian made no effort to spark conversation. He could tell Freya had no interest in small talk and only wanted to

leave-he respected that and didn't press her.

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Another five minutes dragged on

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Chapter 173 Dining Together

Still, no sign of Alan.

Freya's brows drew together. He was definitely taking too long in there.

Just as she reached for her phone to check on him, the sound of the restroom door creaked open. Alan finally

emerged, wearing an unsettled expression.

Freya looked at him, puzzled. What in the world was going on? Spotting the two of them seated, Alan felt a sigh

rise in his chest.

He realized that Freya must have had her phone on silent again.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we should get going," Freya said, getting to her feet and addressing Kristian with a polite

but distant tone before walking over to Alan.

Kristian also stood.

But Alan didn't budge. He stayed rooted in place.

He repeatedly winked at Freya in hopes she'd get the hint and check her phone.

She blinked at him, confused. "What's wrong?"

Alan felt his tongue twist into knots. Freya was usually sharp as a whip, but somehow, she turned clueless

around him. It drove him up the wall.

"I need you to handle something for me," he muttered, pulling her aside and whispering quietly, fully aware that

whispering in front of a host wasn't exactly good manners.

Still, after everything that had happened the night before, Alan saw Kristian as part of their inner circle.

Freya remained composed, giving him a steady look. "What is it?"

"Ask your ex to delete last night's surveillance footage," Alan whispered, his voice tight with unease. "It's way

too embarrassing to leave on record. What if he uses it to blackmail me?"

Freya blinked, taken aback.

Then she answered with calm assurance, "He's not that kind of man."

"Just helpout," Alan pleaded, trying his best to channel all the charm of a helpless, wide-eyed puppy. "If it

stays, I'll obsess over it nonstop and won't be able to concentrate at work."

Freya stared at him.

He even started acting cutesy in desperation, like a mischievous kitten trying to win sympathy.

Freya had a soft spot for good-looking things-and people-and Alan, being her cousin who always treated her

kindly, easily fell into that category.

"Fine. I'll ask him. But if he refuses, we're not pushing it," Freya clarified, laying down her boundaries.

Alan nodded quickly.

In his mind, Kristian's behavior today had already betrayed his feelings for Freya.

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Chapter 173 Dining Together

If she asked, Alan was sure Kristian would give in.

Freya frowned slightly, thinking through her words before turning to Kristian.

He noticed her expression shift and asked, "Did you need something?" "Yes. | do."

"Go ahead." Kristian's voice was steady, but there was something in his eyes when he looked at her-just a flicker

of emotion.

Freya didn't flinch. She held his gaze and asked plainly, "Could you delete last night's surveillance footage?"

The second the words left her lips, Kristian's eyes flicked toward Alan.

Alan kept his face unreadable, but internally, he was spiraling into a tic monologue. What did that look

mean? Was Kristian planning to use this to get closer to Freya? If Kristian really wanted to threaten her, should

he still say yes? The instant that thought crept into his head, Alan made up his mind without a flicker of

hesitation. There was no way he could go along with it.

Neither Kristian nor Freya had the slightest clue that, in the span of just a heartbeat or two, Alan's imagination

had already spun the entire situation into a full-blown soap opera.

"Sure." Kristian's voice was low, velvety, laced with something magnetic-but it was Freya he looked at when he

added, "But | have one condition."

Alan knew it. He'd seen it coming a mile away.

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Freya could feel the shift in Alan's mood.

She didn't address it, and instead turned to Kristian with cool composure. "What is

it?"

"Go have dinner," Kristian said, the words crisp and simple.

He hadn't forgotten Alan's reaction earlier when he'd asked if they'd eaten.

His original plan had been to send Freya off with food via Gerard, knowing she

wouldn't accept if he asked directly.

But now, the opportunity was right here, and he wasn't letting it pass.

Before Freya could respond, Alan jumped in, surprised. "Dinner?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely!" Alan agreed immediately.

As Freya reached to drag him back, he added with a grin, "If Mr. Shaw deletes the footage, we'll even stay the

night."

"Alan," Freya said sharply.

He froze like a statue. He was stunned. Did he really just say that out loud?

"Just kidding, Mr. Shaw. Please don't take it seriously," he said quickly, trying to save face.

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Kristian's lips curled into a faint smile, a soft sound of amusement escaping as he pulled out his phone and called

Gerard, telling him to bring the meal up.

Within minutes, Gerard arrived with the food.

Just as Alan was about to dig in, Kristian smoothly slid the plate of pasta away from him and placed it in front of

Freys. "The pasta's too soft. | figured you wouldn't like it, Mr. Briggs."

Alan paused mid-reach, his gaze flicking to Kristian, a mixture of surprise and confusion on his face.

Everyone knew Freya wasn't picky when it cto food. She'd eat anything. But there was one detail only Alan

had ever known-something not even Hugh or Ethel had figured out unless he told them. Treya liked her food soft

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