Preston suddenly broke the silence.


    Neil replied with ease, "I bought it, man. You know, when you''re dining with ady, you can''t just chug down beer. What if we three blokes get too sloshed and start spouting nonsense?" There was a brief silence.


    Neil added, "I''m all about keepingdies safe, Ms. Dawson. You can rest assured, you''re in good hands here. After dinner, you''re more than wee to crash here. No one''s gonna bother you, promise." Freya nced at Preston and said, "I wouldn''t want to impose."


    "Ms. Dawson, rx. We didn''t even prepare a spare room for you." Hans''s straight-upment seemed to drop the room''s temperature.


    Oblivious to his faux pas, Hans only realized something was off when he caught Neil shooting him a re.


    Silence filled the room once more.


    Had he misspoken? Hans looked at Preston, seeking some sort of affirmation.


    But it was a direct order from the boss himself.


    Freya then turned the conversation, "Mr. Tyler, why did you want to see me? Was it just to give me this ointment?"


    It seemed a bit too much fuss for just an ointment.


    "Yeah, Preston, spill the beans. What''s the big reason for calling Ms. Dawson here?"


    Neil was all but winking and nudging Preston.


    Preston seemed to ignore the cues, his voice calm as he said, "What''s your connection with the Southern Suburbnd?" Neil facepalmed.


    Why bring that up out of the blue?


    "No connection at all, that''s Ronan''s venture, not mine."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Freya was adept at navigating through these lies.


    "But I heard thatnd was auctioned off by you?"


    "I only helped with the auction, didn''t


    spend a


    dime. Do a bit of digging


    Mr. Tyler, you''ll see I ain''t lying.


    Freya continued eating as if nothing


    was amiss.


    She wasn''t about to reveal her true identity as Susan, no matter how many times Preston probed.


    "Let''s eat, guys! Why all the gloom? We''re off the clock, no need for all this business talk. It''s killing the vibe."


    Neil hastily tried to divert Preston''s attention.


    He had hoped that Preston''s teaching Freya calligraphy would be a good excuse for them to get to know each other better.


    But Preston had to bring up the Southern Suburb issue out of nowhere.


    They had already cleared Freya of any involvement with the Southern Suburb affair.


    Preston was just stirring up trouble with his questions.


    "Freya, I value the truth," Preston dered, casting a chill over the conversation again.


    Freya had to admit, Preston had amanding presence.


    Anyone else might have caved under his intense scrutiny and admitted everything.


    But


    replied, "I have told you nothing but the truth. If Mr. Tyler doubts


    feel


    e to investigate."


    "How do you know I haven''t?"


    Preston''s gaze was prating, as if he could see right through you.


    For a moment, Freya thought she


    had been found out, but she quickly


    he idea, smiling slightly,


    "Oh? And what did your investigation find?" .


    Preston didn''t respond, his gaze still fixed on Freya.