《The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday》


 Chapter 1

    Snap! A loud p echoed across the room,nding harshly on Freya Dawson''s face, followed by the frantic tearing of her beautiful wedding dress.


    "Damn it! The big boss of the Sutton Group can''t even fork over five million for ransom? I''ve been busting my ass for days haven''t gotten anything out of it. I''ll make you pay!" As the kidnapper spoke, he pinned Freya down relentlessly. Gazing at Freya''s soft, smooth skin, the kidnapper showed no mercy, ripping off thest piece of fabric that preserved her dignity. "But hey, getting to fuck Kieran Sutton''s wife, the top socialite of Echo City, isn''t a bad deal, after all!"


    "No... please, I''m Kieran''s wife! Thedy of the Sutton family! Please let me call him. He''ll pay the ransom!" Freya struggled desperately, hope and pleading in her eyes.


    But her hopes were shattered by a cold statement. "Quit dreaming! Mrs. Sutton? You''re nothing but Kieran''s leftover trash! Kieran just married Eloise Harwood yesterday! Why would he think of you?"


    Hearing that, Freya turned pale.


    She thought, ''Kieran married Eloise? No! That can''t be true! Our wedding was supposed to be just three days ago! I wouldn''t have been kidnapped if I hadn''t waited in vain for Kieran''s wedding car. I have only been missing for three days. How could Kieran marry Eloise?'' Freya retorted, "No... you''re lying!"


    "Am I? Take a good look!" The kidnapper grabbed a remote from the floor, turning on the TV.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    On the screen, Eloise, wearing a wedding dress, was standing at what was supposed to be her wedding venue with Kieran.


    [Ms. Dawson jilted. The Sutton Group''s CEO wees his true love back home, exchanging vows at the wedding venue, promising a lifetime.]


    The headline sent a tremor through Freya''s heart. No wonder she had been waiting in vain for Kieran''s car. He had never intended to marry her. This wedding... was meant for Eloise!


    Realizing her predicament, the kidnapper eximed excitedly. "I heard rumors that Ms. Dawson kept her first night for Kieran. It turns out it''s true! Man, I hit the jackpot! Too bad, Ms. Dawson, you''re not even worth five million in Kieran''s heart! If you y nice, maybe I''ll leave you in one piece!"


    ...


    The kidnapper''s voice echoed in her ears.


    Freya felt like aplete joke. Everyone in Echo City knew she was just a stand-in for Eloise. She had abandoned her pride to marry Kieran, ignoring the whispers to care for Audrey Sutton and putting Kieran above all else.


    After three years, she thought she had finally warmed Kieran''s heart, only to realize... it was all for someone else.


    Freya closed her eyes in despair, tears of regret streaming down her face. If she could live again, she would stay far away from Kieran.


    ...


    "Can you believe it? She jumped! That''s insane!"


    "Do you have to be that eager? Even if that was Mr. Sutton''s ring, to dive in after it?"


    "Everyone knows Freya is Mr. Sutton''spdog. She''d do anything for him, even dance naked in front of us if he asked!"


    ...


    Laughter and ridicule filled the air. A suffocating sensation overwhelmed Freya. Her head throbbed. The mockingughter of men excitedly filled her ears.


    "Cough cough..." Struggling, Freya surfaced.


    The scene before her was too familiar. It was her engagement party with Kieran from three years ago.


    ''Have I traveled back in time?'' Freya wondered.


    Freya recalled the time Kieran had embarrassed her in front of everyone, tossing the engagement ring into the pool and dering, "If you can fetch it, I''ll marry you." Not knowing how to swim, she had nearly drowned.


    Climbing out, drenched, she had presented the ring, only to be met with the ultimate humiliation as Kieran rushed off to Eloise''s side, leaving her to be the joke of Echo City.


    Freya looked down at the ring in her hand and bitterly smiled. She asked herself, ''Is this what you wanted, Freya?''


    Facing the jeering crowd, Freya stood up.


    "Why not rush over to Mr. Sutton with the ring? Without it, he won''t engage you!"


    "Yeah, he won''t even look your way without that ring!"


    The ridicule didn''t stop there. To them, Freya was nothing more than a joke.


    Ignoring their taunts, Freya calmly removed the engagement ring from her finger and tossed it into the pool along with the other, sending ripples through the still water and silencing the crowd with a single ssh.

 Chapter 2

    After Freya walked away, a few people snickered, "What''s with the attitude? Just wait until she sees Mr. Sutton not proposing to her. She''ll be scampering into the water to pick up the ring like a puppy." "Exactly, everyone knows Mr. Sutton''s heart belongs to Ms. Harwood. What''s she, then? Nothing but a desperate hanger-on! If it wasn''t for Audrey taking a liking to her, would Mr. Sutton even spare her a nce?"


    ...


    Whispers and pointed looks filled the room.


    Meanwhile, Freya returned to the ballroom, drenched from head to toe.


    Her stepmother Johanna hurried after her. "Freya! Where have you been? Why are you all wet? You do realize it''s your engagement party, don''t you? Go find somewhere to dry your clothes, quick!"


    "And another thing! Why are you dressed so modestly? A woman has to be more appealing to catch a man''s eye!" Johanna yanked at her neckline with force.


    Freya paid Johanna no mind, her gaze sweeping across the ballroom. The guests filled the room, mingling under the dim lights, all trying to get a moment with one man.


    Kieran stood in his sleek ck suit. His demeanor was icy. His face was a masterpiece of chiseled perfection, his eyes devoid of warmth, exuding an aura that said, ''Keep out.'' Following his gaze downward was a proud nose and thin, cold lips as if sculpted.


    "Men are always ruled by their penises. After the engagement, you''ll be Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e. Your job is to keep him happy and bear his child as soon as possible for a shotgun wedding! Imagine being thedy of the Sutton family, basking in endless luxury!" Johanna grew more animated with each word as if she was the one getting engaged to Kieran.


    Hearing that, Freya scoffed. ''Endless luxury?''


    In her past life, she gave her all to Kieran for three years, only to be kidnapped on their wedding day and tormented for three endless days and nights!


    The first day, she desperately hoped Kieran could save her, only to realize he had no intention of marrying her. He was too busy rushing to the airport to wee Eloise back home.


    That very day, Kieran exchanged vows with Eloise at what was supposed to be their wedding venue.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    She had waited for nothing, only to discover that this wedding was meant for Eloise all along.


    Kieran ignored her plight on the second day, iming she had fled the wedding!


    Knowing she was kidnapped, he only cared about his sweet time with Eloise.


    On the third day, Kieran refused to pay the ransom and was eager to register his marriage with Eloise, wanting nothing to do with her.


    Those three days were absolute hell, starting with hope and plummeting into the despair she felt now.


    Today was supposed to be their engagement party. Yet her attire, her entire look, was a mirror image of Eloise''s. Everyone in Echo City knew Eloise was Kieran''s true love, and Freya was a cheap substitute.


    Freya vividly remembered, in her past life, when she appeared before Kieran dressed like this, he didn''t hide his disdain, saying, "Imitation is pathetic. Ellie would never stoop so low!"


    Eloise, the orphan of the Harwood family, and Kieran had been childhood sweethearts. If not for the strained rtions between their families, making the Harwood family unable to support the Sutton family, and Audrey''s dislike for Eloise, Kieran would have married Eloise long ago.


    Kieran had always preferred gentle and pure women like Eloise. Unfortunately, she bore a slight resemnce to Eloise. So, Johanna had always pushed her to imitate Eloise in order to win Kieran''s heart.


    She had tried to please Kieran for three months. The whole Echo City knew she shamelessly chased after the opportunity to be a Sutton, yet Kieran acted as if she didn''t exist.


    It was only because Audrey liked her that Kieran, under Audrey''s pressure, chose to engage her. But the humiliation at the engagement party and Kieran''s abandonment of her for Eloise, including the three years of being used and ultimately discarded, cut her deep like a knife. Remembering her tragic fate in the past, Freya decided to let go. If Kieran loved Eloise, she would step aside!


    "Johanna, I''d like a moment alone with Mr. Sutton." Freya''s face bore a faint smile, as demure as ever, quickly disarming Johanna.


    Seeing Freya wanting to speak with Kieran, Johanna couldn''t agree fast enough. "Of course! Of course! After all, we''re going to be family."


    Johanna smiled from ear to ear, promptly releasing the grip on Freya''s dress.

 Chapter 3

    Freya made her way toward Kieran with determination in her steps.


    Kieran didn''t even nce her way.-


    Quick to intercept, his bodyguard blocked her path smoothly. "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton is upied and can''t see you now."


    "I need to speak with Kieran," Freya insisted.


    "Mr. Sutton is entertaining guests now and can''t spare the time," the bodyguard replied, his patience wearing thin.


    Freya noted the bodyguard''s attitude, but it wasn''t surprising.


    After all, she had just been a lovesick puppy following Kieran around, likely getting on his nerves nonstop. It made sense that his bodyguard felt emboldened to speak to her this way.


    "I will be Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e after tonight. You might want to think about the implications of speaking to the future Mrs. Sutton in such a manner," she countered.


    Hearing Freya im the title of Mrs. Sutton, the bodyguard''s disdain grew. "Ms. Dawson, even if tonight were your wedding, not your engagement party, I''d still follow orders. If Mr. Sutton says he''s unavable, he''s unavable. I''d advise you to save energy, return to your seat, and stop causing trouble."


    ''Causing trouble?'' So, in Kieran''s eyes, she had always been a nuisance.


    Freya didn''t give up. "What if I insist on seeing him now?"


    The bodyguard sighed, "Ms. Dawson, why embarrass yourself like this?"


    Over the past three months, Freya had been doggedly pursuing Kieran. She delivered breakfast to his office only for him to ignore it, showed up uninvited, and waited for him to finish work, only for him to stayte to avoid her. It was clear to everyone that Kieran found Freya unbearable. And yet, she failed to see the reality of her situation.


    How could someone like her possibly be the future Mrs. Sutton?Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Even tonight''s engagement party was Audrey''s insistence, not a genuine desire from him. In their eyes, only Eloise was seen as the futuredy of the Sutton family.


    When the bodyguard thought Freya would retreat as usual after his threat, she sharply retorted, "Is this the kind of manners Mr. Sutton''s bodyguards have?"


    Caught off guard, the bodyguard faltered.


    "While I may not yet be Mrs. Sutton, I am still the heiress of the Dawson family. Even Kieran wouldn''t dare speak to me this way. And you, a mere bodyguard, dare to threaten me? The Sutton family has truly surprised me today."


    His expression changed. Freya might not yet be Mrs. Sutton, but she was undoubtedly the darling daughter of the Dawson family.


    "Ms. Dawson... I didn''t mean..." His tone softened. Freya had always beenpliant, never speaking out against them. But today, her words were sharp as knives.


    Freya announced, "It seems the Sutton family isn''t genuinely interested in joining with the Dawson family. Perhaps we should call off this engagement then."


    At that moment, apuse broke the tension. Kieran had been listening and stepped forward, his voiceced with sarcasm. "Has the Freya finally stopped pretending?"


    He had thought Freya would do anything to please him, even jumping into a pool to retrieve a ring as a test. Yet there she was, showing her true colors.


    Always the haughty heiress, she had tried to y the part of the demure fianc¨¦e before him. This confrontation had been quite enlightening.


    Facing Kieran, Freya saw the disdain in his eyes for the first time. In her previous life, she had devoted herself entirely to him. She believed that through her efforts as a devoted wife and diligent business partner, she could warm his heart. What a fool she had been to think her efforts to be Mrs. Sutton would be enough, only to be abandoned at the crucial moment for a ransom she knew he could easily afford.


    Laughing softly, she said, "Yes, I''m tired of pretending. Let''s call off the engagement. We''re both busy, after all."

 Chapter 4

    As soon as Freya finished her piece, Kieran''s assistant dashed over, a look of urgency on his face.


    Kieran was usually as steady as a rock, unppable even in the face of disaster.-


    Even when Freya had broached the subject of calling off their engagement, he hadn''t batted an eyelid. But then, his pupils shrank, his face filled with tension.


    Freya knew the news of Eloise''s self-harm must have reached him.


    Seeing Kieran was about to storm off, Freya stepped squarely in his path. "Mr. Sutton, we haven''t finished our conversation."


    "Move." Kieran''s tone was icy,ced with a hint of danger.


    To him, Freya was just a way to cate the Sutton family and his grandmother. He harbored no affection for her. He could marry Freya but wouldn''t let it slide easily if something serious happened to Eloise. Freya stood her ground, asking, "Mr. Sutton, you''re in such a hurry to see Ms. Harwood, are you?"


    At her words, Kieran''s voice dripped with scorn. "What do you think? Ellie''s been driven to such lengths by you all. I warn you. You might take Mrs. Sutton''s ce, but don''t dream of anything beyond that!" Listening to Kieran, Freya couldn''t help butugh bitterly. She had never targeted Eloise or aimed to harm anyone. However, Kieran and Eloise ultimately dealt her a harsh blow, turning her into the sacrificialmb of their love story.


    Raising her voice, Freya dered, "Kieran, it is our engagement party. If you walk out that door to see Eloise, consider our engagement null and void!"


    Her voice wasn''t loud, but it was enough for all the guests to hear. The sh from the media''s cameras flickered incessantly on the duo.


    Kieran''s eyes narrowed menacingly. "Threatening me with breaking off the engagement? Freya, you''re overestimating yourself!"


    With that, Kieran brushed past Freya and left. He didn''t believe Freya had the guts to call off the engagement with the Sutton family!


    Watching Kieran leave, Freya walked up to the stage with dignity, smiled at the guests, and announced, "Today, the Sutton Group''s CEO has chosen to break off our engagement for Ms. Harwood. I, Freya, am willing to step aside. From here on out, Kieran and I will have nothing to do with each other!"


    At that moment, Johanna, chatting with otherdies, went pale, her champagne ss slipping through her fingers. ''What? She''s breaking off the engagement, huh? Has Freya lost her mind?''


    Meanwhile, in the car, the driver asked, "Mr. Sutton, if Ms. Dawson truly means to break off the engagement, what about your grandmother..."


    ''Breaking off the engagement?'' Kieran let out a coldugh.


    The Dawson family had been eager to have Freya marry into the Sutton family, with Freya herself going so far as to mimic Eloise''s style to win his favor. Now that she was on the verge of reaching her goal, he couldn''t imagine her giving it up, nor could he envision the Dawson family tolerating such foolishness.


    "Tell Mrs. Dawson to stop Freya from ying games before me. If Freya doesn''t want her ce as Mrs. Sutton, plenty of others do."


    If it hadn''t been for Audrey''s urgency to see him wed, Kieran wouldn''t have rushed into an engagement.


    "Mr. Sutton, are we calling off the wedding?"


    Kieran replied coldly, "The Dawson family still has their uses to me. The wedding will proceed as nned."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Then earlier..."


    "The wedding will proceed, but I''ll make sure the Dawson family knows their ce."


    "Do we need to send someone to exin to Ms. Dawson?"


    "No need." Mentioning Freya sparked a flicker of disdain and annoyance in Kieran''s eyes. "She''lle running back, apologizing before the day is over. I''m tired of these tactics." Freya had catered to his every whim in thest three months, even ingratiating herself with his grandmother.


    That was utterly repulsive. If it weren''t for his grandmother''s endorsement of Freya and the strategic value of the Dawson family, Kieran wouldn''t have entertained the idea of an engagement. Kieran sneered inwardly, ''If Freya thinks she can y hard to get at the engagement party, she is sorely mistaken.''


    By evening, at the Dawson family...

 Chapter 5

    When Freya stepped out of the car, Johanna''s vehicle screeched to a halt right behind her.


    Johanna burst out of the car, yelling, "Freya! Have you lost your mind? Announcing a break-off at a time like this? Are you out of your wits?"


    Freya ignored her, calmly removing every piece of jewelry on her as she walked.


    Seeing Freya return early, Nancy asked in confusion, "Ms. Dawson? Isn''t your engagement party with Mr. Sutton tonight? Why are you back already?"


    Without a word, Freya headed straight to her walk-in closet. She yanked off her pearl ne and stepped out of her evening gown, tossing every piece of clothing that screamed Eloise-style into a cardboard box. "Ms. Dawson! What are you doing?" Nancy was dumbstruck.


    Freya nced at the row of perfumes on the shelf, all once favorites of Eloise. She smashed every bottle on the floor with a crash, startling Nancy.


    "Nancy, step aside." Freya''s voice was icy, leaving no room for argument. She picked up the cardboard box and went downstairs.


    Freya dumped the contents into arge drum in the Dawson family''s backyard. With a toss of gasoline and a lighter, it instantly zed out from the drum.


    Watching the fire ze, a chill ran through Freya''s gaze. Life had given her a second chance. This time, she wouldn''t be Eloise''s understudy. Thinking this, Freya dialed her best friend, Luna Jennings.


    "Luna, I need a favor. Can your family''s newspaper run a story for me? It''s something that''ll go viral in an hour. I''ll cover the costs."


    "Huh? Isn''t tonight your engagement with Kieran? You don''t need to announce it to the whole country to celebrate!"


    "I''ve changed my mind."


    "Changed your mind about what? Wishing you''d let the whole country know sooner?"


    "I mean, I''m breaking it off."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Breaking it off? Stop joking! You wouldn''t break off your engagement with Kieran. You''ve been head over heels for three months!" Silence on the other end of the phone finally made Luna realize the gravity of the situation. "You... you''re serious?"


    The next day, the news that Freya had called off her engagement with Kieran, the CEO of the Sutton Group, lit up the inte.


    The whole of Echo City was buzzing. Everyone knew how deeply Freya of the Dawson family had been into Kieran, CEO of the Sutton Group. Yet, on the day of their engagement, she had abruptly called it off, turning the prestigious event into a farce and dragging the Sutton family''s name through the mud.


    "The Heiress of The Dawson Group, Freya, calls off her engagement with the Sutton Group''s CEO, Kieran, to avoid future marital discord, expressing regret and hoping for understanding."


    In a private club room, Ss was holding his phone, grinning. "Kieran, is this for real?"


    As Ss reached out, Kieran pped his hand away, his face darkening. "Which newspaper?"


    "Which? The Jennings family, of course. You have no idea how much they''ve pushed this story. They even printed a hundred thousand copies of the paper with this as the front-page headline. Now, the whole knows the CEO of the Sutton Group can''t get it up, topping the trending charts. Want to see for yourself?"


    Ss teasingly ced the phone before Kieran, whose face turned even darker. Clenching the ss in his hand, his eyes shed with anger, "Freya''s doing?"


    "Obviously. Ms. Dawson and the Jennings family''s heiress have been thick as thieves since they were young. What did you do to her, man? With how smitten Freya was, why else would she st you online?"


    Just then, Secretary Jarrett entered the room, unable to keep quiet. "Mr. Sutton..."


    With a grim face, Kieran demanded, "Have you found out where Freya is?"


    Jarrett hesitated, "It seems... she''s next door."

 Chapter 6

    Next door, Luna downed three bottles of hard cider, her voice getting hoarse as she belted out, "Love You ''Till Death."


    Freya nced at the trending topics on her phone, growing increasingly uneasy. She tugged at Luna''s sleeve, asking, "When did I ever mention Kieran in this mess?" "Oops! My bad! I wrote that! News needs to be explosive to catch eyes, you know."


    Freya''s expression darkened. "Have you ever thought of the consequences?"


    Flushed from the cider, Luna grabbed the mic and dered, "Consequences? What''s the worst that can happen? Kieran wille at me with a knife, demanding I take down the post?" Bang! Suddenly, the private room''s door was kicked open. The music screeched to a halt.


    Freya''s heart skipped a beat as she saw Kieran standing at the doorway, his face stormy. She knew Kieran woulde after them, but she didn''t expect him to show up so quickly. "You posted that news?" Kieran''s voice wasced with frost.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Luna, frightened, hid behind Freya, who tried to stay calm as she said, "I did."


    "You?" Kieran scoffed. He stepped forward, grabbed Luna, and tossed her into Ss''s arms. "Everyone, out!"


    At the sight of Kieran, Luna''s legs had given out. She had thought of struggling to protect Freya, but Ss had dragged her out of the room, saying, "Go, go, go, get out now!"


    With the door shut, only Freya and Kieran remained in the room.


    Kieran moved closer, and his voice was cold. "So, Freya, you broke off our engagement and went straight to a club the next day? I''ve underestimated you before."


    Freya''s stomach churned as memories of a past aggressor shed in her mind, prompting her to step back. "Mr. Sutton, you''re the one who left me on our engagement day for Eloise. The Dawson family can''t match the Sutton family. Let''s end this nicely." Nicely? Kieran sneered. "So, your idea of ending things nicely is to trash me online?"


    "It was an ident!"


    "Freya, I''ll admit you''ve found a clever way to get my attention. But I should have made it clear before. Don''t y games with me!"


    Suddenly, Kieran pinned her against the wall. His gaze was fierce.


    Freya nced at her wrist, firmly held by Kieran, and remembered. It was the same day in her past life, right after the engagement party, when Audrey had Kieran take her home, only for him to leave her in the cold, saying, "We get engaged only because your family is useful to me, Freya. Don''t fool yourself into thinking I could ever like you."


    Remembering her past, Freya forcefully withdrew her hand and pped Kieran across his face. The crisp sound, amplified by the nearby microphone, could be heard outside.


    Ss and Luna pushed the door open in unison.


    "Freya! Are you okay?"


    "Kieran! That''s not cool, man! You can''t just hit people because you''re mad!"


    Ss and Luna rushed in, only to find the speechless victim wasn''t Freya but Kieran.


    Freya said coldly, "Kieran, can''t you understand? This wedding is not only for the Sutton family to call off. If I say it''s over, it''s over!"


    "You!" Kieran was outraged but paused when he saw the undisguised disgust in Freya''s eyes.


    For the first time, Freya had looked at him with such disdain.

 Chapter 7

    It was just one evening, and Freya, who had been all over Kieran with sweetness and light, seemed to have transformed into someone entirely different.


    "Luna, let''s go." Freya didn''t even spare Kieran another nce as if looking at him one more time would make her sick.


    Luna was drunk and still clueless about what had just happened.


    And Ss was more baffled. He hadn''t touched a drop of alcohol and wondered if he was seeing things.


    The Freya, who had once spoken to Kieran in whispers, as caring and gentle as Eloise, had raised her hand against Kieran. And not just that, but pped him across the face? "Kieran..." Ss waved his hand before Kieran''s face, asking, "You''re not knocked silly, right?"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    Kieran seemed not to have recovered from the shock of that p. Frowning, he pointed toward the door, "She dared to hit me?"


    Ss nodded. "Yeah, she did. The p mark is still there."


    Hearing this, Kieran''s expression turned even darker.


    Remembering the bold words Freya had thrown at him moments before, Kieran couldn''t help butugh angrily. "Tell the Dawson family that Freya can forget about calling off this wedding!"


    The next day, in the Dawson family, Freya frowned as she sat on the living room sofa. "What? Not calling it off?"


    In her past life, Kieran had always loathed her to the bone. If Audrey hadn''t insisted she be Mrs. Sutton, Kieran wouldn''t havepromised.


    The previous night, not only had she initiated the breakup, but she had also pped Kieran, grinding his pride into the dust. How could Kieran not want to cancel the engagement?


    "Thank goodness! Thank goodness!" Johanna patted her chest as if she had survived a catastrophe and said, "I thought Mr. Sutton was furious this time. Thankfully, Mr. Sutton isn''t holding it against us. Freya, you should quickly go to the Sutton family and apologize to Mr. Sutton, and let''s put this matter behind us."


    Freya said, "If anyone should apologize, it should be you, Johanna. I''m not marrying him."


    Freya''s attitude was frosty, which displeased Johanna. "You stupid child, how can you be so thoughtless? Your father is gone, and if we don''t rely on the Sutton family, how can we survive?"


    Hearing that, Freya''s demeanor turned even colder.


    In her past life, her father''s death had been when she was most vulnerable. It was then that Kieran had extended a helping hand to the Dawson family, and Johanna had since been drilling into her the notion that Kieran harbored feelings for her. Gradually, she found herself falling for Kieran. Sheter found out that Kieran helped her only because she looked a bit like Eloise, which exined his willingness to assist the Dawson family.


    By then, she was deeply in love with Kieran, even willing, upon Johanna''s persuasion, to act as Eloise''s substitute to win Kieran''s favor. Back then, she naively thought that someday, she could thaw Kieran''s heart.


    Looking back, how ridiculous she had been.


    "Johanna, don''t worry. The Dawson Group is the legacy left behind by my father, and I won''t let it fall. If you truly believe we can''t make it without the Sutton family, perhaps you should give it a shot yourself." With those words, Freya turned and went upstairs. Johanna snapped. "You! How can you speak like that? I''m doing this for the Dawson family''s sake. You, a girl, what do you know about running apany? You''d be better off marrying a good husband and staying home to look after your family!" Freya ignored Johanna''s ranting behind her.


    Johanna wanted Freya to marry Kieran so that her son could inherit the Dawson Group, paving the way for their future with her as Mrs. Sutton.


    But the Dawson Group was her father''s legacy to her! Freya wouldn''t make the same foolish mistake as in her past life, handing over the Dawson Group to this heartless mother and son!

 Chapter 8

    The following morning, Kieran descended the stairs to find the servant packing luggage, furrowing his brow in confusion. "What''s going on here?"


    "Mr. Sutton, these are Ms. Dawson''s belongings. She called yesterday, saying she would move out and asked us to pack her things and send them over."


    As he stared at the suitcases before him, the image of Freya briefly shed through his mind. Freya would have prepared breakfast by then, eagerly waiting for him toe downstairs. She would then pull out a chair for him and start a conversation about trivial matters. Today, her absence felt oddly significant.


    Realizing he was thinking about Freya, Kieran coldly ordered, "Pack them up quickly. I don''t want to see this mess!"


    The servant answered, "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Kieran settled into a living room chair. Noticing the empty table, he grumbled, "Isn''t breakfast ready yet?"


    "My apologies, Mr. Sutton. Usually, Ms. Dawson is the one preparing breakfast. Our new housekeeper isn''t quite familiar with the routine..."


    "Hurry up. I have to get to work." Kieran nced at his watch and suddenly felt irritable.


    Soon, the housekeeper served him a te of toast, scrambled eggs, and sausages.


    Kieran eyed the simple breakfast with disdain. "What''s this supposed to be?"


    "Break... breakfast, Mr. Sutton." The housekeeper looked visibly scared, unsure of what she had done wrong.


    Kieran snapped, "I don''t eat fried food in the morning and don''t start my day with meat. Is this what I pay you twenty thousand a month for?"


    The housekeeper was scared out. "I''m sorry! I didn''t know..."


    The servant interrupted, "Mr. Sutton, she''s new. I''ll have her make something else!"


    "No need." Kieran stood up, and his expression was dark.


    Then, Audrey emerged from her bedroom, instantly understanding why her grandson was upset. She said, "Freya used to make breakfast personally, waking up at four a.m. to prepare those exquisite pastries. We used to have at least sixteen nutritious options for breakfast. Now that Freya''s gone, life just isn''t the same."


    Hearing this, Kieran frowned.


    Freya decided to call off the engagement! If she wanted to leave, so be it! Kieran refused to believe that he couldn''t survive without Freya, who had only been in their lives for three months.


    "Grandma, I''m off to work," said Kieran.


    "Come back here!" Audrey demanded, "I don''t care what you think. I only ept Freya as my granddaughter-inw. You will go to the Dawson family this instant and apologize. If Freya doesn''t forgive you, don''t bothering back home!" Kieran tried to say no. "Grandma..."


    "Do it now!" There was no arguing with Audrey.


    Reluctantly, Kieran agreed, "Understood."


    Meanwhile, in the Dawson family, the sound of a door forcefully opened echoed as Freya''s room burst open.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Lnd Dawson stormed in, visibly enraged, and yanked the covers off Freya, grabbing her wrist. "Freya! Have you lost your mind? Calling off the engagement with the Sutton family? Exin yourself!"


    Freya frowned in displeasure as she nced at her left hand, which Lnd was holding.


    Lnd was Freya''s brother in name, but he wasn''t her father''s birth son! After Johanna remarried Freya''s father, Lnd, already five at the time, was treated as one of their own. Raised as the heir of the Dawson family and spoiled rotten by Johanna, Lnd had aimed to take over the Dawson family after pushing Freya to marry into the Sutton family.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 9

    Once a towering symbol of affluence and wealth, the Dawson family had crumbled under Lnd''s reckless gambit.


    Before Freya stood her 18-year-old renegade so-called brother, a ze of fury in her eyes as she lifted her hand and delivered a resounding p.


    The strike sent Lnd reeling with disbelief etched across his face. "You, you hit me?"


    The Freya Lnd knew was gentle, her voice alwaysced with a softness, making her an easy target. Yet she stood her ground, her hand still stinging from the contact.


    Freya fumed. "Damn right, I hit you! What gave you the audacity to barge into my room?"


    "Ms. Dawson, I''m so sorry! It was my fault for not stopping Mr. Dawson!" The maid quivered near the doorway, her voice trembling with fear.


    "Shut your mouth! This is my house. I go where I please!" Lnd''s outburst sent the maid reeling, her body shaking like a leaf in a storm.


    A nce at the maid''s bruised arms was all Freya needed to understand the depth of Lnd''s tyranny in the Dawson family.


    Her heart had been too entangled with Kieran to see the chaos Johanna and her son had wrought upon their home.


    "This house? The Dawson family is hardly yours to im, Lnd." Freya approached the maid, her movements gentle as she helped her to her feet. The marks of abuse were evident, a silent testament to her suffering. Freya snapped, "The Dawson name may carry weight, but we''re not above thew. Since when doesborw allow you to assault our staff?"T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Tears welled up in the maid''s eyes as Freya defended her. She had longed to escape, trapped by Lnd''s threats, his misuse of his status as the Dawson heir to silence her, to keep her bound to a life of misery.


    "Ms. Dawson, please let me leave!" Her pleas were a heart-wrenching symphony of despair.


    Meanwhile, drawn by themotion, Johanna hurried upstairs. Seeing her son''s swollen face, she instantly surmised what had transpired.


    Her fury was palpable as she rounded on Freya. "How dare you strike your brother? Have you lost your mind? What''s your point with all this, calling off the engagement and now this mess?"


    "Brother? If having a brother means tolerating such disgraceful behavior, I must trulyck upbringing!" Freya''s voice was ice. "Johanna, let''s not mince words. Lnd isn''t my father''s biological son. He''s of age, yet he breaks into my room and abuses our staff. See for yourself the kind of son you''ve raised!"


    Johanna scoffed at Freya''s words. "Lnd has been raised in the Dawson family, treated no less than a true son by your father! And as for a maid, what of it? Are we now to fret over her wages or medical bills?"


    Freya''s gaze hardened further. "Today, he abuses a servant. Tomorrow, he''ll exploit our employees in thepany. I''m afraid our legacy will bepletely destroyed if The Dawson Group falls into Lnd''s hands."


    "Freya, you''re being too harsh! Lnd''s young. No one''s born knowing how to lead. Besides, haven''t you agreed to hand over thepany to Lnd? You can''t back out now only because your marriage to Mr. Sutton fell through." Johanna''sck of concern was nothing new to Freya.


    Freya strode to her desk with a coldugh, pulling open a drawer to reveal the signed document transferring her share of thepany ownership, a decision made before her broken engagement. "Is this what you''re referring to, Johanna?"

 Chapter 10

    allowing you to marry Mr. Sutton without worries. Isn''t this killing two birds with one stone?"


    Upon seeing the transfer document, Johanna''s expression softened, her voiceced with a hint of appeasement. "Freya, after all, Lnd is your brother. His taking over thepany is for the sake of ensuring the Dawson family''s legacy continues. It''ll be your backer, Then, Johanna pulled Lnd toward Freya and said, "Aren''t you going to apologize to your sister? Who allowed you to barge into her room early in the morning?"


    Reluctantly, Lnd retorted, "Eventually, our family''s empire will be mine! If she dares call off the engagement, ruining my prospects, I must confront her!"


    Freya observed silently from the sidelines. She hadn''t expected Lnd to be eyeing the family fortune from such an early age, already seeing himself as the future head of the Dawson family. It seemed Johanna''s careful grooming was bearing fruit. "Lnd is talking nonsense. Freya, don''t take it to heart. Just give me the agreement. I''ll keep it safe." Johanna was fixated on the document.


    The document stated that Lnd could take over thepany after finishing high school. They had waited too long to let anything happen to this agreement.


    Freya looked at Johanna, a faint smile crossing her face, "Johanna, you''re so eager for this?"


    "Yes..." Johanna barely got the word out when she heard a ripping sound. The agreement in Freya''s hands was torn in half.


    Johanna turned pale in an instant, while Lnd angrily shouted, "Freya! What are you thinking? Who said you could tear that up?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Lnd rushed to grab it, but Freya tore the document into shreds and sprinkled them in front of the stunned pair.


    "The Dawson Group will never fall into Lnd''s hands. You''d better not get your hopes up, the two of you," Freya dered coldly.


    Johanna was pissed. "What are you saying, Freya? If not Lnd, who else would you hand thepany to? The Dawson family only has him as a male heir! You..."


    Freya interrupted, "Strictly speaking, Lnd isn''t Dad''s biological son. I''ve decided to take over thepany myself. Besides, ording to Dad''s will, except for the five million left to you and your son, the only thing from the Dawson family you''re getting are two bedrooms."


    "What! How could Dad only leave us five million? Freya, you must have tampered with the will!" Lnd''s disbelief was evident.


    The Dawson Group''s assets were worth billions of dors! Though not as immense as the Sutton Group, it was still significant in Echo City.


    Lnd couldn''t believe it. "How could Dad just leave us five million?"


    "If you don''t believe me, I''ll have thewyer bring out the will, and we can all take a look," Freya said as if remembering. "Oh, right. The will explicitly states the Dawson Group is my inheritance. You two don''t bother plotting anymore. If you do, don''t me me for being merciless."


    Watching the shocked faces of Lnd and Johanna, Freya couldn''t help but sneer.


    In her past life, she had thought revealing the will would hurt Johanna and Lnd, so she never did, allowing them to squander freely and believing Johanna truly cared for her and looked out for her best interest. She hadn''t realized Johanna was only eager to marry her off, paving the way for her son!


    If it weren''t for her previous life, where Lnd squandered the Dawson family''s fortune within three years, forcing them to threaten her for the Sutton Group''s assets, she wouldn''t have seen their true colors.


    Looking back, Kieran could have ruthlessly abandoned her at their wedding because, as the Dawson heiress, she had lost her value.


    "Freya, what you just said... Is it all true?" Johanna was desperate to verify the truth. If Gavin Dawson was really that heartless, what were they supposed to do? Were they expected to just live on those five million? Freya settled into a nearby chair, stating, "Johanna, it seems you still don''t believe me. Well then, I''ll have thewyer bring over the will. I think that will make things clearer."


    "Mom! Don''t believe her! She''s lying! Dad couldn''t possibly have done this to us!" Lnd red at Freya, insisting, "She''s just trying to grab the Dawson family''s fortune because her marriage to Kieran fell through! Mom, I am the Dawson family''s son! Thepany should rightfully be mine!"

 Chapter 11

    "Sorry to break it to you, but your inheritance? It''s gone." Freya''s face was adorned with a superficial smile, yet it bore an unmistakable air of superiority.


    Johanna and Lnd were livid, their faces flushed with anger. Meanwhile, from outside the room, a maid''s astonished voice echoed, "Mr. Sutton? What brings you here?" At that, Freya frowned slightly.


    Before anyone noticed, Kieran appeared at the doorway. He had seen everything happening in the room and let out a coldugh.


    This aggressive side of Freya was something he hadn''t seen before.


    Seeing Kieran, Johanna quickly stered a sycophantic smile on her face. "Mr. Sutton, you should have given us a heads-up. I would have sent someone to wee you!"


    "No need. I''m just here to say my piece and then I''m out," Kieran replied, keeping his tone even and giving nothing away.


    "Of course, of course!" Johanna could hardly conceal her glee. She hurriedly dragged Lnd out of the room, cheerfully saying, "Don''t worry, Mr. Sutton, we''ll be out of your way. I''ll have someone prepare a coffee for you!" Before leaving, Johanna made sure to close the door behind her.


    Freya was all too familiar with such lowly tricks. If the news of Kieran being in Ms. Dawson''s room alone with her got out, society would assume she was Kieran''s woman. And in Echo City, no one dared to mess with Kieran''s woman.


    Freya opened the bedroom door immediately, avoiding being alone with Kieran. "Mr. Sutton, whatever you wish to say, let''s talk downstairs. After all, since our engagement is off, it''s inappropriate to be alone together. It might lead to gossip." Even in modern times, people''s minds were still stuck in outdated and narrow-minded thinking.


    A man and woman were alone in a room, with the door shut as if hiding something.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Kieran scoffed coldly, "Freya, ying the weak and pitiful in front of Grandma, bullying and insulting your family when they''re not around. I truly underestimated you before." "Me, bullying them?" Freyaughed as if she had heard the funniest joke.


    Kieran had not caught the whole story, misunderstanding her intentions regarding the Dawson family''s fortune.


    But it didn''t matter. The more Kieran despised her, the happier she was. The sooner she severed ties with Kieran, the better.


    Freya smiled. "Mr. Sutton, you''re right. I''m a deceitful woman and not worth your time toe to the Dawson family to see me."


    Kieran''s eyes were filled with disdain. "If Grandma hadn''t asked me to find and apologize to you, do you think I''de to see you? Freya, you think too highly of yourself."


    "Oh, it''s Audrey then. Rest assured, Mr. Sutton, I''ll exin everything to her. You won''t be put in a difficult position." Freya stepped aside, seriously telling Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, if you''ve said all you wanted, the way out is downstairs. I won''t see you out." Kieran stepped threateningly closer to Freya as if he hadn''t heard her, his gaze full of menace. "Freya, I''m warning you, stop spreading rumors before Grandma. If she finds out about Ellie''s suicide attempt..."


    Kieran had a dangerous aura, looking as if he was about to explode at any moment.


    Freya felt a tightness in her chest. She knew no one was more important than Eloise to Kieran. If she harmed Eloise, she would cross Kieran''s red line. He would never let her off.


    "Mr. Sutton, easy. I will exin the situation to Audrey. It won''t involve Ms. Harwood."


    "That''s for the best." Kieran increased the distance between them and left without looking back.


    Downstairs, Johanna had just brewed some coffee for Kieran, only to see him storming out of the Dawson family. She called out, "Mr. Sutton! Won''t you stay a bit longer? Mr. Sutton!" Kieran didn''t stop, leaving Johanna stomping her foot in frustration.


    Pointing toward Freya''s room on the second floor, Johanna shouted, "You can''t even keep a man around! What good are you? You''re useless!"


    Standing in her room, Freya heard Johanna''s insults. She walked calmly to the hallway on the second floor, casting a chilling nce downstairs at Johanna.


    Johanna shivered as Freya''s icy re bore into her, a side of Freya she had never seen before, far from the gentle andpliant girl she used to be. Johanna thought, ''If Freya were to inherit the Dawson family fortune... No, I have toe up with a n. I can''t let this engagement fall through!''

 Chapter 12

    That afternoon, Audrey''s call reached Freya.


    Freya was well aware of Audrey''s disdain for Eloise. Eloise was an orphan from the Harwood family, notorious for her overbearing pride.


    Despite controlling all of the Harwood family''s assets, thanks to a longstanding feud between their families, Audrey''s grudge against her was undeniable. She viewed Eloise as pretentious, hence her reluctance to let Kieran be with her.


    In contrast, Audrey considered Freya the ideal match for the Sutton family''s leadingdy in temperament and education. She thought Freya was well-mannered, presentable, and from a clean background. Audrey''s affection for her was merely a y for benefits. By this time, Freya had been chauffeured to the Sutton family''s estate. As soon as Freya entered the hall, Audrey greeted her with a smile, "Freya,e here."


    Audrey patted the couch beside her. Freya nodded and went over, quickly noticing Eloise standing opposite Audrey.


    Eloise was as beautiful as ever, with an ethereal air about her, always appearing aloof and proud in public.


    Eloise was holding a cup of steaming coffee, her hands reddened by the heat, yet she hesitated to put it down.


    Freya''s attention was drawn to the bandage wrapped around Eloise''s wrist. Eloise''s suicide attempt was no secret to Audrey.


    Only a few knew about it, leading Freya to suspect Johanna had snitched. Kieran had tightly sealed the news to protect Eloise from Audrey''s wrath. But Johanna seemed to have a death wish by running straight to Audrey.


    "Freya, Kieran was at fault for what happened at the engagement party. I''ve given him a piece of my mind, so let''s not hold any grudges," Audrey said, her face a mask of kindness as she held Freya''s hand. "You''re to be the future Mrs. of the Sutton family, and that won''t change. If you''re still upset, I''ll have Kieran apologize again."


    Freya said calmly, "Thanks for your kindness, Audrey, but that won''t be necessary."


    "Are you still bothered by the engagement party? Don''t worry. I called you here to clear the air." Audrey then turned her cold gaze toward Eloise.


    "Ms. Harwood, you knew it was Kieran and Freya''s engagement party, yet you deliberately staged a drama to lure Kieran away. Are you still harboring hopes of bing the Sutton family''sdy?" Audrey''s voice wasced with a chill.


    "Mrs. Sutton, you''ve got it all wrong. I didn''t mean for that to happen," Eloise said, her voice weak. She looked pale and her hands trembled as she clutched her coffee cup. "I was just... in a bad ce. Ms. Dawson, I''m sorry." Eloise''s head was bowed, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. Even then, Eloise stood tall, refusing to admit any wrongdoing.


    Freya knew Eloise''s character well. Eloise was always the tragic heroine, forever aloof and superior, looking as if the world owed her something.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Before her engagement to Kieran in the past life, Eloise had approached Freya, iming Kieran and Freya were a perfect match and wishing them a lifetime of happiness.


    Yet, at their engagement party, Eloise attempted suicide and deliberately informed Kieran, forcing him to leave Freya and turn her into the town''sughingstock.


    Eloise wouldn''t have resorted to such a despicable scheme to make Kieran leave the engagement party if she were so aloof. Nor would she continue to cling to Kieran, knowing he was betrothed to someone else.

 Chapter 13

    Eloise was trying to have her cake and eat it, too. She wanted Kieran, yet she also wanted to maintain her air of superiority and pride. After facing numerous trials and tribtions, Eloise and Kieran finally ended up together.


    And there was Freya, turned into the tragic sacrifice for their love, deceived and yed by both, only to meet a sorrowful demise.


    Freya thought, ''Why stand in their way if Kieran and Eloise were truly in love?''


    With a faint smile, Freya said, "Audrey, it has nothing to do with Ms. Harwood. I decided to call off the engagement with Mr. Sutton. Besides... Mr. Sutton and Ms. Harwood truly love each other, and I wish to see them happy."


    Audrey was angry. "Nonsense! You were the granddaughter-inw I had chosen. No other woman deserves to set foot in the Sutton family!"


    Right after Audrey''s words fell, Eloise''s coffee cup slipped from her grasp.


    "Ellie!" Kieran had just entered when he saw Eloise, pale as a ghost. He immediately rushed over to check her injuries, only to find her wrist was slightly bleeding, her fingers burnt by the hot coffee.


    Kieran snapped, "Grandma! Ellie is already hurt. The doctor said if the cut had been any deeper, she could have lost the use of her hand! You shouldn''t be so aggressive!"


    Watching Kieran defend Eloise, Audrey scoffed, saying, "It was just a bit of hot coffee, and not even I asked her to carry it. Tell Ms. Harwood not to be stubborn if you''re going to lecture someone. Even if she serves coffee for a lifetime, I will never allow her into my family!" Kieran frowned deeply, and his gaze shifted to Freya sitting beside Audrey. "Did you spill the beans?"


    He had ensured the news of Eloise''s injury was kept under wraps and had warned Freya, too. He didn''t expect Freya to have the guts.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Audrey fumed. "What does this have to do with Freya? It was Ms. Harwood who insisted on apologizing! Kieran, since everyone is here, why don''t you apologize to Freya properly and let Ms. Harwood know she should give up any hopes of marrying into the Sutton family? Our families will never be associated!"


    "Audrey, there''s no need for trouble. Calling off the engagement with Mr. Sutton is enough for me..."


    Before Freya could finish, Kieran interrupted coldly, "Freya, cut the act! If it weren''t for your nonsense in front of Grandma, Ellie wouldn''t have faced this humiliation!"


    "Kieran... I decided toe here and apologize. It has nothing to do with Ms. Dawson. I''ll leave now and never see you again. Ms. Dawson is the one who deserves to marry you. Don''t fight with her over me."


    Pale-faced and fighting back tears, Eloise looked so stubborn yet vulnerable that anyone would feelpassion for her.


    That was typical Eloise, always saying one thing and then doing theplete opposite.


    Sure enough, the next moment, Eloise copsed into Kieran''s arms. With a cold nce at Freya, Kieran scooped Eloise up. As Kieran was about to leave with Eloise in his arms, Audrey shouted, "Kieran! Stop right there!"


    He paused, and Audrey immediately added, "Freya is your fianc¨¦e. What will people think if you leave with another woman?"


    "Grandma, our family doesn''t need a woman who ys both sides as itsdy, and I don''t need a wife with malicious intentions." With that, Kieran, without looking back, carried Eloise out of the Sutton family.

 Chapter 14

    "Freya, this whole mess with Kieran is all because he''s been ensnared by that Harwood girl. But don''t worry. I''ll make sure he properly makes it up to you. You were the one I chose to be part of the Sutton family, and I won''t let anyone change that." Audrey''s voice was filled with affection. Freya smiled and said, "Audrey, if Kieran has made up his mind, there''s not much I can say. I wish him and Ms. Harwood all the best."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    With that, Freya stood up and said, "Audrey, if you ever need me, I''lle by to help. It''s just... my engagement to Kieran should probably end here."


    "Freya..." Audrey wanted to say more, but Freya shook her head. "Audrey, I have things to attend to back home. I''ll take my leave now and visit you some other time." After saying her piece, Freya turned and left.


    Audrey sighed as she watched Freya''s retreating figure. Freya wasn''t always this headstrong.


    Outside the Sutton Mansion, Freya had barely reached the gate when a dark figure suddenly covered her mouth and nose.


    Instinctively, she reached for the small knife hidden in her sleeve but stopped when she caught sight of the Sutton family''s crest on her assant''s clothing.


    Realizing it was one of Kieran''s men, she let the knife go and pretended to be caught off guard. After all, even if Kieran didn''t favor her, he wouldn''t harm her.


    As expected, she wasn''t treated harshly but pulled into a sleek, ck car. In the car, Freya feigned unconsciousness. After a while, she felt herself being lifted and carried out.


    The sound of the elevator ding was familiar. It sounded like the one at the Majestic Manor Hotel. Was Kieran taking her to a hotel?


    Knock.


    "Mr. Sutton, we''ve brought her."


    "Come in."


    Inside, the acrid smell of tobo filled the air, making Freya hold her breath as she was tossed onto a soft bed.


    As Freya tensed up, Kieran''s voice cut through the dim room. "Wake her up."


    A bucket of cold water was sshed over her, and Freya immediately opened her eyes.


    The room was dimly lit, the yellowish hue of themp adding an ambiguous atmosphere.


    Soaking wet and feeling as if she was cut all over, Freya pretended to be furious. "Kieran, don''t you think this is a bit much?"


    "Too much?" Kieran scoffed. "Ellie''s already frail and stubborn. After Grandma humiliated her, she ended up in the hospital, unconscious. Ms. Dawson, didn''t you think you went too far by snitching?"


    Freya denied it. "Kieran, I didn''t snitch."


    Hearing Freya call him by his name, Kieran suddenly grabbed her chin, retorting, "You think I''d believe that? Huh? Freya, you''re so desperate to be Mrs. Sutton that if I have your scandal stered all over the inte tonight, ruining your reputation, do you think Grandma would still wee you into the Sutton family?"


    At that, Freya''s gaze turned icy.


    Ruin her reputation? Her reputation had already been destroyed in her past life by a vile kidnapper!


    Once, her purity and reputation were her highest priorities. She had wanted to offer Kieran a clean and whole self. But when she got vited by that kidnapper in her past life, the na?ve and foolish Freya had died.


    What reputation? What honor? As long as she could survive, she could forsake it all.

 Chapter 15

    Kieran thought he could intimidate her with this, huh? Ridiculous. Facing Kieran, Freya suddenlyughed, "Just do it if you want to."


    Not expecting such a bold response from the usually prim and proper Freya, Kieran furrowed his brows in confusion, "What did you say?"


    "I said, bring it on." Freya replied nonchntly, "So, Mr. Sutton, are you looking for a hobo or just a random passerby? A bodyguard or a secretary? Or perhaps... a kidnapper to drag me here?"


    "Do you even know what you''re talking about?" Kieran was trying to scare Freya a bit, but she wasn''t showing any signs of fear.


    He remembered the former Freya, who would blush and lower her head from his nce, finding the person before him almost unrecognizable.


    "What? Mr. Sutton, do you have second thoughts? Well, if you''re backing out, I''m leaving."


    As Freya made to stand up, Kieran suddenly pressed down on her, immobilizing her.


    Freya frowned, instinctively wanting to p Kieran, but this time, he was prepared, blocking her raised hand with his left.


    Freya struggled. "Kieran!"


    Freya''s clothes were still damp, clinging to her skin and outlining her shapely figure.


    Kieran pinned Freya beneath him, scoffing coldly, "Ms. Dawson, you always prided yourself on your high morals, didn''t you? So, what''s with the eagerness to throw yourself at me today? Freya, you''re just trying to change how I see you. But cut out the coy games in front of me; they just make me sick."


    "Sick?" Freyaughed as if she''d heard a joke, suddenly wrapping her arms around Kieran''s neck and pulling herself closer. As their bodies touched, Kieran recoiled as if electrocuted, standing up and pushing Freya away without hiding the disgust in his eyes. Kieran said with disdain, "Freya, you''re truly despicable!"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Hearing Kieran''s judgment, Freya couldn''t agree more. She was despicable. She was despicable for having given her all to Kieran in the past, willingly being used by him. After everything, all she got were his disdain and insults.


    Rising from the bed, Freya casually adjusted her clothes, saying, "Kieran, believe it or not, the Freya from the past might have had feelings for you. But now, I can''t care less. This engagement, I''m out. I''ll leave you and Ms. Harwood the space." With that, Freya turned and left the room.


    Secretary Jarrett walked in and asked, "Mr. Sutton, is Ms. Dawson serious about breaking off the engagement?"


    Kieran snorted, "It''s easy to say pretty words. She wouldn''t be running to Grandma if she wanted to call it off." Secretary Jarrett asked, "So, Mr. Sutton, what''s your n?"


    Kieran gritted his teeth. "Let''s give her a taste of her own medicine and show her who she can mess with and can''t." "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    It was midnight when Freya, who was still damp, took a cab back to the Dawson family. Johanna was making a fuss at home. Seeing Freya return, she rushed over, throwing a newspaper in Freya''s face. "Freya! You''ve got some nerveing back! Look at the mess you''ve made! I told you to make peace with Mr. Sutton, and now look! Mr. Sutton''s ready to crush the Dawson family like it''s nothing!"

 Chapter 16

    Freya nced at the newspaper on the ground, catching the bold headline. [The Sutton Group Cuts Ties with the Dawson Group, pulling Funding from a $500 Million Project.]


    A frown creased her brow. If her memory served her right, this $500 million venture was the Dawson Group''s current real estate development halfway through construction. With Kieran pulling out, the project would halt, forcing them to scout for new investors. But with the Sutton Group spreading the word about their fallout, who in Echo City would dare align with the Dawson Group?


    The project was doomed to fail at the end of the day, dragging the Dawson Group''s finances down.


    Bending down, Freya noticed the paper was still warm, fresh off the press, and delivered straight to the Dawson family.


    Kieran''s swift action was a power move, a signal of who held sway in Echo City.


    "Freya, you''re the Dawson heiress. Is it really that hard to do something for the family? Flirting with a guy isn''t below you. You''ve got all that beauty and no idea how to use it!"


    Johanna vented her frustrations, continuing, "With that attitude, you expect to take charge of the Dawson family? My advice? Cozy up to Audrey and marry into the Sutton family. That''s the respectable path!"


    "Are you done yet?" Freya shot Johanna a cold nce, retorting, "How I manage is none of your concern, Johanna. If you''re so eager, why don''t you marry into their family? After all, you''re far better at ying the charmer than I am."


    "You ungrateful brat, what did you say?" Johanna fumed, but Freya, clutching the newspaper, ascended the stairs.


    Kieran pulling out... This was an unexpected boon.


    This project had been a goldmine in the past life. However, with Kieran previously investing a hefty sum, the Dawson Group saw little profit as he was the major shareholder.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    With Kieran out, the Dawson Group stood to gain the most. If Freya could sidestep external investors and fund it solo, the profits would fill their coffers alone.


    The real challenge was securing the necessary funds from the bank. And $500 million was no small feat.


    The following morning, Eloise unusually reached out for a meeting.


    Freya remembered their few interactions from her past life. Eloise had never sought her out like that before.


    Likely, Freya''s break-off with Kieran had disrupted Eloise''s ns.


    At the caf¨¦, Freya found Eloise waiting by a window-side table. The ce was otherwise empty, just the two of them.


    Eloise looked frail, a result of her recent ordeal. Setting down her coffee cup, she began, "Ms. Dawson, I want to apologize."


    "Ms. Harwood, this meeting isn''t just for an apology, right?" Freya went straight to the point.


    Eloise pursed her lips, responding, "I''m here to persuade you not to act rashly. You and Kieran are meant to be, and I won''t stand in your way. I sincerely hope you two can get engaged." "Hope for our engagement? Ms. Harwood, are you joking?" Freya chuckled, adding, "If that were true, you wouldn''t have attempted suicide on the night of our engagement party, right?"


    At that, Eloise''splexion turned sour. "Ms. Dawson, that wasn''t intentional. If you me me for that, there''s nothing I can say, but you''re the only match for Kieran, and the Dawson family''s resources are what the Sutton family needs to reach new heights. You''re the one meant for Kieran."

 Chapter 17

    Eloise was suddenly on her knees, her voice tinged with desperation, "Ms. Dawson, I swear to you, I''ll have nothing to do with Kieran anymore. I''m begging you. For Kieran and the Sutton family, please stop this mess. Continuing this way won''t do any good for the Dawson family, either!"


    It was clear that Eloise''s plea was all for Kieran''s good. Yet, it also hinted that Kieran''s marriage to her was merely for the Dawson family''s resources.


    "Ms. Harwood, your speech is touching, but why should I care about what''s best for Kieran and the Sutton family?" Freya retorted.


    Eloise was stunned. She had seen how fond Freya had grown of Kieran over these past three months. She had even heard Freya say she''d do anything for Kieran. So why was the sudden change of heart?


    "Ms. Dawson, if you think I''m saying this out of spite, I apologize. I just want you and Kieran to be happy. I''ll step back from this rtionship and go somewhere Kieran can''t find me..."


    Before Eloise could continue with her self-proimed noble sacrifice, Freya cut her off coldly, "Ms. Harwood, your words are nothing but your wishes. Why should I spend my life with a man who has another woman in his heart? Don''t you think what you''re saying is rather preposterous?"


    "Ms. Dawson, I know you''ve misunderstood me, but I''m willing to do anything for Kieran''s sake."


    Eloise pulled a bank card from her purse and handed it to Freya. "I know Kieran has wronged you, and the Dawson Group needs funds now. Here''s five hundred million. I hope it canpensate you and that you''ll reconcile with Kieran, not cancel the engagement." Despite Eloise''s earnest look, Freya couldn''t help but sneer internally. Eloise always yed this role in the past life, pushing Kieran away while keeping ties with him. Essentially, she was luring him on a string.


    Eloise rushed Freya to get engaged to Kieran merely because she knew Audrey wouldn''t wee her. With the Dawson family''s lineage dwindling, Freya, having no one to rely on, would be easily discarded by the Sutton family once they finished exploiting the Dawson family.


    Moreover, everyone in Echo City knew Freya and Eloise looked somewhat alike. Rather than waiting for Kieran to marry some well-connected heiress, Eloise preferred to secure an engagement with her known lookalike, Freya.


    If Eloise and Kieran reconciledter, people wouldmend their reunion as childhood sweethearts.


    With Audrey''s health declining, Eloise only had to wait for her death to secure her position as Mrs. Sutton by Kieran''s side.


    "Ms. Harwood, does Kieran know you''re here meeting with me?" Freya asked.


    Eloise paused, taken aback.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "You''ve been kneeling for some time, Ms. Harwood. Your knees must be aching. Let me help you up."


    As Freya reached down to help Eloise, the caf¨¦ door swung open with the jingle of bells, and Kieran pushed Freya out hard. "Freya! What are you doing?"

 Chapter 18

    Kieran''s gaze was icy as he looked at Freya, his voiceced with frost as if he was moments away from tearing her apart.


    "Kieran! Stop it. You''ve got the wrong idea about Ms. Dawson. It was my own choice to... to do this..."


    "Ellie, you''re too kind, and that''s why people take advantage of you! I''ve told you that you don''t need to see her."


    Watching Kieran defend Eloise was something Freya had anticipated. Eloise always seemed to end up hurt whenever Kieran was around.


    From the moment Eloise metaphorically knelt, Freya had sensed something was off. But she was happy to y along in Eloise''s game. After all, as long as she could make Kieran despise her, the wedding would be called off regardless. "Freya, I knew you could be two-faced, but this level of malice is something else! Ellie''s always been delicate. If anything happens to her, I won''t forgive you!" With that, Kieran took Eloise by the hand and left.


    Eloise had plenty of opportunities to exin herself, but she chose silence, even casting an apologetic nce Freya''s way.


    Freya didn''t miss the smug look hidden in Eloise''s eyes. It was as if she was saying, ''See? You might be engaged to him, but his heart is still with me.''


    Seeing that, Freya picked up the card from the ground and called out to the departing pair, "Ms. Harwood, you dropped your card."


    Eloise turned around, and Kieran noticed the bank card in Freya''s hand.


    Kieran frowned. "Ellie, you gave her money?"


    Eloise bit her lip, saying, "I just... didn''t want you two breaking up over me."


    Before Kieran could respond, Freya said, "Ms. Harwood, I''m calling off the engagement. I doubt Mr. Sutton would want to stick with someone as shady and nasty as me. So, I have no use for this money."


    While saying so, Freya handed Eloise''s card back to her. She wasn''t foolish. Eloise had intentionally left the card, knowing if Freya epted it under these circumstances, it would only lead to bigger issues with Kieranter. "Ellie, let''s go." Kieran didn''t engage further but led Eloise away.


    Back at the Dawson family, Johanna was anxiously waiting. "Where did Freya go off to this early in the morning?"


    "Mom, if Freya doesn''t get married, doesn''t it mean all of the Dawson family''s assets will end up in her hands alone? You said Dad left that money for me!"


    Lnd was panicking. He had boasted to his friends about inheriting the Freya family''s fortune. It would be uneptable if he would live on the few million from his stepdad.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lnd swore inwardly, ''No! That can''t happen!''


    Hearing her son''s concerns, a sinister look crossed Johanna''s face. "Don''t worry. I have ways to make sure Freya gets married off! If she can''t climb the socialdder to the Sutton family in Echo City, can''t she marry someone else?"


    Freya''s looks and figure were top-tier in Echo City. Before any ties to the Sutton family were made, many wealthy young men and entrepreneurs had their eyes on Freya. If the Sutton family rejected Freya, Johanna was determined to marry her off regardless. That way, Freya wouldn''t have the time to manage the Dawson Group, and eventually, thepany would fall into her and her son''s hands.


    As Johanna and Lnd plotted, Freya walked through the door. Seeing her return, Johanna immediately approached with questions, "Reya, did Mr. Sutton ask to meet you? Did you two make up?"


    Johanna was eager for Freya to reconcile with Kieran.

 Chapter 19

    After all, if Freya were to marry into the Sutton family, it would spell good tidings for her and her son in the long run.


    Seeing Johanna all worked up, Freya arched an eyebrow and chuckled, "Indeed."


    "Really? Oh, that''s marvelous!" Bubbling with excitement, Johanna said, "I just knew it! Mr. Sutton must still be smitten with you. Why else would he ask you out?"


    "Johanna, you''ve got it all wrong," Freya rified. "Mr. Sutton asked me out to discuss calling off the engagement."


    "What..."


    Under Johanna''s anxious gaze, Freya enunciated every word, "The engagement... has been called off."


    "What! Called off?" The news nearly made Johanna faint.


    Lnd quickly steadied Johanna and confronted Freya angrily, "Freya, that''s irresponsible! How could you break off your engagement without telling us? Do we even matter to you?"


    "My marriage is my own business. I don''t need to run it by you. From today onwards, I''ll take over thepany''s affairs. Johanna, with the Sutton Group pulling out their investment, you won''t have to worry about it anymore." Freya''s tone wasced with a hint of amusement, leaving Johanna too livid to speak. What on earth had gotten into Freya?


    Upon her first visit to thepany, Freya instantly became the center of attention at the Dawson Group.


    Freya rarely visited the office, usually leaving it under Johanna''s care, who delegated the responsibilities to Galen.


    Galen hurried over to Freya and said, "Ms. Dawson, what brings you here? If you need anything, just a phone call would do."


    Freya asked, "Galen, right?"


    Galen answered politely, "Yes, Ms. Dawson. What do you need?"


    Freya eyed Galen, who was handsome and well-maintained for someone nearing forty, though his smile betrayed a hint of slickness.


    In her past life, she had left the Dawson Group to Johanna and Lnd, only to see the Dawson Group bankrupt within three years. She remembered Johanna and Galen had fled together with the money, clearly indicating their close partnership. Freya requested, "Bring me the recent financial statements and reports."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Galen hesitated. "Well... Ms. Dawson, you might not understand them. If there''s anything specific you want to know, ask me."


    Galen''s hesitation made Freya suspect there was something wrong with the ounts. Without pressing further, she casually inquired, "How are thepany''s projects doingtely?"


    "Oh, that''s a bit of a sore spot," Galen sighed. "Ever since the Sutton Group withdrew their investment, the Dawson Group has faced many pushbacks. Times have been tough!"


    Freya eyed Galen coldly. "The Sutton Group''s withdrawal was just yesterday, wasn''t it?"


    "Ms. Dawson, it''s normal for someone your age not to grasp these things. Why don''t you head to the lounge and take a break?"


    Galen''s dismissive attitude was evident. Though the withdrawal by the Sutton Group was significant, it wasn''t enough to bankrupt the Dawson Group overnight.


    Galen''s exaggeration seemed aimed at making Johanna a mediator, hoping to mend fences between her and Kieran.


    Just then, Secretary Alison rushed in, clutching a stack of documents. Upon seeing her, Galen quickly intervened, "Don''t you see Ms. Dawson is here? Hand over those documents and leave." Freya furrowed her brows at the sight of the documents, "Wait a minute."

 Chapter 20

    "Ms. Dawson, these are just a bunch of trivial documents. I doubt they''ll pique your interest. Why don''t you head to the lounge and rx for a bit?" Galen offered with a strained smile.


    The underlying message was clear. He preferred that Freya steer clear of anypany matters.


    Unfazed, Freya reached out her hand, demanding, "Let me have a look."


    "This..."


    Freya snapped, "Galen, are you under the impression that you''re calling the shots in the Dawson Group now?"


    Faced with Freya''s assertiveness, Galen hurriedly replied, "How could I ever think that, Ms. Dawson? Of course, you''re entitled to see anything you wish. It''s just that I was worried you might find it confusing..." Freya interrupted, "Never mind the lounge. Let''s head to the CEO''s office. And bring me all the documents that need signing."


    "Ms. Dawson..."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Freya cut Galen off, her gaze shifting to Alison. "You''re Alison, right? Fetch those for me, please. Galen, would you be so kind as to show me to the office?"


    "Y-Yes, of course." Galen agreed verbally, but he was sweating bullets on the inside.


    Galen wondered, ''What in the world is Ms. Dawson doing here? If she unearthed any discrepancies in the ounts, I would be doomed!''


    With a heavy heart, Galen led Freya to the CEO''s office, previously her father''s workspace, remembered for its modest and sophisticated decor.


    However, under Johanna''s direction, the office had be a caricature of its former self.


    She saw high-end gaming PCs, expensive cigars, and avish wine cab. There was even a disy case for rare sneakers.


    Since Johanna and Lnd began managing thepany, even the office had lost its usual dignity!


    "Ms. Dawson, here''s the thing. Mrs. Dawson and Mr. Dawson aren''t here yet. Perhaps when Mrs. Dawson..."


    Freya cut him off again. "Galen, the right to lead the Dawson Group is mine. Johanna said she wanted to run thepany, so I let her take over for some time. But from what I see, the management is less than ster." Galen felt a chill run down his spine at her words. ''What did she mean by that?''


    Meanwhile, Alison ced the recent documents requiring Freya''s signature on the desk.


    Galen''s anxiety peaked as the documents on top were thepany''stest financial statements. A cold sweat broke out over him. If Freya discovered the millions he and Johanna had siphoned from thepany, he''d be behind bars in no time! Noticing Galen''s unease, Freya had a sly smile on her lips. She casually picked up a financial statement, only to be abruptly stopped by Galen. "Ms. Dawson!"


    "Hm?" Freya looked up, feigning confusion. "Is there something you forgot to mention, Galen?"


    "I-I was just worried you might not understand the financial details, so I thought I''d exin them." Galen looked visibly nervous, his voice trembling as he spoke.


    On the other hand, Alison couldn''t help but smirk at the situation. Galen and Johanna''s corrupt dealings were an open secret within thepany. However, no one dared to speak up out of respect for Johanna''s status as Mrs. Dawson.


    Alison had taken a risk in delivering these documents to Freya, hoping she was there to take control of the Dawson Group. It was high time someone rooted out the parasites like Galen from thepany.


    "No need. I''ll have a quick look," Freya said, dismissing his offer.

 Chapter 21

    Freya said, her gaze sharpening as she deliberately slowed her pace. She flipped through the financial statements from the first page to thest with a fake meticulousness.


    Across from her, Galen was visibly freaked out under the pressure, his legs trembling so badly that he could barely stand upright.


    Embezzling millions of dors from thepany meant potentially spending the rest of his life behind bars!


    Suddenly, Freya mmed the financial reports onto the desk.


    Galen almost dropped to his knees from the sudden movement, but then he heard Freya frown andin, "What is all this? Just a bunch of numbers, who can even make sense of this mess?" Galen was stunned and thought, ''Freya can''t understand the report?''


    Beside her, Alison''s expression soured with disappointment in her eyes. Mr. Gavin Dawson''s daughter couldn''t decipher a financial statement, huh?


    Galen wiped his sweat, stepping forward with a forced smile. "Ms. Dawson, I''ve said it before. I can tell you if you want to know about thepany''s affairs. It would save you the hassle of going through all this paperwork." "That''s true, but these documents still need to be signed," Freya said, turning to Alison. "Alison, could you help me pick which ones need my signature and which don''t? I do want to learn how to manage thepany." "Of course, Ms. Dawson," Alison replied, her voice heavy, clearly disappointed in Freya.


    Seeing Galen lingering, Freya said, "Galen, what are you still doing here? Your presence isn''t needed."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Relieved that Freya seemed clueless about thepany''s inner workings, Galen felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "Okay then, Ms. Dawson, I''ll leave you to it. I''ll be off."


    "Fine." Freya seemed unbothered by the minor details of thepany, letting Galen leave with a sense of relief.


    On his way out, Galen shot Alison a warning look, cautioning her against disclosing anypany matters.


    Once the office door closed, Alison moved closer to Freya, asking, "Ms. Dawson, if there''s anything you don''t understand, please feel free to ask me." Freya asked, "You''re disappointed in me, aren''t you?"


    Alison shook her head. "Not at all."


    Freya smiled. "You took a big risk today handing me the financial statement before that old fox, Galen. Aren''t you worried about the consequences?" Alison paused, shocked. "Ms. Dawson..."


    Freya spoke lightly, "I know about Galen and Johanna embezzlingpany funds. It''s all here in the report, clear as day. It''s millions of dors."


    Millions. Freya hadn''t expected Johanna and Galen to be bold enough to siphon off this significant amount of thepany''s assets. But this, in a way, made things easier for her.


    With the amount they stole, Johanna and Galen would spend the rest of their lives in prison.


    "Ms. Dawson, you knew everything? Then why you..."


    "Johanna has had control of thepany for a while and is quite the charmer with the board and shareholders. As a neer, without offering any incentives to those board members, I''m hardly in their good graces. If I acted rashly against Galen and Johanna, and they rallied the shareholders against me, where would that leave me?"

 Chapter 22

    Alison was enlightened. "So, Ms. Dawson, you''re ying dumb to catch the wise, right?"


    their downfall."


    "Yes." Freya nodded without hesitation before adding, "Let''s not tip them off yet. We need to gather evidence slowly. Their embezzlement is harming the shareholders'' interests. Once we have enough proof and have cut off their influence in thepany, it''ll be time for Alison stared at Freya and said, "Ms. Dawson... you seem different from before."


    The Freya she knew was gentle, wise, and clever but never dabbled in such corporate maneuvers. But what Freya had just outlined made perfect sense. Alison couldn''t help but admire her.


    Freya turned to Alison, "Alison, you''ve been with thepany for years now, and my father has supported you in the past. I hope you can help me."


    "I''ll stand by you, Ms. Dawson. I won''t let them ruin what Mr. Gavin Dawson left behind."


    Freya nodded. "Thank you."


    "But..." Alison hesitated, then continued, "Though Galen tends to exaggerate, the Sutton Group has been attacking our Dawson Group non-stop, especially today."


    "Today?"


    Alison nodded, exining, "Today, the Sutton Group pulled the funding from several of our projects. We''re now running low on funds, practically treading water. The finance department has begun auditing, and we only have enough tost us another week." A week... Freya scoffed. ''It looks like Kieran is trying to avenge Eloise and make me give in.''


    "Speaking of funds, I''m considering taking out a loan from the bank."


    Alison frowned, "A loan? That''s risky. I wouldn''t rmend it."


    Freya was determined. "Find a way to secure a loan of five hundred million to cover the real estate project Kieran pulled out of. I''ll handle the fundraising for the rest."


    Alison doubted it. "Ms. Dawson, that''s five hundred million. The bank might not agree, and we need funding for other projects too."


    "Give me a detailed report, and I''ll have an answer for you within a week."


    "Understood."


    Though Alison agreed, she doubted Freya could raise such an amount in a week unless Freya decided to yield to Mr. Sutton.


    In the afternoon, Freya left the Dawson Group. The person Kieran had assigned to watch her reported back to Secretary Jarrett at the Sutton Group''s office.


    Jarrett, feeling anxious, reported to Kieran, "Miss Dawson left thepany and went shopping."


    "Shopping?" Kieran looked up, his brow furrowing.


    Was Freya out of her mind? Thepany was in crisis, and she was out shopping?


    Jarrett wanted to say something. "Mr. Sutton..."


    Kieran scoffed coldly, "Truly a clueless heiress who only knows how to splurge. Fine. If she won''t yield, I won''t hold back. Let''s make her realize the consequences of crossing me." "But Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Sutton won''t be pleased..."


    Kieran nced coldly at Jarrett, "Freya should have known the consequences of her actions against Ellie. I''m already being lenient, for Grandma''s sake." "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    As Jarrett exited, Kieran suddenly called out, "Wait!"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Mr. Sutton, anything else?"


    "If Freyaes to see me, tell her I''m busy."

 Chapter 23

    "But... Mr. Sutton, you''ve always wanted to see Ms. Dawson buckle under, right?"


    "I want her to realize that she''s utterly alone and without hope." A cold glint shed in Kieran''s eyes as he said, "I want her apologizing to Ellie on her knees."


    Meanwhile, Freya had been shopping at the mall, picking out a few luxury skincare products. As she was about to head downstairs for coffee, she glimpsed a conspicuous bodyguard in a ck suit trailing her. His presence was so eye-catching that it drew a crowd. Shaking her head with a light chuckle, Freya couldn''t help but think highly of Kieran for having someone watch over her. Was he concerned she might harm Eloise, or was he waiting to see her struggle with thepany''s affairs?


    Taking her time, Freya grabbed her coffee and navigated through the crowd, with her bodyguard hustling to keep up.


    She deliberately quickened her pace, blending into the sea of people until the bodyguard lost her trail.


    The bodyguard reported, "Jarrett, I''ve lost her!"


    On the other end of the Bluetooth connection, Jarrett received the message from the mall and ryed it to Kieran.


    "Lost her?" Kieran frowned. "Idiot! Have him wait outside the Dawson family."


    As Kieran nced at the darkening sky outside, he said, "We should head home, too."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Jarrett drove Kieran to the grand entrance of the Sutton Mansion.


    "Mr. Sutton, given the situation with Ms. Harwood, Mrs. Sutton has been quite upset these few days. It might be best to apologize to her," Jarrett suggested.


    "She is my grandmother, after all."


    Upon entering the living room, Kieran heard the sound ofughter.


    "You always know how to make meugh and cheer me up," Audrey said, bringing a frown to Kieran''s face.


    He wondered, ''Why is Grandma suddenly in such high spirits after days of sulking?''


    As Kieran walked inside, he saw Freya applying a facial mask on Audrey, with a table full of skincare products Freya had bought from the mall. They seemed to be enjoying a lively chat. Seeing that, Kieran''s expression darkened. So that was why Freya hadn''te to him for apromise. She had gone straight to his grandmother to curry favor!


    He thought he had seriously underestimated this woman. "Freya! Who allowed you here?"


    The atmosphere turned icy instantly, yet Freya ignored Kieran''s presence, smiling at Audrey, "Audrey, does your skin feel better now?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Audrey patted Freya''s hand, smiling contentedly, "Much better, my dear! You know how to make me happy far more than my grandson."


    "Please don''t say so, Audrey. If Mr. Sutton gets upset, he''ll take it out on me," Freya said, her voice gentle but her words direct.


    The response infuriated Kieran further. Since he had entered, Freya hadn''t even spared him a nce. And she wasining about him to his grandmother right to his face. Kieran wondered, ''Is this ying hard to get, or is it just deliberate provocation?''


    The next second, Audrey turned solemn. She looked at Kieran and asked, "Kieran, I told you to apologize to Freya. Did you do as I asked?"


    "Grandma, I''ve apologized to Ms. Dawson," Kieran said, his gaze fixed on Freya, teeth clenched. At that moment, he felt an intense urge to confront her directly!

 Chapter 24

    "Freya, did he apologize?"


    Audrey''s question caught Freya off guard, and with a sly twist of her head, she nced at Kieran.


    Sensing Freya''s mischievous intent and fearing she might spew nonsense before Audrey, Kieran walked forward to grab Freya by the arm. "Grandma, excuse me. Ms. Dawson and I need to talk in private. We''ll be upstairs." With that, Kieran pulled Freya up the stairs in long strides.


    Caught by surprise, Audrey called out, "Kieran! My dear boy, be gentle... She''s ady! If you mistreat Freya, I won''t let you off the hook!"


    Upstairs, Kieran threw Freya onto the bed and locked the bedroom door.


    "Mr. Sutton, what''s the meaning of this?" Leaning against the headboard, Freya teased Kieran at the door, "Doing this... what would Ms. Harwood think? She might get jealous, you know."


    "Freya!" Kieran approached, his grip tightening around her neck, his voice cold, "Have I been too lenient with you? Who gave you the nerve to show up at my ce?"


    "Audrey missed me. Of course, I had toe and see her." Freya tilted her head back, meeting Kieran''s force without fear. Despite his grip, she knew he wouldn''t truly harm her.


    Seeing the cunning in Freya''s eyes only fueled Kieran''s anger. "Are you not afraid I might strangle you?"


    "Mr. Sutton, you''ve been making life hell for the Dawson Group, just to see me beg, haven''t you? If you kill me, who will you watch plead?"


    After hearing those words, Kieran let out a coldugh, releasing Freya, "Quite insightful of you. Well then, let''s see how you n to beg for mercy."


    Kieran settled on a nearby couch, picking up a ss of red wine and waiting to see Freya grovel.


    Sitting up from the bed, Freya slowly began, "The factory in the west end, downtown development projects, the 15th of every month''s overseas trade, and I believe the Sutton Group also runs a major auction house, dealing in billions annually. You''re familiar with these, aren''t you, Mr. Sutton?"


    With every mention, Kieran''s smirk faded a bit more. These were all part of the Sutton Group''s darker ventures, including illicit dealings. Such matters, let alone to someone as supposedly sheltered as Freya, were known only to a few high-level executives within theirpany but not with the detail Freya possessed.


    Seeing Kieran silent, Freya continued, "Mr. Sutton, I expect you to pull back on your schemes against the Dawson Group. Otherwise, I can make these secrets public. If both the Sutton and Dawson Group go down, we wouldn''t be at a loss."


    "Freya! Are you threatening me?" Kieran''s voice wasced with danger. Freya was the first to dare threaten him so brazenly.


    "Mr. Sutton, I don''t provoke unless provoked. We could part ways amicably. You withdraw your moves against the Dawson Group, and I''ll keep these secrets. Fair, isn''t it?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Freya, on the one hand, you talk about breaking off our engagement, and on the other, you cozy up to Grandma to secure your position. And you dare to talk about parting ways amicably?" Kieran scoffed coldly, "If it weren''t for Ellie''s generosity in not holding a grudge against you, I wouldn''t have settled for a few lost deals for the Dawson Group."


    Freya asked calmly, "So, there''s no room for negotiation?"


    "What do you think?"


    Freya knew Kieran wasn''t easily intimidated. Her visit was more of a warning, a reminder to keep things in check. Pushed into a corner, even a dog would jump over a wall, let alone her. She wasn''t anyone''s pushover.


    "Mr. Sutton, care to make a wager with me?"


    Kieran was curious. "A wager on what?"

 Chapter 25

    "If you go against me, you''re setting yourself up for disaster this year."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Freya got up, turned around, and was about to leave. Just as she reached the door, she paused and said, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Sutton, I forgot to mention that I haven''t told Audrey how you''ve been bullying me. What do you reckon? Whose side will she take after our little chat?" Kieran fumed. "Freya!"


    "Kieran, the fact that I haven''t spilled the beans about your antics with the Dawson Group is the most generous I can be. Drop your childish schemes. I, Freya Dawson, will never bow down to you. And trust me, you''re in for a rough year." Kieran was too mad to say anything. "You!"


    Freya left Kieran''s room, shutting the door firmly behind her.


    Kieran felt a surge of frustration building inside him. ''This woman is threatening me and cursing me with bad luck? Is she trying to get my attention this way? Nice try!''


    In the evening, Freya returned to the Dawson family, where the living room lights were warmly glowing. As soon as she entered, she heard Johanna''sughter. "Make yourself at home, dear. Don''t be shy about anything. If you want anything, let me know, and I''ll get it for you." "Thank you, Mrs. Dawson." The young girl blushed slightly.


    Upon entering, Johanna barely nced at Freya before her smile faded, "Oh, look who''s home. Ms. Dawson, where have you been loafing around this time?"


    Freya was used to Johanna''s sharp tongue. She noticed a girl sitting on the sofa, probably in her early twenties, with delicate features and a slender figure. What a vision of grace.


    Though the girl didn''t resemble Eloise, her style was eerily simr to Eloise''s.


    Freya asked, "And who might this be?"


    "This is your cousin. She''s been living in the countryside all these years. I brought her here to stay for a while." Johanna introduced, "Kara, say hi to your cousin, Freya."


    "Hi, Freya." Kara Orson seemed a bit reserved.


    ''Aunt Johanna has exined that as long as I behaved, I could enjoy a life simr to Ms. Dawson''s.'' Looking at the dazzling Freya, Kara couldn''t hide her envy.


    "Just the person I wanted to see," Johanna said casually. "Aren''t you at Summit University? Why don''t you pull some strings and get Kara in there, too? It would be nice for you two to look out for each other."


    Everyone knew that Echo City''s Summit University was an elite institution known for its steep tuition and cream-of-the-crop students nationwide. Johanna dared to suggest Freya use her connections to get Kara into Summit University as if it were a simple favor.


    Freyaughed coldly and said, "I don''t recall having any cousins. Next time you decide to bring rtives over, Johanna, give me a heads-up. I don''t appreciate strangers in my house."


    Upon hearing that, Johanna''s face soured immediately, "Freya! This is your cousin, not some outsider! I''ve promised Kara the Summit University spot, and you will find a way to make it happen!"

 Chapter 26

    "Look, Johanna, you promised, so you''ll have to deal with it yourself."


    Freya turned to the maid standing by and said, "Sandra, book a hotel for Ms. Orson. She can stay as long as she likes. Let''s just be clear about the guest and host here. Right, Ms. Orson?" Freya didn''t miss the look Kara gave her just then.


    After Freya spoke up, Kara''s face was filled with panic. She looked pleadingly at Johanna, who immediately snapped, "Oh, look at you, Freya! Are you flexing your muscles as thedy of the house already? Don''t forget who''s been running this ce all this time! How could you?"


    "Johanna, the Dawson family has always been my responsibility. I respected you as my elder before and let you handle things, but don''t get toofortable ying thedy of the house. If you can''t bear to see Kara leave, I might have to ask you both to leave." Johanna was outraged. "You!"


    "I''m sorry. It''s my fault." Kara stepped forward quickly, "Ms. Dawson, I imposed myself without asking. I''ll leave right now."


    "You see, Kara, you''re just too obedient." Then, turning to Freya with a re, Johanna said, "Unlike someone here, who''s all sharp words and no heart!"


    Freya couldn''t care less about Johanna. She instructed Sandra, "Take Ms. Orson to the hotel. Whenever she''s ready, send her home."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, Ms. Dawson."


    Sandra approached Kara, whose face showed a mix of emotions. Despite this, she followed Sandra out.


    She knew that if she didn''t leave, she might never have the chance to stay in this vibrant city again!


    After watching Kara being sent off, Johanna hurried after her. "Kara, don''t worry. I promised you, and I''ll make it happen. Give me a few days, and I''ll get you into Summit University. Wait for my news."


    Kara''s eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Aunt Johanna."


    After Kara left, Johanna turned back and shouted at Freya, "Since you''re too proud to charm Mr. Sutton, someone else will! And when he''s taken, I hope you won''t be too desperate!"


    Freya had retreated to her room. While listening to Johanna''s shouts from downstairs, she couldn''t help butugh. She had seen through Johanna''s intentions when she saw how Kara was dressed. But if Kieran were that easy to charm, he wouldn''t be Kieran. Freya nned to return to school the following day, a move unheard of for hertely.


    Her best friend Luna drove her, steering the wheel while asking, "Aren''t you on a break? Instead of resting at home, why torture yourself by returning to school?"


    Freya said bluntly, "I have to. Thepany needs money."


    "What? Your family''spany is short on cash, huh? If so, should mine dere bankruptcy?" Luna paused, then added, "Wait, if it''s money issues, what does school have to do with it? Since when did school start doing charity work?" "You wouldn''t understand. You''ll see when we get there," said Freya.


    Freya had seen the school''s announcement that Ronan Beckett, the head of the Beckett Group, was invited as a guest speaker.


    In a past life, Ronan and Kieran were arch-enemies, always at each other''s throats. Freya disliked Ronan back then because of her feelings for Kieran, often publicly expressing her disdain. But in this life, Ronan might be her savior! After they arrived at the school, Luna joined Freya in rushing to the seventh floor of the main building. Seeing Ronan had been speaking for over ten minutes, the atmosphere in the ssroom was palpably intense.


    Luna only peeked through the door and sighed, "This is way too academic for me... looks like we''rete."

 Chapter 27

    No sooner had she finished speaking than Freya burst through the ssroom door with such force that everyone inside was startled.


    Luna couldn''t help but shout a "Holy cow!" in sheer astonishment.


    All eyes in the room instantly turned to Freya, including Ronan''s. Dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up, Ronan stood out with his tall, lean figure and striking features, entuated by a pair of gold-rimmed sses. His demeanor was cold and detached, a sharp contrast to the bustling ssroom.


    "I''m so sorry, sir. I''mte!" Freya announced, her voice booming across the room, filled with an unexpected confidence.


    Her bold apology sent a ripple of suppressedughter through the students. Who else could dere their beingte with such audacity?


    "Sit," Ronan stated tersely, his gaze shifting away from Freya as he continued the lesson, seemingly unfazed by the interruption.


    Meanwhile, Luna, peeking from the doorway, felt her soul nearly leave her body in shock. Since when had Freya be so bold? Gone was the timid and gentle friend she knew, reced by a figure of towering confidence.


    Deciding she had no stomach for the elite''s bluster typically found in lectures, Luna discreetly slipped away.


    Freya sat in the front row, her eyes locked on Ronan throughout the ss. His asional nces in her direction only seemed to strengthen her resolve.


    As the ss ended, Ronan nced at his watch and announced, "ss dismissed," in his usual unfazed manner. Seizing the moment, Freya dashed up to him with the urgency of a sprinter, catching the attention of her curious ssmates. Ronan merely nced at her, "Yes?"


    "I have a piece ofnd, starting bid at $300 million. My research shows it''s worth $5 billion, and I secured it for $4 billion. Did I make a profit or suffer a loss?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Ronan''s expression tightened, a rare crack in his stoic facade.


    "Follow me," he said coldly, leading the way to a secluded lounge on the seventh floor. Once there, he swiftly pulled Freya inside, pinning her against the wall with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.


    "Ms. Dawson, what''s this about?" he demanded, his gaze piercing.


    Freya caught her breath. Despite their minimal interactions, she hadn''t anticipated Ronan''s awareness of her.


    "Mr. Beckett, aren''t you going to answer my question first?"


    "Did Kieran send you?" Ronan sneered. "Tell him I''ve set my sights on Echo City''snd."


    "It''s a trapid out by Kieran, Mr. Beckett. I''m trying to help you," Freya pressed on, undeterred by Ronan''s indifference.


    Oh?" Ronan arched an eyebrow, "He''s ugly, undesirable, bad-tempered, and a loner. Ms. Dawson, your previous remarks about me haven''t been forgotten. And now, you want to help me? Who would believe that?"

 Chapter 28

    Freya found herself at a loss for words.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    She had sought to restore Kieran''s reputation by starting conversations with several high-profiledies at the dinner party regarding Ronan.


    But no one had warned her that Ronan was the type to hold grudges! Moreover, how on earth did these stories reach Ronan''s ears?


    Freya steadied herself and said, "Mr. Beckett, Echo City is only worth half a billion dors. Kieran had fabricated the financials to lure you into a trap and make you face losses."


    Ronan let go of Freya and sat down on the couch to pour himself a cup of coffee. Without looking up, he said, "Go on."


    "Echo City''s starting bid has to be three hundred million. Kieran ns to inte the price up to four billion. By then, Mr. Beckett... you would stand to lose over three billion, drastically weakening the Beckett family''s financial standing, which perfectly serves as his revenge for you outbidding him on the urban development projectst time."


    Ronan sipped his coffee and asked, "How much did Kieran pay you?"


    "What?"


    "What did Kieran promise you to make you his spokesperson?"


    "But of course, Ms. Dawson, your deep-rooted affection for Kieran means you don''t need mary incentives to set me up."


    Freya couldn''t help butugh at Ronan''s jab. That was just fine.


    She had good intentions in warning him, yet Ronan chose to hit where it hurt. Regardless, she hadn''t held much hope for Ronan to believe her in the first ce.


    Freya stepped forward. "Kieran and I have called off our engagement. Mr. Beckett, believe it or not, it''s up to you. If fate wants you to lose money, what can I do? I shall take my leave."


    "Hold on." Ronan calmly stated, "Give me a reason to believe you."


    "I can''t give you a reason," Freya replied. "But, Mr. Beckett, we can make a bet."


    Ronan asked, "A bet on what?"


    "If everything happens as I''ve said, I win the bet. If I win, I want Mr. Beckett to coborate with the Dawson Group for five years."


    "Oh? The Dawson Group already has Kieran''s support. Why would they need to coborate with me?"


    Freya didn''t hide it. "Kieran has cut ties with me for Eloise. He''s been targeting the Dawson Group at every turn these few days. My actions are simply an eye for an eye."


    "That does seem reasonable."


    "So, Mr. Beckett, you agree to the bet?"


    "I agree to the bet but didn''t say I believe you."


    "You..."


    "Ms. Dawson, your academic performance was never ster, and to win over Kieran, you''ve shown no limits or boundaries. Who knows if this is another trap you and Kieran have set for me?"


    "I..."


    Ronan said leisurely, "But tonight''s auction for the Echo City lot will reveal the truth. If things turn out as Ms. Dawson described, and I lose, I will honor the bet. It''s just that I have my reservations about trusting you, Ms. Dawson. That''s all."


    In her past life, Freya had no idea Ronan was such a sarcastically sharp and vindictive man. She would have refrained from speaking ill of him behind his back if she had known.


    At that moment, Freya offered a polite smile and said, "Mr. Beckett... believe it or not, it''s up to you."


    With that, Freya stormed out the door.


    After Freya''s departure, Ronan''s smile faded, and he called his secretary coldly, "I''ll attend tonight''s auction for Echo City."


    Outside, Luna had been waiting on the seventh floor for almost an hour. Seeing Freyae out, she asked, "How did it go? Did you get the loan?"


    Freya nodded. "I think so."


    Despite Ronan having thestugh with his words, he must have grown suspicious by then.


    They were bound to get the loan.

 Chapter 29

    "Holy moly, borrowing money from the lecturer Ronan is quite the move, especially after all the trash you talked about him, and he lent it to you?"


    "Well, Ronan and Kieran are at each other''s throats. If I help him, he''ll lend me the money."


    "It makes sense." Luna realized a bit toote. "Wait a minute. What did you do for him?"


    Freya answered, "I helped him deal with Kieran."


    "What? Are you seriously picking a fight with Kieran?"


    Luna was astonished. She had seen how deeply in love Freya was with Kieran before. She initially thought Freya was just throwing a fit, but it turned out she was actually serious about calling off her engagement with Kieran. That was quite the plot twist!


    Seeing Luna''s astonished reaction, Freya couldn''t help but let out a bitterugh. Even her best friend thought she couldn''t live without Kieran. What would others think then?


    The heiress of the Dawson family turned into a joke over Kieran. It was indeedughable.


    In the evening, Johanna, all dolled up, dragged Kara to the Sutton Group.


    Inside the CEO''s office, Johanna looked at Kieran sitting in his office chair and sheepishly said, "Mr. Sutton, I know Freya has been a bit unreasonable recently and upset you. She''s stubborn and didn''t want to apologize, so I brought her cousin here to apologize to you on her behalf."


    Hearing that, Kieran sneered, "Oh? Did Freya send Mrs. Dawson here?"


    "Of course!" Johanna rushed to say, "Freya knows she was wrong, and she also said calling off the engagement wasn''t her intention. Mr. Sutton, please forgive her for her youthful ignorance."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Seeing Freya admit her mistake, Kieran sarcastically said, "It seems like she finally gained a bit of self-awareness."


    "Absolutely!" Sensing it was the moment, Johanna gave Kara a look.


    Ever since Kara walked in, she couldn''t take her eyes off Kieran. She had never seen a man as handsome as him before, and she found herself a bit starstruck.


    "Kara,e meet Freya''s fianc¨¦, Mr. Sutton?"


    "Hi, Mr. Sutton..." Kara shyly lowered her head.


    Hearing this term, Kieran felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Freya verbally wanted to end their engagement but was ying a different game behind his back. Was she eventually going to plead for their engagement?


    Seeing the situation, Johanna said, "Mr. Sutton, Freya''s cousin, Kara, just returned from the countryside. She wishes to attend Summit University. Unfortunately, she has no connections. I wonder if Mr. Sutton could help Kara out?"


    "It''s not a big deal, just a phone call away," Kieran said nonchntly.


    Hearing that, Johanna was overjoyed. "Kara! Thank Mr. Sutton."


    "Let''s not rush the thanks." Kieran spoke indifferently, "I''ve helped you out. Shouldn''t Freya show some gratitude?"


    "Yes, of course. I''ll bring Freya over tomorrow to apologize. If that doesn''t satisfy you, we''ll ept whatever punishment you choose!"


    Kieran said indifferently, "Freya doesn''t owe me an apology. It''s Ellie who deserves it. Bring her over tomorrow, and have her kneel and apologize to Ellie."


    "Sure! You can count on me. I''ll ensure she gives Ms. Harwood a proper apology." Johanna was grinning from ear to ear.


    Blushing, Kara said, "Thank you, Mr. Sutton. I''ll study hard and not let you down."


    Kieran responded nomittally, "Hmm."

 Chapter 30

    Knock, knock.


    Outside, Eloise gave two soft knocks before pushing open the office door.


    There she was, Eloise, in a striking white evening gown that entuated her noble and elegant demeanor. Her long hair cascaded down her back, adding to her gentle charm.


    "Kieran, the auction''s about to start. Shall we go?"


    Eloise''s presence seemed to unsettle Johanna. If it weren''t for Eloise''s meddling, the Mrs. Sutton title would have rightfully belonged to Freya by then. And there they were, headed to an auction of all ces, with Kieran tantly disregarding the Dawson family''s reputation by bringing Eloise along. Wasn''t it just a p in their face?


    "This must be Mrs. Dawson. I''ve heard Kieran mention you. And this is..." Eloise''s gaze shifted to Kara, noticing their nearly identical outfits, but she merely smiled.


    Eloise sneered to herself, thinking, ''One Freya isn''t enough? Do they want to bring in another? Huh, no matter how many they bring, they''re all just stand-ins!''N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Catching Eloise''s attention on Kara made Johanna somewhat uneasy. She quickly got up, pulling Kara with her. "We''ve finished our discussion. We''ll be leaving now, right away!"


    With that, Johanna rushed off with Kara.


    Seeing Eloise approach, Kieran frowned, "You''re still injured. Why did youe?"


    "Of course, to apany you to the auction. I know how much this event matters to you. How could I miss it?" Eloise moved to Kieran''s side, adding, "Unless... you invited someone else?"


    Kieran remained silent. He had sent Freya an evening gown, but that was his grandma''s wish, not his.


    Jarrett whispered to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson mentioned she won''t being..."


    Kieran was stunned. ''She''s noting? Freya is getting too big for her boots! Usually, she can''t beg enough for such opportunities, and now, she''s throwing tantrums?''


    Noticing this, Eloise said with a hint of annoyance, "So it was Ms. Dawson you invited. No wonder she asked me to go with you today."


    Kieran frowned, "Freya asked you toe with me?"


    "It looks like Ms. Dawson really does want to break off the engagement, Kieran. Maybe we shouldn''t force her."


    Under normal circumstances, Eloise wouldn''t care about such matters. But she felt uneasy, feeling like Freya meant more to Kieran than just a stand-in. If Kieran had indeed fallen for Freya, she couldn''t let Freya get any closer to him. Kieran coldly remarked, "She knows when to back off, which is wise of her!"


    With that, Kieran stood up, feeling an inexplicable difort in his heart.


    They arrived at Echo City Auction House at dusk. Kieran''s car stopped outside the venue, where a valet was ready to park it.


    The auction house was resplendent, its entrancevishly decorated.


    No sooner had Kieran stepped out than all eyes were on him, and Eloise, by his side, quickly became the center of attention. This scene did not escape Freya''s notice.

 Chapter 31

    In a past life, neither Kieran nor Ronan attended the auction, opting for their secretaries to handle the bidding over the phone instead. Perhaps Freya''s intervention altered the course of events. This time, seeing Kieran enter with Eloise, Freya couldn''t help but revel in the situation. It officially confirmed that she and Kieran were no longer together, which she found immensely satisfying. "Is that Ms. Harwood over there?"


    "Since when does Mr. Sutton ever bring a date?"


    "It''s all because someone overestimated her worth, daring to break off an engagement with Mr. Sutton. Look at her,pletely discarded, like yesterday''s news. I bet she''s regretting her decision now."


    "Everyone in Echo City knows the Dawson family practically begged for the engagement with the Sutton family. Now, she thinks she''s too good for him, huh? Please. Mr. Sutton could find a recement tomorrow, and who would dare associate with her now?" The gossip andughter of the socialites outside the venue were openly aimed at Freya, who had shown up just a few minutes before Kieran and Eloise.


    Ronan, the devil, had insisted she should wait outside, a decision she was beginning to regret deeply.


    It was clear now that Ronan and Kieran were cut from the same cloth, seemingly destined to be at each other''s throats in past and present lives.


    "Freya, why bother pining after Mr. Sutton? He''s got Eloise now. What''s the point in showing up here, hoping for what exactly?"


    "Exactly. Just a couple of days ago, she was all high and mighty about ending things with Mr. Sutton. And now here she is, tagging along. But let''s face it. A stand-in is just that. Mr. Sutton''s moved on. Why would he give her a second nce?" "She''s made her bed. Imagine, she was almost Mrs. Sutton and she just let it slip away. She should take a good look in the mirror. Did she think she couldpete with Ms. Harwood?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    The delight in seeing Freya''s downfall was palpable among the women who had once coveted her position. After all, her relentless pursuit of Kieran had devalued her in the eyes of men and earned her the scorn and ridicule of her peers. Unable to resist, one social butterfly approached Freya with a sardonic smile. "Ms. Dawson, with a face like that, you should focus on pleasing men while you still can. After this debacle, who in Echo City would dare associate with you?" Laughter erupted from the group, each jab at Freya''s expense a testament to her fall from grace. Even with her beauty and prior engagement to Kieran, she had be persona non grata in Echo City.


    Then, a sleek ck Maybach pulled up, drawing all eyes. The man who stepped out was the epitome of tailored perfection. His demeanor was cold and unapproachable. Adjusting his designer sses, Ronan scanned the crowd with a nce that silenced the mockery. Without a word, he pulled Freya to his side, asking softly, "Weren''t you supposed to wait for me at the entrance?"


    His deep and maic voice was enough to draw gasps from the onlookers. Since when were Freya and Mr. Beckett an item?


    Seeing themotion, Eloise cautiously mentioned it to Kieran. "That looks like Ms. Dawson over there..."


    Following her gaze, Kieran''s expression darkened at the sight of Freya and Ronan, their closeness undeniable. The fact that Ronan was holding Freya''s wrist was a provocation.


    The revtion stirred a dangerous glint in Kieran''s eyes. Freya, who had rejected him, was publicly aligning herself with Ronan. How had they be so close?


    "Kieran, there must be some misunderstanding... You know Ms. Dawson has feelings for you. How could she possibly be with another man so openly?" Eloise''s attempt to soothe the tension only highlighted theplexity of their entangled rtionships.

 Chapter 32

    Eloise seemed almost frantic in her defense of Freya, but her words only fanned the mes of Kieran''s anger.


    ''Fancy that? Freya is nothing but a gold digger! First, shetched onto me. Now, she''s set her sights on Ronan as her next target. No wonder she''s been less attentive and ttering towards me recently.'' Thinking this, Kieran''s gaze turned even icier. Oh, Freya, she had been quite the eye-opener for him!


    "Let''s go." Kieran didn''t spare another nce at Freya and Ronan, pulling Eloise into the auction hall instead.


    On the other side, Ronan allowed Freya to loop her arm through his, speaking coldly, "You''re my date tonight. If I make a move, you follow no questions asked, okay?"


    "Mr. Beckett, we''re both businesspeople. Since I''m your date for the evening, shouldn''t you pick up the tab for my expenses?"


    "You''re my date, not my girlfriend."


    Freya feigned difficulty and said, "But Kieran used to spend money on me. In terms of personal charm, Mr. Beckett, you wouldn''t want to lose to Kieran, would you?" "Are you trying to provoke me?"


    "Why would I..."


    "You win."


    As everyone took their seats at the venue, it became apparent that this auction was different from the rest, with assistants attending instead of the big yers themselves.


    Yet, there were Kieran and Ronan, causing a stir by being present, making the atmosphere unusually tense.


    "Kieran, it seems there''s something between Ms. Dawson and Mr. Beckett..." Eloise watched Kieran''s expression closely.


    Perhaps by design, Ronan and Freya sat directly across from them, ensuring they were in each other''s sights.


    Seeing Freya and Ronan chatting andughing, Kieran''s tone grew dangerously cold, "Freya''s doing quite well for herself."


    First, she tried to win him over by mimicking Eloise, ying the dutiful girl in front of his grandmother, and loudly dering her wish to break off their engagement, only to seek his grandmother''s favor over and over. But then, she was cozying up to Ronan, even having her stepmothere to him to apologize and seek reconciliation.


    Kieran gritted his teeth. ''Is she taking me for a fool?''


    Meanwhile, Freya could feel a chilling gaze on her, making her skin crawl.


    Ronan mused, "I wonder how Kieran feels seeing you with me."


    "What''s there to feel?" Freya responded dismissively. "Kieran''s heart is with Eloise. He''d love to end our engagement. If my family wasn''t useful to him, he wouldn''t have bothered with it in the first ce."


    Laughing at the thought, Freya added, "Believe it or not, I bet Kieran ns to take over the Dawson Group within three years, dump me, and then marry Eloise."


    Ronan caught the hint of self-mockery in Freya''s eyes, replying slowly, "From what you''re saying, he sounds like a real jerk. No wonder you despise him."


    As the auctionmenced, the prime real estate of Echo City was saved forst. The early offerings, mere plots for private vis, were of little interest. The auctioneer announced, "Southern Suburb plot, 8 acres, starting at 100 million!"


    Kieran''s sidekick, Jarrett, bid on his behalf. "120 million."


    "150 million," came Freya''s voice, drawing scornful looks.


    Kieran scoffed coldly at her attempt to grab his attention, which he thought was predictable. "200 million," he dered, unfazed.


    "250 million."


    "300 million!"


    The bidding war escted, prompting Eloise to frown. "Kieran, that plot isn''t worth this much."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.

 Chapter 33

    Kieran furrowed his brow in frustration.


    Leaning in, Jarrett whispered to Mr. Sutton, "This is already more than what we valued it at."


    Hearing so, Kieran scoffed. Freya didn''t have the funds. Her bidding was just a way to challenge him directly.


    Kieran was determined to teach Freya a lesson, even if it meant taking a loss.


    Kieran said coldly, "320 million dors!"


    Ronan was quite pleased with Kieran''s aggressive bidding. ording to the data, Kieran had already lost 50 million dors.


    Ronan hadn''t expected Freya to have such tactics, baiting Kieran into a costly mistake. He had underestimated Freya in the past.


    Just as Ronan was about to suggest that Freya back down, she suddenly raised her paddle. "500 million dors!"


    The bid of 500 million caused a stir among the crowd. What could be worth 500 million dors? How did it reach 500 million dors?


    Freya''s bid even surprised the auctioneer. He had to ensure he hadn''t misheard. The piece ofnd in the Southern Suburbs, as big as 8 acres, was valued at only 100 million dors! Hadn''t the bid just been at 320 million dors? Where did this 500 million dor bide from?


    "Has Freya lost her mind?" Kieran''s face darkened.


    A piece of suburbannd, barely worth noting, and she dared to bid 500 million dors? Where did she get the guts?


    "Mr. Sutton, we can''t bid any higher. We''ll lose too much!" Jarrett was also getting anxious.


    Freya''s bold move was reckless! In all these years,nd of this size in the suburbs had never reached a price of 500 million dors!


    "Freya, shut your mouth!" Ronan lowered his voice, saying, "Do you realize how much money you''ll lose?"


    "Mr. Beckett, this isn''t about how much money I lose, but about how much you stand to lose. Remember, you promised this to me. A man''s word is his bond."


    "You..." Ronan had thought Freya was angling for a multimillion-dor vi, but she went straight for a 500 million-dor piece ofnd.


    Ronan warned dangerously, "I''m starting to suspect you''re here to sabotage me on Kieran''s behalf."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Wrong, I am sent by God to save you."


    "Save me? By losing 500 million dors?"


    Across the room, Eloise saw Kieran lose his cool over Freya and tentatively asked, "Kieran, if Ms. Dawson ends up at a loss, will the Dawson Group face issues?" "Face issues?" Kieran smirked.


    Was that even a question? The Dawson Group was already strapped for cash, daring to spend 500 million dors on a piece ofnd without any preparation. The slightest misstep could lead to the Dawson Group''s copse. Freya was shooting herself in the foot! This time, she was asking for it!


    With the final gavel, Freya officially bought the Southern Suburbsnd.


    Freya looked on calmly at the scene. They had no idea just how valuable this piece ofnd would be.

 Chapter 34

    "Freya! Hold up right there!"


    During the intermission, Freya had excused herself to the restroom, only to hear Kieran''s voice trailing behind her.


    "Mr. Sutton? What''s the matter?" Freya turned around, her tone suggesting a polite distance between them as if they were barely acquaintances.


    "Freya, seriously, you outdid yourself this time. You knew I wanted that property for the Sutton Group, yet you went out of your way to snatch it, even if it meant taking a loss. What''s the game? Trying to get under my skin or just desperate for my attention?"


    "Mr. Sutton, you''ve got it all wrong. I genuinely liked that property. It has nothing to do with you." Freya''s sincerity didn''t dent in Kieran''s disbelief.


    Eloise hurried over, following close behind Kieran.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Ms. Dawson, you were too rash. That property''s going to cost you a fortune!" Eloise said, ncing at Kieran. "Kieran brought me here today, which must''ve embarrassed you. I get it. You want to stand up to Mr. Sutton, but there''s no need for recklessness. If you end up in a financial hole, Mr. Sutton will still feel obliged to bail out the Dawson family. Why put yourself in that position?" Hearing this, Kieran scoffed, "Freya, you set the price, so you''ll foot the bill."


    "Mr. Sutton, you must be kidding. Since I made the bid, I''ll pay for it. Haven''t we already called off our engagement? My finances have nothing to do with you anymore." "You..."


    Kieran''s face darkened, but Ronan emerged from the auction hall then. Catching sight of him, Freya raised her voice deliberately, a smile ying on her lips. "Ronan!"


    Her call wasden with intimacy, worsening Kieran''s mood.


    Freya walked over to Ronan, linking her arm through his. "Intermission''s almost over, right? We should head back. After all, I''ve had my heart set on that piece of Echo City for a long time. Mr. Sutton, Ms. Harwood, we''ll be taking our leave."


    Freya nodded politely at Kieran and Eloise. Her demeanor was unppable.


    Eloise felt the icy chill emanating from Kieran as he stood beside her. "Kieran..."


    Eloise couldn''t help but look at him, surprised at Freya''s boldness in unting her closeness with Ronan right before Kieran. Ronan was Kieran''s arch-nemesis.


    "Quite the move of Freya. I''ve underestimated her," Kieran muttered, his fists clenched. He''d never been so tantly disrespected.


    Seeing Freya walk away arm in arm with Ronan felt like a direct challenge. Did Freya think he, Kieran, couldn''t move on from her?


    "Jarrett."


    "Mr. Sutton."


    "Elevate the bid for that Echo City''s property to five billion. Freya wants Ronan to have it, doesn''t she? I''ll make it a costly wish."


    "Mr. Sutton... but if Ronan doesn''t bite, then..."


    Kieran''s response was cold. "With all the hype we''ve built, he''ll bite. Let him spend an extra billion. It''ll be like his efforts this year were for nothing." "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Back in the auction hall, Freya and Ronan had taken their seats.


    Ronan began with his dry wit, "So, I stepped out for a moment and have be your human shield?"


    "Mr. Beckett, seeing Kieran with that sour look, it''s pretty satisfying, right?"


    "It is, indeed."


    Freya continued, "Just watch. Kieran is petty enough to drive up the price just to make you lose more."


    "Ms. Dawson, it seems you are quite familiar with your ex-fianc¨¦."


    More than familiar, okay? Looking back on those hard three years, Freya realized she had been utterly devoted to Kieran.


    A single look from Kieran, and she would think he was warming up to her. And with a word from him, she would feel like she had finally thawed his heart.

 Chapter 35

    From securing sponsorships for Kieran''s firm to caring for Audrey, even going as far as making chicken soup for Kieran himself, there wasn''t a detail about Kieran''s preferences that slipped past Freya. She wished she could micromanage everything down to how long Kieran spent in the shower, how many trips he made to the bathroom in a day, and even how many squares of toilet paper he used.


    "Mr. Beckett," Freya said, her voice brimming with confidence, "watch and see. You''re going toe out on top tonight."


    With an effortless gesture, she emptied her ss of champagne and ced it on the table beside her.


    As the auctionmenced, the auctioneer finally introduced the piece ofnd in Echo City. "15 acres of suburban Echo Citynd, starting bid at 300 million dors!"


    Ronan furrowed his brow upon hearing the starting bid. It was as Freya had predicted. Auction prices were kept under wraps until the event, making it impossible for Freya to have known the starting bid in advance unless...


    Was this Echo City auction a trap set by Kieran?


    "Bid at 500 million!"


    "800 million!"


    "One billion!"


    The bidding war for thend escted quickly, fueled by rumors of its potential to appreciate, potentially reaching up to five billion.


    Noticing Ronan''s hesitation, Freya boldly raised her bidding paddle and announced, "Two billion!"


    Ronan nced at Freya and remarked, "Easy for you to say when it''s not your money."


    "Exactly."


    Not to be outdone, Kieran raised his paddle, "Three billion."


    The bid jump to three billion silenced many until a nod from Kieran to a bidder in the crowd prompted a new offer, "3.5 billion!"


    "Four billion," Ronan countered firmly.


    The room was abuzz with spection as the price approached the rumored maximum value of thend.


    Then, in a dramatic turn, Kieran bid "4.5 billion" under the watchful eyes of the auction attendees.


    The atmosphere was tense as everyone awaited Ronan''s next move, aware of the high-stakes battle between him and Kieran for the plot ofnd.


    Ronan subtly raised his hand at that critical moment, making a gracious ''after you'' gesture.


    That gesture erased the smile from Kieran''s face. Ronan... was yielding?


    "Mr. Sutton!" Jarrett was visibly shaken.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The Echo Citynd was supposed to be their trap for Ronan. Unexpectedly, Ronan chose not to fall for it.


    A slight smile curved Freya''s lips. In a past life, Ronan had taken the bait, resulting in a massive financial loss for him as the Echo Citynd failed to meet its expected value. Far from the spected five billion, it wasn''t even worth 1.5 billion, leading to a significant loss for Ronan and allowing Kieran to oppress the Beckett Group.


    But this time, Kieran had overyed his hand.

 Chapter 36

    "Kieran, congrats on snagging thend in Echo City. The Sutton Group will rake in some serious cash this time."


    Eloise said with augh, oblivious to the darkening expression on Kieran''s face.


    Across the room, Freya couldn''t hide her smirk, clinking champagne sses with Ronan. To Kieran, the scene was like a thorn in his eye.


    "What do we do now, Mr. Sutton?" asked Jarrett.


    Jarrett was caught off guard when Ronan withdrew from the bidding war. Just days earlier, Ronan had seemed determined to secure that piece ofnd. What had caused his sudden change of heart? "What can we do?"


    The Sutton Group would have to swallow this bitter pill. Kieran stood up, his face devoid of any smiles, reced by a looming storm.


    Something was fishy there. And it must have something to do with Freya!


    "Kieran!" Eloise tried to follow him, grabbing his arm in desperation.


    But Kieran jerked his arm away reflexively the next second, telling Eloise, "Ellie, go back first."


    Eloise paused, and Kieran was already striding away by the time she recovered.


    Eloise thought, ''Kieran... has never left me behind before.''N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Outside the venue, Kieran said coldly, "Get Johanna to me. Now!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    An hourter, in the Sutton Group office.


    Johanna was pushed into the office by two bodyguards. Seeing Kieran''s expression, she went pale. "Mr. Sutton... what''s the matter? Did Freya upset you?"


    "Cut the act!" Kieran snapped, "What''s the deal with Freya and Ronan?"


    "What?"


    Freya and Ronan? What could be going on between them?


    Johanna hurriedly said, "Mr. Sutton, if Freya''s been acting up, I''ll take her in hand, I promise. Please calm down. The Dawson family''s alliance with the Sutton family is solid as a rock!" "Save it! Was thend in Echo City a setup, huh? Did you have Freya leak that?"


    "I swear, I knew nothing about Echo City! Mr. Sutton, it must be some misunderstanding!"


    "A misunderstanding?" Kieran scoffed, "Freya runs to you for cover, then cozies up to Ronan. Is that a misunderstanding, too?"


    "Mr. Sutton, that girl must''ve been confused. I''ll make here clean to you tomorrow, I swear. Ronan might think he''s a big shot in Echo City, but he''s nothingpared to you. I''ll call her now and make here home!" Saying this, Johanna fumbled for her phone.


    Meanwhile, in a diner, Freya saw her phone buzzing and promptly hit the reject button.


    Sitting across from her, Ronan looked amused, "Helping me prank Kieran means you''re on my side now. He won''t let this slide easily."


    "Mr. Beckett, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Here''s to a fruitful partnership."


    "To a fruitful partnership."

 Chapter 37

    Ronan and Freya clinked their sses in a toast.


    After downing her drink, Freya dug into her purse and slid a card across the table to Ronan.


    "What''s this?"


    "The money for thend."


    Freya cracked a small smile, saying, "At the auction, I was just bluffing. I''m nning to buy thisnd on my own."


    "Thend in the Southern Suburb isn''t worth much. Consider this half a billion dors a gift from me. Besides, as far as I know, the Dawson Group doesn''t have this kind of cash now. Where''s the money on this card from?" "You''re mistaken. This isn''t the Dawson Group''s money."


    Ronan frowned slightly. "Not the Dawson Group''s money?"


    "It''s the trust fund my dad left me."


    In her past life, Johanna had her eyes on her trust fund, scheming to marry her off to the Sutton family to get her hands on that half a billion.


    Johanna knew Audrey fancied Freya as a granddaughter-inw, so she canceled the wedding gifts behind their backs, talking Freya into coughing up the money to save thepany from crisis.


    But thepany''s crisis remained unsolved, and Johanna ran off with the money.


    Freya nned to turn the tables this time. Johanna wouldn''t get a dime of the Dawson family''s wealth, not just the trust fund money.


    "Mr. Beckett, I hope you''ll hold off on any financial moves these next few days," said Freya.


    Ronan was confused. "The Dawson Group is on itsst legs. If I don''t invest now, Dawson Group is finished."


    Freya remained silent with a smile.


    Johanna wanted her son to run thepany. Then let Lnd, the fool, deal with thepany''s bad debts these next few days.


    She was curious to see if thepany''s shareholders would still indulge Johanna and her son when their interests were about to copse.


    In the evening, Ronan dropped Freya off at the Dawson family.


    When Freya pushed open the door, she noticed the living room lights were on. Suddenly, a force yanked her inside. Freya instinctively cried out for help but was quickly silenced by a hand mping down on her neck, pushing her against the wall. "Freya, you sure aren''t easy to get a hold of." Kieran''s voice was low andced with danger.


    Feeling the chokehold on her neck, Freya struggled and gasped, "Let... go!"


    Realizing his grip might have been too tight, Kieran let go. Leaning against the wall, Freya coughed violently. Seeing it, Kieran frowned and sneered, "Ms. Dawson, quite the strategy. You are ying fianc¨¦e to the Sutton family while keeping Ronan on the hook. What''s it? Weighing who''s offering you more?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Mr. Sutton, you jest. My interactions with Mr. Beckett are casual. But Mr. Sutton, visiting my homete at night, is it to question my rtionship with Mr. Beckett?"


    "Mr. Beckett? Just a while ago at the auction, wasn''t it all ''Ronan, Ronan''?" Kieran tightened his grip on Freya''s wrist and said, "If you want me to spare the Dawson Group, why go to Ronan? Wouldn''t it make more sense to plead directly with me?"


    As Kieran closed the distance, Freya could almost feel his breath. The closer he got, the more vividly she remembered how this man had mistreated her in her past life.


    Freya spoke firmly, "Kieran, I think I''ve told you I will never beg."


    "Got some nerve, now, you are calling me by my name directly?" Kieran dragged Freya onto the couch.


    Caught off guard, Freya felt a sharp pain as her back hit the armrest. Wincing, she gasped, "Kieran! What do you think you''re doing?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?"


    Rolling up his sleeves and slightly loosening his tie, Kieran leaned in, pinning Freya''s hands down. His voice was deep as he said, "Freya, isn''t this exactly what you''ve always wanted?"

 Chapter 38

    "You called off the engagement at the engagement party, told the Jennings family to release that stupid news, and flirted with Ronan to provoke me at the auction." In a moment of heated frustration, Kieran cornered Freya. "All this... this charade, it''s all for my attention, huh?" His hand was firm against her jaw, his body inching closer. But the atmosphere shifted when Freya mentioned Eloise with a smirk. Kieran froze, his demeanor changing quickly.


    Seizing the moment, Freya wrapped her arms around Kieran''s neck, her gaze dripping with seduction. "You''re right, Mr. Sutton. I''ve done all this for you. Maybe we should... continue this conversation in my room?"


    However, Kieran was not amused. Pushing her away with visible disgust, he warned, "Freya, cut the act. Your little games are beneath you."


    Unfazed, Freya lounged on the couch, her words taunting. "Oh,e on, Mr. Sutton. Don''t y the saint. It''s not new for a man to want one but keep another on the side, right?"


    But Kieran wasn''t having any of it. His rejection was clear, his voiceced with a threat. "Freya, I''m warning you. Stop ying games. You wouldn''t even be considered if it weren''t for my grandmother''s approval."


    Upstairs, Johanna eavesdropped the confrontation with growing panic. The Sutton family''s favor was crucial to the Dawson family.


    In desperation, she raced downstairs and pleaded with Freya to apologize.


    But Freya yed the victim,menting the failed engagement with a feigned sadness, even as Kieran''s disdain was palpable.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    The situation took a turn for the absurd when Johanna brought down a box filled with Kieran''s memorabilia in a misguided attempt to mend fences, a collection of fan items that Freya was once obsessed with. The sight of Kieran''s face on pillows and newspaper clippings scattered on the floor was embarrassing and telling.


    "Stop!" Freya reacted instinctively, but the damage had already been done. Finding a doll with his face on it, Kieran couldn''t help butugh at the absurdity.


    Ever the mediator, Johanna tried to smooth things over, insisting on Freya''s undying affection for Kieran and urging him to reconsider the engagement for Audrey''s sake.


    But as Kieran picked up the scattered tokens of Freya''s infatuation, the situation seemed more like a scene from a si than a romantic reconciliation. With its engagements and broken hearts, the high society drama yed out like a modern-day soap opera, with the Sutton family and Dawson family at the center of the storm.

 Chapter 39

    "Johanna, the whole breakup thing with Mr. Sutton is settled. We parted on good terms. Considering our past, you won''t hold grudges against the Dawson family, right, Mr. Sutton?" At that moment, Freya was essentially offering Kieran a way out.


    Clutching a throw pillow, Kieran retorted, "When did I ever say I wanted to break up?"


    "You..."


    "And who told you that breaking up was a done deal?" Kieran snorted, "Freya, trying to provoke me into breaking up so you can freely be with Ronan? Wishful thinking." "Mr. Sutton, you just said..."


    "While I don''t particrly like you, I never said I wouldn''t marry you. I''ll hold a press conference to clear up the confusion from our previous breakup." "You..."


    "Mrs. Dawson, I''ll leave the preparations to you. I don''t want to see a repeat of what happened before."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Sutton. This breakup situation will not happen a second time!"


    Freya''s face darkened. In her past life, she desperately clung to a rtionship while Kieran was determined not to engage with her.


    Howe, after being reborn, Kieran was eagerly pushing for an engagement?


    After Kieran left, Johanna cheered with relief, "Oh, thank goodness! You''ve finally locked down being Mrs. Sutton!"


    Freya''s face was devoid of any smile as she walked directly to a cardboard box, scooping up its contents and dragging it outside.


    Johanna was puzzled. "Freya! What are you doing now?"


    Sparks flew in the backyard as Freya burned everything in the box up.


    "Freya! Have you lost your mind? Mr. Sutton said he''d let bygones be bygones. Why can''t you appreciate that?"


    Before Johanna could finish, she saw Freya''s fierce gaze, causing her to recoil.


    "Johanna, this is the first andst warning. Don''t enter my room without my permission."


    "You..." Johanna turned pale under Freya''s intimidating stare. The former Freya could never have looked so formidable.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "By the way, I''ve been checking thepany''s ounts and I found some discrepancies. Johanna, you wouldn''t happen to know anything about that, would you?" Faced with Freya''s piercing look, Johanna stiffened, "Ac-ounts?"


    Johanna wondered, ''Didn''t Galen say this nosy girl couldn''t read a ledger? Why did she suddenly ask about the ounts?''


    "I''ll go through the books with the ountant tomorrow. You better be prepared, Johanna." Freya patted Johanna''s shoulder lightly, sending shivers down her spine. Over the years, Johanna had embezzled millions! If that came to light... No! She had to find a way to marry off Freya quickly! She couldn''t let Freya dig into the ounts!

 Chapter 40

    The next day, the Dawson Group announced a shutdown, which sent its shareholders into a frenzy like ants on a hot griddle.


    A shutdown meant serious issues with the Dawson Group''s finances! If not addressed promptly, the Dawson Group was on the brink of defaulting and bankruptcy!


    Inside the boardroom, everyone awaited Johanna''s decision. After all, Johanna had been managing thepany''s affairs.


    Soon, Galen pushed open the boardroom''s door, and Johanna entered.


    Seeing her, everyone quickly said, "Mrs. Dawson! With the projects halted, what do we do now?"


    "Exactly. If things keep going this way, thepany is doomed!"


    Seeing everyone''s anxious faces, Johanna felt uneasy herself. She had onlye to destroy evidence, fearing an audit from Freya, not expecting thepany to face a crisis the next day!


    It was all Freya''s fault! Offending Mr. Sutton had led to the financial turmoil in the Dawson Group! If Mr. Sutton hadn''t withdrawn his investment, the Dawson Group wouldn''t be in such a dire situation.


    Thinking this, Johanna seethed inside but maintained a cheerful facade and said, "Don''t worry, everyone. This mess was caused by that reckless Freya, offending Mr. Sutton and leading him to withdraw his investment. Rest assured. I''ll take Freya to apologize to Mr. Sutton. Once he reinvests, the Dawson Group''s projects will be back on track."


    "I knew Ms. Dawson was trouble! She''s been running thepany into the ground these past few days! She can''t even manage the ounts properly! Mrs. Dawson, you need to regain control of the situation!"


    "Mrs. Dawson, you must talk some sense into Ms. Dawson. The Dawson Group cannot afford to offend Mr. Sutton!"


    "Yes, without funding, thepany is truly finished!"


    ...


    The room buzzed with the shareholders''ints.


    Johanna forced a smile, her heart sinking with worry.


    After leaving the boardroom, Johanna immediately told Galen, "Freya''s onto the ounting issue! Quick, we need to fix the books before she figures it all out!"


    "Don''t worry. I''m already on it." Seizing the opportunity, Galen wrapped his arm around Johanna''s waist and headed to the office together.


    Meanwhile, Freya was sitting in front of herputer in the Dawson family, watching the surveince footage from the Dawson Group''s office.


    Seeing Johanna and Galen eagerly embracing each other, Freya''s lips curled into a smirk.


    ''Johanna, you''ve just handed me the evidence on a silver tter.''


    Freya saved the surveince footage and closed herptop. "I''m curious how you''ll solve the financial crisis."


    At the same time, Kieran nced at the documents in his hand in the Sutton Group''s office while Jarrett spoke from across, "Mr. Sutton, the Dawson Group''s financial chain is in dire straits. The project of five hundred million has been halted, and other projects have stopped. If this continues, the Dawson Group is sure to be ruined."


    "She still won''t cave?"T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ms. Dawson hasn''te here yet."


    Hearing this, Kieran let out a coldugh. Kieran had been waiting in the office all morning without a visit from Freya to offer an apology.


    It appeared Freya was indifferent to the Dawson Group''s fate, which was typical behavior for a spoiled heiress unwilling to swallow her pride.


    "Then I''ll wait some more. She''ll have toe to me eventually, ready to apologize."


    "Mr. Sutton, what if... I mean, what if Ms. Dawson doesn''te at all?"

 Chapter 41

    Kieran scoffed, "She has to clean up her mess. Without the Dawson Group, she''s nothing but a regr Jane."


    Just then, the officendline rang.


    Kieran picked it up, and the receptionist said, "Mr. Sutton, ady here iming to be from the Dawson family, wants to meet with you."


    Hearing Freya had arrived, Kieran leaned back in his armchair, smirking, "Let here up."


    "Right away, Mr. Sutton." The receptionist hung up.


    Soon, Kara walked in, her dress strikingly simr to one of Eloise''s ssic white gowns. As she pushed the door open, she saw Kieran buried in paperwork. Without looking up, Kieran jeered, "What? Come to beg for mercy?"


    "Mr. Sutton... it''s me, Kara."


    Hearing a different name, Kieran frowned. Sure enough, it was Kara''s voice that filled the room.


    Kara blushed and timidly lowered her gaze. "Mr. Sutton, I..."


    "Who sent you here?" Kieran''s tone was icy.


    Kara paused, noticing the stark difference in Kieran''s demeanor from the night before, feeling disheartened.


    "Mr. Sutton, I... I came to thank you for helping me get into Summit University." Her voice was barely above a whisper.


    Impatient, Kieran snapped, "Are you done?"


    Kara nodded. "Yes, I''m done."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Kara dressed simrly to Eloise, Kieran''s gaze turned colder, "If you''re done, leave."


    Even Kara, slow to catch on at times, could tell Kieran was in a foul mood.


    Jarrett chimed in, "Ms. Orson, if you could please..."


    Kara bit her lip, knowing Freya had won Kieran''s favor by resembling Eloise. If Freya could do it, so could she!


    "Mr. Sutton! Your coffee''s gone cold. I''ll get you a fresh one!" Kara quickly grabbed the coffee mug from Kieran''s desk and rushed out before he could respond. "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Call Johanna. Tell her to get Freya over here, now!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Meanwhile, Johanna rushed back home.


    Freya was lounging in the living room in her pajamas, leisurely enjoying her coffee.


    Johanna eximed, "Freya! Why are you still here? Didn''t I say you needed to apologize to Mr. Sutton today?"


    "That was something you agreed to, not me," Freya replied nonchntly, sipping her coffee. "I''m not going to the press conference in three days, and I won''t apologize to Kieran."


    Johanna fumed. "You! How can you be so thoughtless? Do you have any idea how much Mr. Sutton pulling his investment will affect thepany? If you don''t apologize to Mr. Sutton, thepany''s finished!" "Didn''t you always tell me to leave thepany in your hands? If there''s a problem, it''s your responsibility. And if thepany''s in debt, you''ll have to pay it back."


    "What did you say?" Johanna was stunned.


    Feigning confusion, Freya continued, "Don''t you know? As Dad''s widow, unless... you renounce Dad''s inheritance, you''re responsible for thepany''s debts."

 Chapter 42

    Johanna''s face went dark as a storm cloud.


    "Being thedy of the Dawson family isn''t as easy as you think, dear. If I can''t sort out the financial mess, you might as well hit the road sooner rather thanter. Don''t say I didn''t warn you." Johanna''s smile faded.


    ''After ving away for the Dawson family for years and barely mourning myte husband, thepany hits a snag. Without reaping benefits, I''m expected to settle the Dawson family''s debts?'' Johanna pondered, ''Over my dead body!''


    "Freya, I know you''re the most reasonable one here. You wouldn''t let me handle the debts alone. Please, I''m begging you. Go and smooth things over with Mr. Sutton. If you can get him to go easy on us, it could clear up all ourpany''s issues!" Watching Johanna grovel, Freya smiled slightly and said, "Johanna, I might consider it."


    "I knew it! Freya, you''re always understanding. You wouldn''t let thepany suffer!"


    "Don''t rush, Johanna. I haven''t mentioned my conditions yet."


    Conditions? Johanna was surprised. "Conditions? There are conditions?"


    "Of course, there are conditions if you want me to handle this."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Freya lounging on the sofa with an air of ease, Johanna felt a fire burning in her chest but kept her temper in check. She said, "Freya, it''s just a matter of apologizing to Mr. Sutton, showing a bit of humility. You weren''t always this calcting. What''s changed?" Freya smirked. "Dad taught me to be gentle and virtuous. This calcting side? I must have learned it from you, Johanna."


    Freya''s smile didn''t wane as she slowly said, "Johanna, if you want me to persuade Mr. Sutton, I''ll do it. But I can''t guarantee he''ll be merciful to the Dawson Group."


    Before Freya could respond, Freya continued, "And if I do go, thepany''s affairs will no longer concern you. Whether the Dawson Group sinks into debt or flourishes is none of your business." "You..."


    "If you don''t agree, I won''t bother going."


    Freya threw caution to the wind. "Let Mr. Sutton ruin the Dawson Group if ites to that. I won''t owe any debts then, and it''ll be up to you to find a solution, considering you''ve been running the Dawson family''s business all this while. The shareholders shoulde after you for their lost money, not me."


    Confronted with Freya''s seriousness, Johanna could only grit her teeth and agree, "Fine! I agree!"


    Johanna thought, ''What does Freya know? She''s a pampered heiress who can''t even understand the ounts. How can she manage apany? She''d have toe crawling back to me eventually.'' "Since you agree, Johanna, let''s make it official."


    Freya pulled out a document from her bag, stating Johanna and Lnd''s voluntary resignation from all positions within the Dawson Group.


    Johanna''s smile stiffened as she looked at the document, "Freya, we''re family. Do we really need to be this formal?"


    "Johanna, verbal agreements don''t hold up in court. It''s better to be thorough."


    Freya smiled gently. "Don''t worry, Johanna. Once you sign, I''ll head straight to the Sutton Group and talk to Mr. Sutton. If you don''t trust me, we can draw up a contract, and I''ll sign it, too." Left with no choice, Johanna signed the document with a heavy heart.


    Once Johanna had signed, Freya pocketed the contract with a smile. "Since that''s settled, I guess I''ll have to make the trip."


    Johanna could only stare at Freya''s smiling face, feeling a chill down her spine.


    An hourter, Freya changed into clean, sharp denim shorts, a tight white tank top, and a denim jacket.


    Employees at the Sutton Group couldn''t help but stare as Freya walked in, their eyes widening in surprise.


    Wearing sunsses, Freya approached the reception desk and announced, "I''m here to see Mr. Sutton."


    Seeing a stunningly beautiful woman with long legs and perfect skin, the receptionist asked, "I''m sorry, Miss. Do you have an appointment?" Removing her sunsses, Freya revealed her identity. "I''m Freya."


    The receptionist''s jaw dropped. "Dawson, Ms. Dawson?"


    "Can I go up now?" asked Freya.

 Chapter 43

    "Absolutely, yes! Of course!" The receptionist quickly helped Freya swipe her card to ess the elevator.


    "Did you see that? That was Ms. Dawson!"


    "What''s with Ms. Dawson''s outfit today?"


    "Ms. Dawson looks stunning. How have we never noticed how beautiful she is before?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? She''s trying to impress Mr. Sutton. Everyone knows Ms. Dawson usually dresses like Ms. Harwood. Wonder which of Ms. Harwood''s outfits she''s imitating this time!"


    ...


    In the CEO''s office of the Sutton Group, Kara was busy serving Kieran coffee, running errands, and even taking the initiative to move files for him.


    Jarrett couldn''t help but admire Kara for her dedication and hard work. Thest person who did as much was Freya.


    "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton is in his office. I''ll take you to him."


    "Okay." Freya''s gaze fell on Kieran''s office. The office had semi-transparent ss doors, allowing a clear view inside.


    Kara was seen attentively tidying Kieran''s desk, her eyes filled with adoration for him.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    The scene was all too familiar, almost identical to Freya''s past self. Freya''s eyes turned cold.


    Kieran was getting impatient, about to send Kara away, but then he looked up and saw Freya outside.


    Freya''s appearance had changed drastically from before, which also surprised Kieran.


    However, Kieran quickly regained hisposure, his lips curling into a mocking smile.


    He reached out and gently hooked Kara''s chin, lowering his voice, "Tie my tie."


    "Mr. Sutton..." Kara blushed, and her eyes were filled with shyness.


    Soon after, Kara leaned in closer to Kieran to tie his tie.


    The scene was ufortably intimate, and as Freya hesitated at the door, Kieran said, "Polish my shoes."


    "What?" Kara was stunned. Polish his shoes? But...


    "What, can''t you bend down?" Kieran mocked, "Freya used to do it. When I asked her to polish my shoes, she would kneel without any dignity to do it." Outside, hearing Kieran''s words, Freya couldn''t help but sneer.


    Back then, she was madly in love with Kieran, willing to do all sorts of demeaning things. For Kieran, though, it was just something tough about. After hearing Kieran''s words, Kara knelt, using her white scarf to polish his shoes.


    Freya''s memories and the present ovepped, making her stomach churn. The next second, Freya pushed open the office door.

 Chapter 44

    "Freya..." When Kara saw Freya, fear took hold, and she stood up, ready to back away. But Kieran grabbed her wrist.


    "Just where do you think you''re running off to? You''re not done yet. I didn''t say stop, so get back down and keep cleaning my shoes," Kieran said, his tone even and unbothered. "Yes, Mr. Sutton," Kara replied, kneeling back to polish Kieran''s shoes.


    Meanwhile, Kieran leaned back in his office chair, addressing Freya, "Freya, there are things you won''t do, but plenty of others will, and... they might even do it better than you." "Mr. Sutton, I didn''te here to watch you be vile," Freya responded, her tone icy.


    Unfazed, Kieran replied, "All you need to do is apologize to Ellie on your knees. If you do that, I''ll pretend none of this ever happened, and the engagement party will go on as scheduled in two days. Plus, I''ll make a hefty investment in the Dawson Group." Seeing Freya remain silent, Kieran scoffed, "It''s just an apology. Your knees have always been flexible, and you''ve knelt before. What? Can''t do it now?"


    He stood up, walked over to Freya, and said, "If you''re going to be apdog, at least y the part. Weren''t you always so obedient?"


    Feeling Kieran''s proximity, a chill ran through Freya.


    She took a step back to put some distance between them and eventually sat down on the couch reserved for guests."Mr. Sutton, let me remind you. I wouldn''t be here if it weren''t for Johanna begging me. As for your threats of pulling your investment or causing trouble, I couldn''t care less. And apologizing to Ms. Harwood..."


    Freya looked up at Kieran, a smile ying on her lips. "It''s not like I held a knife to her throat and forced her to harm herself. Why should I apologize?"


    At her words, Kieran''s smile faded.


    Freya''s indifferent attitude left Kieran with a knot of frustration in his chest that he couldn''t untangle.


    Kieran said coldly, "Think carefully before you speak, Freya."


    "Mr. Sutton, I''ve thought it through. I won''t apologize," Freya said firmly. "Ask me a hundred times, and the answer will remain the same."


    The tension in the air was palpable when Kara ran to Freya, pleading, "Freya! I shouldn''t have approached Mr. Sutton, but please don''t be mad at him! Ourpany''s sess depends on Mr. Sutton''s support! If he pulls his investment, the Dawson Group is ruined!" "Ms. Orson, let me remind you. You''re not a Dawson. What does the Dawson family''s affairs have to do with you?" Freya''s sharp retort instantly drained the color from Kara''s face.


    "Fine! Just fine!" Kieranughed, clearly frustrated. "You dove into a pool, got your head wet, and now you think you can talk tough!"


    "Thanks to you for throwing the ring into the pool, Mr. Sutton, I had an epiphany," Freya said calmly. "All I ever wanted was to be with someone I love. But how can there be love in a marriage that was never equal, to begin with? So, Mr. Sutton, not only will I not apologize, I refuse to be engaged to you. Please find someone else. If Ms. Harwood isn''t an option, Ms. Orson seems a perfect fit."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    With that, Freya nced at Kara, adding, "At least, she, like I once did, will do anything for you without limits." Kieran frowned at her words.


    After Freya left, Kara rushed forward, ming Freya, "Mr. Sutton, Freya is too proud... I apologize on her behalf..." "Out!" Kieran suddenly roared, causing Kara to go pale and retreat quickly.


    Not daring to upset Kieran further, Kara ran off crying.


    Jarrett entered, looking troubled, "Mr. Sutton... Ms. Dawson... she''s gone."


    Kieran''s expression darkened, and Jarrett didn''t dare say more.


    The office sank into a long silence before Kieran finally spoke up, "Was I ever really that bad to her?"


    "Do you want the truth, Mr. Sutton?"


    Kieran nced at Jarrett, prompting his response.

 Chapter 45

    Jarrett immediately lowered his head, not daring to speak.


    With a stormy expression, Kieran said, "It''s her damn fault! She was practically asking for it!"


    "Yes, yes... you''re absolutely right, Mr. Sutton."


    "She knew what she was doing. What''s she got toin about now?"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton. It''s all Ms. Dawson''s own doing."


    Hearing Jarrett echo his sentiments finally lightened Kieran''s mood.


    Then, Ss burst into the office, his face alight with excitement. "You guys will never guess what I just saw! I saw this stunning blonde hiding behind the sunsses!"


    Barely containing his excitement, Ss pped Kieran on the back. "Man, Kieran, I thought we were buds! And here you are, keeping a bombshell like that hidden away in the office and not telling me!" The more Ss said, the darker Kieran''s expression became.


    Jarrett cleared his throat lightly and said, "Mr. Vaughn, that was... Ms. Dawson."


    "What? Freya?" Ss was shocked.


    He thought he had misheard. Wasn''t Freya always the shy, reserved type? When had she ever dressed so boldly?


    Already in a foul mood, Kieran frowned and asked, "What do you want?"


    Ss was confused and replied, "What do you mean, ''what do I want''? It''s Eloise''s birthday, remember? Didn''t you say we were going to celebrate at Eclipse Lounge?"


    Hearing it, Kieran suddenly recalled the importance of the day. Frustrated, he rubbed his temples. "This is all that damn Freya''s fault!" he thought.


    "Alright, I''ll have Jarrett pick up Ellie."


    Ss asked, "What about her birthday present? Did you get it?"


    Kieran had been so preupied with Freya that he had forgotten the birthday present.


    Kieran instructed Jarrett, "Go to the jewelry store, get a nice piece of jewelry, have it wrapped, and send it over."


    "Right away, Mr. Sutton."


    Ss cut in, "Man, Eloise isn''t just after any random piece of jewelry. She''s been dreaming about a ring."


    The mention of "ring" triggered a memory in Kieran''s mind of the day he threw a ring into the pool, and Freya had dived in after it.


    Kieran said coldly, "Ellie''s being ridiculous, and you''re encouraging her?"


    Ss snorted, "I''m just speaking the truth."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Kieran directed his gaze towards Jarrett, his tone icy, "Anything is fine, just not a ring." "Understood, Mr. Sutton."


    Ss couldn''t help but add, "But seriously, Kieran, are you going to cut ties with Freya?"

 Chapter 46

    "What''s up? You''ve got a crush on her, too?"


    Faced with Kieran''s question, Ss quickly distanced himself, saying, "Me? No way, man. Ms. Dawson''s got eyes only for you. I don''t stand a chance. But, you know, I heard Miss Dawson and your arch-enemy Ronan have been pretty cozytely. Since the charity auction, they''ve been meeting up almost daily, secretly, too!" Kieran frowned upon hearing this. Then, he let out a coldugh. No wonder Freya has been so bold before him. She had been cozying up to Ronan.


    Justst night, she had the nerve to tell him she and Ronan were acquaintances. Did she think she could y him for a fool?


    "And there''s more. You know Hanley Upton, right? He''s been drooling over Ms. Dawson for ages! That guy is a suck-up. I heard it''s Eloise''s birthday today, and he showed up and even asked me to check with you if you''re done with Ms. Dawson. If so, he wants to make his move."


    Ss cleared his throat and added, "I probably shouldn''t get involved, but you know Hanley can be a real handful. Despite Ms. Dawson trying too hard to be Eloise, she''s been genuine with you..."


    "Let him chase her if he wants. It''s not my concern." Kieran spoke coldly as if he couldn''t care less about Freya''s fate.


    A sleek ck Maybach pulled up outside the Eclipse Lounge, turning heads in the evening.


    Everyone in their circle knew this car was a one-of-a-kind global limited edition, Kieran''s ride. Aside from Kieran, only Eloise had the privilege of riding in this car for years.


    Eloise stepped out, followed by Jarrett, who escorted her to a private room at the Eclipse Lounge.


    Inside, the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of their social circle had gathered, and the room burst into celebration as Eloise entered.


    "Ms. Harwood, this is all Kieran''s doing! Surprise or what?"


    Eloise blushed and nodded, her gazending on Kieran lounging on a sofa.


    "Kieran, thank you."


    "Take a seat."


    Eloise sat beside him, cheeks ame.


    Her heart raced as she unwrapped Kieran''s gift, a delicate pink pearl bracelet. Disappointment flickered in her eyes-it wasn''t a ring.


    "I love it... Could you... put it on for me?"


    The crowd egged them on.


    "Do it! Now. Do it!"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Ever indulgent of Eloise, Kieran slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.


    "Mr. Sutton! Now that the gift''s given, how about a toast?"


    ""Let''s see a toast!"


    Amid the mor, someone shouted, and Ss quickly intervened, "Cut it out! Mr. Sutton''s engaged!"


    "Mr. Vaughn, hasn''t Mr. Sutton called off the engagement?"


    "Yeah, it was all over the news! Come on. Freya can''t hold a candle to Ms. Harwood. She''s a ceholder. Now that he''s broken it off with the Dawson family, Ms. Harwood can be with Mr. Sutton!" "That''s not a given. Everyone knows Freya''s only a stage five clinger. Give her a few days, and she''ll return to Mr. Sutton, begging forgiveness!"


    As Kieran''s expression turned stone-cold, Ss scrambled to salvage the situation, but suddenly, Luna''s voice cut through from a corner. "Have you all said enough? You''re being way too harsh!" Luna red, her face dark with anger.

 Chapter 47

    Had it not been for her parents insisting, she would never have shown up to this birthday bash. A bunch of unbearable people spewing unbearable nonsense!


    "Luna,e on, everyone knows you''re Freya''s BFF. No need to cover for her! Why don''t you give Freya a call and invite her over? Just tell her it''s Ms. Harwood''s birthday bash. And Mr. Sutton is about to lock lips with Ms. Harwood. I bet she''lle running!" Laughter erupted around the room at thement.


    Luna''s face turned a shade of furious blue. "You... You guys!"


    "Not gonna call? Fine, I''ll do it myself!" One of the privileged brats grabbed Luna''s phone, causing her face to turn pale. "Give it back!"


    Seeing this, Ss said with a dark expression, "Lloyd! That''s enough. Hand Luna her phone back!"


    "It''s ringing! It''s ringing!"


    Already tipsy, a few of the guys were getting overly excited.


    Then, Freya''s cold voice could be heard from the phone. "What''s up?"


    The room fell silent instantly.


    Buzzing with excitement, one of the guys said, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton''s drunk! He''s about to kiss Eloise! Youing?"


    There was a moment of silence on the line. Kieran''s gaze inadvertently shifted to Luna''s phone. And when he snapped back to reality, his expression had soured.


    Damn it! Why did he care about Freya''s response?


    Looking distressed, Luna shouted into the phone. "Reya! Don''te! It''s a setup!"


    "Luna, stay out of it! We''re asking Freya!" The rich kid sneered into the phone. "So, what''s it gonna be, Ms. Dawson? Are youing or not? Cause if you don''t, Mr. Sutton''s gonna kiss Eloise!"


    Everyone was eagerly anticipating the drama. Kieran leaned back on the couch, surprisingly not intervening. Eloise frowned at Kieran''s demeanor.


    The guys were drunk, taking Kieran for a ride. Usually, Kieran would''ve put them in their ce, but this time, he didn''t stop them and seemed anxious for the answer on the phone.


    Eloise felt an inexplicable panic. "Kieran, don''t let them go on..."


    Before Eloise could finish, Freya''s indifferent voice came through. "Did you take Luna''s phone?"


    "Ms. Dawson, don''t be like that. We''re all just having a good time! It''s Ms. Harwood''s birthday, after all. Everyone''s here. It would be rude not to show up."


    The rich kid missed the chill in Freya''s tone, still hoping for her to fall into their trap.


    "Give me the address." Freya''s tone was icy.


    As if having anticipated Freya''spliance, the rich kid said mockingly, "We''re at the Eclipse Lounge, suite 8012! Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton says you''ve got twenty minutes! You''d better hurry. Don''t keep us waiting!" His tone was not just vulgar but filled with disdain for Freya.


    The call ended quickly, and Luna demanded, "Give me back my phone!"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Hold your horses. Ms. Dawson hasn''t arrived yet. I''ll give it back once she''s here!"


    "Lloyd! That''s enough. Don''t overdo it!" Ss was beginning to feel ufortable.


    But Lloyd retorted, "What''s there to worry about? I told you Freya woulde. She''s Mr. Sutton''spdog! Hearing Mr. Sutton''s about to kiss Ms. Harwood, she''ll rush over here to make a scene. Let''s sit back and enjoy the show!"

 Chapter 48

    It wasn''t the first time Freya had be the butt of the joke among their elite circle. In their eyes, someone like Freya, desperately throwing herself at them, deserved to be toyed with. Seeing Luna on the verge of tears, Ss couldn''t help but look toward Kieran.


    But there he was, leaning on the couch, expressionless, sipping on whiskey as if he had no intention of intervening.


    "Kieran!" Ss approached Kieran, lowering his voice, "This is too much! What if Ms. Dawson shows up? Do you want her to be the joke of Echo City?"


    "Why should I stop her if she''s asking for humiliation?" Kieran replied coldly.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ss retorted, annoyed, "This is Eloise''s party! You''re ruining it, and that''s not fair to her either."


    Eloise also grabbed Kieran''s arm, pleading, "Yeah, Kieran... maybe you should call Ms. Dawson and tell her not toe."


    "She embarrassed you before Grandma. I said long ago she should apologize on her knees." Kieran''s voice was indifferent, with a hint of chill.


    Hearing this, Eloise unconsciously let go of Kieran''s arm.


    Puzzled, Ss said, "Kieran, this is too much! You''ve never gone this far before. What''s gotten into you today?"


    Kieran had disliked Freya before but had never humiliated her in public like this. The worst he''d done was throw the engagement ring into the pool on a bad day, and Freya had dived in to retrieve it! Since then, Ss had seen Freya as genuine, unlike other girls who approached Kieran out of vanity and scheming. Yet, Kieran chose to humiliate her in such a public setting.


    In response to Ss''s question, Kieran didn''t speak, finishing his half-ss of whiskey in one gulp.


    Half an hour had passed, and after several drinks, Kieran nced at his watch, frowning.


    "Is Freyaing or not? Lloyd, you didn''t miscalcte, did you?"


    "How could I? Freya wille! She''s Mr. Sutton''sckey. Hearing Mr. Sutton wants to kiss Ms. Harwood, how could she note?" Lloyd''s words had barely left his mouth when the door swung open. Everyone was stunned to see Freya, dressed in a sleek ck outfit, standing at the doorway.


    They had always seen Freya dressed simrly to Eloise, not overly gentle, but a traditional, unresisting type.


    It was their first time seeing Freya like this. Her makeup was light, yet her attire screamed bold and defiant.


    In an instant, Freya had captivated the young elites of the room.


    "Freya, you made it!" Lloyd stepped forward, looking at Freya with undisguised interest. "But what to do? You''rete! Mr. Sutton is still going to kiss Ms. Harwood. Since you''re here, why not have a toast to Mr. Sutton and Ms. Harwood''s happiness before you leave?"

 Chapter 49

    Freya nced at Lloyd, her eyes sparkling like the clear waters of a tranquilke, a hint of a smirk dancing within them. "Did you snatch Luna''s phone?" "Yeah, I did. What about it?"


    Lloyd had always underestimated Freya and never felt threatened by her.


    Freya extended her hand. "Where''s the phone?"


    Lloyd raised his hand, revealing Luna''s phone gripped in his palm. "Right here. Freya, I heard you offended Ms. Harwood. Kneel and apologize, and the phone is yours." "Reya! Forget the phone. Let''s get out of here!"


    Luna stepped forward, intending to pull Freya away, but Freya didn''t budge. Instead, she took a step toward Lloyd. Suddenly, a wave of her perfume filled the air, momentarily disorienting Lloyd with its enticing scent. Then, with a swift move, Freya''s leg came up, connecting squarely with Lloyd''s penis!


    Lloyd let out a pained howl and doubled over on the ground, dropping the phone from his hand.


    Freya caught the phone effortlessly, ncing coldly at Lloyd writhing on the floor before handing the phone back to Luna. "Your family isn''t Fortune 500 material, are they? How did you even get in this circle? I checked. When my father was still around, your folks couldn''t even dream of stepping foot into the Dawson Group''s HQ. What gives you the right to strut around me?"


    While saying that, Freya stepped on Lloyd''s hand, her high heel grinding down. "Every circle has its rules. Your family''s beneath mine, so watch your tone, or else... I''ll ensure your family''s name is wiped from Echo City by tomorrow." "Ouch! Ahh! Stop! Freya! You''re insane!"


    The room fell deathly silent, everyone too shocked at Freya''s ruthless disy to utter a word.


    Kieran frowned deeply, troubled by Freya''s actions since she walked in, especially since she hadn''t spared him a nce.


    Sensing Kieran''s mood, Eloise stood up. "Ms. Dawson, we''re all here to have fun. Lloyd was joking with you. This is my party, and there''s no need to be so harsh."


    "I''m being harsh?" Freya''s brow twitched, pressing down harder on Lloyd''s hand.


    "Ahh! Freya! I''ll kill you!" Lloyd''s hand seemed on the verge of being crushed, his face pallid with pain.


    Freya was not about to give Eloise any respect.


    Eloise''s face soured. "Freya, don''t push it! We''re all friends here. Why make it so ugly?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "He started it. I''m just setting him straight." Freya''s lips curved into a smile, but her eyes remained ice cold. "If he''s offended Ms. Harwood, I could take him outside and deal with him there." "You..."


    As Eloise struggled to respond, Kieran suddenly spoke, "Ms. Dawson, you certainly know how to throw your weight around."


    All eyes turned to Kieran.


    Kieran added, "I''m curious to see who among us you darey a finger on today."


    With Kieran''s backing, the crowd felt emboldened.


    "Yeah, Freya, we''re all here for Ms. Harwood''s birthday. Don''t overdo it!"


    "Exactly! Without the Sutton family, the Dawson family is nothing!"


    "Let Lloyd go and apologize to Ms. Harwood! We might still forgive you!"

 Chapter 50

    The noise around Luna was bing unbearable. Just as her patience was running thin, Freya grabbed her hand, shaking her head in a silent plea for calm.


    Luna had her family''s reputation to think about. The Jennings family couldn''t afford to make enemies in these circles.


    Eloise stepped forward, addressing the tension. "Ms. Dawson, I get it. You''re upset Kieran threw me this birthday bash, but Lloyd''s innocent. You don''t need to take it out on him."


    Then, with a gesture meant to smooth things over, Eloise picked up a ss of wine from the table and offered it to Freya. "Look, it''s my birthday. Let bygones be bygones, for my sake?" Freya epted the wine ss, but as Eloise also picked up a ss, intending to toast, Kieran stood up and walked over to Eloise.


    Everyone held their breath, unsure of his intentions.


    Kieran took the wine ss from Eloise''s hand and deliberately poured it onto the floor before Freya. It was a clear insult directed at her.


    "Kieran, don''t..." Eloise reached out, touching his arm in a rather intimate manner.


    Everyone braced to witness Freya''s humiliation. Any ordinary girl would''ve probably burst into tears under such public disgrace.


    But the room fell into an eerie silence.


    Surprisingly, Freyaughed. She lifted her wine ss and said, "I''ll drink to that. But not for Ms. Harwood''s birthday. Instead, here''s to the two of you tying the knot and having kids soon."


    With that, she downed her drink in one go.


    Kieran''s expression darkened momentarily.


    A collective gasp echoed in the room. Everyone knew how much Freya had been smitten with Kieran. What was going through her mind today?


    It wasmon knowledge that if Kieran could have married Eloise, he would have done it long ago. Rumor had it that Eloise was pregnant once, but the child was aborted due to Audrey''s refusal to wee her into the family. Her toast might have seemed well-wishing, but it was a jab at Kieran and Eloise''s painful past. And yet...Freya dared to drink that toast!


    "Luna, let''s go."


    Just as Freya was about to leave with Luna, Lloyd, who had been humiliated earlier, shouted, "Freya! You wait! I''ll kill you!"T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya stopped, turned, and gave Lloyd a cold look that sent shivers down his spine, almost paralyzing him. "If you''ve got the guts,e find me at the Dawson Mansion. I''m not afraid of your revenge. I hope you dare to show up." With that, Freya confidently led Luna out of the private room.


    The silence hung in the air long after they had gone.


    Finally, Kieran smashed his ss on the floor in rage, snapping everyone back to reality. They were there to see Freya humiliated! But in the end, she hadn''t suffered at all! Instead, Lloyd was beaten up without a chance to fight back, and Kieran didn''t get the upper hand over Freya, either.


    Seeing Kieran''s grim expression, everyone was too scared to breathe.


    "Kieran..." Eloise hadn''t seen Kieran this angry in a long while and was frightened.


    "Let''s...cut the cake! Time to cut the cake! Everyone, let''s wish Ms. Harwood a happy birthday!"

 Chapter 51

    Ss tried his best to keep the peace, but Kieran just walked straight out of the room.


    "Kieran!" Eloise tried to stop him.


    Ss immediately blocked her way, saying, "Eloise! Everyone''s here celebrating your birthday! Come on, make a wish, and blow out the candles!"


    Eloise wanted to chase after Kieran, but Ss was blocking her way effectively.


    Eloise looked upset. How did Freya keep managing to get under Kieran''s skin, when he was usually soposed? Could it be... that Kieran did have feelings for Freya?


    Luna was too nervous to speak outside the Eclipse Lounge, "Reya, what if you pissed Kieran off? His face was so dark! What if..."


    "Get in the car first." Freya pushed Luna into the car, and before Luna could finish her sentence, someone forcefully pulled Freya to the side.


    "Kieran! Let me go!"


    Kieran had firmly held Freya. Luna saw it, and her face went pale.


    She hurriedly followed, "Reya!"


    But a security guard stopped her before Luna could catch up to Kieran and Freya. "I''m sorry, miss, you can''t go in."


    "Why can''t I? Didn''t you see my friend being taken away?"


    "That''s Mr. Sutton. Mr. Sutton wouldn''t harm Ms. Dawson. Please leave."


    "You!" Luna was furious. This Kieran was no good guy!


    Inside the Eclipse Lounge, Kieran dragged Freya along, and with a cold face, she said, "Kieran! What the hell do you want?"


    When Freya finished speaking, Kieran kicked open a private room door.


    The room was full of strangers, and Kieran scowled, "Out!"


    The people inside wanted to protest, but when someone recognized the man at the door as Kieran, they almost tripped over themselves trying to get out. Suddenly, the room was left with only Freya and Kieran.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing the door was closed, Freya shook off Kieran''s hand, creating some distance between them. "What? Offending you means I can''t even go home now, Mr. Sutton?" "Freya, who gave you the courage to challenge me like this?"


    Kieran''s face was stormy. Freya had publicly beaten up Lloyd and confronted him head-on, using past grievances to provoke Eloise.


    If it were anyone else, they wouldn''t even know how they died! But Freya dared to walk away right in front of him?


    "Mr. Sutton, be reasonable, will you? Your people started it, picking on me and bullying Luna. I guess, Mr. Sutton, by letting them off the hook so easily tonight, besides wanting to mess with me, you were also curious to see if I would show up because of your and Eloise''s mess?"


    When he heard Freya hitting the nail on the head, Kieran''s expression turned even uglier.


    Freya continued, "Too bad I have to disappoint you, Mr. Sutton. Whether you and Eloise kiss or sleep together, it makes no difference to me. It would be best if we could quickly hold a press conference to rify our rtionship. How about tomorrow? Mr. Sutton, you were nning to hold a press conference to rify our rtionship tomorrow, weren''t you? You were the only one who wanted to turn the engagement into a breakup, not much of a difference really."


    "You!" Kieran''s face grew darker, pointing at Freya, feeling a nameless rage boiling up, ready to burst.

 Chapter 52

    "Mr. Sutton, I reckon you won''t mind if I take my leave now. I''ll be at the Sutton Group''s press conference tomorrow morning at 10."


    Freya pushed past Kieran, but as she turned to leave, Kieran suddenly grabbed her arm.


    Freya frowned at him. Her eyes were full of disdain as if she''d been osted by a rat from the sewers. She didn''t bother to hide her disgust. "Kieran, clinging like this is just pathetic." Kieran caught every bit of that disgust in her eyes. The look was familiar to him from the first time he saw it, though he hadn''t thought much about it then.


    But in that moment, Kieran remembered. That was the same look he used to give Freya! Instantly, Kieran was seething with anger. Did Freya dare to look at him with such contempt? "Freya, think carefully about calling off your engagement with the Sutton family," Kieran said, practically spitting out the words through clenched teeth.


    "She''s thought about it." A deep, amused voice came from outside the room.


    Soon, the door swung open. It was Ronan in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up, a silver cufflink sparkling at his wrist.


    Freya was puzzled about Ronan''s presence, but he stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms, saying to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, a wise bird chooses its tree. I believe Freya prefers mypany over yours." Faced with Ronan''s sudden deration, Freya''s face screamed, ''Are you insane?''


    "You?" Kieran stepped back, pointing from Freya to Ronan. "Freya, you are indeed something, aren''t you? I''ve underestimated you."


    Freya frowned.


    Kieran said coldly, "But let me advise you to think it over. Ronan doesn''t rule Echo City. Between Ronan and me, you''d better think carefully before choosing."


    "Is there even a choice to make?" Ronan said, feigning lightness. "My family''s reputation is spotless, unlike the Sutton family, who''ve been involved in various scandalous businesses over the years. I''m a decent man and have never been in a rtionship. Mr. Sutton, didn''t you have a child with Ms. Harwood? In capability, I''m no less than you, and in terms of status, the Sutton family is no higher than the Beckett family. I can protect Freya from any harm. Any sensible person would never choose you, Mr. Sutton. I''d advise you not to embarrass yourself here."


    With every word Ronan spoke, Kieran''s expression grew colder.


    While still in Ronan''s embrace, Freya saw Kieran scoff and dere, "Fine, we''ll call off the engagement!"


    Seeing Kieran so easily provoked into agreeing by Ronan, Freya secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    But Kieran quickly added, "However, Freya, you must apologize to Ellie. Otherwise, none of you are leaving."


    Kieran''s tone was icy, his gaze lethal.


    Ronan didn''t seem worried as Kieran''s men started to flood in, surrounding them with over a dozen bodyguards. "Is that so?"


    He slightly raised his hand, signaling, "Come in."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    The Beckett family''s bodyguards poured into the room.


    The small space, barely 200 square feet, was instantly crammed with bodyguards from the Beckett and Sutton families.


    "I''m a man who likes to feel secure, so I tend to bring extra muscle when I step out," Ronan said coldly. "So, as for who won''t be leaving this room today, it''s hard to say."

 Chapter 53

    When the tension was palpable, the group gathering to celebrate Eloise''s birthday heard somemotion and started heading toward the private room where Ronan and Kieran were facing off. Eloise made her way through the crowd, only to witness the standoff among the trio.


    Her expression soured, and anyone with half a brain could tell what was happening. Kieran and Ronan were both vying for Freya''s attention.


    "Kieran, what''s going on here?" Eloise asked, barely concealing her suspicions. "Wasn''t Ms. Dawson supposed to have left already? And Mr. Beckett..."


    More than Kieran and Ronan, everyone else was curious about Ronan''s rtionship with Freya.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    After all, Ronan was famously indifferent to women, and Freya had publicly badmouthed him, sparking rumors that Ronan was gay, rumors that Freya herself had started.


    Logic said Ronan and Freya should be like oil and water. Yet there they were, standing together, looking... surprisingly close.


    "Ms. Harwood, that''s a good question. Freya was supposed to have already left. So, who brought her here? Mr. Sutton, would you care to exin?" Ronan''s words were cryptic, but everyone got the gist. Kieran must have brought Freya to this private room! And for what... well, wasn''t that the unspoken question on everyone''s minds?


    Eloise bit her lip, turning to Kieran. "Is that true, Kieran?"


    Frowning, Kieran remained silent. Ss sensed the tension and stepped forward, saying, "Kieran asked Ms. Dawson for a private talk to n the press conference for rifications tomorrow! Ronan, stop twisting words."


    "Mr. Vaughn is right." Ronan snapped his fingers, smirking as he said, "Exactly, it''s about the press conference for rifications. Mr. Sutton and Freya will rify that their engagement is off tomorrow morning at ten."


    At this, Ronan turned to Eloise. "Congrattions, Ms. Harwood. Your time to shine has finallye."


    Ronan''sment was spot-on but stung like a p. All eyes turned to Eloise.


    Eloise had always prided herself on her independence and dignity. Beingbeled a home-wrecker, she flushed with embarrassment and began to tremble uncontrobly.


    "Freya, let''s go." Ronan wrapped his arm around Freya''s waist and led her through the crowd.


    None of the wealthy young elites who hade for Eloise''s birthday dared to stop Ronan or even utter an extra word.


    "Kieran..." Eloise started, ncing at him just as his expression darkened and he mmed a bottle of champagne onto the floor.


    The sound of the shattering bottle echoed, and everyone''s demeanor shifted. Who could recall a time when Kieran was this infuriated?


    Caught between Kieran and Ronan, Freya seemed to be ying with fire, courting disaster with her daring two-timing. Following Ronan toward the exit of Eclipse Lounge, Freya asked with a scowl, "How did you even know I was here?" Ronan stopped and turned, challenging her, "Want to know? Take a guess. Guess right, and I''ll reward you."

 Chapter 54

    Freya couldn''t figure out what game Ronan was ying. Since she got to know Ronan, she''d found him sneakily cunning and quietly intense. The reward Ronan offered didn''t pique Freya''s interest, but she was genuinely curious about how he always showed up right on time.


    Pondering over this, Freya sidled up to Ronan, took a whiff, and said, "You reek of booze... Don''t tell me you came straight from a bar?" Ronan nodded, urging Freya to continue.


    Frowning, Freya ventured, "You were so timely because you were also at Eclipse Lounge, perhaps discussing business?"


    "Wrong guess," Ronan said, wagging his finger in front of Freya. "No prize for you this time."


    "You..."


    Before Freya could finish her sentence, Ronan swung open the door of a nearby private room. Inside, professors and teachers from Summit University were belting out ssic rock hits. Freya was stunned by the sight. All eyes in the room turned to Freya and Ronan.


    "Mr. Beckett, who''s this?"


    "Is this our department''s Freya? You haven''t been to school these past few days or picked up calls. We heard about your engagement, but remember, your studiese first." The department head stepped forward, recognizing Freya. After all, Kieran was one of the investors in Summit University.


    "Apologies, ma''am, I still have a few things to discuss with Freya."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    With that, Ronan, all smiles, led Freya out of Eclipse Lounge.


    Since they bumped into the university teachers, Freya had been too shocked to speak. She asked, "Ronan, what''s the joke? You and Summit University''s staff out for drinks?" "My dear Ms. Dawson, today''s Teachers'' Day." Ronan exined, "As a guest lecturer invited by Summit University, isn''t it natural for me to join my colleagues for a get-together?" "Natural? Hardly!"


    Given Ronan''s stature in Echo City, not even the Summit University''s dean had the clout to invite Ronan to such an event.


    "Alright." Ronan nudged Freya toward the exit, saying, "Your best friend''s waiting for you." He shed a ''call me'' sign with his hand and then turned to leave.


    Freya still wanted to press for answers when Luna started calling out to her from outside Eclipse Lounge, "Reya! Reya!"


    As Freya approached, Luna visibly rxed, "Thank God you''re okay! It looks like Ronan''s got your back after all!"


    "What?" Freya tilted her head, asking, "Luna, you contacted Ronan?"


    "Yeah!" Luna said, "I was freaking out at the entrance when I saw Ronane out, so I told Ronan Kieran had taken you, and he went straight in."


    So that was how it was. It was no wonder the teachers were puzzled when Ronan appeared. So, Ronan had made a return trip.


    But why was Ronan attending a Teachers'' Day gathering at Summit University?


    "Reya, did Kieran do anything to you?" Luna asked worriedly, "You shouldn''t havee today! You have no idea how risky it was!" "Luna, I''m fine. You should head home now. Don''t make your parents worry."


    "But you..."


    Freya cut her off. "My car''s right here. I''ve had a few drinks. I''ll wait for the family driver to pick me up."


    Seeing Freya was okay, Luna finally nodded. "Okay, text me when you get home."


    Freya nodded. "Will do."


    Freya only felt at ease enough to return to her car after she had watched Luna leave.

 Chapter 55

    After a short while, the Dawson family''s driver arrived.


    Spotting Farrell instead of the usual driver, Freya asked, "Isn''t it Eaton''s shift today?"


    "Eaton''s under the weather, so I''m covering for him," Farrell replied with a smile, then asked, "Ms. Dawson, ready to head home now?"


    "Yeah."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Let''s roll," Freya said, settling into her seat.


    "Okay." Farrell drove off. Feeling a bit weary, Freya leaned against the car window.


    With the air conditioning on, the car was a sealed space. Soon, Freya felt ustrophobic and said, "Farrell, could you crack a window? I''m feeling dizzy." "Ms. Dawson, we''ll be there shortly. Please hang in there," Farrell replied.


    But Freya''s nausea only worsened, and when she tried to roll down the window, she realized it was locked.


    And mysteriously, Farrell, who was driving, was wearing a mask.


    Something was off. Was this... drugging?


    "Ms. Dawson, I''m just following orders. I''m sorry..."


    Before passing out, Freya could barely make out Farrell''s voice fading in and out.


    Meanwhile, at Eclipse Lounge.


    "Really? Fantastic! Bring her to the hotel and keep it hush-hush!" Hanley punched the air in excitement as he spoke on the phone.


    He had been eyeing Freya for long. Previously, since Freya was betrothed to someone from the Sutton Group, he hadn''t dared to make a move.


    But things were different. After getting a hint from Ss that Kieran might be loosening his grip, what was there to fear?


    "Extend my thanks to Mrs. Dawson. She won''t be disappointed!" After saying that, Hanley ended the call, eagerly anticipating the night''s indulgences. Shortly after, Ronan stepped out of the private room, ready to leave, but he paused when he overheard a group of young elites discussing sordid matters. "Did Hanley snatch Freya? That''s bold!"


    "What''s there to fear? Didn''t you see how Freya crossed Mr. Sutton today? Maybe Mr. Sutton''s even d Hanley''s doing his dirty work!"


    Upon hearing that, Ronan frowned and asked coldly, "What were you just talking about?"


    "Mr. Beckett?" The group tensed up upon realizing who had approached.


    Meanwhile, Eloise''s birthday party was buzzing with excitement, but Kieran was just half-heartedly sipping his drink.


    "Do you... have feelings for Freya?" Eloise asked Kieran, her voiceced with uncertainty.


    "How could I?" Kieran replied, downing his drink with a hint of annoyance, "Don''t overthink it."


    Eloise bit her lip. "It seems Mr. Beckett genuinely cares for Freya. Maybe you should call off the engagement with the Dawson family." Visibly irritated, Kieran adjusted his tie and said, "Stop bringing up Freya."


    Just then, the door to the private room was kicked open.


    Kieran frowned, only to see Ronan throwing two people into Kieran''s private room.


    Seeing themotion, Ss asked, "Ronan, what are you up to?"

 Chapter 56

    Everyone in the room halted their actions, turning their gaze toward the entrance where Ronan stood, a chilling aura surrounding him. "Ask them," Ronan''s voice cut through the air, cold and unwavering.


    Kieran''s brows furrowed slightly at this.


    Ss nced at the two guys Ronan had pushed forward, recognizing them instantly as the troublemakers hanging around with Hanley. "Got yourselves in trouble with Mr. Beckett, huh? Spit it out!" Ss demanded.


    The two shared a look before one shrugged offensively. "It''s Hanley. Freya crossed Mr. Sutton today, and Hanley thought he''d teach her a lesson!" Everyone in their circle knew that Kieran and Ronan were arch-enemies. These two, siding with Hanley, supported Kieran.


    Seeing Kieran presiding over the room, they seemed less intimidated by Ronan. "Hanley says he''s got Mr. Sutton''s blessing to pursue Freya. After she pissed Mr. Sutton off, it''s only natural for Hanley to want to knock her down a peg! Ronan, since when do you get to meddle in Mr. Sutton''s affairs?"


    At this, Kieran''s expression darkened significantly.


    Everyone''s eyes turned toward him. Who didn''t know about Hanley''s reputation in their circles? Forcing himself on women he liked and then throwing money at the problem was his modus operandi.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Until then, he had restrained himself since Freya was Kieran''s fianc¨¦e-to-be. But Hanley saw his chance with her engagement to Kieran off the table.


    The fact that Kieran seemed to approve of Hanley pursuing Freya only confirmed she had seriously offended Kieran. And in Hanley''s hands, Freya''s fate was all but sealed.


    Hearing their boldments, Ronan scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain for Kieran. "So, Mr. Sutton approves of this. Resorting to such methods with a woman, I see."


    With that, Ronan turned and left, the two men oblivious to the tension they had stirred.


    "You think you can act this way just because the Beckett family has some clout? Even in front of Mr. Sutton!" one of them yelled after Ronan.


    "Exactly! Freya is Mr. Sutton''s to deal with. She brought this on herself!"


    Bang! Before they could finish, Kieran''s grip crushed the ss in his hand.


    The room went silent.


    Even Eloise was stunned. "Kieran..."


    "Mr. Sutton..." The two rich kids finally sensed Kieran''s dangerous aura, fear creeping into their voices.


    Kieran''s cold voice demanded, "Where is she?"


    Eloise had never seen Kieran like this, her unease deepening.


    Meanwhile, Freya woke up to a cloyingly sweet scent in the air, which was overwhelmingly intense.


    Struggling to open her eyes, she found herself in a dimly lit room, bathed in red light, lying on a bed surrounded by an atmosphere thick with desire.


    She was unable to move, and panic set in. What had happened?

 Chapter 57

    Feeling utterly drained, Freya could barely muster the energy to stay upright.


    The driver, Farrell''s words echoed ominously in her head.


    Could it seriously be Johanna? The thought turned Freya''s stomach sour. Johanna couldn''t wait to make her move!


    The creak of the door snapped Freya back to reality. Hanley''s smug, conniving face was leering at her in no time.


    "Man, Mr. Sutton doesn''t know how to enjoy life, ditching a bombshell like you for someone as dull as Eloise. If I were him, I wouldn''t even think about disrespecting you in front of others. I''d be too busy valuing every moment we have!" Barely containing his excitement, Hanley edged closer.


    Freya fought back the urge to vomit, frantically thinking of a way to escape.


    This ce wasn''t an average hotel. The luxury hinted at its purpose as a yground for the elite. With security likely tighter than Fort Knox, escaping seemed like a joke.


    "If youy a finger on me, Hanley..."


    "And what if I do?" Hanley taunted, brushing Freya''s cheek, his touch igniting her disgust. "Mr. Sutton has cast you aside. I even asked him, and he''s given me the green light. Even if I were to rough you up, he wouldn''t bat an eye." Hearing Kieran had seemingly approved this sent a chill down Freya''s spine. Freya thought Kieran disliked her, but to think he''d condone Hanley''s vile intentions was a new low.


    "Who even mentioned Kieran?" Freya snapped back, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "He''s made his disdain for me clear enough. But touch me, and Audrey won''t let you off the hook."


    The mention of Audrey made Hanley hesitate, if only for a moment.


    Freya pressed on, "Audrey cares for me. If you tarnish my honor, your precious Upton family will be doomed. If Kieran listens to her as much as you think, do you believe he''ll protect you?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Stop lying, Freya," Hanley scoffed. "Why would Audrey wee you with open arms when you sleep with me? She won''t lift a finger for you."


    Freya remained calm. "If you''re so sure, go ahead. It''ll be your family''s downfall, not mine."


    Faced with Freya''s confidence, Hanley seemed torn. Just then, a knock at the door broke the tension.


    Hanley opened it to find a server pushing in a cart, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.


    "Mr. Upton, enjoy your evening. Satisfaction guaranteed!"


    "Thanks. Now, get lost. And keep this area clear," Hanley said, tossing a few bills as a tip before sending the server on his way.


    He turned back to Freya, gloating, "You almost had me fooled! With such privacy here, who would believe your usations without proof? Why would Audrey take on the Upton family for a washed-up dame like you? And even if this gets out, I could easily im you seduced me. Your reputation''s already in the gutter, chasing after Mr. Sutton and flirting with Ronan. Everyone will believe my side of the story."


    Seeing Hanley unmoved, Freya bluffed, "You''re aware Ronan has a thing for me? Today, he made quite the show of leaving with me in his arms. If you dare touch me, he won''t let it slide, either."

 Chapter 58

    "Behind me, I''ve got the backing of Mr. Sutton! Ronan doesn''t scare me one bit!"


    At that moment, Hanley, blinded by lust, had stripped off his shirt, his face alight with excitement. "Ms. Dawson, you seem to like making noise, don''t you? Well, you''ll have plenty of time for that soon!" "Hanley! Let go! Don''t touch me!"


    "I''ve heard tales, Ms. Dawson, about how you''d do anything to please Kieran. Tonight, I''m keen to see what Kieran has been enjoying all this time!"


    As Hanley leaned in closer, Freya''s mind raced back to the humiliation she faced before her death in her past life.


    The face of Hanley merged with those of the kidnappers, and Freya clenched her fists.


    She thought, ''Am I destined to endure the same fate, even in this life? Kieran! Is this what I owe you? No! God has given me a second chance, and I refuse to submit! No way!'' Freya suddenly sat up with a burst of strength and headbutted Hanley in the forehead.


    Hanley cried out in pain, stumbling backward.


    Freya rolled off the bed with thest strength, but Hanley quickly grabbed her hair, snarling, "Trying to run? Not so easy!"


    "Do you think you''re some saint? You''re nothing but a ything that Mr. Sutton has had his fun with!"


    As Hanley dragged Freya back onto the bed, this time, he wouldn''t give her a chance to escape.


    Hanley tied Freya to the bed with a rope and dered, "Let''s see you try to escape now!"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Knock, knock. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.


    As Hanley got into the mood, he snapped irritably, "Who is it?"


    The persistent knocking finally got to Hanley, who grudgingly left the bed to open the door, grumbling, "We don''t need room service! Scram!"


    But a kick sent him sprawling to the floor before he could finish his sentence.


    "Who!"


    Looking up, Hanley saw Ronan at the door, his face pale with fear. "Mr. Beckett?"


    Ronan looked down at Hanley with disdain as if he were trash. "Get out!"


    Seeing Ronan, Hanley felt as if his soul had left his body. Upon hearing the word ''get out,'' he scrambled away as if he had been granted a pardon.


    Ronan nced around the room, immediately noticing Freya tied up on the bed.


    He went over, untied her, and frowned. "How could you be so defenseless?"


    Freya sighed in relief. "Who would have thought he''d attack me?"


    Freya was still feeling dizzy. Noticing the marks on her body, Ronan took off his jacket and draped it over her.


    He then scooped Freya into his arms. Seeing her dazed expression, he said, "Don''t overthink it. You''re my valuable partner, my lucky charm. If you keep leaving yourself this vulnerable, I might just have to keep you by my side all the time to make sure you''re safe." Kieran''s car was parked outside the hotel. Jarrett opened the door for Kieran, whose expression darkened upon seeing the hotel''s facade.


    "Mr. Sutton, this is the ce."

 Chapter 59

    The ce was a high-end club designed specifically for young heirs like Hanley, which boasted an array of private themed rooms that catered to the wealthy elite''s taste for discretion and exclusivity. Many affluent individuals frequented this ce for ndestine meetings. At that moment, Hanley bolted out of the hotel, stark naked, his expression one of sheer terror as if he''d seen a monster. It wasn''t until he spotted Kieran that he hurried over and clung to Kieran''s legs, pleading, "Kieran, Mr. Sutton! Save me!" Tasers in hand, two bouncers emerged, their uniforms adorned with the crest of the Beckett family. Undoubtedly, Ronan had sent them to teach Hanley a lesson.


    "Mr. Sutton! They... Ah!"


    Before Hanley could finish, Kieran had kicked him away.


    "Mr. Sutton?"


    "Where''s Freya?" Kieran''s voice was deep and menacing.


    Assuming Kieran was disappointed in him, Hanley quickly exined, "Mr. Sutton, I was so close. But then Ronan showed up out of nowhere! Mr. Sutton, Ronan is looking to challenge you!"


    At that moment, Ronan emerged from the hotel, carrying Freya in a disheveled state and wrapped in Ronan''s jacket. Kieran''s expression turned even colder.


    "Mr. Sutton, it was him!" Hanley pointed usingly at Ronan.


    "Oh, Mr. Sutton, you''re here to back up your own?" Ronan''s voice was thick with derision as he shed a mocking smile. "I never knew the CEO of the Sutton Group could stoop so low. Today has really been quite the eye-opener." "Why waste words on such a person?" Freya said coldly. "I''ll seek justice from the Sutton family for today''s incident. Mr. Beckett, let''s go."


    As Ronan walked away with Freya, Kieran clenched his fists.


    Us? Since when did Freya and Ronan be ''us''?T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mr. Sutton... I pursued Freya with your tacit approval! You have to help me..."


    "Help you?" Kieran''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "How dare youy a hand on Freya?"


    "I... I..." Hanley was at a loss for words.


    Women had alwayspeted for a ce in Kieran''s bed, and he had never shown concern for their wellbeing.


    What made Freya so different?


    Kieran coldly instructed his secretary, Jarrett, "Ronan wants to stand up for Freya, does he? Then let''s send Hanley over to her. Let Freya take her revenge to her heart''s content." "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Kieran then got into his car, leaving Hanley pleading outside, unmoved by his cries.


    The sight of Freya and Ronan being so close filled Kieran with a seething rage.


    Kieran gritted his teeth as he thought, ''To flirt with me and then pull away so easily? Freya, do you think things work this easily in this world?''


    Meanwhile, Johanna gazed at the jewelry on the table in the Dawson family and couldn''t stop smiling.


    "Mom, where did all this moneye from?" Lnd''s eyes lit up as he looked at the gold and jewels.


    "The heir from the Upton family brought it, saying it was all for one night with that wretched girl, Freya! If only I''d known she was worth so much, I would''ve sold her off sooner!"

 Chapter 60

    Lnd was shocked to hear that his mom had sold Freya to Hanley. "Mom, you sold Freya to Hanley? What about Mr. Sutton?"


    "Mr. Sutton?" Johanna huffed, visibly irritated. "That girl, Freya, has alienated Mr. Sutton! How could the Sutton family ever ept her as Mrs. Sutton now? It''s better to get rid of her while someone still wants her! Being Mrs. Upton beats fighting over our inheritance with


    you!"


    Bang! Just then, the Dawson family''s front door was kicked open.


    Johanna jumped at the sudden noise. Looking up, she saw Freya standing at the doorway.


    "How... how are you here?" Johanna was horrified, not expecting to see Freya there. Wasn''t Freya supposed to have been driven to the hotel by then?


    "Why am I here, you ask?" Freya''s voice was icy cold.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Johanna suddenly felt guilty.


    "Johanna, I never thought... Although we never shared a mother-daughter bond, we''ve lived under the same roof for many years. My dad was good to you, yet you sold me off to some scumbag."


    "I... I was only thinking of your best interest!" Johanna asserted, trying to sound convincing. "You couldn''t be Mrs. Sutton, but being Mrs. Upton is great, too! I was doing this all for you, and now, you''re ming me?"


    Hearing Johanna''s nauseating words, Freya didn''t hide the disgust in her eyes. "How can you be so shameless?"


    "Freya! How dare you talk to my


    mom like that?" Lnd stood before Johanna, aggressive and defensive "Mr. Upton''s interest in you is a stroke of good luck! My mom was just trying to find you a good match. After offending Mr. Sutton, who else would marry you? Who would dare to have you?"


    Watching the mother and son y off each other, Freya suddenlyughed. Seeing Freyaugh made Johanna''s skin crawl.


    "So, Johanna, you were being kind, huh?" Freya said, smiling, prompting Johanna to smile and step forward. "Of course, I was being kind! I''ve watched you grow up. How could I harm you?"  en


    Seeing Johanna''s act, Freya raised an eyebrow, smiling. "What should we do then? Tonight, Mr. Beckett announced our rtionship to everyone, and Johanna, you''ve sold me off to Hanley''s bed. Mr. Beckett was so furious. When he carried me out of Hanley''s room, he turned red. He said he wanted to have a word with you."


    "What?" Johanna was stunned, her voice trembling. "Mr. Beckett? You mean... Ronan?"


    "Who else could it be?"


    With Freya''s confirmation, Johanna''s face turned even paler. "Could it be... Mr. Beckett is interested in you?"


    She had heard about Freya attending an event with Ronan but thought it was a coincidence.


    After all, Ronan was known for his indifference to women. How could he possibly have taken a sudden interest in Freya?

 Chapter 61

    Unbelievably, Freya hit the jackpot! She caught the eye of Ronan! But if she ended up in Hanley''s bed, wasn''t that like pping Ronan in the face?


    As Freya was about to head upstairs, Johanna realized the gravity of the situation. She rushed over, grabbed Freya''s arm, and blurted out, "Freya, wait! I was out of my mind. I did it all for you! Please talk to Mr. Beckett. Tell him not to take it to heart!" Before Johanna could finish, Freya shrugged her off. Johanna almost tumbled down the stairs.


    Lnd hurried over to support Johanna, ring at Freya. "Freya! My mom has apologized. What more do you want?"


    Looking down from the stairs, Freya''s gaze was icy. "Johanna, you have to pay for the bad things you do. This suit is Mr. Beckett''s. What if you ruined it?"


    Johanna''s face turned pale when she saw the ck suit draped over Freya. Everything Freya said was true!


    Freya smiled. "No rush, Johanna. We''ll settle our scores once I call off the engagement with the Sutton family tomorrow."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    As Freya was about to head upstairs, Johanna quickly grabbed her wrist again, saying, "What? You''re calling off the engagement? How can you do that? Ronan might not even marry you. If you call it off, thepany will be in debt! The Sutton Group will never let ourpany off the hook! How can you be so thoughtless!"


    "Did you forget, Johanna? We signed a contract. You have nothing to do with thepany now. What I do is none of your concern." With that, Freya shook Johanna off and headed upstairs without looking back.


    "You!" Johanna was seething with rage. What would she and her son do if the Dawson Group ran out of money?


    "Mom! Did you seriously hand thepany over to Freya?"


    Lnd had been listening the whole time, and faced with her son''s questioning, Johanna felt guilty.


    ???


    Seeing it, Lnd believed even more in what Freya said. "Mom! Thepany was Dad''s legacy to me. How could you hand it over to that


    bitch?"  ove


    "Son, don''t worry. Freya has crossed Mr. Sutton, and she won''t have it easy! Several projects have been halted. What does she, a sheltered heiress, know about managing apany? I assure you. If she cancels the engagement with Mr. Sutton tomorrow, she''ll regret it! She''lle crawling back to us, begging for help!"


    Lnd was still fuming. "And what about Ronan? What if he decides to help Freya?"


    Johanna scoffed, "Mr. Beckett has only known Freya for a few days. Why would he spend money on her? We''re not talking about a few million here. It''s over a billion! Mr. Beckett is intrigued by something new. Once the novelty wears off, he won''t bother with Freya!"


    Hearing Johanna''s words, Lnd thought there might be some truth.


    Always throwing herself at others, Freya was a loose woman. Who would want to marry her?


    Ronan and Kieran were archenemies, so Ronan dabbled with Freya to irritate Kieran.


    Freya had thought too highly of herself!


    Johanna sneered, "Freya wants to pretend to be more than she is? Let''s see how she manages thepany without Mr. Sutton!"

 Chapter 62

    The following morning, word had spread that the Sutton family would hold a press rification meeting.


    Audrey mmed the newspaper on the table inside the Sutton Mansion, standing up in anger, "This is madness!"


    "Mrs. Sutton..." The family''s aide picked up the newspaper, her face changing as she read about today''s press meeting to rify the rtionship between Kieran and Freya.


    "How could such a big decision be made without consulting me?" Audrey demanded coldly, "What on earth happened? Jarrett, exin yourself!"


    Summoned to Audrey''s presence, Jarrett stammered, "Mrs. Sutton...st night, during Ms. Harwood''s birthday bash... A joke was made at Ms. Dawson''s expense, and Ms. Dawson proposed calling off her engagement. Mr. Sutton... agreed."


    "Eloise again?" Audrey, who already disliked Eloise, grew even angrier upon hearing Eloise had caused Kieran and Freya''s breakup. "Well, isn''t she relentless? Take me to the venue! I want to see who dares to hold this press meeting without my approval!" Jarrett hesitated, "Madam, the press meeting has started..."


    "Insolence!" Audrey eximed, "To think my grandson would forsake such a wonderful girl as Freya for that siren!"


    Determined, Audrey dered, "If you don''t drive, I''ll go myself!"


    Seeing Audrey''s determination, Jarrett finally gave in, "Please, Mrs. Sutton, try to stay calm. I''ll take you there right away."


    With that, Jarrett hurried off to the Sutton family''s garage.


    Meanwhile, at the press meeting venue


    Kieran checked his watch, noting it was almost ten o''clock, and the reporters had all arrived.


    He wondered, ''Why hasn''t Jarrett shown up yet?''


    "Kieran, are you sure about this? Calling off your engagement with Ms. Dawson?" Eloise asked, her voice tinged with anxiety, "Audrey adores Ms. Dawson... she might not agree."


    Kieran responded coldly, "It was Freya''s decision. Grandma won''t object. You didn''t need toe today. I''ll have Jarrett take you hometer."


    "I can''t. This all started because of


    me. I never imagined that Ms.


    Dawson would break off the


    engagement over me. It''s all my fault, Eloise said, her face filled with guilt.


    "It''s not about you. It''s Freya''s pride,"


    Kieran retorted. He''d made to


    Freya that while he could offer ber the title of Mrs. Sutton, he couldn''t give her his affections.


    Freya wanted too much, both his hand and his heart, but the world doesn''t work that way.


    Sensing Kieran''s disdain for Freya, Eloise tentatively asked, "Kieran, do you think... Ms. Dawson and Mr. Beckett..."


    "Ronan was ying around. Do you


    think he fell for Freya?" Kieran


    scoffed, "If it weren''t for Freya''s previous attentiveness to me, Ronan wouldn''t have noticed her. He just


    wanted to spite me, and I won''t let him seed."


    "But I think Ms. Dawson likes Mr. Beckett," Eloise ventured.


    "Just a woman''s tactic," Kieran dismissed, "She''s only with Ronan to make me regret it. Such petty tricks are beneath me."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ms. Dawson, your waiting room is this way." A staff member''s voice outside caught Kieran''s attention.


    In a sleek ck dress that hugged her curves, her hair styled in soft waves cascading down her back, Freya looked stunning with just a touch of makeup.


    The staff member couldn''t help but give Freya a second look as Freya said, "No need. Let''s start as soon as possible.

 Chapter 63

    "Okay, let''s get this show on the road."


    Just then, the door to the grand hall swung open. Freya turned around to see who it was and spotted Eloise stepping out. Eloise wore a conservative, Chanel-inspired white outfit, exuding a gentle and proper vibe.


    "Ms. Dawson, I''m truly sorry about yesterday''s incident." Though Eloise was apologizing, she deliberately let Freya glimpse Kieran inside the green room.


    Trying to assert dominance before her at this moment was utterly unnecessary.


    "I''ve spoken to Kieran, but he..." Eloise paused, looking difficult, "I hope you won''t hold it against him."


    Saying so, Eloise stepped forward and took Freya''s hand.


    Freya nced at Eloise''s hand holding hers and smoothly withdrew it, her face breaking into a polite smile as she said, "Ms. Harwood, you''re reading too much into it. Kieran and I have no rtionship to speak of. I couldn''t be happier about the annulment. Why would I hold any grudge against him?"


    Seeing no trace of attachment to Kieran in Freya''s eyes, Eloise smiled, saying, "That''s good to hear."


    "Ms. Dawson, you''re up." A staff member approached Freya.


    Freya nodded and then followed the staff member toward the stage.


    "Mr. Sutton, we''re all set."


    "Okay."


    Kieran stood up and went to the stage as well.


    Eloise remained where she was, her heart tightening as she watched them head to the stage to clear the air. If this could finally bring about the annulment, that would be more than she could ask for.


    With Freya and Kieran sitting on either side, countless shes focused on them.


    "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson, we''ve heard you''re here to rify matters concerning your annulment. Can you confirm if the reason Ms. Dawson mentioned for the annulment at the engagement party is true?"


    Faced with the journalist''s question, Kieran frowned.


    The article Luna released on behalf of Freya sparked much public discourse. Although they suppressed it, it still leaked and became a hot topic. Then, everyone was waiting for Freya''s response.


    With a shocking calmness, Freya said, "We''ve never tried, so I''m not sure if it''s true. You should ask someone with experience."


    Instantly, the atmosphere tinged with the implication that Freya was insinuating something about Eloise.


    Many journalists couldn''t hide their amused looks, clearly relishing the juicy detail.


    Kieran''s frown deepened further.


    However, Freya appeared utterly indifferent.


    Since they were going their separate ways after today anyway, she didn''t mind antagonizing Kieran further, making sure he harbored no hopes of reconciliation. T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Another journalist asked, "So, Ms. Dawson and Mr. Sutton, are you truly going through with the annulment?"

 Chapter 64

    Freya couldn''t help but smile, saying, "Of course, it''s..."


    "Of course, it''s fake!" Suddenly, a voice sounded from outside the door.


    Everyone couldn''t help but look toward the grand hall entrance as the doors swung open. There stood Audrey, exuding an aura ofmand as she stepped inside.


    Upon seeing Audrey, Freya''s brows furrowed. Audrey seldom went out, so what brought her there? Did someone leak the news about her and Kieran calling off their engagement? From the back, Eloise saw Audrey, and her expression shifted subtly.


    Who in Echo City didn''t know Audrey held Freya in high regard as her future granddaughter-inw? The sh of the journalists'' cameras kept flickering on Audrey.


    "Grandma..." Kieran stood up, but Audrey paid him no mind, walking directly to the space between Kieran and Freya.


    Noticing the cue, a staff member swiftly brought a chair for Audrey.


    Audrey looked at Freya dotingly, took her hand, and said, "This press conference by the Sutton Group is to rify the misunderstanding from thest engagement party."


    Audrey continued, "At the previous engagement party for Freya and Kieran, I suddenly fell ill, which led Kieran to rush to the hospital, causing the engagement to be interrupted. It was maliciously spected by unscrupulous media, leading to rumors of a breakup. These rumors of a breakup are entirely unfounded, and today''s press conference is to clear up these false allegations."


    The journalists looked at each other, puzzled by Audrey''s statement.


    Freya was about to speak, but Audrey held her hand tightly.


    Before the cameras, Audrey maintained her smile while Freya''s brows were slightly furrowed.


    It wasn''t that she didn''t want to humor Audrey, but she didn''t want to miss the chance to cancel the engagement with Kieran!


    A journalist asked, "There are


    rumors that Mr. Sutton ran away


    from the engagement party because his first love, Ms. Harwood, attempted suicide. Is this rumor true?"


    "Of course not!" Audrey responded coldly. "Kieran and Ms. Harwood are friends nothing more. Besides, Kieran is already with Freya. How could he abandon his fianc¨¦e for someone else?"


    Despite Audrey''s words, the whole of Echo City knew Kieran''s heart belonged to Eloise. If it weren''t fore Audrey''s disapproval of Eloise


    entering the Sutton family, Frol ne


    wouldn''t even be in the picture.


    Audrey saw the journalists'' disbelief and said, "Ms. Harwood is also present today. I believe she''s here to rify the events of that night."


    After saying that, Audrey scanned the staff nearby and said, "Please invite Ms. Harwood up."


    Eloise felt a shiver down her spine from her spot among the audience when she heard Audrey''s invitation.


    The staff member said, "Ms. Harwood, please."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Eloise nearly had to force herself to remainposed as she followed a staff member onto the stage,


    At that moment, all the journalists'' shes focused on Eloise.


    Despite how well-matched Eloise and Kieran seemed to people, how could the inte notbel Eloise as the other woman?


    Knowing Kieran was engaged, yet deliberately causing a scene at their engagement party. If it was not to dere her territory, then what? Eloise felt ufortable under the scrutinizing gaze of the audience.

 Chapter 65

    Audrey walked straight to Eloise, her presencemanding the room. "Ms. Harwood, why don''t you rify your rtionship with my grandson?"


    Eloise bit her lip, her gaze involuntarily flicking toward Kieran, who frowned deeply, clearly ufortable with the situation unfolding.


    He stood up, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Eloise and I are merely friends."


    "That''s not for you to say!" Audrey snapped, turning her frosty gaze back to Eloise. "Let Ms. Harwood speak for herself."


    "Kieran and I are just friends," Eloise said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "But isn''t there a rumor, Ms. Harwood, that you were so infatuated with Kieran you even tried to harm yourself?" Audrey didn''t skip a beat as she grabbed Eloise''s left hand and held it up for everyone to see. Eloise paled, and her wrist wrapped in white bandages seemed to tell a tale of distress.


    Without sympathy, Audrey ripped off the bandages, revealing... absolutely nothing. Eloise''s wrist was unmarked, devoid of any injury. The room erupted into murmurs and gasps.


    Audrey sneered, "The dramatic tales of self-harm were nothing but a farce. Ms. Harwood''s wrist is as pristine as can be."


    Kieran''s brows knitted even closer together at this revtion.


    Eloise couldn''t bring herself to meet Kieran''s eyes, her gaze darting around the room as if looking for an escape.


    Even Freya was stunned into silence, having expected some proof of Eloise''s alleged desperation, not this maniption.


    With tears streaming down her face, Eloise fled the scene.


    Kieran dered, his voice cold, "This press conference is over."


    At his signal, Jarrett promptly escorted the journalists out and offered them parting gifts on behalf of the Sutton family.


    As Freya rose to leave, Audrey gestured for her to stay. Together, they retreated to a quieter space backstage.


    Once there, Audrey, seatedfortably and sipping coffee, fixed Kieran sternly. "Do you see now? The kind of woman you''ve taken a liking to?"


    Eloise''s face was a mask of miseryN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    but Kieran retorted, "Grandma, even if Ellie didn''t harm herself, was there a need to humiliate her in front of


    a need t


    everyone like that?"


    "Humiliate her? She''s been


    embarrassing Freya and our family!" Audrey''sugh was cold and without humor. "She pretended to hurt herself at the engagement party just to put you aside, made Freya a


    our


    target for ridicule, andre


    family into a joke. And yet, you''re defending her?"


    Eloise''s eyes welled up with tears, but Audrey was relentless. "Now, because of her, Freya wants to call off the engagement. I heard Ms. Harwood had quite the birthday bash,


    gives her the right? And to think she enjoyed the privileges of being associated with our family, all while trying to drive a wedge between you and Freya, aspiring to be thedy of the Sutton family?"


    Fat Kieran''s expense. W

 Chapter 66

    Listening to Audrey''s questioning, Eloise quickly said, "No... Mrs. Sutton, you''ve got it wrong. I didn''t..."


    Kieran protected Eloise. "Grandma, Ellie tried to mend things between Freya and me and genuinely wished us well. You''ve misunderstood her. She never aspired to be thedy of the Sutton family."


    Seeing Kieran still speaking up for Eloise, Audrey couldn''t help butugh. "How can my grandson be so naive? A few words from this woman, and you believe her? Now I see why Freya insisted on breaking off the engagement! Ms. Harwood is so cunning." "Mrs. Sutton, I know you have the wrong impression of me, but I didn''t try to ruin the rtionship between Ms. Dawson and Kieran... If you still misunderstand me, I''ll stay away from Kieran."T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing Eloise make such a resolute statement, Audrey readily agreed, "Well, then, I''ll have someone book you a ticket abroad right away, Ms. Harwood. The Sutton family will cover all your expenses abroad if you never return. That''s all I ask!" Eloise''s face turned pale. She hadn''t expected Audrey to agree to it!


    "Grandma!" Kieran''s expression turned cold. "Ellie has gotten used to living here. She doesn''t want to go abroad. Grandma, you really don''t need to worry about this."


    With that, Kieran took Eloise by the arm and left the lounge.


    Seeing her grandson defy her for a woman, Audrey was seething.


    She took a deep breath and turned to Freya, saying, "Freya, I know you''ve been wronged. Rest assured. I will look after you. No one will do you wrong."


    Freya said, "Audrey, Kieran and I are not good for each other. I''m serious about breaking off the engagement today."


    Hearing Freya''s words, Audrey frowned deeply, "Freya, you should know I came here today because of Kieran."


    Audrey sighed, "Leaving the newspaper and Jarrett aside, Kieran wanted me to step in and stop you from breaking off the engagement... It shows Kieran cares for you." Hearing that, Freya''s brow furrowed. This was Kieran''s n? What was he thinking?


    "Since Kieran cares for you, I think you..."


    "Audrey, there''s no need to persuade me. Today, out of respect for you, I''ll pretend we''ve never discussed breaking off the engagement. But will never be the perfect


    elhet


    granddaughter-inw you want, and


    I don''t wish to enter the Sutton


    family."


    Audrey was stunned. She


    remembered how much Freya used to love Kieran and thought Freya was just being capricious. She never expected Freya to be so serious about it.  en


    Meanwhile, Kieran had led Eloise out of the conference hall. Seeing Kieran hadn''t looked at her, Eloise anxiously e grabbed his arm, "Kieran... It''s my fault. Leare too much about you. I''m afraid I''m afraid once you''re


    engaged, we can''t return to how things were... Kieran, I didn''t mean to deceive you."


    Eloise knew Kieran disdained deception the most.


    Seeing Eloise''s panicked and frightened demeanor, Kieran said sternly, "Don''t do such pointless things again. The Eloise I know wouldn''t resort to such low tactics." Eloise lowered her head, biting her lip. "I''m sorry..."

 Chapter 67

    "Fine, it''s not your fault," Kieran said softly, patting Eloise on the head. "I''ll have Jarrett drive you home."


    Eloise''s heart skipped a beat when she realized Kieran wouldn''t take her home himself. But she knew she couldn''t push her luck, so all she could do was lower her head and say, "As long as you''re not mad at me, that''s all that matters, Kieran... I can''t lose you." After saying that, Eloise followed Jarrett to the car.


    Meanwhile, Freya was about to head home when Kieran pulled her aside against a wall as she turned the corner.


    "You!"


    Freya instinctively wanted to resist, but Kieran grabbed her arm and said coldly, "Freya, you seem in quite the rush to leave."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Mr. Sutton, shouldn''t you beforting Ms. Harwood instead of bothering with me?"


    Freya frowned, wanting nothing to do with Kieran.


    Seeing this, Kieran let go of Freya, his voice cold as he said, "Freya, are you disappointed we couldn''t cancel our engagement?" Kieran didn''t miss the dissatisfaction in Freya''s eyes.


    ¨¦t


    Freya snorted, "Mr. Sutton, aren''t you stating the obvious? Failing to break off the engagement means I can''t, legitimately be ady of the Beckett family, and yes, that''s infuriating. So, I''d appreciate it if you would keep your distance to avoid further irritation."


    Listening to Freya, Kieran couldn''t help butugh, "Freya, do you think Ronan wants to marry you? Don''t be naive! If it wasn''t for the fact you''re engaged to me, do you think he''d give you the time of day?"


    Freya raised an eyebrow. "I get what


    you''re trying to say, Mr. Sutton.


    Ronan is only after me to get under your skin and annoy you. But... I won''t buy into that. After all, Ronan and don''t need anyone else''smentary on our rtionship."


    Hearing Freya refer to him as ''anyone else,'' Kieran felt anger surging in his chest. "That''s a pity. You''re still engaged to the heir of the Sutton family, and you can''t marry into the Beckett family!"


    "Mr. Sutton, if you came here just to say that, please step aside. I don''t have the time to waste with you." Freya attempted to walk past Kieran.


    But Kieran warned, "Freya, stay away from Ronan. Remember your current status."


    "Status? What status?" Freya pretended to be confused, "Mr. Sutton, I don''t understand. "Even though we haven''t officially broken off our engagement, you do your thing and I''ll do mine. That''s pretty standard in our circle, right? Eventually, we''ll call it off. There''s no


    rush."


    Then, deliberately getting closer to Kieran, Freya teased, "Mr. Sutton, or did you harbor feelings for me, hence the reluctance to see me with Ronan? Otherwise, why go through all the trouble to have Audrey stop the breakup?" At that, Kieran''s expression darkened. "Freya, don''t tter yourself!"


    "It was a joke, Mr. Sutton. Don''t take it to heart." Freyaughed, which fueled Kieran''s anger.


    Watching Freya walk away nonchntly, Kieran clenched his fists tighter. He intended to see Freya defeated, but she had gotten under his skin once again!

 Chapter 68

    When Freya walked back into the Dawson family home that afternoon, Johanna was eager to clear up any misunderstandings between Freya and Kieran.


    When Johanna spotted Freya, she rushed over, eximing, "Freya, you''re back! Why didn''t you share your wonderful news earlier? I wouldn''t have had to worry myself sick!" Freya raised an eyebrow, a smile ying on her lips. "Johanna, weren''t you about to ship me off to the Upton family?"


    "No more! Certainly not!" Johanna waved her hands dismissively, "The Upton family? Small fish. How could they everpare to Mr. Sutton?"


    As Freya settled on the couch, Johanna leaned in closer, eager. "Freya, my dear, now that Mr. Sutton and Mr. Beckett are both courting you, who are you leaning toward?"


    Confronted with Johanna''s tant probing, Freya leaned back and asked, "Who would you have me choose, Johanna?"


    "The Beckett family might be loaded, but the Sutton family is the big cheese around Echo City. If we''re picking, it will be Mr. Sutton! Plus, with the Sutton Group pressuring ourpany, siding with Mr. Sutton could get them off our backs, right?" Johanna paused, her tone slipping into something sly. "But... given Mr. Beckett''s interest in you, keeping him as a backup isn''t a bad idea..."


    "So, you''re saying I should string Mr. Beckett along?" Freya retorted, her voice tinged with coldughter.


    Johanna hurried to rify, "Oh, it''s not about leading anyone on. We''re just... weighing our options. If Mr. Beckett likes you, letting him wine and dine you, pulling some business for the Dawson family, that''s fair game!" Freya''s response was a scoff.


    Johanna''s intentions were as clear as day.


    "Johanna, although Kieran and I haven''t canceled our engagement, it doesn''t mean the Sutton Group is backing down."


    Johanna''s smile froze at Freya''s words. "What do you mean by that?"


    "It means Kieran isn''t letting our family off the hook despite not breaking off the engagement. The funds he pulled will be likely gone for good." Johanna was visibly flustered as Freya breezily mentioned this. "How can that be? Freya, you must find a way to make Mr. Sutton ease up on us!"


    Casually enjoying the fruit from theN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    table, Freya replied, "Johanna, there''s no need to panic. You''re not in charge of thepany anymore. Even if the Dawson Group goes bankrupt, it''s not your concern anymore, right?"


    "How can you say that? I''m thinking of the Dawson family here! You''re being ungrateful, and now, you''re sniping at me?"


    Freya stood up, her tone firm, "I may


    not understand business, but if you want to take back control, be my guest. However, you''ll have to deal with the debts if you can''t solve the Dawson Group''s financial woes."


    Johanna was devoid of confidence, ring at Freya. "Easy for you to say! Thepany''s in your hands now. If you''re so capable, talk to the shareholders! Tell them you''ve got a n for the finances!"


    je


    Thepany had been in turmoil these past few days, yet Freya hadn''t shown her face once. Wasn''t Johanna the one facing it all?


    Freya dropped the orange she was holding and said, "No rush. Let''s wait and see."


    Watching Freya''s indifferent demeanor, Johanna couldn''t contain her frustration.


    Freya was taking things a bit too lightly! Did she think herself so high and mighty? Johanna was skeptical. Without Kieran, how would Freya solve thepany''s financial crisis?

 Chapter 69

    Meanwhile, inside the headquarters of Sutton Group, Kieran scrolled through the day''s trending news, his eyes stopping on the headline that screamed, [The Sutton Group''s heir reunites with Dawson heiress.] Jarrett nced over the document and said, "Mr. Sutton, everyone''s buzzing about Sutton Group rekindling its alliance with Dawson Corp. Considering our recent divestment from Dawson Group..." "Didn''t we pull out our investments?" Kieran''s tone was icy.


    Jarrett paused, stunned.


    "There''s no reason to reinvest," Kieran continued.


    "But, Mr. Sutton, Dawson Group will likely face a financial copse without our funds within days! Marrying Ms. Dawson won''t mean much then."


    Kieran leaned back in his chair, a cold chuckle escaping him. "And how else do you propose we get Freya toe begging?"


    "But..."


    "You''ve seen what Ellie has had to endure. Freya''s arrogance is just a reflection of the Dawson family''s backing. I''m sure she''lle groveling once the Dawson family is in trouble."


    Jarrett fell silent, digesting Kieran''s words. "I''ve heard Ms. Dawson has taken the reins of the Dawson family''s assets."


    Kieran snorted, "Freya''s a spoiled heiress who knows nothing but pleasure. What could she understand?"


    "Let''s wait her out. I''m curious how Freya ns to solve Dawson Group''s financial issues."


    The following day, headlines screaming about Eloise''s fake suicide attempt dominated the news. In no time, Eloise was branded a maniptor.


    Thements were unanimously in Freya''s defense.


    Comment One: [Bandages without a scratch? She must be desperate for attention.]


    Comment Two: [Faking suicide at someone else''s engagement party? She''s marking her territory.]


    Comment Three: [So-called innocent damsel? More like a schemer trying to intimidate the rightful fianc¨¦e!]


    Eloise turned ghostly pale as she scrolled through the cruelments online.


    In the bustling cafeteria of Summit University, her friend Cindy snatched


    the phone away, ring at the onlookers. "Move along! Nothing to see here!"


    As the crowd dispersed, Cindy tried tofort her. "Eloise, don''t let it get to you. Everyone knows Mr. Sutton''s and Dawson''s engagement is only for show. Once Mrs. Sutton passes away, Mr. Sutton will bring you into the family." T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Eloise remained pale, and her other friend Mae said, "I heard Dawson Group is going under. She must''ve hired trolls to smear your name and win back Mr. Sutton."


    Cindy added angrily, "That Freya had the nerve to ruin your birthday party, and now, this cyberbullying! We need to teach her a lesson."


    "Look! Isn''t Freya over there?"


    Mae pointed toward a figure in the distance.

 Chapter 70

    Freya was getting her lunch at the cafeteria. Cindy spotted her and immediately felt her blood boil. Grabbing Eloise by the arm, Cindy dered, "Let''s go! We''re going to make her exin herself!" Eloise tried to intervene, but Cindy was already storming toward Freya.


    Then came a loud tter. Freya''s tray was knocked to the ground.


    With fury written all over her face, Cindy pped Freya hard across the left cheek.


    Seeing this, Eloise quickly grabbed Cindy, pleading, "Cindy, stop it!"


    "Don''t tell me what to do!" Cindy snapped, pulling away from Eloise. She then turned to Freya, whose cheek was reddened from a p, and used, "Did you hire online trolls to badmouth Eloise?"


    Themotion drew everyone''s attention in the cafeteria, all eyes on the unfolding drama.


    Facing Cindy''s usation, Freya looked up, scrutinizing the two unfamiliar faces before her. Dressed in trendy brands with luxury essories that screamed nouveau riche but were not quite top-tier, it was clear their families were loaded but not among the wealthiest. They hadn''t skipped Eloise''s birthday party the day before yesterday because they didn''t want to go; they just weren''t in the same league!


    Freya countered, "And you are..."


    "Never mind who I am! You''re picking on Eloise because you think you''re all that, being a Dawson heiress. Well, let me tell you something. Mr. Sutton prefers Eloise, not you, Freya! You''re a homewrecker!" Cindy''s righteous indignation was almost enough to make Freyaugh.


    She retorted, "My dear, do you even understand an arranged marriage? For someone from Summit University, you''re making quite the hrious usation. The Sutton Group and the Dawson Group are merging for business, a grown-up deal. By all ounts, I''m Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, who''ll be legally recognized as his wife. So, who''s theN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    homewrecker here?"


    Unable to out-argue Freya, Cindy turned red with frustration and spat, "If it weren''t for Audrey''s disapproval of Eloise, you wouldn''t have a shot with Mr. Sutton. How dare you stand there and act all high and mighty?"


    "You''re right. Audrey disapproves of


    Ms. Harwood, so shecks standing and ess to the Sutton family, which means she can''t be Mrs.


    Sutton. If you marry someone


    don''t love, can you truly me another woman andbel hepa homewrecker if your husband shows affection towards her?"


    Freya continued calmly, "I suppose when your husband cheats on you with the woman he truly loves, you''d rather scream ''seductress'' than admit you''re a third wheel, ready to step aside." Cindy was at a loss for words, managing indignantly, "You!"


    At that moment, Mae interrupted,


    "Enough with your high and mighty act, Freya Word is, the Dawson Group is going bankrupt. Whether you even qualify to marry into the Suttons family is debatable. Kieran will be the first to dump you when you''re broke."


    "I don''t know if Kieran will want me," Freya replied, "but I do know he won''t want Eloise."

 Chapter 71

    Freya''s eyes twinkled with mirth, her voice brimming with certainty.


    Seeing Freya so confident, Eloise''s face soured even more. "Cindy, Mae, please. Let''s get out of here!"


    "Hold on," Freya said with an icy tone, looking at them squarely. "I don''t remember giving you permission to leave."


    "Freya, even Eloise is willing to let this go. What more do you want?"


    Freya nced at the scattered food remains on the floor, turned to them, and said, "Have you heard of ''waste not, want not''? Is this how your parents taught you to squander food?"


    Mae stepped forward, her voice sarcastic. "You think we''re clueless, huh? The Dawson family is on itsst legs. Without tying the knot with the Sutton family, you''re nothing but a Ms. Dawson surviving solely on Mr. Sutton''s charity. And here you are, putting on airs?" Mae scanned the crowd deliberately and added, "Is the Dawson family so broke that they can''t even afford a meal? Ms. Dawson, I''ve heard tales of you groveling to Mr. Sutton, shining his shoes, and waiting on Audrey hand and foot like a maid. You''ve secured your spot as the future Mrs. Sutton because of Audrey''s favor."


    With a provocative nce at Freya, Mae continued, "If you grovel before us as well, this meal''s on us."


    "Yeah, everyone knows our school cafeteria charges an arm and a leg. And look, Ms. Dawson''s te seems to be missing any meat. Must be hard times, huh?"


    Previously put in her ce by Freya, Cindy suddenly said, looking smugly at Freya as if she''d caught her in a trap.


    Cindy yelled to the crowd, "Come one,e all, and witness Ms. Dawson begging for a meal!"


    Instantly, the cafeteria buzzed with excitement, everyone eager to see what was happening. Eloise made a symbolic attempt to pull Cindy and Mae back, saying, "Cindy, Mae, let''s not..."


    Cindy cut her off, "Eloise, stay out of this! Freya was shameless. We were ready to let her off, but she doesn''t know when to quit!"


    Freya watched the scene unfold with a slight smile.


    Taken aback by Freya''s demeanor, Mae red at her, "What are you smiling at?"


    Freya''s smile didn''t wane. "I''m amused at how clueless you are."


    Mae frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "I think she''s lost it," Cindy said. "Otherwise, why would she dare offend Mr. Sutton? Here she is, still talking big."


    Freya replied, "You rushed to spill this te without asking whose it was."


    Cindy scoffed, "This kind of simple meal? Only the nearly bankrupt Dawson family would eat this. Who else''s could it be but yours!" Freya smirked, "This meal was for Mr. Beckett."


    At Freya''s words, Eloise and Mae turned


    Rale. Only Cindy se


    confused and dismissive as she


    said Mr. Beckett? Never heard of


    him!"


    BUMS


    "It''s me." A calm,posed voice cut through the crowd as everyone stepped aside to reveal Ronan.


    Who didn''t know Ronan was


    Summit University''s esteemed professor and one of its biggest benefactors? Ronan''s annualT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    donations to the school were


    the


    millions. Thanks to his passion for teaching, the university frequently invited Ronan for lectures,


    Ronan was an influential figure in school and the CEO of the Beckett Group outside school. Even their fathers would have to address Ronan as Mr. Beckett respectfully.


    Upon spotting Ronan, Cindy''s face went pale. "Mr... Mr. Beckett..."

 Chapter 72

    Ronan nced down at the mess of food spilled all over the floor and said calmly and leisurely, "It looks like you folks have quite the appetite, trying to upset the Beckett family''s bread, huh?" "No, no, not at all!" Cindy waved her hands frantically, her face turning a shade paler. "I... I thought it was Freya''s food..."


    Ronan''s gaze shifted to Freya standing beside him, her cheek ming red, a clear handprint visible on her face.


    He looked at the trio before him and asked, "Who did this?"


    "It was... it was me. I didn''t mean to..." Cindy''s voice trailed off into a whisper, hardly able to believe her own words.


    "Hit her back," Ronan said without looking up, gesturing for Freya to get back at her.


    The onlookers watched in anticipation.


    Freya didn''t hesitate, putting all her strength into the p and almost knocking Cindy off her feet.


    "Cindy!" Eloise''s face drained of color.


    Mae was equally shocked by the scene unfolding before them.


    Ronan nced at Eloise. "Ms. Harwood, did you not inform them about my rtionship with Freya?"


    Biting her lip, Eloise replied, "Mr. Beckett, my friend was out of line. I apologize."


    "At school, you can call me Professor Beckett."


    "Yes, Professor Beckett." Even if Eloise was seething with resentment, she had no choice but to swallow her pride.


    "Let''s go out to eat," Ronan said, leading Freya away from the cafeteria. They walked and became the center of attention, with many eyes following them.


    Seeing the two leave, Cindy remained in a daze, unable to regain her senses. Annoyed, Mae asked, "Eloise, why didn''t you tell us about Freya''s connection to Mr. Beckett?"


    "I... I..."


    "Yeah, Eloise, I''ve upset Freya today. Do you think Mr. Beckett will give us trouble?"


    Cindy was visibly scared, cl


    Eloise''s arm and nearly in tears. "What do we do? I''ve messed with Mr. Beckett''s ns. If he tells my parents, I''m done for!"


    Eloise paused before replying, "Don''t worry. I''ll talk to Kieran. I''ll get Kieran to sort this out."


    Hearing this, Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. "Right, Mr. Sutton is so fond of you. If you ask, Mr. Sutton will help!"


    Eloise managed a weak smile. She had thought Ronan and Freya were just a fling since Freya was engaged to the Sutton Group''s heir.


    She assumed Ronan would distance himself from Freya. But seeing their situation... Ronan appeared far from ready to cut ties with Freya.


    It seemed she needed to have a word with Kieran after all.


    Meanwhile, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.


    "Is that Mr. Sutton? Why is Mr. Sutton here?"


    "That''s truly Mr. Sutton! And he''s brought bodyguards, too."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    The appearance of Kieran, with his entourage in tow, shifted the atmosphere, promising a new development in the unfolding drama.

 Chapter 73

    The cafeteria courtyard was abuzz with activity as Kieran stepped out of his luxury car, followed by six bodyguards in sharp ck suits.


    Kieran was the epitome of sophistication, d in a suit impable in every sense, with the Sutton family''s crest pinned proudly on his chest. His features were strikingly handsome, and his deep-set eyes seemed to draw one in with a nce, radiating an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.


    Cindy and Mae''s eyes lit up with excitement when they saw Kieran.


    "Can you believe it? Mr. Sutton himself! He must be here for Eloise."


    "Who else would he be here for? Surely, not for Freya!"


    Everyone knew Kieran had no interest in Freya. He barely nced her way, so why would hee to school to see her?


    Eloise decided to approach, saying, "It''s crowded here. Let''s see what''s happening."


    Eager for some drama, Cindy and Mae followed her.


    Eloise walked up to Kieran. "Kieran, what brings you to school today?"


    Kieran''s face tensed up a bit when he saw Eloise. He hade for Freya and didn''t anticipate seeing Eloise there.


    "Mr. Sutton, you must be here for Eloise, right? We''ll leave you two."


    Mae was sure Kieran was there for Eloise, but as they left, Kieran said indifferently, "No need. My grandmother sent me to pick up Freya for dinner."


    He scanned the crowd, instructing his bodyguards, "Look for her over there."


    Eloise''s smile vanished as Kieran mentioned Freya. The atmosphere turned awkward, which was noticeable to Mae and Cindy.


    Not


    quickly said, "Mr. Sutton, if y looking for Freya, you''ll find


    her


    outside the school!"


    Kieran frowned slightly. "You know where she is?"


    "Yeah!" Cindy eximed. "She went to grab a bite with Mr. Beckett!"


    Mae smirked and added, "Yeah, they were all cozy, hand in hand!"


    Kieran''s mood chilled out when he heard the news.


    belongs


    "Cindy, Mae, cut it out!" Eloise interrupted. She hesitated beforez adding it was just that Ms. Dawson identally spilled her meal, so Mr. Beckett took her out to eat...


    en


    "Spilled her meal?" Kieran scoffed at the exnation.


    O.UMS


    How could a simple spilled meal be such a big deal? Couldn''t she get another serving?N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    It sounded far-fetched to anyone, including Kieran.


    Trying to stir the pot, Cindy said, "Eloise, there''s no need to cover for Freya! She won''t appreciate it, and she''s violent!"


    Cindy pointed to her swollen face


    and continued, "Mr. Sutton, I''m sure there''s something between Freya and Mr. Beckett. She even hit me thinking Mr. Beckett was protecting her! Look, my face is still swollen!"


    Seeing Cindy''s bruised face, Kieran was surprised at how tough Freya had been.


    Kieran''s response was cold, "Search outside the school. I''m curious how Ronan is backing her up!"

 Chapter 74

    Seeing Kieran getting angry, Cindy and Mae exchanged a knowing look, each seeing a hint of triumph in the other''s eyes.


    Even if Kieran wasn''t fond of his fianc¨¦e, he wouldn''t want hisdy getting cozy with another man. They were eager to see how Freya could pretend before them!


    Meanwhile, only Eloise looked deeply troubled as she watched Kieran.


    ''Kieran has nevere to pick up Freya from school. And he hasn''t made such a scene to find Freya. Could it be...'' Eloise bit her lip, trying not to overthink it. Hopefully, she was just making a big deal out of nothing.


    At the same time, in a restaurant outside the school, Freya looked over a table ofvish food and said, "Mr. Beckett, they spilled your food. Why am I getting punished by treating you to dinner?"


    Sitting across from Freya, Ronan sipped his coffee and said, "I saw everything."


    Freya was curious. "Saw what?"


    "I saw you deliberately let them knock over your meal."


    Freya, enjoying her steak, retorted, "Mr. Beckett, this is a serious usation. How could I have known they would spill my food?"


    "When you were standing by the washbasin near the restaurant''s serving hatch, in front of that mirror, you saw Eloise and the others through it. You intentionally got them to notice you, all for this spectacle. I guess the goal was to escte the situation, letting the whole school know you''re no longer the Freya who kowtows to Kieran. So, it''s basically like staking your im as the future Mrs. Sutton Group, right?"


    Facing Ronan''s spection, Freya thoughtfully nodded. "That makes sense. Go on."


    "The restaurant is the school''s biggest gossip zone. It''s busiest at noon, and news spreads fastest. I must say you''re smart."


    After saying that, Ronan lifted his coffee cup in a toast to Freya, then added, But you went through all this trouble to tell everyone that you don''t love Kieran and that it''s a business marriage?"


    "No. My borate n was to expand the Dawson family''swork." Freya spoke calmly, "Being Kieran''s fianc¨¦e has its uses. IN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    haven''t been to school in a while-et


    and the school is essentially a huge marketce. Here, you find att sorts of people and families. They are connections. Since the school knows I am Freya and Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, I can build connections and open more doors."


    "It seems you''re even smarter than I thought." Ronan set down his coffee cup.


    Freya raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for thepliment, Mr. Beckett."


    Then the server brought over a heart-shaped dessert and with a smile, said, "This is a little Valentine''s Day treat on the house for every couple." "Thanks." Right as Ronan finished, the Sutton family''s bodyguard located them.


    Speaking into his Bluetooth earpiece, the bodyguard said, "Mr. Sutton, target located. She''s at Aura Eats, only 900 feet from the school."


    Simultaneously, as Kieran


    approached the school gates, his face turned colder. He pressed the disconneet button on his Bluetooth headset and coldlymanded the bodyguards behind him, "To Aura Eats." .

 Chapter 75

    "Yes, Mr. Sutton!"


    The crowd followed Kieran, heading toward Aura Eats. In no time, the school''s entrance was packed with people.


    "What''s with the crowd?"


    "Don''t you know? Mr. Sutton''s here to confront his fianc¨¦e! I heard that Ms. Dawson''s been seen dating Professor Beckett!" "Seriously? Given how strict the Suttons are, Ms. Dawson''s really stepped in it this time, huh?"


    ...


    Freya had just sipped her sparkling water inside Aura Eats when a group of bodyguards burst in, ushering the other patrons out. Freya frowned.


    Followed by six bodyguards, Kieran walked in.


    Freya was relieved that Aura Eats was spacious enough. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to amodate everyone.


    Kieran nced at Ronan, then at Freya, leisurely leaning back in her chair. Finally, his gazended on the heart-shaped dessert on the table.


    The dessert was untouched, and the


    restaurant''s promotional sticker on the table stated that a signature. dessert, "Passion Delight," was offered to every couple on O Valentine''s Day.


    en


    Noticing the cooled atmosphere, Freya asked, "Mr. Sutton, what brings you here in such a hurry?"


    He coldly responded, "Don''t you have anything to say?"


    Freya nonchntly replied, "It''s just a meal with Mr. Beckett. Of course, that''s not something you need to concern yourself with?"


    "Is holding hands necessary for just a meal?" Kieran retorted sharply, "Freya, do you think I''m a fool? Is it a meal or a date? Do I need to spell it out for you?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Kieran, I was having a meal with Mr.


    Beckett. If I recall, Mr. Sutton, you also have your fair share of social engagements, right? I can''t use you of dating just because you dine out with female clients, right?"


    Freya added with a cheeky tone, "Plus, Mr. Sutton, I recall you''ve had quite a few dinners with Ms. Harwood, even celebrated her birthday." "Freya!" Kieran''s expression turned colder.


    Unfazed, Ronan added, "Mr. Sutton,


    the whole of Echo City knows about your ambiguous rtionship with Ms. Harwood. It seems quite special, huh? Since you''ve told Ms. Dawson your heart wouldn''t sway, why not go your separate ways? Why bothering here to ask these pointless questions?"


    Kieran nced at Ronan coldly. "Mr. Beckett, it''s between me and Freya. Stay out of it."


    Freya added, "Kieran, I think Mr. Beckett makes a valid point. Going our separate ways isn''t such a bad idea." "Freya, dare to say that again?" Kieran''s gaze grew even colder.

 Chapter 76

    Freya locked eyes with Kieran and said calmly, "Mr. Sutton, you can''t expect fidelity in marriage when you''ve been anything but faithful. Besides, we''re not married yet. Nothing''s set in stone. Whether I will marry you is still up in the air, so your anger seems misced." After saying that, Freya stood up, offered Kieran a faint smile, and continued, "Remember when you and Eloise were cozy together, heh? I didn''t make a big fuss about it. Since you picked me as your fianc¨¦e, you should''ve seen all thising. I''d appreciate it if you''d stay


    out of my business. You need to learn to tolerate me without losing your cool."


    Freya was mercilessly using Kieran''s words against him.


    She recalled the first time she saw Kieran and Eloise together. They were so intimate. Kieran came over and told her, "Since you''ve agreed to be my fianc¨¦e, you should be ready for everything thates with it. It''s best if you don''t meddle in my affairs. Your only job is to put up with it." And Freya was throwing his words back at him.


    As expected, Kieran''s face darkened, his gaze on Freya filled with anger. "Freya, even if you and Ronan want your little moments, there''s a time and ce for it! Going after someone in front of the whole school and humiliating Ellie like that! Don''t you think you''ve gone too far?"


    Freya responded, "I''ve done what I did. What would you have me do, Mr. Sutton?"


    "Apologize to Eloise and her ssmates before the whole school. Should I need to spell it out for you?"


    Faced with Kieran''s tant bias towards Eloise, Freya retorted, "Mr. Sutton, youe here with a whole entourage demanding exnations from me without asking what led to this. Why not ask why I felt the need to strike someone?"


    Kieran answered, "What else could it be but those rumors? Ellie''s already been cyberbullied. Isn''t that enough for you? What more do you want?"


    Hearing Kieran''s words, Ronan couldn''t hold back any longer. He stood up and interjected, "Excuse me for a second. Kieran, no offense, but are you blind?"


    Ronan stepped forward, pointing at Freya''s face. "Do you not see something on Ms. Dawson''s face? Those clear p marks, are they invisible to you?"


    At this, Kieran frowned. He had been


    too angry to notice the marks on Freya''s face. The red marks weren''t overly apparent under the blue light but were unmistakably thereupon closer inspection.


    "Mr. Sutton, it seems your eyes aren''tpletely useless, so you should be able to figure out who left that stap." Ronan''s tone was icy as he added, "Ms. Dawson was merely giving as good as she got.


    "Ronan, what are you implying?"


    "If you''re so curious, why not ask Ms. Harwood? That would make more sense, wouldn''t it?"


    Ronan continued coldly, "I don''t like being disturbed while eating, Mr. Sutton. Please take your people and leave us to enjoy our meal."


    "Ronan, remember Freya is my fianc¨¦e." Kieran''s move to wrap his arm around Freya''s waist was a deration of possession, prompting Ronan tough.


    "Is that so? Had Mr. Sutton not


    mentioned it, I''d have been none the wiser. Judging by how vehemently you defended Ms. Harwood''s honor, I''d think most people wouldn''t realize who your fianc¨¦e is N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Ronan''s words made Kieran''s expression darker.


    Freya smoothly extracted herself from Kieran''s embrace and said, "Kieran, what do you want? Either speak your peace or take your leave. Don''t disturb our meal."


    Seeing Freya so tantly side with Ronan, Kieran grew colder. "Grandma sent me to bring you back. You eithere with me now or never be in the Sutton family again." Freya raised an eyebrow and replied, "Is that so, Mr. Sutton? That''s fantastic. I choose thetter."

 Chapter 77

    "You... you..." Kieran''s face turned stormy.


    Freya settled back into her chair and addressed Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, please."


    "Freya, think carefully before you speak."


    "Mr. Sutton, I''ve thought it over."


    Freya offered Kieran a slight smile and said, "Mr. Sutton, you said it. Today''s Valentine''s Day. It''s a day for lovers to celebrate together. You should be with Ms. Harwood, not taking me home. If Ms. Harwood sees us and gets the wrong idea, that wouldn''t be good." "Fine, Freya, remember what you said!"


    With that, Kieran turned and left the restaurant with his guards.


    Outside the restaurant, Jarrett looked worried. "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson doesn''t want to leave. What should we do? If Mrs. Sutton asks..."


    "Find out how Freya got that bruise." Kieran frowned.


    "Mr. Sutton, do you think those two threw dirt on Ms. Dawson? They look like they''re tight with Ms. Harwood. I''m a bit worried about asking..."


    "Then ask the other people in the cafeteria." Kieran''s face was like ice. "Do I need to spell it out for you?"


    Jarrett nodded. "Of course, Mr. Sutton."


    Kieran nced back at the restaurant where Freya and Ronan were chatting merrily, his brow furrowing deeper. ''Wanting to spend Valentine''s Day with Ronan? Dream on, Freya!'' Kieran told Jarrett, "Get Mrs. Dawson on the phone. Tell her to straighten out her stepdaughter!"


    "Understood."


    Later that afternoon, Freya returned home from school.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Upon seeing Freya, Johanna was livid. She pointed at Freya''s nose and scolded, "Freya! Where were you at noon?"


    "Who do you think you are to meddle with my life, Johanna?"


    Seeing Freya talk back, Johanna''s eyes bulged. "None of my business? Freya! Do you know Mr. Sutton even called here?"


    "Really?" Freya replied nonchntly, "And how is that my problem?"


    "Not your problem? You''re flirting with another man before your fianc¨¦! Have you lost your mind?"


    Johanna thought Freya had gone mad! She had never seen an engaged woman gallivanting with another and still acting so righteous! Freya coldly said, "Kieran also often dates Eloise. What''s the problem?"


    Johanna fumed. "How dare youpare yourself to Kieran? Can a woman do what a man does? What a joke!"


    Hearing Johanna''s words, Freya raised an eyebrow. "What you''re saying, Johanna, is... men can fool around, but women can''t?"


    "Rich and powerful men can fool around. The Dawson family needs the Sutton family now. How dare you mess around?" After that, Johannamanded, "Tonight, you must visit the Sutton family and make amends with Audrey That''s


    what matters! Do you hear me?"


    As Johanna finished, there was a knock at the door. Johanna opened the door to find Jarrett standing there.


    Johanna''s face brightened up when


    she saw someone from the Sutton


    family. Secretary Jarrett, are you


    here for Reya? She just got back!"


    Grabbing Freya, Johanna said, "Reya was about to apologize to Mr. Sutton She didn''t mean to ept the invitation this afternoon. She was being considerate of MO Beckett''s feelings."


    "Ms. Dawson is willing toe with us. That''s good." Jarrett offered a polite smile. "Ms. Dawson, this way, please."

 Chapter 78

    Freya knew Johanna was on pins and needles.


    After all, the following day was thepany''s final deadline. If Kieran didn''t invest, the Dawson Group would be bankrupt. Kieran probably felt the same pressure.


    "Okay, I''ll head over," Freya said.


    Jarrett made way for her, ushering Freya into the car.


    As Freya got in, Johanna''s previously sycophantic expression cracked into a disdainful sneer. "Putting on airs, are you? Still ended up getting into Mr. Sutton''s car, didn''t you?" Twenty minutester, inside the Sutton Mansion, Jarrett weed Freya through the grand doors of the Sutton family.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    When Freya stepped inside, a wave of familiarity washed over her. In another life, she had ved away there, shamelessly moving in to look after Kieran and Audrey''s every need. Yet, her end had been nothing short of tragic. Every corner of this ce bore the marks of her past subservience.


    Freya walked in with a nk expression, noticing that the dinner table hadn''t been set.


    However, Audrey weed Freya warmly into the living room to sit.


    Kieran seemed to have anticipated Freya''s arrival, his eyes briefly flickering with mockery.


    During the day, Freya had been cozying up to Ronan. And at night, she was there to charm Audrey. She was a snake trying to swallow an elephant.


    "Freya, you finally made it." Audrey


    smiled, saying, "You have no idea how we''ve been faring without you these days. I haven''t been eating or sleeping well, and neither has Kieran."  en


    Kieran frowned from across the room, disagreeing with Audrey''s words.


    Freya didn''t believe for a second that Kieran longed for her return.


    She smiled and asked, "Audrey, did you need something from me today?"


    "Kieran has a craving for fried fish recently. No matter how the chef makes it, he doesn''t like it. He always says you make it best. Why don''t you... cook us dinner? I need to step out this evening, and you could stay over."


    Hearing Audrey''s words, Freya scoffed. So, this was all about cooking dinner for Kieran. But it made sense.


    The old Freya always believed the way to a man''s heart was through his stomach. Being able to cook a meal for Kieran was once considered a great honor for her.


    The fried fish, with its intricate


    preparation, was something she had


    never attempted before. Kieran was notoriously picky, so she had gone out of her way to learn from a chef.


    en


    She practiced until her fingers were sore and scarred, yet Kieran met her hard work with nothing but coldness and ridicule.


    Freya said, "Audrey, I would have loved to cook for Mr. Sutton, but I identally injured my hand today. I''m afraid I can''t prepare the fried fish properly." "Injured? What happened?" Audrey moved to inspect Freya''s hand, but Kieran interjected with a sneer, "What else? It must have been from fighting." "Fighting?" Audrey frowned.


    Kieran nced at the clock on the wall, noting, "It''s already six. If Ms. Dawson can''t cook, I''ll be leaving." With that, Kieran turned to walk away.

 Chapter 79

    Audrey''s voice was cold as ice. "Kieran, if you walk out that door, don''t you dare return to this house again!"


    Kieran froze.


    Audrey turned to Freya and said, "Freya, cook something simple for dinner. I''ve got to run."


    After that, Audrey stood up, went out, and shot Kieran a meaningful nce.


    Soon, the Sutton family''s living room was left with only Freya and Kieran.


    "Why are you just standing there? Aren''t you going to start cooking?" Kieran looked at Freya, his eyes showing no respect whatsoever.


    "The house is empty, Mr. Sutton. Why put on a show?" Freya retorted, "If you''re hungry, maybe just order some takeout."


    "You..."


    Freya walked to the kitchen to start cooking, ignoring him.


    Kieran snorted, "Oh? You''re telling me to order takeout while you cook for yourself? If you wanted to leave, why didn''t you slip away while Grandma was out?"


    "Mr. Sutton, who''s being the fool here?" Freya''s voice was tinged with sarcasm. "Audrey wanted us to spend time together, locking us in. Seriously, you think she''d let me walk out the Sutton family''s door? I bet the front door is locked from the outside; there''s no way you can open it."


    Hearing it, Kieran, half in doubt, walked to the front door. Sure enough, when he tried the handle, the door was locked from the outside.


    After washing her hands, Freya casually took some ingredients from the fridge. "Mr. Sutton, try calling for takeout now. Maybe that''ll get someone to open the door."


    But when Kieran pulled out his phone, he found no signal, and the house''s inte seemed to have been disconnected, too.


    Kieran''s face darkened.


    Seeing his reaction, Freya


    indifferently said, "I''m only cooking for myself. Mr. Sutton, you should


    try cooking dinner if you are hungry."


    "Are you kidding?" Kieran frowned deeply, realizing Audrey had sent away all the household staff. Meanwhile, Freya started making pasta with tomatoes, and soon, the delicious aroma filled the kitchen. Sitting in the living room, Kieran couldn''t help but be drawn by the smell. "What are you cooking?"


    "Mr. Sutton, this?" Freya pointed at the te of appetizing pasta with tomatoes. "Just pasta with tomatoes." "Why haven''t you made this before?"


    "Mr. Sutton, with your taste for exquisite delicacies, how could you appreciate something as simple as pasta with tomatoes?"N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    With that, Freya picked up her te. "Anyway, this is for me. I don''t think you''d like something as in as this, right?"


    Freya sat at the dining tablet et


    She wasn''t hungry. Cooking the


    pasta


    with tomatoes was more].


    about making a point to Kieran.


    As expected, Kieran was visibly annoyed by her actions. "Freya, you''re using my family''s ingredients."


    "So?" Freya shot back.


    Kieran sat opposite her, asserting, "So, I''m entitled to a share of that meal."


    As Kieran reached for the food, Freya swiftly moved it away, teasingly saying, "Mr. Sutton, if you wanted some, you could''ve asked. Of course, if you ask nicely, might even cook dinner for you."

 Chapter 80

    "Freya, don''t push it." Kieran frowned, his voice irritable. "Do you think I can''t live without your cooking?"


    "Then, Mr. Sutton, suit yourself." With a provocative glint in her eyes, Freya took a pointed bite of her dinner right before Kieran. She knew Kieran had been pampered from birth, never so much as boiling water for himself.


    Seeing Freya deliberately provoking him, Kieran''s annoyance flipped into amusement. This woman was getting bolder by the day!


    Kieran got up and walked over to the kitchen. He saw a box of oatmeal in the cupboard and decided to make himself something to eat.


    Observing that, Freya couldn''t hide her smirk. She was curious what culinary "delights" Kieran could conjure.


    Sure enough, the kitchen was a hive of activity. In the end, Kieran could only emerge with a bowl of oatmeal.


    By then, Freya had finished her dinner. She was carrying her empty te to the kitchen and ncing at Kieran''s oatmeal disdainfully before letting out a scornfulugh. Thatugh was thest straw for Kieran. "Freya, what''s that supposed to mean?"


    "It means nothing, Mr. Sutton. You''re overthinking it."


    Freya smiled, adding, "I''m here to do the dishes."


    Though her words were innocent, the curl of her lips mocked him for his terrible cooking.


    Kieran''s appetite vanished on the spot. He moved to the liquor cab, pulled out a bottle of red wine, and poured himself a ss, drinking it in one gulp.


    Freya knew about Kieran''s habit of skipping dinner due to stomach issues, but he would still drink a ss of wine every evening to unwind.


    Watching him, Freya thought she


    must have been crazy in her past life


    to try and get Kieran to stop


    drinking. But now, she figured she was better off looking after herself instead of worrying about him.


    Freya withdrew her gaze from Kieran.


    She thought, ''Drink up. After all, it''s none of my business even if he drinks himself to death.''


    Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the living room grew tense.


    Freya was watching the clock, but when 11 pm rolled around, and there was still no sign of Audrey, she began to feel unsettled.


    Meanwhile, Kieran was lounging on the sofa, seemingly engrossed in a newspaper.


    Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, Freya said, "I''ll check if the door is open."


    Without looking up from his paper, Kieran replied indifferently, "I tried ten minutes ago. It''s locked."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Freya announced, "Then I''m going upstairs to sleep."


    "Freya, you think of this ce as your home, huh?"


    "Kieran, do you really think I want to stay at your ce?" Freya was puzzled. "Didn''t you see who dropped me off?"


    "So, this is all my fault?" Kieran


    scoffed coldly. "You said you


    couldn''te during the day, and


    yet, here you are at night, Freya.


    You''re ying the innocent quite well."


    en


    "Mr. Sutton, you went out of your


    way to call my house, personally et


    asking Jarrett to pick me up.


    Wasn''t


    that practically forcing me toe?"

 Chapter 81

    "You... you''ve got some nerve," Kieran spat out, his patience worn thin.


    "I''m tired, Kieran. I don''t have the energy to argue with you," Freya retorted, going upstairs.


    With each step she took, Kieran felt his anger boiling over. Since their engagement party, Freya seemed to push his buttons even more, each time, nearly driving him to a rage.


    On the second floor, Freya entered what used to be her room in the Sutton family. Theyout was the same, but her personal belongings were gone. She shook her head with a wry smile. "Oh, Freya, you used to put up with a lot," she thought. Suddenly, a loud crash from the room next door made her frown. While moving toward Kieran''s room, she smelled a strong, sweet scent. Before she knew it, Kieran had pulled her inside.


    "Oh, Freya... you''ve really outdone yourself this time!" Kieran sneered, his eyes cold as ice.


    His breath was heavy, his cheeks flushed with a feverish glow, his gaze unnervingly intense.


    Freya felt his grip tighten around her neck, struggling to breathe. "Kieran... let me go!"


    "You and Grandma put on quite the show!"


    "Let go!" Freya shoved him with all her strength. Choking on the overpowering sweet scent, her face went pale.


    She quickly scanned the room, noticing the red curtains and dimmed lights. The room had been turned into a theme room of sorts!


    "Is this what you wanted, Freya? You''re so despicable!" Kieran pinned her down with overwhelming strength and soon had her immobilized on the bed.


    "Kieran! Snap out of it!" Freya struggled to push him off, but Kieran quickly regained his position over her.


    His body was burning up, his skin scorching to the touch.


    Freya could feel the heat from his palms, trying to hold her breath against the intoxicating scent. "Let go!"


    Kieran seemed to find amusement


    in her resistance as she writhed under Kim. "Let go? At this point, Freya, why still y the innocent?"


    His voice was husky, and Freya''s every move seemed to test his limits. He had never noticed how attractive Freya''s figure was until then and how a simple touch ignited a fire within him. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    en


    Leaning close, Kieran whispered, "If you wanted me, you could''ve told me. No need for dirty tricks."


    Hearing this, Freya''s frustration reached its peak. She caught Kieran off guard with a swift kick, pushing him away.


    Her eyes darted to a rope by the bed. Without hesitating, she grabbed it and tied Kieran''s hands. "That''ll keep you in ce!" she said. Kieran''s face darkened. "Freya! What are you doing?"


    "What does it look like? Warding off


    a predator!" Her cheeks flushed with effort. Freya knew she had to keep


    herposure, or their repons


    would be ruined.


    In no time, Kieran was bound to the bed.


    "Freya, I never thought you could be so shameless!"

 Chapter 82

    "Ugh, gross!" Freya shot Kieran a re. "Seriously, dude?"


    With that, she flipped on the light in Kieran''s room.


    But something was off about the light. It had been tampered with. The room was bathed in an eerie red glow when the light was on.


    Freya''s expression soured instantly at the sight. Kieran''s eyes narrowed dangerously, clearly jumping to the wrong conclusion.


    By then, Freya was starting to feel the effects of the overpowering scent in the air. She quickly pinpointed the source of the smell, doused the scented candle with water, and then rushed to the window to throw it open.


    A gust of cold air swept through the room, clearing the lingering scent. Breathing in the fresh air, Freya finally felt her body rx slightly. Kieran, too, seemed to regain some rity.


    Freya looked over at Kieran, who was still on the bed, and said, "Listen, I had nothing to do with this mess."


    "And for the record, I didn''t set up any of this!" Kieran frowned in response.


    Freya continued, "I''m going to untie you now. You better go and take a cold shower. And if youy a hand on me again, I swear..." She made a threatening snapping motion with her fingers. Remembering Freya''s earlier defiance, Kieran looked even more sullen.


    "If you''ve got that, I''ll let you go. If not, guess you''re waiting for Jarrett toe and untie you in the morning."N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    "Just untie me." Kieran had regained a bit of his senses.


    As Freya moved to untie him, he caught a whiff of her subtle perfume.


    Kieran stared at Freya''s profile, noticing a blush on her cheeks. Whether it was from the drug or not, he couldn''t tell. But her face was undeniably captivating.


    "There." Freya released Kieran.


    But then, driven by some sudden impulse, Kieran reached out for Freya the very next moment.


    Freya''s world spun, and pain shot through her lips. By the time she realized what had happened, her mouth was filled with the taste of blood.


    Pushing Kieran away, she retaliated with a p.


    Snap! The stap rang out clear and


    sharp. Kieran was stunned momentarily. When he finally


    snapped back to reality, he red at Freya. "You dared to hit me?"


    en


    Freya''s expression darkened. "Kieran, you crossed the line. Don''t you dare push me!"


    Disgust was evident in her eyes.


    Kieran''s anger red. "Me? Over the line? You''ve hit me twice now. Who''s crossing the line here?"


    Just then, they heard the front door open downstairs. Hearing this, Freya quickly covered Kieran''s mouth. Kieran frowned deeply. The sound of someoneing upstairs was faint but growing closer.


    Kieran grabbed Freya''s hand, gritting his teeth. "Freya..."


    Freya hushed, "Shh! Be quiet!"


    The person was walking toward their room.


    In a split-second decision, Freya pinned Kieran down.

 Chapter 83

    Freya was on edge, her gaze fixed on the door.


    The footsteps outside stopped, probably someone eavesdropping from around the corner.


    Kieran nced up and caught sight of Freya''s delicate jawline. His eyes drifted lower until theynded on the gentle slope of her corbone. Freya smelled wonderful. The scent was not overpowering or artificial but like a natural, clean one that made people want to draw closer. Suddenly, Freya yelled, "Mr. Sutton! What are you doing?"


    Her shout was unexpected. Freya suddenly reached to tug at her blouse, and when she couldn''t rip it, she turned her hands on Kieran''s shirt. The sound of tearing fabric followed, and Kieran''s expression darkened instantly.


    "Freya, you..."


    "Mr. Sutton! You already have Eloise! Let me go!"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Freya gave Kieran a defiant ''go ahead, react'' look, but her voice was unexpectedly soft and overly dramatic.


    Rather than getting angry, Kieran chuckled at Freya''s self-directed drama. With a swift move, he flipped the situation, pinning Freya down on the bed. Caught off guard by Kieran''s sudden dominance, Freya instinctively cried out. That cry gave Kieran the upper hand.


    Gritting her teeth, Freya whispered fiercely, "Kieran! Let me go!"


    "Weren''t you the one who started this act, Ms. Dawson? Then let''s make it more convincing." Saying so, Kieran pinched Freya''s waist hard. Freya gasped in pain, a soft moan escaping her lips. The pain brought tears to her eyes. Seeing this, Kieran''s gaze softened.


    Meanwhile, someone outside heard themotion and couldn''t help but snicker, then quietly descended the stairs to tell Audrey. "Madam, you can rest easy. I just listened in, and they are getting along just fine!"


    The housekeeper''s knowing smile made Audrey nod in satisfaction, saying, "At least my meddling has paid off in bringing them together."


    In the bedroom, once Freya knew the coast was clear, she sighed with relief and addressed Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, they''re gone. No need to keep up the act, right?" "Who said I was acting?" Kieran''s tone was yful.


    Freya frowned. "Kieran, that''s not funny."


    "Freya, don''t you think you owe me an exnation for tonight?"


    The room''s setup made it clear this was all premeditated.


    When Freya saw Kieran doubting her


    again, she retorted, "I haven''t sunk so low that I''d throw away my dignity just to trap a man in some silly scheme. I had no clue about tonight''s setup, or else I would''ve used your confusion to my advantage, right, Mr. Sutton?"


    ou


    Realizing Freya was unaware, Kieran''s thoughts turned to Audrey. Only his grandmother could orchestrate something like this.


    As Freya noticed Kieran''s looming presence, she attempted to shift away. Kieran pulled her back into his arms as she was about to escape his grasp.


    In a low voice, Kieran said, "Even if you know nothing about this setup, can you honestly say you have no other motives concerning me?"


    "I''m plotting for you to drop dead sooner." Freya found Kieran''s persistence annoying and childish. She pushed him away and got off the bed.


    Kieran pointed out, "If you leave now,


    Gwill catch on that we were


    just


    on an act. If it didn''t


    work this time, she''ll just scheme up


    something else."


    "What are you suggesting, Mr. Sutton? That I spend the night in your room? That seems highly inappropriate." Despite her words, Freya showed no intention of leaving.

 Chapter 84

    Kieran was right. If she left, Audrey would catch her. So, their little act earlier would have been for nothing.


    Kieran casually patted the side of his bed and said, "Come here."


    This time, Freya obediently walked over to him.


    Freya smiled politely as Kieran thought she wouldply and sleep beside him. Then, Freya swiftly pulled the nket from under Kieran, pillows included. For a moment, Kieran''s face froze.


    "Thanks, Mr. Sutton. The room''s big enough. I''ll make do with a spot on the floor," Freya said.


    Afterying the nket on the floor, Freya prepared her makeshift bed.


    Seeing Freya settling down on the floor, Kieran felt a surge of frustration. "Freya, you..."


    "Goodnight." Freya bluntly cut him off. After finishing her sentence, she switched off those ring LED lights, leaving only a dim redmp on.


    The sight left Kieran feeling even more choked up.


    ''In the past, Freya would throw herself at him, and he wouldn''t bat an eye. At this moment, when he offered her a chance to share his bed, she refused.


    ''Fine! Then forget about it forever!'' Kieran seethed and turned off thest remaining light in the room.


    Downstae maid noticed the


    in Kieran''s room and


    quickly hurried back to tell Audet


    With a content smile, Audrey said, "First thing tomorrow morning, invite Ms. Harwood over."


    Hearing this, the maid immediately understood Audrey''s intentions, nodding eagerly, "Yes, Mrs. Sutton."


    Freya groggily opened her eyes the following morning, feeling the once-hard floor surprisingly soft.


    She then realized she was on the bed, but Kieran was no longer beside her


    en


    Freya wondered, ''Where is he?''


    Freya got up as Kieran exited the bathroom, whose hair was still damp, wearing a loose ck robe.


    Freya nced at the clock. It was only seven.


    "Mr. Sutton, up so early?" She remembered Kieran usually got up at eight.


    "Just woke


    that the Although Kieran said


    was that he


    shower before dawn. Contact


    slept well, getting up for a


    Freya frowned. "Did you carry me onto the bed?"N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    Kieran answered with a cold look, "You climbed up yourself."


    Freya didn''t want to argue with Kieran. She got off the bed, feeling sore from sleeping on the floor.


    "I need pajamas." Freya didn''t hesitate to ask him for pajamas.

 Chapter 85

    Kieran squinted and asked, "Where did you get those pajamas?"


    "Mr. Sutton, are you asking me to go out like this?"


    Freya''s clothes had be wrinkled and disheveled from the turmoil of the previous night.


    Seeing this, Kieran casually tossed a white button-down shirt to Freya.


    Grasping the shirt, Freya headed to the bathroom.


    Once the bathroom door closed, its frosted ss casting a silhouette of Freya''s graceful figure, Kieran felt a spark reignite within him.


    Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Kieran tried to keep his cool, but the noise kept distracting him.


    When Freya emerged from the bathroom, she saw Kieran lounging on the sofa, absorbed in the newspaper.


    "I used up all your shower gel. Should I buy you a new one?" she joked.


    "I''m not petty enough to quibble over a bottle of shower gel," Kieran replied while standing up. Turning around, he saw Freya in his shirt, which barely covered her, revealing her straight, slender legs.


    Kieran''s gaze traveled up from those legs to her slightly damp hair draped over one shoulder and the exposed corbone due to the loose fit of the shirt. He realized he had never noticed how stunning Freya was. "Mr. Sutton, shall we go downstairs?" Freya asked, eager to return home.


    She needed to let Audrey know about their situation from the previous night so she could smoothly head back home.


    Sensing Freya''s haste to leave, Kieran couldn''t help but retort sarcastically, "You seem in a rush to get away."


    "Mr. Sutton, do you prefer to keep me confined here?" Freya shot back before heading downstairs. As she passed by, Kieran caught the shower gel''s scent on Freya, the


    same fragrance he used.


    The intimate moment made Kieran pause, and it was only when Freya asked, "Mr. Sutton, are we going or not?" did he snap back to reality.


    Seeing Freya open the bedroom door, Kieran finally said, "All right, let''s go."


    Kieran felt uneasy and tried to look away from Freya''s legs, but his eyes kept getting drawn back to them. He


    had seen Freya in skirts before?


    butT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    this time it felt different somehow.


    Downstairs, Eloise was lounging on the couch.


    As she puzzled over Audrey''s intentions, Audrey suddenly looked up with a smile. "Freya, Kieran,e quick. We have guests."


    At her words, Eloise was shocked.


    She looked up to see Kieran and Freya descending the stairs, one after the other. Kieran was in a bathrobe, and Freya was wearing his shirt. This sight made Eloise stand up abruptly, her eyes welling with tears. "You... you two..."


    Noticing Eloise, Kieran''s expression changed.


    Audrey smiled and said, "What''s the matter, Ms. Harwood? Freya and Kieran are engaged, after all. It''s only normal for them to live together, right?" Kieran frowned, his face darkening. "Grandma!"


    "Freya, thank goodness for you.


    Otherwise, I would have thought this


    boy had no interest in women," Audrey joked, causing Freya to


    frown and Kieran to fix a scrutinizing gaze on her, "You?"

 Chapter 86

    Freya opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, Audrey waved at her, saying, "Freya, you better hurry up and give me a great-grandchild." Hearing Audrey''s words, Eloise''s eyes instantly welled up with tears. The next second, Eloise ran out of the Sutton Mansion, tears streaming down her face. Seeing this, Kieran hurried after her, calling out behind, "Ellie!"


    Before he left, Kieran shot Freya a cold re.


    Freya felt the heaviness of Kieran''s stare. She wasn''t worried about being misunderstood by him, but being falsely used still left a sour taste.


    Audrey seemed to have anticipated that Kieran would chase after Eloise. She wasn''t worried. Instead, she told Freya, "Freya, take a seat." Freya cut to the chase. "Audrey, did you say that on purpose just now?"


    Hearing the usatory tone in Freya''s voice, Audrey remained unfazed, saying, "What''s done is done. From now on, you''re the chosen fianc¨¦e of the Sutton family. Don''t worry, Eloise won''t threaten your position." ''She won''t threaten my position? Audrey''s move is cunning.'' Freya thought, ''With just one sentence, Audrey made Kieran doubt me. It''s a scheme to keep me tied to the Sutton family and under Audrey''s control.''


    Freya remembered how she used to try to copy Eloise, all while Audrey watched closely. Yet, Audrey never stepped in because she knew that even if Freya perfected her imitation of Eloise, she would never truly win Kieran''s heart.


    And Freya could only please Audrey to secure her ce as Kieran''s fianc¨¦e. She had once thought Audrey truly cared for her. It turned out the Sutton family''s schemes were indeed extraordinary.


    "If there''s nothing else, Audrey, I''ll leave now." Freya adjusted her clothes and left the Sutton Mansion without looking back.


    Seeing Freya like this, Audrey frowned.


    The housekeeper by her side said, "Mrs. Sutton, Ms. Dawson is getting harder to control."


    "We thought Freya was a docile child, but it turns out..." Audrey coldly said, "But she''s still better than that woman, Eloise. We''ll make do."


    Meanwhile, Freya returned to the Dawson family and found Johanna was already waiting. Seeing Freya wearing Kieran''s shirt, Johanna''s eyes sparkled. "Reya! What O happenedst night?"


    Freya couldn''t stand Johanna''s vulgar curiosity and coldly headed upstairs.


    IneT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Freya walking away, Johanna hurriedly followed, saying, "Reya, did you win Mr. Sutton over? I knew your could do it! Does this mean our family''s crisis is over? Did you talk to Mr. Sutton about ourpany''s issues?"


    won?


    Johanna bombarded her with questions, and finally, Freya had enough. She stopped and turned to face Johanna.


    Johanna was stunned by Freya''s icy stare.


    With a cold tone, Freya said, "Did you have a hand inst night''s setup, Johanna?"


    "What... How can you say that? I only wanted what''s best for you." Johanna smiled, saying, "Once it''s done, your ce as Mrs. Sutton is secured! And our family won''t have to worry about the Sutton Group''s pressure anymore, right?"


    Faced with Johanna''s shameless antics, Freya''s gaze grew even colder. "Well, Johanna, your n is wed. Kieran is far from helping the Dawson family now. He hates me too much." Johanna was dumbfounded. "Why is that!"


    Freya didn''t bother exining further to Johanna and went upstairs, leaving the conversation behind.

 Chapter 87

    Johanna was left standing alone, her heart pounding in her chest.


    Just then, her phone lit up with an urgent call. "Mrs. Dawson! Ourpany''s back is against the wall! Do you have any way to raise the funds?" The shareholder on the other end, Mr. Brown, sounded frantic. "Mr. Brown, please calm down. I''m working on it as we speak!" Before Johanna could finish, another call beeped in, demanding her attention.


    With a sigh, Johanna switched lines.


    "Mrs. Dawson, how''s the Dawson Group doing? When can we get our project back on track? I need a clear answer! If you can''t deliver, I''ll have to take my business elsewhere!"


    The voice of another anxious partner, Mr. Smith, filled her ear.


    "Mr. Smith, we''re doing everything we can. Please sit tight and give us a little more time!"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "How can I sit tight now? I''m telling you, if you don''t have a solution by this afternoon, consider our deal off!" The line went dead.


    Staring at her phone, Johanna took a deep breath. ''This Freya! What is she doing?''


    By lunchtime, Johanna pulled herself together and drove to the Dawson Group.


    As soon as she entered, she was met with chaos. The sight of Johanna prompted everyone to swarm her, demanding answers. "Everyone, please! Let''s settle down! Mrs. Dawson is here to address your concerns!"


    Galen walked her in.


    The conference room was crowded, a thick cloud of cigarette smoke hanging in the air as one of the shareholders stepped forward. "We''ve waited long enough, Mrs. Dawson. It''s time for some answers."


    "Yes! What about our money? Is it all gone?"


    "Has the Dawson Group gone bankrupt, just like the rumors say?"


    Questions flew at Johanna from all directions.


    Normally, she carried herself with authority andmanded respect at thepany. But this time, she was at a loss for words.


    "Everyone please, don''t panic. I''ve..


    I''ve handed everything over to


    If


    d be speaking to!" Co.


    Worried, she''s the c


    "What? Ms. Dawson? Mrs. Dawson, you must be joking!"


    "Yeah, how old is Ms. Dawson? And we''re all too familiar with her... reputation."


    "A woman who''s only known for chasing after men will solve the Dawson Group''s problems? Mrs. Dawson, you can''t be serious!"


    Surrounded by a sea of criticism, Johanna was speechless.


    "If the Dawson Group is bankrupt, you must pay us back first!"


    "Exactly! What about our money? Billions down the drain?"


    "And our projects, half-finished and now potentially for nothing? That''s billions down the drain!"


    The cacophony in the conference room was overwhelming. Freya''s words echoed in Johanna''s mind. If the Dawson Group went undef, all of thepany''s debts would fall on her shoulders to pay.

 Chapter 88

    When the thought crossed Johanna''s mind, her heart skipped a beat.


    "It''s true! Thepany has been handed over to Freya!" While speaking, Johanna pulled out the contract from her purse, dering, "We''ve signed the contract. Thispany has been under Freya''s management for days now!" In a rush, Johanna dumped everything from her bag onto the table, and sure enough, there was the contract she had signed with Freya.


    They had two copies made at the time. Freya kept one, and the other was in her possession.


    Seeing the contract in Johanna''s hands confirmed its authenticity, and the room was filled with exchanged nces of disbelief.


    "We''re doomed... The Dawson Group is truly doomed!" Someone whispered the ominous words.


    Just then, the conference room door swung open, and Freya walked in, her presencemanding silence.


    Seeing Freya, everyone was momentarily stunned.


    Grasping at straws, Johanna immediately rushed to Freya, pleading, "Freya! Thank goodness you''re here! Please tell everyone that you''re the one running thepany!"


    Freya couldn''t help but smile at Johanna''s desperate attempt to shift the me, saying, "Johanna, I''m right here, aren''t I?"


    "Ms. Dawson, what on earth is going on?"


    "Yeah, how did thepany end up in your hands?"


    Several people were openly skeptical of Freya.


    After all, Freya was previously known only as Kieran''s shadow, never having involved herself in thepany''s affairs.


    At that moment, Freya''swyer entered the room.


    Freya took her ce at the head of the conference table and began, "Thispany was left to me by my father. It''s my inheritance. Lawyer Chandler, please go ahead and


    exin."


    "Of course." Chandler stepped forward, presenting a document, dering, "This is the will left by M Gavin Dawson, stating that the.


    daughter, Miss Freya Dawson."


    "What?"


    "How is this possible?"


    The shareholders were in disbelief, having never heard any mention of Freya inheriting the family business. Could it be that the inheritance wasn''t meant for Lnd? Johanna remained silent on the sidelines, not daring to utter a word. After all, whoever took on the role of inheritor would face a nightmare with the Dawson Group''s predicament!All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "It seems there are no objections to my father''s will," Freya concluded, turning to Johanna, "Johanna, you don''t have any objections, do you?"


    "None at all! Absolutely none!" Johanna waved her hands frantically, eager to wash her hands of the whole affair.


    "With that settled, I will address all thepany''s current issues myself."


    "Ms. Dawson, how can you make such ims? How are you going to solve them? Do you think this is some small million-dor problem?" "Yeah, we''re talking about losses in the billions! How can you resolve this so easily?"


    "Ms. Dawson, know you''re a wealthy heiress who''s never wanted for anything, but thepany''s problems aren''t something you can charm your way out of with Mr Sutton by batting your eyshes


    and sweet-talking!"


    "I think, Ms. Dawson, it might be best for you to step down now or consider selling thepany. It might at least cover the debts!"

 Chapter 89

    None of the shareholders had faith in Freya. They only wanted Freya to sell off thepany and pay them back. Watching the unfolding scene, Freya had anticipated their reactions. At that moment, Freya nced at herwyer.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Thewyer set aptop in front of everyone and, with a press of a button, two billion dors suddenly appeared in thepany''s bank ount. "Take a good look, folks. That''s two billion dors."


    At that, everyone was stunned. Two billion dors? Where did Freya get that much money?


    Johanna was also shocked to see it. She wondered when Freya had gotten her hands on two billion dors.


    As a few shareholders moved forward to verify the truth, Freya smiled and said, "Now that the money''s right here, does anyone have any more questions?" "Is it seriously two billion dors?"


    "Ms. Dawson, you''re not just trying to calm us down, are you?"


    "Where did these two billion dorse from?"


    Everyone looked at Freya with suspicion.


    Freya leaned back in her chair and said, "Shouldn''t we be more focused on solving thepany''s crisis than where this money came from?"


    "Well..." Everyone looked at each other, momentarily lost for words.


    But Johanna didn''t have any of it. She said, Freya! You should have brought it out sooner if you had two billion dors all this time! You''ve made everyone so worried. What were you thinking?"


    Johanna''s face was full of dissatisfaction.


    ''Freya must have set this up, trying to take thepany''s control from her hands!'' Thinking this, Johanna was fuming.


    Freya smiled at Johanna and said,


    "Johanna, I went through a lot to


    secure this money. You didn''t lift: a finger, yet you''re ming me. Don''t


    you think that''s a bit unfair Don''t


    "I..." Johanna was at a loss for words, but then she thought of the control over thepany.


    Thepany that was meant to be handed down to her son was now slipping into Freya''s hands for a steal.


    Johanna took a deep breath and nced at Galen beside her. They exchanged aplicit look.


    Johanna said haughtily, "Now that thepany''s crisis is resolved, Freya, you don''t need to worry about anything else. The rest of us will discuss the next steps."


    Seeing Freya had no intention of


    leaving,


    matter added, "Freya, no


    you slice it, you''re still


    unfamiliar with thepany. Even if you were to take over thepany, it would be years from now. I''m only thinking of your best interest."


    At that, Freya suddenlyughed.


    Johanna couldn''t stand to see Freyaugh, which sent a chill down her spine every time.


    Still smiling, Freya said, "Johanna, have you forgotten? You and thepany have no ties anymore, and I am the rightful owner of the Dawson Group?"

 Chapter 90

    Johanna clung on with the audacity of a leech, saying, "Freya, I know you''re eyeing the family fortune, but let''s face it. You''re a girl. When have you seen a woman lead a business andmand respect? Let''s wait for Lnd toe of age, and we can discuss it then." Freya had long known Johanna was shameless, but it didn''t matter. She was there to crush Johanna''s delusional hopes of inheriting the Dawson Group.


    "Even if we hadn''t signed a contract, Johanna, you still wouldn''t stand a chance of taking over the Dawson Group," Freya said coldly.


    At that, Johanna''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Freya! What are you implying?"


    All eyes turned to Freya.


    Seeing the tension, Galen stepped forward to mediate. "Ms. Dawson, you''re young, and Mrs. Sutton is only trying to do what she thinks is best for the Dawson Group..."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Before Galen could finish, Freya cut him off sharply, "Galen, in this boardroom, thest person who should be defending Johanna is you."


    "Ms. Dawson, what... what do you mean by that?" Galen was confused.


    Freya smiled and said, "Family matters should ideally stay within the family. I was trying to let Johanna save face, but you guys really crossed the line,ing at me and demanding thepany like that."


    "Freya! Your words are too harsh!" Johanna wanted to say more, but Freya gave Alison a look.


    With a few clicks on herputer, Alison brought up the office security footage on the screen. The video showed Galen and Johanna getting intimately close by the office desk.


    The room''s atmosphere shifted as people watched, their expressions turning sour.


    Many in the room were loyal to Freya''s father and were visibly ufortable seeing his widow in such apromising position with another man.


    The affair between Johanna and Galen was an open secret among the staff, though the higher-ups had been kept in the dark.


    Seeing the surveince footage, Johanna''s face went pale, and she pointed at Freya, stammering, "You... you..."


    "Johanna, what''s done in darkness


    Qu


    wille to fight. My father never wronged you. A simple word would have sufficed if you wished to divorce and not be Mrs. Dawson. There was no need for such


    disgraceful actions," Freya said in an icy tone.


    Johanna''s face twisted in anger, and Galen, pale as a ghost, pleaded, "Ms. Dawson, it was a moment of folly! Just a moment of folly!"


    "A moment of folly? Your scandals are hardly a secret here. I''ve turned a blind eye out of respect for the past, but now... Johanna, you''re unfit to run thispany." Turning to the executives and shareholders around her, Freya asked, "What do you think?"


    One of her father''s old business partners took a deep breath and said, "Mrs. Dawson, maybe it''s time for you to step away from thepany."


    "If Mr. Gavin Dawson intended for his daughter to inherit thepany, Mrs. Dawson, you have no business interfering!"


    "Yes! And it''s not just Mrs. Dawson. Galen should be fired as well!"


    The room filled with voices of agreement.


    Freya had her answer. She said while looking at Galen, nearly crumpled on the floor. "Galen, the consensus is clear. I expect your resignation on my desk by tomorrow morning. It would be better to resign than be fired, wouldn''t it? For the sake of finding future employment."


    "I... I..." Galen was ashen.


    Just then, a woman burst into the room, making a beeline for Johanna and grabbing her hair, shouting,


    "You''re the one seducing my


    Wel


    husband! You shameless


    hussy!


    won''t let you get away with this!"


    Galen hurried over, rmed, and pleaded, "Honey! Please, just let her go!"


    "Get away from me!"

 Chapter 91

    The woman was going berserk, screaming and attacking Johanna as if possessed. Johanna''s face was a mess of scratches, and her cries of pain echoed throughout the conference room. Freya watched the whole drama unfold with a sense of perverse satisfaction.


    Meanwhile, the crisis at the Dawson Group was averted, and news of Freya taking over the reins of the Dawson Group spread to Kieran''s ears.


    Kieran was already dealing with a headache from the day''s event. Hearing the news, his frown deepened. "The Dawson Group''s crisis is over? How did that happen?"


    Jarrett said, "Well, I''m not entirely sure... But I heard Ms. Dawson resolved the crisis."


    "Freya?" Kieran''s eyes narrowed dangerously when he heard about Freya handling the crisis.


    Noticing his boss''s mood, Jarrett cautiously suggested, "Mr. Sutton, perhaps we should visit the Dawson Group?"


    "Freya put on quite the show yesterday, chasing Ellie off. She must''ve cut some deal with Grandma. And here I was thinking she was innocent!"


    Kieranughed coldly. He had underestimated Freya. He never expected that she would go to such lengths to resolve the crisis for the Dawson Group.


    "Find out where Freya got those two billion from," Kieran instructed.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Jarrett answered, "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    As Kieran stood up, Jarrett asked, "Mr. Sutton, where are you going..."


    "Going to the Dawson family." Kieran''s voice was ice-cold. "I want to see for myself. With the facts right before her, how will Freya try to twist the truth this time!"


    Half an hourter, Freya returned to the Dawson family, with Johanna trailing behind her, hurling usations, "Freya! You''ve done it this time! How could you do this to me?"


    Johanna tried tosh out at Freya physically, but Freya was quick, dodging every attempt.


    Sittingfortably on the living room sofa, Freya faced Johanna''s disheveled figure and said, "Johanna, I''ve afforded you the dignity you''re due. What more do you want from me?"


    "How dare you say that!" Pointing her finger at Freya, Johanna yelled, "If it weren''t for you, why would Galen''s wifee to the office, attacking and berating me? Now, the wholepany isughing at me! And in front of the executives, you used the surveince footage as evidence. How could you be so cruel and heartless!"


    Johanna was like a madwoman,shing out at anyone in her path.


    Freya replied coolly, "If you don''t want people to know, don''t do it. Your affairs weren''t exactly a secret around the office. You got what wasing to you." Hearing Freya''s indifferent response, Johanna raised her hand to p Freya, but a big hand grabbed Johanna hard from behind before it couldnd. "Who''s that!"


    Turning around, Johanna was shocked to see Kieran standing there.


    "Kieran... Mr. Sutton..." Johanna was dumbfounded. ''Why is Kieran here at this time?''


    Kieran''s expression was dark, his gaze icy, "Leave!"


    With that one word, Johanna trembled with fear. She hurriedly ran upstairs, stammering, "I-I''m leaving! Right away!"


    Acting as if Kieran''s sudden appearance meant nothing, Freya casually poured herself a cup of coffee. "Mr. Sutton, what brings you here?"

 Chapter 92

    Freya had just picked up her coffee mug as Kieran pressed his hand down on the mug. With a swift move, Kieran flung the mug aside, shattering it to pieces.


    Kieran fumed. "Freya, you y hard, don''t you? Last night, I almost fell for your trick."


    "Mr. Sutton, what are you talking about? I''m lost here." Freya gave Kieran an innocent look.


    However, Kieran coldly replied, "You teamed up with Grandma to put on a show to ensure we were alone together and even had Ellie catch us in the act. All this for that two billion, right?"


    Hearing Kieran''s words, Freya realized Kieran suspected the money she used to bail out herpany came from Audrey.


    "Mr. Sutton, you''re overthinking this." Freya looked at Kieran earnestly and said, "Last night''s incident had nothing to do with me. And about that two billion in funding, I raised it myself. Audrey wasn''t involved at all."


    "You still want to lie?" Kieran''s gaze narrowed as he said, "I used to think you were just a little gold-digger, but now, it seems your appetite is much bigger than I imagined."


    Saying so, Kieran moved closer to Freya. "How much did Grandma give you to go through all this trouble to set me up?"


    Seeing Kieran closing the distance between them to a half step, Freya instinctively stepped back and said, "Kieran, I don''t know how you''ve concocted this whole drama in your head, but I''ve said what I needed to. I don''t know what to say if you still think this way about me."


    Seeing Freya''s indifferent expression angered Kieran more. He scoffed, "So, you''re confident, huh? Confident that I can''t do anything to you?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Mr. Sutton, you are full of yourself. I haven''t been focusing on you at all. If it wasn''t for you not wanting to call off the engagement and letting Audrey interfere, we would''ve had nothing to do with each other by now." Hearing Freya''s words, Kieran''s expression turned icy.


    Freya said, "I think it''s best if we go our separate ways. Once the current gossip about us dies down, we can find an excuse to call off the engagement, right?"


    "So, you want to break off the engagement?" asked Kieran.


    "Yes." Freya didn''t hesitate to give her answer.


    "Fine, let me tell you this," Kieran enunciated each word, "In your dreams." After saying that, Kieran gestured with his hand. "Come in!"


    From outside, Jarrett led a group of people in.


    Freya frowned slightly.


    Kieran ordered, "Pack up Ms. Dawson''s belongings."


    "Understood."


    "Kieran, this is my house!"


    "It is your house." Kieran sat on the couch, looked at ease, and said, "But while I''m here, what you say doesn''t matter." "You!"


    "I guess all you have is that two billion. That won''tst you a month if I decide to take further action against the Dawson Group."


    Hearing it, Freya''s gaze turned icy. "Kieran, I beat no grudge against you, and I''ve never nned toe between you and Eloise. You used to dislike me so much. Why target the Dawson Group now that I''m willing to break off the engagement?"


    "Regardless, you are technically still my fianc¨¦e. You should have expected this day when you left Ellie''s birthday party in Ronan''s arms."Kieran said coldly, "Ronan can protect you temporarily, but not forever. As long as you''re still my fianc¨¦e, you must fulfill your duties as the future Mrs. Sutton."


    "And what ''duties'' are those? Cook and clean for you every day, follow you around like a shadow, and turn myself into the town''s


    "That''s a maid''s duty, not mine. I was foolish once, but never again."


    Hearing this, Kieran''s expression grew colder.


    By then, the people upstairs had started to bring down the luggage.


    Jarrett approached Kieran and said, "Mr. Sutton, everything is ready." "Send Ms. Dawson off."

 Chapter 93

    Kieran had stood up, and the two bodyguards behind him moved to Freya''s side, saying, "Ms. Dawson, if you please." Freya frowned, obviously perplexed. Under the circumstances, refusing to follow Kieran was out of the question.


    But Freya was puzzled. She thought, ''Doesn''t Kieran despise me? So, what''s his game now?''


    On the way to the Sutton family, Freya kept silent.


    Upon arriving at the Sutton family, Kieran''s bodyguards carried all of Freya''s belongings up to the second floor, to the room she had once upied. Freya stood in the foyer, showing no intention of heading upstairs.


    "Forgot how to get around the ce you used to call home?" Kieran sneered. "Need me to show you around?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Looking around the familiar Sutton family, Freya felt a wave of revulsion.


    ''In your eyes, I was here for a mere three months,'' she thought. "But in reality, I spent three years here in another life."


    During those years, she was like Kieran''s caretaker, doing everything she could for him.


    When Kieran fell gravely ill with a highly contagious disease, she waited on him tirelessly for three days until she copsed from exhaustion.


    Kieran had promised that she would


    be the soledy of the Sutton family,


    but the moment Eloise returned from abroad, his attention shifted entirely to her. Those three years were her most humiliating, most undignified days.


    Freya went up the stairs to find her room simply arranged, and the maid quickly left as soon as she started inspecting.


    This time, Kieran was isting her, preventing any contact with Ronan.


    "How utterly ruthless," she thought.


    "Ms. Dawson, these are the food Mr. Sutton wishes to have for dinner He hopes you can cook soon as we''re expecting guests this evening, a


    servant informed her, handing over a


    wn?


    menu.


    The menu listedplex dishes like roast prime rib, grilled fish, roast chicken, and steak. Was Kieran deliberately making things difficult for her?


    "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton said if you


    can''t have these ready by 8 p.m., he''d consider taking financial


    actions against the Dawson Group.


    He suggests you think it over"


    ryed the maid.


    Hearing it, Freya scoffed.


    So, Kieran had resorted to such tactics. But if it were a cooking challenge he wanted, she''d give it to him.


    Freya raised an eyebrow, slipped on an apron, tied her hair back, and made her way to the kitchen. Soon, the tter of utensils filled the air.


    Hearing the noise from upstairs, Kieran couldn''t help but sneer, "See, she''s bending to my will, after all."


    Jarrett, however, expressed his doubts. "Mr. Sutton, something tells me it''s not going to be that straightforward... This Ms. Dawson is nothing like the one we knew before."

 Chapter 94

    Freya was in one of her moods just a second ago, and then, she''d already hustled herself into the kitchen to cook. It was enough to make anyone suspicious. "What''s soplicated?" Kieran said with a tone as nd as unsalted butter, "With Freya, it''s all about money and influence. She''ll fold. Women like her, pfft..." The clock struck eight. Kieran went downstairs.


    Freya had set thest dish on the table, taking off her apron.


    Kieranmanded, "Go change your clothes ande back down."


    His voice left no room for argument; it was amand. Freya asked, "And what am I supposed to wear?"


    "Ms. Dawson, this will be your attire." The maid handed Freya a maid''s outfit.


    Freya could tell Kieran was just trying to embarrass her, in and simple.


    Kieran had expected Freya to throw a fit, but instead, she took the maid''s outfit and went upstairs without a word.


    "Mr. Sutton..." Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Even though Mrs. Sutton isn''t here, treating Ms. Dawson this way... if she finds out when she returns..."


    "So, what if she finds out." Kieran''s reply was cold, "The Dawson family is only a stepping stone in the Sutton family''swork. A daughter of apany on the brink of bankruptcy, where''s her dignity in that?" Kieran took his seat. Meanwhile, Kieran''s guest had arrived.


    From the second floor, Freya was watching. The visitor was Mr. Patterson, the overseas tycoon about to partner with the Sutton Group.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Freya remembered how Ronan and Kieran had vied for Mr. Patterson''s favor. Whichever of them secured this deal, their project would expand internationally.


    Freya raised an eyebrow. In her past life, Kieran had also hosted Mr. Patterson at their home, aiming to secure this business deal and outdo Ronan.


    Back then, Freya had bent over


    backwards trying to think of


    different dishes, all to please Mr. Patterson. Eventually, with her meticulous nning, Mr. Patterson decided to partner with Kieran. But... This life was different.


    Freya went to change her clothes.


    Downstairs, Mr. Patterson fixed his MK gaze upon the dishes on the table,


    impressed by the exquisite


    presentation. "Mr. Sutton, et


    expect you to be such a


    ve


    connoisseur. These dishes are


    exquisite."


    Kieran responded, "This is all the work of our head chef, a gesture of the Sutton Group''s sincerity in wanting to coborate with you, Mr. Patterson." Kieran smoothly ignored Freya''s contribution.


    After all, Freya''s culinary skills were


    indeed stunning. She had even


    learned from a master chef to


    perfect her craft, all because of Kieran''s picky taste.


    But letting it be known the future Mrs. Sutton of the Sutton family had personally cooked for an overseas executive was deemed unseemly.


    As Mr. Patterson was about to start eating, Kieran suddenly said, "Don''t rush, Mr. Patterson. We''re expecting another guest."


    Mr. Patterson was surprised. "Another guest?"


    At that moment, the maid weed another person through the door.


    Anding down from upstairs, Freya locked eyes with the neer at the entrance. It was Ronan.


    Seeing him, Freya was taken aback.


    She wondered, ''Why is Ronan here? I remember that in the past life, Ronan did not attend today''s dinner. What is happening?''

 Chapter 95

    "Reya." Out of nowhere, Kieran''s voice pierced through the silence, finding its way to Freya''s ears.


    Snapping back to reality, Freya saw Kieran''s gaze fixed on her, a yful smirk coloring his tone. "Reya,e here."


    ...


    Ronan stood rooted to the spot, his eyebrow arching slightly at the sight of Freya dressed in a maid''s attire. It dawned on Freya then. Kieran had deliberately invited Ronan over to humiliate her in public. "Why don''t you take a seat, Mr. Beckett?" Kieran''s eyes shifted towards Freya, his voicemanding, "Reya, get Mr. Beckett a chair."


    Freya didn''t move.


    Kieran pressed on. "Hurry up, will you? Don''t keep our guest waiting."


    Following his instruction, Freya walked over to Ronan and pulled out a chair for him. "Mr. Beckett, please have a seat," she said, keeping her tone even.


    Ronan yed along and took the offered seat graciously.


    Mr. Patterson''s eyesnded on Freya, remarking, "Ah, this must be Ms. Dawson, right? I''ve met Ms. Dawson before, truly a beauty unparalleled."


    Freya offered a slight smile from the sidelines, choosing to remain silent.


    "Regardless of whose precious daughter she might be, she''s nothing but a servant to the Sutton family here."


    Kieran''s words, directed at Ronan across the table, were cutting, "Reya, pour Mr. Beckett and Mr. Patterson a drink."


    Freya frowned slightly. Kieran''s knack for belittling others knew no bounds, clearly aiming to degrade her this time.


    "As you wish, Mr. Sutton." Freya''s face was a mask ofposure.


    She poured a drink for Mr. Patterson, then moved beside Ronan to serve him.


    "Come here." At Kieran''smand, Freya went to his side once again.


    He tapped his ss lightly. Catching the hint, Freya promptly refilled his ss with wine.


    What an overt deration of dominance it was. How could Ronan possibly miss it?


    Seeing so, Mr. Patterson couldn''t


    help but remark, "Mr. Sutton, you truly live up to your name, having


    ever Ms. Dawson at your bea?


    and


    call to serve you!"


    The smile on Mr. Patterson''s face grew wider.


    Freya remained silent.


    She swore inwardly, ''Let themugh. Their time to weep woulde.''


    At that moment, Freya approached Mr. Patterson, saying, "Mr. Patterson, you''re such a renowned figure in the industry. Back at home, I often heard of your great deeds."


    en


    Leaning closer to Mr. Patterson in a gesture of intimacy, she ced a piece of fish onto his te, her smile gentle, "This is specially prepared by Mr. Sutton, symbolizing Mr.


    and


    Patterson''s leap to sess prosperity for years toe."


    "Excellent! Excellent!" Mr. Patterson was thoroughly charmed by Freya''s gesture.


    Seeing Freya effortlessly charm their business partner, Kieran couldn''t help but sneer. Indeed, she would stop at nothing for the sake of gain.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.

 Chapter 96

    Her ttery was obvious for all to see.


    As Mr. Patterson bit into the fish, Freya raised an eyebrow in a subtle gesture of skepticism.


    A momentter, Mr. Patterson''s brow furrowed, and he asked, "What kind of fish is this?"


    Kieran replied, "Salmon, of course, it''s grilled salmon."


    Upon hearing Kieran''s words, Mr. Patterson took a deep breath.


    Even though he didn''t say anything, you could tell he was upset because his face had gone noticeably pale.


    Freya couldn''t help but smirk inwardly.


    Kieran didn''t know that Freya had swapped the salmon for a much less expensive trout.


    When he was younger, Mr. Patterson made his fortune in the seafood business, boasting an extensive knowledge of marine delicacies. How could he not discern the difference? Seeing Mr. Patterson''s silence, Freya carved up another dish, a chicken stuffed with various treasures, and ced it before him, saying, "Mr. Patterson, this is the chicken."


    Noticing the inclusion of rare ingredients like turtle meat in the dish, Mr. Patterson instantly withdrew his hand, which had been poised to take a bite.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Turtle meant was a prohibited item, a delicacy only the wealthy could afford. Mr. Patterson, a staunch advocate for the protection of endangered species and a generous donor to rted causes was naturally appalled. Observing Mr. Patterson''s reluctance, Kieran inquired, "Mr. Patterson, anything wrong with the food?"


    "Mr. Sutton knows I made my fortune in the seafood trade," Mr. Patterson replied, his voice icy. "I''m intimately familiar with these ingredients."


    At this, Kieran was still clueless about the unfolding situation.


    However, Mr. Patterson continued, "I detest dishonesty and illegal dealings above all else. I believe it''s best if we terminate our prospective partnership here."


    At those words, Kieran''s brows knitted together in confusion.


    "Mr. Patterson," interjected Ronan, seizing the moment. "My family has prepared a few delightful dishes. Might you be inclined to join us instead?"


    Mr. Patterson nodded, replying, "Then, let us take our leave."


    After that, Mr. Patterson stood up and departed with Ronan from the Sutton Mansion without looking back.


    This time, Mr. Patterson hadn''t given Kieran even a sliver of respect.


    "Mr. Sutton!" Jarrett entered, about to inquire whether they should pursue them, only to be met with Kieran''s icy gaze.


    In Echo City, no one dared disrespect Kieran.


    "Freya, what have you done?" Kieran suddenly turned his suspicion toward Freya.


    Feigning innocence, Freya responded, "Mr. Sutton, how is this rted to me? Mr. Patterson chose to leave ''ve been speaking on your


    behalf the whole time. 20


    you''ve wronged him in some way?"


    Kieran''s brows furrowed even more. Indeed, Freya had been speaking in his defense, not appearing to have sabotaged the meal.


    However, Kieran didn''t realize


    whether it was adding turtle meat or


    substituting salmon with trout.


    Kieran might be oblivious, but Mr.


    Patterson could easily discem the difference.  en


    In her previous life, Freya had gone to great lengths to cater to Mr. Patterson''s tastes, crafting dishes specifically to win his favor, which led him to view Kieran in a new light and decide to sign a contract with the Sutton Group.


    But Kieran was unaware of all this. And, it seemed she had her revenge.


    "Mr. Sutton, if there''s nothing else, I''ll go change," Freya said, going upstairs.


    Kieran''s cold voice stopped her. "Stop right here."

 Chapter 97

    Freya halted in her tracks.


    Kieran''s voice was icy as he spoke, "Did I say you could leave?"


    Freya looked at him, innocence written all over her face. "Mr. Sutton, is there something else you need?"


    Kieran stood up and walked over to Freya. He reached out to straighten her maid''s uniform, saying, "I didn''t allow you to change out of your uniform. In the Sutton family, you are the maid. Stick to your role, or..."


    "Mr. Sutton, isn''t Audrey due back soon?" Freya raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn''t want her to see this, right? It might not be the most appropriate scene."


    Kieran scoffed coldly, "Trying to use Grandma to threaten me? Freya, you''ve overyed that card."


    "So? If it works, it works." Just as Freya headed upstairs, Kieran suddenly grabbed her into his arms.


    The move was so unexpected that Freya frowned, asking, "What are you doing?"


    "Freya, remember your ce. You are my fianc¨¦e, Kieran''s woman. I told Ronan today that you''re mine to keep him from getting any ideas he shouldn''t."


    Freya tried to pull away, but Kieran''s grip was firm. He said coldly, "If you''re worried about Grandma finding out, don''t be. I''ve told her I want us to spend quality time together at home to foster our rtionship. Grandma was thrilled and decided to move out." "You!" Freya''s expression darkened.


    Kieran leaned in, warning, "If I find out you''ve been spreading rumors before Grandma, I might move up our wedding date. I assume... you wouldn''t want to lose Ronan, your big catch, too soon, right?"


    Hearing this, Freya''s gaze turned icy. "Kieran, don''t think so lowly of others!"


    Hearing her response, Kieran let go of Freya, his voice cold as he said, "You orchestrated that misunderstanding between Ellie and me. It seems you y dirtier than I thought."


    Freya denied it. "I told you I had nothing to do with it!"


    "You think I''d believe that?" Kieran continued, "You and Ellie go to the same school. Keep a low profile there. Now that everyone knows you''re the future Mrs. Sutton, don''t let me catch you getting cozy with Ronan." With that, Kieran headed upstairs.


    Freya could tell Kieran was in a foul


    mood. After all, losing Mr.


    I.ne


    Patterson''s ount was a heavy


    blow to Kieran, and Ronan had


    benefited from it.


    Freya rubbed her wrist where Kieran had gripped it.


    "Just you wait. Keeping me in the Sutton family is only going to bring you more trouble." Freya thought, then she untied the bow at her neck and headed upstairs.


    When Kieran stepped down to the living room the following morning, he saw only toast and jam on the table.


    Frowning, he called out, "Linsey?"


    Linsey appeared, asking, "Yes, Mr. Sutton? What''s the matter?"


    "Hasn''t Freya woken up yet?" asked Kieran.


    "Right, Ms. Dawson hasn''te down yet."


    Hearing this, Kieran got a bit angry.


    Still not up? Back then, at the Sutton Mansion, Freya would wake up before dawn to make breakfast.


    Kieran nced at the breakfast on


    the table, dering, "Throw out. the


    ble From now on, let Freya


    all three meals."


    n


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Linsey cleared the breakfast from the table.


    Kieran sat at the table, tapping his fingers, waiting. After about five minutes, he still saw no sign of anyoneing downstairs.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton, we should head out soon. There''s a meeting at thepany."


    "Postpone the meeting." Kieran''s voice was cold, "Go upstairs and get Freya up for me."


    "Would that be proper?"


    After all, Freya was a Dawson, ady of high standing!

 Chapter 98

    "Are you going or not?" Kieran''s tone wasced with impatience.


    Left with no choice, Jarrett went upstairs. Standing at Freya''s door, he knocked and said, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton requests your presence downstairs." The silence was the only response from the room. Jarrett frowned and called out again, "Ms. Dawson?"


    Still, no reply came from the room.


    With a sigh, Jarrett muttered, "Ms. Dawson, my apologies for the intrusion."


    Saying so, he pushed the door open. The room was in pristine order, but Freya was gone.


    Seeing it, Jarrett raced downstairs, his face as white as a sheet, and blurted out, "Mr. Sutton, she''s... she''s gone!"


    "What?" Kieran''s expression turned grim as he headed towards the second floor.


    Indeed, Freya''s room was empty.


    As Jarrett ventured, Kieran''s expression darkened further, "Mr. Sutton... could Ms. Dawson have run away?"


    Kieran snapped, "Isn''t that obvious? Now, call Freya!"


    "Yes, sir..." Jarrett quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Freya''s number. But the phone call wouldn''t go through.


    "Mr. Sutton... I can''t reach Ms. Dawson."


    With a face as dark as thunder, Kieran finallyughed cynically, "Well yed, Freya! She couldn''t care less about her family anymore!"


    Just then, Jarrett nced at his phone, catching sight of a breaking news notification, his face turning ashen. "Mr. Sutton! Look at this!"


    The news on the phone screen


    announced a partnership between the Dawson Group and the Beckett Group, mentioning Ronan''s investment of two billion in the


    Dawson Group.  en


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Out of my sight!" Kieran''s face was stormy.


    So, Freya had secured her escape route!


    Thinking she''d be safe from him by teaming up with the Beckett Group? Dream on!All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    A cold voice broke the silence, "Send someone to find her. I want to see how far Freya thinks she can run!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Meanwhile, at Summit University, Luna was utterly shocked at what Freya had told her. "No way! You just breezed out of there?"


    Freya smiled. "What choice did I have? Stick around and y maid for Kieran?"


    "That''s savage! Insanely savage!" Luna gave Freya a thumbs-up. "Aren''t you scared of Kieran''s revenge?"


    "What''s there to be scared of? It''s


    not like he''ll chase me down to school Trust me. Kieran''s not that invested in me, nor is he that petty."


    No sooner had Freya finished her sentence than six ck limousines pulled up at the school''s entrance. Soon, a group of bodyguards emerged from the vehicles.

 Chapter 99

    When Luna saw the unfolding scene, her jaw dropped in shock. "Holy smokes, who the heck is that?"


    Right after Freya noticed the guards'' uniforms and the family crest pinned on their chests, she immediately recognized them as men from the Sutton family. "This is bad news!" After that, Freya grabbed Luna and darted into a nearby academic building for cover.


    Kieran had just exited his car.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Jarrett reported, "Mr. Sutton, I''ve informed the principal, and he''s already dispatched the school''s security to search."


    "Let our team handle the search," Kieran said firmly, ncing at his watch. "I want Freya here in front of me in fifteen minutes."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Freya and Luna were hiding on the first floor of the academic building when Luna eximed, "Holy cow, why does Kieran need this whole crew? What''s he nning?"


    "I have no idea what''s gotten into him now," Freya replied, frowning deeply.


    In her past life, she had thrown herself at Kieran without pride, yet he barely paid her any attention, never once making such a grand gesture to find her.


    And just as she wanted to call off their engagement, Kieran was chasing after her.


    "Luna, it''s not safe here. We should get moving," Freya suggested.


    "Let''s go!" Luna grabbed Freya''s hand, ready to sprint upstairs to thedies'' room to hide, but they ran smack into the school security guards.


    "Run!" Freya pulled Luna, attempting to flee. However, this time, Kieran appeared right at the entrance of the building.


    With a grim face, Kieran said, "Freya, where do you think you''re going?"


    Luna said, "Mr. Sutton, Reya is trying to attend her sses. Why are you bringing this whole entourage here? What''s your intention?"


    "To attend sses?" Kieran


    approached Freya, grabbing her arm tightly. Weren''t you supposed to be on leave from school? Freya, did you think hiding out here would make


    you untouchable?"


    As Kieran''s grip tightened, Freya winced and said, "Kieran, we''re at a school. What are you trying to pull here?"


    "What am I trying to do?" Kieran''s tone became increasingly dangerous. "Haven''t I made myself clear? You''re my fianc¨¦e. Without my permission, you can''t leave whenever you want."


    "Kieran, don''t you think you''re overstepping a bit?" Freya retorted. "I may be your fianc¨¦e, but I''m not your property. Why can''t I leave if you say I can''t?"


    Her words made the surrounding guards gasp in unison, and even Luna''s heart skipped a beat.


    This was Kieran they were talking about! No one in Echo City had ever dared to speak to Kieran in such a manner. Thest person who did that was no longer around to tell the tale. "Don''t forget I can always deal with the Dawson Group if you don''tply," Kieran threatened, trying to use the Dawson Group as leverage once more.


    Unfazed, Freya calmly responded,


    "Kieran, I''ve agreed to stay with you in the Sutton family. You need to work, and I need to study. I hope you won''t go too far, or we''ll have to face off to the end."


    The air instantly filled with tension.


    Outside the building, assuming Kieran hade looking for Eloise because of a previous incident, Mae and Cindy pushed Eloise toward the entrance.


    Mae said, "Eloise, Mr. Sutton must be here to apologize aboutst time. He brought so many people to see you. You should forgive him."


    "Yeah, Eloise," Cindy interrupted. "Mr. Sutton went through all this trouble for you. It shows how much he cares. You two should make up."


    Cindy and Mae nudged Eloise into


    the building, with Eloise feeling a mix


    of smug satisfaction, believing Kieran hade for her despite not having seen him during his previous urgent pursuit.

 Chapter 100

    After that, she deliberately didn''t pick up Kieran''s calls.


    Every time something like this happened, Kieran would be freaking out. This time was no exception.


    "Alright, I''ll go check it out. But if he''s messed with Freya, he''s in big trouble!" With that, Eloise, nked by Cindy and Mae, headed into the school building.


    The ce was swarming with bodyguards from the Sutton family.


    Upon spotting Kieran, Cindy waved enthusiastically, "Mr. Sutton!"


    Kieran frowned, turning around only to spot Eloise not far away. Then, Eloise finally saw Freya standing beside Kieran. The sight of Kieran gripping Freya''s arm turned Eloise pale instantly. "Freya? How could you..." Cindy''s expression soured, too, exchanging a look with Mae.


    They had thought Kieran was there for Eloise, but he was there for Freya!


    The atmosphere on the first floor of the school suddenly tensed up.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Kieran... what''s this all about?" Struggling to keep herposure, Eloise asked Kieran.


    Shaking off Kieran''s hand, Freya said, "Mr. Sutton, weren''t you here for Ms. Harwood? Well, here she is, so I''ll be leaving."


    With that, Freya made her exit, dragging Luna along.


    Kieran, with a determined look, was about to follow when Eloise called out, "Kieran!"


    Cindy interrupted, "I knew it! Mr. Sutton was here for Eloise! It''s all Freya''s shamelessness, always imitating Eloise, and now, pulling the same stunt! She''s trying to seduce Mr. Sutton! Pfft, as if she''s in the same league!"


    Kieran''s expression darkened at Cindy''s words.


    Eloise stepped forward, asking, "Kieran, is that true?"


    Everyone was watching. Who in Echo City didn''t know Eloise was Kieran''s true love? And Freya, always copying Eloise''s style, managed to catch Kieran''s eye by resembling her. "Eloise, isn''t it obvious? Mr. Sutton must have mistaken her for you!" Mae added, painting Freya as a woman desperate to seduce Kieran by any means.


    "Enough." Kieran, icy-faced,manded, "Everyone, out!"


    Scared by Kieran''s intense demeanor, Cindy and Mae didn''t even wait for the bodyguards. They just took off in a panic.


    "Kieran... were you really with Freya..." Eloise bit her lip.


    She saw with her own eyes that Kieran and Freya came down the stairs, their clothes in disarray, and Freya was wearing Kieran''s pajamas.


    Despite Kieran''s exnations over


    the past few days, she had shut herself away, deliberately ignoring him. But Kieran hadn''te looking for her these past two days. Could it


    all be because of Freya?


    "I told you. You''re overthinking it." Kieran stated tly, "Ellie, you''re too naive. You should keep your distance from such friends."


    As Kieran turned to leave, Eloise hurriedly grabbed his arm. "Kieran, they''re my friends. They..."


    Kieran cut her off, saying, "Look, I know about the trouble you''ve been causing, the lies, and even pping Freya. I''let it slide just this once for your sake. But don''t forget, Freya is now my fianc¨¦e, soon to be Mrs. Sutton, and I won''t stand for her being disrespected."

 Chapter 101

    Seeing Kierane to Freya''s defense was more than Eloise could stomach.


    There was a time when Kieran couldn''t stand Freya, and Eloise had front-row seats to the show. Kieran not treating Freya like dirt was already a surprise, let alone speaking up for her. What was happening? Could it be that Kieran was considering marrying Freya?


    Meanwhile, finally feeling safe from being followed, Luna sighed with relief. She patted her chest and said, "Thank goodness they didn''t follow! Kieran''s truly something, isn''t he? Bringing a whole entourage like that. You''d have thought they were shooting some Hollywood blockbuster if you hadn''t known it better.."


    Then, turning to Freya, Luna scolded, "And you! Why did you even bother bailing Kieran out? You should''ve just let him and Eloise go at it. Now, look at what it''s gotten you everyone''s painting you as some seductress after Mr. Sutton. It''s just not worth it." "I wasn''t saving Kieran. I was saving myself," Freya replied.


    After learning her lessons the hard way in the past, Freya wanted nothing to do with Kieran. The farther he stayed from her, the better. Besides, wasn''t Kieran all into Eloise?


    This time, she''d step aside and let these two star-crossed lovers have their moment.


    Just then, Freya''s phone rang.


    Seeing it was Audrey calling, Freya frowned and wondered what Audrey wanted at this time.


    She picked up and heard Audrey''s cold voice. "Freya, I''m sending the driver to pick you up. We need to talk."


    Audrey''s tone was distant, making Freya reply, "I''m still at school. I can''t leave right now."


    "I''ve spoken with your principal. The driver will be there shortly," Audrey interrupted, then hung up.


    Freya couldn''t help butugh at herself after the call. ''Oh, Freya, you are a fool You once thought, despite everything, Audrey truly cared for you. Only in this second go-around


    did


    you see that everyone in the Sutton family was cut from the


    same cloth.''


    Freya realized that her future grandmother-inw would never truly care about her-it was all just a game of benefits. With that thought, she turned off her phone.


    Sure enough, the Sutton family''s driver arrived promptly.


    As Freya got into the car, the driver nced at her through the rearview mirror, his tone impatient, "Ms. Dawson, going off to school without informing Mrs. Sutton? You''ve got us running around like headless chickens."


    Used to theints, Freya


    wasn''t surprised. Working for theOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    vel ack


    Sutton family, these people thought they were above everyone else. Back in the day, Freya was Kieran''spdog, always eager to please Kieran, the security, the drivers, and even the servants.


    So, it wasn''t long before no one took Freya seriously.


    Freya replied coldly, "It seems I''ve troubled you."


    Oblivious to the edge in Freya''s voice, the driver continued, "Ms. Dawson, alkthat book learning is fine and dandy, but it won''t do you any good if you can''tnd a good husband. You''re better off spending your time pleasing Mr. Sutton. I''m telling you this for your sake. What''s the use of all that education if you end up alone?"


    His words wereced with disdain.

 Chapter 102

    Freya snorted of derision, "So, I''m supposed to thank you now. Is that it?"


    At that moment, the driver finally noticed the absence of any genuine mirth in Freya''s eyes.


    A sudden chill ran down the driver''s spine, but he quickly reassured himself.


    He thought, ''This Ms. Dawson, Freya, isn''t anything special. She''s just another pawn in Mr. Sutton''s grand scheme.''


    The driver said, "Ms. Dawson, don''t think that getting chummy with Mrs. Sutton will solve all your problems. Mr. Sutton has no tolerance for uppity heiresses! Take Ms. Harwood, for example. She''s always so graceful andposed. If you don''t step up your game, you can kiss the Mrs. Sutton title goodbye!"


    The driver knew Freya cherished her ce as Mrs. Sutton the most and that she minded Eloise. After all, hadn''t she tried to win over Kieran by mimicking Eloise?


    Thinking he had Freya right where he wanted her, the driver was caught off guard when Freya''s icymand cut through the air. "Stop the car!"


    The word sent the driver mming on the brakes.


    "Ms. Dawson, what are..." Before he could finish, Freya had stormed out of the car.


    The driver''s face turned pale when he saw Freya getting out of the vehicle. He quickly got out, his expression growing stern. "Ms. Dawson! What on earth are you doing?"


    "The Sutton family employs such rude staff. I''ll have to get to the bottom of this. Who permitted you to speak those words?" Freya wasn''t joking around.


    The driver''s face turned ashen instantly. Freya used to be so meek and cautious, not even batting an eyelid at far worse remarks. What had changed?


    "Ms. Dawson, I was only looking out for your best interest! If it were Ms. Harwood, she''d never mistreat a long-serving employee like this!" The driver emphasized ''long-serving employee''.


    Freya knew this driver was one of Audrey''s trusted men, having served her for over a decade. Even if Freya were toin to Audrey, it wouldn''t result in serious repercussions for him. Moreover, the driver''s words were most likely echoing Audrey''s sentiments.


    Freya scoffed, "Really? Since you keep bringing up Ms. Harwood, why don''t you go chauffeur her? I''m curious what Audrey would think about your praises for Eloise."


    The driver''splexion shifted at Freya''s words. Everyone knew Audrey disliked Eloise. If Audrey discovered he''d been singing Eloise''s praises behind her back, he''d be in hot water!


    "Ms. Dawson. Ms. Dawson, I


    misspoke earlier. How could Ms.


    Harwoodpare to you? You''re the futuredy of the Sutton family!" Shifting gears, the driver turned overly polite, "Mrs. Sutton is waiting you. Let''s hop back in the car and talk this through, okay?"


    But witnessing the driver''s quick about-face, Freya hailed a nearby cab instead.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "I, the ungrateful Ms. Dawson, don''t deserve to ride in the Sutton family''s car. Since Audrey insists on seeing me, I''ll take a taxi there. I wouldn''t want to keep her waiting." With that, Freya got into the cab and drove off.


    swnov


    Watching this unfold, the driver turned as white as a sheet. Audrey valued her reputation above all else.

 Chapter 103

    When Freya decided to catch a cab to Audrey''s vi, the driver knew he''d be toast if Audrey saw it.


    With that thought, the driver immediately jumped into his car, eager to catch up to Freya.


    Seeing the driver hot on her heels, Freya couldn''t help but let out a chillyugh.


    The boss was too soft, allowing the employees to walk all over. After all, Freya was Ms. Dawson, the guest, and the driver was merely an employee, acting so rudely on behalf of the boss. She had swallowed her pride before. But this time, she wouldn''t stand for it anymore.


    Soon, the taxi pulled up at the grand entrance of Audrey''s vi.


    Audrey had moved out. This vi was in an upscale neighborhood even though it was not the Sutton family''s main house.


    When Audrey nced through the window and saw Freya stepping out of the cab, her face darkened, and she eximed, "What''s this? Didn''t I send Zack to pick you up? Where is he?" "Mrs. Sutton, I... I don''t know what happened." The nearby servant was clueless.


    Zack had gone to pick her up!


    "This is preposterous! Now, the whole neighborhood willugh at me!" Slightly infuriated, Audrey descended the stairs.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Freya had already entered from the outside, Audrey approached and said, "Freya, what happened? Didn''t Zacke to pick you up?"


    Freya answered, "Audrey, Zack dide, but... he seemed to prefer Ms. Harwood''spany, so I left the car."


    Right after Freya finished speaking, the driver stumbled through the door.


    Audrey''s expression turned icy as she said, "I sent you to pick up Freya, and what did you do?"


    "Mrs. Sutton..." the driver''s face paled as he stammered, "I... I made some idle chat, but who knew Ms. Dawson would take offense! And then to do such an undignified thing, oh, it''s all my fault! I shouldn''t have spoken out of turn. I only suggested Ms. Dawson should invest more of


    her affection in Mr. Sutton, but... who could have thought Ms. Dawson would overreact to it? Now, if word gets out, wouldn''t it tarnish your reputation, Mrs. Sutton?"


    The driver had worked for Audrey for many years and knew her well. Audrey cared most about her reputation and image.


    Having a guest show up in a taxi was unprecedented-it had never happened before.


    Upon hearing the driver''s words, Audrey''s face turned darker.


    Freya interjected, "Zack, you''re not telling the whole story. Didn''t you


    I


    also say shouldn''t think plet


    Audrey would make everything.


    alright and that I was ungrateful and not as amodating as Ms. Harwood?"


    Zack hesitated, "This..."


    "You know full well Ms. Harwood is scheming to be Mrs. Sutton, yet you praised her, saying she never mes you old staff. You approve of Ms. Harwood and wish for her to be thedy of the Sutton


    family, don''t you?"


    Freya''s words made the driver break out in a cold sweat.


    Audrey''s most detested person was Eloise. It was one thing for others, but for a long-standing employee like him to speak favorably of Eloise was crossing a line with Audrey!


    As expected, Audrey coldly said, "So, you''re all about praising Ms. Harwood, thinking that sucking up to her will secure your future?"


    Zack freaked out. "Mrs. Sutton! I didn''t mean it like that! I..."


    "I think it''s time for you to consider early retirement, given your age."

 Chapter 104

    "Mrs. Sutton!" The color drained from the driver''s face instantly.


    Having worked for Audrey for many years, he had slipped up before, but Audrey had never punished him this severely!


    The driver tried to exin, "Mrs. Sutton, I just misspoke! I only..."


    "Take him away." Audrey didn''t even spare the driver another nce as her aides helped the driver up from the ground and led him away.


    Freya always knew Audrey for her charitable front, but she had never seen her ruthless side until that moment.


    Perhaps Audrey had always been this way, only showing her benevolent side to the public. Why would she dismiss a long-time loyal employee over a misstep if she were charitable?


    Audrey asked, "Freya, I called you here to ask if you''ve heard about the news."


    "Audrey, what news are you talking about?" Freya pretended to be confused as she stared at Audrey.Audrey pulled out her phone, disying the headline about Freya inheriting the Dawson Group and partnering with the Beckett Group. "Was that two billion from Ronan?" There was a hint of usation in Audrey''s tone.


    Freya knew Audrey would bring this up but hadn''t expected the news to leak so quickly.


    "Audrey, it''s a rumor. The Beckett and the Dawson Group are engaged in a normal business coboration..."


    "Regardless of the nature of the


    business, you''re engaged to Kieran. It''s inappropriate for you to be so close to Roman." Audrey''s tone cooled. "Besides, as a woman who''s promised to another, the Dawson Group could be managed by your brother. Zack might have been


    impertinent, but he wasn''t entirely


    wrong. You should focus more on your fianc¨¦ and less on thepany. Men don''t like too


    ambitious women."


    Hearing Audrey''s words, Freya couldn''t help butugh. "Audrey, thepany is my inheritance from my father, and I won''t hand it over to anyone else. Besides, Mr. Sutton''s interests lie elsewhere. No matter what I do, I can''t change that fact. Instead of advising me to appease Mr. Sutton, perhaps you should advise him not to stray."


    "What are you implying? Are you dissatisfied with this engagement?" Audrey frowned, displeased with Freya''s words.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She used to appreciate Freya for being timid andpliant. However, Freya''s recent behavior had started to get under her skin.


    "Audrey, I''m not a good match for Mr. Sutton. If he''s so fond of Ms. Harwood, why not let them be happy together?"


    When Freya mentioned Eloise,


    Audrey took a deep breath and said,


    "I''ve told you not to worry about


    Eloise. If Kieran wants to keep things ambiguous with her, let him. In


    In the


    end, only you can be Mrs. Sutton.


    With status and position, what more


    could you want? Women need to be content."


    Freya listened to Audrey''s words and found it ridiculous. Her naivety in her past life was due to being poisoned by such rhetoric from Audrey and Johanna. The idea that it was normal for men to phnder while women should be content with their lot was absurd. "I''ll pretend I didn''t see what happened today. You handle it." After saying this, something else seemed to ur to Audrey. "Also, I remember you took a break from school, right?"


    "Yes."

 Chapter 105

    "Look, you''re taking a break from school, so let''s not worry about school stuff anymore."


    Audrey, the matriarch of the Sutton family, said in a tone that left no room for argument, "Being a part of the Sutton family, even if you don''t attend school, that diploma will still end up in your hands." "Audrey..."


    "Just handle it. Right now, you need to concentrate on winning Kieran over. You''re about to get married, after all. Sticking with school would just make you aughingstock." Audrey said this with an air of authority.


    Even if Freya was displeased, she had no choice but to agree. Without Audrey''s protection, if Kieran were to act against the Dawson Group at this time, she would be at a disadvantage.


    Freya remained silent, signaling her consent.


    Seeing Freya''spliance, Audrey said, "Good girl. You know I appreciate your obedience the most. Kieran has asked you to move in, which is a great start."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Audrey patted Freya''s hand, adding, "To win a man''s heart, you must first win his stomach. Your greatest asset is your cooking. Kieran has a hard time enjoying meals prepared by others. As long as you feed Kieran well, he can''t stay away from you." There was a deeper meaning behind Audrey''s words.


    Freya instantly understood what Audrey meant by ''feeding'' Kieran. It seemed Audrey believed something had happened between Freya and Kieran, so Kieran had asked Freya to stay over.


    Freya smiled and said, "I understand, Audrey."


    "As long as you do." Then, Audrey handed Freya a small brown bottle, saying, "Use this before you go to bed. You''ll understand its purpose soon enough."


    Freya nced at the bottle. It wasn''t until she left Audrey''s ce that she opened the bottle, detecting a sweet, cloying fragrance.


    The scent was familiar, just like the one she remembered from Kieran''s room. & seemed that this fragrance was the reason behind Kieran''s wild behavior thest time.


    Audrey had a driver take Freya back to the Sutton Mansion.


    After Zack''s example, the driver was cautious and afraid of saying anything to upset Freya.


    Upon arriving, Freya entered the Sutton Mansion only to see a maid handing her a set of clothes and saying, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton insists you wear this upon your return."


    Freya nced at the clothes and the maid''s smug smile, responding with a coldugh. So, Kieran nned to crush her dignity bit by bit.


    Looking at the maid''s uniform in her hands, Freya walked over to a table and picked up a pair of scissors.


    To the maid''s astonishment, Freya cut the uniform to shreds.


    The maid''s face turned white as Freya tore through the clothes, eximing, "Freya! Have you lost your mind?"


    Snap! A crisp pnded on the maid''s face.


    Holding her cheek, the maid looked at Freya in shock.


    Freya fixed her gaze on the young, attractive woman before her and said coldly, "Una, right? Since you addressed me as Ms. Dawson, you should know my standing. Who do you think you are to call me by my first name?"


    "You!"

 Chapter 106

    Una had been under the radar in the Sutton family for long, and with her striking looks, she never took Freya seriously.


    Una remembered how low Freya''s status was when she first joined the Sutton family, all under her watchful eyes. In the past, Una had tricked her into embarrassing herself before Kieran several times. Seeing Una trying to throw her weight around, Freya wouldn''t let it slide this time.


    "Ms. Dawson, no matter what, I am an employee of the Sutton family. By hitting me, you''re essentially pping Mr. Sutton in the face! I will ensure Mr. Sutton hears about this! You cut up the dress Mr. Sutton gave you. Get ready to be kicked out of the Sutton family!" Una shot Freya a furious look and then stormed upstairs with the shredded dress.


    That evening, Kieran was in a foul mood because Mr. Patterson decided to coborate with Ronan instead. Upon returning, he found Una crying alone at the dining table.


    Frowning, Jarrett approached and asked, "Is Mr. Sutton''s dinner ready? What''s with the tears?"


    "Mr. Sutton, it''s Ms. Dawson. She... she cut up the dress you gave her!"


    Una handed over the torn dress to Kieran.


    Seeing the ruined dress made Kieran''s temper re even more when he remembered how Freya had left him alone with Eloise earlier that day. "Where''s Freya?" asked Kieran.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Feeling a sense of triumph, Una yed innocent. "She''s upstairs. After Freya cut up the dress, she went to bed as if she didn''t care about you!" Hearing Una''s words, Kieran stormed upstairs with a dark expression.


    Jarrett tried to intervene, but Kieran pushed Freya''s door open without hesitation.


    From the bathroom, the sound of running water filled the room.


    "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson is taking a shower. You shouldn''t..."


    "Trivial tricks," Kieran scoffed.


    Thinking she could dodge his questioning with that move? He had seen it all before. Kieran mmed the bathroom door open and was instantly greeted by a glimpse of allure. The sight of her smooth skin, perfect figure, and curves barely hidden surprised him.


    Kieran hadn''t expected Freya to in the


    wer. Almost r to en kit


    rushed out of the bathroom.


    Unfazed, Freya wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out.


    Seeing Kieran''s difort, Jarrett tried to speak, "Mr. Sutton, you should..."


    Kieran shouted, "Get out!"


    Jarrett quickly left the room, closing the door behind him.


    Freya couldn''t resist taunting, "Mr.


    a new low." Content


    Deeping on et


    Hearing this, Kieran''s expression


    damene en more. "Freya, c S on purpose?"


    do.


    belongs to en.kikistov

 Chapter 107

    "What the heck are you on about, Mr. Sutton?" Freya looked at Kieran with wide, innocent eyes. "I was enjoying a nice, rxing shower here, and you barged in out of nowhere. How is this suddenly my fault?" "You...you..." Kieran was at a loss for words as he gazed at Freya.


    Wrapped in a towel, her long, straight legs were exposed, and her damp hair cascaded over one shoulder, droplets of water glistening on her corbone. What an utterly tempting sight.


    Feeling Kieran''s gaze, Freya quickly pulled her towel up a bit more and asked, "Is there something you need, Mr. Sutton?"


    "Why did you rip the maid''s uniform?"


    Confronted with Kieran''s question, Freya feigned ignorance. "Rip what? Mr. Sutton, what on earth are you talking about?"


    "Cut the act, Freya." Kieran''s tone was icy. "You tore the uniform for what? To defy me? Or was it to catch my attention on purpose?"


    "Mr. Sutton, I honestly have no clue what you mean." Freya feigned confusion. "I''ve never seen this maid''s uniform you''re talking about. If you''re trying to pin some crime on me, at least make it believable, won''t you?" Seeing Freya adamantly deny everything, Kieran scoffed, "Is that so? Come with me then."


    He grabbed Freya''s arm and started leading her downstairs, her wrist throbbing from his grip, causing her to frown unconsciously.


    Downstairs, they found Una still picking up pieces of the shredded uniform.


    "It wasn''t me who ripped this," Freya stated inly upon seeing the clothes.


    "Lies! It was you!" Unwilling to let Freya off the hook, Una immediately turned to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson cut up these clothes right before me! I can vouch for it!"


    "And why should your word be trusted? You''re using me. Your testimony could hardly be considered impartial." Freya responded calmly and deliberately, "Even if you want to prove I cut the dress, shouldn''t there be another witness?"


    "I... I..." Una''s face turned sour. ¡°ItOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    was just me in the room, Mr. Sutton. Ms. Dawson must be trying to avoid


    your punishment, making up void


    stories!" ,


    "I haven''t lied. We can check the security cameras If you don''t believe me."


    Una immediately stood taller at the mention of cameras. "Fine! Let''s check the cameras! But don''te crying when it backfires on you, Ms. Dawson. You''re digging your own grave!"  en


    Freya merely nced at Kieran, unbothered. "What do you think, Mr. Sutton?"


    Kieran instructed Jarrett, "Check the surveince."


    "Right away." Jarrett swiftly headed to the surveince room.


    Freya wasn''t the least bit worried, amused by Una''s confidence. She thought, ''Paly this little trick with me, huh?''


    But it wasn''t long before Jarrett returned from the room.


    He whispered to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, the footage has been tampered with."


    Kieran frowned upon hearing this.


    Hearing about the tampered footage, Una went pale. "It must be Ms. Dawson! She''s the one who did it! She''s framing me!"


    "You''re quite the character," Freya remarked, "Mr. Sutton just took me back yesterday. Why would I mess with the surveince for no reason? Just because I''ve been with the Sutton family for three months doesn''t make me one of your


    servants. How would


    I where


    the main switch is? Besides, why


    would I, ady of status, bother to nder you?"


    "It wasn''t me! It wasn''t me!" Una frantically tried to exin to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton! I''ve been wronged!" "Enough!"

 Chapter 108

    Kieran frowned. He wasn''t oblivious that the servants of the Sutton family had been giving Freya a hard time behind his back. But he had always been too indifferent to stand up for Freya. He even hoped the harsh treatment would drive her away. This time, however, Una had crossed the line.


    Kieran''s voice was icy as he spoke, "The Sutton family doesn''t need employees with such disgraceful conduct. Collect your wages for the month. You''re no longer an employee in the Sutton family."


    When Kieran made his decision, Una''s expression soured even further. "Mr. Sutton! It wasn''t me! I''ve been framed!"


    "Take her away." Kieran had no interest in wasting time on trivial matters.


    In no time, Jarrett had escorted Una out.


    Freya straightened her bath towel and said, "Mr. Sutton, may I go and get changed now?"


    Seeing Freya in her disheveled state, Kieran took off his jacket and tossed it to her, saying coldly, "Change into proper clothes ande down. I need to speak with you."


    Freya nced at the jacket and threw it back to Kieran the next second, saying, "Thanks for the offer, Mr. Sutton."


    Seeing his jacket tossed back at him made Kieran''s expression darken further.


    He gritted his teeth and thought, ''Freya is getting bolder by the minute!''


    Upstairs, Freya changed into her clothes and walked down. As expected, Kieran was quietly waiting for her on the couch.


    Freya remembered silently


    observing Kieran in her past life. Back then, Kieran despised her, so she kept her distance, never daring to get closer. But things were different. Without her affection for Kieran, he was a stranger withOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    decent looks in her eyes


    "Mr. Sutton, I''m here. What did you want to ask me?"


    As soon as Freya finished speaking, Kieran threw something at her. "Put this on."


    What? Freya frowned and looked down to see ake blue gown in her hands, its sequins shimmering like a mermaid''s tail. "What''s this?"


    "Didn''t you say you liked it before?"


    Freya''s frown deepened. She suddenly remembered how she used to follow Kieran around in her past life, like that time Audrey asked Kieran to join her on a shopping trip.


    IMS


    She had been captivated by ake-blue gown in the shop window for a long time. But back then, Kieran hadn''t paid her any attention. She had thought Kieran wouldn''t care, yet he remembered.


    "Why are you giving this to me?"


    Kieran had bought her a new dress after all the trouble she caused him. That was utterly baffling.


    "Are you going to wear it or not?" Kieran asked, his tone tinged with impatience.


    "Mr. Sutton, you at least have to tell me where we''re going if I wear this gown," Freya said. "This isn''t something you wear to just any asion.

 Chapter 109

    "Tonight''s charity g, you''reing with me."


    Hearing Kieran wanted to take her to a charity g, Freya frowned, "Why not take Eloise?" "You wish I''d taken Eloise?" A hint of displeasureced Kieran''s tone.


    Freya said, "It''s not like that. I thought Ms. Harwood was a better match for you, Mr. Sutton."


    Kieran was getting impatient. "Freya, are you trying to push me away?"


    "Why are you getting mad, Mr. Sutton? Our engagement is just a business arrangement and it''s temporary. It''spletely normal for us to live our own lives. Mr. Sutton, your fondness for Eloise is no secret in our circles. So, why bother taking me?" With every word, Freya was testing Kieran''s patience.


    Kieran coldly responded, "Living our own lives... It seems you and Ronan are quite the pair."


    "That''s nothingpared to Mr. Sutton, who even had a child with Ms. Harwood." Freya''s offhand remark chilled Kieran''s demeanor further.


    The atmosphere around them tensed up dramatically.


    Freya knew that the subject of a child had always been taboo for Kieran. Though it was just a rumor back then, who''s to say it wasn''t true? Judging by Kieran''s reaction, the rumor seemed closer to truth.


    "Mr. Sutton, they''ve arrived." Jarrett entered the room, followed by a team of makeup artists and stylists carrying their kits.


    "Take Ms. Dawson upstairs to change."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett escorted Freya upstairs with the makeup artists and stylists in tow.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    An hourter, Kieran nced impatiently at his watch, "Should we check if she''s ready?"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Just as Jarrett was about to head upstairs, Freya came down the stairs, her entourage in tow.


    She was dressed in an azure


    mermaid gown, highlighting her figure. Her long, luscious hair was straightened, cascading down to her waist enhancing her naturally stunning visage with minimal


    makeup.


    Even Kieran was momentarily stunned by her beauty. He had never realized how beautiful Freya could be when she made an effort.


    "Mr. Sutton, that dress is a perfect fit for Ms. Dawson. She''s easily the most beautiful woman in Echo City tonight."


    Snapped out of his thoughts by thepliments, Kieran returned to the present moment. Freya had always been beautiful, but previously, she had been imitating Eloise and clinging to him, and he had overlooked Freya''s appearance.


    Kieran averted his gaze from Freya, saying coldly, "Let''s go."


    ovel


    With that, he headed for the door, Freya following behind. She vividly remembered Eloise had apanied Kieran to this charity g in the past life.


    Back then Eloise''s stunning


    appearance had caught someone''s eye. Thinking about it, Freya raised an eyebrow. It seemed the tables had turned in her favor in this life.


    en


    Meanwhile, at the Harwood family.


    "What? Kieran took Freya to the charity g?"

 Chapter 110

    Eloise''s frown was deep and persistent. Once upon a time, she had been Kieran''s plus-one at countless dinners, big and small. But this charity dinner wasn''t just any dinner. Rumors swirled that Preston Tyler from overseas would be attending. In Echo City, who didn''t know Preston''s clout? He was the top dog in a world where only the cunning survive. Having Preston on your side meant walking tall both at home and abroad.


    Yet, to such an asion, Kieran had chosen to bring Freya.


    Eloise threw her ss across the room with a m, her face a storm of emotions.


    "Has he left already?"


    "Ms. Harwood... Yes, he''s left."


    Watching Kieran leave with Freya for the charity dinner, Eloise stared at her half-done makeup in the mirror, feelingpletely ridiculous.


    "Ms. Harwood, do you... want to continue with your makeup?" They had started preparing Eloise early, confident that Mr. Sutton would take their young mistress to the event. But...


    "Continue," Eloise said icily. "Tonight, I must be there no matter what."


    "Understood."


    Meanwhile, Kieran had arrived at the Majestic Manor Hotel, gantly opening the car door for Freya. As soon as Freya stepped out, she became the center of attention. "Isn''t that Freya? Why is she attending the dinner with Mr. Sutton?"


    "Right, isn''t Mr. Sutton usually apanied by Ms. Harwood?"


    "Freya must have yed dirty again. I heard she even drugged Mr. Sutton before..."


    Whispers filled the air.


    Kieran''s gaze swept over them, and the gossiping socialites immediately fell silent. His look was so chilling thatit sent shivers down their spines.


    Freya looked around. She remembered it was at this charity dinner that Preston made his appearance in the past life.


    Then, Eloise


    was


    with Kieran,


    instantly capturing Preston''s heart with her striking beauty and graceful demeanor. Preston had be


    Eloise''s benefactor, looking aftene


    when she went abroad for further studies.


    her


    Echo City was buzzing with gossip about Preston''s crush on Eloise, which had turned him into her devoted admirer.


    And it was precisely because of this


    that Kieran hurried to get rid of Freya


    as a nuisance, bringing Eloise back home to get engaged. Eloise had achieved much with Preston''s help back then.


    "What are you looking at?" Kieran''s voice suddenly broke the silence.


    Freya turned to see Kieran watching her intently. She averted her gaze, saying, "Nothing much, just looking around."


    Kieran pressed, "Just looking around, or looking for Ronan?"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "Mr. Sutton, you''re overthinking it."

 Chapter 111

    Freya couldn''t care less about Kieran. Her sights were set on Preston this time.


    Seeing Freya disregard him, Kieran felt a mix of frustration and indignation.


    "Mr. Sutton, is it wise to let Ms. Dawson roam free here? What if something happens..."


    "Then she''ll only have herself to me!" Kieran said coldly, "Doesn''t she refuse to stick by my side? A little hardship might teach her a lesson."


    This scene was all about stepping on those below while sucking up to those above.


    After the Dawson Group''s scandal, Freya was viewed no differently than an heiress from a bankrupt family on the brink of copse.


    Wandering alone at the dinner party, Freya was bound to face disdain and ridicule. Once she couldn''t take it anymore, she''d naturallye crawling back to him.


    Meanwhile, gathering her dress, Freya had barely taken a few steps when a taunting voice from a socialite echoed nearby. "Oh, isn''t that Freya? She must have lost her way." "Impossible. Who knows what sly tricks she used to have Mr. Sutton bring her here? Look, Mr. Sutton has left her all alone. He doesn''t care a bit."


    "Everyone knows Mr. Sutton only has eyes for Eloise. She''s just asking for trouble."


    Their taunts reached Freya''s ears, but she had no intention of giving them the satisfaction of a response.


    In her past life, she hadn''t attended this dinner with Kieran but had heard that Preston was captivated by Eloise''s dance performance.


    Eloise was decent in their circle, although far from professional. Freya had learned various ballroom dances since she was young. Maybe she could give it a try.


    At that moment, Freya whispered something to a waiter nearby, prompting one of the socialites toment snidely. "What cheap trick is Freya trying to pull now?" "Everyone knows Ms. Dawson tries to charm Mr. Sutton wherever she goes as if afraid he won''t notice her. We''re all sick of it."


    They looked down on Freya''s actions.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Soon, a tango filled the room, and Freya, standing confidently at the center, gracefully bowed to the


    . Her dance inst the the


    caught everyone''s attention.


    "Mr. Sutton, look over there!" Jarrett pointed to Freya, who had found a dance partner and was then in the midst of the dance floor.


    As their bodies moved closely together, Freya''s every movement drew the crowd''s gaze. Her great curves captivated the audience. "What''s the big deal? It''s just her unting her figure shamelessly!"


    "Exactly! Freya has no shame dancing such a provocative dance in public!"


    The socialites showed clear disapproval.


    Though her mermaid gown


    restricted her movements, just as the crowd expected her to struggle, Freya boldly ripped off the lower part of her gown, surprising everyone.


    en


    With this stunning turn, Freya''s legs moved as if she had transformed from a mermaid into a human, thrilling the onlookers.


    A man gently tapped the railing on the upstairs balcony, a smirk on his lips. "Is that Eloise?"


    "No, that''s Miss Freya Dawson from the Dawson family."


    "Freya..." The man raised an eyebrow.


    Rumors had swirled that the


    Dawson heiress was always


    imitating Eloise, a loyal follower of Kieran. But from what he saw, the gossip in Echo City might not be


    entirely urate.


    Just then, Eloise arrived in a hurry. The security at the door stopped her and said, "Good evening, please show your invitation." Frustrated, Eloise said, "I''m Eloise. Let me in."

 Chapter 112

    "Sorry, Ms. Harwood, we can''t let you enter without an invitation."


    The sound of the dance music continued from inside the venue.


    Eloise nced at the two men. Realizing they wouldn''t let her in, her tone grew colder. "You should know who I am. Are you sure you want to face the consequences of stopping me?" The men gave each other a look, not sure what to do. "Sorry, Ms. Harwood. Maybe you could give Mr. Sutton a call. We can let you in if Mr. Suttones down to get you." "You!" Eloise was stunned that these mere security guards dared to challenge her.


    Left with no choice, Eloise pulled out her phone and dialed Kieran''s number. But after several rings, there was no answer. Eloise then tried calling Jarrett, but again, no response. At that moment, someone came out, saying, "Freya indeed knows how to work a room. I swear, Mr. Sutton was mesmerized watching her dance!"


    "I thought Mr. Sutton''s favorite was Eloise. When did he get so close to Freya?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Who knows? Freya''s got game, and what man can resist a woman who throws herself at him?"


    The gossip reached Eloise''s ears, fueling her fury. How shameless Freya was!


    Seeing Eloise was about to burst in, the security guards quickly intervened, disregarding her image. "Ms. Harwood! Please don''t make this difficult for us... Ms. Harwood..." "Move! Let me in!"


    Eloise was seething with jealousy and anger thinking about Kieran and Freya alone together. The guards couldn''t hold her back, and Eloise stormed into the venue in moments. As she burst through the doors, all eyesnded on her.


    Kieran frowned at the sight of her. "Ellie?"


    The crowd watched with varied expressions.


    Maybe it was ''cause she looked all


    wild from


    but busting in here like that,


    didn''t hold a candle to


    Freya, who was just glowingon the dance floor a minute ago. .


    Aware of the stares, Kieran approached Eloise, his expression concerned. "What are you doing here?" Eloise bit her lip, her voice tinged with emotion. "I was... worried you''d be here without a date."


    Her gaze then shifted to Freya, who had finished dancing in the center of the room.


    "It seems I was worried over nothing." Eloise sounded petnt, looking like she was sulking.


    Seeing Eloise turn to leave, a wave of guilt overwhelmed Kieran. He said firmly, "Since you''re here, stay."


    Eloise looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "And what about Ms. Dawson?"


    Kieranughed coldly. "Without me, she''ll still have a good time."


    Freya had started dancing in the center of the room even before the charity auction began, proving she was a natural socialite, adeptat capturing men''s hearts.


    Seeing this, Eloise took the opportunity to take Kieran''s arm, saying, "Kieran, I''m doing this for


    you. Ms. Dawson doesn''t mingle et


    with the elite. And I''ve always been by your side. It''s better if I''m here with you for such asions."


    "Sure," Kieran responded.


    Yeah, Freya was just some flighty rich girl. Eloise was way better suited to hang with him when dealing with the business bigwigs.

 Chapter 113

    Seeing Kieran and Eloise turning their backs and leaving, the surrounding socialites burst intoughter.


    "It''s funny," one of them said, "Freya danced her butt off out here and still couldn''tpete with just the vibe Ms. Harwood puts off."


    "I''ve been saying it all along. In Mr. Sutton''s eyes, Ms. Harwood and Freya are worlds apart. Ms. Harwood''s like a cloud in the sky, and Freya is just mud on the ground. It''s only right Freya got treated this way!" "Freya, pack up your little schemes and stop embarrassing yourself here!"


    Their disdain and sarcasm towards Freya were unmistakable. But Freya couldn''t care less. Her dance wasn''t for Kieran anyway. What Kieran thought was none of her business.


    However, she felt her real target had taken the bait. She noticed a figure descending the stairs from the second floor.


    Freya deliberately approached the mocking group, feigning innocence. "Were you... talking about me just now?"


    "Who else would we be talking about?" One of the socialites sneered, "Don''t think we don''t know. You only clung to Mr. Sutton by unting your... assets! Men get bored, you see. Look at Mr. Sutton now. Does he even care about you?" Hearing the diss, Freya''s eyes flicked over to Preston who was nearby.


    She stepped closer to the mocking socialite, whispering so only they could hear, "Is that so? But I guess some people, even if they offered everything, still wouldn''t get a second nce. With your, let''s say, disproportionate figure... tsk. Even if you danced naked before Kieran, he wouldn''t bat an eye."


    "You!" Perhaps hit too close to home,


    the socialite widened her eyes in rage and swung her hand for a p. As it was about to hit Freya, she staggered backward, intentionally falling.


    Instead of hitting the ground, shended in a warm, sturdy embrace. Freya looked up like a startled deer only to meet Preston''s nearly perfect emotionless face, exuding an innate chill that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    "Mr. Tyler!" The socialite paled, stepping back in horror, realizing her p had nearly hit Preston! Preston''s voice was ice cold. "Hans."


    "Yes, Mr. Tyler." Hans stepped


    forward, towering over the average man. He raised his hand and


    da p thatnded squarelyAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    on the socialite''s face.


    A scream echoed throughout the venue. The socialite''s face blew up instantly, and she got knocked t, too scared to even say a word.


    Everyone knew Preston''s reputation. He yed by his rules, and even the shadiest of business people gave him a wide berth.


    Provoking Preston was a dangerous game. A beating was the least of one''s worries. It was frightening to get killed.


    Preston looked down at the socialite on the ground with a cold disdain. "Clear them out."


    "Yes, Mr. Tyler."

 Chapter 114

    Hans grabbed the socialite by the cor and dragged her out of the venue under the watchful eyes of everyone present.


    A collective gasp filled the air. Everyone knew that the night belonged to the Tyler family. By acting this way, Preston was making an example out of someone! Kieran and Eloise were quickly drawn to themotion. Seeing Freya in Preston''s arms, Kieran''s eyes turned cold instantly.


    Seeing Kieran''s reaction, Eloise whispered, "Ms. Dawson sure knows how to leave an impression. Mr. Tyler only had to see her once to take her side..." There was an underlying tone in Eloise''s voice, causing Kieran''s frown to deepen.


    Was Freya in such a hurry totch onto a new benefactor?


    "Mr. Tyler, thank you," Freya said, attempting to leave Preston''s embrace but finding herself held tight by the waist.


    Preston had no intention of letting her go.


    As Freya looked up into Preston''s icy gaze, she feigned weakness. "Mr. Tyler, you''re hurting me..."


    Upon hearing it, Preston leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Stop ying games with me."


    "I can smell prey, and you''re the first toe knocking." Preston released his grip on Freya''s waist and walked past her under the watchful eyes of all. Seeing her chance slipping away, Freya stepped forward, took Preston''s arm, and said, "Mr. Tyler, I need apanion."


    Preston frowned at her words.


    Standing by Preston''s side, Hans also frowned. Did she still dare to y tricks before Mr. Tyler after being exposed? Did this woman have a death wish?


    Just as Hans was about to step forward and teach Freya a lesson, Preston raised his hand to stop him, asking, "Why should I help you?"


    Freya said calmly, "120 South Seashore Drive. Mr. Tyler, aren''t you nning to expand into Echo City? I can help you."


    Hearing her make such a ludicrous offer, Preston seemed amused. "And how do you help?"


    "Mr. Tyler, you''re looking to grow your business into Echo City. My family, the Dawsons, we''ve been in this city for ages and we''ve got a ton of connections. Now that my family has fallen, even the Sutton family wants to ally with us through marriage. What do you think I can help you with?" Freya''s words were concise. Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Preston raised an eyebrow. "How did you know I nned to buy 120 South Seashore Drive?"


    It was a secret known by only a few.


    Freya confidently replied, "I just did."


    She also knew that Preston could


    ???''


    have had a significant impact in Echo City, but he gave uppeting Weran to support a heartbroken Eloise abroad.


    At that time, all of Echo City praised Eloise as a remarkable woman, capable of making two powerful men vie for her affection and spend fortunes. Freya didn''t need Preston to do anything special for her, but she also couldn''t afford to make him mad at her.


    Although supported by Ronan, the Dawson family was still unstable. She needed to bide her time until her family could stand firm and


    forced into submission by a mere word from him.


    "Freya!" At that moment, Kieran''s voice reached them from not too far away.


    Preston paused, turning around to see Kieran approaching with Eloise hurriedly catching up to him.

 Chapter 115

    "Kieran, chill out, will you?" Eloise grabbed Kieran''s arm and turned to Preston with an apologetic look. "Mr. Tyler, I''m so sorry. I bet you had no idea about Ms. Dawson''s... you know, her ties." Then, turning a reproachful gaze toward Freya, Eloise added, "Ms. Dawson, seriously, you''re engaged to Mr. Sutton. Making a scene like this in broad daylight? Come over here, now!" Eloise moved to pull Freya away, but Hans quickly stepped before her, making it clear Eloise wasn''t getting past him.


    Eloise''s hand was just hanging there awkwardly, and her face was starting to turn sour.


    Seeing Eloise''s peacemaker act, Freya couldn''t help butugh. "Ms. Harwood, I saw you cozying up with Mr. Sutton. Maybe you didn''t know Kieran was off the market." That shut Eloise up. Yeah, who didn''t know Freya was Kieran''s fianc¨¦e? But since Kieran''s heart seemed to belong to Eloise, Freya was nearly invisible to everyone.


    But everyone seemed to forget. Parading around with someone else''s fianc¨¦ was not just tacky. It was homewrecker territory.


    "Freya,e here," Kieran ordered.


    But Freya didn''t budge. Seeing her defiance, Kieran took a step forward.


    Suddenly, Freya hid behind Preston, shivering as if she''d been scared out of her wits.


    In no time, her eyes welled up with tears, looking pitiful enough to soften the hardest of hearts.


    Watching her act, Preston barely concealed a smirk.


    The crowd murmured among themselves at the sight.


    "I heard Mr. Sutton wasn''t too crazy about his fianc¨¦e, but I didn''t know he was the abusive type."


    "Exactly. Seeing Ms. Dawson''s reaction, it doesn''t seem the first time. Poor girl." "She''s still the Dawson family''s princess. How can the Sutton family be so cruel?" The murmurs grew louder. Kieran''s face darkened with each word he overheard.


    Eloise


    pted to defend KieranAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    but realized the crowd''s res were filled with disdain, feeling like she was the instigator.


    "Ms. Dawson''s with me today, and this is my party. Mr. Sutton, do you think you can take her from my event? You should remember whose house this is."


    Preston pulled Freya into his embrace, making Kieran''s gaze turn icy.


    Eloise stepped forward. "Mr. Tyler, Ms. Dawson is Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e! Don''t you think your actions are unbing?"


    "Oh?" Preston''s voice dripped with sarcasm. "So, Ms. Harwood also


    Khat''s proper and we also et


    not. His emphasis on thest words was a jab at Eloise.


    Eloise felt as if she had pped her face.


    Preston continued, "As I recall, the Tyler family didn''t invite you, Ms. Harwood. Hans, please show Ms. Harwood out."

 Chapter 116

    "Yeah, Mr. Tyler."


    At those words, Eloise''splexion shifted. And seeing Hans about to approach, she swiftly ducked behind Kieran, her expression sour. "Kieran..."


    Kieran shielded Eloise, his expression turning icy as he spoke, "Freya! Enough already!"


    "Mr. Sutton, how is this my business? I didn''t say a word." Freya imed innocence but edged closer to Preston.


    Seeing this got Kieran''s blood boiling. Kieran wondered, ''What''s the asion now? Is Freya openly disrespecting me?''


    Preston told Hans in a rxed tone, "Did you not hear me?"


    "Yes."


    As Hans stepped forward, Eloise swiftly fixed her gaze on Freya, stating, "Ms. Dawson, I know you don''t like me, but that doesn''t mean you should let Mr. Tyler treat me this way! I''m Kieran''s date tonight. Are you targeting me or Kieran?" Eloise threw the usation out there, ming Freya for not defending her before Preston.


    Freya wasn''t foolish enough to do that. Speaking up for Eloise would be like insulting Preston, leaving her in a no-win situation.


    At this moment, Freya looked innocently at Eloise and responded, "Ms. Harwood, I don''t understand what you''re saying... I''m not targeting anyone."


    Watching Freya''s act, Kieran''s gaze grew even colder.


    But who could object with Preston, the host, about to issue a dismissal? Seeing Hans already beside Eloise, he gestured for her to leave. Reluctant to stay put, Eloise bit her lip, looking toward Kieran.


    Kieran coldly advised, "Ellie, if Mr. Tyler asks you to leave, please do."


    "Kieran..."


    "Just remember, he might find it a bit tricky the next time he tries to get into a Sutton family event." Kieran''s final words backed up Eloise. Hearing this, Eloise felt a warmth return to her face.


    Yes. It was Echo City! If Preston dared to trouble her, Kieran wouldn''t let him off easily.


    Though unwilling, Eloise heeded Kieran''s advice and left. As she did, she nced at Freya, standing by Preston.


    "The auction is about to begin. Mr.


    Sutton, if you don''t mind, please take your seat," Preston mentioned casually as he and Freya took their seats first.


    The surrounding crowd fell silent at the scene. Who would have thought that Freya, once so attentive to Kieran, had shifted her focus?


    Seeing Preston and Freya depart, a chilling aura enveloped Kieran.


    Standing by Kieran, Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Ensure Ellie gets home safely."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett exited the banquet hall.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Meanwhile, Preston had seated himself with Freya.


    Preston said, all chill, "I did you a big favor. How are you gonna thank me?"


    "I''ll agree to anything within my power, Mr. Tyler," Freya whispered. "But the Dawson family is indeed facing tough times. I fear I can only repay this kindness when I''m capable."


    "There''s no need forplications. You can repay me now." Preston''s eyes were on an auction item, "See that?"


    Freya''s gaze followed to a diamond ne on disy, her brow furrowing. "The ne once worn by the Queen of Batorine?"


    Freya remembered how much Eloise


    adored that ne. In a previous life, Kieran had won it at a high price for Eloise. However, the ne had fetched an astronomical price due to Preston''s instant infatuation with Eloise.


    Why would Preston suddenly bring up this ne?

 Chapter 117

    "This ne isn''t that special," Preston remarked nonchntly. "But it caught my eye. The bidding starts at ten million, and I don''t care how much it will cost. You need to win it for me." Freya''s face fell at his words.


    Freya thought, ''Win it no matter what? Ten million is more than I have by a long shot and he''s acting like it''s chump change! Is Preston messing with me?''


    "What''s wrong? You can''t do it?" Preston''s voice carried a hint of amusement. "If you can''t manage, you could make it up to me in other ways."


    Freya got a cold shiver down her back from what Preston was implying.


    She knew Preston was not someone to be trifled with. But she had no choice. Having caught his attention, she had to find a way to keep this powerful ally on her side. Otherwise, all her efforts would have been for nothing. "Fine, I can do it," Freya dered. "Besides, spending several million to have Mr. Tyler''s assistance doesn''t sound like a bad deal to me."


    Preston raised an eyebrow at her statement, thinking Freya was far more interesting than Eloise.


    The charity auction was about to begin soon. The starting bid for the first ne was 10 million.


    Eloise had been humiliated earlier, and Kieran wanted to salvage some dignity for her. So, he had his secretary, Jarrett, ce a bid right away.


    "15 million! Going once!"


    "17 million!"


    "18 million!"


    "20 million!"


    The bidding was fierce.


    Freya calmly raised her paddle and said, "25 million."


    Her jump of 5 million took everyone by surprise.


    Seeing Freya bid, Kieran frowned slightly.


    Jarrett couldn''t help but nce at Kieran and ask, "Mr. Sutton, shall we continue?"


    "Keep going."


    With those two words, Jarrett lifted the paddle again.


    "30 million!"


    Thirty million for a ne was already outrageous. Moreover, the others wisely stepped back, with Freya and Kieran bidding for the same piece.


    Freya felt a pang in her chest but kept aposed face, saying, "35 million!" "40 million!"


    Kieran''s counter of 40 million made Freya hesitate, but Preston''s smile grew wider. "50 million!" Freya escted by 10 million in one go, causing a stir among the crowd. "Mr. Sutton, shall we..."


    "60 million!" Kieran cut off Jarrett mid-sentence.


    When Kieran firmly stated 60 million, Freya knew he was determined to outbid her.


    ''Fine, let''s see who has thestugh.''


    Without hesitation, Freya shouted, "80 million."


    The room erupted in murmurs.


    Even if the ne were an


    BLA


    antique, it wasn''t worth 80 milli


    Had both parties lost their minds?


    setOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton, this ne isn''t worth this much, Maybe we should let this one go. We can get something else for Ms. Harwood."

 Chapter 118

    "Don''t I know how much money Freya has?" Kieran''s voice was icy as hemanded, "Raise the bid."


    "Right away."


    "Ny million!"


    Jarrett lifted the paddle, and the crowd was visibly stunned. The ne''s price was about to skyrocket nearly tenfold! Freya turned to Preston next to her and said, "Mr. Tyler, you''re doing this on purpose, aren''t you?"


    Preston knew Kieran was dead set on getting that ne from the get-go and had her drive up the price with Kieran.


    After Preston had Eloise escorted out, Kieran''s pride took a hit. There was no way he''d lose to Freya. Kieran would bid on that ne even if it were to save face.


    "Just remember what you promised me." Preston leaned back in his chair, casually saying, "I must have that ne."


    "You..." Freya saw that Preston was deliberately boxing her in. But she wasn''t scared. ''Want to y? Let''s y.''


    "A hundred million!" Freya''s bid silenced the room.


    And this was just the beginning!


    Ms. Dawson was ying for high stakes!


    "One hundred and fifty million."


    During the silent battle between Kieran and Freya, a voice sneered, breaking the tension. To everyone''s surprise, theter Ronan bid one hundred and fifty million for the piece!


    "Mr. Sutton, this price is outrageous. Mrs. Sutton would not be pleased to hear this. Besides, the ne was for Ms. Harwood..." Jarrett reminded Kieran by his side.


    With Ronan stirring the pot, Kieran t


    only frowned and refrained from raising the bid further.


    belongs to en.kikisto metBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Seeing Ronan step in gave Freya a sigh of relief. She leaned back, saying nothing.


    In the auction hall, the auctioneer


    aed, "One hundred and fiftet


    once! Twice! Thrice! Sold!"


    ...


    Preston nced at Freya, expressionless, "I said I wanted that ne."


    "The ne goes to Mr. Tyler now."


    Freya leaned back and said, "Mr. Tyler said he wanted the ne but didn''t say how."


    "Oh?" Preston nced at Ronan from not too far away.


    Ronan lifted his champagne in a toast to Freya. Freya reciprocated with her ss.


    When seeing that, Preston''s lips curled into a slight smile. "You do surprise me."


    He hadn''t expected Freya to have a connection with Ronan. This woman was something.


    During the intermission, Kieran saw Freya up from her seat, and he also stood up, prompting Jarrett t "Mr. Sutton, you..."


    "Just need the restroom," Kieran said but headed in the direction Freya had gone.


    Ronan was with a hostess in a corner of the hall, retrieving the ne from the vault.


    "Here''s your item." Ronan casually tossed the ne to Freya.


    Freya cradled it like a treasure. "Thanks. I''ll get you the moneyter."

 Chapter 119

    Freya and Ronan''s close interactions didn''t go unnoticed by Kieran.


    "Freya!" An angry and deep voice reached Freya''s ears.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Turning around, Freya locked eyes with Kieran, who approached with a storm brewing on his face.


    "Looks like you''re in for it now," Ronan quipped, his voice cold as the autumn breeze.


    Freya lowered her voice and retorted, "Cool it, Mr. Beckett. If I''m going down, you won''t be having a pic either."


    At that, a slight smirk danced on Ronan''s lips, a hint of amusement in his eyes.


    As Kieran got to Freya, his eyesnded on the ne she just won at the auction, right there in her hands.


    "Mr. Beckett sure knows how to ssh out, spending a whopping 150 million dors on a ne for you," Kieran sneered with disdain.


    "It''s no big deal," Freya responded, lifting the ne. "I noticed Mr. Sutton eyeing this piece, too. Were you nning to gift it to Ms. Harwood, perhaps?"


    Her words turned the temperature around them colder. "Don''t y dumb!"


    It was clear to Kieran that Freya knew Eloise had her heart set on that ne and had deliberately outbid him. Such tactics were despicable!


    Freya countered, "Mr. Sutton, this is an auction. The highest bidder wins. It was Mr. Beckett''s choice to gift me this ne, right? There''s no need to take it out on me." Watching Kieran''s expression darken further, a sense of satisfaction washed over Freya.


    In her past life, Kieran had trampled on her dignity and embarrassed her on countless asions. This time, she relished the chance to give him a taste of his own medicine. Turning to Ronan, Freya said with intention, "Ronan, thanks for the ne. I love it. I''ve got to run now." With that, Freya walked off in the opposite direction of the hall. Before she left, she deliberately bumped into Kieran''s shoulder, a provocation that fueled his rage.


    "Freya Dawson!"


    "You don''t need to see me out!" Freya


    gracelled back nonchntly, her


    graceful demeanor and confident stride as if dering Kieran''s defeat.


    Soon after Freya returned to her


    seat Prest


    dhanded the ne to et


    saying, "Mr. Tyler, here''s the


    ne you wanted."


    belongs to en.kikistot


    Preston inspected the ne in his possession. Its $150 million price tag added an extrayer of allure.


    "Not bad," Preston remarked indifferently. "Ms. Dawson, you''re verymitted."


    "Are you interested in striking a deal?"


    "Someone will visit the Dawson Group on my behalf in a few days."


    "Mr. Tyler, I''m offering, not the Dawson Group," Freya rified.


    At her words, Preston raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh?"


    Freya ced her business card in Preston''s hand and added, "If you''re interested, call me anytime."


    After telling Preston to have a good evening, Freya skedaddled out of there.


    Preston nced at Freya''s business card while Hans, standing beside him, suggested cautiously, "Mr. Tyler, Ms. Dawson seems to have anticipated your moves. Her actions are suspicious. Should we..."


    Hans mimed a cutting gesture.


    swn¨®w


    Without a word, Preston pulled out a lighter and set Freya''s business card aze.


    "Mr. Tyler?"

 Chapter 120

    "She''s interesting, but that''s where it ends," Preston said this with a nonchnt shrug, but his smirk hinted at a deeper amusement.


    He had initially set out to meet the much-talked-about Eloise from Echo City. Unexpectedly, Freya came into the picture and stole the show.


    Compared to her, Eloise seemed utterly nd. All those trivial pursuits of hers were nothing but child''s y. Had it not been for Kieran''s infatuation, Eloise wouldn''t have stood out in any way.


    Freya took off for ss early the next day. Having taken some time off from studying had put her way behind.


    Renowned for its finance program, Summit University was a battleground for Echo City''s brightest. Missing a few months meant risking falling behind in the cutthroatpetition.


    People said high school was tough, but Summit University was the real crucible.


    Having learned from her past life, Freya knew how foolish it was to forsake her education for a man. This time, she decided to graduate from Summit University, refusing to repeat the mistake of dropping out for Kieran.


    She still vividly remembered the scorn she had faced in her previous life. In their elite society, a prestigious education was like one''s honor. One might get away with being unattractive but never without honor.


    However, upon entering the campus, Freya immediately felt the weight of many gazes upon her. Those scrutinizing stares made her ufortable.


    That was when Luna ran up to her, oblivious to the surrounding odd looks. "Hey! Why didn''t you tell me you wereing to school today?"


    Freya frowned. "Is something going on at school today?"


    "I don''t think so. I just got here. Plus, what could happen at Summit University?"


    Seeing Luna had no clue about what was going on, Freya let her eyes wander around the campus.


    Soon, she noticed a crowd of students gathered around a particr spot.


    "Let''s check it out." Grabbing Luna''s wrist, Freya moved toward the crowd.


    As they approached, the whispers began to circte.


    "That''s her..."


    "How could our school have someone like her?"


    "Why does she even have the nerve to show up here?" The murmurs grew louder.


    Approaching the notice board, Freya saw several photos pinned up. There were pictures of Freya with Kieran and Ronan. And in thest photo, Preston had his arm around Freya.


    en


    Insulting captions like ''party girl'' and ''social climber'' were stered.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Who did this? Who''s got such a sick sense of humor?" Fuming, Luna tore down the photos, confronting the bystanders, "She''s a Dawsont Who


    wrote this? Show your tent


    Instead of rallying support, invoking Ms. Dawson''s name seemed to


    backfire, as the crowd merely. dispersed, avoiding Luna''s wrath.

 Chapter 121

    Everyone knew about Freya''s reputation around. She was head over heels for Kieran, willing to go to any lengths for him.


    At that moment, Freya scanned the room calmly, quickly catching Mae and Cindy snickering from a distance.


    Once she spotted the troublemakers, Freya marched over to them and asked, "What''s your problem?" Mae and Cindy''s amusement faded instantly.


    With an air of superiority, Cindy retorted, "And what makes you think we did anything? Got any proof?"


    "What proof could she have? She''sshing out because she''s pissed," Mae said sarcastically. "Even if we didn''t post the pictures, it''s not like it''s lying. You''re supposed to be Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e, yet here you are, cozying up to all these guys. It''s disgraceful!" "Exactly. A woman who dresses provocatively and uses her looks to lure men deserves such criticism!"


    Mae and Cindy took turns throwing jabs, but all it did was make Freyaugh.


    Mae frowned. "What''s so funny?"


    "I find it hrious... We''re in college, and you don''t realize spreading rumors is illegal?" Freya continued, "There are cameras all around us. A little investigation would reveal who''s behind this little stunt. I''ll gather the evidence and go to the police. It''ll teach whoever''s pulling these strings that I, Freya, am not to be trifled with."


    Mae and Cindy panicked, but Cindy quickly regained herposure, "Freya! Who do you think you are? You think the teachers are gonna take the side of someone with your kind of rep?"


    "Right, like the school''s surveince is at your disposal. Do you think the police will care about this petty drama? Hrious!"


    Freya raised an eyebrow and said, "Didn''t you just say it? I''m Kieran''s fianc¨¦e. You know how much the Sutton family invests in Summit University yearly, right?"


    Their faces turned pale at the reminder.


    Cindy snapped, "Freya! You''re abusing your power!"


    "Yeah, I


    capricam A


    because I''m Kieran''s


    fine. And I can afford to be


    swno


    fianc¨¦e. You don''t have that luxury."


    "You!"


    "Really?" A cold snort came from not too far away.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Hearing the voice, Freya frowned. ''Kieran? What''s he doing here?''


    Turning around, she saw Kieran and Eloise approaching.


    Eloise was clinging to Kieran''s arm, clearly having been dropped off by him.


    When she saw the two appear, Freya''s expression remained unchanged.


    Their presence had ruined such a bright morning.


    "Eloise!" Cindy and Mae rushed to stand behind Eloise.


    With Eloise backing them, they weren''t intimidated by Freya.


    Freya stated, "Mr. Sutton is here, too. What a coincidence."


    "It''s not. I was dropping off Ellie." Kieran''s remark felt like a p in Freya''s face before everyone.


    All the supposed fancy status of being the fianc¨¦e of the Sutton Group didn''t hold a candle to Eloise.


    Eloise said, "Ms. Dawson, there''s


    been a misunderstanding with Cindy and Mae. Let me apologize on their behalf."


    "You don''t need to apologize for them," Kieran said coldly. "I''ve heard everything from here, Freya. Weren''t you the one who didn''t want to be my fianc¨¦e? Why bother throwing around the title of the Suttom family''s fianc¨¦e?"

 Chapter 122

    "Yeah! Mr. Sutton, Freya was acting all high and mighty just now, even saying she''d use her influence to get us all rounded up!"


    Cindy loved the drama, not minding stirring the pot.


    Freya couldn''t help but give a coldugh seeing these people trying to act like they were the victims.


    "I had no idea being the fianc¨¦e of the Sutton family could grant you such leverage. Freya, you stop at nothing." Kieran was clueless about the happenings, his tone dripping with sarcasm toward Freya. Seeing this, Luna stepped up, saying, "Mr. Sutton, do you know what happened? What gives you the right to talk about Freya like that!"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Eloise interrupted, "Ms. Jennings, it''s like this. Kieran and I''ve heard everything. As for what happened, everyone has a pretty good idea."


    "That''s right. Freya started bullying us first!" Mae was quick to sling mud at Freya.


    Fuming and ready to defend Freya, Luna got cut off by Kieran''s cold response, "Freya, being the Sutton family''s fianc¨¦e doesn''t give you the right to abuse your power. Apologize to them."


    "Kieran! Have you lost your mind? Freya is your fianc¨¦e, and you''re siding with these outsiders over her?" Luna was livid upon hearing Kieran''s words.


    Freya looked at Kieran, realizing he would back Eloise up.


    Seeing the situation, Eloise said, "Kieran, let it go. It''s not worth it."


    "Eloise, you can''t be this forgiving! Have you forgotten how Freya treated you before? She embarrassed you in front of everyonest night, and you cried for so long. Mae and I were the onesforting you!" Cindy couldn''t wait to take credit in front of Kieran. "I''ll rip your mouth off!" Luna lunged forward, but Eloise suddenly stepped before Cindy, and Luna''s pnded squarely on Eloise''s cheek.


    Instantly, Eloise''s cheek turned red.


    Kieran frowned at this. "Jarrett!"


    Jarrett stepped forward and pped Luna.


    Seeing Luna get smacked, Freya''s face changed on a dime. She raised her ha


    andnded a p not on


    Jarrett, but on Kieran. The aingot


    heavy real quick.


    "Kieran!" Eloise paled.


    Kieran''s face darkened even more. No one had ever dared to hit him, especially not in such a setting!


    "Luna, let''s go." Freya pulled Luna away.


    Jarrett looked displeased. "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Freya has some nerve to hit Mr. Sutton! Freya and Luna are like loose cannons! They''re asking for trouble!"


    Cindy fanned the mes, but Kieran growled, "Get out!"


    Startled by Kieran''smand, Cindy jumped. And seeing the situation turn sour, Mae quickly dragged Cindy away.


    Eloise approached nervously. "Kieran, let me see if you got hurt."


    Before Eloise''s hand could reach Kieran, a torn flyernded on Kieran''s leg.


    Bending down, Kieran picked up the


    flyer. It


    It was covered in pictures Freya and loaded up with all


    of


    nasty words. Content belon volet


    When seeing the flyer, Eloise''s expression soured.


    Kieran looked toward where the flyer hade from, spotting the bulletin board and the remains of what was once a whole flyer. At that, Kieran''s ea expression darkened further


    "Kieran... It must be a misunderstanding." Eloise said nervously, attempting to clear the air.

 Chapter 123

    Kieran slid the flyer across the table to Eloise, his voiceced with usation. "You know about this, don''t you?"


    He wasn''t naive. Eloise had jumped to defend those two immediately, making it crystal clear to Kieran that she was in the know. Eloise bit her lip, a silent admission.


    Kieran''s suspicions turned into sure thing. "Ellie, this is so disappointing."


    Without another word, he grabbed the flyer and turned to leave.


    "Kieran!" Eloise tried to follow but got stopped by Jarrett. "Ms. Harwood, please stay back."


    Then, he, too, followed Kieran out.


    Outside the academic building, Jarrett caught up. "Mr. Sutton, should we look for Ms. Dawson?"


    Kieran, flyer in hand, looked even more upset. "No need!"


    He had wronged Freya, but she hadn''t offered a single exnation. Did Freya distrust him that much?


    "Let''s go."Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "Go?" Jarrett was stunned. It was a misunderstanding destined to go unresolved.


    "If she wants to y tough, let her," Kieran said, storming off.


    Meanwhile, Freya was gently dabbing at Luna''s cheek. "Does it hurt?"


    "Yes!" Luna winced. "Why did Jarrett have to hit so hard? He seemed nice enough, but man, he really throws a wallop."


    "You had iting for hitting Eloise. Everyone in Echo City knows she''s Kieran''s weak spot. They''ve been inseparable since childhood, and Eloise is..." Freya trailed off with a helpless shake of her head


    "I did it for you! Kieran is unbelievable Jumping to


    conclusions without getting the facts straight. It''s infuriating!" Lunained, "Why didn''t you set the record straight? Tell him Cindy and Mae started it with you!"


    "What''s the point?" Freya said coldly. "Besides, the more Kieran dislikes me, the better. I have no desire to be Mrs. Sutton." "Fair enough."


    After the school nurse finished tending to Luna, Freya stepped outside and dialed Alison.


    "Ms. Dawson?"


    "Get me awyer," Freya said without preamble.


    "Awyer?"


    "Some people at school are


    spreading malicious rumors about me. And call the police. I''m note holding back this time. Crush them, understood?"


    "Understood, Ms. Dawson."


    After hanging up, Freya nced at Luna, her gaze darkening.


    Money and power did make a difference, ensuring justice and protection for those close to her.


    That afternoon, the police arrived at Summit University, causing a stir among the students. "What''s going on? Why are there so many cops here?"

 Chapter 124

    "Who stirred up trouble this time?"


    No one had a clue what was going on.


    Meanwhile, Cindy and Mae were in the ssroom, oblivious to the unfolding drama.


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    A police officer entered, shing his badge to the teacher before stating, "We''re officers from the Echo City precinct. Which of you are Cindy and Mae?"


    Called out, Cindy and Mae stood, bewildered.


    "That''s us."


    Upon seeing them, the officermanded, "Take them."


    "What! On what grounds are you arresting us?"


    Cindy turned all white as the cop came up and said, "Cindy, Mae, you''re being used of spreading nasty rumors and trashing Ms. Freya Dawson''s reputation. We''re doing our job. Pleasee with us." Their faces dropped at the news.


    Freya went to the police! But Kieran had stood up for them this morning! Had Freya lost her mind?!


    Cindy protested, "It''s been a misunderstanding! Eloise, tell them! It''s a misunderstanding!"


    "Yeah, Ellie, you know this has nothing to do with us!"


    Sitting beside them, Eloise panicked. She knew the truth but had never expected Freya to involve the police, let alone in such a public manner Eloise, who always prided herself on her reputation, felt the judgmental stares of her ssmates.


    "Does she know about this? Or maybe she''s in on it?" The cop''s eyes shifted over to Eloise.


    Feeling cornered, Eloise quickly


    suggested, "Sir, I''m not sure what etOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    happened. Could it be a


    misunderstanding? Can''t we settle this privately?"


    "There''s no need for that." Awyer stepped forward from the crowde represent Ms. Freya Dawson. The harm caused to her is substantial, and she insists on formal proceedings."


    "What proof does she have against us? It is a setup!" Cindy was frantic.


    Thewyer pulled out a tablet, showing footage from a campus camera of Cindy and Mae tampering with a notice board. "We''ve reviewed all campus surveince. It''s clear who''s responsible."


    With irrefutable evidence, Cindy and Mae''s confidence crumbled.


    In just a few hours, Freya had rounded up some pretty damning evidence. Did she think she could take on Mr. Sutton?


    "Ellie! Help us!"


    "Ellie! Save us!"


    As Cindy and Mae were taken away, Eloise stood alone, pale-faced.


    The entire ss watched, knowing the close ties between Eloise and the used. From their pleas, suspicions naturally fell on Eloise.


    Thewyer pointedly asked, "Ms. Harwood, are you sure you knew nothing about this?"

 Chapter 125

    The ssroom''s attention once again zeroed in on Eloise.


    Given Cindy''s reaction just moments ago, who would believe Eloise was clueless about the debacle?


    "I... I had no clue. If I had, I never would''ve let them do something to hurt Ms. Dawson," Eloise protested, her face all a mix of innocence and the anger of being used falsely.


    At school, Eloise had always been seen as a well-read, kind-hearted debutante, making it hard for anyone to picture her stooping to such lows out of jealousy toward Freya and employing such despicable tactics.


    However, with Cindy and Mae taken away by the authorities, even if Eloise denied any knowledge, the stain on her reputation seemed indelible.


    "Ms. Harwood, rest assured. I asked out of protocol. Without any solid evidence, we''re not in a position to interrogate you formally," thewyer stated, following Freya''s instructions to scare Eloise before they all turned to leave. Eloise was visibly frightened, struggling to regain herposure for quite some time.


    The thought of such rumors circting school, tarnishing her reputation, made her clench her fists in frustration.


    She had underestimated Freya, mistaking her for a harmless bunny when, in reality, she was a wolf in sheep''s clothing. It was clear to Eloise that she needed to strategize early.


    Later that evening at the Sutton family, Audrey mmed a stack of photos before Freya, demanding, "What is this all about?"


    Freya noticed Audrey''s interrogation


    the moment she arrived home. The photos before her captured the


    intimate moments she supposedly shared with Ronan and


    Ronan and Preston


    earlier that day, nted by Cindy and Mae on the school''s bulletin board.


    "Audrey, someone''s intentionally trying to ruin my reputation."


    "A reputation can only be tarnished if there''s truth to exploit! I''ve had these photos verified. They''re real!" Audrey took a deep breath, continuing,


    "You''ve let me down! As the fianc¨¦e to the heir of the Sutton family, how could you associate so closely with the likes of Ronan and Preston? And to top it off, you allowed them to capture suchpromising photos to spread around school!"


    "Audrey..."


    "Do you get that everyone at Summit Universityes from our world? You''re just trying to make the Sutton name look bad!" Audrey was


    particrly aggrieved and added et


    "I''ve told you Summit University was a mistake. All you need to do is foster a good rtionship with Kieran and prepare for marriage and, eventually, children. Now, look at the mess you''ve stirred up. The gossip will ignite among our peers."


    Freya understood Audrey''s concerns were for the sake of the Sutton family. "I''ve reported it to the police. The instigators have been detained for questioning. We should have answers soon." Audrey nodded, satisfied with the response, before asking, "Who was behind this?"


    "Two friends of Ms. Harwood."Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Hearing Eloise''s name linked to the incident made Audrey frown, "Eloise again! As if bewitching Kieran wasn''t enough, now, she''s orchestrating these schemes! Despicable!"


    At that moment, Kieran walked in. Seeing him, Audrey went straight in for an exnation, "Kieran, fill me in. What''s going on?"

 Chapter 126

    Kieran never expected Audrey to show up at his ce, especially since she had moved out days ago, promising not to intrude unannounced.


    But there she was, and seeing those pictures spread out all over the table made Kieran''s mood turn all frosty.


    "This has nothing to do with Ellie." Kieran jumped to Eloise''s defense, prompting Freya to chuckle with a self-deprecating.


    She should have known better. Even if Kieran knew Eloise was behind this, he''d turn a blind eye. In Kieran''s world, right and wrong didn''t exist when it was about Eloise. He''d always take her side, no questions asked.


    But this time, Freya wasn''t willing to let Eloise off the hook. It wasn''t the na?ve Freya from before. This time, she wouldn''t let Eloise''s tricks leave her scrambling in the dark.


    "It has nothing to do with Eloise? Then who is to me?" Audrey''s expression darkened as she said, "I''ve told you to keep your distance from that woman from the Harwood family! She''s no good, just as hypocritical as her parents!"


    Sitting on the couch, Audrey went on, "This is really hitting Freya hard! Those two spreading all those lies about her should get what''sing to them. Let the cops handle them, whether it''s a fine or locking them up. We can''t let their rumors look like they''re true." "Yes, Grandma." Kieranplied, ncing coldly at Freya as he left as if she were a stranger.


    After Kieran left, Audrey patted Freya''s hand, reassuring her, "Leave this to me. The rumors will start falling apart by themselves soon enough."


    But Freya couldn''t look at Audrey with the same gratitude as before. She had been too na?ve, too easily swayed by small gestures of kindness, never seeing the calction behind Audrey''s eyes.


    Audrey soon added, "But you know


    our family''s rutes. Since you''re to


    marry into the Sutton family, you must keep your distance from other men. Your studies aren''t important, nor is taking over the Dawson family''s business. I''ve spoken to your step-mother. The Dawson Group will go to your brother so you can focus on being a part of our family."


    Hearing Audrey had gone behind her back to talk to Johanna, Freya frowned, "Audrey, that''s a family matter of mine."


    "I know it''s your family''s business,


    but you''ll be Mrs. Sutton soon. They


    say a daughter married off is like


    water poured away. You''ll have much to learn as Mrs. Sutton and chole


    won''t have time for the Dawson


    Group. It''s better left to your brother." Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Audrey didn''t miss a beat to add, "And not to belittle you, but even at its peak, the Dawson Group couldn''tpare to a fraction of the Sutton family''s assets. Let go of this small venture. As part of the Sutton family, you''ll gain much more."


    Freya merely scoffed internally. ''Yes, the Dawson Group is in crisis, but itsworks and industry are well-established. Otherwise, why would Kieran agree to marry me? It isn''t for love, but for the legacy and connections my father built.'' "Audrey, I''m not yet a Sutton. The Dawson Group is my father''s legacy, and Lnd is a troublemaker, good at nothing. Handing thepany to him would be a betrayal."


    "Freya, you..."


    "Audrey, I''ve made up my mind."


    Freya''s voice was strong. "I might be staying with the Sutton family, but the Dawson Group will never end up in Lnd and Johanna''s hands."


    "When did you be so defiant?" Audrey was visibly upset.

 Chapter 127

    Once upon a time, Freya didn''t give a hoot about the Dawson family''spany. What had happened? It was like she''d be apletely different person.


    "Audrey, if nothing else, I should head upstairs to attend to the Dawson Group''s business," she said before going upstairs.


    Audrey watched Freya''s increasingly defiant manner with a frown.


    Upstairs, Freya opened the document Alison had sent her, revealing the contract for thend she had sessfully bid on in the Southern Suburbs.


    Seeing the contract brought a smile to Freya''s face. Fortune favored the bold, and thend was finally hers.


    Freya vividly remembered that thend received government subsidies shortly after the auction due to policy adjustments encouraging suburban redevelopment. Then, a spring was discovered on the property, flowing with natural hot springs. It was the biggest natural hot spring in Echo City, famous for how healing it was, which sent its value through the roof.


    In her previous life, thisnd brought in billions in profit annually with minor modifications. Within a few years, the Dawson Group would break even. This deal was a surefire win.


    Meanwhile, at the Eclipse Lounge.


    "Mr. Sutton, what happened?


    Coming here to drown your sorrows


    thiste?" Ss asked, puzzled at the sight


    Kieran drinking alone in a


    private room.


    Kieran used to despise the drinking sessions, only attending


    asionally out of professional, ne


    obligation. His voluntary presence was indeed unusual.


    "Oh, I get it. Business troubles, huh? First, you lost four billion to Ronan''s scheme, and then, Ronan snatched


    partner. Tough year, huh?" Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    away Mr. Patterson as a


    Hearing Ss''s words added to Kieran''s frustration.


    Misfortune? Freya''s words echoed in Kieran''s mind. She had once mentioned he was bound for bad luck. Could Freya be his jinx? "Kieran! I''m talking to you!"


    Just then, Kieran''s phone rang.


    Seeing it was Eloise calling, he frowned. Instead of instantly answering Eloise''s call like before, Kieran muted it this time.


    Ss could sense some juicy news. He asked, "What''s going on? Problems with Eloise?"


    "It''s not about her."


    "Then who? It can''t be Freya, can it?"

 Chapter 128

    Hearing Ss mention Freya''s name, Kieran nced at him and said, "It''s not about her, of all people!"


    Ss could instantly tell Kieran was denying his true feelings. If it weren''t about Freya, what about his strong reaction? Ss said, "After all, Freya is your future wife. Maybe she''s no Eloise, but she''s devoted to you through and through."


    Ss was at a loss for words when hearing Kieran speak his mind.


    "Devoted to me?" Kieran scoffed as if he had heard the funniest joke, "Devoted? How could Freya be so cozy with Preston and Ronan if devoted? Why didn''t she stand up for herself when she was used? She''s all about the dough! When she sees a loaded wallet, she''s all over it! Seeing I''m not biting, she throws herself at other guys! And you want to tell me she''s devoted?"


    Stammering, Ss said, "You, you sure have a lot ofints, huh? And you say it''s not about Freya?"


    Kieran felt a weight lifting off his chest after speaking his mind. "Anyway, she didn''t ask for my help, did she? So, I won''t intervene. Whatever people say about her, she brought it upon herself!"


    Hearing this, Kieran nced at Ss.


    Ss responded, "Why go to such lengths? You insisted on making Freya''s life miserable. Haven''t you heard the rumors in Echo City? Everyone knows how blindly in love Freya was with you, to an almost bottomless extent. If it were me, I couldn''t y such a demeaning role, not even for three months! A normal person would''ve lost it by now. Her current attitude toward you is your own doing."


    That look frightened Ss a bit, so he pretended to busy himself with his drink, pretending not to notice.


    "Since you''re here, no worries! I''ll find someone new for you. What''s so great about Freya? I''ve got beauties here with perfect skin and sexy legs who can help you ease off."


    Saying so, Ss pped his hands, and soon, several stunningly dressed beauties came in, each one a head-turner.


    The first to approach Kieran was a curvy beauty.


    Kieran barely nced at her. Having


    seen Freya''s figure, this woman didn''tpare. "Her waist is


    SCK, next." Content belong


    too


    The beauty looked incredulous upon hearing her waist called thick for the first time.


    Hearing this, Ss was


    dumbfounded. "Her waist is


    thick


    What do you want, a twig?"


    s to en.kikistet


    Kieran didn''t respond, leaving Ss to send the woman away.


    The next one was skinny as a pole.


    Kieran coldly stated, "Too skinny, no."


    He also dismissed the second beauty.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    About the third, Kieran expressed his impatience, "Too unattractive."


    By the fourth, Kieran had lost all interest. Standing up, he said, "Enjoy yourself." "Hey!" Ss eximed, "I find you beauties, and you just walk away!" "Mr. Vaughn..."


    Those pretty women looked at Ss with disappointment and frustration. They wouldn''t havee if they had known Kieran was this hard


    please!

 Chapter 129

    Ss forced a smile. As much as he was a fan of beautiful women, the nightlife scene was not his type. Eventually, he had to concoct an excuse to make his exit.


    Half an hourter, Freya focused on her thesis work at Kieran''s ce. She donned ck-rimmed sses and began scouring the inte for resources.


    Having been out of school for several months, she had much to catch up on. Even though she had three years of real-life experience to build on, she knew it wasn''t smart to just ignore her studies. She decided not to repeat her past mistakes, dropping out for a man, thinking she had found her happiness ever after.


    How foolish that had been.


    As Freya typed away on herputer, the door suddenly swung open.


    The smell of alcohol hit her like a wave, prompting her to shut herptop immediately.


    Kieran noticed the action and frowned, asking, "What are you doing?"


    "What I''m doing has nothing to do with you, Mr. Sutton," Freya responded coldly. "This is my room. Isn''t it inappropriate to barge in like this, Mr. Sutton?"


    "This is my house. I can go wherever I please." Suddenly, Kieran moved toward Freya.


    Catching the scent of alcohol on him, Freya frowned deeply. "Kieran! What are you doing?"


    He didn''t miss the disgust in Freya''s eyes, a look she had given him ever since their engagement party.


    That look made Kieran


    ufortable. Stepping forward, he


    grabbed Freya''s arm. "You''re my


    fianc¨¦e. I can do whatever I want with you! What do you think Dwant to do?"


    "You''re drunk!" Freya tried to shake him off, but he picked her up in response.


    Her expression darkened. "Kieran! Let me go!"


    "No!"


    "Will you let me go or not?"


    "I said


    "Kieran said, all , carrying Freya toward et


    but she didn''t


    bite right into his shoulder.


    Caught off guard by the pain, Kieran involuntarily released his grip.


    He inhaled sharply, anger ring. "Freya! What are you a dog now? Biting me?"


    "Considering you came here drunk and started this nonsense, I''ve been quite polite Freya retorted, "If you''reAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    trying to punish me over Eloise''s t


    affair or expect me to go easy Eloise''s two friends, Mr. Sutton, you can save the efforts. I''m determined to see those two behind bars this time."


    At that, Kieran''s expression darkened further.

 Chapter 130

    "Do you think I came here over this?"


    "Isn''t that why?" Freya frowned deeply.


    What else could have brought Kieran to her room if not for the whole Eloise debacle?


    Kieran clenched his jaw to keep cool when he saw the woman just didn''t get how annoyed he was. "Do you really think I just blindly stick up for Eloise like that?" he asked.


    "It''s not only in my eyes. You''ve always been tantly favoring Eloise." Freya retorted, "Everyone in Echo City knows Eloise is your darling, Mr. Sutton. Like today, didn''t you take Ms. Harwood''s side without a second thought?"All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing Freya''s words, Kieran immediately responded, "That''s because Ellie isn''t that kind of woman..."


    "There, Mr. Sutton, you believe Ms. Harwood isn''t that kind of woman, thinking I''m the one who''s always stirring trouble, being bitter and sharp-tongued. It''s always my fault, right?"


    "You..." Kieran was momentarily speechless.


    All he heard was how Freya, unting her position as the fianc¨¦e of the head of the Sutton family, bullied others, unaware of the rumors spread on the bulletin board.


    Kieran said, "I didn''t know they ndered you, but is that my fault? You could have exined it to me!"


    "Mr. Sutton, would you believe me if I exined? I''m not that vain to think you would punish Eloise for my sake."


    She had learned her lesson in a past life, and in this one, she wasn''t foolish enough to believe she held a candle to Eloise in Kieran''s heart.


    "I won''t let this go. Mr. Sutton, I won''t let anyone walk all over me, whether you think I''m being harsh or unreasonable. We could always call off the engagement if it bothers you that much. Just say the word. And even Audrey''s stern stance won''t matter. Then, we can go our separate ways, and I assure you that you''ll never have to deal with me making you ufortable again."


    Kieran was feeling a little bit bad about Freya, but his face hardened when he heard what she just said. "Break off the engagement?" he questioned.


    "Yes, call it off." Freya said, "You''re after the Dawson family''swork and resources. I get that. No


    problem.''ll still introduce you t


    them, but we don''t necessarily have to get married. I''m aware you have


    no desire to marry me."


    Freya vividly remembered how she introduced all the Dawson family''s connections to Kieran in a previous life. It took Kieran three years to finalize the acquisition of the Dawson family''s assets.


    In that life, under Lnd and Johanna''s management, the Dawson Group went bankrupt, leaving Johanna to run away with her son and Galen, taking all the money with them.


    Meanwhile, Kieran took the opportunity to absorb all of the Dawson Group''s technical staff, significantly benefiting the Sutton Group.


    When the dust settled, her value as the Dawson family heiress vanished. Kieran didn''t marry her but went ahead with Eloise, disregarding her wellbeing.


    Freya had made her decision. She was ready to take the hit of losing some goods if it meant she could cut off all contact with Kieran. She wanted him totally out of her life. "So, you seriously don''t want to marry me?"


    "That''s right." Freya nodded solemnly, "I don''t want to marry you, not at all."


    With a cold expression, Kieran said, "If you didn''t want to marry me, why keep so many of my things at your ce?"


    When Kieran brought it up, Freya


    deliberately said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right? Mr. Sutton, you know how much I love money. Initially, I wanted to gain some advantages from you, so naturally, I collected some information about you and understood your preferences. But now that I have Preston and Ronan as my strong backers, I don''t need to engage with you anymore."


    "So, it''s because of Ronan." Kieran coldly remarked, "Do you think you cane and go as you please from the Sutton family? Or do you think you can toy with me? Freya, aren''t you a bit too bold?"


    Before Freya could respond, Kieran suddenly pinned her down on the bed, his voice low, "All you want is money, right? You don''t need to go to Ronan. I have money, too."

 Chapter 131

    When Kieran lunged forward, Freya braced herself and pushed against him with her arms.


    Kieran winced in pain, and Freya took the opportunity to shove him away, immediately creating distance between them.


    After regaining hisposure, Kieran''s face darkened as he used, "Freya! Did you hit me again?"


    "Yeah, I pped you!" Freya shot back defiantly, "Kieran, are you deaf or something? I told you I''m done ying these games with you. Why are you still bothering me?"


    By this point, Kieran''s expression was sour, but Freya pressed on, "And let me tell you, if it weren''t for you threatening me with the Dawson Group, I wouldn''t be wasting my time here with you. I don''t love you. So, back off!"


    "Freya, don''t make me force your hand!" Kieran had intended to teach Freya a lesson, but still aching from the shove and seeing her defiant stance, he spat out coldly, "So, you say I''m using the Dawson Group to threaten you? Fine, consider it a threat. From now on, you better follow my orders or the Dawson Group will be doomed."


    With that, Kieran turned and left Freya''s room.


    Freya scrunched her face, confused by Kieran''ste-night drama. She wondered if maybe Kieran was just blowing off steam after a fight with Eloise.


    So, Freya ignored Kieran''s threats and headed straight to school the following morning.


    When Kieran got up, he found no breakfast prepared by Freya, which only fueled his anger.


    "Who made breakfast today?" he demanded.


    "The housekeeper, Mr. Sutton. Is there something wrong with it? I can make something else..." the housekeeper offered.


    "Where''s Freya?"


    "Ms. Dawson... Ms. Dawson left early for school," the housekeeper replied.


    Knowing that Freya had gone to school sent Kieran over the edge His grandma had warned her not to and she just ignored her. Did Freya have no respect for the Sutton family at all?


    Just then, Jarrett entered the Sutton Mansion. Noticing Kieran''s grim expression, he hesitated before saying, "Mr. Sutton... there''s a meeting this morning..."


    "Get someone to bring Freya back from school!" Kieran ordered.


    "Again?" Jarrett was stunned.


    They had just gotten started and they were already running back and forth to Summit University a bunch of times!


    "Do it! Until Freya realizes she should be back here cooking!"


    "And the meeting, Mr. Sutton?"


    "Postpone it!"


    Seeing the vein throbbing on Kieran''s forehead, Jarrett knew better than to argue and immediately arranged for someone to fetch Freya from Summit University. Meanwhile, Freya had returned to school. Her recent actions had quickly turned her into the talk of the campus.


    As soon as Freya stepped through the school gates, she became the center of attention.


    Even Luna following closely, felt


    ver


    uneasy under the scrutinizing eyes. She tugged at Freya''s sleeve, whispering, "Reya, why is everyone staring at you like that?" All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It wasn''t just the students. Even the teachers were looking at Freya with curiosity and intrigue.

 Chapter 132

    "Have you not seen the confession wall at school?" "What confession wall?"


    Luna was still clueless when Freya handed her phone over. The school''s confession wall interface was on the screen, filled with posts about Freya and Kieran''s entanglements, somehow dragging Eloise into the mix.


    "Freya in a love triangle with the CEO of the Sutton Group and the heiress of the Harwood family?" Luna was stunned upon reading the headline, continuing, "Freya, the socialite entangled with three of the most eligible bachelors? What a story!" "How can you even read that with a straight face?"


    Freya couldn''t even spit out the crap they were saying. Most of it was just crazy guesses dressed up with shy words just to make the news more juicy.


    Luna couldn''t help but click her tongue. "Man, who cooked this up could run a tabloid back home! How do they evene up with this stuff?" "Freya!" Suddenly, a shy, sun-kissed boy approached Freya.


    The young man was quite handsome, nervously pulling out a rose he''d prepared and handing it to Freya. "Do you, uh, have a boyfriend?"


    Luna sighed. "Kid, she''s practically engaged. Take a hint, will you?"


    Hearing this, the boy froze.


    Then, another student stepped forward, pulling the boy away. "Are you out of your mind? Don''t you know who she is? How can you confess your love to her?"


    The boy lookedpletely clueless, but when his buddy gave him a heads up, he quickly realized he was standing in front of Freya, the girl everyone at school was talking about.


    Realizing who Freya was turned the boy pale, and both students beat a hasty retreat.


    Freyamented, "See, just the


    name Freya sends them running et


    bet even the cats and dogs at Summit University steer clear ofContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    me


    "No need to clear the streets."


    Suddenly, a voice came from behind.


    BUMS


    Freya turned to see Preston, d in a sharp suit, standing behind her.


    Luna was seeing Preston up close for the first time and couldn''t hide her astonishment. The news said


    Preston fell for Freya at first sight


    and even defended her at an auction, crossing Kieran in the process!


    Luna was skeptical of such news at first. But seeing Preston at the school convinced her otherwise. Luna excitedly tugged at Freya''s arm. "It''s Preston! Preston himself!"


    "Mr. Tyler, are you here to discuss investments? Or have you ventured into phnthropy?"


    "I''m not here for investments. I''m here for you." With that, Preston reached out and took Freya''s arm. Luna gasped at the gesture.


    The onlookers dared only watch from a distance, none brave enough toe closer.


    Meanwhile, a woman witnessed the scene amongst the crowd. Kara had only been at the school for a few days and was surprised to see Freya also attending. Moreover, Freya quickly became entangled with figures like Ronan and Preston.

 Chapter 133

    Was this what they called high society?


    Watching Preston whisk Freya away, everyone around couldn''t hide their envy. Preston had never been the type to chase after a girl, especially not to school! "Kara, isn''t that your cousin?" one of the ssmates nudged Kara.


    "Yeah, is she having an affair with Mr. Tyler? Come on, spill the beans!" another pressed, both eager to dive into the juiciest gossip in our elite circle.


    Kara shuffled around awkwardly. Even though she was rted to Johanna, she practically had zero connections with the Dawson family.


    And as for Freya? She hardly acknowledged Kara as her cousin.


    Seeing Kara''s hesitation, one girl teased, "Kara, you''re not making this up, are you?"


    "Yeah, if you''re Freya''s cousin, howe you know nothing about her? Didn''t you say Mr. Sutton helped you get into Summit University?" Their skepticism was palpable.


    "I-I''m telling the truth!" Kara insisted.


    "Doesn''t seem like it," another girl scoffed. "So, what''s the real deal with Freya and Mr. Tyler? Is she cheating or what?"


    That was when Kara thought of Kieran. During that meeting in his office, Kieran mentioned that someone else could easily take Freya''s ce.


    If rumors about Freya started circting, maybe Kieran would consider her instead.


    With that thought, Kara managed a sly smile and said, "You know how messy things can get in our circle. Some things are better left unsaid, right?" Kara''s ambiguous statement set off a bombshell.


    "So, you''re saying Freya is involved with Mr. Tyler?"


    Emboldened, Kara ventured, "Why, else would Mr. Tyler show up at school first thing in the morning?" Didn''t you see how close he and Freya were?"


    Kara''s words were enough to


    most of them. It was noret


    umon for people to


    s in their circle. Conteret


    for people to have their


    belongs


    It looked like Freya wasn''t the goody-two-shoes they thought she was, flirting all over the ce!


    "Kara, since you''re Freya''s cousin, you must see Mr. Sutton often, right?"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "Yeah. We heard Mr. Sutton isn''t hanging around Ms. Harwood much now. Does he have someone new in mind?"


    Everyone crowded around Kara, hoping to glean some insider info about Kieran from her.


    But Kara was in a tight spot. She had only met Kieran a few times and hadn''t had the chance to see him since. Attempts to thank him in person always got turned away.


    Yet, to maintain her facade of


    belonging to high society before her peers, Kara bluffed, "Of course, Freya is now staying at Mr. Sutton''s ce! Everyone knows Mr. Sutton had a thing for Ms. Harwood, so he prefers the gentle and elegant type.


    Suddenly, a wave of excitement spread among the nearby girls. "Hey! Check it out! It''s Mr. Sutton!"


    "Mr. Sutton''s here again? Could he be here for Freya?"


    Everyone''s eyes turned. The arrival of two prominent figures at school early in the morning was a cause for excitement.


    When she saw Kieran stepping out of the car, Kara''s face flushed with color.


    "Kara, you''re Freya''s cousin. Aren''t you going to say hello to Mr. Sutton?" one girl nudged.


    "Yeah, go on. Give us a show," another interrupted.

 Chapter 134

    Seeing everyone egging her on, Kara felt like she had no choice but to step forward and say hello, even if she didn''t want to.


    After all, when she had arrived at the university a few days earlier, Kara had boasted to her ssmates that she was the cousin of Kieran''s fianc¨¦e.


    But her ssmates were all genuine elites and heiresses, and even if they weren''t on the level of Kieran and the Dawson family, they were all from wealthy backgrounds.


    Those in her ss didn''t respect Kara, who hade from a small town to a big city. If she didn''t greet Kieran, wouldn''t it be just like admitting she had been lying all this time? With this thought, Kara moved forward as if possessed. When she saw Kieran looking her way, her heart skipped a beat.


    In no time, Jarrett was by her side. "You''re Ms. Orson, correct? Mr. Sutton wants to have a chat with you."


    Kara was stunned by this sudden invitation.


    Those behind her were surprised to see Kieran wanting to meet Kara, astonishment written all over their faces. Could it be everything Kara said was true? Did she get in because of Kieran? Feeling the gazes around her, Kara straightened her back, a hint of pride in her posture.


    "Okay, I''lle."


    Following Jarrett toward Kieran, she caught the attention of many.


    Kara''s outfit was like Eloise''s, so people spected about her identity and how she had gotten a personal audience with Kieran.


    "Mr. Sutton..." When Kara looked at Kieran, she felt a bit nervous, her cheeks flushing as she spoke.


    But Kieran didn''t seem interested in catching up. He frowned and asked, "Where''s Freya?"


    Disappointment crossed Kara''s eyes when she heard Kieran had called her over to ask about Freya.


    But noticing the crowd of onlookers, Kara quickly concocted a n. She stepped closer to Kieran and suggested, "Mr. Sutton, many people are watching here. Maybe we could find a quieter ce to talk?


    wouldn''t want to cause a scene at the university."


    Kara''s eyes pleaded with him.


    Thinking about what Freya had gone through at the university, Kieran uncharacteristically agreed, "Follow me."


    When she saw Kieran give the thumbs up, Kara couldn''t keep her happiness a secret and tagged along right away. Seeing Kara able to leave with Kieran, her ssmates couldn''t hide their envy.


    "It seems everything Kara said was true! Mr. Sutton has introduced her."


    "Mr. Sutton is usually standoffish. Aside from Eloise, he''s never been this close to anyone."


    "Could it be that Kara and Mr. Sutton..."


    Some began specting about Kara and Kieran''s rtionship, while one girl scoffed, "Please! Isn''t she Freya''s cousin? I guess she''s only a poor rtive of the Dawson family!"


    "What do you know? This circle is chaotic. We all know how much Mr. Sutton dislikes Freya, but look at how much nicer he is to Kara!"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Meanwhile, Luna was about to leave


    when she overheard a few people discussing Kara. Frowning, she thought. ''Kara? Did Kara leave with Kieran? No, I need to tell Reya quickly!''  en


    Outside Summit University, Kieran had Kara step into his car.


    This was the first time Kara had ever been in such a fancy car and she was totally awestruck by the inside. Was this what the good life was like?

 Chapter 135

    Seeing Kara still hadn''t revealed Freya''s whereabouts, Kieran''s expression grew increasingly impatient. "Where is Freya?"


    Kara noticed Kieran''s mood and quickly said, "I... I''ll tell you, but please, Mr. Sutton, don''t be mad."


    "Speak."


    "I saw Freya leaving with Mr. Tyler." As Kara spoke, she couldn''t resist spicing up the story. "Freya should know better. Here is school, not a ce for her to be all over Mr. Tyler. Many people saw them, and they''re all talking about it. I wanted to tell you privately, Mr. Sutton, to save you the embarrassment. But please don''t be mad at Freya. At most, she''s just being a bit thoughtless. She cares about you, Mr. Sutton."


    Hearing Kara''s words, Kieran''s face darkened.


    ''Truly cares about me? If Freya cared, why would she leave with Preston without a word? And to be so publicly affectionate!''


    The thought was enough to stir Kieran''s anger. ''Does Freya even understand her ce?''


    Seeing Kieran''s grim expression, Kara knew she had achieved her goal.


    "Mr. Sutton... I''m only telling you this to clear up any misunderstandings between you and Freya. Don''t be upset. Maybe Mr. Tyler had something important to discuss with her."


    It was clear why Preston hade for Freya at the school in broad daylight.


    Kieran''s expression turned icy.


    Everyone knew Preston hadn''t bothered to interact with anyone since he arrived in Echo City, let alone be seen in an intimate setting with a woman. That only confirmed how special Freya was to Preston. Kieran said coldly, "You can get out of the car now."


    "Mr. Sutton..." Kara wanted to say more, but Jarrett had opened the passenger door.


    Kara didn''t see any other options, so she bit her lip and stepped out of the car.


    Once Jarrett was back in the car and saw Kieran''s stern face in the rearview mirror, he couldn''t help but ask,


    Mr. Sutton, what sewe do


    next?"


    "Search." Kieran''s eyes shed with a cold light. "Check all hotel records. I want to know where Freya and Preston have gone!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Meanwhile, at the Echo City Hotel, Freya watched Preston take her ID and hand it to the front desk.


    Freya couldn''t help butugh in frustration. "You bring me here early to check into a hotel? Mr. Tyler, are you serious?"


    "It''s just registration, not checking


    in." Preston seemed unfazed, his voice cold as he said, "It''s


    talk bere, less likely to be t


    "But..."


    This could easily lead to misunderstandings, couldn''t it?


    Freya took a deep breath, and once she got her ID back, she tucked it into her bag.


    "Mr. Tyler, you''re something else. A guy who doesn''t even obey the overseas is suddenly all about


    overseas do


    following hotel check-infeliet


    FreyaAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    couldn''t help but tease him.


    She couldn''t understand why a man of Preston''s stature, wealthy, powerful, and with a vast empire, would fall for Eloise''s charms.


    Perhaps sensing Freya''s scrutinizing gaze, Preston suddenly stopped, causing Freya to catch her breath.

 Chapter 136

    ''Really?'' Freya thought, ''Preston, you''ve got eyes in the back of your head now?''


    Preston said coldly, "Hans, pat her down."


    Freya stood her ground as Hans stepped forward to search her. She frowned and said, "I am, after all, Kieran''s fianc¨¦e. Shouldn''t someone else be doing this?"


    "You''re right." Preston''s voice was devoid of emotion.


    Freya thought he''d have one of the women staff members frisk her, but then Preston walked up to her and said, "I''ll do it myself."


    "You..."


    Before Freya could finish, Preston had already begun to search her.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    After confirming Freya wasn''t carrying anything suspicious, Preston allowed her into his penthouse suite.


    Once inside, Freya started to take in thevishyout of the suite, which was probably the most modestly appointed penthouse in Echo City. The furnishings were surprisingly sparse, the bed reminiscent of a wooden nk.


    Not even Preston, much less any middle-ss worker in Echo City, would stay in such a ce. After all, it was outdated, sparsely furnished, and, most importantly, outrageously priced.


    "Take a look." Preston got straight to the point.


    He tossed a stack of documents onto the table before Freya.


    Bending down, Freya picked them up and saw they were about 120 South Seashore Drive. Thend belonged to the Harwood family.


    Preston had his eyes on thend to open a new branch of the Tyler Group in Echo City. Basically, he was trying to sheak his overseas money back home legally-something people often refer to as "moneyundering."


    "Mr. Tyler, why show me this?" Freya asked.


    Pretending ignorance, Preston leaned back on the sofa and said, "No one knows why I''vee to Echo City. I''m curious. How did you know tintended to buy 120 South Seashore Drive?" Even Hans was in the dark about this.


    Of course, Freya knew the significance of Preston buying thend.


    She remembered because, in her past life, Preston fell for Eloise


    instantly after he met her. Initially


    nning to buy thend at a l


    price, Preston purchased it for ten


    times its value to catch Eloise''s


    attention.


    His extravagant pursuit of Eloise had caused quite a stir in Echo City. But all of that had yet to happen. Except for Freya and Preston, no one paid any attention to thend. "Let''s say I got lucky with a guess," Freya said.


    After all, she couldn''t tell Preston she was reborn. No one would believe such an absurd im.


    Preston''s piercing gaze scrutinized Freya''s words, skeptical.


    "I have many ways to make Ms. Dawson talk. Would you wish to try?" he said, noting Hans to get ready to move in.


    In desperation, Freya blurted out, "Mr. Tyler, aren''t you interested in getting closer to Eloise by buying thatnd? I can help!" Mention of Eloise raised Preston''s eyebrows, "Oh?"


    His interest in Eloise was partly because of thend and because Eloise was Kieran''s woman.


    But how did Freya know?

 Chapter 137

    Freya said with a sly twinkle in her eye, "That piece ofnd is only worth one hundred million. If you wanted to purchase it, I could help make the introductions. How does that sound?" After all, Preston was bound to fall for Eloise sooner orter.


    She thought she might as well y Cupid. It didn''t matter how Preston and Kieran pursued Eloise. She was just an outsider.


    With Preston as a formidable rival, Kieran would likely stop obsessing over her.


    Piqued, Preston asked, "And how would you help me make these connections?"


    "I''ll arrange a meeting with Eloise, offering to leave Kieran if that''s what it takes... Mr. Tyler, you name your price for thend."


    "Oh?" Preston said, "Ms. Dawson, sacrificing oneself for others... that''s a level of nobility I''ve yet to achieve."


    "You jest, Mr. Tyler," Freya responded. "Just say the word, and I''ll give Ms. Harwood a call. Could be a good chance for you two to break the ice. What do you think?" Freya''s eyes sparkled with mischief.


    Preston sipped his coffee and remarked, "I hear you''ve got quite the soft spot for Kieran, going to such lengths. And now, you''re willing to leave him?"


    "I do fancy Kieran, but this is all to show my sincerity to Mr. Tyler. Moreover, I know Kieran''s heart belongs to someone else. Why should I continue ying the fool?"


    Despite Freya''s earnest tone, Preston detected something amiss. "Ms. Dawson, your gift of gab would be wasted anywhere but in sales."


    Setting down his coffee, Preston continued, "It seems you''re looking for a way out of an engagement, and you''vee to me for help, haven''t you?"


    Freya was about to exin further when Preston said, "Helping you isn''t out of the question."


    Taking Freya by surprise, he added, "Contact Eloise now. Let''s find a ce to have a proper discussion."


    "Deal. I''ve been waiting for you to say that." With that, Freya pulled out her phone.


    Meanwhile, Kieran''s mood had soured considerably.


    Jarrett received a call, and upon


    learning Freya was at the Echo CitOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hotel, his expression darkened. "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Found her?"


    "She''s at the Echo City Hotel."


    When Kieran heard that Preston and Freya had actually gone to a hotel, his face went stormy. It felt like the car suddenly turned into a freezer.


    Jarrett ventured, "Mr. Sutton, this might be a misunderstanding."


    "A misunderstanding? Alone in a hotel and you call it a


    "Kieran cleel


    l manding?" Kieran c


    his teeth. "Drive there. Now


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett floored the elerator.


    At that moment, Freya was dialing Eloise''s number.


    But before the call could go through, Kieran''s call came in. Frowning, Freya hung up.


    Calling her first thing in the morning? Ridiculous!


    On the other end, Kieran saw Freya hang up, and his frustration peaked, "Freya Dawson!" "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Just drive!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."

 Chapter 138

    Jarrett didn''t dare utter another word.


    Kieran immediately stepped out when the car stopped outside the Echo City Hotel. Recognizing Kieran, the hotel staff quickly approached and said, "Mr. Sutton, may I..."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ""Beat it!"


    The employee was startled by Kieran''s harsh tone.


    Jarrett quickly followed Kieran, whispering, "She''s in room 8302 on the third floor."


    Kieran headed for the elevator, searching for the room number 8302.


    Standing before the door, Kieran hesitated to enter.


    Just as Jarrett was about to swipe the keycard, Kieran grabbed it out of his hands.


    After a moment''s pause,cking the courage to open the door, Kieran finally took a deep breath, swiped the card, and listened as the door unlocked.


    What met his eyes was a spotlessly clean room.


    "Where is she?" Kieran furrowed his brow in confusion.


    Jarrett was as stunned. "But... she should be here! I checked earlier. She was here."


    "Find out what happened!"


    "Right away." Jarrett immediately went downstairs to have the staff investigate.


    Meanwhile, unable to reach Eloise by phone, Freya sent Eloise a message to meet up.


    Soon after, there came a flurry of footsteps outside the door.


    Freya frowned, asking, "What''s going on outside?"


    "It looks like your fianc¨¦ sent people to catch you in the act."


    "What?" Freya was shocked. She remembered how she had


    von


    registered at the front desk earlier, and it all clicked. "You booked two rooms?"


    Considering how much pull Kieran had in Echo City, there was no way he wouldn''t be able to find her unless Preston had booked two rooms ahead of time to trick her into registering for the wrong one


    "Since everything''s settled, we''ll meet again then." Preston got up, ready to leave. Freya said, "If you leave, what about me?"


    "Ms. Dawson, that''s an interesting question. If I''m gone, what concern is it of mine what happens to you?" A smirk yed at the corner of Preston''s mouth.


    As Preston opened the door to leave, Freya''s face darkened instantly. That damn sly fox!


    Preston stepped out of the room, and right by the elevator, he ran into Kieran, who had been asking around.


    Preston teased, "What''s this, Mr. Sutton? Decided to y detective?"


    Seeing Preston and Hans, Kieran coldly demanded, "Where''s Freya?"


    "Ms. Dawson?" Preston feigned confusion, turning to Hans. "Hans, have you seen Ms. Dawson?"


    "Nope." Hans''s reply was brisk.


    Kieran said, "My people told me she was here with you, Mr. Tyler, so I sent someone to have a look." "Ah, I see." Preston extended a hand, and Hans passed Freya''s ID to Kieran.

 Chapter 139

    "Ms. Dawson''s ID went missing at the venue and ended up in my hands. And what do you know, my assistant here was without an ID as well, so we thought, ''Why not use it for a bit?'' Mr. Sutton, you know how it is. The folks we deal with aren''t the cleanest. Living in aw- abiding ce like Echo City can be a challenge." Though Preston said this with a casual shrug, Kieran wasn''t buying it for a second. "I''d rather have my people take a thorough look around. Anyway, someone saw you two leaving Summit University together."


    "Who saw us?" Preston''s interest piqued, a dangerous glint shing in his eyes. "I''d like to meet this person."


    In Echo City, or anywhere else, no one dared cross Preston.


    Kieran knew she wouldn''t dare point a finger at Freya and Preston in his presence even if he called Kara over.


    Jarrett approached and informed Kieran, "We''ve searched everywhere, Mr. Sutton. There''s no sign of Ms. Dawson."


    "If you can''t find her, keep looking till you do," Kieran ordered, his voice cold as ice. "The hotel''s not that enormous. There''s no way Freya has suddenly grown wings and flown off."


    "Understood," Jarrett immediately ordered more staff to continue the search.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Uninterested in the ongoing drama, Preston announced, "Mr. Sutton, enjoy your search. I''ll be on my way."


    With that, Preston swiped his card and disappeared into his room.


    Meanwhile, Freya had slipped away from the Echo City Hotel unnoticed, thanks to a borrowed hat.


    When Kieran tried calling her again, Freya saw his name sh on her phone and promptly hit decline. Answering his call would only scream guilt!


    Twenty minutester, Freya was back at Summit University.


    Having just finished two sses, Luna was dozing off in the ssroom. The sight of Freya instantly woke her up. "Good heavens! How did you get back so quickly?"


    It had only been two sses!


    "Didn''t you message me about seeing Kara and Kieran together? Where''s Kara?"


    "Kara? I have no clue. Doesn''t she study finance? First-year students have sses now, but you should check her schedule."


    "Let''s go find her."


    "Now? But ss is about to start!"


    "We''re not missing much."


    Always in the top ten of their ss and a star student, Luna could ditch a ss without it causing any trouble.


    Following Freya, Luna asked, "What''s


    going on? Why the rush? Did Kara and Kieran start rumors? That Johanna, not a single good egg in her family!"


    As Luna rambled on, they bumped into Kara, books in hand, and on her way to ss.


    Kara''s face paled at the sight of Freya. Wasn''t Freya supposed to be with Preston?


    The students apanying Kara nudged her at the sight of Freya, whispering, "Kara, your cousin''s here!" Freya changed drastically since the engagement party. Even her sense of fashion differed from Eloise''s.


    Upon closer inspection, people


    realized Freya and Eloise didn''t look as simr as they thought, sharing only a universally attractive facial structure.


    But with her even more striking features, Freya was undeniably the more breathtaking of the two, growing more appealing the more one looked. "F-Freya..." Kara stuttered, clearly uneasy.


    Having just spoken ill of Freya to Kieran, Kara feared this unexpected confrontation might lead to something worse.


    Freya smiled slightly. "Kara, let''s talk over here."


    "Freya, I''ve got ss..." Kara tried to


    Serself, but Freya had


    leborself, but Freya had


    closer, insisting, "It wait.


    belongs to en..co.ne


    settle my matter

 Chapter 140

    Freya didn''t even give Kara a chance to protest.


    When everyone saw Freya taking Kara by the arm and leading Kara away, whispers erupted in the crowd.


    "Does Freya know Kara''s been cozying up to Mr. Sutton and is green with envy?"


    "It''s definitely gonna be a face-off. What else could have put that look on Freya''s face?"


    "Freya thinks too highly of herself. Mr. Sutton is into Kara, and what''s there for her to be jealous about? Everyone knows her fianc¨¦e title is just for show."


    Overhearing the gossip, Luna nced at the group sternly. "What was that? Say it one more time!"


    Knowing Luna as the daughter of a media mogul, the group quickly apologized, "Ms. Jennings, we were just spouting nonsense!"


    "Yeah, just talking rubbish! Please don''t take it to heart."


    "I''m warning you. If I hear anyone badmouthing Freya again, you''ll regret it." Luna''s tone had turned icy.


    The group quieted down, not wanting to piss off Luna. After all, Luna had powerful parents backing her up, unlike Freya, who only had a stepmom. Meanwhile, Freya had taken Kara to an empty ssroom.


    Once inside, looking rather pitiful, Kara said, "Freya, you''re hurting me."


    "What did you say to Kieran?"


    "I... I didn''t..." Kara bit her lip, pleading, "I didn''t say anything."


    Seeing Kara''s woeful expression, Freyaughed. "I''m not usually one for violence, but if someone crosses the line, I won''t hesitate to respond."


    "Freya... I don''t know what you''re talking about." Kara was on the verge of tears. "I don''t know who''s been filling your head with gossip, but I swear I didn''t badmouth you to Mr. Sutton."


    "Don''t y innocent. Your ssmates saw everything, and so did I. Denying it won''t help. Maybe I should call in one of them to verify what you and Kieran were up to this morning." When Luna suddenly appeared, Kara''s face fell.


    Freya continued, "You should remember, you got into Summit University because of me. Otherwise, Kieran wouldn''t have pulled strings for you. Kara, I''ll give you one more chance. Speak up, will you?"


    "I''ll talk! I''ll talk Kara hurriedly


    confessed. Im sorry, Freya. It


    wasn''t intentional. It was Mr. Sutton. He insisted on asking. After all, J Sutton got me into Summit


    University. I feared he''d kickveldContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    out


    if didn''t tell him the truth.


    Kara grabbed Freya''s arm, pleading, "Freya, it''s my fault. I''m sorry, but what I said was the truth. You''re engaged How can you be so close to another man? Please, don''t be mad at me. I said many good things about you before Mr. Sutton..."


    Watching Kara, Freya shed back to the day Kara had even gone down on her knees to shine Kieran''s shoes at the Sutton Group. Kara must have some kind of game n with Kieran. "You''re just stating the facts," Freya said, smiling. "I''m not mad."


    "Reya! How can you not be mad?" Luna was livid, seeing through Kara''s intentions, even as an outsider. How could Freya not?


    Yet to Kara, Freya said, "You''re


    oversimplifying things. Do you think you, who entered Summit University through the back door, will have any security in the future if Kieran doubts my rtionship with Tyler and breaks off our


    Bynoel.


    engagement in anger?"


    Upon hearing this, Kara, who had been ying the victim, was suddenly speechless.

 Chapter 141

    Freya said, "You''re only here because Kieran gave you a chance for my sake. Once our engagement is off, he won''t bother with you anymore." At those words, Kara''s face darkened.


    Freya continued, "Besides, all the students at Summit Universitye from high society and elite families. They have their standards for friendship. You''re a distant cousin of the Dawson family and not from Echo City but from some small town. Without Kieran and me, you can imagine how tough your days at school will be, right?"


    Each word Freya said made Kara''s face look more and more distressed. She could see how ready her ssmates were to make fun of her.


    Without the connection of Kieran and Freya, relying on her status as a distant rtive of the Dawson family, Kara feared she''d endure four years of mockery and disdain in school.


    Frightened by the thought, Kara immediately pleaded, "Freya, I know I''ve messed up. What should I do?"


    Seeing Kara''s fear, Freya said, "It''s not too hard. I did go out with Mr. Tyler today, but it was about business. But even if I try exining that to Kieran, he won''t believe it. So, I''ll need your help to vouch for meter." Kara was curious. "Vouch for you?"


    Freya nodded. "Yeah. Prove I was at school all along."


    Kara looked at Freya, hesitating. If she did as Freya asked, wouldn''t Kieran dislike her, thinking she was a liar?


    "You gotta make the call that''s best for you. Do you want to chill out and enjoy your time at Summit University, or are you gonna live scared because of some beef between the Dawsons and the Suttons?" Freyaid out Kara''s options.


    Choosing the former might cost Kara some of Kieran''s favor, but at least she wouldn''t be ostracized by her peers at Summit.


    Choosing thetter could lead to a rift with the Sutton family, and it wouldn''t make Kieran like her more. Instead, she would lose his protection.


    As a college student, Kara should understand the pros and cons.


    After some thought, Kara bit her lip and said, "Okay! I''ll do it!"


    "That''s the spirit. That''s being smart."


    Just as Freya and Luna were about to leave, Kara suddenly grabbed Freya''s arm, saying, "Freya, if I just go back like this, people will talk. Could you, maybe, walk me to my ss?"


    en


    Hearing this, Freya raised an eyebrow. ''Kara is always ying her little games.''


    Luna fumed. "Walk you to your ss? Kara, don''t push your luck! You think we don''t know you..."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Okay, I''ll walk you to your ss." Freya cut Luna off, leaving Luna holding back her frustration. "Reya!"


    "It''s just a short walk." Freya shot Luna a reassuring look.


    Even though Luna wasn''t happy about it, she went along with Freya on the walk.


    The teacher hadn''t arrived at the ssroom yet, but the students were all there. Freya and Luna escorted Kara to ss, and Kara even made a point of chatting with Freya at the door.


    The students inside watched the scene and whispered about Kara''s status. They had thought Kara was a country bumpkin from a small town, but she turned out to be Freya''s cousin, and their rtionship seemed quite close.


    Considering how Kieran had called Kara away that morning, everyone started to believe Kara was someone of significant standing.

 Chapter 142

    Seeing Kara return to ss, Luna fumed, "Why are you helping her? She''s just trying to bask in your glory to up her status! I''ve seen this type a mile away!"


    Luna had immediately seen through Kara''s schemes and couldn''t believe Freya hadn''t.


    Freya exined, "It''s not about helping Kara. It''s more about keeping Kieran in check through her."


    If Kieran found out she had the private deals with Preston, there would be hell to pay. The Dawson Group would face Kieran''s wrath again. Thinking about it gave Freya a headache.


    Freya had clung to Kieran like a bad habit, and he had barely given her the time of day. And when she desperately wanted to avoid him, Kieran seemed more relentless than ever. What a mess! "Look, look! Mr. Sutton''s here!"


    "Is that Mr. Sutton again? Why does he keep showing up so muchtely?"


    "He must be here for Eloise, right? I heard they had a row, so Mr. Sutton''s beening to school looking for her."


    "Not at all! I think Mr. Sutton''s here for Freya."


    "For Freya? But I thought he couldn''t stand her?"


    ...


    The students whispered among themselves in the hallway.


    Freya and Luna watched from the window as Kieran showed up with an entire entourage.


    Luna was shocked. "What''s Kieran up to,ing here over and over? Doesn''t the Sutton Group have better things to do? Why does he keep showing up here looking for trouble?"


    en


    "What can we do? He''s here to make a scene." Freya hadn''t expected Kieran to act so quickly. She had barely arrived at school when Kieran followed suit. "Let''s go! I''ll back you up."


    "Come back here!" Seeing Luna


    about to drag her away, Freya


    quickly said, "Dragging me in front of


    him now would just scream that we''re up to something. Don''t you think so?"


    "So, what do we do?" asked Luna.


    "Just follow my lead!" Freya pulled Luna in the opposite direction.


    Along the way, the students in the hallway looked at Freya with curious


    eyes. After all, the entire couri


    was swarming with the Sutton family''s bodyguards. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Just as Freya and Luna were heading downstairs, one of the Sutton family''s bodyguards stopped them. "Ms. Dawson."


    Freya asked coldly, "What is it?"


    The guard said, "Mr. Sutton wants to see you. Pleasee with us."


    "Let Mr. Sutton know I''m not interested in meeting him." With that, Freya attempted to walk past, but the guard immediately called Kieran on the radio. Hearing the news, Kieran strode toward them, determined.


    Luna fumed. "What is Mr. Sutton? Is he some barnacle? Freya''s just trying to attend ss, and he''s always on her tail! Have some dignity. Why don''t you!"

 Chapter 143

    Luna''s voice was neither loud nor soft, hitting the sweet spot in Kieran''s ears. Kieran''s face turned as dark as a thundercloud.


    He suddenly remembered that when Freya used to tag along behind him, he would say the same things to her.


    Seeing Kieran had arrived, Luna said, "Mr. Sutton, Reya''s here for school, and you keep showing up. What''s this about? Are you trying to y guardian angel or something?"


    Freya looked at Kieran with furrows and said unhappily, "Mr. Sutton, you following me around like this isn''t appropriate, right? Don''t you have anything better to do? Hanging around me, don''t you realize how much trouble you''re causing for others?" Hearing these familiar lines made Kieran''s face even more unsightly. Freya still remembered clearly.


    Back in the days when she used to bring lunch to Kieran, he would dismiss her from afar. Struggling in her high heels, she would trail behind him, only to be met with his merciless scoff.


    "Freya, you''re a girl. Tailing me around like this, have you no shame? Don''t you have anything better to do? You''re always causing me trouble! Don''t you realize how much trouble you''re causing others?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Back then, she could only obediently take the rebuke. Whenever she had to bring Kieran lunch afterward, she could only leave the lunchbox at the front desk and asionally catch a distant glimpse of Kieran before hastily leaving.


    Thinking back to how she used to bend over backward for him, Freya couldn''t help butugh. Who would have thought the tables between her and Kieran had turned only a few days into her fresh start?


    "Freya, you know why I''m here looking for you!" Kieran was still making excuses.


    Feigning confusion, Freya asked, "How would I know why you''re here looking for me? Making such a big deal, people have sses to attend, Mr. Sutton. Just because you''re an investor in this school doesn''t mean you can throw your weight around, right?" "Yeah, I''ve seen many people around school already quite upset. They''reining about not being able to attend sses properly." Luna interrupted from the side, perfectly setting the atmosphere.


    Barely holding back his anger, Kieran said, "I asked you to make breakfast for me this morning. Where were you?"


    "Mr. Sutton, we have a maid at


    home, and you''re not paying me a sry, so why should I make breakfast for you?" Freya replied, calmly, "Besides, I''m a student.


    need to attend school. You do


    realize it, Mr. Sutton, don''t you? And


    yet you still ask where I was."


    "Is that so?" As if he''d caught Freya in a trap, Kieran coldly asked, "Were you at school, or were you and Preston booking a motel room?"


    Hearing thosest few words, even Luna felt the impact.


    ''Booking a motel room?'' Luna nced at Freya. ''Wow, talk about setting an example!''


    Freya frowned and said, "Mr. Sutton, you should speak with evidence. Who told you I booked a motel room with Preston?"


    Kieran asked again, "The Echo City Hotel has a record of you and Preston checking in. Are you saying you didn''t go?"


    "My ID was lost a few days ago, Mr. Sutton. You could check that. So, you came here all worked up over


    hearsay? Did you investigate? Omet


    catch us in the act?" Freya''s tone was all dissatisfaction toward Kieran.


    "I... I..." Kieran was momentarily speechless. Although he hadn''t investigated thoroughly or caught them red-handed, Kara had imed she saw with her eyes, and the Echo City Hotel indeed had a record of two people checking in, which was hard not to be suspicious of.


    Freya snorted, "It looks like you don''t have any proof, Mr. Sutton. So, please step aside. We have sses to attend."


    Seeing Freya about to slip away, Kieran instinctively grabbed her arm.


    Seeing Kieran''s hand gripping her arm, Freya frowned and said, "Mr. Sutton, please mind the setting. I haven''t signed any indenture with the Sutton family." With that, Freya led Luna away, leaving Kieran behind.

 Chapter 144

    Kieran was stunned by the words.


    Beside him, Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton, could it be... that we''ve got Ms. Dawson wrong?"


    Kieran clenched his fists. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, how Freya treated him just now had ticked him off. "Go ask Kara what''s going on!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton," replied Jarrett, who quickly led the team upstairs.


    Kieran rubbed his temples, looking weary.


    Meanwhile, having witnessed the exchange between Freya and Kieran, Luna was dumbfounded. "Reya, I''ve known you for so long, and I think that was the coolest you''ve ever been! Before, Kieran treated you like a doormat, and it was infuriating to watch! But now, it seems you''ve finally seen the light!"


    Freya smiled. "Yeah, seen the light."


    After all, how could she not have, after everything that had happened?


    Just then, Freya''s phone rang. Seeing Johanna calling, she almost hung up. But after a moment''s thought, Freya decided to answer.


    On the line, Johanna''s voice oozed sweetness, "Reya! Are you at the Sutton Mansion? Is Mr. Sutton there?"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Freya answered, "I''m at school."


    Johanna sounded displeased by her answer. "You''re practically the Sutton family''s futuredy! What are you doing at school? You can be so clueless sometimes!"


    Hearing Johanna nagging again, Freya was running out of patience. "Johanna, if that''s it, I''m hanging up."


    Just as she was about to end the call, Johanna hurriedly said, "Wait! Don''t hang up. I haven''t finished talking!"


    Seeing Freya remain silent, Johanna awkwardly voiced her request, "Reya, it''s Lnd''s birthday in a few days. I was thinking of throwing a big birthday bash for him. What do you say?" Freya said coldly, "If you want to celebrate Lnd''s birthday, go ahead. Why involve me?"


    "Well... the thing is, booking a hall at the Majestic Manor Hotel requires some nning. You know I''m not flush with cash now, and thepany is under your management..." Hearing Johanna''s words, a chill crept into Freya''s gaze.


    She thought, ''Majestic Manor Hotel? Who throws a neenth birthday party in a banquet hall at the Majestic Manor Hotel?''


    That ce wasn''t just about having the money but was about having the clout. Every event booked at the Majestic Manor Hotel was for industry moguls or highly esteemed social figures. And Lnd, barely out of his teens, expected to celebrate there? That wasughable.


    "I''m aware it''s a tall order, but now that you''re practically the Sutton family''s fianc¨¦e, it''s only right for Lnd to bask in your reflected glory! fets people know the


    5


    standing of the Dawson family!"


    Johanna''s voice even carried a hint of pride.


    Casually admiring her manicure, Freya responded, "Johanna, you must be joking. That ce is out of my league."


    "No worries! If you can''t afford it, Mr.


    Sutton can! Just sweet-talk Mr.


    Sutton and that banquet hall at the


    Majestic Manor Hotel is ours,


    °É


    Johanna said as if it were the most


    natural thing in the world.


    Freya remembered a simr situation from her past life when Johanna had thrown a birthday bash for Lnd at another upscale hotel, leveraging her status as the futuredy of the Sutton family.

 Chapter 145

    A realedy of errors unfolded at Lnd''s birthday bash, making Kieran despise Freya even more.


    In her past life, Freya had never won Kieran''s affection, so Joanna had always tread lightly. But in this life, Freya had moved into the Sutton family, and Johanna began to think she had it in the bag, growing increasingly bold. "Johanna, I remember we didn''t even celebrate my birthdayst year, did we? You told Dad that girls should not rush to be in the spotlight at a young age. Am I right?"


    When Freya mentioned the past, Johanna shamelessly retorted, "How can boys and girls be the same? Besides, you''ve taken over thepany. What about Lnd? Doesn''t he need to attend these parties to meet influential people? If you say no, I''ll ask Mr. Sutton. He''ll surely side with his future mother-inw!"


    Hearing this, Freya let out a coldugh. ''Future mother-inw?''


    That seemed only Johanna''s wishful thinking. Kieran had never paid Johanna any mind, not to mention taking her as his would-be mother-inw.


    "Johanna, why don''t you try begging Kieran and see if he agrees?" With that, Freya hung up the phone.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Luna, beside her, quickly asked, "What did she say this time?"


    Freya sneered, "She wants to throw Lnd a birthday party at the Majestic Manor Hotel."


    "What? The Majestic Manor Hotel?" Luna was shocked. Even their family would struggle to book a room there.


    "The Majestic Manor Hotel is really picky about who they let in. That witch sure dreams big!" Luna said.


    "She mentioned she''d ask Kieran. Let her. It''s not me who''s going to end up embarrassed."


    Freya knew all too well that Lnd was a lost cause. Throwing such a grand party for him, he''d probably end up drunk and lost. God knows how he might embarrass Kieran.


    IMS


    "Let''s not worry about it. We''ve got sses to attend," Freya said, pulling Luna along.


    Meanwhile, one guard reported, "Mr. Sutton, I''ve looked into it. Ms. Orson must have made a mistake."


    Kieran wasn''t satisfied with that answer.


    ''Mistaken? Or intentional?'' These questions gave him a headache.


    "Let''s head back to the office," Kieran said with a frown, getting into the car to leave Summit University. Just then, Johanna''s call came through.


    He picked up the phone with hardly any patience, only to hear Johanna wailing on the other end. "Mr. Sutton, Freya is just being totally


    unreasonable!"


    "Get to the point." Kieran had no time for Johanna''s tears.


    Johanna quickly said, "I asked her to book a birthday party for Lnd! And she didn''t care at all! Mr. Sutton, you do need to discipline your fianc¨¦e. She''s getting more disobedient!"

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    Listening to Johanna drone on, Kieran couldn''t help but feel a wave of irritation wash over him. When had he signed up to babysit these kinds of messes? "Mrs. Dawson, I suggest you get a grip and stop overestimating your importance," Kieran said, his tone devoid of any attempt to sugarcoat his words.


    With that, he ended the call, leaving Johanna red-faced with anger and embarrassment on the other end. She hadn''t expected Kieran to brush off the matter so abruptly. But she had boasted about it to everyone who would listen. If she couldn''t pull this off, how was she supposed to show her face around Echo City''s high society again?


    Her phone rang again soon after. A voice filled with excitement sounded on the other end. "Mrs. Dawson, is it true that your son is throwing his birthday bash at the Majestic Manor Hotel? My husband is all ears about it and insists we attend!" Caught off-guard but unwilling to lose face, Johanna smiled and said, "Of course, it''s true. Why would you even doubt that? Freya is Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e, and Lnd is Freya''s brother. Booking the Majestic Manor Hotel is just a phone call away for us." Johanna was bluffing with the expertise of a seasoned gambler.


    As expected, the person on the other end bought the lie and said immediately, "If that''s the case, I''m in for a real treat! It''s rare to get to attend a party at such a prestigious ce. We''ve prepared a generous gift for you and Lnd!"


    Hearing the promise of gifts made Johanna''s grin widen. "Oh, don''t worry. You''ll be the first to receive an invitation!"


    "Thank you so much, Mrs. Dawson!" eximed the voice on the other end, making Johanna revel in the warmth of her imagined sess.


    But as soon as the call ended, worry crept in.


    The Majestic Manor Hotel wasn''t weing to just anyone, especially not with the Dawson family''s current standing. Without Kieran''s help, they were over.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Determined, Johanna decided it was


    time to take matters into her own hands. She couldn''t depend on anyone else. Johanna climbed the stairs to her room and adorned herself with her most expensive jewelry, slipping into a designer outfit and grabbing her luxury handbag. Looking at her reflection, she felt a surge of confidence.


    Meanwhile, at Summit University''s cafeteria, Freya was chuckling over the news of Johanna''s bold move toward the Majestic Manor Hotel. "She''s going alone?" Freya couldn''t help butugh.


    "Exactly," Luna replied, closing her phone. "You asked me to watch the situation, so I contacted a manager there. Sure enough, Johanna tried to book a spot, even insisting on


    the venue herself"


    Freya knew Kieran wouldn''t lift a finger to help Johanna. A sly smile yed on her lips. "This is going to be a spectacle. Let''s sit back and enjoy the show."


    Dressed to the nines, Johanna strutted into the Majestic Manor Hotel with the confidence of a queen.


    The Majestic Manor Hotel had long been the go-to venue for Echo City''s elite and international business magnates, where they had struck countless deals.


    As Johanna left her car, Manager


    Cory immediately recognized the et


    high-flying socialite. He approached her and said, "Mrs. Dawson, we received your call earlier."

 Chapter 147

    "Sure." Johanna sized up Cory with a nce, noticing that only the assistant manager hade to greet her. She said, "Didn''t I mention I wanted to book seats in the banquet hall? Is everything ready? I want to check out the venue." Cory heard that and apologized, "Mrs. Dawson, I''m sorry, but the banquet hall is all booked now. It seems we might not be able to amodate your request."


    "What?" Johanna frowned, "How is that possible? When I called earlier, your receptionist said there were seats avable."


    Cory offered an apologetic smile. "There were, but... a gentleman has just booked the entire banquet hall, so..."


    With a cold stare, Johanna said, "Mr. Cory, do you really think I''m that naive? There are only a handful of big yers in Echo City, and I haven''t heard of any big dinner partiestely. And your prices? They''re not exactly cheap. Tell me, how much did he pay you? I''ll double it."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Cory exined, "Mrs. Dawson, it''s not about the money..."


    Seeing Cory''s troubled face, Johanna red and demanded, "Oh? It''s not about the money? So, you''re saying the Dawson family isn''t worthy? Is Majestic Manor Hotel looking down on us, the Dawson family?"


    Johanna raised her voice, her already loud voice drawing the attention of everyone nearby.


    Cory said, "Mrs. Dawson, I assure you. I''m not making this up. It''s booked..."


    "I don''t care who booked it. I called you first, and you should know that my daughter Freya is about to marry into the Sutton family! And I am Mr. Sutton''s future mother-inw! The Sutton family''s status in Echo City is well-known, I presume? I suggest you think carefully about the consequences of upsetting me!" Johanna was relentless.


    Mentioning Kieran made Cory even more ufortable. He said, "Mrs. Dawson, it''s not that I don''t want to help, but..."


    "But what?" Johanna scoffed, "I''d like to see who has the nerve to book all your banquet halls! Bring him out! I''ll double the price, and we''ll see if I can''t buy it!"


    "What''s all themotion?" Suddenly, a voice reached Johanna''s ears.


    At the sound, Johanna''s expression soured.


    Ronan slowly appeared, and


    Johanna felt trapped. Ronan was et Kieran''s nemesis. Why


    he in Echo City booking so


    banquet halls?


    Cory approached Ronan, saying, "Mr. Beckett, Mrs. Dawson would like to purchase one of the banquet hall''s seats from you. I was discussing a potential solution with Mrs. Dawson. If you could spare one seat, Mrs. Dawson is willing to pay double."


    "Oh? Is that so?" Ronan''s gaze fell on Johanna.


    Seeing Ronan, Johanna quickly said, "Mr. Beckett, you''re just in time. I know you and Freya are on good¨¨ terms. It''s Freya''s brother''s birthday, and I was hoping you could spare us a seat. You wouldn''t refuse, would you?"


    Johanna smiled apologetically, knowing she couldn''t afford to upset someone of Ronan''s stature.


    Ronan appeared unfazed and responded coolly, "Considering it''s for Ms. Dawson, reserving a seat isn''t out of the question." Hearing it, Johanna was overjoyed. "I knew it! Mr. Beckett would make room!"


    Ronan smiled slightly, "Since it''s for Ms. Dawson, we should reserve thergest banquet hall for Mr. Dawson''s birthday celebration." Oblivious to the gravity of the situation, Johanna was too busy smiling from ear to ear, "Great, great! Mr. Beckett is truly magnanimous!" Johanna thought, ''He''s much better than that Kieran, by miles!''


    Seeing Johanna''s reaction, Ronan turned to Cory and said, "Proceed as we discussed. Transfer double the price into my ount."

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    "Yes, Mr. Beckett."


    Ronan didn''t spare Johanna another nce, opting instead to turn and leave.


    Johanna hadn''t expected Ronan to ask for payment. She considered chasing after him, but he was already gone.


    But she thought, ''Double the price? So be it! It''s just a banquet hall, after all. How much could it possibly cost?''


    At that moment, Cory approached Johanna and said, "Mrs. Dawson, that would be twelve million dors. How would you like to settle the payment?"


    "How much?!" Johanna was stunned upon hearing the figure.


    Twelve million dors? How could it possibly be that expensive?


    "Mrs. Dawson, you see. Mr. Beckett offered ourrgest banquet hall. Renting ourrgest hall for a three-day, round-the-clock feast, and since you requested double, well..." Hearing Cory exin, Johanna''s face turned sour. Twelve million dors! That was a lot of money. How could shee up with that kind of cash on the spot?


    Cory continued, "Mrs. Dawson, this banquet hall is reserved for the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me. I must also congratte you. And wish Mr. Dawson a happy birthday." Johanna''s face twitched with pain. ''Twelve million for a banquet hall, you can''t find another ce like this in all of Echo City. Was Ronan doing this on purpose?'' "Mrs. Dawson?" Seeing Johanna hesitate to make the payment, Cory urged her again.


    With many eyes on her, Johanna froze and said, "I''ll use my card."


    Cory smiled. "Okay, I''ll bring the machine over."


    Given therge sum, Johanna had no choice but to use her credit card. All the savings she had umted over the years were in the bank and untouchable. The only liquid funds she had amounted to a few million dors, which she thought would be enough, but she hadn''t anticipated the Majestic Manor HotePbeing such a rip-off!


    Cory returned with the POS machine, and Johanna slowly handed over her bank card.


    Johanna felt a sharp pang as she saw the money drawn from her ount.


    Cory smiled at Johanna and said, "Congrattions, Mrs. Dawson, prepare the banquet in for your son''s birthday."


    will


    Although securing the hotel was a victory, Johanna found herself unable to smile.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Twelve million dors could have covered so many meals! But considering her boasting, Johanna had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill.


    After Johanna left, Ronan emerged from the shadows.


    "Mr. Beckett, the payment has been processed."

 Chapter 149

    "Got it." With a nce at the notification on his phone, Ronan quickly texted Freya.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Ronan: [It''s all set.]


    Freya read Ronan''s message, a slight smirk forming on her lips.


    This time, Johanna was in for a rude awakening. Word had spread like wildfire. Thanks to Johanna, the Dawson family had booked the grand ballroom at the Majestic Manor Hotel. She had been quite reluctant when it came to footing the bill.


    But armed with this token of status, Johanna couldn''t stop boasting over the phone, as if afraid someone might miss the news about her booking the grandest hall at the Majestic Manor Hotel.


    After school, Freya made a detour straight back to the Dawson family.


    As soon as she walked in, she could hear Johanna on the phone, extending invites to the high societydies for the uing party. "Mrs. Brown, my son''s birthday bash is at the Majestic Manor Hotel. I''ve booked the grandest ballroom they have. You muste and grace us with your presence!"


    Freya listened silently to Johanna''s conversation,ughing coldly to herself. ''Enjoy your moment now. On the day of the banquet, yourughter will end.''


    Johanna had noticed Freya''s return and promptly ended her call.


    Looking displeased, Johanna asked, "Why are you back?"


    Freya retorted, "This is my home. Why can''t Ie back?"


    Seeing Freya change her shoes and walk in, Johanna remarked, "Mr. Sutton had all your belongings moved. Have you informed him about your return?" "What''s the matter, Johanna? Eager for me to stay at the Sutton Mansion?"


    "Of course! A young woman must secure her future, especially now that you''re engaged. Living there isn''t bad You have to keep Mr. Sutton close and ensure your


    is secure. It''s the only way the Dawson Group will have a strong backing."


    Johanna followed Freya into the living room, continuing her tirade. But noticing Freya''s indifference, she grew suspicious, "Don''t tell me Mr. Sutton kicked you out?" Johanna had been too preupied with Lnd''s affairs to notice any tension between Freya and Kieran.


    Noticing Freya''s stoic expression, Johanna became anxious. "Did you upset Mr. Sutton? How could you be so foolish! You should be getting closer to him, not getting kicked out!" Johanna was fuming. "Our Dawson Group just caught a break. If we offend Mr. Sutton, what will be of the Dawson Group?"


    "Why are you panicking, Johanna? The Dawson Group has nothing to do with you anymore. Even if thepany runs out of money of goes bankrupt, it doesn''t seem it would affect you."


    en


    Johanna felt a tightness in her chest when Freya mentioned it. She couldn''t forget how Freya had exposed her and Galen''s misdeeds at thepany, making her theughingstock. She had lost all face to show up at thepany.


    Yet, undeterred, Johanna imed,


    "Even if thepany doesn''t concern me, I''m still your mother. I have to look out for you! Can''t you appreciate the good intentions of others?"


    Freyaughed it off, aware Johanna''s sudden concern for thepany was merely her scheming to regain control once Freya was married off.

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    On the surface, Freya didn''t call Johanna out on her true intentions. Instead, she yed along, saying, "Well then, I owe you one, Johanna."


    "There''s no need for thanks, darling. Just keep on the straight and narrow, and with your looks, why wouldn''t Mr. Sutton be smitten?" Johanna''s voice softened. "When you make it big, don''t forget all the good I''ve done for you." "I''ll never forget the good you''ve done for me, Johanna," Freya responded, her smile sending a chill down Johanna''s spine. The words Johanna intended to say got stuck in her throat.


    What happened to the Freya, who was so easy to manipte?Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mom, I''m home!" Lnd entered the door, decked out in trendy athleisure,plete with earrings and rings, embodying the rebellious youth to a T.


    His gazended on Freya, and with a frown, he asked, "What are you doing here? Who let you back in?"


    Seated on the couch, Freya didn''t stand up or greet Lnd.


    Face darkening, Lnd snapped, "Freya! I''m talking to you. Did you hear me?"


    "Freya, that''s too much. Lnd is talking to you. How can you ignore him like this?" Johanna feigned reprimand. Freya retorted, "Johanna, I''ve said it before. It is my house. Whether Ie back or not isn''t up for discussion."


    "Freya, how can you speak to my mom that way?" Lnd''s temper red instantly. He stepped forward, intent on teaching Freya a lesson only to be stopped by her cold, words, "The deed to this house is in my hands, and your name''s not on it. Believe me. I can have your out of here with just one word."


    "You!" Lnd was stopped in his tracks by Freya''s words.


    Seeing Freya truly upset, Johanna quickly held Lnd back, urging, "What''s gotten into you, child? Apologize to Freya instantly!"


    When you''re under someone else''s roof, you follow their rules.


    Johanna had always used her seniority to push Freya around because she was an easy target, constantly testing her limits. But Freya was no longer the pushover she once was. If she threatened them with eviction, they''d have no choice but to leave!


    Johanna couldn''t lose her cool without the Dawson family''s fortune securely in her grasp.


    Freya had pinpointed Johanna''s vulnerability. As long as the Dawson family''s assets weren''t in Johanna''s hands, Johanna had to keep a low profile, unable to afford any confrontation with Freya.


    Remembering the past life''s deeds


    of Johanna and her son toward the Dawson Group and herself, Freya''s expression turned icy. She wasn''t


    about to make the mistake of kicking Johanna out, which would only allow her to scheme secretly. Keeping Johanna close was a better way to maintain control.


    Across from her, Lnd stubbornly refused to apologize.


    Freya wasn''t in a hurry, letting the silence linger for a few seconds. Seeing her son wasn''t catching on, Johanna gave Lnd a sharp pat on the shoulder."Did you hear me? Apologize to Freya, now!" "Sorry!" Lnd''s apology was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction, his voice heavy with grudges.

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    Freya remained silent.


    Johanna leaned closer and said, "Freya, look, Lnd has apologized. You don''t have to take it to heart. Kids say things without weighing their words."


    "Johanna, Lnd is hardly a child. He''s of age now."


    Thatment left Johanna speechless.


    Freya continued, "Let me rify again while we''re on the subject. The Dawson family is under my name. So is thepany. Everything Dad left behind, except for the five million you two got and your right to stay in the Dawson family, is mine. If you keep yelling at me, don''t me me for forgetting our years of acquaintance and kicking you two out. I assure you won''t win in court." Freya''s message was crystal clear.


    Lnd''s face grew darker by the moment, and Johanna''s expression turned just as grim. Seeing they both understood the gravity of their situation, Freya turned and walked upstairs.


    "What does Freya mean by that?" In anger, Lnd mmed his ss onto the floor.


    Freya, still on the staircase, paused. Lnd''s outburst was a vent of his frustration towards her.


    She said, "In the Dawson family, everything belongs to me. Lnd, remember to pay for whatever you break. I''ll be checking."


    "You!" Lnd, furious, was about to confront Freya upstairs when Johanna held him back, saying, "Son, stop this nonsense!"


    "Mom! She''s going too far!"


    "What can we do when Gavin left everything to Freya?" Johanna was furious. That was their reward after all the effort she put into looking after Gavin!


    Lnd swore, "We can''t let Freya keep walking over us, Mom. I won''t stand for it!"


    "You have to, even if you don''t want to. Now''s the time to hold your tongue." Johanna took a deep breath and said, "I refuse to believe Freya will remain unmarried. Once she joins the Sutton family, she won''t have the time or energy to meddle in the Dawson family''s affairs. That''s when I''ll reim what''s ours!"


    However, Johanna had another pressing issue to deal with.


    Today, she had blown through twelve million in savings. It wasn''t an issue when she had the final say in thepany. But then, she wasn''t allowed to go to the office, and no one listened to what she said


    Having been fired over their affair, Galen couldn''t help, either. Though Freya hadn''t exposed the embezzlement, Johanna could no longer embezzle thepany funds.


    And what could Gavin''s five million do? It wasn''t even enough to send Lnd overseas for his studies!


    With that in mind, Johanna said,


    "Lnd, your birthday is the day


    after tomorrow. I want you to make a good impression. I''ve arranged everything for you. You need to


    make me proud!"


    The idea of mingling with business magnates, arranged by Johanna, left Lnd feeling sullen.


    He despised dealing with those old fogies the most! He had hoped to inherit the family wealth without a hitch, but Freya threw a wrench into his ns.


    With no other choice, Lnd grudgingly agreed, "Yeah, I got it."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 Chapter 152

    That evening, Kieran returned to Sutton Manor, noticing only the housekeeper bustling about in the living room. He inquired, "Where''s Freya?" "Ms. Dawson? Ms. Dawson hasn''te back yet today."


    "Not back yet?" Kieran nced at the clock in the living room and remarked, "It''s ten o''clock. What kind of sses go on thiste?"


    Unsure herself, the housekeeper suggested, "Maybe... there''s some school event?"


    "What college event goes on thiste?" Kieran frowned, pulling out his phone to call Freya.


    The phone rang twice before, unsurprisingly, the call was disconnected.


    Great! Just great!


    Witnessing Kieran''s darkening mood, the housekeeper was about to speak up for Freya.


    However, Kieranmanded, "Throw all of Freya''s stuff out of her room!"


    "Throw it... out?" The housekeeper was stunned.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Those were all Ms. Dawson''s belongings!


    Kieran coldly stated, "If she doesn''t want to stay at Sutton Manor, she might as well leave."


    Reflecting on Ss''s words, Kieran grew increasingly worried about Freya.


    Kieran felt tight in his chest when he thought Freya might also use these tactics to entice Preston and Ronan.


    ying hard to get, was she? Fine, this time, he would push her too far! He wanted Freya to realize that Kieran Sutton was not to be trifled with!


    He doubted Freya could stay asposed as she was if he showed indifference towards her. He was waiting for the day she woulde to him.


    In the evening, the Sutton Manor''s housekeeper still ryed the message to Freya.


    At that moment, Freya was in the Dawson family, setting up a meeting time with Eloise. Upon hearing the news, Freya responded lightly, "Let it be. It wasn''t that important anyway."


    She could buy those things with money. The old must go for the new toe. Kieran throwing her belongings out saved her the hassle of moving.


    The housekeeper was slightly


    surprised by Freya''s attitude of not taking Kieran seriously. Could it be... that this wasn''t some clever female tactic but genuinely not caring about Mr Sutton?  en


    After hanging up the phone, Eloise called. "Ms. Dawson, what did you mean by your message?"


    "Ms. Harwood, I''ve moved out of Sutton Manor, and Kieran has thrown all my things out. I believe my sincerity is clear enough, right?"


    Hearing this, Eloise frowned on the


    other end of the line. Kieran hadn''t contacted her in these few days. And they didn''t speak over the previous incident of spreading rumors about Freya.


    She thought Freya wanted to confront Kieran, but surprisingly, Freya decided to walk away. That would seem strange to anyone.


    Freya continued, "Ms. Harwood, I


    won''tpete with you over Kieran. I''m even willing to bring business your way. Mr. Tyler is now interested in a property from the Harwood family. If you could meet with Mr. Tyler, I believe a partnership between your families wouldn''t be difficult."


    "You''re that generous?" Eloise couldn''t believe Freya would go out of her way to introduce Preston, a major yer, to her.


    Freya stated, "Believe it or not, it''s up to you, Ms. Harwood. But I''ve done what''s necessary to provoke Kieran, showing my sincerity. Please think it over."

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    "Okay, I''ll take your word for it this time. Let''s meet somewhere quiet tomorrow afternoon."


    "Thanks for trusting me, Ms. Harwood. See you tomorrow." Freya ended the call.


    With everything in ce, Freya also sent a message to Preston.


    She had it all figured out. If she couldn''t make Kieran back out of the engagement himself, she''d have to work on Eloise, who was close to him.


    Once she canceled the engagement, Kieran and Eloise could fall madly in love for all she cared-it wouldn''t affect her one bit. Preston showing interest in Eloise was sure to trigger Kieran''s sense of crisis, just like in a past life. And so, their love and hate saga would begin, leaving Freya free as a bird, no longer an enemy to Preston and his ilk. Thinking of this, Freya felt she was ying her cards right.


    The next day, at Echo City University, a few rich kids hanging with Lnd were smoking in a corner of the campus.


    "Lnd, is this Freya that much of a handful?"


    Lnd said with disdain, "If it weren''t for Freya, the Dawson Group would''ve been mine by now! Would I be struggling like this?"


    One rich kid suggested, "Why don''t you find a way to force her to hand over the Dawson Group and her inheritance?"


    Another rich kid interrupted, "Easier said than done. With such a fortune, you think she''d let go?"


    "Women, just scare them a bit, right? I don''t believe she''d cling to her money when her life''s at stake."


    Lnd hesitated for a moment after hearing this. Right, Freya was a woman, after all. How bold could she be? They might get the Dawson Group and the family fortune if they scared her a bit. "Lnd, leave it to me. I''ve got plenty of experience dealing with women!"


    "Yeah, Lnd, let''s team up for this. If things go south, my dad can bail us out. It''s just a robbery, nothing too serious. I bet if we leak a video of Freya''s kidnap, she wouldn''t dare go public. Besides, she will marry off someday. With the Sutton family backing her, why cling to the Dawson family? Greed can choke you."


    Hearing his friends plotting for him made Lnd take a final puff of his cigarette, saying, "Fine, we move tonight. I''ll treat you all to a night out if we make it. My treat."


    "Lnd''s the man!"


    Lnd had long been irked by Freya''s lofty status. Bringing Freya down a peg or two would be satisfying for him.


    That afternoon, Freya arranged for Preston and Eloise to meet at a romantically themed restaurant.


    They arrived at the restaurant as five o''clock approached, nearing dinner time. How could they not order something? Freya had booked candlelit dinner for them, setting the stage for Preston to take an interest in Eloise. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    In no time, Preston and Eloise arrived one after the other.


    Preston hadn''t been waiting long when he checked his watch just as Eloise walked in.


    Preston frowned upon seeing Eloise arrive alone, "Why are you alone?"


    Initially intending to greet Preston, Eloise was at a loss for words at his question.


    Eloise asked, "Mr. Tyler... were you expecting Ms. Dawson?"


    Preferring to keep his personal affairs private, Preston replied coldly, "Ms. Harwood, please take a seat."


    Upon hearing this, Eloise sat across from Preston.


    Meanwhile, lurking in a restaurant corner with a walkie-talkie, Freya began signaling the waiter.

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    It wasn''t long before the waiter brought the menu to the duo and announced, "Sir, ma''am, ready to order?"


    "I... I..." Before Eloise could finish her sentence, Preston interjected, "No need. We''ll leave after our discussion."


    After saying that, Preston gave Hans a look. And Hans promptly handed the waiter a stack of bills.


    The waiter was shocked by the generous sum of money handed to him, especially since no one had dined. It was a first-paying without eating! Seeing the waiter''s bewildered departure, Freya, hiding in a corner, straightened up.


    She wondered, ''What''s going on here?''


    Freya''s mind raced, and she quickly spoke into the walkie-talkie, "Serve them some desserts, on the house. Oh, and add a bottle of red wine!"


    She refused to believe they could resist dining with wine on the table.


    Soon after, the waiter brought Preston and Eloise two heart-shaped desserts and a bottle of red wine.


    The waiter smiled and said, "Sir, ma''am, these areplimentary from the restaurant. Would you like to try them?"


    "Thank you," Eloise replied with a polite smile to the waiter.


    Once the waiter had left, Eloise quickly found a topic to engage Preston, saying, "Mr. Tyler, this restaurant is famous for its desserts. Would you like to try some?" Preston waved and said, "I''m not that into sweets."


    From a distance, Freya listened in, feeling a headacheing on. Preston could kill it with his conversation, no matter how great the environment or romantic the mood was. Eloise''s smile visibly stiffened.


    Preston nced at the time and said to Hans, "Call Freya."


    Hans nodded. "Yes, Mr. Tyler."


    "Mr. Tyler," Eloise interjected, "since the negotiation today is just between us, Ms. Dawson''s presence isn''t necessary. If she can''t make it, let''s just move on."


    Preston didn''t reply. And Hans had pulled out his phone to dial Freya. Seeing Preston ignore her, Eloise''s expression darkened further.


    Meanwhile, the ringing from the corner suddenly went off. Although Freya quickly


    hung up, presad


    sharply caught the sound.


    He stood up, walked toward the corner, and, in no time, pulled Freya out from her hiding spot. "Ms. Dawson, fond of eavesdropping, are you?"


    BUMS


    Freya tried to appear calm as she pocketed her phone, saying, "I arrived early and just got a bit hungry."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "If you''re hungry, go eat in the dining hall." With that, Preston dragged Freya by the wrist towards the dining hall.


    Preston had been dismissive toward Eloise but turned around to be so intimate with Freya.


    Upon seeing that, Eloise''s expression turned even sourer.


    Was Freya ying her?


    "Sit down." Preston pushed Freya into a chair, leaving her no room to move.

 Chapter 155

    Freya felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, trapped in her chair with no escape. Across from her, Eloise''s gaze flitted between Freya and Preston, an undercurrent of tension in the air.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "It seems Ms. Dawson and Mr. Tyler have quite the camaraderie, given that Mr. Tyler has entrusted Ms. Dawson with arranging our meeting." Eloise remarked, her voice cold as she took a sip of water, masking her difort. On the other hand, Preston appeared utterly indifferent to Eloise''s displeasure at having Freya brought into the mix.


    Sensitive to the tension, Freya knew Eloise was too proud to show any sign of weakness. She decided to address Preston directly, hoping to smooth things over.


    "Mr. Tyler, Ms. Harwood genuinely looked forward to discussing a partnership with you. Inviting me might not have been the best move..."


    Before she could slip away, Preston''s hand firmly guided her back to her seat, thwarting her attempt to leave unnoticed. Freya was at a loss for words.


    "Preston interjected, "Since you made the contact, Ms. Dawson, it''s only logical for you to be here. What do you think, Ms. Harwood?"


    Eloise managed a response, "Mr. Tyler makes a fair point," but her expression stayed unamused. She was still upset but reluctant to confront Preston directly. The tension escted, making Freya feel even more ufortable.


    Attempting to break the ice, Freya suggested, "Mr. Tyler, Ms. Harwood, perhaps you should proceed with your discussion. I''ll be here as a witness." "Not so fast," Preston said, signaling the waiter for the menu, to everyone''s surprise.


    Preston passed the menu to Freya, a move visibly rking Eloise, who had earlier offered to dine with Preston only to be declined. But with Freya in the picture, Preston seemed more than willing to consider a meal.


    Freya, confused, asked, "What''s this for?"


    Swn&


    "Aren''t you hungry?" Preston replied, "I wouldn''t want my business partner to discuss matters on an empty stomach."


    Feeling the tension, Freya quickly offered the menu to Eloise. "Ms. Harwood, why don''t you pick something? The menu here is quite impressive."


    Pride wounded and appetite lost,


    Eloise declined, "I''m not hungry. Ms. Dawson, please go ahead and order if you like. Preston has taken care of bill."


    thone


    The unspoken message was clear. With two out of three not eating, no one was in the mood for food. Freya set down the menu, hoping to move past the awkward moment, bu Preston called out, "Two steaks, two sses of red wine, please. "


    The waiter nodded and took the menu.


    Trying to lighten the mood, Freyaplimented, "Mr. Tyler, such a gentleman, ordering for thedies."


    Preston responded, "Ms. Harwood mentioned she wasn''t hungry, so I didn''t order for her."

 Chapter 156

    "Unbelievable," Freya whispered to herself, her eyes shifting back and forth between Preston and the increasingly displeased Eloise. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion. Was Preston intentionally throwing a wrench in the works here?


    out of a reality TV show.


    Freya had been threading a needle, trying to get Eloise on board with her business ns, and Preston''s antics were threatening to unravel everything. Their dinner at the upscale steakhouse, which was supposed to be a smooth business negotiation, turned into a scene


    Already skeptical of Freya''s intentions, Eloise seemed ready to boil over. It was as if they''d invited her there only to snub her publicly.


    "Waiter! Three filet mignons and three sses of Cabe!" Freya''s voice cut through the tension, her quick thinking preventing the situation from devolving further. It would''ve been a disaster if only two steaks had arrived at their table.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "Mr. Tyler, regarding the Harwood family''s estate downtown you''ve shown interest in, it''s yours for the taking," Eloise said, attempting to steer the conversation back to safer waters. She pushed the property transfer documents across the table towards Preston. Freya was stunned. She knew the Harwood family had left Eloise a significant inheritance. But offering Preston a prime piece of real estate out of the blue was a generous gesture.


    Preston skimmed the documents nonchntly. "Giving away a billion-dor property just like that, Ms. Harwood? You''re quite the phnthropist."


    "It''s only fitting to wee a neer with open arms," Eloise replied with a slight smile. "Besides, coborating with Mr. Tyler is a privilege for the Harwood family. It''s just a piece ofnd, after all."


    Eloise''s admiration for Preston was evident, but Freya couldn''t help but recall a time in another life when Preston chased after Eloise, offering to buy the samend at ten times its value. That deal had set Echo City abuzz, bringing Preston and Eloise closer and igniting a rivalry with Kieran thatsted years.


    However, in this lifetime, Eloise made the first move. Was she seeking to get closer to Preston, sensing Kieran''s waning interest?


    As these thoughts swirled in Freya''s mind, Preston''s words snapped her back to reality.


    Preston rejected it. "I can''t ept such a generous offer without having earned it. Thisnd, I must decline."


    Eloise''s brows knitted together in confusion. "Mr. Tyler, what are you implying?"


    Preston said, "To put it simply, I was in thend until


    interested


    in thend until moments


    ago. But suddenly, I''ve lost all desire


    for it."


    wn


    no


    Eloise''s expression darkened. Freya was equally stunned by this turn of events. Preston was rejecting a billion-dor gift?


    "What''s your angle, Preston?" Freya pressed, and her curiosity piqued.


    "I mean, I no longer want thend," Preston reiterated.


    Just then, the waiter brought over the steaks and wine, but the atmosphere had already taken a dramatic turn.


    With a bang, Eloise stood, her face a mask of anger. "Mr. Tyler! Are you making a fool of me? You invited me here. offered you a billion-dor property, and you refused it?"


    Eloise felt humiliated. There she was, extending an olive branch, only for Preston to snap it in half. "Ms. Harwood, there might be a misunderstanding..." Freya began, trying to salvage the situation.


    But Eloise cut her off, her voice icy. "It seems Ms. Dawson and Mr. Tyler are quite cozy. And I thought you were genuinely trying to help me. It turns out it was all a game *


    "Ms. Harwood, please..."

 Chapter 157

    "Mr. Tyler, it seems you are not interested in coborating, so let''s call it a day," Eloise said, her frustration palpable as she grabbed thend transfer agreement from the table. With a swift turn, she exited the restaurant, leaving behind the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and apple pie. When watching her departure, Freya''s expression darkened. "Preston, what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice a mix of anger and disbelief.


    Ever the picture of calm, Preston took a leisurely sip of his red wine. "The truth is right in front of you, right? I thought I made myself clear."


    "I was trying to help you by securing thatnd for you. And now here you are, screwing things up and driving her away. Don''t you want thatnd?" Freya''s frustration was clear.


    "Exactly, I don''t want it," Preston replied, focusing on his steak.


    "You!" Freya was at a loss for words.


    Preston continued, nonchntly cutting into his steak. "This ce does make a decent steak. Care to try, Ms. Dawson?"


    "I''m too upset to eat because of you!" Freya had never encountered someone so infuriating.


    To think someone would refusend worth a billion dors. How could anyone be that foolish?


    Preston signaled to Hans, who promptly cleared Eloise''s ce.


    "Even though things didn''t work out with Eloise, maybe we can discuss our partnership," Preston suggested, changing the topic.


    "What do you mean?" Freya was instantly on guard, knowing nothing straightforward ever came from Preston.


    "I recall the Dawson family owns a prime piece of downtown real estate, right?"


    Freya asked, "So, what if we do?"


    "I''ve got all the details on thatnd, and I''m interested in buying it from the Dawson family," Preston revealed. Hearing that, Freya was caught off guard. ''Buy ournd?''


    "I must warn you. That piece ofnd from the Dawson family is quite expensive," Freya replied, ying coy. Preston said calmly, "Name your price. No matter the cost, I will pay ten times more."


    Freya''s heart sank at these familiar words. She thought, ''Isn''t Preston supposed to pursue Eloise by buyingnd at ten times its value? Why is he offering me the same deal?''


    en


    "Mynd... it''s worth around seven or eight hundred million."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Then consider it sold for ten billion dors," Preston stated. "I expect thend transfer agreement on my desk in three days."


    With that, Preston stood up, leaving his half-finished steak. "Steak''s all yours, Ms. Dawson. See you in three days."


    As Preston left, Freya was in a daze. What just happened? Offering her


    ten billion for a piece ofnd? Was


    Preston simply too wealthy for his good?


    Or was there a darker reason behind his generosity?


    §Ú§Þ


    It dawned on Freya that Preston might be using this tounder money. Suddenly, she stood up, determined to confront him. "Preston, wait!"


    But it was toote. Preston''s car was disappearing into the night. Fuming, Freya realized Preston had fooled her.


    Believing he was being charitable,


    she soon realized his true intent was to drag her down with him. She


    wouldn''t let Preston get away with it.


    About to call Kieran, Freya suddenly felt an intense pain and was quickly silenced, a hand covering her mouth and nose.


    "Mph!"

 Chapter 158

    "Ding-ding-"


    Inside the bustling offices of the Sutton Group, Kieran nced at his phone as it buzzed on his desk, lighting up with Freya''s name.


    He instinctively reached to answer but paused, his hand suspended in mid-air.


    Answering too quickly would make it seem like he was at Freya''s beck and call, wouldn''t it? Since when had he, Kieran Sutton, been so readily avable?


    Recalling he''d ignored Freya''s calls in the past, he decided to let it ring a bit longer, ying it cool. Just as the ringing was about to end, he picked up the call with a feigned annoyance, "What''s up?" Silence greeted him from the other end, apanied by the faint hum of car engines in the background. After a moment, Kieran frowned, "Freya?"


    The call abruptly ended the next second.


    Looking at the disconnected call, Kieran tried calling back only to find her phone turned off. His expression turned colder.


    Turning to the door, he shouted, "Jarrett,e in!"


    "Mr. Sutton?" Jarrett entered, finding Kieran grabbing his coat, and was puzzled. "What''s happening?"


    "Look up where Freya''s been today, ASAP."


    "Right away, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett dialed Johanna''s number, which Kieran promptly snatched from him. Heading towards the elevator, he demanded, "Where''s Freya?"


    "Freya?" Johanna sounded confused, "She went out in the afternoon. Why? Isn''t she with you?"


    Kieran hung up on Johanna, who was clueless about Freya''s whereabouts, leaving her bewildered. Where could Freya be?


    Reaching the parking garage, Kieran returned the phone to Jarrett and instructed, "Keep looking. Check if Freya hit any shopping districts or restaurants today."


    Figuring she should be dining somewhere by this time, Kieran''s thoughts were interrupted as Eloise pulled up in her car to the Sutton Group.


    Spotting Kieran, Eloise called out, "Kieran!"


    He stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing at the sight of her. "What are you doing here?"


    "I... came to pick you up from work." Eloise didn''t want to mention the humiliation, she faced from Preston and Freya at the restaurant earlier. Her unease with Preston had


    prompted this unexpected gesture.


    §Ù§Ú§Þ§ÖContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Kieran''s response was neutral. "I''m busy today. You should head back."


    It was rare for Kieran to turn down Eloise''s kindness. Seeing his urgency, she asked, "Is something wrong?"


    With concern etched on her face, Kieran saw no point hiding the issue. "Freya''s missing."


    "Missing?" Eloise echoed, her worry mirroring Kieran''s own.

 Chapter 159

    Eloise''s brow furrowed in confusion. "How could she just disappear?"


    Picking up on Eloise''s unease, Kieran pressed, "Do you know where she might be?"


    Eloise was about to mention she had just been with Freya. However, the thought of having met with Preston earlier that day stopped her short. Their previous altercation at the auction with Kieran was anything but pleasant. If Kieran found out she had gone to see Preston, he might suspect she was trying to win Preston over.


    With this thought, Eloise''s smile stiffened slightly. "I-I don''t know. Ms. Dawson is an adult. It''s unlikely she''d vanish without a trace."


    Realizing Eloise had no idea where Freya was, Kieran said, "It''s gettingte. I''ll have thepany''s driver take you home."


    "Kieran!" Eloise hesitated before asking, "Are you... worried about Ms. Dawson?"


    "She''s my fianc¨¦e, after all. She represents the image of the Sutton family. Besides, if something happened to her, I''d have to exin it to Grandma." With that, Kieran got into his car without another word. Eloise''s expression turnedplex. Was it because of that? Or did he have feelings for Freya? She kept her thoughts to herself. Regardless, she needed to find a way to prevent Kieran from falling for Freya. Recalling Freya had been with Preston, Eloise impulsively pulled out her phone and dialed Preston''s number.


    The call was quickly answered, not by Preston, but by his secretary, Hans. "Ms. Harwood, how can I assist you?"


    Eloise felt annoyed knowing that Preston had given her his secretary''s contact instead of his own. Suppressing her irritation, she asked, "Is Mr. Tyler with Ms. Dawson?" Hans answered, "Ms. Dawson has left."


    "I see..." Eloise replied, "I thought Ms.


    Dawson was missing, thinking she might be with you. But it seems


    there''s no need to worry.


    now."


    ????


    hang up


    CUMS


    After ending the call, Preston and Hans returned to the Echo City Hotel.


    After being hung up on, Hans approached Preston, "Mr. Tyler, Ms. Harwood called. She mentioned Ms. Dawson is missing."


    "Missing?" Preston''s eyebrows knitted together.


    "Should we have someone look for her?" asked Hans.


    Preston instructed, "Check the restaurant''s security footage and see where Freya went after leaving."


    "Understood."


    Preston and Hans promptly set off.


    Meanwhile, Lnd had driven his


    sports car, bringing Freya to the secluded part of Echo City


    University''s back hill. This ce was usually deserted, even more so at night.


    When Freya opened her eyes, she felt herself roughly dropped to the ground.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Lnd looked down at her


    disdainfully and pped her across the face. The p was crisp, drawing the attention of Lnd''s cronies, who gawked at Freya''s bound figure. Freya looked stunning in a white blouse and a ck pencil skirt.


    They all knew Lnd''s "sister" was attractive but hadn''t realized how much so! To think Kieran had once disregarded such a beauty was beyond them.

 Chapter 160

    "Freya, you''re in my hands now. I''d advise you to stop struggling. No one wille to save you!" Recalling Freya''s haughty demeanor at home the previous day, Lnd wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine. "Hey, Lnd, the girl''s caught. Maybe I could lend a hand?"


    "And how''s that?"


    "You know how women prize their reputation above everything else? There''s been all this chatter about Ms. Dawson being as pure as the driven snow for Mr. Sutton. True or not, today seems like a good day to find out!" Freya felt her stomach churn as she listened to the despicable words from Lnd''s sidekick.


    ''Fear losing her reputation the most?'' Freya found itughable. Such thoughts were nothing but the filthy, lowly musings of despicable men!


    She knew Lnd was a scoundrel but had never imagined he would stoop to kidnapping.


    After hesitation, Lnd said, "Freya''s supposed to marry Mr. Sutton. What if something happens?"


    "Lnd, rx, man. I don''t buy that whole ''saving herself'' nonsense for a second. Besides, who''d dare spill the beans? Unless your sister no longer wishes to marry Mr. Sutton."


    Everyone in Echo City knew Kieran was a stickler for purity, whether it was about matters or people. If Freya was "tainted," Kieran would reject her.


    With that thought, Lnd reluctantly agreed, saying, "As long as it forces her to hand over the Dawson Group, do whatever!"


    "You got it, Lnd!" The aplice quickly stepped forward, while Lnd stepped back, and the other two rich kids who had helped n the kidnapping moved in, wanting a piece of the action.


    Freya''s gaze turned icy as the men approached. One of them ripped the tape from her mouth, expecting to see fear and panic.


    Instead, Freya remained unfazed.


    "Ms. Dawson, think carefully. If you agree to return thepany and estate to Lnd, we might keep our hands to ourselves!"


    Hearing it, Freya feigned difficulty in


    deciding. So... if I hand over the


    yel


    keep your hands to yourselves?"


    The three men exchanged looks. That was not going to happen! How could they let their prey escape so easily?


    "If you hand them over, we won''t record anything. But you''ll have to y nice with us. Otherwise, we''ll send the recording to your fianc¨¦ If Mr. Sutton rejects you after that, you be spoiled goods, unlikely to marry again!"


    "Is that so?" Freya seemed to be genuinely contemting. She asked, "So, which of you is the boss here?" "Why does that matter?"


    "Well, for something like this, I''d choose the leader among you."


    While saying this, Freya''s voice took on a more seductive tone, trying to sway them.


    Seeing Freya''s provocative


    demeanor, the three men couldn''t help but swallow hard. They never knew Ms. Dawson was such a


    yer. gAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "How about... this guy?" Freya blushed deliberately, saying, "He seems he''s the one calling the shots around here."


    That onement sparked discontent among the others.


    "Why him? Screw him. I''m the one in charge!"


    "No way! I''m the eldest. It should be me!"


    "Ms. Dawson chose me, so there''s no point in arguing!"


    Freya interjected as the three men started bickering, "Oh, boys, there''s no need to fight. Just listen to me."

 Chapter 161

    Seeing Freya show no resistance, the guy quickly moved to close in on her.


    But Freya wasn''t having any of it and said, "Hey! Why be so rude? How about we take this to the back?"


    With her eyes glinting seductively, the three men were already too dazzled by her charm to remain cautious.


    The guy eagerly responded, "Yeah, yeah! Let''s go to the back!"


    "Shouldn''t you untie my feet first if we''re going to the back?" she added.


    Noticing their hesitation, Freya pressed, "Come on. I still have my hands tied, don''t I? What, afraid I''ll run? Even if I wanted to, I couldn''t."


    Seeing her point, they quickly freed Freya''s ankles.


    A sly smile yed across Freya''s face. Once her ankles were free, she leaned into the guy''s embrace and whispered seductively in his ear, "Babe, let''s head to the back."


    Upon hearing her words,pletely captivated, the man quickly led Freya to the back, his eagerness apparent.


    Following him, Freya seized the opportunity to observe her surroundings. It appeared they were behind Echo City University. She scoffed internally, finding Lnd''s choice of locationughable.


    Before she got captured, she called Kieran. It wouldn''t take Kieran over half an hour to track herst known location, and within an hour, he would find her at Echo City University.


    Moreover, Lnd had chosen such a conspicuous sports car. Was he begging to get caught?


    Just as the guy was about to get overly familiar with Freya, she swiftly covered his mouth and nose with one hand and kneed him with the other. Silenced by her grip, the man couldn''t scream as Freya quickly brought him down and proceeded to gag him. With a clever move of her lips, she untied the rope. What did these rich kids know about tying knots? This rope and tying method wasughably amateurishpared to the kidnappers from her past life.


    With a swift chop, Freya knocked the man out cold. After ensuring he was unconscious, she tied his hands together.


    In no time, Freya walked toward the light of the car.


    Meanwhile, Lnd was in the car, waiting for the deed to finish, smoking a cigarette through the open window.


    Freya approached and knocked on Lnd''s car door.


    Lnd frowned. "Done already?"


    Just as Lnd opened the door,


    Freya


    a


    led him out and u


    flurry of punches, leaving himBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    dazed and cursing.


    When he came to his senses, Freya was already driving away.


    "Set destination to Echo City


    University entrance." After setting et


    the GPS, Freya sped off towards the university entrance.


    Recovering in the small grove, the other guys realized toote that Freya had taken Lnd''s car.


    They rushed back to check on their unconscious friend.


    Fuming, Lnd discarded his cigarette pack and ordered, "Bring her back! Now!"


    If the Sutton family found out about this, he was doomed!


    Meanwhile, Preston had arrived at Echo City University, with his associate, Hans, reporting,


    "ording to street surveince et


    this is where she disappeared. Should we check the campus security footage?"


    "No time. Let''s search."

 Chapter 162

    "Yes, Mr. Tyler." It didn''t take long for Hans to gather a team and start scouring the university campus.


    Meanwhile, Kieran had also led his team to the outskirts of Echo City University.


    As Kieran stepped out of his car, he caught sight of Preston, who had gone inside Echo City University.


    The sight of Preston darkened Kieran''s expression instantly.


    Beside him, Jarrett remarked, "Mr. Sutton, why is Mr. Tyler here, too?"


    They had spent much time tracking down Freya, whisked away in a sports car, vanishing without a trace upon entering Echo City University. But how could it have been a coincidence that Preston showed up there too? "Let''s find out."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Taking the lead, Jarrett and his team moved into Echo City University.


    Freya had driven out from the back of the mountain and could already see several people waving shlights ahead.


    She immediately left the car and ran toward Preston, who was not far off.


    Seeing Freya covered in mud, Preston frowned, "What happened to you? Why are you all messed up?"


    "Never mind that... Lnd, Lnd is still..." Before Freya could finish her sentence, another car approached them rapidly. Preston pulled Freya behind him protectively.


    Lnd and a few wealthy kids stepped out, their presence dimmed by the poor lighting on campus.


    "Damn, you think you can y us?" one of the rich kids cursed, pointing at Preston. "Hand her over! Or you''ll regret it!"


    In Echo City University, Lnd and his cronies were practically untouchable. Even the faculty tread lightly around them.


    Echo City University was a lower-tier


    institution, and Lnd, struggling


    academically, could only secure


    admission through substantialBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    donations from Johanna.


    With few wealthy students, the school paled inparison to Summit University, making Lnd and his entourage the unofficial rulers.


    Used to having his way within these walls, Lnd was infuriated to see someone standing up for Freya. He stepped forward, "Didn''t you hear me? Hand her over, or I''ll make you regret it!"


    en


    a


    Preston, who had never been spoken to with such disrespect, smirked coldly, "Hans, what are you waiting for?"


    "Yes, Mr. Tyler."


    At the mention of "Mr. Tyler," the trio froze.


    Hans stepped forward and snapped Lnd''s index finger without giving them time to react.


    Lnd''s scream caught Kieran''s attention.


    Kieran and Jarrett approached, and Kieran''s gaze immediatelynded on Preston holding Freya''s arm. Instantly, Kieran''s expression darkened.


    "Ouch! Let go! Let me go! Do you know who I am? I''m the future brother-inw of the Sutton family! Release me!" In his panic, Lnd attempted to leverage the Sutton family''s name, as Johanna had advised him to do in case of trouble.


    Hearing this, Hans scoffed and tightened his grip.


    "Wait." Kieran''s voice reached Freya''s ears from a distance.

 Chapter 163

    As Freya turned around, she saw Kieran approaching them from a short distance away. Kieran spoke coldly, "The affairs of the Sutton family do not require Mr. Tyler''s intervention." Hearing this, Preston didn''t say a word. He raised a hand, and Hans withdrew his own.


    Lnd thought Kieran was there to support him, but Jarrett stepped forward andnded another punch on Lnd before thetter could revel in relief.


    The so-called friends behind Lnd, who had never seen such a scene, got scared and turned to run. But Kieran''s people were no pushovers, quickly catching up and dragging the two back. Preston released Freya, pushing her toward Kieran. "Your family''s mess, you handle it."


    With that, Preston turned and left. Hans followed closely behind Preston.


    Before leaving, Hans gave Kieran a dismissive nce. The two clearly held no regard for Kieran.


    "What happened?" Kieran asked coldly.


    Freya was covered in mud from head to toe, her hands dirty, looking disheveled.


    Pointing to the subdued trio, Freya said, "Apart from the one who passed out, these guys were out to kill me. They even tried to rape me." Freya spoke without mincing her words. Lnd''s face went pale instantly.


    Kieran frowned.


    Seeing the panic in the eyes of the men on the ground, one of them quickly said, "Mr. Sutton, I had nothing to do with this. It was all Lnd''s idea!"


    "Yeah, we tried to talk him out of


    but Lnd wouldn''t listen, and wet we could do!" ( s to en. v


    was


    "Mr. Sutton, this is a family matter of yours. Please let us go!"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    !"


    ...


    As the men began shifting me


    onto each stoic


    other, Kieran


    instructed Jarrett, "Jarrett, handle


    inson and coldly


    a


    "Yes, sir." Jarrett approached the men, and upon seeing him, they all showed faces filled with terror.


    Jarrett called some people over and started to rough them up, recording the entire ordeal.


    Kieran then said to Freya, "Come with me."


    Freya followed behind Kieran, and as they reached the school gates, Kieran suddenly stopped.


    Caught off guard, Freya bumped into Kieran''s back.


    Kieran asked coldly, "Who did you contact first when the trouble started?"


    "Me?" Freya frowned, confused by Kieran''s question.


    Kieran pressed, "When trouble started, your first call was to Preston, wasn''t it?"


    Freya couldn''t follow Kieran''s thought process. Not to mention that Freya hadn''t contacted anyone, but even if she had reached out to Preston, what was it to Kieran?


    Freya responded, "Mr. Sutton, I''ll tell you seriously. I didn''t contact Mr. Tyler."

 Chapter 164

    "Wait. You didn''t call Preston, so how did he show up to bail you out so quickly?" Kieran asked, his voiceced with disbelief.


    Freya was puzzled. "How would I know? Mr. Sutton, shouldn''t you ask Mr. Tyler that question?"


    "Fine, let me ask you this," Kieran pressed on, "when you called me, was it before or after things went south?"


    "It was before..."


    "And after things went sideways, why didn''t you try calling me? Or find some way to get in touch?"


    "My phone wasn''t with me!" Freya couldn''t grasp Kieran''s line of reasoning.


    Just moments ago, she got kidnapped, and managing to escape on her own was no small feat. What was Kieran''s deal?


    "Even your good-for-nothing brother knew to drop my name to scare off the bad guys the moment trouble hit. And you, Freya? Your first instinct was to make a run for it! Did it ever cross your mind to reach out to me?"


    "Mr. Sutton, my first instinct is to get myself to safety when trouble hits. Why should I put my life in someone else''s hands when I can protect myself? What if you decide not to help me? Would I wait around to die?" Upon hearing Freya''s words, Kieran''s expression turned grim. "What are you implying? That I would just leave you on your own?"


    "It''s definitely possible." Freya recalled her past life when she naively entrusted her safety to Kieran. When she called him in her hour of need, Kieran refused to pay a ransom of five million, leading to her brutal demise at the hands of her captors. Having been given a second chance at life, Freya wasn''t about to make the same mistake and put her fate in Kieran''s hands again.


    Her words struck a nerve with Kieran. "You''re right. What does your life matter to me? Why should I bother saving you?"


    Freya frowned.


    Then, turning to Jarrett, Kieranmanded, "Jarrett, let''s head back."


    "What?" Jarrett was momentarily stunned. ''Head back?''


    Freya was surprised. "Kieran, you''re going to leave me here by myself?"


    "You said it yourself, didn''t you? It''s better to rely on yourself than others. So, find your way back." With that, Kieran turned and got into the car.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Caught in a moment of hesitation,


    Jarrett knew this wasn''t a good look. It was Echo City University, after all Though was part of Echo City, nestled near the mountains, it was far from downtown. Leaving someone there didn''t sit right with him.


    "What are you waiting for? Get in the car!" Kieran snapped, still seething with anger, and Jarrett had no choice but toply.


    As they drove off, with Kieran sporting a stormy expression, Jarrett ventured cautiously, "Mr. Sutton, are we just going to leave her?"


    "She said she didn''t need me, didn''t


    she?" Kieran himself couldn''t pinpoint the source of his irritation, but the thought of Preston being so close to Freya was enough to sour his mood.


    "But Mr. Sutton," Jarrett pointed out, "it''s over ten miles back to the city from here, and Ms. Dawson doesn''t have her phone. Walking back at night could be dangerous. What if something happens?"

 Chapter 165

    Jarrett''s words snapped Kieran back to reality. "What are you waiting for? Turn the car around now!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Without hesitation, Jarrett executed a swift U-turn.


    As Kieran''s headlights pierced the darkness, they saw Freya and Preston stepping into a car outside Echo City University, one after the other. Kieran''s expression darkened immediately.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Jarrett, who was behind the wheel, was also taken aback when Preston nced their way before getting into his car, as if deliberately trying to provoke them.


    Kieran looked even more upset. Jarrett ventured, "Mr. Sutton... maybe we should..."


    "Let''s go!" Kieran cut him off sharply, "From now on, I have nothing to do with Freya!"


    Seeing Kieran so enraged, Jarrett swallowed the words he had intended to say in Freya''s defense.


    By then, Freya had gotten into Preston''s car, and Preston had undressed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.


    Freya hugged the jacket around herself and said, "Thank you, Mr. Tyler. I''ll wash it and return it to you tomorrow."


    "Just toss it. I don''t wear clothes someone else has worn," Preston replied indifferently.


    Freya smiled at him, saying nothing more.


    "But Kieran saw you getting into my car," Preston mentioned nonchntly.


    "What?"


    Freya leaned forward to look out the window, but Preston added, "The car''s long gone."


    "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?"


    "What for? Or did you want to take his car?"


    Freya shook her head. She didn''t want to ride in anyone''s car, but if she had to choose, she''d rather be in Preston''s.


    Half an hourter, Preston''s car stopped in front of the Dawson family home.


    Restless from Kieran''s phone call, Johanna rushed out when she heard noises outside.


    Seeing Freya step out of Preston''s car,


    scolded, "Where on earth


    SCO anna hurried over and ou


    been, you reckless girl?"


    As Johanna spoke, she glimpsed Preston''s profile through the car window before it rolled up and the vehicle drove away.


    Noticing the men''s jacket on Freya


    and her disheveled appearance, Johanna''s expression darkened. "Did you mess around with some guy? Freya that''s shameless! Do you know how many times Mr. Sutton called? How could you..."


    "Sneak off with some man?" Freya stepped closer to Johanna, and her gaze turned icy. "Johanna, you dare say anything."


    "What... what''s with that look?" Johanna took a step back, confused by the turn of events.


    Freya continued coldly, "Lnd had me kidnapped to Echo City University, intending to assault me and force me to hand over the Dawson family''s assets and business. Did you instruct him to do that as well?"


    Johanna was momentarily speechless. What? How could Lnd do something like that?

 Chapter 166

    "You''re talking nonsense! Lnd would never do such a thing. You''re trying to nder him!"


    "Oh really? Then, let''s meet at the police station."


    When Freya threatened to call the cops, Johanna suddenly realized the gravity of the situation. Panic set in, "Lnd did this? Reya, there must be some misunderstanding. Please don''t call the police. Lnd''s birthday is just around the corner. If you report him, what will happen to his birthday party?"


    Lnd''s birthday party was not just any event. Johanna had invited all the high-profiledies and influencers in town.


    If anything went wrong, she would lose money and reputation, and her son wouldn''t benefit from this situation either.


    Thinking of this, Johanna became desperate.


    Freya nced at Johanna and said, "Johanna, what is his birthday to me? If hemitted a crime, don''t expect me to turn a blind eye."


    "Reya! Reya!" Johanna quickly grabbed Freya''s arm, pleading, "Let''s talk this out. Why make such a big deal out of it? If Lnd has wronged you, I apologize on his behalf. Or, oh! I have some jewelry pieces I''ve been meaning to give you..."


    Seeing Johanna resorting to bribery, Freya raised an eyebrow. She decided not to cause a scene before Lnd''s birthday party, as she didn''t want to miss any potential drama that might unfold there.


    However, using this to leverage some benefits from Johanna wasn''t a bad idea.


    Recalling how Johanna had hoarded her mother''s jewelry since marrying her father, Freya said, "Johanna, if I remember correctly, aren''t those jewelry pieces my mother''s heirlooms?"


    At that, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Johanna''s face. "Those heirlooms were supposed to be kept with me for safekeeping until you were older. Over time, I just forgot about them. But now that we''re on the subject. Don''t worry. I''ll bring all those pieces to you."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "Johanna, those pieces were always meant to be mine." Freya pondered and said, "But you know, I''ve been eyeing Lnd''s sports car. I believe its market price is around three million dors..."


    At this, Johanna''s heart skipped a beat. That was a limited-edition sports car. It took Lnd much pleading before she agreed to buy it for him And Freya was asking directly for something worth three million dors!


    But considering Lnd''s foolish doings, Johanna had no choice but toply, saying, "Okay, I will take you to the dealership tomorrow to pick up the car."


    "Thank you, Johanna." Freya smiled.


    Johanna had spent a fortune on the venue alone, not to mention further expenses. After shelling out another three million dors, Freya knew Johanna''s finances were stretched thin. With this in mind, Freya''s smile widened. "Now, Johanna, let''s go see those jewelry pieces."


    "Sure, sure..." Johanna managed a strained smile.


    Johanna led Freya upstairs and carefully retrieved a jewel box filled with exquisite jewelry pieces from the safe.


    When she say those pieces, Freya''s


    expression cooled. These were all


    for her from her mother. But after her mother passed away and Johanna married into the family, she took all her mother''s jewelry for herself.


    "Reya, they''re all here." Johanna looked at Freya with a feigned friendliness.


    Pretending to be confused, Freya said, "Hmm, I remember my mother leaving me a pair of pearl earrings, but I don''t see them here."


    Hearing about the pearl earrings, a flicker of panic passed through Johanna''s eyes. "Pearl earrings? You must be mistaken, Reya." "Mistaken? Impossible. Johanna, think again. Those pearls were my mother''s favorite."

 Chapter 167

    Seeing how clearly Freya remembered the pearl earrings, Johanna could only smack her forehead and say, "Oh, I can''t even remember a pair of earrings. I swear they were around here somewhere. Reya, don''t worry. I''ll have them delivered to you in a few days." Freya said, "All the jewelry is here except that pair of pearl earrings. Johanna, you didn''t sell them, did you?"


    At that, Johanna''s face couldn''t hide the embarrassment.


    Freya knew the backstory. Johanna had recently lost a hefty sum at the poker table, leaving her in a tight financial spot.


    Since her opponents wouldn''t let her leave the game, she used the pearl earrings she wore as coteral. Unfortunately, she didn''t win back her losses or reim the earrings.


    Fearing Freya would discover she gambled away the earrings, Johanna quickly reassured, Johanna "Oh, Freya, you jest. How could I sell your earrings? Those were a keepsake from your mother."


    "Well, that''s a relief." Freya nced around Johanna''s room and said, "The house isn''t big. Finding a pair of earrings shouldn''t be too hard. Ensure I have them before Lnd''s birthday tomorrow. Consider today''s kidnapping a childish prank, and we''ll call it even." Freya was using this as leverage, and although Johanna wasn''t pleased, she dared not refuse. If Freya went to the police and Lnd got arrested the day before his birthday party, it would ruin Lnd''s reputation forever.


    Since Johanna had gone all out, spending twelve million to book the grand ballroom at Majestic Manor Hotel and inviting all their friends, she couldn''t let this opportunity slip through her fingers.


    As Freya was about to take the jewelry and leave, Johanna cautiously asked, "Reya, about Lnd now..."


    "Mr. Sutton''s men are holding him for now. If you want to get him out, call Mr. Sutton." With that, Freya made to leave Johanna''s room.


    Johanna quickly blocked her path, saying, "Reya, I''m not sure that''s the best idea. Maybe you should call Mr. Sutton. After all, tomorrow is Lnd''s birthday."


    Johanna wasn''t foolish. Since


    Lnd had kidnapped Freya, and despite whatever Kieran''s feelings were toward Freya, she was still his fianc¨¦e. It would be best if Freya handled the situation herself


    Seeing Johanna seeking her help, Freya didn''t refuse outright but pretended to be torn, "Johanna, that''s asking a lot of me."


    After a few rounds of negotiation


    with Freya, Johanna realized she needed to sweeten the deal, saying "Reya, you''ll be married off soon enough, and your mother has prepared your dowry. I, as your stepmother, can''t be stingy, can I? Rest assured. I''ve got your dowry all prepared."


    Seeing no reaction from Freya, Johanna bit her lip and hesitantly offered, "This much, what do you say?"


    "Ten million... ? suppose that could


    work." Freya knew that was about all Johanna could afford. After paying her off and returning the jewelry she had taken from Freya''s mother it was as if Johanna had finally returned all the wealth she had leeched from the Dawson family over the years.


    "Well then, Johanna, I''ll wait for your news tomorrow." Freya smiled and continued, "As long as the earrings are delivered, Lnd will return unharmed."Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Johanna nodded eagerly, mustering a smile. "Then, I''ll make sure the earrings are delivered to you first thing tomorrow."


    With that, Freya left Johanna''s room, content.


    But Johanna, whose face was all smiles just moments ago, wore an expression of sheer panic and desperation.


    She had pawned off those earrings long ago during a losing streak at cards! Where on earth would she find them? That darn Freya always had an eye for the bottom line!

 Chapter 168

    But without the pearls, if Freya went to the police, things would only get messier.


    With that daunting thought, Johanna had no choice but to call the casino owner she gambled with before.


    "Mr. Felix, remember those pearl earrings I pawned at your ce? I want to reim them. How much are we talking?"


    "Those pearls are of fine quality. It will cost you a cool $80 million to get them back. Cash on delivery."


    "What? $80 million!" The number nearly knocked Johanna off her feet.


    How could those pearls be worth 80 million dors?


    Back in her room, Freya couldn''t help but smirk. The pearls were antique bridal gifts from her mother, over a century old. Johanna, clueless about their real worth, had pawned them off for just a few hundred thousand.


    With the market for such pearls plummeting, assembling a matching set could easily cost 10 million. Freya was curious how Johanna would scrape together the 80 million dors.


    The following morning, worried sick about Lnd, Johanna hadn''t slept a wink.


    Descending the stairs, Johanna saw Freya lounging on the couch without a care. Johanna bit back her frustration and approached, "Reya, can Lnde home tonight?"


    "What''s the rush, Johanna? You still haven''t transferred the ten million dors you promised me, and you were supposed to pick up that sports car for me today. Remember, I won''t be nice if you don''t hold up your end of the deal." Freya left no room for negotiation.


    As frustrated as Johanna felt, she


    had no choice but toply, "I reserved the car for youst night, and I''ll go to the bank and transfer ten million dors now. But about those pearls..."


    "Those pearls were left to me by my mother. Don''t tell me you''ve lost them," Freya said with a cold nce.


    With her son in Freya''s grip, Johanna dared not refuse. She steeled herself, "Don''t worry. Give me a few days, and those pearls will be in your hands!"


    Thinking about thevish party sheContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    was hosting at the Majestic Manor Hotel, with all the gifts from the high society attendees, she figured she could sell some to raise funds. Maybe then, she could gather the money for the pearls.


    Seeing she wouldn''t get the pearls from Johanna, Freya rxed, "A few days is fine, but Johanna... words alone aren''t enough. Let''s make it official with a contract." Freya handed over a contract she''d prepared in advance.


    Johanna''s expression soured when seeing how prepared Freya was.


    But Freya continued, "Johanna, I''ve gone over the contract carefully for you. Just sign it, and I expect those pearls within a week. That should give you enough time to get them back, right?"


    "Of course..." Johanna said so, but her heart was racing uncontrobly.


    80 million! Where was she supposed to get that much money?


    The wealth she had umted from her years with the Dawson family and theirpany didn''te close to 80 million dors!

 Chapter 169

    But for the sake of her son, Johanna still put her signature on that contract.


    Holding the contract in her hand, Freya smiled contentedly.


    Johanna said, "Reya, look. I''ve signed the contract. I wouldn''t lie to you. Please rescue Lnd from Mr. Sutton''s clutches. If anything were to happen to him, what would I do?" Anxiety was all over Johanna''s face. She was eager to doll up Lnd, with only half a day left until the birthday bash at Majestic Manor Hotel.


    After all, securing a match with a wealthy heiress could solve all their financial worries for the rest of their lives.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Freya said, "Okay, I''ll head to the Sutton Group and speak with Mr. Sutton."


    Rising to her feet, Johanna finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Freya added, "Johanna, transfer the money quickly. We have a contract, after all."


    Hearing Freya''s words made Johanna wince internally. She cursed, ''That darn brat!''


    After dealing with Johanna''s issue, Freya left the Dawson residence. Once in her car, she debated whether to head to the Sutton Mansion or the Sutton Group. After a moment of thought, she dialed Jarrett''s number.


    Jarrett quickly answered the phone. Freya asked, "Jarrett, where''s Lnd right now?"


    Silence lingered on the other end for a moment.


    "Jarrett?" Freya repeated, puzzled.


    Then, she heard Kieran''s chilly voice. "You called just to ask this?"


    Startled by Kieran''s voice, Freya


    Seeran''s voice, Freya


    t her phone to ensure she


    hadn''t dialed the wrong number, asked, "Kieran?"


    Why would Kieran answer a call meant for Jarrett?


    "Lnd''s at the office. If you want him,e get him yourself," Kieran said before hanging up.


    Compared to Kieran''s previously temperamental demeanor, he now seemed much colder and more detached.


    Freya frowned slightly. Had her closeness with Preston the day before caused Kieran to loathe her? As Freya considered this, her brows smoothed out. If that was the case, she couldn''t be happier.


    Freya set down her phone, and her mood instantly brightened. She hoped Kieran would despise her even more. Ideally, he would break off their engagement so they could go their separate ways forever.


    With that thought, Freya pressed on the elerator, heading straight for the Sutton Group.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 170

    life.


    Freya swiftly pulled up before the Sutton Group''s headquarters, her arrival sending a ripple of retreat through the employees gathered outside. Their nces carried a mix of curiosity and apprehension, as though Freya was some force of nature storming their calm office Unfazed by the stares, Freya went towards the entrance, her confidence unfaltering.


    Soon, Jarrett appeared from the maze of office cubicles, walking briskly towards her. "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton is in a meeting right now... Would you mind waiting here for a while?"


    "Wait here?" Freya nced around, noting the sea of eyes fixed on her. It was clear they were all itching for a goodugh at her expense. Rumors of her past misadventures within the Sutton Group had made her the subject of office gossip, particrly her unreciprocated affections for Kieran.


    "Do you guys not have a lounge or something?" Freya retorted with a sharp gaze.


    Jarrett smiled sheepishly. "The lounges are unavable. Mr. Sutton suggests you wait here."


    "And how long is his meeting supposed tost?"


    "Well, it could be half an hour if it''s short, but it''s hard to say."


    The vague response from Jarrett was all Freya needed to understand Kieran''s intention. He made her wait deliberately, perhaps as a test or a petty game.


    Freya might have put up with such behavior previously, but those days were over. She was no longer someone who would simply stand by and be at the mercy of Kieran''s whims.


    With a light chuckle, Freya said, "If Mr. Sutton isn''t in a weing mood, forget it. I wasn''t earnestly here to take Lnd away. I''ll have Johanna pick him up. It''s no concern of mine." Jarrett, visibly panicked, stepped forward, "Ms. Dawson, Lnd is your brother..."


    "I don''t have a brother who wishes me dead," Freya interrupted, her tone light yet firm. "If Mr. Sutton is busy, won''t bother him again. You can do whatever you see fit with Lnd." Hand him to the police or send him back to the Dawson family. It''s all the same to me."


    "Ms. Dawson!" Jarrett blocked her path, desperation in his voice. "Mr. Sutton does care about you."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Care about me? That''s new," Freya remarked dryly, recalling how Kieran had left her stranded on the side of the road without a second thought for her safety or well-being.


    "Ms. Dawson, aboutst night..." Jarrett began, but Freya cut him off, guessing the intention behind his words.


    "Are you trying to tell me that Mr.


    Sutton had a change of heart and came back for me? To make sure didn''t tarnish the Sutton family''s reputation by associating with Preston?" Freya had no illusions about Kieran''s actions out of affection.


    Freya checked her watch and added, "Tonight''s Lnd''s birthday party. It will be quite the event with many prominent guests. If Mr. Sutton insists on not releasing Lnd, we might tell everyone Mr. Sutton has invited Lnd over for coffee. How Would that excuse sit with you, Jarrett?"


    sts on


    Jarrett''s expression darkened at the suggestion, the disparity in social standing between Kieran and Lnd hanging unspoken in the air.

 Chapter 171

    How could Kieran possibly invite Lnd over to his ce for coffee? Wouldn''t it turn the Sutton family into aughingstock if word got out?


    But then, thinking of Johanna''s smug face, Jarrett couldn''t help but think it wasn''t entirely out of the realm of possibility.


    Johanna and her son were shameless to the extreme.


    "Ms. Dawson, if you''d follow me, please." Jarrett led Freya upstairs.


    The staff nearby were surprised and hadn''t expected Jarrett to take Freya upstairs. After all, Kieran had never invited Freya into his private quarters.


    "Weren''t we told Mr. Sutton couldn''t stand his fianc¨¦e? Why do I get the feeling Jarrett is intimidated by her?"


    "Throwing her weight around because she''s the Dawson family''s golden girl, huh? She seems to have forgotten how subservient she was at the Suttons"!" "Yeah, back in the day, Ms. Dawson would wait for Mr. Sutton for hours!"


    ...


    The whispers continued among the small group.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Jarrett, who had overheard theirments, looked at Freya expecting to see annoyance or anger. Instead, he saw nothing of the sort. It was as if she hadn''t heard the whispers, just walking straight ahead. Observing her over this period, Jarrett had noticed a change in Freya. And as time went on, that difference became even more pronounced.


    Previously, if anyone had spoken about Freya like that behind her back, she would have been mortified and wanted to leave within minutes. Buttely, her expression was one ofplete indifference. "Ms. Dawson, we''ve arrived." Jarrett led Freya directly into a spacious lounge.


    After ensuring Freya wouldn''t be disturbed, Jarrett left the lounge to report to Kieran in his executive office.


    "Is she here?" Kieran didn''t even look up, his eyes fixed on the documents before him.


    Jarrett stated, "Ms. Dawson... has arrived."


    "Where is she?"


    "In the lounge next door."


    Hearing Jarrett had arranged a lounge for Freya, Kieran paused, bis gaze suddenly icy as he looked up, "Did I tell you to get a lounge for her? Did you not understand my instructions?"  en


    "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson mentioned if you''re too busy, she would leave... She also said the Dawson family had arranged a reception at the Majestic Manor Hotel tonight and that it would be no issue if Mr. Sutton refused to release Lnd. They''ll say Mr. Sutton is inviting his future brother-inw for coffee..." Jarrett''s voice trailed off as he spoke.


    What a mess!


    "Absurd!" Kieran suddenly mmed the documents on the table.


    Jarrett found it absurd. What status did Mr. Sutton have? How could he possibly be inviting Lnd for coffee?


    But now that everyone knew Lnd


    was Kieran''s future brother-inw They would believe it if Freya personally told the guests that.


    Kieran coldly said, "So, Freya thinks I have no way to deal with her?"


    Jarrett didn''t dare to respond.


    Kieran looked up, "Where did we dump Lnd?"

 Chapter 172

    "Mr. Sutton, the guy''s been locked up in the Sutton family''s basement for a day now."


    The Sutton family''s basement didn''t have any bathroom or lighting. It was like a dark cell with nothing but a venttion fan. Most folks would find a few hours in such a ce unbearable. A whole day, however, was stretching it.


    "Didn''t Freya want to take her good-for-nothing brother with her? Well, then, she cane and ask me herself."


    Kieran had initially nned to make Freya wait for a few hours, hoping to highlight their gap. But Freya wasn''t ying ball.


    So be it. But if Freya wanted to take Lnd away, she''d have toe and beg him personally. Otherwise, there was no way he was letting Lnd go.


    In a short while, Jarrett returned to the lounge. Freya was lounging in a chair, idly scrolling through her phone, asionally sipping coffee, looking utterly rxed. There wasn''t the slightest hint of urgency about her to rescue Lnd. Seeing Freya like this, Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton would like a word with you."


    "Hm? Isn''t he in a meeting? I''m not in any rush." Freya calmly set down her coffee, stood up, and said, "I''ll head to the restroom first. By the way, where is the restroom in the Sutton Group''s building?"


    Watching Freya''s leisurely demeanor, Jarrett found himself growing anxious instead. Mr. Sutton had wanted to make Freya wait, but there she was, making them wait for her!


    "Ms. Dawson, right this way, please." Jarrett led Freya to the restroom.


    Back in the CEO''s office, Kieran had


    waited ae


    Dit but didn''t see Freya which made him frown.


    swnon


    When Jarrett walked in, and Kieran saw Freya wasn''t with him, he asked coldly, "Where is she?"


    "In the restroom."


    "The restroom?" Kieran''s expression darkened.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    That was the first time someone had made a restroom stop before seeing him!


    "Mr. Sutton, you know how it is. Girls take time in the restroom. She''ll probably be here soon..."


    Though Jarrett said this, given that Freya had been in the restroom for quite a while, it made one wonder why anyone would need that much time.


    ncing at his watch, Kieran scoffed, "Fine, just fine!"


    So, she was doing this on purpose? Freya was growing bolder by the minute!


    Meanwhile, Freya was casually applying lipstick in front of the mirror.


    After applying the lipstick, she casually strolled out of the restroom, only to bump into a solid chest the next moment. The next second, Freya found herself pinned against the wall by Kieran.


    His narrow eyes dangerously narrowed as he said, "Freya, don''t tell me this was intentional."

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    Kieran''s face was ufortably close to hers.


    In the past, a gesture like this from Kieran would have made Freya blush.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    But this time, Freya pushed Kieran away, frowning as she said, "Mr. Sutton, we''re at the office. Show some decorum, please."


    "Decorum, you say?" Kieran seemed to find the notion amusing.


    He leaned closer to Freya, saying, "Who was it that used toe looking for me three times a day at the office, bending over backward to please me? Where was your concern for decorum then, hmm?"


    As Kieran closed in, Freya sidestepped him and said, "Back then, I was young and naive, Mr. Sutton. Please don''t hold it against me."


    Looking around, she added, "Mr. Sutton, this is thedies'' restroom. Even if we need to talk, this hardly seems the appropriate ce, does it?"


    Hearing that, Kieran stared at Freya, his gaze taking on a scrutinizing quality.


    ""Mr. Sutton?"


    "Come to my office." Kieran''s usual calm demeanor returned.


    Following him to his office, Freya saw him sit behind his desk. He looked at her and said, "Lnd kidnapped you yesterday. By all ounts, I should have him thrown in jail."


    Freya had always doted on Lnd, cleaning up his messes no matter what trouble he got into. Despite Lnd''s consistently terrible attitude toward her, Freya had always beenpliant. After Kieran finished speaking, he awaited Freya''s reaction.


    Sitting opposite him, Freya said, "By all ounts, that should happen. I''ve wanted to see Johanna and her son behind bars for a long time now."


    Freya spoke honestly. Ever since her rebirth, she had extended every kindness to Johanna and Lnd without reciprocation.


    Remembering her previous naivety,


    Freyaughed and said, "I thought


    about calling the police, but I


    couldn''t resist Johanna''s pleading. After all, Lnd is the Dawson


    family''s only son, isn''t he?"


    "But from what I''ve heard, Lnd isn''t a Dawson by blood. You''re half-siblings with no real familial ties, right?"


    Faced with Kieran''s question, Freya responded, "Though Lnd and I don''t share both parents, he still


    carries the Dawson name. It''d bet


    scandal to air such dirtyundry publicly. Mr. Sutton, we are engaged, after all. You wouldn''t want tumors about your fianc¨¦e nearly vited, would you?"


    l.ne


    In their circles, things could get twisted in all sorts of ways. Though Freya wasn''t vited, the rumor mill could work overtime. Having a fianc¨¦e smeared by such scandal would also cause Kieran trouble.


    "He''s in the Sutton family''s basement."


    Seeing Freya rise to leave immediately after getting what she wanted, Kieran frowned and asked, "Is this the only reason you came here today?"


    "Thank you, Mr. Sutton."

 Chapter 174

    "Yeah." Freya nodded, then asked, "What else could it be?"


    Kieran had half-expected Freya to exin why she got into Preston''s car the previous night.


    But, to his surprise, Freya didn''t take it to heart at all, showing no intention of exining herself to her fianc¨¦.


    The thought constricted Kieran''s chest, making it hard for him to breathe. However, he quickly reminded himself that since he had resolved to hold back his feelings for Freya, he shouldn''t let her actions sway his emotions. With an indifferent tone, he said, "You can leave now."


    Facing Kieran''s inscrutable attitude, Freya didn''t ask further and turned to leave.


    Standing by the door, Jarrett silently broke into a sweat. He thought, ''Could Ms. Dawson not see that Mr. Sutton was upset? Any normal person would sense something was off, right?''


    By then, Freya was driving toward the Sutton Mansion.


    Seeing Freya''s return, the housekeeper warmly opened the door for her and said, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton instructed me to take you to the basement."


    "Okay." Freyaplied.


    Soon, the housekeeper led Freya to the basement. As the basement door swung open, Lnd tried to dash out like a madman, only to be shoved back in by Freya.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Lnd had little strength to resist after being locked up for a day. Pushed by Freya, he tumbled awkwardly onto the floor.


    "Let me out! Please, let me out!" By then, Lnd was bordering on hysteria.


    Freya caught a whiff of the unpleasant odor in the basement, and, seeing Lnd''s disheveled state, she knew what kind of day he had endured.


    Being locked in such a dark,


    cramped space for hours was


    unbearable for anyone, let alone


    Lnd, a wealthy heir


    unustomed to hardship, who felt like he was near death after a day.


    "Getting out is not impossible," Looking down at Lnd sprawled on the ground, Freya said, "Just promise me you won''t repeat your mistakes. After your birthday party, you''ll turn yourself in to the police and stop eyeing the family Then, I''ll agree to let you go."


    fortune.


    "I promiselt promise everything! Just let me out!" At this moment Lnd was desperate to leave, willing to agree to any of Freya''s demands to escape this ce.


    en


    "Words alone aren''t enough. Sign here first." Finishing her sentence, Freya threw a contract down before Lnd.


    Lnd couldn''t care less about the content. He scrambled up and hastily signed his name.


    Once Freya confirmed the signature was in order, she turned to the housekeeper and said, "I''ll take him with me. Please clean up here." The housekeeper nodded. "Of course, Ms. Dawson."

 Chapter 175

    Freya turned on her heel and left, her departure a clear sign for Lnd to make his hasty escape. Despite being held for only a day, Lnd looked a mess, his face shadowed by stubble, his body marked with bruises from a beating, and an unpleasant odor clinging to him. Pinching her nose, Freya couldn''t hide her disgust. "You better take a cab home. Your mom is waiting to celebrate your birthday." With that, she tossed Lnd his phone.


    Lnd''s face darkened with anger. "Freya, it is all your fault!"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    But his anger was pointless. With Kieran backing Freya, she could do as she pleased in Echo City.


    Soon after Johanna received a call from Lnd, she arrived to find her son looking disheveled, standing in the street outside the Sutton Mansion.


    "My boy! How could you let yourself end up like this?" As Johanna approached, she smelled the stench emanating from Lnd.


    Lnd was livid. "It''s all Freya''s fault! She must''ve cast some spell on Kieran, making him lock me up overnight! Mom, you must stand up for me and teach Freya a lesson!"


    Unaware of his predicament, Johanna found herself in a tough spot. "That girl isn''t as easy to provoke as before. Calm down, take a bath, and change your clothes. We have your birthday party tonight."


    Lnd was furious. "Birthday... What''s the point of celebrating my birthday now?"


    Johanna tried to soothe him. "Trust me. I''ve spent a lot preparing this party and inviting influential guests. Just put on a good show, mingle with the right people, find a suitable girl, and our family will rise again. With the backing of the right family, we can take back The Dawson Group."


    Hearing that, Lnd had no choice but toply.


    After cleaning up at the Dawson family, Johanna praised Lnd''s appearance. "I''ve found the perfect match for you. It''s Ms. Ramsey. Her family is well-respected and among the top entrepreneurs. Just charm her and with the Ramsey family''s support, we can reim our fortune from Freya."


    Lnd reluctantly agreed despite his disdain for such pampered heiresses.


    Meanwhile, Freya was on her way to the Majestic Manor Hotel, picking up Luna.


    Luna was fuming. "That jerk, Lnd! To think he''d stoop so low as to kidnap you! Don''t worry. I''ll find a way to get back at him tonight."


    Freya smiled. "I''ve benefited enough from their foolishness. There''s no need for revenge. Let''s enjoy the show."


    "What show could there be? If it weren''t for my parents, I wouldn''t bothering. Still, Lnd has booked the grandest hall at the Majestic Manor Hotel. I heard


    almost everyone''sing


    "Really? How many?"


    "Half the social circle, I''d guess. It''s not every day that someone books Majestic Manor''s grandest hall. People must be curious about who pulled it off."


    Freya smirked. This birthday party


    was indeed a grand gesture for Lnd. But that was alright. Let them have their moment of joy


    wouldn''t beughing anymelet


    evening, Johanna and Lnd

 Chapter 176

    Dusk had settled over the Majestic Manor Hotel, transforming the surrounding area into a bustling hive of activity. The neon lights along the streets cast an almost magical, glittering haze over everything, like something straight out of a Hollywood movie. When Freya and Luna arrived, they saw the entrance lined with luxury cars, their drivers bustling about, preparing to move into the designated parking areas. Having stepped out of their ride, a hotel valet promptly took over parking their car, allowing them to head inside without further ado. Luna scoffed at the scene unfolding before her. "Looks like everyone showed up. They''re really rolling out the red carpet for Lnd," she muttered under her breath.


    "Let''s go in," Freya suggested, leading the way.


    Upon entering, the manager immediately noticed them, hurried over, and greeted them. "Ms. Dawson, let me escort you in," he offered politely.


    Freya nodded, and as they proceeded into the banquet hall, the sheer number of guests was impressive. The room was filled with celebrities, business moguls, and high-ranking corporate executives, not to mention a fair share of the local elite and socialites. It was a gathering that could rival any high-profile event in their previous life.


    Suddenly, a voice cut through the buzz of conversation. "Look, it''s Mr. Sutton!"


    All eyes turned to find Kieran making his entrance, with Eloise by his side, as usual. It wasn''t a surprise to Freya. Kieran was well-known for never attending such events without Eloise on his arm. It was an unwritten rule acknowledged by everyone in their circles. "Looks like we''re not the only ones who drew a crowd tonight," Eloisemented, her voice soft and warm as she greeted those around them with Kieran.


    However, their appearance quickly


    became the Center of attention for a different reason. Everyone knew about Kieran and Freya''s engagement, especially after their public confirmation not long ago. Yet Kieran was with another woman aba Dawson family event, Freya''s brother''s birthday. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Whispers started to circte among the guests, with many specting about the nature of Kieran and Freya''s rtionship.


    "I told you there''s no way Kieran and Freya are serious. It''s all just for show!"


    "Exactly. And bringing Eloise here today of all days? It''s practically a p in the face to Freya."


    "The Dawsons must be mortified."


    These murmurs didn''t escape Freya and Luna''s ears. Indignant, Luna eximed, "What''s Kieran ying at, showing up with Eloise? It''s like he''s deliberately trying to embarrass yout."


    en


    Indeed, Kieran''s choice seemed like a calcted move to undermine Freya, a gesture akin to rubbing salt in a wound, especially before such a distinguished crowd.

 Chapter 177

    Had it been the old Freya, she would have run away in tears by then.


    But the Freya of today grabbed a ss of champagne with a calm and collected demeanor, saying, "Let them talk. It''s not like I had any real ns to marry him."


    She figured she''d find an opportunity to call off the engagement with Kieran soon enough. For the moment, living their separate lives seemed just fine.


    Meanwhile, Kieran furrowed his brows slightly and said, "You didn''t mention we were going to the Dawson family''s birthday bash."


    Eloise had eagerly sought him out after work, inviting him to a friend''s party, but conveniently left out that the Dawson family was hosting. He shouldn''t be with Eloise at such events.


    "We''re already here, and I wanted to socialize. I heard the Dawson family invited quite a crowd, possibly including some of our business partners."


    Noticing Kieran''s displeasure, Eloise spoke softly, "You''ve apanied me to these events before, not just once or twice. Why the reluctance all of a sudden?"


    Kieran pursed his lips, at a loss for words himself.


    In the past, if the Dawson family were hosting, he wouldn''t hesitate to bring Eloise along, not caring how Freya might feel. But this time, he was worried about the gossip that might swirl around Freya. Eloise''s eyes began to mist over. "Is it like they say you''ve taken a fancy to Freya?"


    Kieran replied helplessly, "Ellie, you know that''s not what I mean."


    "Then stop overthinking it. I don''t think Ms. Dawson cares that much, either."


    Upon hearing this, Kieran''s gaze involuntarily shifted to Freya, who seemed utterly indifferent to his and Eloise''s presence.


    Once again, Kieran felt tight in his chest. His fianc¨¦e didn''t seem to mind he was this close to another woman.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "She doesn''t seem to care," Kieran said, his toneced with a hint of mockery.


    Eloise whispered, "Kieran, the inte has been calling me a home-wrecker, and I don''t care. But please don''t think the same. If you don''t stand by me, I have no ne else in this world."


    Kieran''s eyes softened with sympathy.


    He and Eloise had grown up together, and after she became the orphaned heiress of the Harwood family, she had no one else. Without Kieran''s protection, the Harwood" family would have been ostracized in Echo City, their assets devoured.


    Realizing his recent preupation with Freya had left Eloise neglected, Kieran reassured her, "I''ve squashed those rumors online. Don''t worry. No one can talk about you like that anymore."


    Eloise''s smile returned upon hearing Kieran''s protective words. "Kieran, I knew you''d always have my back."


    Kieran responded absentmindedly, his full attention still on Freya.


    Just then, Johanna and Lnd entered the banquet hall.


    Having dressed up specially for the asion, Lnd caught the eyes of many the moment he walked in. His sunny and handsome appearance set him apart in a crowd where affluent young heirs were usually good looking. Having always been pursued by girls for his


    attractiveness and been


    wn


    background, Lnd''s arrival stirred quite the buzz, affirming his charm.


    "Looks like a dog, definitely not a catch," Luna muttered.


    Freya responded, "I hadn''t even started, and you''re already on the attack?"

 Chapter 178

    "Look, I''m just sticking up for you. Do you see how Johanna and Lnd strutting around like they own the ce? Anyone who didn''t know better might think they''re rolling in dough. But it''s all your dad''s inheritance they''re blowing through! Wouldn''t you be steamed?" Freya smiled. "I''m not mad at all."


    Thanks to Johanna''s vanity, she was willing to fork over a cool twelve million to cover up the embezzlement scandal she was involved in. As for today, Freya couldn''t help but smile slightly. She decided to sit back and enjoy the drama unfold.


    "Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey." Johanna spotted the Ramsey Group''s chairperson from across the room right away.


    The Ramsey family was a household name, holding a solid reputation in Echo City. Violet Ramsey was the crown jewel of the Ramsey family, an heiress born into wealth and educated in the finest traditions. As the sole child in her family, she was doted on from birth and known for her grace, humility, and generosity.


    With a resume that impressive, Johanna wasn''t the only one checking out Violet as potential daughter-inw material. Other business bigwigs were also taking notice.


    Audrey had set her sights on Violet, too, but given Violet''s independent streak and the strong backing of her loving parents, controlling her would be a challenge. Thus, Audrey reluctantly shelved that n.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    The Ramsey family wouldn''t have brought their daughter along if Johanna hadn''t splurged in the banquet hall at the Majestic Manor Hotel.


    "This is my son, Lnd," Johanna introduced, nudging Lnd to step forward.


    "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey," Lnd greeted, then turned his attention to the radiant Violet. He extended his hand and said, "Ms. Ramsey, it''s a pleasure. My name''s Lnd."


    "Hello." Violet shook his hand, but it was a mere grazing of fingertips. She wasn''t thrilled about the encounter.


    And why would she be? Lnd''s reputation in their circles was less than ster. He had poor academic performance and was a troublemaker with questionablepany.


    Freya remembered vividly. Lnd had once harbored lecherous intentions toward Violet, who, in turn, found him repulsive.


    One night, fueled by alcohol and


    goaded by his cronies, Lnd


    attempted to force himself on Violet.


    He thought he could coerce the


    over.ne


    Ramsey family into marrying off their daughter to him but


    underestimated Violet''s resistance. The n backfired spectacrly, leading to a scandal.


    Initially attending out of respect for Kieran, the Ramsey family was appalled to discover Lnd''s true character. Instantly, they severed ties with the Dawson family. Lnd might have ended up behind bars if Freya hadn''t intervened in the past, smoothing over the fallout at a massive personal cost.


    Yet, despite her sacrifices, Johanna


    and her son never showed a shred


    of genuine gratitude. When the Dawson family hit rock bottom, they absconded with the remaining assets, leaving Freya to pickup the pieces.


    Thinking about this made Freya even more determined. This time, she wouldn''t let herself be treated like dirt by Lnd. If he couldn''t treat her like a sister, then he was on his own to handle whatever fallout came from his screw-ups,


    "Lnd, since Ms. Ramsey isn''t too familiar with the venue, why don''t you show her around?" Johanna eagerly tried to set up an opportunity for them to be alone.


    But Violet declined with a polite smile, "Oh, there''s no need, Mrs. Sutton. I''ve been here plenty of times. But perhaps Mr. Dawson could use a tour?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 179

    Violet''s words were a thinly veiled jab at Lnd''s past, suggesting he was once not worthy to grace these halls. Johanna''s face stiffened upon hearing this.


    But Violet wasn''t aiming to target Johanna and Lnd specifically. She continued with a slow, deliberate smile, "Even though Mr. Dawson is new around here, today gives us a great chance to get to know him. Getting hold of the Majestic Manor Hotel''s banquet hall isn''t something many people can brag about. It really shows off Mr. Dawson''s bright future."


    With that, Violet smoothed over the awkwardness of the moment.


    Yet, Lnd caught the disdain and contempt in Violet''s eyes directed at him.


    From a distance, Freya observed the exchange. It might look like Lnd was sharing augh with Violet to an outsider. But Freya knew better. How could a girl like Violet genuinely approve of a troublemaker like Lnd?N?velDrama.Org content.


    The Ramsey family would never have bothered to attend if it weren''t for Kieran''s status.


    "Reya, what are you looking at?" Luna looked at Freya, puzzled.


    Luna was pissed off and thought, ''What are Johanna and her son thinking? Freya is here, and they don''t even bother to greet her. And then there was Kieran, all cozy with Eloise.''


    The entire gathering was filled with high society figures, all adept at reading the room. It was clear to them that neither Kieran nor Johanna and her son were giving Freya the time of day. So, no one really tried to chat with Freya. Almost everyone acted like she was just not there. "Kieran, shall we go offer a toast?" suggested Eloise, picking up a champagne flute.


    Someone of Kieran''s stature wouldn''t need to lower himself to clink sses with Lnd. Even if Lnd was the host, he should extend the courtesy to Kieran.


    Yet, Kieran''s gaze was still on Freya from afar.


    Kieran frowned when he saw Freya was only observing Lnd, indifferent to his flirtations with Eloise. He took the champagne from Eloise and, grabbing her wrist, said, "If you insist, let''s go." Eloise blushed as Kieran took her hand.


    "Did you see that? Mr. Sutton and Eloise are holding hands!"


    "Could this be deliberate? His fianc¨¦e is right here!"


    "What fianc¨¦e? Everyone knows Mr Sutton doesn''t care for Freya. It''s only a matter of time before she''s out. This marriage is doomed!"


    Luna had noticed the surrounding whispers. She quickly nudged Freya''s arm, saying, "Hey! They''re talking about you! Did you hear that?"


    "Hmm?" Freya''s attention hadn''t been on Kieran at all.


    Because of Luna''s remark, Freya had finally noticed Kieran walking with Eloise toward Johanna and her son.


    Luna was steaming mad. "This Kieran, he''s got some nerve! What does he think this event is? Showing off with Eloise! It''s making me furious!"


    Kon


    "Let it go, Luna. Who doesn''t know I got close to Kieran by mimicking Eloise? Your anger won''t change anything." "Reya..." Luna wanted to say more, but Freya interjected, "Look, the real show is about to start."


    "What?" Luna was momentarily confused.


    But then, she saw Kieran and Eloise approaching Lnd.


    Kieran took the initiative to toast


    Lnd, a move that caught the attention of many, and even the Ramsey family members gave Lnd a second look.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 180

    With his head held high and an air of arrogance, Lnd clinked sses with Kieran. The sound of their sses meeting was crisp and clear, cutting through the hum of conversations and causing an abrupt silence to nket the room. All eyes turned toward Lnd. From a distance, a sly smile crept onto Freya''s face.


    Oblivious to the gravity of his action, Lnd had downed his champagne in one gulp, and Johanna remained equally unaware of any faux pas.


    Eloise''s expression soured noticeably.


    On the other hand, Kieran hadn''t touched his champagne, his gaze growing darker.


    Wide-eyed, Luna eximed, "Is Lnd out of his mind? Who does he think he is? Does he have any idea how this will affect his standing here?"


    Lnd didn''t say a word until he finished his champagne, which was a real party foul.


    What was Kieran''s status? And what was Lnd''s? How dare Lnd not speak anything to wee and thank Kieran during a toast? That was practically inviting ridicule.


    The room was eerily silent, everyone watching Kieran''s reaction closely. Over the years, no one dared to be so arrogant before Kieran. Even Ronan, who hadpeted fiercely with Kieran, would say something when clinking sses with Kieran. But Lnd''s audacity knew no bounds.


    "Mr. Sutton, thank you!" Lnd shamelessly thanked Kieran, further igniting the amusement in Freya''s eyes.


    Previously with her dancer background, Johannacked understanding of these nuances, and ever the rogue, Lnd never bothered to learn the drinking etiquette.


    2473


    It wasmon knowledge within their peer group but not to Lnd Even the simple etiquette of toasting, something even the most average children knew, was lost onAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lnd.


    No one in the room would believe Lnd''s ignorance was innocent. It seemed more like a deliberate provocation, likely even in Kieran''s eyes. "Quite the bold move, young man," Kieran remarked, though his champagne remained untouched.


    Eloise''s face soured even more, since the whole toast thing was her idea. She wanted to put Freya on the spot but she didn''t expect Lnd tock such basic manners.


    "Mr. Sutton, what seems to be the problem?" Johanna asked, seeing Kieran''s cold departure and feeling utterly confused.


    Frowning, Eloise criticized, "Mr. Lnd has no sense of proprieties. Doesn''t he know to say something honorable to Mr. Sutton before drinking his champagne?"


    With that, she hurried after Kieran, worried he might think she had orchestrated this blunder to make him look bad.


    Johanna and Lnd were left in the dark, baffled by the turn of events.

 Chapter 181

    ''What''s the fuss about?'' Lnd scoffed, "Looking down on us? That''s not new, okay?"


    He had never taken a liking to Kieran''s arrogance.


    "What are you talking about?" Fearing others might overhear it, Johanna hurried after Kieran. She was concerned Lnd might have upset him.


    From a distance, the Ramsey family could see that although Lnd had his charms, he was nothing more than a pretty face with little substance. They couldn''t hold back their disdain.


    Half the people at the party were there for a business merger between the Suttons and the Dawsons, which made the whole event even more of a social must-do.


    Seeing Lnd daring to offend Kieran made them contemte leaving.


    "Ms. Ramsey, may I have the pleasure of yourpany for a stroll?" Lnd approached Violet. Given it was Lnd''s event, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey could only signal their daughter to indulge him briefly. But the Ramsey family weren''t fools. Mrs. Ramsey''s look suggested Violet entertain Lnd for a moment before returning.


    Violet nodded. "Sure, let''s take a walk."


    Believing his exchange with Kieran had impressed Violet, Lnd puffed up with pride.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Not part of the elite circle, his friends came over.


    "Happy birthday, Mr. Dawson! My dad sent this as a gift. Hope you like it."


    "Oh, Mr. Dawson is a real catch, Ms. Ramsey. If you end up as his wife, you''d be lucky!"


    "Yeah, Mr. Dawson''s got the works. He''s got a cool bike and knows all the right people. Plus, he''s about to be Mr. Sutton''s brother-inw! Ms. Ramsey, you''d better not let this one get away."


    ...


    Lnd''s friends, far from high society, ttered him endlessly.


    Violet frowned upon hearing their words. Even if she and Lnd had known each other well, such talk would repulse her. What status did her family hold? And the Dawson''s?


    Without the Freya connection, Lnd wouldn''t even be allowed in the doors of the Majestic Manor Hotel.


    Unaware of Violet''s disgust, buoyed by the ttery, Lnd felt superior. At his age, it was easy to get carried away.


    He downed his champagne and told Violet, "They love to talk nonsense. Don''t mind them."


    I


    "Sure, it''s all nonsense. I certainly


    won''t take it to heart," Violet replied coldly. "After all, I have no intention of getting engaged to you, Mr. Dawson. I n to study abroad i assume you prioritize your studies as well, right?"


    Lnd''s smile stuck on his face. His buddies, who''d been sucking up to him and Violet, looked at each other, puzzled.


    "I have other matters to attend to. Mr. Dawson, since your friends are here, continue chatting." With that, Violet turned and left. "What''s with her? Talk about disrespect!"


    "Seriously, Lnd, you''re going to be Kieran''s brother-inw. They''re just a business family. They can''t dismiss you like that!" "Lnd, it''s your birthday. How can you let a woman treat you like this?"


    These people were unaware of the dynamics within their social circle. They knew Kieran was influential but didn''t realize the Ramsey family owned a major corporation, fa` surpassing the Dawson family in status.


    Fueled by alcohol and the embarrassment before his friends, Lnd coldly said, "The Ramsey heiress thinks she''s a treasure? I''ll find a way to make her apologize in tears!"  en

 Chapter 182

    Lnd had always been mean and heartless back in school. Johanna, his mom, spoiled him rotten since he was a little boy, convinced he was the prince of the Dawson family and could do no wrong.


    At Echo City University, Lnd''s status meant he could rule the roost. But where were they? They were in the heart of high society, where even setting foot inside required pedigree.


    Yet, Lnd had brought along a bunch of his middle-ss mates. Such disregard for the asion had rubbed the elite the wrong way. In their eyes, an event at the Majestic Manor Hotel was no ce for Lnd''s friends. After knocking back another ss of champagne, Violet went off to the bathroom and Lnd saw his chance. He gave his minions a nod to corner her.


    "Let''s check it out," Freya said, leading Luna toward the corner.


    They saw Lnd''sckeys blocking Violet''s way.


    Realizing the situation, Violet tried to back away. "Lnd, what do you think you''re doing?"


    Lnd was visibly upset not to see fear on Violet''s face. "What do I think I''m doing? The Dawson family honored you by considering you my fianc¨¦e, and this is how you repay me? By disrespecting me?" Drunk and frustrated, Lnd grabbed Violet, attempting to force a kiss on her.


    The crowd started to heckle, but they didn''t bet on Violet to have so much sass. She pped Lnd across the face, turning half of it bright red.


    Lnd''s mates moved to teach Violet a lesson. But she saw her chance to escape.


    Feeling humiliated by Violet, Lnd tried to grab her hair angrily when Freya shouted from nearby, "Lnd! What the hell are you doing?"


    Freya''s voice, neither too loud nor too soft, was enough to draw the attention of everyone present.


    The Ramsey family was already on their way over. Seeing Violet running toward them with her hair in a mess, Mr. Ramsey''s face turned stormy.


    "Freya! You traitor!" Already detesting Freya, Lnd was furious at her for ruining his moment.


    All eyes turned to see Violet copsing into Mrs. Ramsey''s arms and weeping. The room fell into an eerie silence.


    When Johanna got back, she


    noticed all the weird looks she was


    getting She had no idea about theThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    wild seene Lnd had caused, but she quickly noticed Violet sobbing in Mrs. Ramsey''s arms.


    "What''s wrong, sweetheart? Why are you crying like this?" Johanna went over, thinking she couldfort Violet. But all she got was a harsh re from Violet''s eyes.


    Mrs. Ramsey stepped forward. "Mrs. Dawson, we came here in good faith to celebrate your son''s birthday, and this is how he insulted my daughter! What is the meaning of this?"


    "What? What, what do you mean by ''insulted"?" Johanna was shocked.

 Chapter 183

    Oblivious to Lnd''s actions, Johanna was at a loss for words. "Mrs. Ramsey, there must be some mistake. My son, Lnd, has always been an exemry student, both in academics and character..."


    Before Johanna could finish, Lnd stormed over, fuming, and blurted out, "Mom, why waste your breath on them? It was her. She led me on first!"


    "What did you say?" Violet was stunned by Lnd''s audacity to turn the tables, her anger boiling. "Lnd, shame on you!"


    Knowing Lnd had always been quite popr at school due to his looks, Johanna naturally assumed Violet must have taken a fancy to him.


    Stepping forward, Johanna suggested, "Mrs. Ramsey, why turn this misunderstanding between these two kids into such an unpleasant ordeal? My son is a handsome young man, and your daughter is a bright and clever girl. It''s totally normal for a girl to be too shy to say how she feels. Why turn it into this big thing that just gets everyone upset? I propose we arrange a marriage between them, and that way, Ms. Ramsey, you won''t have to feel embarrassed about admitting to such feelings."


    "You!" Mrs. Ramsey was in disbelief at Johanna''s audacity. She had never encountered someone so shameless!


    Not far away, Freya and Luna approached.


    Luna said, "Mrs. Dawson, are you unaware of what your son did? We saw everything. Ms. Ramsey has no interest in your son. It was your son who, emboldened by alcohol, attempted to force himself on Ms. Ramsey!" "Nonsense! Lnd would never do such a thing!" Already not fond of Freya, Johanna found Luna even less to her liking.


    Just then, the security guards came over, dragging along Lnd''s friends who had tried to bolt. Their eyes darted around, avoiding contact, all while ncing toward Lnd.


    Lnd barked, "They are my friends. Who gave you the right to detain them? Let them go!"


    "Mom, Dad! It was them! They cornered me!" Violet immediately pointed out Lnd''s friends. Mr. Ramsey''s face was a shade of anger so deep it couldn''t get any darker.


    Johanna tried to defend Lnd, but Freya stepped forward, addressing Johanna, "Ms. Jennings and I saw everything. Lnd''s actions toward Ms. Ramsey were despicable, a disgrace to the Dawson family! Ultimately, it''s because of yourx discipline." This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Freya! How could you..." Johanna went pale.


    Freya then turned to the Ramsey family, saying, "I apologize to Ramsey. As for this brute


    him as you see fit, and please, show


    no mercy."


    "Freya! How could you turn against your family? It''s clear you want to see Lnd suffer!" Johanna was beside herself with anger.


    Meanwhile, Lnd retorted, "Violet


    seduced me! She''s ying the saint before others. Why would she spend time alone with me if she had no interest in me? I was a bit more forward, and now, she''s ying the victim!"


    "You!" Violet red at Lnd, absolutely furious.


    She was shocked that Johanna and her son were so shameless! Then, suddenly, the sharp sound of a p echoed through the air.

 Chapter 184

    Freya pped Lnd across the face.


    Lnd was stunned, frozen in his tracks. Perhaps he hadn''t expected Freya to strike him. At that moment, Lnd was speechless.


    "Mr. Ramsey, I''ll leave him in your hands. As for the Dawson family, my word is final. Please don''t worry about sparing our family''s dignity. Teach him a lesson."


    At first, the Ramsey family intended to let it slide, considering Freya''s engagement to the Sutton family.


    However, Lnd suddenly shouted, "Bullshit! I dare any of you to touch me! I''m Kieran''s future brother-inw! Lay a finger on me, and the Sutton family will never let you off!"


    Hearing Lnd''s outrageous im, Mr. Ramsey''s anger red, "My daughter hasn''t faced an ounce of unfairness while I''ve been around. Today, Lnd, you had the nerve to mess with her. Don''t me me for not considering our families'' rtions!"


    With that, Mr. Ramsey signaled his bodyguard to take action. In the blink of an eye, the bodyguard''s taser hit Lnd''s leg. Lnd felt a severe pain and screamed, writhing on the ground.


    "My son!" Johanna hadn''t expected the Ramsey family to intervene physically. She rushed over to check on Lnd''s condition.


    Seeing Lnd unable to stand, Johanna red at the Ramsey family, eximing, "It is the Dawson family''s gathering! How dare youy hands here! No matter what, we''re future inws to the Sutton family! There''s a saying, ''Even when you beat a dog, you must look at its owner!'' You''ve gone too far!"


    Johanna whipped around to look at Freya, "Freya, are you really gonna stand by while your brother gets hassled? What kind of sister does that make you!"


    Freya replied indifferently, "Johanna, Lnd brought this upon himself. He must face the consequences. I''ve handed him over to the Ramsey family. Please, let''s not lose any more dignity for our family."


    "You! Heartless traitor! He''s your brother!" Johanna was frantic, her appearance disheveled.


    The event was filled with notable figures from Echo City, none of whom behaved as Johanna did.


    Soon, the guests began to leave, unwilling to witness any more of this disgrace. After all, most attended for business connections.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lnd had first caused Kieran to leave, attempted to misbehave with Mr. Ramsey''s daughter, and then openly defied them. Hisck of manners was apparent.


    "Mr. Ramsey, it was Lnd''s fault,


    and I will ensure he prepares a formal apology to deliver to your house for your daughter. I''ll arrange for transportation for you to leave immediately." Freya was respectful and sincere, without any pretense.


    Mr. Ramsey merely nodded, leading his wife and daughter out without a word.


    Soon, the hall was empty.


    Johanna was stunned for a


    moment. When she realized


    everyone was gone, she shouted, "Today is my son''s birthday celebration! How can you all teave like this?"


    "Dear Johanna!" Freya gave Johanna, sitting on the ground clutching Lnd, a cold nce. "Today, you''ve tarnished the Dawson family''s reputation. Clean up the mess yourself."


    en


    "You!" Johanna felt somehow that Freya was involved in the day''s events, but Freya and Luna had turned and left.


    At that moment, Johanna felt overwhelmed, copsing to the ground.

 Chapter 185

    The scandal involving the Dawson family was the talk of the town by the following morning.


    Everyone was buzzing about Lnd''s outrageous stunt at his birthday bash the night before.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Violet had always been the darling of high society, the dream girl for many eligible bachelors, and the top choice for a wife. After Lnd''s ridiculous flirtation, those same bachelors were quick to distance themselves from him. This time, Johanna had shot herself in the foot. She wanted Lnd to marry into real wealth without considering whether Lnd was in the same league.


    When Johanna came back from the hospital around noon, she lookedpletely beat. She ran up to Freya and said, "Freya, how could you be so cold? Lnd''s your brother, and you went to such extremes to hurt him!"


    "Johanna, I have no idea what you''re talking about." Freya leaned back on the couch, feigning ignorance. "The nonsensest night was all Lnd''s doing, not like I held a knife to his throat. Without me, Lnd would have ruined the Dawson family''s reputation. I haven''t even started on you, and you med me?"


    "You!" Johanna was so angry that she nearly passed out.


    Freya continued, "Johanna, please don''t get too worked up. Another trip to the hospital wouldn''t do."


    At this point, Johanna was like someone who''d choked on a bitter pill and couldn''tin about it. She wouldn''t be there swallowing these humiliations from Freya if Lnd hadn''t been so foolish.


    Freya smiled. "Although I don''t like to kick someone when they''re down, Johanna, you still have to keep your promises."


    After saying that, Freya ced a signed contract before Johanna. "Here''s the debt you owe me. I''ve received the sports car you sent over yesterday. I''m pleased. As for the money, I hope you can sort it out soon."


    Johanna''s face turned even grimmer at the sight of the contract. She had agreed to return a pair of valuable pearls of Freya''s mother to settle things down.


    Those pearls were worth a fortune! Where was she supposed to find that kind of money? Furthermore, she had promised Freya a dowry of ten million. That totaled ny million!


    "Johanna, didn''t you say you''d pay when you have the money..."


    "Johanna, the contract specifies a


    timeframe. If you can''te up with the money in three months, I''ll have no choice but to take legal action. By then, whether you can continue


    living here would be!


    uncertain."


    "You..." Johanna knew Freya was taking advantage of the situation but couldn''t do anything about it. Thinking about it made Johanna even more frustrated.


    Freya stood up. "Johanna, I hope you adhere to the contract and pay the dues soon. Otherwise, you''ll regret not acting sooner when the court freezes all your assets."


    After that, Freya picked up the contract and left the Dawson family''s mansion.


    Johanna couldn''t afford to pay a dime at this point. Lnd''s botched party had ruined their reputation and offended the Ramsey family!


    She had basically tossed twelve


    million dors down the drain just on


    Pel


    the cost of the banquet hall. The money was for a three-day booking, but the guests at the Majestic Manor Hotel had all left in less than three hours! The thought made Johanna''s heart ache.


    But Freya didn''t care about Johanna''s losses. She deliberately drove off in the red sports car Johanna had brought over the day before delighted. "This car is


    ve


    something. I love it. Thanks, Johanna."


    With that, Freya drove away.

 Chapter 186

    Johanna nearly passed out on the spot for the second time.


    In the rearview mirror, Freya watched Johanna''s meltdown in the Dawson family''s front yard, a smirk slowly forming on her lips. ''Johanna, do you think this is the end? No, this is just the beginning.'' Meanwhile, Jarrett couldn''t help but whisper a reminder in the Sutton Group. "Mr. Sutton, aren''t you going to check on them? With such a debacle at the Dawson family, Ms. Dawson must be overwhelmed." Who didn''t know about the disaster at the Dawson family''s partyst night? It was the kind of embarrassment thatsts a lifetime. Lnd would never hear the end of it in their social circles.


    And as Lnd''s sister, Freya would inevitably be affected, too. If Audrey found out about the Dawson family''s impropriety, Audrey would likely reassess Freya.


    "Does Grandma know about this?"


    "Not yet."


    "Let''s keep it that way."


    "Understood."


    Right after Jarrett finished speaking, Audrey''s voice came from outside. "Keep what from whom?"


    Audrey rarely visited the office. She wouldn''te to Kieran''s office unless it were something serious. Kieran frowned. "Grandma, what brings you here?"


    "If I didn''te, your fianc¨¦e would have stirred up trouble outside."


    Audrey''s voice was serious as she sat in Kieran''s office chair, "Get here. I need to have a chat


    Wol


    with her." Content beel


    Following Audrey''smand, Jarrett still instinctively nced at Kieran.


    Kieran said, "Grandma, this has nothing to do with Reya."


    "Nothing to do with her? The embarrassment is on her family. Such a big issue, and you want to hide it from me?"


    The Ramsey family was a reputable name in their circles. If the Sutton family''s future daughter-inw had upset the Ramsey family, this fianc¨¦e would be more trouble than she was worth.


    Kieran got what Audrey was getting at. He had been hoping to how make things better, but then he heard the sound of high heels clicking outside.


    Soon, the office door opened.


    Freya entered with aposed smile. "Audrey, I heard you wanted to see me, so I came right over."


    "You..." Kieran''s expression cooled.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    He thought angrily, ''What is this situation now? Can''t Freya see it? Yet, she has rushed over!''

 Chapter 187

    Freya was well aware of Audrey''s disposition. Audrey would take charge at the office early in the morning as the fianc¨¦e was involved in a scandal that rocked the Sutton family. Sure enough, when Freya arrived, Audrey was already there. "Freya, what on earth happenedst night? I want the full story," Audrey demanded, her presencemanding.


    Freya replied with neither submissiveness nor arrogance, "Last night, Lnd, in a moment of folly, offended Ms. Ramsey, attempting to force himself on her after having too much to drink..."


    Freya slightly furrowed her brows as Audrey continued, "Lnd is neen this year, isn''t he? How can he not control himself? I''ve heard he''s been bragging about being the Sutton family''s future brother-inw. What? Does he think the Sutton family will cover for him if he messes up?"


    "Ridiculous!" Audrey mmed her fist on the desk, causing Jarrett to hold his tongue.


    "Grandmother, I''ll handle it."


    "And how do you n to handle it?" Audrey threw a look at Kieran and said, "What, by breaking off the engagement with the Dawson family?"


    A faint smile appeared on Freya''s lips at the mention of breaking off the engagement. She had allowed Lnd to misbehave at the party because she knew Audrey''s temperament.


    Lnd caused a simr scandal at the party in her previous life, offending the Ramsey family. Freya repeatedly apologized to the Ramsey family on Lnd''s behalf, which resulted in the Sutton family losing face. Audrey had started to dislike Freya after that. Freya had gone to great lengths to regain Audrey''s favor, doing whatever it took.


    It wasn''t until then that Audrey had finally epted her back as the Sutton family''s fianc¨¦e. But in this life, she had no intention of trying so hard with Audrey.


    Her act of spoiling Lnd was just aBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    trick to make Audrey drop the idea


    of her being the future


    daughter-inw of the Sutton family. If Audrey relented, it would be difficult for Kieran to keep the engagement even if he wanted to.


    "Grandmother, the Ramsey family is of no concern to me," Kieran said calmly. "Besides, Reya apologized to Mr. Ramsey and his familyst night. Lnd made this mistake, and Mr. Ramsey has reprimanded him. It has nothing to do with Reya."


    Kieran''s constant use of "Reya" made Freya inwardly cringe. Who was itst night that, disregarding her feelings, showed up at the dinner party with Eloise? Then, he was putting on a show, ying the protective fianc¨¦.


    "That might be true, but now with the Dawson family''s reputation..." Audrey''s eyes went cold as she looked at Freya. "Freya, I need to rethink your engagement with Kieran."


    Did Audrey not know how much


    Freya used to adore Kieran? She


    was merely testing Freya''spliance with that statement. Freya were


    a were obedient, she would know what to do next and


    appease her future


    Pet


    how


    wn


    grandmother-inw.


    Freya said, "Audrey,st night''s incident has tarnished the Sutton family''s reputation. I know I''m not fit to be Mrs. Sutton and do not wish to hold Mr. Sutton back..."


    Before Freya could finish her heartfelt speech, Kieran sensed what she was about to say. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and before his brain could catch up, his body moved swiftly to Freya''s side.


    Kieran took Freya''s hand, saying, "Grandma, what Reya means is, from now on, she will fulfill her duties diligently and be a qualified Mrs. Sutton. There will be no repeat ofst night''s incident." Hearing that, Freya furrowed her brows, wanting to pull her hand away, but Kieran''s grip was unexpectedly firm, leaving her no chance to break free.


    What on earth was Kieran ying at?

 Chapter 188

    Seeing Kieran stepping up for Freya, Audrey nodded and said, "Freya, you''ve always been such a bright and well-behaved girl. But when ites to the standing of our families, you''ve let it slide a bit. Let''s brush off yesterday''s mess and call it water under the bridge. But if anything of the sort happens again, don''t expect me to overlook past affections. At that point, I might have to reconsider your engagement."


    Audrey''s smile belied the warning in her tone.


    Freya tried to wriggle free from Kieran''s grip, but Kieran held her firmly, leaving no room for resistance.


    Just as Freya was about to speak, Kieran interjected, "Grandma, you''re right. Reya''s been smart and well-mannered. The mishap was all her brother''s doing. She''ll keep a tighter leash on him to ensure this doesn''t happen again." After saying this, Kieran told Jarrett, "Jarrett, would you escort Grandma back?"


    "Of course." Jarrett stepped forward to assist Audrey.


    With a quick move, Kieran yanked Freya behind him, blocking her view. Freya scowled and gave Kieran''s side a pinch. Kieran sucked in a sharp breath from the sudden sting.


    Seeing Kieran trying to bear the pain silently brought Freya a sliver of joy.


    Shortly, Jarrett escorted Audrey out of the office. The next second, Kieran turned around and pinned Freya against the wall. Freya was stunned. The turn was too forceful due to Kieran''s pent-up frustration, bringing them unexpectedly close. Kieran''s brows furrowed. "Freya, are you seriously considering calling off the engagement?"


    Freya would probably have mentioned canceling the engagement if he hadn''t interrupted her earlier.


    Kieran said, word by word, "Let me tell you that''s not happening."


    "Mr. Sutton, aren''t you being too absolute? Audrey said if it happened again, she would... Hmm!"


    Before Freya could finish her sentence, she felt something soft press against her lips.


    Kieran''s move was rough as if he intended to consume her entirely He had never realized how soft Freya''s lips were or how tender and sweet-smelling she was.


    Initially, his kiss was out of sheer frustration, a lesson for the woman who seemed oblivious to the gravity of her actions. But at that moment, he felt an explosion of sensations he couldn''t control.


    The next second, a crisp p rang out. Instantly, Kieran felt the sting on half of his face.


    Outside, Jarrett burst in, "Mr. Sutton!"


    "Out!" Kieran''s furiousmand sent Jarrett retreating immediately.


    Freya''s expression was dark. "Kieran, I''m not your toy! You can''t kiss me or discard me whenever you feel like it! Stop ying these games with me!"


    Kieran caught the disgust in Freya''s eyes.


    Quickly, Freya turned and left the office.


    Gazing at the ss at his reflection and his half-red face, Kieran should have been furious. In the whole of Echo City, no one had ever had the guts to p him over and over again.


    Only Freya! Only Freya dared to be so bold.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 189

    Jarrett strolled in, unable to hold back, "Ms. Dawson... she wrecked the lucky tree by the door on her way out." "Let her wreck it."


    "Excuse me?" Jarrett was shocked. ''Let her wreck it?''


    Kieran wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth, stating, "Head over to the Dawson family, bring Freya back here, and tell them it''s on my orders. Without my permission, she''s not allowed to go anywhere."


    "Mr. Sutton, wouldn''t that be improper? Won''t it be a total humiliation for you if Ms. Dawson leaves again?"


    When Freya leftst time, Kieran was so furious that he threw away all of Freya''s belongings. Then, eagerly asking Freya to return, whether it was a matter of pride, should it spread, especially to Eloise, it would blow up into a serious issue. "Just do as I say! Are you not listening to me anymore?"


    "Of course not." Jarrett quickly bowed his head.


    Kieran added, "Freya is my fianc¨¦e. Is there a problem with wanting my fianc¨¦e to live with me?"


    "No."


    "Then hurry up, don''t make me repeat myself!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett quickly exited the office.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Kieran rubbed his temples, only then feeling a sting at the corner of his mouth. Touching his lips, he realized Freya had bitten him.


    He fumed. ''This woman, is she a dog or something? Always biting people?''


    But then again, Kieran felt justified in his actions.


    He thought, ''Kissing my fianc¨¦e, what''s wrong with that? All Freya did was to catch my attention. She loves me! That''s why she''s going out of her way to piss me off. Yes, that must be it. Perhaps, after being kissed by me, Freya was secretly delighted.''


    Thinking thus, Kieran paced back and forth in his office.


    After a while, Jarrett returned. Watching his boss pace, he couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Sutton, I''ve notified


    the Dawson family, andove


    "Should I apologize with roses or lilies?"


    "What?" Jarrett was stunned for a moment.


    With a serious look, Kieran said, "Even though everything I did to Freya is something a fianc¨¦ could


    do, it''s still wrong to go ag could


    a


    woman''s wishes. Order a bouquet for me and have it sent to Freya as an apology."


    "Mr. Sutton, I don''t think Ms. Dawson will ept..."


    ''Besides, just a bouquet, isn''t that too perfunctory?'' That was what Jarrett thought, but he didn''t dare say it out loud. Kieran frowned, "I''ve never given flowers to a woman before. It is the first time. She should be happy about it." "But..." Jarrett thought, ''But why do I feel Ms. Dawson receiving Mr. Sutton''s flowers will make her anything but happy?''


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 190

    Anyone with half a brain could see it. Freya used to be head over heels for Kieran, and now? She couldn''t stand the sight of him. Sending flowers at this point? She''d toss them straight into the trash. Kieran rushed it. "Why all the fuss? Just do as told. Do you not want to be my executive assistant anymore?"


    "I''m on it!" Jarrett quickly left the office.


    Thirty minutester, Jarrett knocked on the Dawson family''s front door.


    When Freya opened the door, she saw a massive bouquet of roses.


    Her eyelids twitched as she asked, "Jarrett, what''s this all about?"


    Jarrett said, "This is from Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson. He''s sorry about what happened. He was a bit impulsive..."


    Freya had mmed the door shut before Jarrett could finish.


    Seeing this, Jarrett quickly said, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton is really sorry, and he even arranged for us to give you a ride home! Please don''t make our job harder. We''re just doing what we''re told! Ms. Dawson!" Freya ignored Jarrett''s frantic pleas at the door.


    Instead, Johanna ran down from upstairs, pointing at Freya''s nose. "Youngdy, what are you thinking? You can''t just snub Mr. Sutton''s people!"


    Johanna was desperate. Lnd had crossed the Ramsey family, and clinging to Kieran was their only hope. Thest thing she wanted was to offend Kieran.


    With a smile, Johanna opened the door wide and said to Jarrett, "Secretary Jarrett, Freya''s being shy. Don''t worry. I''ll have here with you!"


    Listening to Johanna''s shrewd words, Freya couldn''t help butugh. Johanna still owed her a considerable sum, yet she dared to offer Freya up to the Sutton family to plea on behalf of Lnd. She was delusional. "Johanna, since when do you call the shots in the Dawson family?"


    "Freya, I''m only thinking of what''s best for you." Johanna approached, saying, "I''m working on getting the pearl earrings and the money. Just stay at Mr. Sutton''s for a few days. Your brother''s in a tough spot, hospitalized, and we don''t even know if he''ll keep his leg. What will be of us if you don''t go?" As Johanna spoke, she began to tear up.


    Watching Johanna''s Oscar-level performance, Freya couldn''t help butugh. So, all this was just about using her to score points with Kieran. Yet Johanna was hamming it up like this. "Fine, for your sake, Johanna, I''ll go. But the repayment schedule needs to change. Not seven days, but three."


    Hearing Freya shorten the deadline,


    Johanna clenched her teeth and


    agreed "Don''t worry. As long as you go to the Sutton family, even if have to sell my blood, I''ll get you the money within three days!"


    "That''s settled then. I''ll revise the contract and send it over. Three days to repay, and don''t forget about my mother''s pearl earrings. You better not default." With that, her smile twitching, Johanna agreed, "Okay, okay."


    Freya smiled and walked outside.


    Jarrett was surprised that Johanna persuaded Freya with just a few words and said, "Ms. Dawson, this way, please."


    "This time, Kieran won''t be throwing my stuff out, will he?"


    "Of course, no!"


    "Good."


    Freya got into the car.


    Inside the Dawson family, worried about the repayment, Johanna immediately called Audrey.


    Once the call connected, Johanna


    said, "Mrs. Sutton, Freya has realized


    her mistake. But the Dawson


    het


    family''s been having a hard timetely. was wondering if we could


    borrow some money from youContent held by N?velDrama.Org.


    We


    could even forego the dowry once


    Freya marries into your family."

 Chapter 191

    Audrey had long been aware of Johanna''s true colors. However, since Johanna was Freya''s stepmother and thedy of the Dawson family, Audrey maintained a polite facade. But after Johanna''s son''s disgraceful antics the night before, Audrey lost all interest in engaging With a chilly tone, Audrey asked, "Mrs. Dawson, how much are you looking to borrow?"


    with Johanna.


    "Not too much... just, just ny million."


    Ny million stopped Audrey in her tracks. Ny million? The audacity!


    "Mrs. Sutton, I know the Sutton family is wealthy and prosperous, and ny million might seem like a drop in the ocean for you. I beg you to have mercy on me. We''re facing a real crisis, or I wouldn''t havee to you," Johanna pleaded, desperate to redeem the precious pearl earrings that would soon increase in price beyond her reach if she didn''t act quickly.


    "Mrs. Dawson, you have the nerve to ask for ny million as if the Sutton family is your bank?" Audrey was displeased with Freya''s recent behavior, not to mention the previous night''s episode. There was no way she''d y the fool and lend Johanna the ny million. After her blunt refusal, Audrey hung up without a second thought, leaving Johanna without dignity.


    Johanna was shocked when the line went dead. Hung up on? When it sank in that Audrey wasn''t gonna lend her the money, Johanna''s face turned bleak with worry.


    ''What now?'' she wondered.


    If Audrey didn''t lend the money, her only option would be to take out a loan, but no regr bank would lend such an amount to a stay-at-home mom at once unless she turned to loan sharks. Meanwhile, Jarrett had brought Freya back to the Sutton Mansion. It hadn''t been long since Freya left the Sutton family, just a few days.


    The housekeeper greeted Freya with the utmost respect.


    Freya nodded in acknowledgment.


    She was there to find peace since Lnd was about to be discharged from the hospital. She couldn''t stand the thought of facing him every day.


    en


    "Ms. Dawson, everything has been prepared for you. If there''s anything you need, please don''t hesitate to ask. Mr. Sutton has instructed us to provide you with the finest O


    "Really?"Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Absolutely!"


    "That''s wonderful." Pretending to be troubled, Freya said, "I felt my previous guest room was subpar. I want to move to the room at the end of the hall." "Oh?"


    "And I prefer more minimalist decor.


    The previous room felt too corporate for my taste. Freya continued, "I dislike cooking. It doesn''t sit well with me. So, I''d rather not cook for Kieram And since I''m a student my studies are of utmost importance. Kieran shouldn''t interfere with my schooling, restrict my freedom, or critique my actions. And, he must keep his distance."


    Every time Freya made a request, Jarrett''s face went a little paler. After she finally finished her long list of demands, Jarrett was at a total loss for words. Suddenly, Kieran''s voice echoed from behind Freya.

 Chapter 192

    "All right, I agree."


    Hearing this, Freya spun around, hardly believing her ears. It seemed unthinkable that Kieran would return at this moment.


    As Freya turned, she identally bumped into Kieran''s embrace.


    The badge on Kieran''s chest shoved against Freya''s nose and it hurt. She stepped back and said, "Mr. Sutton, you said yes to my requests?"


    Kieran wasn''t known for being easily persuaded.


    Kieran replied coldly, "What''s the problem? You seem less thrilled now that I''ve agreed."


    "Of course, I''m happy you''ve agreed." Quick as a sh, as if fearing Kieran might change his mind, she turned to Jarrett, "Jarrett, Mr. Sutton has agreed. Could you please take care of the arrangements?" "Certainly, Ms. Dawson." Jarrett immediately went to prepare Freya''s room.


    Freya turned to Kieran and said, "Mr. Sutton, if there''s nothing else, I''ll head up to rest."


    "Wait." Kieran suddenly caught Freya''s arm.


    Freya frowned, ncing at the hand on her arm, briefly fantasizing about chopping it off. "Mr. Sutton, is there something else?"


    "Where are the flowers that I gave you?"


    When Kieran suddenly mentioned the roses, Freya responded, "Well, Mr. Sutton, I felt those flowers didn''t suit me, so I left them at the Dawson family."


    Kieran asked, "Left at the Dawson family, or threw them away?"


    Freya politely assured, "Of course, I left them at the Dawson family."


    The flowers were in the Dawson family''s trash bin, but technically still at the Dawson family.


    Happy with the solid answer from Freya, Kieran dropped the subject Little did he know, Freya had


    chucked the roses into the Dawson family''spost bin when she left.


    en


    Freya added, "If there''s nothing else, Mr. Sutton, I''ll go up to rest."Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Wait!"


    Seeing Kieran had more to say, Freya rolled her eyes. ''What now?''


    Turning back, she said, "Mr. Sutton, if you have anything else, please say it all now. I''m exhausted."


    Kieran asked again, "Why choose the room furthest away?"


    Freya had previously stayed in a guest room near Kieran''s at the Sutton Mansion, close to him. Given Freya''s feelings for him, you''d think she''d be thrilled about the room''s location.


    Of


    Folieran didn''t know Freya g to walk further to the


    keep her distance,


    n at the end.


    Freya smiled. "Because that room is a bitrger, and I prefer spacious rooms."


    It was a flimsy excuse at best.


    Kieran frowned. "You could always stay in mine if you think the room is too small." Kieran thought his offer would thrill Freya to no end.

 Chapter 193

    Freya had always hoped to get closer to him, but she was over it. Sharing a living space with Kieran made her inwardly roll her eyes. For heaven''s sake, she would never want to share a room with this arrogant guy! Forcing a smile, Freya said, "Living together unmarried could stir up gossip. Besides, there''s only one bed. How would we manage?"


    Misinterpreting her hesitation as a subtle hint, Kieran replied leisurely, "We''re engaged. There''s nothing improper about sharing a bed. My bed''s big enough for three if you''re suggesting..."


    "Mr. Sutton, if you''re trying to take responsibility for what happened earlier today, there''s no need. I understand you got caught up in the moment. It was a kiss. I didn''t take it to heart." Kieran couldn''t believe his ears. "You... you didn''t take it to heart?"


    Freya shot back, "No way. We''re living in the 21st century. A kiss isn''t some crazy, forbidden thing. It''s not like it''s the end of the world for me."


    Freya''s remarks amused Kieran. So, he was the only one fussing over it?


    "You''re right. I thought you, Ms. Dawson, held your virtue above all else. It seems I was worried over nothing. Forget everything I said earlier."


    Feeling tight in his chest, Kieran turned and headed upstairs. However, he quickly realized he had returned to rify their rtionship, prompting him to return downstairs.


    "Freya, remember we''re engaged. You will be the future Mrs. Sutton of the Sutton family. Don''t think you can escape from me. I''ll find a way to bring you back even if you run!"


    With that, Kieran left the Sutton Mansion without looking back.


    Watching his retreating figure, Freya frowned. ''What a weirdo he is!''


    "Ms. Dawson, your room is ready. However, you''ll have to stay in your original room for the time being due to the uing renovations," Jarrett informed her, sweating at the sight of his boss being driven to frustration. Freya was stepping up her game. Who knew how she''d handle Mr. Sutton if she ended up bing Mrs. Sutton?


    "There''s no need for renovations. Just changing the furniture will be fine," Freya said, heading upstairs.


    She couldn''t bear the thought of


    Seven a second in the room


    Kieran''s, let alone an entire


    night.


    "Yes, Ms. Dawson."


    Eloise drove to the Sutton Group to pick up Kieran from work in the evening. Upon arriving at Kieran''s office floor, she overheard two assistants gossiping. "Is it true? They kissed?"Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    "Yeah. I say Mr. Sutton kiss Ms. Dawson with my own eyes! And Jarrett has been busy all afternoon arranging furniture and calling decorators. It''s clear they''re living together!"  en


    "Oh my God, what about Ms. Harwood? Wasn''t she supposed to be Mr. Sutton''s favorite?"


    ...


    Their conversation hit Eloise''s ears without her missing a single word.


    Realizing Eloise was behind them,


    the assistants quickly rose from et


    their


    desks and stammered, ¡°Ms. Harwood..."


    Trying to hide her heartache, Eloise asked, "When did this happen?"


    "We... we were just talking. It might not be true."

 Chapter 194

    ''It might not be true?'' Eloise had heard the rumors as clear as day.


    Not only had Kieran locked lips with Freya in a bold move, but the Sutton family had started picking out new furniture for her. Just thinking about it made Eloise march straight toward Kieran''s office.


    She barely made it to the door when Jarrett intercepted her. "Ms. Harwood, Mr. Sutton is in a meeting. It''s not a good time now."


    But before Jarrett could finish, Eloise had barged into Kieran''s office. Inside, Kieran was wearing headphones and deeply engaged in a call with an international client. Seeing Eloise storm in, Kieran''s brows furrowed slightly.


    Kieran ended the call quickly with a short sentence. "Ellie, I''m still in the middle of work."


    Eloise had never been this impulsive.


    Kieran set aside his headphones, and looking down, Eloise mumbled, "I... I didn''t mean to." Kieran nced at her. "What''s up?"


    "I came to pick you up from work." Eloise squeezed out a smile, though it was far from genuine.


    Oblivious to Eloise''s distress, Kieran said, "I''ve got ns tonight and can''t have dinner with you. I''ll arrange for the driver to take you home. It''s not safe out there thiste." Kieran was as considerate as ever. Yet, Eloise felt him drifting further away.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she asked with a shaky voice, "Kieran, is Ms. Dawson moving in with you?"


    Kieran''s eyes turned cold for a moment at that. "Who told you that?"


    "1..."Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    As Eloise faltered, Kieran asked, "Freya told you?"


    "No... No." The more Eloise denied, the more Kieran believed Freya must have spilled the beans.


    It was strange. If Freya had done


    this before, Kieran would think of her as conniving. But then, he found himself oddly pleased. Freya


    swno.ne


    imed she had no feelings for him, yet she still cared enough to meddle.


    Kieran exined, "I asked her to move in. After all, she''s engaged to me now, and with what went down with the Dawson familyst night it''s important that she keeps her distance from the Dawsons. Otherwise, it would make my family look like a joke."


    "Is that all?" Eloise looked up at Kieran cautiously.


    Never before had she felt so insecure around him, buttely, it seemed like Freya had taken up residence in Kieran''s heart.


    "That''s all." Kieran closed hisptop, ending the conversation.


    Jarrett came in at the right moment. "Ms. Harwood, Mr. Sutton has more to attend to. Pleasee with me."


    Jarrett escorted Eloise out.


    Stepping outside, Eloise couldn''t help but notice the assistants'' nces.


    That had been her fastest exit from Kieran''s office ever. Eloise clenched her fists in silence.


    From Freya''s initial peace offering to her moving into the Sutton family, it was all Freya''s lies! Freya imed she didn''t like Kieran and didn''t want to be Mrs. Sutton! Freya was toying with her!


    And to think Eloise had believed Preston wanted to do business with her. Instead, she had made a fool of herself before Freya and Preston, enduring Preston''s scorn. Eloise gritted her teeth. ''No, I can''t just sit back and do nothing.''

 Chapter 195

    Eloise couldn''t stand by and watch Freya swoop in and steal Kieran from under her nose. She whipped out her phone quickly and dialed a number she knew well. "Hey, I need you toe back home. I''ve got a favor to ask!"


    By evening, Kieran had returned to the Sutton Mansion. Upon entering, he noticed only amp lit in the living room while the sound of moving furniture echoed from upstairs. Kieran frowned, asking, "They''re still not done?"


    Jarrett replied, "Ms. Dawson has quite the high standards. We''ve gone through three sets of furniture this afternoon."


    "And where is she?"


    Jarrett looked a bit awkward as he said, "She might be... directing, I suppose."


    "Directing? What''s there for her to direct?" With that, Kieran''s face darkened as he ascended the stairs.


    He was determined to see what scheme Freya was concocting this time!


    A cloud of white dust billowed toward him as he reached the top. Noticing the mishap, the workers hurriedly apologized, "Mr. Sutton, sorry! Ms. Dawson wanted to have the walls repainted, and well..."


    Kieran found himself covered in a fineyer of white dust, his expression growing darker. Moving forward, he could already hear Freya''smands from a guest room. "Yes, just like that, a bit to the left. Move the bed over here." Freya was casually munching on an apple as she directed the workers.


    "Freya!"


    Uttered in Kieran''s voice, her name suddenly echoed behind her. She turned, meeting Kieran''s dark gaze at the doorway.


    "Mr. Sutton? What a coincidence. You here to supervise?"


    "Supervise?" Kieran was nearly brought toughter by her audacity.


    Turning his home into a mess, and Freya had the nerve to joke about it?


    "Mr. Sutton, I''m so sorry. Is the dust bothering you?" Freya said, approaching Kieran with a bucket of paint in hand.


    Kieran instinctively stepped back upon seeing the paint.


    "It''s quite fun to apply the putty. Care to give it a try, Mr. Sutton?" Freya teased.


    "Freya, keep that away from me!" Kieran covered his mouth and grimaced, unwilling to take another step closer to the room.


    Seeing she''d achieved her goal, Freya continued, "Mr. Sutton, I thought we could do without the renovations, but I just couldn''t get over the wall color. So, I had the workers give it a bit of a paint touch-up. Don''t mind it. By the way, if you''re hungry, dinner''s ready downstairs. I believe the


    housekeeper left some food. You only need to heat them."


    "Mr. Sutton, perhaps we should leave."


    The dust was bing unbearable. Freya smiled politely at Kieran with a hint of calction.


    Kieran''s face was stormy as he left Freya''s doorway.


    Freya''s smile faded when he was gone. ''How amusing! Does he think he can outmaneuver me?''


    Freya knew about Kieran''s penchant


    for cleanliness and his meticulousCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    = seeing her room in


    in


    such chaos, he''d likely never set foot there again.


    As expected, Kieran immediately headed to his room to shower.


    Jarrett had been waiting outside the whole time.


    An hourter, Kieran emerged, visibly disgusted as he sniffed his clothing, ensuring no trace of paint lingered.


    "Get two air purifiers in here to clear


    out the smell," Kieran instructed


    after ensuring he was free of


    unpleasant odor. Content


    Whatever Freya had used, it had left a foul smell permeating the hallway.


    "Right away, Mr. Sutton," Jarrett responded, quickly leaving to fulfill the request.

 Chapter 196

    d in a simple white bathrobe, Kieran descended the stairs to find the fridge stocked with several simple dishes. However, he immediately knew they weren''t Freya''s cooking.


    At that moment, his mind wandered back to when Freya stayed with the Sutton family, crafting varied and delicious meals thrice a day, fearing he might lose his appetite. Whether he ate or not often depended on his mood. But it seemed like begging wouldn''t even get Freya to cook! The thought made him lose his appetite and he wound up shutting the fridge door with a flick of his wrist.


    Noticing the situation, Jarrett inquired, "Mr. Sutton, don''t these dishes suit your taste?"


    "What do you think?" Kieran''s mood was sour.


    Jarrett was puzzled. That couldn''t be right. Mr. Sutton always relished Linsey''s cooking. What had changed so suddenly?


    "Mr. Sutton, how about I order some takeout for you?"


    "No need." Frowning, Kieran asked, "Has Freya eaten anything tonight?"


    "I don''t think so."


    "Call her down for dinner."Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "But..."


    Jarrett intended to suggest Freya wasn''t likely hungry, but one look from Kieran made him ascend the stairs without further question.


    Freya was still in her room, directing others in their tasks.


    Jarrett approached and said, "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton is calling you down for dinner."


    "I''m skipping dinner." Freya''s voice was indifferent.


    When she was with the Sutton family, dinners were an excuse to spend more time with Kieran. Given Kieran''s stomach issues, timely meals were necessary for him.


    1.


    Freya, however, wasn''t even


    such needs. She was used


    meals daily, skipping dinner to


    by


    two


    maintain her figure.


    Jarrett was aware of this, yet Kieran remained clueless.


    "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton seems to prefer your homemade meals. Maybe..." Jarrett''s hint was more than clear.


    In a tone neither warm nor cold, Freya replied, "I''ve said this beforeing here. I''m not a servant of the Sutton family. I agreed toe, but I won''t cook." "Ms. Dawson..."


    "Maybe I should just get out of here. Feels like there''s not much point in me sticking around."


    Upon hearing this, Jarrett panicked, "Ms. Dawson, forget I said it! I''ll ry your message to Mr. Sutton."


    Fearful of Freya changing her mind, he quickly returned to Kieran.


    "Skipping dinner?" Kieran found it amusing. When Freya was with the Sutton family, she never missed a dinner. And she suddenly decided to skip?


    "Is Freya trying to be contrary to me on purpose?" asked Kieran.


    When hearing that, Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson used to skip dinner."


    When Freya was with the Sutton


    family, she wouldn''t have dinner


    eln


    unless Kieran was home. She would only cook for Audrey. There was only one instance when Freya prepared ate-night snack, which Kieran had discarded.


    Frowning, Kieran asked, "She doesn''t eat dinner, and you know this how?"


    "Mr. Sutton, Linsey mentioned it before. When you weren''t home at night, Ms. Dawson only prepared meals for Mrs. Sutton. Ms. Dawson made ate-night snack once, but you threw it away."

 Chapter 197

    When Jarrett ryed the news, Kieran couldn''t believe it. Had something like that happened? Kieran couldn''t recall a thing.


    He hadn''t paid much attention to Freya in the past, so he wouldn''t bother with anything she did for him.


    Even as these words came out of Jarrett''s mouth, Kieran found it hard to believe that he had been so harsh to Freya before and had gone to such extremes.


    "Mr. Sutton, it''s only natural for Ms. Dawson to be upset."


    No one wants the person they''re into to trash the hard work they put in. And Freya was no different.


    After all, even Jarrett knew Freya skipped dinner, yet her fianc¨¦ had no clue.


    Frowning, Kieran suddenly lost his appetite.


    Seeing Kieran stand up, Jarrett was about to follow when Kieran said, "Let''s postpone tonight''s work. You can go ahead."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton," Jarrett responded.


    Kieran went upstairs. There, he found Freya in the room, casually directing the renovation team and taking matters into her own hands by donning a cap and joining in. She didn''t look anything like a pampered heiress. Not the least bit demure or reserved. Freya turned and saw Kieran at the door, and her brows furrowed slightly, clearly displeased.


    ''What is this nuisance doing here again?''


    "Mr. Sutton, it''s messy here. Maybe you should leave. We''ll try to keep the noise down." The lead contractor didn''t want Kieran to blow his top and send them packing.


    After all, with Kieran''s status, angering him could mean the end of their business.


    Freya continued painting as if Kieran wasn''t there.


    But surprisingly, Kieran stepped into the room.


    Freya''s paint ended up sttering all over Kieran''s fancy handmade shoes, but he didn''t give a hoot.


    "Come down."


    "What for?" Freya was on thedder.


    Kieran''s voice carried an authoritative tone.


    Seeing Kieran wasn''t backing down, Freya begrudgingly prepared to descend.


    As she slipped, Kieran reached out to catch her, but the next moment, steadied herself on


    Sent belongs to


    Sedder.


    Stunned, she looked at Kieran''s outstretched hands and asked, "What are you doing?"


    Kieran''s face darkened before he withdrew his hands.


    Freya then smoothly climbed down from thedder.


    "Come here. Kieran''s tone was f walked toward the toward the door, and reluctantly followed.


    Frevo


    belongs to en..Content


    When they reached downstairs, Kieran stopped.


    Freya held it in and said, "Kieran, what are you..."


    Before she could finish, Kieran suddenly reached out and guided her into a chair. The move was so sudden that Freya hadn''t even realized what happened. Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    She nced at the table and saw several dishesid out, asking, "What are you doing?"


    "Sit down and eat."


    Freya frowned, "I don''t eat dinner."


    "Have you ever heard the saying?"


    Freya was confused.


    "Eat well in the morning, eat full at noon, and eat less at night."

 Chapter 198

    Freya asked, "Mr. Sutton, are you trying to crack a dad joke here?"


    Since when did she need a guy with a finicky stomach to teach her how to eat?


    "You can eat less in the evening but can''t skip dinner. It''s easy to fall into irregr habits by eating only twice a day. From now on, you''re joining me when I have dinner." "Kieran, I''m not used to having dinner. You''re putting me on the spot here."


    "Eat dinner regrly daily, and I''ll give you a million dors."


    Freya wondered if she''d heard him wrong. A cool million just for a dinner date? Had Kieran seriously lost it?


    Noticing Freya''s skeptical look, Kieran frowned and asked, "Not enough?"


    "How about... two million?" Freya tentatively haggled.


    When she looked up and saw Kieran''s expression, she knew she had overstepped.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    "Fine, one million it is."


    "Miss a dinner, and it''s a deduction of two million. If you stick to the n for a month, you''ll easily make thirty million." Saying this, Kieran started on his food.


    Kieran preferred simple meals and was picky about his food. Only a few dishes were to his liking.


    Freya had once gone to great lengths to figure out how to cook for him.


    Watching Kieran eat, she suddenly wondered if his past pickiness was all an act. "Is it good?"


    "In my world, there''s no good or bad taste. As long as it''s edible, I can stomach it."


    Hearing this, Freya put down her fork with a dark expression, saying, "So, all those times you said you wanted specific dishes, you were messing with me?" "What?" Kieran hadn''t caught on yet.


    But soon, he recalled those times he


    had been overly critical to


    discourage Freya, asking for


    boneless fish, stewed meat that was


    neither too soft nor too hard, and even demanding garnishes on dishes, refusing to eat if the


    presentation wasn''t appealing.


    It was all a challenge for Freya, yet she had met his demands, gradually matching his tastes.


    Kieran replied with a poker face, "Today, I''m barely managing. If you were to cook in the future..."


    "In your dreams!" Freya quickly shot down Kieran''s suggestion, continuing to eat and saying, "You can forget about eating my cooking for the rest of your life."


    She had put in so much effort for


    Kieran, learning all sorts of techniques, even cutting her fingers a bunch of times. And it turned out Kieran was just messing with her! With that thought, Freya''s resentment toward Kieran got even stronger.


    After a few bites, Freya put down her fork, saying, "I''m full."


    Seeing Freya about to leave, Kieran knew she was upset. He remarked, "No pay for an unfinished meal."


    Thatment stopped Freya for a second.


    She turned, eyeing Kieran not too far away, and said, "Mr. Sutton himself said, ''Eat less for dinner.'' I''m following your advice. As the CEO of the Sutton Group, you can''t go back on your word." Finishing her point, Freya took out her phone, shook it, and added, "I''ve got a recording. Here''s the evidence."


    "Recording?" Kieran couldn''t help butugh at Freya''s antics.


    It was just a million dors. And Freya felt it was worth recording Watching Freya head upstairs, Kieran''s smile didn''t fade. Realizing this, he quicklyposed himself. ''Wait. Why am I smiling?''


    Later in the evening, back in his room, Kieran could still hear the hammering and drilling of renovation work next door. Even with earplugs, it was no use.

 Chapter 199

    Finally, Kieran couldn''t take it anymore. He stormed out of his room, making a beeline for the source of the annoying noise at the far end of the house. "Don''t people know not to DIY at night?!"


    Who in their right mind would do home improvements at this hour?


    "Freya! You..." Before Kieran could finish his sentence, he saw Freya perched on adder, drilling into something with an electric drill.


    The professional construction workers had cleared out a while ago.


    Freya lost herself in the music with her headphones on, unaware of Kieran''s presence.


    Spotting her phone on a nearby table, Kieran marched over and hit the pause button. Suddenly, Freya''s world went silent.


    "What happened to my Bluetooth?" Confused, Freya took off her headphones.


    Then, she heard Kieran''s voice from below. "Freya! Get down from there, now!"


    His words startled her so much that she lost her bnce, and she and thedder toppled backward.


    Kieran tried to dodge on instinct but got smacked right on the button by the fallingdder. A nearby paint can also tumbled over, sshing white paint all over him. "Ouch!" Freya gasped in pain as she tried to stand up, her gazending on Kieran, a mess of white paint.


    "Freya Dawson!" Kieran gritted his teeth.


    Ever since Freya moved in, his luck turned sour. He lost money, his projects failed, and he had this debacle! Was Freya cursed?


    "Sorry, but who sneaks into someone else''s room anyway?" Freya responded defiantly, "Ever heard of knocking?"


    Hearing her audacious reply, Kieran mmed his hand on the floor frustratedly.


    "Maybe you should take a shower?" Freya stepped aside, giving him space.


    Kieran was all in paint, and it would only get harder to clean if he didn''t wash it off soon. Quickly, Kieran got up and shot Freya a ring look before leaving.


    Although Freya shrank her neck, she defiantly flipped him off when he turned his back. "Serves you right!" Karma! It was karma!


    Kieran angrily stripped off his suit jacket, shirt, pants, and slippers, tossing them all out the window of his room. Then, the pungent smell of paint clung to him.


    "Freya... Freya..." In the shower, Kieran couldn''t stop cursing her name.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Inviting her to stay at the Sutton family''s ce was the biggest mistake he ever made! Meanwhile, whistling a tune, Freya moved to the guest room next door.


    There were plenty of rooms in Kieran''s house. She didn''t need to fixate on that particr one. But since it was the furthest from Kieran''s room, she preferred it.


    en


    Thinking about how she needed to make Kieran despise her enough to call off their engagement, Freya wondered how she could escte things.


    Then it hit her, "Eureka!"


    The following morning, Freya decided to up the ante by showing up before Kieran dressed in an edgy punk rock outfit.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 200

    Kieran was dumbfounded when he saw Freya d in her punk rock getup,plete with a spicy edge.


    She was rocking a cropped leather jacket over a skimpy tank top that left her midriff bare, with skin-tight ck denim shorts. Freya had even slipped into some fis tights to top off her bold ensemble. Her long legs were a sight to behold, captivating wherever she went, and her curves were impossible to ignore.


    "What... Why are you dressed like that?" Kieran asked.


    He remembered how Freya favored those elegant, preppy dresses, always presenting herself in a modest,dylike manner. But today''s Freya....


    "It''s nothing big. I like dressing this way. It''s refreshing," Freya said, her tone flirty as she sauntered toward Kieran.


    Her skin peeked out enticingly from under the thin straps of her top, and her hair tumbled over one shoulder, looking enchanting with every move. Her smooth skin and slender waistline were seriously tempting.


    Soon, Freya sat across from Kieran. His throat involuntarily tightened. It was broad daylight, yet he felt a sudden heat rush over him.


    Recalling their kiss from the day before, the softness of her lips made Kieran''s throat itch with desire.


    "Mr. Sutton, anything wrong?" Freya asked, her bold yet far from vulgar makeup adding to her captivating allure.


    "Nothing," Kieran averted his gaze from Freya.


    Freya looked puzzled.


    Wasn''t Kieran known to despise women who unted themselves this way? His reaction seemed off. Was she being too reserved? But it was about as daring as Freya could imagine being. Could it be that she needed to be even more overt? Kieran stood up abruptly, his tone icy, "Freya, enough!"


    Without even touching his breakfast, Kieran stormed out of the Sutton Mansion. It worked!


    Feeling triumphant, Freya sipped her water and strutted out. Seeing Freya all set to leave in that outfit, the housekeeper eximed, "Ms.


    Dawson, are you going out like that?"  en


    Freya smirked. "Yeah. Just like this!"


    She would dress like that the next day and days after until Kieran couldn''t take it anymore.


    Meanwhile, a man dressed in aN?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    white hoodie, cargo pants, a


    baseball cap, and a ck face mask disembarked at the airport. Fans nearby started cheering.


    "Caleb White! Caleb! I love you!"


    "Caleb, Caleb, you''re my number one!"


    Caleb tugged his cap a little lower. He slipped away without a fuss and made his way to a ck SUV that


    was waiting outside.


    "Caleb, you''ve got more appearances lined up. You should get some rest..."


    "Cancel them," Caleb interjected before his agent could finish. "Head to Summit University."


    "What?" The agent was stunned.


    Why on earth would he suddenly want to go to Summit University?


    An hourter, they arrived at Summit University.

 Chapter 201

    "Whoa, you''re not kidding, are you?!" Luna stared at Freya in disbelief.


    What kind of self-hatred drives someone to show up at school looking like a total trainwreck?


    "Freya, I swear, if you weren''t Kieran Sutton''s fianc¨¦e, the security would''ve stopped you at the entrance!"


    "Really? I think I look fine." Freya nced at herself in the mirror.


    Luna blurted out, "You look like... like one of those troubled teens from a TV show, you know, the type that ends up in juvie."


    "Then let it be. This is the only way I could think of to make Kieran hate me."


    "Did it work? Does he hate you now?"


    "Kind of..."


    Thinking back to Kieran''s reaction that morning, Freya felt it wasn''t exactly hate.


    No matter how hard she tried, Kieran just wasn''t that into her-definitely not hate, but far from love.


    Freya hesitated, "Why can''t he just hate me? He used to be so good at it."


    "Because back then you were always chasing after him like a lost puppy, that''s why Mr. Sutton found you annoying."


    Hearing this, Freya paused, "So, you mean if I keep chasing him, Kieran will continue to dislike me?"


    "I think it''s a solid n!"


    While Luna was sold on the n, Freya saw some merit in it too. But she couldn''t stand the thought of being apdog to Kieran.


    It proved the saying, only apdog doesn''t realize they''re apdog.


    ttering Kieran? She couldn''t.


    "By the way, Mr. Beckett said he wanted to see you."


    "Ronan Beckett? Why would he suddenly want to see me?"


    Luna shook her head, clueless.


    A lecturer of Ronan''s caliber kept his distance from regr students. Only Freya had the


    privilege to interact with all


    "I''ll go see him then."


    sw novel.ne


    Seeing Freya rising from her seat, Luna protested, "ss is about to start! Where do you think you''re going?" "To see a teacher!"


    Freya replied, making it sound perfectly reasonable.


    Meanwhile, Summit University''s campus was already buzzing with activity.


    "Do you really think Caleb White will show up?"


    "Of course! I got it from a reliable source!"


    "God, I can''t believe I might actually see the movie star in person."N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Caleb had been making a name for himself overseas for years, but back home, he was already a celebrated figure.


    Blessed by the gods, Caleb was born into wealth and became a child star thanks to his striking looks.


    Not just a pretty face, he was talented in acting, singing, and dancing.


    He had been in a band before going


    solo, shooting six movies in ay


    din


    and snagging a Best Actor aware no time. ok


    It was a sess story straight out of fiction.


    Just then, Freya dashed out of the e academic building, making her way to another lecture hall, when suddenly she bumped into a figure d in white.


    "Sorry!"


    Freya barely muttered an apology, not even sparing the person a nce before she continued her sprint.

 Chapter 202

    But then, the guy suddenly grabbed Freya''s arm.


    Turning her head, Freya saw a man in sunsses. The moment he saw her face, he seemed shocked for a second and involuntarily let go of her arm.


    Freya didn''t think much of it, though. Despite the sunsses, she was immediately struck by his charm. Describing him as a dashing heartbreaker wouldn''t be an exaggeration.


    But to Freya, all that charm was nothingpared to a single word from Ronan.


    At that moment, Caleb took off his sunsses. His phone buzzed again with a call from Eloise.


    "Have you arrived?"N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    "I''m outside the main building." Caleb responded to Eloise.


    Soon, Eloise emerged from the main building.


    "Was that Freya just now?"


    Coming from simr social circles, their families, the Whites and the Dawsons, knew each other well, and the two had even yed together as children. However, ever since Caleb rose to fame as a child star, he hadn''t seen Freya. He figured she probably didn''t remember him.


    "That was her."


    Eloise''s tone soured a bit as she mentioned Freya. "She''s been making a fool out of me, Caleb. You''ve always had my back since we were kids. I wouldn''t have asked you toe back if it wasn''t absolutely necessary." "You had a fight with Kieran?"


    Caleb could sense Eloise''s distress over the phone.


    As kids, Eloise was often the one who got picked on, especially after her family faced some troubles, making other kids reluctant to y with her. Caleb always stood up for her.


    Eloise tugged at Caleb''s sleeve. "It''s because of Freya. She''s always been against me. Caleb, I need your help. You''re all I''ve got now."


    Hearing this, Caleb was silent for a moment.


    Meanwhile


    Freya made it to the sixth floor, wondering why a top lecturer''s office was so far up. Was it just to make sure the school''s elevators got some use? Suddenly, Freya stopped in her tracks.


    The image of the man in white shed through her mind.


    Wait! Wasn''t that Caleb? She immediately regretted not going back to check if she had seen correctly.


    But upstairs, Ronan said, "You''re too slow."


    Having reached the fifth-floor


    stairwell, Ronan saw Freya


    contemting turning back. Pushing up his sses, he said, "Come up, I''ve got questions for you." belongs to


    With Ronaning down to her, Freya had no choice but to follow him up.


    Yet, Caleb''s image kept shing through her mind.


    In her past life, Caleb was the devoted ''third wheel'' in Eloise''s life, known throughout their circle. Everyone talked about Kieran and Preston Tyler''svish attempts to win Eloise, but few knew about Caleb''s silent, steadfast love.


    MS


    It was only after Kieran and Eloise broke up because of her, and Eloise left with Preston for abroad, that Freya realized the extent of Caleb''s feelings.


    Caleb had then dropped everything toe back and confront Kieran, causing a stir in their circle for taking on a former friend over Eloise. Thinking back on those events made Freya shiver.


    But all that was supposed to happen three yearster. Why had Calebe back early in this life?

 Chapter 203

    "What''s on your mind?" Out of nowhere, Ronan tapped Freya''s head with the book he was holding.


    Suddenly, Freya snapped out of her daydreams about her past life.


    "Why the hit?" Rubbing her forehead, Freya looked up at him.


    Ronan replied, "Got something for you, that''s why."


    Without another word, he pushed a bunch of papers towards Freya, saying, "Take a look for yourself."


    As Freya flipped through the documents, her eyesnded on the approval notice for a piece ofnd in the Southern Suburb.


    Seeing this, she couldn''t help but exim, "Yes!"


    Ronan frowned, puzzled, "All this joy over a mere approval notice?"


    "You don''t get it, I''m about to strike it rich."


    Seeing Freya''s confidence, Ronan couldn''t help but scoff, "Get rich over an approval notice? At best, you''re getting some government subsidy, not much there. Besides, the Southern Suburb is just a barren wastnd. Even with the approval, there''s not much to be made." Of course, Ronan was clueless about the real value of thatnd in Southern Suburb.


    Freya had spent a fortune at the auction for thisnd, all for the dream of one day building a hot spring resort. Unearthing a natural hot spring in what was once a barrennd was a dreame true for any entrepreneur. "I''ve already nned the excavation. Just don''te begging to do business with meter," Freya remarked. "Don''t worry, I have no interest in suburbannd."


    Truth be told, Ronan had never seen the potential in the Southern Suburbnd.


    When Freya spent a whopping five hundred million on it, Ronan thought she had lost her mind.


    And up to this day, that''s what he believed.


    Ronan wasn''t alone in his thinking; he assumed everyone else felt the same, especially Freya''s fianc¨¦, Kieran.


    After a while, as Freya was still basking in the joy of her approval notice, Ronan suddenly scrutinized her attire. Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Freya asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Dressing like this for school, that''s a deduction."


    With that, Ronan picked up a notebook.


    Seeing Ronan getting serious, Freya immediately retorted, "I''m a college student now!"


    "So, college students can dress however they want? If every student at Summit University dressed like you, imagine the chaos."


    Ronan then proceeded to deduct a point from Freya in his notebook.


    Freya''s expression darkened.


    She couldn''t understand why Ronan, the CEO of The Beckett Group, was so keen on lecturing at Summit University. And he seemed to enjoy it, too.


    "By the way, has Kieran been bothering youtely?"


    "Thanks to you, he now sees Preston as his main rival. So, I''ve had a few days of peace."


    Ronan then sat down at his desk, ready to grade papers.


    Looking at


    be one onan, it was hard to


    the


    was a CEO. He radiate etContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    of a dedicated teacher


    through and through.


    "What are you still doing here?"


    Suddenly, Ronan looked up at Freya.


    "Me?"


    "You have three minutes before ss starts. Miss it, and it''s a deduction."


    Freya''s speechless, increasingly convinced that Ronan was more of a teacher than a CEO, with thetter


    being just a side gig for himatter


    WY

 Chapter 204

    Reflecting for a moment, Freya gave a quick nod, her informal way of saying goodbye. "Catch youter, Teach!"


    Ronan nodded back, polite as ever, "See you."


    Freya bit back the words "you''re nuts" and turned, leaving Ronan''s office behind.


    Time at school always flew by, and before they knew it, evening had arrived. Freya and Luna walked out of the academic building, hand in hand.


    In reality, they didn''t have any sses that afternoon. Freya just wanted to spend some extra time in the school''s library.


    Luna had never seen Freya this driven and hardworking before. It was as if ever since that engagement party where Freya had dramatically dived into the swimming pool, something had clicked in her mind. She wasn''t chasing after Kieran anymore and had instead ignited a passion for her studies.


    Luna said, "Reya, you don''t have to hit the books so hard, you know. Your family''s got enough dough tost for generations."


    Freya shook her head, "That''s not how it works. Money can change hands overnight, but knowledge sticks. Once you''ve learned something, it''s yours. No one can take that away."


    Checking her watch, Freya added, "We should get going."


    "What''s up?" Luna asked, puzzled.


    "Kieran expects you home at a certain time? Isn''t that a bit much?"


    "No, it''s party time," Freya replied. "A guy like Kieran would never tolerate his fianc¨¦e hitting the town, don''t you think?"


    "...I guess no guy would like his girlfriend out partying without him," Luna mused, thinking Freya was pretty bold.


    Using this tactic to push Kieran away was pretty bold. Given their social standing, it could easily spiral into a major scandal. Luna pped Freya on the back, seriously saying, "I''ve been waiting for you to say that!"


    Meanwhile


    At the Eclipse Lounge.


    Ss dragged Kieran into a luxurious private room.


    "I know you''re not a fan, but we''ve got obligations, man," Ss said, lowering his voice, "I asked the


    manager to round up a bunch


    uveine


    hotties for us tonight. Distract yourself a bit, stop thinking about work."


    "We''re here for work, and you''re telling me not to think about work?" Kieran nced at Ss.


    Ss grinned, "What''s there to worry about? Look around, none of these execs came for work. They''re all here for thedies!"


    Kieran rubbed his temples. He''d never been fond of loud ces or social drinking.


    But certain deals couldn''t be


    clinched over a dinner table; ces like the Eclipse Lounge were more conducive for winning over clients.


    Before long, a line of morous women entered. Each woman was dressed to impress, unting their assets.


    At that moment, Kieran''s mind wandered back to Freya''s outfit from earlier in the day.


    Freya had an exceptional figure, the kind that stood out in a crowd, with curves in all the right ces.


    Compared to Freya, these women seemedcking.


    Kieran couldn''t muster any enthusiasm.


    Besides, he wasn''t keen on unfamiliar women getting close.


    The other executives, however, were thoroughly enjoying thepany of these soft, fragrant beauties.


    Ss kept the drinksing for them.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    For Kieran, being there was more


    about showing face to the clients than anything else. He didn''t need


    l.ned


    drink much; just needed to be present while others toasted to him, and then they''d be eager to discuss business deals.


    It was practically a set routine.


    After a few rounds of drinks, Ss pped Kieran on the shoulder, "Gonna hit the restroom. Be right back!"


    A bit tipsy, Ss staggered off, leaving Kieran to his thoughts.

 Chapter 205

    At the bar, a blonde beauty with no sense of timing was already making her move.


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    With just a look from Kieran, the woman''s seductive face froze, and she dared note any closer.


    "Sir... Sir, I don''t drink..." Nearby, a woman''s troubled voice reached Kieran''s ears.


    The woman had been grabbed by one of the executives, who was forcibly pouring alcohol down her throat.


    The liquor trickled down her smooth neck, slowly drenching her light clothes and making the area below her chest partially visible.


    It was then Kieran realized that the woman being harassed was Kara Orson.


    Seeing Kara''s panic, Kieran stepped forward and grabbed Mr. Patterson''s hand.


    Mr. Patterson, thinking Kieran was protecting the girl because he had an interest in her, immediately let Kara go and pushed her towards Kieran, saying, "I''ve heard Mr. Sutton has a thing for Ms. Harwood, and this youngdy does resemble her somewhat. No wonder Mr. Sutton is interested!"


    Mr. Patterson was drunk and spoke without a filter.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Kara hid behind Kieran, clutching his arm in fear.


    Kieran frowned slightly. If not for the connection to Freya, he wouldn''t have bothered.


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    Kara''s eyes, shimmering with tears like a frightened deer, seemed to bear deep sorrow. "Let''s go." Kieran''s tone was icy.


    Kara scrambled, "Mr. Sutton, I''m just here to make tuition money. I''m not that kind of girl!"


    Kara was desperate to exin, but Kieran didn''t want to delve into why she was there in the first ce. Suddenly, Ss burst in, his face as pale as if he''d seen a ghost.


    "Kieran! Guess who I just saw?"


    Ss whispered something into Kieran''s ear, causing his expression to darken immediately.


    "Mr. Sutton!"


    Seeing Kieran storm out, Kara''s face turned ashen.


    Meanwhile, inside the room.


    Luna, looking equally shocked, ran in to find Freya casually chatting with a young, attractive man. "Freya! I saw Ss!"


    "So what?" Freya replied, "Kieran was supposed toe here for business today anyway."


    Realizing Freya was aware of


    Kieran''s visit, Luna gasped,


    knew Kieran wasing, a


    et


    still dared to do this?"


    "It''s precisely to make him catch me in the act. How else am I supposed to make Kieran despise me?"


    Freya''s hand was caressing the young man''s abs. Internally, she mused about the virtues of youth and the firmness of his muscles.


    "Miss..."


    Bang! The next second, the room door flew open.


    Kieran stood at the doorway, his face stormy.


    Freya''s hand was still on the young man''s abs. Her seductive pose on the sofa and the flirtatious blush on her delicate face made for a


    scandalous scene.


    "Mr. Sutton, what a coincidence," Freya leaned on the young man''s shoulder and teased, "Are you here for some fun too?"

 Chapter 206

    When Freya casually draped her hand over that guy''s shoulder, Kieran''s gaze turned icy enough to send shivers down your spine. The guy, under the weight of Kieran''s stare, edged closer to Freya, seeking some kind of refuge. "Hey sweetie, who''s this guy?" "You don''t know who he is?"


    Freya, with a yful lift of her eyebrow, said, "The big boss of The Sutton Group, my fianc¨¦."


    Upon recognizing Kieran, the guy tensed up. The others in the private room could feel trouble was about to start. They were actually trying to charm Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e! Freya, unbothered, quipped, "Better skedaddle while you can."


    But the guy was too shocked to grasp the lifeline Freya threw.


    The next second, Kieran, barely containing his anger, barked, "Fuck off!"


    That was their cue to bolt.


    Luna, worried Kieran might not be bluffing, attempted to speak up for Freya. But before she could get a word out, Ss pulled her aside, shushing, "Zip it! This isn''t your circus." The door to the private room closed with a definitive thud.


    Freya shrugged helplessly, "Mr. Sutton, we''re all here to have a good time. I don''t poke my nose into your business. Why fuss over mine?"


    Kieran''s eyes lingered on Freya, who was dressed the same as she had been earlier in the day. The alcohol had flushed her skin, and her lips looked as tantalizing as ripe berries, impossible to ignore. "Having a good time?" Kieran stepped closer, a hand gently lifting her chin. "Do you even know what that means?"


    "In this day and age? What''s there not to understand? Don''t tell me, Mr. Sutton, you came to Eclipse Lounge tonight and didn''t eye a few prettydies."


    There was a sly twinkle in Freya''s eyes. She knew, both in her past life and now, Kieran was a man of discipline.


    Outside, Kieran avoided contact with women, maintaining a strict stance on interactions with the opposite sex. No woman but Eloise hade


    close to Kieran in all these years.


    en


    That''s where his depth of feelingy.


    But on the professional front, Kieran was meticulous. Coming to Eclipse Lounge meant business, and


    business called for aeover.


    Plus, with Ss by his side, it was likely they had a few girls in the room.


    But Kieran wouldn''t touch.


    Indeed, at Freya''s insinuation, Kieran found himself at a loss for words.


    He hadn''t given them a second nce. But Freya wasn''t just looking; she was touching.


    "Are their abs really that great to touch?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "Absolutely!" Freya''s response came with utter certainty.


    Good to touch. And... the feeling was exceptional.


    In her past life, Freya had kept herself just for Kieran, not sparing other men a second nce.


    Now, she felt like she was wasting her life away.


    With so many attractive men in the world, she hung onto Kieran like a lifeline.


    If she ended up with nothing, she had only herself to me.


    Kieran, fighting back his annoyance, stepped even closer to Freya. This time, he grabbed her hand, directing it towards his abs, demanding, "Are theirs better, or mine?"


    Freya''s hand met a wall of firm, slightly warm muscle.

 Chapter 207

    Freya instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Kieran wasn''t having any of it. Instead, he tightened his grip even more. "Answer me."


    Kieran propped himself up with one arm on the couch, closing the already minimal distance between him and Freya: "Who feels better to touch, them or me?" Freya''s hand was soft, almost boneless, and holding it felt like the slightest pressure could hurt her.


    Perhaps it was the alcohol talking, but Kieran suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to pin Freya down and have his way with her.


    Feeling the scorching touch at her fingertips, Freya quickly withdrew her hand and pped Kieran across the face, her expression darkening as she spat out, "Jerk!" The p was neither too light nor too heavy, but it left a red mark on Kieran''s face.


    By the time Kieran came to his senses, Freya had already made her escape.


    "What the hell was that? What did you just do?"


    Outside, Ss saw Luna following Freya''s lead and running away.


    Kieran touched his cheek, his expression growing darker. "Tell the boss, I don''t ever want to see them again!"


    Ss watched as Kieran stormed out of the room,pletely baffled.


    What just happened?


    Luna was fuming, "Kieran is such a tyrant! He just doesn''t want us to have any fun at all-and he even chased her away!" Freya and Luna caught a cab.


    Both had had a bit to drink, so driving was out of the question. Luna asked, "Reya, he didn''t do anything to you, did he?" "Not really, it was just... weird."


    Freya still remembered the warmth she felt when her fingertips brushed against his abdomen.


    That''s not right.


    Shouldn''t a normal man be disgusted and angry, eager to call off the engagement?


    What''s with Kieran not even mentioning breaking off the engagement?


    "He''s a control freak, for sure. He''s out there cozying up with Eloise, and wasn''t there a rumor that Eloise even had his child? And now Kieran turns around trying to control you! Such a loser, you''re better off kicking him to the curb!"


    The more Luna talked, the angrier she got, as if she was the one wronged.


    Freya massaged her temples, "I wish I could..."


    But did she have the means to do so? What was Kieran''s background? And hers?


    Without Audrey and Kieran letting go, the Dawson family couldn''t break off the engagement.


    Moreover, Johanna kept pushing her towards Kieran.


    "Right! You could go for Preston or Ronan, I heard they both have a thing for you! They both like you."


    Upon hearing Luna''s words, Freya paused, "Where did you hear that?"


    "That''s what everyone in our circle says."


    Luna pulled out her phone, scrolling through chats, and indeed, there were plenty of rumors about Freya being close to both Ronan and Preston.


    Looking seriously at Freya, Luna said, "Reya, whether you choose Ronan or Preston, I think either is better than Kieran." Freya forced a smile.


    Was there something off with this news?


    Putting Ronan aside, Preston in his past life waspletely devoted to Eloise. It was rumored that his moveThis content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    to Echo City was all sake.


    What did that have to do with her at all?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 208

    Eloise had always been the belle of the ball, catching the eye of Ronan and her childhood sweetheart, Caleb, with her stunning looks and grace. Especially Caleb and Preston, who, in a past life, had gone above and beyond for Eloise.


    So what was Freya''s role in this tangled love story?


    She was merely a background character, not even worthy of the title of supporting actress.


    Just as Luna was mulling over who would be the best fianc¨¦ for Freya, Freya''s phone suddenly rang.


    Seeing a message from Preston, who she hadn''t heard from in a while, she quickly opened the chat.


    A contract document was sent over, shining brightly on the screen.


    Seeing this, Freya couldn''t help but smirk.


    Luna, who was next to her, eximed, "Reya! Reya! I''ve been talking your ear off, did you even hear what I said?"


    "I heard you."


    "So, who do you like more?"


    "Right now?... I''m leaning more towards Preston."


    "What?"


    The document on Freya''s phone was a loan agreement, and the lender was none other than Johanna.


    The next morning.


    As Freya descended the stairs, the housekeeper, seeing her alone, couldn''t help but ask, "Ms. Dawson, your fianc¨¦ didn''te homest night." "Oh."


    Freya''s response was nonchnt as she said, "Then there''s no need to prepare his breakfast."Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    At that, the housekeeper was at a loss for words.


    How could she have the appetite for breakfast when her fianc¨¦ hadn''t returned all night?


    Freya ate a bit and then mentioned, "I''ll be homete today, so no need to prepare dinner for me either."


    "Ms. Dawson! Where will you be going tonight?" The housekeeper was worried.


    Just yesterday, Freya had left early ande backte, which had already annoyed Audrey. And now, she was nning to returnte


    BUM


    again!


    It seemed like she was intentionally trying to upset both Audrey and Kieran.


    Freya casually waved her hand and left without answering the housekeeper''s question.


    During the day, Freya spent her entire time in the library, thoroughly going through textbooks on economics and mary finance. Before she knew it, it was evening. ncing at her watch to confirm the time, Freya gathered her books and left the library. Outside the school, a crowd had already gathered at the entrance, all eyes on the sleek ck limited edition Maybach. The car itself wasn''t what was important; it was the fact that it was a limited edition that mattered.


    In the whole of Echo City, only the


    such a car, and owning one meant had a certain status.


    hy and prestigious could a


    As people spected about who could be inside the car, Freya emerged from the crowd, walking straight towards it.


    "Isn''t that Freya? Is that her car?"


    "No way, the Dawson family can''t afford a car like that."


    "I bet she''s just trying to snag the car''s owner. Haven''t you heard.


    abourne reputation? She''s after


    a golden ticket!"


    At that moment, the car window slowly rolled down.


    Preston spoke indifferently, "You''rete."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 209

    "Sorry, I was lost in my book! Lost track of time for a few minutes." Under the surprised gazes of everyone around, Freya hopped into Preston''s car without a second thought.


    Just then, Eloise emerged from a lecture hall, noticing a small crowd whispering and ogling a sleek, limited-edition sports car parked nearby. She frowned slightly.


    "That''s Freya, Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, getting into Preston''s car," someone murmured.


    "To have someone like Preston waiting for her at the school gates, who knows what''s going on between them," another added.


    The group continued to trade spections.


    As the car pulled away, Eloise spotted Freya and Prestonughing and talking through the tinted windows, making her fists clench in frustration. So, Freya''s previous offer to introduce her to Preston was to make a fool out of her! With that thought, Eloise quickly texted Caleb, urging him to make his move. She was determined to expose Freya''s true colors to Kieran.


    Meanwhile, inside the car, Preston''s gazended on the stack of books in Freya''sp.


    Noticing a copy of "Das Kapital" among them, he couldn''t help but chuckle derisively.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    That single chuckle was enough to catch Freya''s attention.


    "What''s so funny?" Freya asked, her eyebrows knitting together.


    "Reading stuff like that will only fry your brain," Preston replied with a smirk.


    Freya responded defensively, "I''ve been reading all afternoon, and I think I''ve learned a lot!"


    "Learned a lot?" Preston raised an eyebrow, his toneced with sarcasm. "Textbooks justplicate simple things. They stretch something that could be exined in a sentence over two pages. I thought only average college students fell for that, but it seems you, Ms. Dawson, are no exception."


    "You!" Freya was irked by Preston''s mocking tone.


    Suddenly, Freya opened the car window and tossed the books outside.


    "There, the books are gone. You''ve made your point, Mr. Tyler. It seems you''re offering to teach me how to run a business. I''m sure I have much to learn about finance from you," she said, her tone shifting to a more yful challenge.


    Preston''s smile faded a bit at that. "Mocking your studies to have me teach you? Aren''t you a bit too greedy, Ms. Dawson?"


    "Not at all!" Freya replied sincerely. "I mean, Mr. Tyler, you''re a legend abroad. Coming to Echo City, you''re here to make some waves, right?"


    She subtly hinted at moneyundering without saying it outright.


    Hans, the driver, nced at Freya through the rearview mirror with a wary eye.


    Leaning against the window, Preston finally said, "I''ll teach you. But ites with a price."


    Before Freya could express her excitement, Preston added, "You''ll have to pay."


    "I don''t have money!" Freya insisted adamantly.


    Preston slowly pulled out a document from the side, a loan agreement for ny million, andid it on the table. "With a


    2


    high-interest loan contract like this in


    your name, Ms. Dawson, don''t poor mouth to me."


    Freya had gone to great lengths to trap Johanna, even using Preston''s high-interest loanpany to sign a contract with her. Fearless as ever, Johanna believed Kieran would bail the Dawson family out of trouble and signed without hesitation.


    However, the ny million was for


    Johanna from Freya, meaning


    Johanna would owe Freya a


    staggering sum, plus interest a surefire profit for Freya.


    But for Freya, it wasn''t just about the money. It was another way to potentially send Johanna to jail and stop her from causing more trouble. "Regardless, I owe you one for this, Mr. Tyler..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 210

    Freya was just about to snag the contract from Preston''s grasp when he used his height advantage and raised his hand to ce it out of her reach.


    "I''m not helping you out for nothing. Where''s my end of the deal?"


    Digging into her purse, Freya pulled out a contract and handed it to Preston, saying, "A piece ofnd in the Dawson family''s district. But I''m not as well-off as Eloise''s family, so I can''t give it away for free." Preston said, "Weren''t we clear before? Ten billion, not a penny more, not a penny less."


    Freya''s smile froze when she heard what Preston said. She had always thought Preston was bluffing.


    In her past life, Preston casually dropped ten billion to acquire thend owned by Eloise''s family. And because of that, Eloise became the talk of Echo City.


    But this was a benefit Freya wanted no part in! The amount could''ve been seven or eight hundred million. Or even seventy or eighty million! But ten billion was out of the question!


    "Preston, are you trying to drag me down with your sinking ship?" Freya nearly gritted her teeth as she spoke.


    Preston spending such an exorbitant amount on thisnd was merely a scheme tounder money from abroad! She''d look at years behind bars if this ever came to light. No, she might even die there! "Ms. Dawson, I have no idea what you''re talking about. Do you even understand yourself?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Preston gave Freya a look.


    Freya would get implicated if she dared to utter the words, ''moneyundering'' then.


    Freya inhaled sharply, managing to keep up a strained smile. "Mr. Tyler, you jest. I don''t understand."


    "That''s better." Preston took the contract from Freya''s hands and signed it.


    "I''ll transfer the money to yourpany''s ount in a few days." Preston smiled. "It''s my pleasure to do business with you."


    Freya didn''t want to get entangled with someone like Preston. ording to her past life events, she was supposed to set up Preston with Eloise. Given Preston''s feelings for Eloise in her past life, he wouldn''t let-Eloise face danger and would''ve found a way to dissociate her from moneyundering.


    But Preston had gone mad! He had chosen her as a partner instead. Wouldn''t that mean trouble for Freya if Preston started falling for Eloise?


    As Freya looked at Preston''s cold, impable profile, she clenched her teeth. "Forget it. I''ll handle future problems when theye. Right now, I just need to get past this hurdle." She thought.


    As long as she could break off her engagement and distance herself from Eloise and Kieran, these big shots probably wouldn''t bother with the Dawson family anymore. Maybe Preston would even appreciate her risking her life for him and show some mercy in the future, keeping her out of any trouble.


    Meanwhile, at the Sutton Group''s office, Kieran sat at his desk, massaging his temples. He noticed it was already half-past seven and had gotten dark outside.


    After leaving the Eclipse Lounge the


    day before, he had opted to stay out. He didn''t know how to face Freya. He must''ve been drunk the previous night, which was the only


    vel?


    exnation for letting Freya touch


    his abs in such a foolishly childish act!


    "Mr. Sutton, are you heading home today?" Jarrett asked, barging into the office at an awkward moment.


    Kieran gave Jarrett a cold look.


    Jarrett immediately corrected himself, "Understood. I''ll go extend the hotel booking."


    "Come back!"

 Chapter 211

    Kieran halted Jarrett in his tracks.


    Jarrett approached, saying, "Mr. Sutton, is there anything else you need?"


    "How''s Freya doing today?"


    "Ms. Dawson?" Upon hearing Kieran ask about Freya, Jarrett thought it over before replying, "She left early this morning. It didn''t seem like anything special." "She didn''t ask about me?"


    "No, she didn''t. But she said she wouldn''t be home for dinner. She''ll be backte."


    Kieran''s expression darkened at the news.


    He thought, ''She won''t be home for dinner? Has she forgotten our date?''


    Instinctively, Kieran reached for his phone to get to the bottom of it but remembered the scene fromst night at Eclipse Lounge. He then told Jarrett, "Call Freya for me!" "Yes, sir." Jarrett quickly dialed Freya''s number.


    The phone barely rang twice before it went through.


    Freya''s voice came through. " Jarrett, what''s up?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Kieran immediately took the phone and put it on speaker.


    Jarrett cleared his throat and said, "Ms. Dawson, have you finished sses? I can send a driver to pick you up."


    "Yeah. ss is over, but I''ve got things to handle. Don''t worry about me."


    "Whose call is this?" A sudden voice came through the phone.


    Kieran''s face soured, and Jarrett gasped. The office plunged into an eerie silence.


    Freya quickly added, "I''ve got to go. Talkter."


    And with that, she hung up.


    The office was silent for seconds. Jarrett couldn''t help but nce at Kieran''s expression.


    The voice on the phone was all too familiar. It was Preston!


    "Mr. Sutton, maybe... maybe it''s a misunderstanding." Jarrett tried to cover for Freya.


    But the veins on Kieran''s forehead were bulging, he said through Shed teeth, "Find out, find out where they are!"


    We You


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett quickly left, not wanting to waste a moment.


    After Jarrett left, Kieran also got up to change his clothes.


    Outside the office, Eloise was there to see Kieran off from work as


    usual. When she entered, sh


    Kieran taking his coat from the. hangen ready to leave. She


    approached him, "Kieran, where are you off to?"


    Kieran turned and saw Eloise dressed casually in jeans and a white shirt, a style she had never worn before. The sight of Eloise in an outfit simr to Freya''s made Kieran frown.


    Eloise also seemed uneasy. "Kieran... why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Ellie, that style doesn''t suit you." With that, Kieran left the office.


    Eloise''s face turned pale, suddenly feeling weak in her knees.


    With his sharp eyes, Kieran understood what her choice of clothes meant.


    A bitter smile crept onto Eloise''s lips. She thought sadly, ''Kieran has indeed fallen for Freya.''

 Chapter 212

    "Ms. Dawson, please have a seat." Preston extended a hand toward Freya, a gesture of courteous invitation.


    Freya nced at the dining table before her, where a T-bone steak sat, its juices oozing out, leaving her with no appetite.


    "Mr. Tyler, I''m not hungry." To be precise, she didn''t feel the need for dinner.


    Save for the asional social engagement, she preferred not to eat in the evenings.


    Preston sat across from her, his slender fingers resting on the table and casually swirling the wine ss as he spoke, "Do you know what became of thest person who tried to pry into my thoughts?" Freya remained silent.


    "I don''t take kindly to people who try to outsmart me and think they can see through me. I chose to coborate with you, Ms. Dawson, instead of eliminating you. You should consider yourself lucky." "Well then, I''m... overwhelmingly grateful," Freya said, her smile forced and unconvincing.


    She had good intentions, attempting to broker a partnership between Preston and Eloise. But Preston had dragged her into a mess. What did Preston see in her, anyway?


    In terms of background, even though Eloise was the sole heiress to the Harwood family, the connections and wealth she inherited were considerable. Audrey might have picked Eloise as her granddaughter-inw if not for the bad blood between the Harwood and the Sutton families.


    In terms of looks, Eloise was notably attractive, a celebrated beauty in Echo City, wasn''t she?


    In a past life, Preston had fallen for Eloise at first sight.


    And in terms of sincerity, Eloise had offered a piece ofnd worth a billion for free. And Preston turned her down?


    Freya felt everything was off-kilter in this life except for Johanna and her foolish son.


    Freya rubbed her temples wearily. "Mr. Tyler, I hope you''ll reconsider..."


    "We''ve signed the contract. There''s nothing to reconsider," Preston interjected, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you scared?"


    Freya hesitated, "I... I..."


    "You should have known better than to cross me if you were afraid."N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Freya was well aware of Preston''s reputation. He was from the underworld, ruthless,wless, and unreasonable. Dealing with someone like him was fraught with danger.


    But at that moment, Freya had no other choice. She couldn''t watche Preston, this big fish, slip through her fingers and into Eloise''s hands. Otherwise, history would repeat itself, and she''d be doomed


    "Mr. Tyler, you''re kidding, right? How could I possibly be afraid of someone as friendly as you?" Freya said while internally rolling her eyes at herself. ''Freya, oh Freya, you didn''t learn much from your past life, but you''ve be an expert in ttery.''


    ''To survive, you''ve thrown caution to the wind. How easily liese to you now.''


    Preston''s expression remained neutral as he spoke, "d to hear you''re not afraid. We''ll see a lot of each other. If every meeting sees you this anxious, I fear you might not fast a year without me scaring you to death."


    Freya found nothing amusing about the situation.


    Then, Preston gestured to a waiter and said, "Let''s change this to a medium rare. Ms. Dawson isn''t fond of rare meat."


    "Right away, sir." The waiter promptly removed the steak from before her.

 Chapter 213

    Freya quickly realized Preston was doing this on purpose! He ordered a rare steak to tease her, huh?


    "Mr. Tyler, I think there are some things we need to clear up ahead of time."


    "Speak."


    "I had no clue about the crimes you''vemitted."


    "Hmm."


    "So, dragging me into this mess out of the blue, don''t you think you owe me a foolproof n to protect myself?"


    "What, you mean if I end up behind bars, I should also clear your name?"


    "I''m not guilty!"


    "So, what are we discussing right now?"Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Freya was well aware that Preston was feigning ignorance very cleverly. He was confident she wouldn''t dare spit out the billion-dor moneyundering scheme. Once she did, she''d be an aplice. And if this ended up in court, she''d have no defense.


    "You!"


    Seeing Freya''s face turn red, Preston said with amusement, "Ms. Dawson, you imed to be brave, and now, you''re backing down? The world has always been about high risk, high reward. If you''re scared, you''ll get trampled on, a mere stepping stone for others. It''s survival of the fittest. Ms. Dawson, you need to be stronger than Kieran if you want to call off the engagement. Otherwise, you''ll have to return to ying the dutiful housewife once the wedding date arrives."


    Freya understood everything Preston was saying. After her past experiences, she''d rather die than be an essory to Kieran, someone he never truly cared for.


    ''Love yourself before you love others. If you can''t even love yourself, how can you expect others to love you?''


    "Mr. Tyler, rest assured. I will call off this engagement at any cost. I''ll never be Kieran''s wife."


    Just then, Kieran arrived at the restaurant''s entrance with his entourage. As Kieran stepped in, those wordsnded squarely in his ears.


    Jarrett''s face went pale. He hadn''t expected Freya to utter such a statement.


    And with veins throbbing on his forehead and a shadow of fury in his eyes, Kieran was a sight Jarrett hadn''t seen for a long time. "What a firm refusal to be my wife," Kieran said sharply, making Freya stiffen.


    She turned around, meeting Kieran''s icy gaze head-on.


    "I wondered why you were so eager to call off the engagement. It seems you''ve found someone else." Kieran was seething with anger. Freya had never seen him disy such a demeanor. As Kieran approached her, she instinctively stepped back.


    Kieran coldly said, "Is being thedy of the Sutton family so unbearable for you?"


    It wasn''t about bearing it. It was about outright rejection! Freya wasn''t foolish enough to be sacrificed again for Kieran and Eloise''s so-called love, nor was she willing to sacrifice her life for a love that only led to aughable end.


    Freya frowned and said, "Kieran, I should''ve made it clear to you from the start. I want to cancel our engagement." Her tone was calm, showing no signs of petnce.


    After hearing this, Kieran''s anger turned into a mockingugh. ''Cancel the engagement? How many times has Ereya mentioned this before, and she never meant it.''


    He always thought Freya was trying to grab his attention with these little acts. But Freya was telling him she genuinely wanted to cancel the engagement. Really?

 Chapter 214

    While watching Preston lounging casually beside Freya, Kieran''s voice was icy. "So, you''re breaking off our engagement because you''ve snagged Preston?"


    "Mr. Sutton, whatever you think, let it be," Freya said indifferently. "After all, Mr. Sutton, you''ve always seen me as a gold-digger, right? Haven''t you said it yourself that I''m vain and only out for climbing the socialdder? If so, of course, I''d aim higher. Mr. Tyler is much better than you. At least Mr. Tyler loves me wholeheartedly. He isn''t hooking up with other women, and he doesn''t have any illegitimate children." Echo City had been buzzing for a while with news about Eloise and Kieran having a child and the rumors that Kieran pressured her to have an abortion. Kieran had never rified those rumors. Everyone in their circle had taken for granted that the child was Kieran''s. In her previous life, many had mocked Freya as nothing more than a breeding tool for the Sutton family. Compared to Eloise, the woman Kieran loved, she was a joke.


    "Who told you I had an illegitimate child with Ellie? Freya, you..."


    Before Kieran could finish, Jarrett quickly stepped in, "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson is just speaking out of frustration. Please don''t take it personally."


    "Whether you had a child together, your love for Eloise is a fact. Since you love her so much, I''ll step aside for you two and ask you, Mr. Sutton, to do the same for me." Freya decided toy all her cards on the table.


    She was exhausted after ying the part of fianc¨¦e for so long, maintaining the rtionship between their families. She would have canceled the engagement long ago if Kieran hadn''t asionally used the Dawson Group as leverage against her. She wouldn''t have had any second thoughts. But Kieran was bing more unreasonable.


    Kieran''s gaze fell sharply on Freya and Preston as he said coldly, "You want to break off the engagement? Fine, I''ll grant you that."


    "Mr. Sutton!" Jarrett''s face turned pale. There would be hell to pay if Audrey heard about the broken engagement.


    Kieran turned and left the restaurant without another word.


    Realizing she hadid everything on the table, Freya didn''t feel relieved but felt weak in the knees. She didn''t have the strength to confront Kieran. Why had she blurted it all out?


    en


    "Using me as a shield, Freya. You''re the first to dare." Preston''s tone was cold.


    But Freya wasn''t interested in hearing Preston''s authoritative


    deration She gave a weak smile


    and said, "Thanks to you, Mr Tyler, I''m... well, single now."


    With Kieran''s temperament, after what she had said, there was no doubt he would break off the engagement without hesitation. Perhaps it was the best to cut ties with Kieran sooner rather thanter. She wanted a clean break. s, Freya was too optimistic.


    The Sutton Group unterally announced the termination of all partnerships with the Dawson Group and the Cancetion of the engagement with Freya through a press release the following day. This time, Kieran announced the news before the media cameras.


    The inte was in an uproar. Spections and malicious gossip about their broken engagement spread like wildfire.


    In Summit University''s library, Freya endured the looks from all around her, filled with disdain, mockery, and schadenfreude.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Most people in their circle felt Freya was never good enough for Kieran and that the broken engagement was inevitable. Just as Freya stood up to leave, she bumped into Eloise. Their books scattered on the floor with a thud.

 Chapter 215

    "Oh, look who we have here if it isn''t the Ms. Dawson dumped by Mr. Sutton!" Cindy''s voice pierced the quiet library with a tone dripping in mockery. Everyone abruptly turned their attention toward the scene unfolding.


    Freya, who had no intention of causing a scene, bent down to pick up her books, only to be met by Mae''s high-heeled foot firmly stepping on her hand.


    Her delicate, smooth hand was ruthlessly crushed under Mae''s heel, the pain almost unbearable as Mae twisted her ankle with a smirk of triumph on her face. Freya got pinned down, and it was clear Mae had no intention of letting her up.


    Cindy sneered, "You used to strut around campus like you owned the ce, unting your soon-to-be Mrs. Sutton title. Where''s all that swagger now, Freya, now that Mr. Sutton has dumped you?"


    "What have you got left? Everyone knows the Dawson Group is about to go under, and with Mr. Sutton cutting off the engagement and all business dealings, you''re basically broke. You can''t even pay your tuition, can you?" Mae said, her face gleaming with mockery. Witnessing the cruelty, Eloise intervened, "Mae, that''s enough. Let her up."N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Let her up? Ellie, you''re too kind. Everyone knew you and Mr. Sutton were a match made in heaven until she, Freya, shamelessly threw herself at him. She got what she deserved. She''s the reason you and Mr. Sutton didn''t end up together. There''s no need to defend her." Mae''s words were vicious as she pressed down even harder on Freya''s hand, visibly bruised and swelling.


    "If she apologizes, kneeling here to you, we might consider forgiving her. And pick up the books she knocked over." Both looking down at Freya with smug satisfaction, Cindy and Mae were enjoying their moment of power over her.


    Without Kieran, Freya seemed to pose no threat to them anymore.


    The crowd watched, eager for the drama.


    Suddenly, a stern, icy voice cut through the tension. "What''s going on here?"


    Mae immediately retracted her


    at the sound. Freya''s hand was


    severely bruised, swelling in n


    from the pressure of the heeb Booksy scattered all around her.


    "Professor Beckett..." Mae''s face turned pale.


    Ronan''s expression was dark and foreboding. Known as the school''s most approachable lecturer and the CEO of the Beckett Group, Ronan''s words alone could spell the end of any student''s academic career. And there he was, staring down at them, visibly upset.


    Cindy quickly tried to shift the me. "It was Freya! She knocked our books over and didn''t even apologize. We were teaching her a lesson!"


    "Yeah, it was all Freya''s fault!" Mae quickly joined in, trying to deflect the me onto Freya.


    Rumors of Ronan and Freya had been a hot topic among the students.


    Eloise tried to mitigate the situation, "Mr. Beckett, we were at fault, but... Freya did knock over our books first, so..."


    "Eloise, we are in a school now. Please call me Professor Beckett." Ronan''s response was a shutdown, offering Eloise no room to maneuver. Knowing further argument would worsen her position with Ronan, Eloise fell silent.


    Ronan gently lifted Freya by her wrist, examining the grotesque bruising. "This looks serious. We need to get you to a hospital."

 Chapter 216

    "I swear I didn''t step that hard!" Panic-stricken at the thought of being implicated, Mae looked at Eloise as if she was her only lifeline.


    Eloise interrupted, "Mae identally stepped on Ms. Dawson''s hand. Whatever the medical bills are, we''ll cover them."


    "Is this about the medical bills?" Ronan''s voice was icy as he spoke. "I''m going to review the library''s surveince footage. I''m calling the cops if it shows it was intentional, and the university will decide Mae''s punishment based on their assessment." "Professor Beckett! Professor Beckett, I swear it was an ident!" Mae''s face turned ghostly pale.


    Mae''s parents had spent a fortune and pulled every string they could to get her into Summit University. If Mae got expelled, her parents would be furious!


    "Ellie! Please help me! It was an honest mistake!" Mae put all her hopes in Eloise.


    Eloise bit her lip, knowing Mae would be in trouble if they checked the surveince footage.


    "Professor Beckett, we''re willing to pay any damages. How about..."


    "Summit University isn''t short on wealthy students, Eloise. If you keep this up, you three will be in the same boat." With that, Ronan took Freya''s hand and started walking out of the library.


    Before leaving, Freya turned back and shed a slight, mocking smile. Eloise could see the challenge in Freya''s eyes, confirming her suspicion that Freya had done it deliberately! Outside the library, Ronan let go of Freya''s hand.


    The pain on the back of her hand made Freya involuntarily take in a sharp breath. "Ouch! Can you be a bit gentle, please?"


    "Now, you want me to be gentle? What were you doing just now?"


    From their first meeting, Ronan had thought Freya was like a prickly hedgehog. He hadn''t seen Freya so subdued before.


    Yet, just moments ago, Freya had


    been trampled on and hadn''t uttered


    a


    er hand was seriously


    injured, yet she didn''t even cry out in


    pain.


    Freya said, "I saw you were there. Besides, how else could I teach them a lesson if I didn''t get hurt?"


    "To teach them a lesson, you''d go as far as to get hurt? Freya, should I call you smart or foolish?"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "Of course, smart." Freya raised an eyebrow, "They''re correct. Without my status as Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, I''m nothing special at Summit


    University. Anyone with power could bully me. But I doubt anyone will dare to mess with me after today."


    Ronan quickly caught on that Freya had leveraged his status as CEO of the Beckett Group and a lecturer at Summit University.


    "And what if I hadn''t stepped in?"


    "Mr. Beckett, you''re a considerate guy. You wouldn''t just stand there and me get bullied into a


    disability would you?" Conto veget


    Freya put on a pitiful face, making Ronan frown, "Cut the crap. Let''s go to the hospital." "You''re taking me?"


    "Don''t get ahead of yourself. I''ve got a ss this afternoon. I''ll have my driver take you."


    "Fine then, see you, Mr. Beckett!" Freya gave Ronan a bow and turned to walk toward the campus exit.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 217

    Meanwhile, inside the Sutton family, Audrey mmed her hand on the table as she stood up. "Ridiculous! Who permitted you to do such a thing?"


    She could hardly believe Kieran had called a press conference, announcing his separation from Freya.


    Kieran was on his knees in the living room, silent.


    Standing nearby, Jarrett attempted to exin, "Mrs. Sutton, about this matter..."


    "Shut up!" Audrey''s response was icy. "I assigned you to watch Kieran. Look what happened! You let him run wild! And you didn''t even tell me such a significant decision. Do you even consider me your grandmother anymore?" "Grandma, I never liked Freya, and she wanted out. I just gave her what she asked for," Kieran replied, his tone detached.


    Audrey was so furious that she nearly passed out.


    Jarrett quickly stepped in to support her, "Mrs. Sutton, please calm down..."


    A momentter, Audrey regained herposure. She asked, "Where is Freya now?"


    "Ms. Dawson... she should be at the university."


    "The university?" Audrey was stunned that Freya would go to Summit University amidst such turmoil! After such a scandal, was Freya seeking to be theughingstock of their circles by attending Summit University? Audrey ordered, "Bring Freya back here immediately!"


    Upon hearing this, Kieran looked up and said, "Grandma, the engagement is over. There''s no need to bring her back."


    "Whether the engagement is over isn''t for you to decide!"


    "The future of the Sutton family is in


    my hands, so yes, it is for me to


    decide." Kieran got up,


    expressionless, and said, "Grandma, you should take care of your health and not worry about these matters. Jarrett, let''s go."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton," Jarrett quickly got the car ready.


    Kieran left the Sutton family without looking back.


    In the car, Jarrett caught a glimpse of Kieran''s brooding face in the rearview mirror and cautiously asked, "Mr. Sutton, are you sure we shouldn''t ask Ms. Dawson toe back?"


    After hearing this, Kieran gave him a cold look. Jarrett immediately shut his mouth, daring not to speak another word.


    Just then, Jarrett''s phone rang. Seeing it was the principal of Summit University, he didn''t hesitate to answer.


    The sounding from the speakerphone filled the car.


    The principal ?aid nervously with a chuckle, "Secretary Jarrett, we''ve heard the news about Mr. Sutton


    and Ms. Dawson''s separation. Meet


    Dawson has taken a leave of


    absence and nowcks the credits. Do you think we should discuss the possibility of her dropping out?"


    The principal was probing to see if Kieran wanted to see Freya forced out of the university.


    Jarrett nced at Kieran''s reflection, noting hisck of reaction, and said, "Mr. Sutton and Ms. Dawson have separated. As for the university''s decision, please follow the regr procedures and ensure it doesn''t seem like a vendetta."


    "Sure, that''s only right. It''s just that Ms. Dawson missed her afternoon sses today, iming she had gone to the hospital, but..."All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "To the hospital? What hospital?" Kieran immediately seized upon this detail, his voice cutting sharply through the air and catching the principal off guard.

 Chapter 218

    "She got into a scuffle with a ssmate and hurt her hand, so she had to swing by the hospital..."


    The principal''s words were vague, and with a probing tone, he said, "Mr. Sutton, taking this much time off isn''t good. School is a ce for learning. Perhaps you might consider..." The principal was dead set on getting into Kieran''s good graces. After all, getting Kieran to call off an engagement openly meant Freya must have crossed him.


    It was clear to anyone in their circle, and as the principal, he naturally wanted to show where his allegiancesy. He''d have Freya expelled in a heartbeat if Kieran gave the word! "Your student gets injured, and you don''t think to look into it?" There was a hint of chill in Kieran''s voice.


    The principal was shocked, not understanding why Kieran was upset. After all, Freya had pissed Kieran, and it''s only natural for everyone to turn on her, right?


    But outwardly, the principal quickly agreed, saying, "Indeed, Mr. Sutton, you''re right..."


    Kieran took a deep breath and asked, "Which hospital is Freya at?"


    The principal said, "Ms. Dawson''s at Crescent Medical Center. Our staff took her there!" Hearing she was at Crescent Medical Center, Kieran signaled Jarrett to end the call.


    Jarrett couldn''t help asking, "Mr. Sutton, are you nning to visit the hospital?"


    Having worked for Kieran for so long, Jarrett had never seen him show this much concern for any woman. Usually, Kieran would just cut ties. So why did he seem so interested in seeing Freya now? At that moment, Kieran''s icy gaze swept over Jarrett, who immediately looked away.


    He coldly said, "Who said I''m going to see her?"


    "Right," Jarrett responded, though he hesitated to start the car.


    Eventually, Kieran leaned back in his seat, feigning indifference. "A woman like Freya, easily bullied? It''s a little trickery."


    Trickery? Jarrett was puzzled, not quite grasping Kieran''s meaning.


    Kieran spoke calmly, "A mere ploy. I''ve seen it all before. She''s showing weakness to draw me in. Let''s y along and see what tricks she''s pulled this time at the hospital."


    ''Is that so?'' Jarrett felt something was off from Kieran''s assumption. ''Wouldn''t Ms. Dawson have contacted us directly if it were a ploy? Why wait until she was already in the hospital without a hint of reaching out to Mr. Sutton?


    But Jarrett kept his thoughts to himself, quickly pressing the gas pedal and heading toward Crescent Medical Center.


    At the hospital, the doctor examined


    Freya''s hand and frowned. "This injury is severe. You won''t be able to write for a while. You need to let it heal properly." N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    "But I have examsing up. Can''t you please..."


    "No, you''ve damaged the tendons. It won''t heal in less than three months." The doctor shook his head.


    Outside, a middle-aged counselor, over thirty, nced at the time. He wasn''t sure what Ronan was thinking, having him apany Freya to the hospital.

 Chapter 219

    ''Who in Echo City doesn''t know Freya''s situation now? Crossing paths with Mr. Sutton, she''s over in this town.'' The counselor thought, ''Whether she can continue at Summit University is another question entirely. Why would Mr. Beckett bother with her now?'' "Are we done here? I''ve got ns this afternoon," the counselor said with impatience.


    Freya nced at the counselor outside the door, fully aware of her current predicament. It seemed anyone could step on her.


    She said to the doctor, "I understand. Could you please prescribe me some medication?"


    "Sure." The doctor quickly prescribed Freya, advising her on how to take the medicines.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Once she had everything done, Freya picked up the prescription and stood up.


    "Are we done here? I need to get going," the counselor said hurriedly.


    "Mr. Laird, here is the report from Mr. Beckett for you," Freya handed the injury assessment report to the counselor.


    The counselor didn''t nce at it before shoving it carelessly into his pocket.


    "Let''s go. Don''t hold me up!" The counselor walked ahead briskly.


    Freya said, "I need to pick up my medicine. Mr. Beckett said it would be difficult to do it alone, so he asked you to help me. How am I supposed to manage if you leave?"


    "Freya, stop using Mr. Beckett as an excuse. Your hand is a minor injury. p some arnica cream on it, and you''ll be fine in a few days. Now,e on! Don''t make mete for my things!"


    The counselor''s dismissive attitude was clear, but as he turned to leave, he bumped into someone. "Watch where you''re going!" he snapped. Then, he saw Kieran''s icy demeanor.


    Upon realizing it was Kieran, the counselor''s expression changed drastically. He took a few steps back, attempting to appease him. "Oh, it''s Mr. Sutton. Mr. Sutton, what brings you here all of a sudden?" "Jarrett."


    "Yes?" Jarrett quickly stepped


    forward, and before the counselor knew it, he was on the ground, wincing in pain. Jarrett then stepped on the counselor''s hand, causing him to scream in agony, "Please, Mr. Sutton! Mr. Sutton!"


    The hospital was supposed to be a quiet ce, and everyone around them was stunned by the scene unfolding.


    Kieran spoke coldly, "If this teacher


    believes it''s a small wound and not worth fussing over, perhaps we don''t need any medicine. Just give him a bottle of arnica cream. I''m


    see how quickly his hand heals."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett lifted his foot off the counselor''s hand and casually tossed a twenty-dor bill at the counselor''s face.


    The counselor''s hand was swollen and bruising visibly, and he couldn''t even get up due to the excruciating pain.


    Kieran then approached Freya,


    bending down to inspect the injury


    on her hand. Her usually delicate


    and graceful hand was a mess of ck and purple, a sight so disturbing it was hard to lookat.


    The next moment, Freya pulled her hand back, frowning, "What are you doing here?"


    Her eyes were filled with hostility.


    Kieran remarked, "I thought you were tough. Howe you''re getting bullied now?"


    "Walls fall, and everyone pushes. That''s it," Freya replied, loosening her wrist. "If nothing else, I''m leaving."


    Freya increased the distance between her and Kieran, wanting even an inch more away from him.


    "Come back here!" Kieran grabbed Freya''s arm, inadvertently aggravating her wound.


    "Ow!"


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 220

    Freya gasped sharply, her breath frosting in the air.


    At that, Kieran instinctively released his grip on her.


    Without looking back, Freya stormed down the stairs.


    "Jarrett, keep up."


    "Right away." Jarrett followed closely behind Freya. Wherever she went, he was there. If she took the stairs, so did he.


    When they reached the pharmacy on the ground floor, Freya realized she didn''t have a bag to carry her medications. Trying to juggle six boxes in her hands proved futile as they started to scatter on the floor. Just as she was about to pick them up, she saw Kieran''s immacte leather shoes.


    She held her breath in annoyance. ''Hell, Kieran is like a bad penny!


    "Jarrett, pick those up for Ms. Dawson."


    "Understood." Jarrett bent down and gathered all the scattered boxes from the floor.


    Freya stood up, facing Kieran. "Mr. Sutton, enjoying the show?"


    "I find it rather amusing," Kieran replied with a satisfied smirk.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    But the next instant, Freya threw the boxes at Kieran''s face, her voice cold as ice. "Looking for augh at my expense? Dream on."


    Turning on her heel, Freya walked away, but Kieran reached out, grabbing her arm tightly, "I''ve told you before! Without the title of being Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, you''re nothing. Now, I''m offering you a chance to choose again. Continue being the downtrodden Ms. Dawson, or be my fianc¨¦e!"


    "Mr. Sutton, aren''t you too full of yourself?" Freya snapped back, yanking her arm free from his grip. She continued with disgust in her eyes, "Being the fianc¨¦e of someone from the Sutton family? I''m not interested. I''d rather be the ''downtrodden Ms. Dawson.'' But let me warn you, Kieran. Don''t be too quick to celebrate. It''s not yet clear who will have thestugh."


    With that, Freya left the hospital behind her.


    Kieran watched her leave, fury rising within him. In anger, he threw the boxes on the ground.


    Det


    Jarrett quickly tried to calm him, "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson was speaking out of


    Sanger! Please, don''t be upset!"


    "Fine, Freya wants it this way? Then I''ll ensure she learns, without being my fianc¨¦e, she''s nothing!"


    Outside the hospital, Freya walked to the street corner. A counselor had brought her to the hospital, but thanks to Kieran, the counselor was incapacitated, leaving Freya to fend for herself and hail a cab.


    What a low point. Freya felt like she had hit rock bottom to have anything to do with someone like Kieran!


    "Excuse me, are you Ms. Dawson?" A man in a bodyguard''s suit approached her.


    Freya frowned. "Yes, what is it?"


    "Our boss would like to see you." The bodyguard said, gesturing toward a sleek ck Maybach not too far away.


    Upon seeing the car, Freya''s heart sank.


    Sitting inside, Preston rolled down the window and caught her eye.


    Considering how hard it was to get a cab outside the hospital, and despite her annoyance with Preston for getting her involved in the mess, Freya had no choice but to ept the ride.


    As soon as she got into the car, she said, "Please, Mr. Tyler, I need to get home."


    Preston replied nonchntly, "I thought you''d ask how I knew you were at the hospital." Freya muttered, "No need for that. You had someone watching me."


    "What was that?"

 Chapter 221

    Freya offered Preston a smile that was on the warmer side of polite. "I''ve heard through the grapevine that you have quite the roster of well-trained bodyguards. As luck would have it, I''ve noticed someone lurking around fifty yards back wherever I go. Mr. Tyler, you get the


    picture." Freya left things unsaid.


    Preston had his eyes on her, likely brewing some nefarious n.


    But then, Freya found herself in cahoots with Preston, and any chance of getting out was up to his whims.


    "Ms. Dawson, do you know what I like most about you?" asked Preston.


    Freya snorted, "Oh? I''m all ears and need to kick whatever bad habit that is."


    "I admire your smarts, your knack for reading the room, and... well, you''re quite the character." Preston''s narrow eyes twinkled with mirth, a look that seemed out of ce on his chiseled, stoic face.


    When feeling Preston was eyeing her as a ything, Freya quickly changed the subject. "Let''s cut to the chase, Mr. Tyler. What brings you to me? Surely not to enjoy my misfortunes."


    After Kieran publicly called off their engagement, the news spread like wildfire among their social circle. Kieran did it on purpose, aiming to embarrass her among the elite. And he seeded.


    Summit University was a melting pot for the rich and the privileged, a yground for trust fund babies. Today, Cindy and Mae started the drama, but Freya knew her life at school was about to get a lot harder. Just as Freya puzzled over Preston''s motives, he suddenly grabbed her injured hand. Her slender, soft hand bore scars.


    Instinctively, Freya tried to pull away, but Preston''s grip was firm. "We''re partners, Ms. Dawson. I''ve got you a special gift. Hope you might appreciate it."


    Freya''s guard was up. "And what would that be?"


    "Only the best, of course." Preston''s lips curved into a slight smirk.


    Freya had her doubts about Preston''s generosity.


    At that moment, Hans parked outside a vi, and Freya followed Preston out of the car, puzzled.


    When Freya saw "the Garcia Family" emzoned on the door, she realized it. "Preston! What are you nning?"


    "Come." Preston led her by the wrist toward the Garcia family''s vi.


    Mae''s family was well-off, but their wealth didn''t stand out in Summit University''s affluent circles. The once pristine vi was then a scene of destruction, with shattered ss littering the yard.  en


    "Mercy! Please, mercy! We know we were wrong! Mr. Tyler, spare us!" "Please... spare us..."


    A middle-aged couple was on the ground, sobbing and pleading for their lives. The stout man had to be Mae''s father, and the woman in the


    y clothes, her mother


    Preston''s men had trashed the ce.


    "No tough nuts here, boss. They started begging before we even lifted a finger!" "Hmm." Preston nonchntly waved his hand.


    Standing aside with tasers pointed at Mr. and Mrs. Garcia, Preston''s men warned, "Keep your daughter in line! You know who you''re messing with! Cross us again, and we''l cripple you!" Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    en


    "Yes, it''s all Mae''s fault! Ms. Dawson, we''re so sorry! Please, for Mae''s sake, she''s just a kid. Whatever the cost, we''ll pay!"

 Chapter 222

    Mr. Garcia was visibly frightened. Having lived in Echo City for so long, they''d never messed with the big shots.


    Who didn''t know Ronan, fresh from his overseas exploits, was a high roller with connections to the darker sides of society? Messing with him meant bidding farewell to any semnce of a peaceful life. Seeing the scene unfold before her, Freya frowned, "Preston, what''s this all about?"


    "It''s quite clear. I''m standing up for you."


    Preston, who seemed to have materialized on a nearby couch, lounged casually, suggesting he wasn''t concerned about breaking thew.


    "I''m not crazy like you, nor did I intend to take revenge in such a manner." Freya scowled, already nning her exit from this debacle.


    Preston''s smile faded slightly.


    "Boss, should we stop Ms. Dawson?"


    Preston raised his hand, signaling Hans to back off. The women who usually flocked to him were all chasing his wealth and power.


    But Freya was different. She didn''t want his money, afraid of ending up behind bars. She didn''t crave his power, iming she wasn''t as reckless as he was. So devoid of desires, why did shee close to him in the first ce? "Boss, with Ms. Dawson leaving, are we still going after the Harwood family?"


    "No." Preston''s reply was curt. "I''ll ensure Freya is safe if Kieran protects Eloise. Let''s see who runs Echo City."


    It was evening when Freya took a cab back to the Dawson family. Johanna was pacing anxiously in the living room. Upon seeing Freya, she rushed over, "Reya! The news is buzzing, with Mr. Sutton calling off the engagement. Is it true? Speak up!"


    The Dawson family''s phone had been ringing off the hook since morning. Everyone was eager to know the current standing of the Dawson family.


    Johanna nearly fainted after she learned about the broken engagement. After all, Johanna had taken out a loan of a whopping ny million! And this entire sum was in Freya''s hands. N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Without Kieran''s connection, where would she find another ny million?


    Seeing Johanna''s anxious face, Freya feigned regret. "Mr. Sutton doesn''t fancy me. It''s something we can''t force, Johanna."


    "What did you say?" Johanna felt as if her head had exploded. "So, you mean... you mean the engagement is seriously off?"


    Johanna was overwhelmed with panic, struggling to keep from fainting. If that was the situation, what about the ny million loan? If they couldn''t repay it...


    Freya raised an eyebrow, feigning concern, "Johanna, are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?"


    "Don''t touch me!" Johanna jerked


    away from Freya''s hand, furious,


    "You''re a disaster! Mr. Sutton taking a liking to you was your good fortune. What did you do to make the Sutton family call off the engagement?"

 Chapter 223

    Freya had no desire to interact with Johanna, but Johanna, reminded of the money she had given Freya, lost her cool. Her eyes aze with rage, she lunged for Freya''s throat, shouting, "Give me back my money! Now!" With a coldugh, Freya effortlessly pushed Johanna away, causing her to stumble and fall.


    "Johanna, you were the one who said that a woman''s got to marry someday. Consider that money an early wedding gift. We have a contract, remember? You can''t just ask for it back."


    Freya, nursing her injured arm with a smirk, added, "Mr. Sutton calling off the engagement was a blow, sure. But what''s done is done. Please, Johanna... try to keep your spirits up." Without Kieran as her future son-inw, Johanna lost her influence and couldn''t strut around as before. This situation suited Freya just fine.


    Moreover, without Kieran, Johanna had no way to repay the enormous debt she owed.


    As Freya ascended the stairs, Johanna, in a fit of desperation, shouted, "You owe everything to me! You went after your brother, and now me! How could you be so ungrateful? Listen here, I don''t care what it takes, you''re going to make Mr. Sutton take you back. Do you hear me, Freya?"


    Freya didn''t offer a single reply.


    Back in her room, Freya couldn''t help but smile. It was her first day breaking free from Kieran, and despite the challenges, it felt like a new beginning.


    Yet she knew Kieran well enough to realize he wouldn''t let this slide easily.


    No matter. She just had to weather this storm.


    Just then, amotion outside caught her attention.


    "Mr. Sutton!"


    It was Johanna''s voice that piqued Freya''s interest.


    Before she could figure out what was happening, Kieran was already storming up the stairs.


    "Freya! Get out here!" With a loud bang, he pushed open the door to her bedroom.


    "Mr.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Darging into ady''s n the middle of the night


    proper," Freya remarked,


    frowning.


    Kieran was livid, and seeing the rage in his eyes, Freya wondered what had upset him this time.


    The next moment, he was dragging her out of the room.


    "Kieran! What are you doing? Let me go!"


    Her expression darkened, particrly as his grip worsened the pain in her injured hand. "Kieran! Let go!"


    But Kieran was unyielding, dragging her down the stairs. Freya stumbled and almost fell, but Kieran didn''t even nce back. Under Johanna''s watchful eye, he dragged Freya out of the Dawson residence.


    "Kieran! You-"


    Fet


    Before she could finish, Kieran suddenly let go, causing her to fall She hit the ground hard, her arm scraping against a rock and bleeding.


    ¦Ï¦É

 Chapter 224

    Kieran''s gaze was sharp, piercing through the tension, "Freya, what exactly were you up to today? Out with it!"


    Pain shot through Freya''s arm, causing her to gasp sharply. Yet, she faced Kieran defiantly, pain be damned, and retorted, "What I did today, Mr. Sutton, wasn''t all of itid bare at the hospital? Why bother asking again?" "ying dumb now, are we?" Kieran''s words carried a chilling edge as he confronted her, "You had someone trash Ellie''s ce tonight, didn''t you?"


    Freya blinked in surprise. Trashed Eloise''s ce?


    "Freya, stop ying the innocent card! Yes, someone close to Ellie crossed you, but what does that have to do with Ellie herself? I had no idea you were this vindictive. Had I known, I would''ve had you expelled from Summit University!" Hearing Kieran indiscriminately pinning the me on her, indignation surged within Freya, "Kieran! I didn''t do it!"


    "Not you? Do you really expect me to believe that? You''ve been jealous of Ellie for ages. I thought at most you''d y some hard-to-get games, but to target Ellie directly?"


    Each of Kieran''s words felt like sharp needles against Freya''s spine.


    "Kieran, for thest time, I, Freya, am not that despicable!"


    Despite the pain, Freya managed a coldugh and said, "I know you fancy Eloise, yes, and I admit I once had feelings for you! But that doesn''t make me guilty! I don''t deserve to be the sacrificialmb for your love story! I''ve already stepped back, what more do you want from me?"


    Kieran paused, seemingly taken aback by Freya''s outburst. For a moment, he saw the defiance, disgust, and the unyielding spirit in her eyes.


    By the end of her speech, tears welled up in Freya''s eyes.


    She had been the sacrificialmb in a previous life, a past she vowed never to revisit!


    The pain in her arm was intensifying.


    Kieran took a deep breath, his voice as cold as ever, "Freya, if you''ve done something wrong, you have to face the consequences. It''s not up to me to decide whether you''re innocent or not."  en


    "What are you nning to do, Mr. Sutton? Just spit it out."


    "Officers, if you please."


    Kieran''s tone was indifferent as two police officers, who had been waiting outside the Dawson residence, stepped in.


    Freya was stunned at the sight of them.


    "Kieran, you''re having me arrested?"


    Even as she voiced it, Freya could scarcely believe it herself.


    She knew Kieran despised her.


    And she knew of his affection for Eloise.


    But after publicly calling off their engagement, leaving her, Freya Dawson, as a pariah in their circle, shunned and deemed unmarriageable, wasn''t that enough?  en


    At Summit University, students with a criminal record were expelled, and within their circles, a socialite arrested by the police would be the subject of gossip for life. Kieran surely knew this.


    Yet, facing all this, Kieran merely stated coldly, "If you''re innocent, you''ve nothing to fear from a police investigation."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 225

    What a ridiculous line!


    Freya couldn''t help butugh.


    How could she forget? That was just the kind of person Kieran was.


    His heart belonged to Eloise, and he couldn''t care less about anyone else.


    In her past life, Kieran had left her for dead in the hands of robbers, letting kidnappers torture her until herst breath. And now, in this life, he had tossed her to the police.


    Splendid.


    Picking herself up from the ground, clutching her bleeding wound, she said, "Alright then, I''ll y along with Mr. Sutton''s wishes. I''ll go down to the station for questioning. But if it turns out I''m innocent... Kieran, I want you on your knees apologizing to me." Bearing the pain from her wound, Freya turned and started making her way out of the Dawson residence.


    Once in the car, the pain all over her body was almost numbing.


    The officer beside her didn''t seem to care about the wound on her arm, and to make matters worse, her hand, which had been bandaged earlier in the day, was starting to act up.


    Looking at her sorry state, Freya could only scoff.


    This is what you wanted, Freya.


    This is the man you once loved.


    Talk about being blind!


    "Get out of the car!"


    The officer''s tone was far from friendly.


    They had seen plenty of rich folks acting out of line.


    And having crossed Kieran, Freya was definitely not in for a treat here.


    Stepping out of the car, the blood on her arm was beginning to dry, yet drops still oozed out. By the time she entered the interrogation room, Freya was as pale as a ghost. "Freya, where were you this afternoon?"


    "At the hospital."


    "And after leaving the hospital?"


    "Where did you go after leaving the hospital?"


    "...I was at the Garcia''s."


    "At Mae''s ce?"All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes."


    "Because earlier today, Mae, Cindy, and Miss Eloise had a confrontation with you at the library. So, you sought revenge by causing trouble at Miss Eloise''s house, correct?"


    en


    "It wasn''t me."


    Freya insisted it wasn''t her doing.


    The inor smirked, "You''re the


    only


    we with a motive. Don''t thinket


    ''t figure it out! I advise you toe clean now, or..."


    "Are you threatening me?"


    Freya quickly realized they must have been tipped off by Kieran in advance. "Freya! Watch your tone!"


    "I''ve told you, it wasn''t me! You need evidence to detain someone, and


    witho


    t it, you can''t just lock met


    Freya tried to stand, but was forcefully pushed back down into the chair by two officers behind her.


    The interrogator stood, dering, "Lock her up! We''ll talk more when we find evidence."


    "Yes."


    The officers roughly grabbed Freya''s arm, dragging her to the women''s cell.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 226

    Freya''s arm was still wounded, and every time her arms were restrained, the pain was excruciating.


    She wondered if Kieran had deliberately arranged things to make her suffer.


    Freya found herself incarcerated in the most notorious women''s cell block.


    The inmates here hadn''t been convicted yet, but they were as good as sentenced to death or life imprisonment.


    Clearly, this was no ce for her.


    Freya knew it was unfair, but all she could do was bide her time.


    A chunky middle-aged woman spotted Freya as she entered and deliberately sidled up to her.


    "Well, well, if it isn''t the Dawson family''s little princess? Quite the looker, aren''t you?"


    The inmate''s hand casually caressed Freya''s face, the greasy touch making Freya''s stomach churn. She recoiled in disgust, snapping, "Back off!" Before she could finish, a sharp pnded on her face.


    The p rang in Freya''s ears.


    "Think you''re still Ms. Dawson? Dream on! You''ve crossed the wrong people, and they can easily make you rot in here!"


    Another inmate chimed in menacingly, "Better recognize your situation and save yourself some trouble!"


    At that, Freya burst intoughter, loud and clear. The other inmates were taken aback.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Never had they seen someoneugh after being struck!


    "You''re all without a future, crossing me... you should be wary."


    Freya''s lips curled into a smirk. "After all... someone can get me out of here, but no one''sing for you."


    Hearing Freya''s bold words, an inmate scoffed, "Delusional till the end! We''ll see how tough you are!"


    A few inmates exchanged nces, quickly moving to restrain Freya''s limbs.


    Freya''s arm, already injured, was gripped tightly, turning her face pale with pain as beads of sweat formed on her forehead.


    One of the inmates grabbed Freya''s lustrous ck hair, demanding, "Are you gonna confess, or what?"


    Enduring the pain, Freya gave the


    ate a scornful smile,


    smile, stating,


    are not qualified to judge me."


    swnof


    "Not talking?"


    The inmate pressed on Freya''s wound, reopening the dried blood to bleed anew.


    Freya knew these tactics weremon in prison.


    Kieran had bribed these people to force her confession.


    But she wouldn''t break.


    The more they pressed, the broader Freya''s smile grew, as if she felt no pain.


    Seeing this, an inmate yelled, "Beat her!"


    Two restrained Freya''s arms while another began to pummel her abdomen and stomach.


    The guard stationed outside seemed oblivious to themotion within.


    "How long are we gonna beat her if she doesn''t talk?" one asked.


    "What else? You want your sentence reduced, don''t you? Keep going!" The lead bully approached Freya, now slumped against the wall.


    The floor


    blood;


    smeared with thick


    bie''s arm was covered in it,


    trickling from her mouth.


    "I''ve heard Ms. Dawson''s hands can y the piano. What if they''re ruined? How will you seduce men then?"


    Freya looked on as the inmate stepped on her bruised arm.


    With a grimace full of malice, she ground her foot down and snapped, "Speak up or don''t!"


    Amidst the searing pain spreading


    through her body, Frey


    winced but forced herself to


    swho


    loudly.


    The tormentors wanted her tears, but she offeredughter instead!


    Everything changes in time. She awaited the day these people would regret their actions.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 227

    Meanwhile, back at Sutton Group, it was already 9 PM, yet no one in the conference room dared to leave.


    Since Kieran returned to start the meeting, his mood had been visibly dark. It was clear to anyone with eyes that his mind wasn''t on the meeting. He seemed lost in thought. After a while, even Jarrett couldn''t stand it any longer.


    Leaning towards Kieran, Jarrett whispered, "Mr. Sutton... it''s 9 o''clock."


    Kieran returned to reality, ncing at his watch to see it was 9 PM.


    "Let''s call it quits," he said, his voice as cold as ice.


    Seeing Kieran so distracted, Jarrett hesitated before saying, "Mr. Sutton, about the proposal we discussed..."


    "We''ll revisit it," Kieran said, leaving the conference room.


    The folks in the room shot nervous looks at each other, all thinking, ''Go over it again? What the heck have we been discussing till now?''


    Kieran''s demeanor was unusually intimidating, sending shivers down the spines of those present. They had never seen Kieran looking so formidable.


    In the CEO''s private elevator, Kieran asked casually, "How''s Freya''s interrogation going?"


    "No news yet. I''ll call and rush it."


    "No, I''ll go there myself."


    "Ah?" Jarrett was shocked. ''Himself?''


    Half an hourter, they arrived at the police station.


    "Mr. Sutton Ht''s such an honor to


    have you here. Why didn''t you call ahedge Police Chief Bob rushed


    BAS


    over to Kieran, his face smiling and ttering.


    Kieran was in no mood for small talk. Frowning, he asked, "Where''s Freya?"


    "She''s locked up. Would you like to see her?"


    "Locked up?" Kieran''s gaze turned icy, "Who gave you the order to lock her up? Has she confessed?"


    "Getting on Ms. Harwood''s bad side? How could she confess so easily? That''d be signing her death warrant."


    Bob chuckled. "I''ve had someone ''take good care'' of her, but this woman''s stubborn as a mule. Wouldn''t say a word..."


    Before Bob could finish, Kieran gritted his teeth and demanded, "Take good care? What have you done?"


    Seeing Kieran''s fierce look, Bob stuttered. "I thought you wanted us to interrogate her properly."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Take me to her now!" Kieran stormed off toward the cell block, with Bob hurrying after.


    Inside the cell, after what felt like ages, the female inmate attacking Freya was getting tired.


    And Freya, on the ground, was covered in bruises and blood.


    "Hey, maybe we shouldn''t go too far, yeah? What if she dies? What then?"


    Seeing Freya''s condition, the lead inmate couldn''t help but feel a twinge of fear. Despite the beating, Freya hadn''t screamed once, onlyughed. Thatugh was chilling, even to her.  en


    But before her crew, the inmate tried to sound tough. "Scared of what? We''re following orders! As long as she doesn''t die, she has to talk!" With that, she walked over to Freya, yanked her up from the ground, and prepared to continue.

 Chapter 228

    Freya''s face was a canvas of bruises and blood, the imprint of a p stark against her skin. The female prisoner red at her with venom in her eyes. "I''m asking you one more time. Are you going to confess or not? If you don''t, I swear I''ll break your hands so bad that you


    won''t ever be able to hold a pen again!"


    "Go ahead... try me..." A defiant smile yed on Freya''s lips despite the threat, which fueled the prisoner''s rage.


    "Fine, you asked for it!"


    Just as the prisoner raised her hand to deliver another blow, Kieran''s furious voice echoed through the space, "Stop right there!"


    The prisoner froze, turning to see Kieran, dressed sharply in a suit, striding toward them with a stormy look.


    Bob struggled to unlock the cell, letting Kieran get in.


    The scene inside was gruesome, with blood sttered everywhere and strands of hair scattered across the floor. Freya was slumped in the corner, barely conscious, her clothes torn, her body marred with wounds, her right hand swollen and discolored from the abuse. Kieran''s eyes narrowed, his face paling at the sight.


    Bob was equally shocked, his face twisting in anger as he turned to the prisoner and hissed, "Who told you to go this far?"


    "Wasn''t it you who said as long as she doesn''t die, it''s fine?" the prisoner mumbled, fear creeping into her voice.


    Kieran''s expression darkened further. "Bob, since when did we resort to such brutality?"


    "No, no, this is all a misunderstanding!" Bob tried to exin, but Kieran had cradled Freya in his arms, rushing her out of the cell.


    "Mr. Sutton!" Jarrett yelled when he saw how bad off Freya was, totally taken aback.


    "It was supposed to be an interrogation. How did it turn into this?"


    "Drive to the hospital, now!" Kieran ordered.


    Jarrett hurried to the car.


    Back in the cell, Bob turned to the prisoners his disappointment evident You were supposed to follow orders, not... That is beyond what i said. And now, you''re talking about sentence reduction?"


    The prisoners fell silent, realizing the gravity of their actions.


    At Crescent Medical Center, Kieran gently ced Freya on a hospital bed, anxiously watching the doctors take her into surgery. His heart was heavy with worry.


    "Mr. Sutton, the doctors say they''re mostly surface injuries. She should be fine..." someone tried to reassure him.


    "Fine?" Kieran''s voice was icy. "Tell Bob, if Freya can''t keep her hand, I want those women''s hands on my desk!" "Understood, Mr. Sutton."


    Meanwhile, Caleb drove Eloise to Crescent Medical Center.


    Upon spotting Kieran in the corridor, Eloise rushed over, concern written all over her face. "Kieran! Are you hurt?" Upon hearing Kieran was at the hospital, Eloise insisted oning immediately.


    Kieran nced at Caleb briefly and indifferently, misunderstanding the situation. Eloise hurriedly tried to rify her rtionship with Caleb, but Kieran focused on something else.


    "Eloise, who trashed your ce? Who''s threatening you? Did you see who it was?" His questions were cold, his mind preupied with the events unfolding around them.  en


    Eloise froze, caught off guard by his inquiry.Content ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 229

    "Kieran, what are you implying? Are you doubting Ellie?" Caleb frowned, stating, "We''ve grown up together since we were kids. You know Ellie. She''s not one to lie." Kieran nced at Caleb indifferently and coldly stated, "I''ll ask Ellie again."


    Caleb wanted to argue further, but Eloise grabbed his arm and addressed Kieran, "Kieran, I genuinely don''t know who broke into my ce, but I... I can only think of Ms. Dawson. After all, Mae and Cindy messed with her earlier today, and Ronan stood up for her. Maybe it was Ronan, but I can''t be sure."


    Eloise purposefully mentioned Ronan. In Echo City, it wasmon knowledge that Ronan and Kieran were arch-enemies who had been at loggerheads.


    Kieran was already displeased upon hearing Ronan was involved with Freya.


    Eloise figured bringing up Ronan would rile Kieran up likest time, but his face just got even more frosty. "So, you''re saying you didn''t catch who wrecked your pad." Kieran''s question caught Eloise off guard.


    After all, when she tearfully called Kieran earlier, she had, intentionally or not, kept bringing up how she had offended Freya that day.


    Otherwise, Kieran wouldn''t have stormed to the Dawson family to bring Freya out.


    Seeing the situation, Caleb immediately stood before Eloise, saying, "Kieran, what''s this? An interrogation? You''re questioning Ellie for Freya''s sake?"


    "Freya is inside, hurt, and we don''t even know if she can keep her hand. There are things I need to clear up." Kieran''s gaze was icy as he said, "Move aside."


    "You!" Caleb still wanted to protect Eloise, but their altercation had attracted attention nearby.


    "Isn''t that Caleb?"


    "I''m not sure, but he does look like him. Is that girl his girlfriend?"


    "No way. Hasn''t Caleb always imed he''s single?"


    ...


    A few girls whispered among themselves, unsure if the person they saw was Caleb. Since the news of Caleb''s return hadn''t spread, they hesitated to approach him for an autograph. Seeing this, Kieran mocked, "Caleb, remember who you are."


    Caleb clenched his fists.


    Noticing this, Eloise quickly grabbed Caleb, her eyes welling up with tears. "Caleb, let''s go..."


    Caleb had never seen Eloise like this. He wanted tofort her but didn''t know how to express it. Eventually, Caleb could only escort Eloise away from the hospital.


    Kieran didn''t stop them. Observing the scene, Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Harwood is worried about you..."


    "Have I been too soft on her all these years?" Kieran''s voice was icy.


    He, Eloise, and Caleb had grown up together. As the only girl in their trio, they had always indulged Eloise. Over the years, Eloise''s schemes to drive other girls away from Kieran were no secret to him. However, he had never confronted her, opting instead to give her dignity,


    After all, with Eloise''s parents gone and no other family in Echo City, out of past affection and a promise to someone dear, he had let rumors about their rtionship slide. Having Kieran''s favor in Echo City meant she was untouchable.


    But Kieran was getting more and more confused by Eloise''s recent behavior. Fake suicide attempts, targeting Freya at Summit University, calling Caleb back, and even her attempts to connect with


    Preston behind the scenes he knew it all. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 230

    Everything that happened didn''t seem like something the old Eloise, who would never stoop to underhand tactics, would do. "Mr. Sutton, let''s not dwell on the past. Ms. Harwood was anxious when she heard you were at the hospital..."


    "She was anxious, huh? She was just anxious to see how much I cared about Freya." Kieran''s expression turned icy.


    The surgical lights were still on, and Kieran sat in a chair by the corridor, waiting.


    When he had carried Freya out of the police station just moments ago, he finally realized how much Freya meant to him.


    Meanwhile, inside the police station, Preston sat calmly in a chair, listening to the wails of the women in the cell. "Keep going. Don''t stop."


    He wasn''t one to hit a woman, but that didn''t mean his men shared his reservations.


    Witnessing the scene, Bob nervously wiped his brows. It had been twenty minutes. Any longer, and those women would be dead!


    "Mr. Tyler... perhaps, do you think... maybe it''s about time..."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Before Bob could finish, Preston suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Who ordered the hit on Freya?"


    "It was... it was..." Bob stuttered, unable to name Kieran or implicate himself!


    Finally, he nodded toward the cell, ordering, "Hit them harder! Don''t stop!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    The loud crying from the women in jail just kept on going. Preston seemed to grow tired of the noise. He pulled a pistol from his belt and asked, "These are all on death row?"  en


    "Yes, they are."


    Before Bob could finish, Preston fired several shots into the cell. The gunfire was deafening.


    Bob was so scared that he crouched down, covering his head with his hands.


    The wailing in the cell stopped abruptly.


    Watching the smoking barrel of his gun, Preston casually blew on it and said, "Ensure the bodies are


    disposed of properly. I don''t want toe here again, understand?"


    en


    "Understood... understood, sir!" Bob said, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    Who would dare cross this underworld kingpin, not just in Echo City, but anywhere?


    "Good." Preston nodded, then turned to Hans. "Keep an eye on Bob. Ensure he cleans up everything before you report back to me."


    "Yeah, boss." Hans pulled out his gun and stood guard, leaving Bob feeling off-bnce.


    Soon, there came footsteps from outside.


    Several men in suits, wearing the Sutton family''s insignia, walked past Preston.


    The leading aide said coldly, "Bob, Mr. Sutton said the women whoid hands on Ms. Dawson today are ours to deal with. If anything


    happens to Ms. Dawson, Mr Sutton will want their hands."


    "I''m afraid... I''m afraid it''s toote." Bob pointed to the cells where the women had been shot to death, swallowed hard, and said, "They''re already dead."

 Chapter 231

    In the hospital, Kieran had no idea how long he had waited before the surgery light finally turned green. He saw the lead surgeon and a few nurses wheeling out the gurney.


    When he spotted Freya lying on the operating table, Kieran immediately moved forward, only to be swiftly blocked by a nurse who said, "Sorry. The patient needs to rest quietly now, and she said she didn''t want to see you." Hearing Freya didn''t want to see him made Kieran''s heart sink.


    At that moment, Jarrett had received a call from the police department. He stepped forward and said to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, our people just got there, and the female inmate is dead." "How did she die?"


    "It was Preston."


    At that, Kieran let out a coldugh. So, it was Preston''s doing. It seemed Freya and Preston were closer than he thought. Preston was not one to stick his neck out for someone he didn''t value. "Let''s settle scores with herter. Freya''s injury is what matters now."


    "But Mr. Sutton, it''s gettingte. Mrs. Sutton will start asking questions."


    It was already midnight, and he would have a significant meeting in the early morning. Audrey had made it clear that Kieran was toe home early, especially since they argued that morning. "You go back first. Send the documents for tomorrow''s meeting to my phone. I''ll stay here."


    "You''re... staying here?" Jarrett thought he had misheard. Since when did Mr. Sutton personally stay by someone''s bedside?


    "Enough talk. Just do as I say."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    As Jarrett was about to leave, Kieran said, "Wait."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Huh?"


    "Check if there''s any ce nearby forte-night snacks."


    "Are you hungry?"


    Kieran didn''t respond, but Jarrett quickly understood Kieran wanted to get Freya somete-night snacks. So, he said, "I''ll check right now!"


    After Jarrett left, Kieran walked into


    Freya''s hospital room. The nurses


    and doctors had left, so the room was quiet. Moonlight seeped


    through the window, casting a cold aura.  en


    Kieran slowed his steps. Freya was asleep, obviously under the effect of anesthesia.


    Kieran had never seen Freya sleep so close-up. She was a real knockout, catching your eye right away and then slowly making you fall for her even more.


    But her face was marred with


    bruises and wrapped partially in


    bandages. The horrifying marks


    on


    her neck were distressing to even nceat, not to mention the wounds on her arms and hands.


    At that moment, Freya seemed like a hedgehog without its quills, a cat without its ws, quietly lying on the bed. Somehow, she didn''t seem so disagreeable.


    Kieran thought to himself quietly.


    Just then, a nurse opened the door, frowning, and said, "Sir, only family members can stay forpanionship. Are you family?"

 Chapter 232

    Kieran''s train of thought was abruptly interrupted. He turned his head, his brow furrowed as he eyed the nurse at the door. "Are you new here?"


    Before the nurse could grasp the undertone of his question, the hospital director had entered. "Mr. Sutton! My apologies. This nurse is an intern, unaware of who you are."


    The director dressed hastily and rushed over upon hearing about Kieran''s arrival at Crescent Medical Center. The Sutton family was a major benefactor to the city''s healthcare sector and thergest investor of their hospital. Offending them was not an option. The nurse turned pale upon realizing who Kieran was.


    Kieran''s voice was cold. "If you have something to say, say it outside. Don''t disturb her rest here."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton. Right this way," the director said, respectfully making way.


    Kieran exited, the nurse quickly sealing her lips, daring not to utter another word.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Once outside the room, the director began, "Mr. Sutton, let me introduce our lead physician, Dr. Williams. A promising young talent..."


    "Get to the point." Kieran''s tone was icy. "I just want to know how she''s doing."


    Hearing this, the director turned to Dr. Williams.


    Adjusting his sses, Dr. Williams began, "Ms. Dawson''s injuries aren''t too severe overall, mostly superficial wounds that should heal in a few weeks. But her arm and the back of her hand have suffered significant damage. It looks like her arm was deliberately broken, and the wound has be infected. Her right hand got crushed, damaging the tendons and bones. It''ll take months to heal, and it might affect her ability to write or exert force."


    Kieran''s heart tightened. "Isn''t there any other way?"


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Sutton. Ms. Dawson''s injuries are severe. Should we consult with an international team of specialists and follow a rigorous rehabilitation program, there''s a chance for improvement. The process might be challenging, though."


    Kieran said coldly, "As long as her hand can recover, the process doesn''t matter to me."


    "Mr. Sutton! Qur hospital''s always OTHE teaming up with world-ss experts. We got this under control. Trust me on this." The director didn''t waste a second to takemand, trying to make a good impression on Kieran.


    Kieran said, "Let''s skip the details. I''ll stay here tonight and take her home tomorrow."


    "Tomorrow?" Dr. Williams was shocked. "Given Ms. Dawson''s condition, hospital observation is crucial."


    "The environment here isn''t good enough. I''ll have the necessary equipment moved to my ce for Freya''s recovery."


    Dr. Williams and the director were


    both deted. Their hospital was the


    city center, but Kieran found it


    wealthy were hard too


    inadequate! The whims of the


    After the doctor and the director had left, Kieran returned to Freya''s room. Seeing her in a drowsy state, murmuring incoherently, Kieran leaned in to listen.


    Hearing her ask for water, he


    immediately went to look for a water


    dispenser. Such menial tasks were


    foreign to him, and he clumsily attempted to use the machine.


    en


    Upon returning, he carefully fed the water to Freya.


    "Cough, cough..." Perhaps choked by the water, Freya began coughing violently.


    Seeing Freya frown in difort, Kieran felt out of his depth. He set the ss aside and gentlyid her back on the bed.


    At that moment, Jarrett sent over documents for the next day''s meeting to Kieran''s phone.


    Kieran reluctantly turned his attention to his phone, straining to review the materials for the uing meeting.


    Suddenly, Freya seemed caught in a nightmare, crying out, "Stop... don''t hit me!"


    Kieran rushed right over to her, not quite knowing how to console her. He gently took her hand and whispered, "I''m here. Right here. No one''s going to hurt you."

 Chapter 233

    The tension in the room seemed to dissipate as the person on the bed appeared to regainposure. Kieran looked at Freya, his eyes betraying a flicker of concern. After all, Freya was a girl, and the day''s events must have terrified her. As he moved closer to Freya, intending to push a stray lock of hair from her forehead, she suddenly raised her arms. Kieran froze at the sight.


    Clearly and distinctly, Freya muttered, "Damn it. Hit me, and I''ll kill you!"


    "Kieran, you scumbag!"


    "Kieran, I''ll strangle you!"


    "Kieran, go to hell!"


    Kieran was at a loss for words. He had been scrolling on his phone to check info for the next day but now found himself identally Googling why people who are under might start sleep talking.


    As Freya''s tirades grew increasingly venomous, Kieran lost all interest in his research. He even started to suspect that Freya was doing it on purpose.


    At that moment, the night nurse cautiously opened the door to the hospital room, intending to apologize to Kieran about the earlier incident. However, without ncing up, Kieran coldly said, "Leave."


    "Mr. Sutton, your secretary brought you somete-night snacks." While saying this, the nurse carefully ced the snacks on the table beside Kieran. Seeing it, Kieran asked, "Has she been talking nonsense because of the general anesthesia?"


    The nurse looked puzzled. "General anesthesia?"


    ""Isn''t that it?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Thisdy didn''t undergo any major surgery, just local anesthesia, no general anesthesia."


    After hearing this, Kieran''s face darkened, and his gaze shifted back to Freya on the bed.


    Freyazily yawned and then opened her eyes the next moment. Stretching, she said, "Huh? Mr. Sutton, what are you doing here?"


    At this, Kieran gritted his teeth and growled, "Freya Dawson!"


    He had thought Freya was babbling under the influence of general anesthesia after cursing him for ten whole minutes. But she was faking


    it


    Freya looked at the nurse standing by and said, "Sorry, I don''t want to see this man. Could you please ask him to leave?"


    "This..." The nurse looked troubled.


    She might have dared before


    knowin


    Kieran''s status, but then,


    she wouldn''t dare to ask Kieran to leave! ,


    With a dark expression, Kieran said, "Freya, I saved you. Have you no gratitude?"


    Freya leaned back on her hospital bed and responded coolly, "Saved me? I''d hardly say that. If it weren''t be in


    for you, Mr. Sutton, I woul


    this mess."


    "You..."

 Chapter 234

    Kieran knew he was in the wrong, so he was at a loss for words for quite some time.


    Finally, taking a deep breath, Kieran said, "Fine, you''ve had your say. Now, what do you want forpensation? Just tell me."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "That''s more like it." Freya had been waiting for Kieran to say that. With a cold demeanor, she said, "I want you to promise never to go after the Dawson family again and to leave me alone. Since we''ve called off our engagement, we owe nothing to each other. I got injured because you wrongly used me, so you''re paying for my medical bills."


    "That''s it?"


    "Yes, that''s it." Freya looked at Kieran and added, "But if you feel remorse and want to offer me financialpensation, I wouldn''t mind. Consider it a breakup fee."


    When Kieran heard the words ''breakup fee,'' his expression cooled. For some reason, those words made him ufortably uneasy.


    "Having second thoughts?"


    "Fine. You''ll get it." Kieran agreed without hesitation.


    Freya wasn''t too surprised. After all, money was the least of Kieran''s worries. A few million for a breakup fee wouldn''t dent his bank ount.


    "Since it was my fault that you got injured so badly, I''ll take full responsibility while you''re recovering."


    "Good." Freya nodded, sort of happy. "At least you''re not totally heartless."


    "So, tomorrow I''ll have Jarrett process your discharge papers, and you''ll stay at the Sutton Mansion during your recovery."


    Upon hearing that, the smile faded from Freya''s face, and she immediately retorted, "Why should I recover at your ce?"


    "I''ve arranged for the head of the hospital to consult with the best doctors from abroad for your hand. If you don''t want to end up unable to use your right hand for the rest of your life, you''ll listen to me." "You..."


    "This is me being responsible. You''re free to go five monthster if your hand has healed. If not, I will offer you apensation sum. You decide the amount."


    At this point, Freya calmed down and asked skeptically, "I decide the amount?" "Yes."


    ""Any amount?"


    Seeing Freya eager to test his limits, Kieran suddenly felt that letting her jot down apensation sum might lead to Freya shamelessly iming the entire Sutton family''s fortune.


    Kieran frowned and said, "Fifty million, tops."


    Freya knew it was too good to be true. How could Kieran ever agree to such a heftypensation?


    But thinking about spending the next


    five months living it up at the Sutton


    Mansion, freeloading off the most professional doctors for consultations and rehab, and possibly getting fifty million if things didn''t pan out, Freya briskly agreed. After all, it was a no-lose deal for her.


    "Deal. I agree."


    Kieran knew Freya would agree. He leaned back in his chair,


    nonchntly saying, "If you''re hungry, have something to eat, but don''t forget our previous arrangement."


    Kieran had once said that each dinner she joined him for would earn her a million.


    Freya remembered this deal, so she raised her hand, about to open the takeout bag, and said, "My hand''s injured. I can''t open it."


    Seeing this, Kieran had no choice but to put down his phone, walk over to the takeout bag, and open it, revealing each packed box. Inside, there were boxes of chicken broth, along with some eggs and cakes.

 Chapter 235

    Freya nced at the chicken broth before her, her expression unimpressed and utterly devoid of appetite.


    "I don''t want this," she said after a moment, not even trying to hide her disdain.


    "What would you like then?" asked Kieran.


    With a mischievous glint, Freya responded, "There''s this diner about 300 feet left from Crescent Medical Center. It''s open 24/7. I quite fancy their food. Mr. Sutton, could you do me a favor and run an errand?" Hearing that, Kieran took a deep breath, trying to mask his frustration. "Wait here," he said before leaving the hospital room.


    As soon as Kieran left, Freya started slowly sipping on her chicken soup. She smiled. ''Hmm! It tastes quite good.''


    Kieran had gone out of the hospital. It was the dead of night, and the surrounding apartment lights were off, leaving only the streetlights to guide him.


    Following Freya''s directions, Kieran turned left from Crescent Medical Center, but even after walking 300 feet, he saw no sign of any diner. Finally, Kieran called Freya.


    The phone went through quickly, and Kieran asked sternly, "Where''s the diner?"


    On the other end, Freya feigned difficulty. "I can''t quite remember. Why don''t you look it up on your phone, Mr. Sutton?"


    After she hung up, Freya chuckled, thinking, ''That''ll keep him busy!''


    With no choice left, Kieran reluctantly searched on his phone, only to find the diner was a kilometer away from where he was. His face darkened at the realization.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    At this hour, hailing a cab near the hospital was challenging, but Kieran had no choice but to try. It took him twenty minutes to finally arrive at the diner.


    Looking at the menu featuring several different burgers, Kieran realized he had no idea what Freya liked.


    "What''ll it be, young man?" The diner''s owner, a woman with a friendly smile, emerged from the back.


    The diner was practically empty at this hour.


    Kieran was about to pull out his phone to ask Freya what she wanted but didn''t want to disturb her rest. So, he told the owner, "I''ll take two of each kind. To go." The owner looked at him curiously, surprised by therge order.


    "All these burgers for yourself? Young man, eating this muchte at night isn''t good for you."


    Without missing a beat, Kieran responded, "They''re for my girlfriend."


    "Oh, at Crescent Medical Center, right? We get a lot of folks buying burgers for their loved ones staying there. Coming out thiste to get something for your girlfriend you''re a good man."


    While she packed the order, Kieran''s thoughts drifted to Freya. If she knew about this diner, she must have been here before. But, Kieran


    had zero memory of any such visit.


    At that moment, he realized how little he knew about Freya. He was unaware of her past, her likes and dislikes.


    Yet, Freya seemed to know


    everything about him. From his


    favorite foods to his daily routines, she knew every aspect of his life, something Kieran found fascinating and slightly unsettling.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 236

    Kieran watched the couple who owned the small diner, both well into their fifties, tirelessly working from dawn till dusk without a moment''s rest. It suddenly made him think of Freya. Would he and Freya end up like this if they went through with marriage decades down the line?


    Just then, thedy behind the counter handed Kieran a bag of sandwiches, her smile warm as she said, "Hope your girlfriend gets better soon!"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Kieran offered a faint smile in return before paying them a generous tip that left the couple speechless. When they stepped out to thank him, Kieran was already in a cab back to the hospital. Freya had just finished her soup in the hospital room.


    Kieran turned on the light, noticing the empty soup bowl on the table. He casually ced the bag of sandwiches on the small table.


    Seeing the pile of sandwiches, Freya frowned, "All this?"


    "I wasn''t sure what you''d fancy, so I got a couple of each kind."


    Kieran kept himself busy cleaning up the table, moving quickly and efficiently.


    Freya, however, mentioned, "You took your time getting back. I''m already full."


    "Oh." Kieran didn''t seem bothered.


    Freya''s frown deepened. "You''re not upset?"


    "Figured you were pulling my leg. Given your injury, I''ll let it slide." After cleaning up, Kieran settled on a nearby couch and said, "Eat if you want, or toss them."


    Failing to get a rise out of Kieran, Freya opened a sandwich and took a bite.


    Watching Freya from the couch, Kieran casually asked, "When was thest time you had these?"


    Freya paused, her tone turning cold, "Don''t remember."


    "Was it when your dad was in the hospital?"


    At Kieran''s words, Freya''s demeanor chilled further. "That''s none of your concern. We''ve called off the engagement. My affairs shouldn''t bother you anymore."


    She put down her sandwich, suddenly losing her appetite. Freya vividly remembered being all alone during her father''s hospitalization.


    Even though Johanna came around,


    it was obvious she was kinda hoping


    for her dad to kick the bucket sooner to speedup Lnd''s inheritance. The bigwigs connected to the Dawson family all had their ulterior motives, leaving her feeling like a frightened rabbit amidst wolves.


    Then, Audrey had set her eyes on Freya as a suitable bride for the Sutton family.


    In his defiance against Eloise and Audrey, Kieran showcased his disdain for Freya as a statement of his resolve.


    Freya could still recall trying to meet


    Kieran at the Sutton family, hoping he''d visit her ailing father, if only for appearances. Yet, Kieran cruelly refused her, leaving her to face the world alone after her father''s passing.


    The irony was that she had once naively believed she could warm Kieran''s heart, only to be met with a crueler reality.


    Watching Freya''s expression turn


    cold, Kieran felt an inexplicable regret. Perhaps, had he been there for her, even just a bit warmer, things wouldn''t have turned out so bitterly.  en

 Chapter 237

    The day after, Kieran had his staff send Freya home while he, bright and early, headed off to apany meeting.


    Throughout the meeting, Kieran was hardly present. His mind kept drifting back to the night before, reying the scene where Freyay in the hospital bed,shing out at him. The thought that Freya had been putting on an act made Kieran chuckle internally, and without realizing it, a pleasant curve formed at the corners of his mouth.


    The sight caught everyone in the meeting room off guard.


    "Mr. Sutton...what''s going on?"


    "Ahem!" Jarrett, seated nearby, cleared his throat, signaling to Kieran to mind the setting.


    It was then that Kieran realized everyone in the room was eyeballing him. He quickly pulled himself together and said, kinda frostily, "Alright, let''s go ahead with that partnership n."


    "Mr. Sutton, there''s one more thing." One of the department managers said, "We started excavating a plot in the Southern Suburbs a few days ago, and just yesterday, we hit a natural spring. This discovery conflicts with our hot springs resort project forter this year. I suggest we immediately acquire thisnd to prevent the Southern Suburbs from bing an obstacle to our ns. It could also serve as an expansion for our resort project."


    Initially indifferent, Kieran felt a twinge of familiarity at the mention of "Southern Suburbs."


    Jarrett was the first to connect the dots. He immediately turned to Kieran, saying, "Mr. Sutton, this Southern Suburbs... Isn''t that where Ms. Dawson..."


    Mentioning Freya, Kieran instantly recalled the auction where Freya had bid half a billion for thend in the Southern Suburbs.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Upon hearing that, Kieran''s expression darkened, and he abruptly stood up.


    The room fell silent.


    Kieran gritted his teeth and dered, "We''re heading home!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett quickly gathered the documents on the table and followed closely behind Kieran.


    Thepany''s executives were left bewildered in the meeting room.ne


    Been up with Mr. Sutton


    no


    Kieran moved swiftly, with Jarrett struggling to keep up.


    Once in the car, Kieran ordered in a grim tone, "Dig up everything you can on the Southern Suburbs plot!"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett drove while simultaneously messaging the project manager for the information.


    The Sutton Group''s office plunged into chaos as everyone scrambled topile data on the Southern Suburbs. Soon, they sent the information to Kieran''s phone.


    en


    Meanwhile, Jarrett had parked in front of the Sutton Mansion.


    The maid sweeping the entrance was startled to see Kieran returning at such an hour.


    "Mr. Sutton? Why are you back so early?"


    "Where''s Freya?"


    "Ms. Dawson is resting in the bedroom. She''s been well taken care of, just as you instructed." Before the maid could finish, Kieran was striding upstairs.


    Upstairs, in her room, Freya was busy scrolling through the contract for the Southern ''burbs hot springs project development on her phone. Just as she signed and submitted it, Kieran pushed open her room''s door, arriving precisely at that moment.

 Chapter 238

    Freya looked up, and upon seeing Kieran''s stormy expression, she feigned confusion. "Mr. Sutton, clocking out early today, are you?"


    "Freya! Cut the act with me!" Kieran marched over to Freya, mming a document on her desk. "The government''s pushing for rural development projects. You knew about this in advance, didn''t you?" Seeing Kieran on the news, Freya replied innocently, "Mr. Sutton, I''m not sure what you''re implying. How could I predict the government''s moves? How could I have known in advance?"


    "You didn''t know? What about this then?" Kieran tossed a newspaper before Freya, "A spring was discovered in the Southern Suburbs! And you''re telling me you didn''t know about this either?" "Really?" Freya yed surprised. "No way. I just bought some random piece ofnd. Am I about to hit the jackpot or something?"


    "Freya Dawson!" Kieran''s face grew darker.


    Freya, however, remained indifferent, lounging on the bed without moving an inch.


    Finally, Kieran said decisively, "This plot, it''s gonna be Sutton Group''s. I''ll send you the contract. Just p your signature on it."


    "Sorry, I didn''t say I''d agree."


    Seeing Freya''s defiance, Kieran said, "You must be aware of the Sutton Group''s hot spring development project nned for the next six months."


    "How could I know the Sutton Group''s ns?" Freya looked at Kieran, puzzled. "Mr. Sutton, you can''t just take things from me because thisnd will be profitable, right?"


    "I''m not taking anything from you. I''ll pay you."


    Kieran replied coldly, "This project is too big for you. Wouldn''t it be better to take the money and leave now?"


    Hearing Kieran''s words, Freya almostughed out loud. Kieran was as arrogant as ever.


    But seeing how much Kieran wanted thend, Freya yed along, raising an eyebrow, "So, Mr. Sutton, how much are you nning to pay me?"


    "Tenfold." Kieran dered, "You


    bought it for half a billion. I''ll give et


    you ten times that. After that, the


    SwnovOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya scoffed internally. ''Businessmen will be businessmen.''


    Thend''s value was immeasurable with the government subsidies and incentives, not to mention being designated as a significant development zone with a newfound spring Olt would find buyers, not just fifty billion, even at a hundre@billion. Kieran was banking on her unfamiliarity with business to lowball her.


    "Freya, you should know the difference between the Sutton Group and Dawson Group. Don''t think just because you''ve got control of the Dawson Group now, you''re something special. This industry is tooplex for you. There''s a risk of tosing everything on thisnd. Wouldn''t it be better to take the money and leave?" Kieran settled on the sofa nearby, assuming a negotiating stance.


    Freya shook her head. "Ah, such tempting terms, you''re making me consider it."


    Seeing Freya react as he expected, Kieran finally rxed, "As long as you''re clear on it, sign."


    "But... it''s toote. I''d love to sell, but I''m powerless now."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    Staring down Kieran''s questioning, Freya told him seriously, "Cause as of this morning, thisnd''s already been swooped up by Ronan."

 Chapter 239

    Hearing Ronan had snatched up thend, Kieran shot up from his seat, incredulity written all over his face. "What did you just say?"


    "Mr. Sutton, I''m just a girl. What do I know about investments? Besides, it wasn''t even me who wanted to buy thatnd. It was Ronan. You know I didn''t have the sway in the Dawson family needed to cough up half a billion. So, Mr. Sutton, if you''re after that piece ofnd, you''d better talk to Mr. Beckett. That is, of course, if Mr. Beckett is willing to sell it to you." Freya was acting all innocent, but Kieran couldn''t sense any sincerity in her words. "Freya, are you messing with me? You were aiming for thatnd and just gave it away like that?"


    "Mr. Sutton, it''s not as simple as that. The money came from Mr. Beckett in the first ce. Now that Mr. Beckett wants it back, what can I say? I have to hand it over." Freya sighed with a hint of regret. "I do regret it. Had I known thend was that valuable, I would have bitten the bullet and bought it myself! Now, all that excitement was for nothing."


    "You..." Kieran was at a loss for words. How could Freya casually hand over such a windfall to Ronan?


    It wasmon knowledge that the Becketts and Suttons were like oil and water. If Ronan got his mitts on thatnd, the Sutton Group''s spa resort project would tank for sure.


    Seeing Kieran about to storm out, Freya mockingly called out, "Mr. Sutton? Leaving so soon? Won''t you stay a bit longer?"


    The only response she got was the sound of the door mming shut.


    Once Kieran was gone, Freya dropped the act, leaning back on her bed to rest with her eyes closed.


    Lucky for her, Kieran didn''t know she had used her trust money from her father to purchase the Southern Suburbnd. Otherwise, he would find a way to squeeze the Dawson Group and snatch the hot property from her hands. ''Ronan, oh Ronan, sorry for using you as a shield again.''


    Meanwhile, Ronan sneezed at Summit University without regard for appearances for the first time. "Achoo!"


    Noticing the students looking at him from under the lectern, Ronan adjusted his sses and spoke calmly, "Let''s continue with the lecture."


    Soon after the bell rang, signaling


    the end


    at his watch before collecting his lecture notes, announcing, "ss dismissed."


    V the ss. Ronan nced


    As he stepped outside, the secretary and executive assistant of the Beckett Group formed two lines behind him.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mr. Beckett, there are a few coborations thepany needs to discuss next."


    "I need to take care of something first. We''ll talkter."


    "Yes, Mr. Beckett."


    Ronan proceeded to the university''s conference room, where all the faculty had been waiting for him.


    Upon seeing Ronan enter, the dean immediately greeted him, "Mr. Beckett!"


    Ronan raised his hand, not bothering with pleasantries. He directly stated, "Regarding the issue of Mae getting involved in campus violence, I advocate expulsion. There''s no need to share your opinions with me. I have other matters to attend to." With that, Ronan turned and left the conference room.


    The other faculty members understood Ronan''s stance. They weren''t foolish enough to oppose Ronan, and they quickly voiced their agreement since Ronan voted for expulsion.


    "Such malicious incidents must be met with expulsion!"


    "I also agree with the expulsion."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 240

    The teachers in the conference room all raised their hands in unison.


    At that moment, anxiously awaiting the school''s decision, Mae was sweating bullets.


    Mae clutched Eloise''s arm in the ssroom and asked, "Ellie, do you think I''ll get expelled? Could that happen?"


    Seeing Mae so wound up, Cindy tried to soothe her nerves. "Mae, don''t freak out. It was an ident that you stepped on her hand. How could that lead to expulsion? Plus, I''m sure Ellie has had a word with Mr. Sutton. I bet this whole thing will blow over." No sooner had Cindy finished speaking than she turned to Eloise, who had been silent, and said, "Right, Ellie?"


    Eloise managed a weak smile. She hadn''t told Mae and Cindy that she hadn''t spoken up for Mae.


    Just yesterday, Kieran had confronted her when she arrived at the hospital. With her issues unresolved, she hadn''t had the mood to deal with anyone else''s problems.


    But considering it was a step on Freya''s hand, it shouldn''t be a big deal. So, Eloise took the credit anyway, saying, "I talked to Kieran about it yesterday, Mae. You won''t be in trouble. Trust me."


    Upon hearing Eloise say so, Mae''s heart finally eased. Yeah, what was Freya in the grand scheme of things? Even her engagement to the Sutton family was off.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Without power or a solid background, one could only expect to get bullied at Summit University. And it was just a step on the hand, after all. How could that be so fragile?


    Mae figured the school wouldn''t pay much attention to such a minor incident. Thinking so, Mae felt even more relieved. Thank goodness she had found a strong ally in Eloise. With her by Mae''s side, she felt secure.


    Just as Mae patted herself on the back, a flurry of footsteps suddenly approached outside the ssroom.


    Ronan appeared, dressed to the nines in a suit, with gold-rimmed sses adding to his distinguished appearance. His every move exuded nobility and elegance. Ronan came, nked by a dozen high-level bodyguards, a personal secretary, and two executive assistants.


    The grand entrance turned many heads.


    "Look, it''s Mr. Beckett!"


    "Why is Mr. Becketting to our floor?"


    "He must be here for Eloise. Haven''t you heard the rumors that Mr. Beckett has taken a special interest in our top student, Eloise?"


    The ssroom was buzzing as everyone hurried over to Eloise''s side.


    "Ellie, you''re so lucky! Not only does Mr. Sutton fancy you, but also Mr. Beckett seems to hold you in high regard."


    "Yeah, Ellie, I heard there would be a schrship for studying abroad up for grabs. With your grades, Mr. Beckett will pick you!" Everyone was praising Eloise.


    But Eloise herself couldn''t muster a


    smile. She had hardly interacted with Ronan. All these rumors were just that rumors swirling around their circle. Moreover, the thought of Ronan defending Freya made her heart race.


    What the heck was Ronan up to, popping up like this? Before Eloise could get her thoughts straight Ronan''s assistant flung the ssroom door open.


    The bodyguards filed in, creating a barrier between them and the rest of the room. The atmosphere instantly tensed up.

 Chapter 241

    When the whole ss thought Ronan hade because of Eloise''s decision to study abroad, Ronan called out another name. "Mae."


    At the sound of her name, Mae tensed up all over.


    "Come forward..."


    With a heart filled with fear, Mae got to her feet, still clueless about the reason for Ronan''s unexpected visit. Then, she saw a bodyguard by the door hand Ronan a freshly printed notice.


    Ronan didn''t even bother to nce at it before he tossed the notice onto the table before Mae, stating with an unchanging expression, "You got expelled."


    The noticended at Mae''s feet.


    "It can''t be!" Mae blurted out in disbelief.


    She hurriedly picked up the notice, tearing open the envelope, only to find the expulsion notice inside. As she read it, Mae froze. ''Expelled? Why?''


    Her eyes immediately sought out Eloise. Eloise''s expression was equally grim.


    Everyone knew Mae was Eloise''s close friend. Ronan delivering the expulsion notice in front of the ss was like a p in Mae''s face.


    "Professor Beckett, there must be some mistake. It must be a misunderstanding!" Mae stammered, trying to defend herself, her words tumbling in panic.


    "A misunderstanding?" Ronan retorted. "You were caught on the library camera, picking on another student, and the hospital''s medical report outlined all the injuries. This has turned into a criminal matter, and the cops are gonna handle you for assault and bullying. I hope everyone here gets that you''re all grown-ups and should understand thew and what happens when you break it." Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    The room fell silent, no one daring to speak.


    At that moment, the police entered. One officer looked directly at Mae. "Mae Garcia, right? Pleasee with us."


    Mae went pale. With graduation around the corner, she had never imagined she''d get expelled, let alone taken away by the police! She desperately looked at Eloise, pleading, "Ellie! Ellie, please help me! Ellie!"


    But Eloise remained motionless not just because of Ronan''s presence but also because Mae''s expulsion was a done deal, and she''d have a criminal record. In their elite circle, one couldn''t afford to be associated with someone like that.


    As the police escorted Mae away, a deathly silence filled the ssroom.


    Everyone knew Ronan was the head of the Beckett Group, and his teaching stint at Summit University was a hobby. He usually wouldn''t bother with something like this. But his direct involvement in announcing Mae''s expulsion meant he


    advocated for Freya.


    "What''s the deal between Freya and Mr. Beckett, anyway? It can''t be like the rumors say that they''re..."


    "Stop it. There''s no way Mr. Beckett would fall for someone like Freya!"


    "Exactly. After Freya got dumped by Mr. Sutton, who in Echo City would dare to have anything to do with her?"


    As a few girls in the ss chattered away, Ronan''s gaze glided over them. Feeling the intensity of Ronan''s look, the girls quickly zippered their lips.

 Chapter 242

    Watching Ronan turn to leave, Eloise suddenly stood up and dered, "Professor Beckett, I need a word with you if you don''t mind."


    Eloise intended to present herself as a loyal friend advocating on someone''s behalf in front of her ssmates. However, before she could finish, Ronan casually mentioned, "Oh, and Ms. Harwood, you can scrap any ns about studying abroad. The schrship had been for someone else. Though, with your connections and family wealth, arranging your study abroad shouldn''t be an issue, right?"


    Upon hearing that, Eloise''s face turned ashen.


    Stunned by the news, Cindy blurted, "How is that possible? Eloise has the best grades in our year! How could the schrship not go to her?"


    "Exactly. Eloise has the top grades in our ss. Wasn''t it decided earlier that she would be the one going abroad?"


    The ssmates swapped confused nces. After all, everyone knew about Eloise''s ties with Kieran, right? How could anyone else even have a shot at the schrship?


    "Professor Beckett, what do you mean?" Eloise asked, trying to maintain herposure.


    She had thought her study abroad was a done deal. But Ronan told her the opportunity had gone to someone else, and he said it in front of the ss.


    Meanwhile, more and more onlookers gathered outside the ssroom, drawn by the news that Eloise''s friend, Mae, had been taken away by the police. They were all there to see what themotion was about.


    "It means what it means. If you have anyints, feel free to take them up with your academic advisor," Ronan said, intending to keep the conversation short.


    But undeterred, Eloise stepped forward, saying, "Professor Beckett, I understand Mae has had issues with Freya, but that doesn''t give you the right to abuse your power just because you''re close with Freya! It is an abuse of authority!"


    Eloise''s words were a direct usation against Ronan for using his influence to favor Freya, leading to Mae''s expulsion and the revocation of her schrship.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Ronan stopped, turning to face Eloise as everyone awaited his response. Setting down his books he said, was going to spare you the embarrassment, Ms. Harwood, but since you asked, let me rify the situation."


    Eloise''s heart sank at his response.


    "The schrship slots are limited, and aside from academic performance, we consider overall student behavior. Ms. Harwood, you''ve missed several sses


    f


    without justification. Please exin


    that."


    Eloise''s face fell. True, she''d been distracted by the whole Freya and Kieran drama, causing her to ditch a few sses. But that was it!


    "As for having someone ghostwrite your papers and signing attendance for you, I think that speaks for itself. The school has evaluated your recent conduct and determined you no longer meet the schrship criteria. Thus, the opportunity has gone to someone more deserving, and that''s all there is to it Though delivered casually, Ronan''s words felt like a p in the face to Eloise in front of her entire ss.


    Feeling utterly humiliated, Eloise didn''t know where to put herself.


    "Alison, stay here. If Ms. Harwood has further questions, you can escort her to the principal''s office for an exnation." "Yes, Mr. Beckett."


    With that, Ronan left the ssroom, leaving the ssmates ncing sympathetically at Eloise, thest thing she wanted. "Ellie..." Cindy tried tofort her, but Eloise, her eyes brimming with tears, swiftly exited the ssroom.


    That evening, at the Sutton residence.

 Chapter 243

    Freya hobbled out of bed, each step a testament to her stubbornness.


    Pushing open the door, the maid nearly dropped the bowl she was carrying at the sight. "Ms. Dawson! Mr. Sutton insisted you rest in bed these days, not on your feet! How did you get up?" She rushed over to support Freya, who waved her concerns away. "I''ve been in bed for a whole day. Any longer, and I might as well be a statue!" "But Mr. Sutton said..."


    "He''s not even home. Why bother about his rules?"


    Just then, Kieran''s icy voice cut through the silence from the doorway. "Is that so? I''m right here. Do you still think my rules don''t apply?"


    Freya frowned, puzzled. Wasn''t the Southern Suburb project supposed to keep Kieran tied up? Why was he back so early?


    Kieran stepped toward Freya''s room.


    Seeing this, Freya pointed a crutch at him. "Stop right there!"


    He paused, mid-step, as Freya dered, "We agreed I''m here to heal, not to entertain you barging into my room. Get out!" Kieran merely chuckled at Freya''s attempt to evict him, then strutted in as if he owned the ce which, technically, he did. "Freya, it is my house. I don''t need your permission to walk in," he retorted, plucking the crutch from her grasp with ease. Outpowered, Freya began to protest, but Kieran wrapped his arm around her waist, silencing her.


    The move was so quick, and Freya just froze in ce.


    "Kieran, let go of me!" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.


    "Are you sure?" He urged her to


    const would send h


    her position. Letting go


    tumbling down the stairs. Overset


    that


    "Don''t y dumb. Put me down safely, not drop me!"


    Every interaction with Kieran left Freya brimming with disdain.


    Unmoved, Kieran coldly stated, "I''ll let you down once we''re downstairs. And for the record, you''re not light."


    "Did you just call me heavy?" Freya


    nearlyughed in disbelief at his audacity. Fine, let him be. It''s like being hoisted by a boar. There''s nothing a good shower can''t cleanse.''


    As Freya resigned herself to her fate, the doorbell rang.


    The maid scurried to answer, only to freeze upon opening the door. "Mrs. Sutton?"


    It was none other than Audrey.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing of Freya''s return, Audrey hurried over from her new h


    Freya down the stairs


    see her grandson ca


    only

 Chapter 244

    Audrey would have been keen to witness such a spectacle if it had been the old days.


    But then, Audrey''s expression turned icy as she said, "Nancy, what are you all doing? Help Ms. Dawson down right away!"


    The use of "Ms. Dawson" had already distanced Audrey and Freya. Previously, Audrey would affectionately call her Freya. Audrey seemed no longer inclined to show her warmth after the scandal. Nancy quickly stepped forward to offer Freya a helping hand.


    Eager to get off Kieran''sp, Freya cooperated more than willingly.


    Noticing this, Kieran cast a cold nce at Freya, standing on the ground.


    Seeing Freya dared not look at him, Kieran felt even more stifled. He thought, ''Seriously. Is she that unwilling to be held by me?''


    Standing aside, Freya said, "Audrey..."


    "I heard you were injured." Audrey looked Freya over from head to toe, noting not a single part of her was unscathed.


    Under normal circumstances, Audrey would have been overwhelmed with concern. But this time, Audrey asked, "How on earth did you end up in the police station?"


    Freya wasn''t surprised by Audrey''s focus.


    After all, as the Sutton family''s eldest member, Audrey cared about what kind of trouble her would-be granddaughter-inw had gotten into.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Being involved with the police was like being cklisted in their social circles. Even if people were willing to maintain a facade of cordiality, they would never get too close.


    Just as Freya was about to open her mouth, Kieran jumped in, "I got Reya all wrong. We had a little tiff. That''s all there is to it."


    "A spat thatnded you in the police station!" Audrey''s face darkened as she looked at Kieran and said, "The Harwood family got vandalized, but it doesn''t involve Ms. Dawson, does it?" "Grandma, you''re right. I realize my mistake. That''s why I picked up Reya from the hospital and arranged for someone to look after her."


    Seeing Kieran''s sincere attitude


    softened Audrey''s expression slightly. She said coldly, "Since you two have called off the engagement, it''s inappropriate for Ms. Dawson to stay here. She shoulde to live with me. I''ll ensure she''s well taken care of."


    Audrey''s repeated reference to "Ms. Dawson" indicated she no longer considered her to be Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, which secretly pleased Freya. However, she wasn''t naive. With the Sutton family''s reputation tarnished due to her, who knew how Audrey might seek to ''educate'' her?


    Rather than moving in with Audrey, Freya preferred to be by herself.


    "Grandma, actually..."


    "Audrey''s right also think that since Mr. Sutton and I have broken off our engagement, it''s best to avoid any impropriety. Otherwise, people will talk, potentially harming Mr. Sutton and the Sutton family''s reputation."


    swnov


    Freya didn''t let Kieran speak, continuing, "Given the significant impact of our broken engagement, I''ve caused enough trouble for M Sutton and the Sutton family. couldn''t trouble you further, Audrey. It''s no trouble for me to recover at the Dawson family."


    "You wish," Audrey retorted.

 Chapter 245

    Kieran shot Freya a frosty nce. He did know the gears turning in Freya''s mind- she was looking for an excuse to distance herself from him! Well, he wasn''t about to make things easy for her.


    "Kieran, Ms. Dawson has made herself clear. Let''s not push her further," Audrey stated coldly, seizing the moment to sever ties between Freya and Kieran. "Ms. Dawson is focused on her studies, right? Let''s rent her an apartment near Summit University so she can recuperate close to campus."


    "Grandma, she..."


    "Enough! We''ll handle it this way."


    As the matriarch of the Sutton family, Audrey had the final say. She quickly turned to Nancy. "Nancy, pack up what Ms. Dawson needs."


    "Yes, ma''am..." Nancy nced at Kieran, troubled.


    "Grandma, it''ste, and Ms. Dawson is injured. It''s not wise for her to move now. I''ll have Jarrett find a ce first thing tomorrow, and then we can help Ms. Dawson move," Kieran interjected, his voice cold.


    Audrey had initially wanted to boot Freya out ASAP, but given her injuries, it''d look bad to make her leave. So she grudgingly gave in.


    "Ms. Dawson,e here. I need to speak with you." Audrey said it and walked to a sofa on the far side of the room.


    Struggling without her crutches, Freya found it hard to move.


    But Audrey had deliberately chosen the farthest sofa.


    Nancy was packing, and Freya couldn''t seek Kieran''s help, so Freya had no choice but to limp toward Audrey, enduring the pain with every step.


    Noticing her struggle, Kieran quickly stepped forward to support her.


    Freya frowned instinctively, wanting to shrug off Kieran''s hand, but he didn''t give her the chance.


    Audrey watched this unfold, biting back her displeasure for the moment.


    When Freya reached Audrey, Kieran pushed a chair toward her, saying, "Sit."


    Freya wanted to sit but hesitated after seeing Audrey''s expression asAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    she sipped her coffee. Offending


    Audrey seemed far worse than offending Kieran.


    Seeing Freya''s hesitation, Kieran pressed her down into the chair a bit roughly, causing Freya to wince in pain.


    Audrey frowned, setting down her


    coffee cup, "Ms. Dawson, I''ve found


    a suitable fianc¨¦e for Kieran. It''s


    inconvenient for you to remain here, so hope you understand.


    Hearing Audrey talk about selecting a fianc¨¦e, Kieran''s expression darkened. "Grandma, I have no ns of getting married yet."


    "That''s not for you to decide."


    Audrey''s response was indifferent. "I''ve spoken with Ms. Miller. The Miller family might not be noble, they are respectable. Ms. Miller is dignified and gentle. Most importantly, she has a good


    a good vetnext


    temperament. I''ll arrange for you to meet her tomorrow. Be prepared."


    Freya wasn''t surprised to hear that. Everyone knew Ms. Miller of the Miller family was raised as the epitome of ady.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 246

    Audrey''s vision of an idealdy was straight out of a ssic Hollywood film, and in her eyes, Ms. Miller fit the bill perfectly.


    That certainly would make things easier. At least it would keep Kieran from ogling Freya all day long.


    But Kieran didn''t miss the gleam of mischief in Freya''s eyes. Seeing that just stoked a fire of fury within him. Was she that eager for him to look elsewhere?


    "I had high hopes for you two. I did. But after a few months, it turns out that you''re not a good match. Kieran needs a wife who can manage the household," Audrey said, her wordsced with disappointment. "But if Ms. Dawson has her path to follow, who am I to force this union?"


    Her words were a thinly veiled critique of Freya''s role as a fianc¨¦e.


    Freya just nodded in agreement.


    Audrey wanted a trophy wife, someone beautiful to show off in public yet practical at home.


    Recalling her attempts to please Audrey and Kieran by cooking and cleaning, prioritizing Kieran above all else, made Freya want to p herself. She sneered inwardly, ''Was I that desperate for approval? I''ve neglected my ambitions for a man.''


    It was as if all her education had gone to waste.


    Freya was determined not to y the dutiful fianc¨¦e in her second chance at life.


    Mistaking Freya''spliance for subservience, Audrey looked down on her even more. She couldn''t fathom Freya''s inner feelings, assuming she regretted losing Kieran, like missing out on a fortune.


    But to Freya, she would go for the fortune without hesitation if Kieran and a fortune were before her. Kieran was a prized possession to Audrey but was nothing special to Freya.


    "I''ve said my piece, Ms. Dawson.


    Don''t take it to heart. After all, Echo City is full of eligible bachelors. With your father gone, I''ll ensure you''re well looked after and find a suitable match."


    en


    Freya rejected, "There''s no need, Mrs. Sutton. I''m not considering marriage at the moment."


    And even if she were, Audrey''s help would be thest thing she''d seek.


    Audrey


    bet


    leely nodded, which was


    courtesy, before rising leave The maids promptly escorted her out.


    Finally, Freya could rx. Audrey had left.


    SWOPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "You''re eager to break off our engagement, huh?" Kieran''s dark and ominous voice came from behind her.


    As she turned, Freya locked onto his stare, as deadly as if he was about to off someone.


    "Mr. Sutton, you already know my stance on our engagement. Is there any point in asking?"


    She had made her intentions clear more than once. But Kieran always seemed to think she was joking.


    His expression darkened further as he coldly asked, "Is it Ronan or Preston?" Confused, Freya asked, "What?"


    Kieran moved closer, his eyes getting frostier with each step. He grabbed her arm, his voice as cold as ice, "You cozying up to Ronan or Preston? Or you got them both


    wrapped around your finger


    swnov

 Chapter 247

    Kieran''s grip on her arm suddenly tightened.


    Freya winced, a sharp intake of breath as a sheen of cold sweat broke out on her forehead. "Kieran, you''re hurting me!"


    Then, Kieran realized hispse, noticing the wound on Freya''s arm that he was inadvertently squeezing, and he quickly let go.


    Seeing it, Freya immediately put some distance between them.


    "It doesn''t matter whether it''s Ronan or Preston. It has nothing to do with you, Mr. Sutton. We''re no longer engaged, so you have no right to meddle in my affairs, as we''ve agreed."


    Kieran scoffed coldly at her insistence on severing their connection. "It looks like you''ve cozied up to those two."


    "Think whatever you want, Mr. Sutton." Freya didn''t want a further conversation with Kieran.


    "Freya, those guys are way out of your league. I''ll be here waiting for the day youe crawling back to me."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Sutton. That day will nevere."


    With that, Freya picked up her cane from the ground and started limping toward the stairs, a struggle evident in each step.


    The maid nearby, who wanted to offer her support, was stopped by a sharp look from Kieran.


    Wanting to distance herself from him? He was not about to let her get her way.


    Freya got up early the following morning, intending to move out of the Sutton Mansion as soon as possible.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    However, she found Nancy unpacking her suitcase,ying out everything she had packed the night before. "Nancy, what''s going on?"


    Upon hearing Freya, Nancy stood up and exined, "Mr. Sutton said it''s difficult to find a ce near Summit University now. We need more time to arrange your amodation, so he''s asked you to stay here until we find you somewhere else."


    Freya frowned and pondered, ''Hard to find a ce? What a joke! With Kieran''s business clout in Echo City, if he wanted to buy a property, did he need to search for one? Reat estate agents would be lining up to offer him the best properties. What is Kieran up to?''


    "Where''s Mr. Sutton? I need to see him."


    "Mr. Sutton went to the office today. He won''t be back until this evening."


    As Nancy continued unpacking Freya''s things, Freya couldn''t help but remark, "Audrey wanted me out as soon as possible. Isn''t he afraid of upsetting her by not listening?"


    "Ms. Dawson, don''t worry. Mr. Sutton informed me and Mrs. Sutton first thing this morning. She was quite understanding and agreed immediately!"


    "Agreed?" Freya was stunned.


    ''How was that possible? Audrey was


    eager for me to move out. How could she agree so easily? Could she not see that Kieran was using the excuse of not finding a ce to keep me here? No, something else must be going on.''


    Freya asked, "Nancy, how did Mr. Sutton ask you to inform Mrs. Sutton this morning?"


    "It wasn''t much, just something ''bout it''s tough to find a spot right now. Mr. Sutton suggested you bunk here till you bounce back. Oh, and something about going on dates."


    Nancy hesitated when she mentioned the dates. After all, Freya had been Kieran''s fianc¨¦e until just recently. That Mr. Sutton was already seeing other women seemed indelicate. Unexpectedly, hearing about Kieran''s dating life almost made Freyaugh out loud.


    Dating, huh? So that''s how it was.


    "Ms. Dawson?"

 Chapter 248

    Nancy couldn''t help but stare at Freya, surprised by her reaction. Why would anyone be happy about their ex-fianc¨¦ going on dates?


    "It''s all good, Nancy. Thanks," Freya said, feeling relief wash over her.


    It looked like her stay at the Sutton Mansion would end sooner rather thanter. It was time to dust off and move on!


    Just then, Freya''s phone buzzed with a new message.


    It was from Ronan. She quickly opened the chat.


    It said: [I''ll send a car for you at noon.]


    That lifted Freya''s spirits. It must have been about the Southern Suburbs project. Discussing the project at the Dawson''s or Kieran''s wasplicated. Ronan''s timing couldn''t have been better. Freya promptly sent Ronan a ''thumbs up'' emoji in response.


    As noon approached, Kieran leaned back in his chair in the Sutton Group''s office, exhausted.


    Before he could even take a moment to rest, Jarrett came in. "Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Sutton has sent a reminder. Ms. Miller has left. It would be rude to keep her waiting."


    "Understood." Kieran''s face remained expressionless.


    He checked his phone for any messages, hoping for something personal amid the work-rted notifications. Finding none, he frowned and asked, "What''s Freya up to today?"


    "Ms. Dawson? She''s probably not going anywhere, just resting at home with her condition."


    "Right."


    "Have you found that international medical team for her yet?" Kieran asked, his voice t.


    "No news from the hospital director yet, but I''ll follow up."


    "Do that quickly."


    "Yes, sir." Seeing Kieran''s concern for Freya, Jarrett couldn''t help butment, "Mr. Sutton, it''s rare to see you this concerned about someone other than Ms. Harwood. Do you have feelings for Ms Dawson?"


    Before Jarrett could finish, KieranN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    red at him coldly, e


    medical care for her aspensation for a


    misunderstanding."


    "Of course, Mr. Sutton," Jarrett quickly averted his gaze.


    "And who would fall for someone like Freya? Juggling two men, a liar, vain, ungrateful?"


    Jarrett got the usations except for the ungrateful bit. What kind of debt did Mr. Sutton think he owed Ms. Dawson?


    Meanwhile, via Miller nced at her watch at Taste Terrace, annoyed. "Mr. Sutton hasn''t arrived yet?"


    "Ms. Miller, Mr. Sutton is busy. He should be here shortly."


    via tried to suppress her irritation.


    After all, Kieran was a catch, and every girl in Echo City dreamed of marrying into the Sutton family¡ªa privilege bestowed upon her family.


    "Mr. Sutton is here!"


    Alerted by her bodyguard, via quickly straightened up, ready to present her best self to Kieran.

 Chapter 249

    Kieran stepped into Taste Terrace''s grand entrance, its manager eagerly moving forward to greet him, only to be intercepted by Jarrett.


    It was also via''s first encounter with Kieran in person. Given the Miller family''s standing in Echo City, crossing paths with someone of Kieran''s stature was a rare urrence for her. Realizing Kieran was more striking in person than in his photographs made via''s cheeks flush.


    To say Kieran was handsome would be an understatement. He had the looks that could give any A-list celebrity a run for their money.


    "Mr. Sutton..." via stood up, ready to introduce herself to Kieran, but he just sat opposite her without a word.


    Seeing Kieran was not in a good mood, via sat back down, somewhat disheartened.


    "My time is precious. Let''s get on with it," Kieran stated inly.


    Jarrett brought over a cup of coffee, which Kieran took a light sip of before waving the waiter over to bring out the food.


    Noticing Kieran''sck of interest in her, via mustered her patience and said, "Mr. Sutton, your grandmother arranged this meeting. I... I don''t know anything about you."


    "I''m not one for many likes, but I do have a lot of dislikes," Kieran replied, his tone neutral. "Ms. Miller, if you''re okay with this being a business arrangement, we can proceed to the next point." via was stunned. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Sutton?"


    "First, I''m not going to fall for you."


    "Second, there''s someone else I''m interested in."


    "Third, I hope you, Ms. Miller, are prepared to be nothing more than a trophy wife."


    Kieran''s blunt words hit via hard. Her face turned a deeper shade of red, a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. "You have someone else? Then why are you even meeting me?" "Business marriages are just that," Kieran exined. "Given the rumors about me in Echo City, Ms. Miller, you should have known better than to think you could be the one."


    via bit her lip, well aware of the gossip linking Kieran to a woman named Eloise. But she hadn''t taken it seriously.


    After all, in her eyes, no woman couldpare to her beauty, and any man would tire of the same person after so many years.


    She thought men were all driven by


    their desires, and via was


    velets


    confident she could win Kieran over. However, hearing Kierany


    everything out bluntly was a heavy


    blow to her ego.


    en


    Kieran continued, "You can''t have your cake and eat it too. Wanting status and love in this world? Ms. Miller, you should reconsider it before discussing further with me." With that, Kieran stood up to leave.


    via quickly stood up and dered, "No need for more talk, Mr. Sutton. I''ve made my choice. Even if it''s just a marriage of convenience, I''m on board."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    But she missed the fleeting look of scorn in Kieran''s eyes. Echo City was full of women who desired the title of Mrs. Sutton, even if it meant having a loveless marriage. How ironic.


    "Plenty in Echo City wish to be with me. What makes you think you can do better than them?" Kieran questioned.


    via frowned, confused. "What are you saying? Didn''t Mrs. Sutton arrange this meeting because..."


    Kieran cut her off, "You''re just an


    option. Haven''t you heard how Freya ended up after being cast aside by me? You get dumped even more ruthlessly if you don''t measure up. After that, no one in Echo City would dare marry a woman I''ve rejected."


    via, of course, knew about Freya.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 250

    In the city''s social whirl, who wasn''t aware of how Freya once bent over backward to please Kieran?


    Back in the day, when via heard about Freya''s attempts to curry favor with Kieran, she was full of disdain. But then, when it was her turn, via couldn''t find it in herself tough.


    If someone as adept at ying the game as Freya could get dumped by Kieran, what about her?


    "If you can''t do it, you might as well head home, grab a hot cocoa, and hit the sack."


    Kieran didn''t have time for via''s fake chatter. Just as he was about to ditch, a familiar face caught his eye.


    "Ms. Dawson, this way, please." A waiter promptly assisted Freya toward the private dining room.


    Nursing a bad leg, Freya could only rely on the waiter''s support to walk to Ronan''s reserved room.


    As the door to the room swung open, Freya saw Ronan wiping the corner of his mouth as if he had just finished a hearty meal. "You''rete."


    Ronan frowned when he looked up and saw Freya limping and covered in bruises.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    After a moment, Ronan finally asked, "Car ident?"


    Freya smiled wryly and said, "Spent a night in the mmer and got roughed up. Do you believe it?"


    "I do." Ronan replied nonchntly, "After all, to get out of your engagement with Kieran, I wouldn''t put anything past you."


    Ronan had seen Freya''s tactics firsthand, especially after the discovery of the spring on the Southern Suburbnd. He was even more convinced of Freya''s cunning. "Thanks for thepliment." Struggling, Freya sat opposite Ronan.


    Ronan examined Freya''s injuries and mentioned, "Eloise''s sidekick Mae got expelled."


    "Is that so? That was quick. Thanks!"


    "It wasn''t for you. It was for the sake of order at the school."


    "Then, thanks to Mr. Beckett''s strict discipline."


    "Don''t mention it." Ronan ced a stamped document before Freya saying. This contains all the


    contracts for the Southern Suburb and the new identity you requested."


    en


    Freya took the documents, noticing the ID bore her photo, albeit retouched and made-up, making her appear even more stunning than in reality.


    "Susan?" Freya''s brow furrowed. "Could this name be any more old-fashioned?"


    fet


    "It was off the cuff. I think it''s fine." Ronan stated, "If you don''t want Kieran to find out you''re the owner of the Southern Suburb, I suggest you make good use of this identity and not get caught. Otherwise, Kieran, that vampire, will bleed the Southern Suburb dry in no time."


    "I''m not that na?ve. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have thought to put the Southern Suburb in your name early on."


    As Freya flipped through her new


    personal files, shemented, "A financial PhD, returning from abroad, fluent in eightnguages, with extensive experience in managingpanies, and now appointed as the CEO of the W Group subsidiary of the Beckett Group?"


    After reading this, Freya looked at Ronan and asked, "Did you even consider how I''d feel when you were making all this up?"

 Chapter 251

    Hearing Freya''s words, Ronan furrowed his brows and asked, "What? You can''t handle these tasks?"


    Silence. The old Freya would have balked at the challenge. But who would have thought she''d get a three-year head start in herst life?


    Back then, she had immersed herself in finance to sharemon ground with Kieran and even picked up a few foreignnguages to stand by his side as his equal. She wasn''t fluent but could hold her own in conversations with internationals. "Let''s just wing it for now. Thanks for the help, Mr. Beckett."


    "Don''t mention it. After all, you did hand me a five percent share of the pie. We''re just scratching each other''s backs here." Ronan always knew where he stood.


    Freya added, "I''ll rest easier once I have it. I sneaked out, and Kieran had no clue. I need to head back before Nancy catches wind of this. She''ll spill the beans to Kieran if she notices I''m gone before two."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Aren''t you two done? Why''s he still on your case?"


    "Who knows what''s going through his mind? He keeps saying to take responsibility for me." Freya mused over how. All she did was for Kieran in her past life, but that didn''t end well.


    As Freya was about to turn and leave, the voice of a server pierced the air, "Sir, this is a private dining room. You can''t just barge in."


    "I''m looking for someone. Move." Kieran''s voice was unmistakable.


    Seeing Kieran there made Freya''s face turn sour.


    How did he find this ce?


    "Sir! Please, you can''t go in! Sir!" The server tried to stop Kieran, but he was quick on his feet.


    Soon after, Kieran pushed open the dining area''s door, only to find Ronan sitting there, calm and collected.


    "Mr. Sutton, don''t you think you''re being impolite?" Ronan chided.


    "Where''s Freya?" Kieran was sure he''d seen someone resembling Freya heading this way.


    Ronan''s brows knitted slightly. "Ms. Dawson


    I thought you two were et


    over Mr. Sutton, you seem


    concerned for her." Co


    "Mr. Sutton!" Not far off, via also rushed over.


    Belongs


    Upon spotting Ronan in the dining area, via greeted him, "Oh, Mr. Beckett is here too."


    Ronan raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"


    Kieran had no interest in introducing irrelevant parties, but viatched onto his arm, saying, "Mrs. Sutton sent me to meet Kieran for a blind date. Hollowed him here, thinking something had happened. Turns out, it was just a meeting with Mr. Beckett."


    via''s casual use of "Kieran" brought a secret smile to Freya, hiding under the table.


    It seemed their blind date went well. Yes! This time, she wouldn''t be a pawn in Kieran and Eloise''s game.


    "Kieran, we haven''t wrapped up our


    chat. How ''bout we head back and carry on?" via knew just what to say and when to say it. But Kieran wasn''t buying it. He asked coldly, "For thest time, where''s Freya?"


    Hearing Kieran asking about Freya made via wonder.


    Freya? Wasn''t Eloise supposed to be Kieran''s favorite?

 Chapter 252

    "Where is Ms. Dawson? How would I know?" Ronan yed the innocent card wlessly.


    "You don''t know? Then I''ll have to send someone to search the ce myself," Kieran said, his lips curling with a frosty smirk.


    He had seen a woman who bore a striking resemnce to Freya. He refused to believe Freya had suddenly sprouted wings and flown away.


    As Kieran approached the dining table, Jarrett rushed over, looking anxious, "Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Sutton is here!"


    Hearing that, Kieran paused mid-step.


    Unfazed, Ronan retorted, "Mr. Sutton, we''re both prominent figures in Echo City despite the rumors of our discord. If you''re seeking to embarrass me, this excuse seems far-fetched. After all, sneaking around with Mr. Sutton''s ex-fianc¨¦e for a scandalous headline sounds a bit clich¨¦, doesn''t it?"


    Kieran''s brows knitted deeper, and Jarrett jumped in, "Mr. Sutton, Mrs. Sutton''s pressing you to join her. And getting into it with Mr. Beckett here at Taste Terrace ain''t smart. Maybe..."


    After a tense stare-down with Ronan and spotting the smug look in his eyes, Kieran''s demeanor turned even colder as he decisively said, "Let''s go."


    "Okay." via, who had intended to bid Ronan farewell, could only hurry after Kieran as he strode away. Her high heels made it difficult to keep pace. Showing no intention of waiting, Kieran quickened his steps, leaving via trailing him, her frustration evident.


    Once they were gone, Ronan tapped on the table, signaling, "They''re gone. Come on out."


    Freya emerged from her hiding spot beneath the table, her legs covered in bruises, exacerbated by the cramped space.


    Seeing Freya, usually so shrewd, caught in such aical situation, Ronan said, "I''ll have someone escort you out the back door unnoticed." Through gritted teeth, Freya replied, "Well, thanks for that."


    Ronan had had the opportunity toContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    dismiss Kieran earlier but


    instead to provoke him with his lengthy speech, evidently enjoying the drama.


    At that moment, a waiter approached Freya. "Ms. Dawson, please follow me out before that gentleman returns."


    Indeed. Who knew when Kieran might take an unpredictable turn?


    Freya nodded. "Thank you."


    "You''re wee." The waiter swiftly


    guided Freya through a discreet passagewaymon in high-end


    establishments like the Four Seasons, designed for guests


    requiring privacy.


    en


    Outside, Ronan''s car took her to the front of the hotel, where Freya saw Audrey warmly engaging with via in the lobby.


    It seemed Audrey was quite pleased with via as her granddaughter-inw. That gave Freya some peace of mind.


    In the meantime, Kieran was


    obviously not all there at Taste


    Terrace. The image of the figure he''d


    seen in the hotel lingered in his mind. It must be Freya!


    "Grandma, I need to use the restroom," he excused himself, though Audrey and via were deep in conversation.


    Audrey''s smile faded slightly upon hearing Kieran''s excuse. "I heard from Alex you went to Ronan''s suite looking for Freya. Is that true?"

 Chapter 253

    "I must have been mistaken."


    "Now that the engagement''s off, whatever she does is none of your business. Do I need to spell that out for you?"


    "Got it," Kieran mumbled but wasn''t listening. He quickly made up an excuse and left the grand living room. Jarrett hurried after Kieran.


    With a grim expression, Kieran said, "Call home. Have Nancy check if Freya is there."


    "Mr. Sutton, Freya wouldn''t just be out and about after the ident. Perhaps you were mistaken?"


    "Just call! I need to know where she is."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton. Jarrett promptly dialed Nancy''s number.


    After a moment, Nancy answered, "Secretary Jarrett, what''s the matter?"


    "Is Ms. Dawson at home right now?"


    "Of course, she''s here. Ms. Dawson said she felt unwell after lunch and went to lie down."


    Hearing this over the phone, Kieran snatched the phone and asked, "What time did she go to sleep?"


    "Um... around noon. Ms. Dawson also mentioned not wanting to be disturbed."


    "Go check on her now to see if she''s in her room."


    "O-Okay." Nancy hesitated but ascended the stairs, cautiously pushing open the bedroom door on the second floor.


    The curtains were drawn, darkening


    the room a bit. There were faint movements on the bed, and Nancy quietly closed the door, whispering into the phone, "Mr. Sutton, I


    checked, and Ms. Dawson is asleep in her bed."


    At that, Kieran frowned. A shadow of doubt crossed his mind. Could he have been mistaken?


    Twenty minutester, outside the Sutton Mansion, Freya nced


    toward the Sutton home, sneaking in while Nancy was busy in the kitchenN?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    and unaware of her presence.


    en


    Freya had arranged pillows and a mechanized doll under the covers in the second-floor bedroom.


    Knowing Nancy had presbyopia and couldn''t see in dim light, Freya hoped her deception wouldn''t be discovered.


    Before Freya could breathe a sigh of relief, Nancy''s puzzled voice came from downstairs, "Mr. Sutton? What brings you back so early?" When hearing that, Freya''s face paled. She quickly stripped off her clothes and dived under the covers, turning off the mechanized doll.


    In no time, Kieran had opened her bedroom door. Click. Kieran turned on the room''s light.


    Blinded by the sudden light, Freya


    rubbed her eyes, shielding them


    from the brightness, and grumbled,


    "Who is it? Didn''t I say not to disturb me while I''m sleeping?"


    Spotting Kieran at the door, Freya stopped in her tracks, asking in a puzzled tone, "Kieran? You''re back already?" Kieran''s gaze was icy as he approached the bed without a word. Before Freya could react, Kieran flung back her covers.


    In the next second, an awkward situation unfolded before his eyes.


    Upon seeing that, Kieran''s dark expression vanished, reced by a flush of embarrassment.

 Chapter 254

    Crack! The sound of a sharp p left one side of Kieran''s face noticeably reddened.


    Freya immediately pulled the nket over herself, eximing, "Kieran! What are you doing, you creep?"


    Jarrett heard themotion and rushed in. "Mr. Sutton!"


    "Get out!"


    Jarrett hastily exited with a single sentence from Kieran, closing the door behind him.


    "Why on earth are you sleeping naked in the middle of the day?"


    "Give me a break! I like sleeping in the buff!"


    "You..."


    Knowing he was in the wrong, Kieran''s face turned even darker.


    Pretending to understand, Freya said, "Oh, I get it now. No wonder you''ve been making excuses for me not to move out. You were nning to make a move on me!"


    "Me, make a move on you?" Kieranughed as if he had heard the funniest joke. "What on earth do you have that I could want to make a move on?"


    As soon as he said it, even Kieran doubted his words. Indeed, Freya''s figure was better than many women out there. She was also pretty attractive.


    It was just that Freya didn''t like wearing makeup. If she did doll up, she would be one of the rare beauties in Echo City.


    "Anyway, Kieran, you''ve really crossed the line! You owe me a decent exnation, or I''m ringing the cops for harassment!" "Harassment?" Kieran couldn''t help butugh at Freya''s indignation.


    Was she bringing up charges from decades ago against him?


    Cutting to the chase, Kieran asked, "Did you go to meet Ronan at Taste Terrace?"


    "Taste Terrace? Never heard of it!" Freya frowned, retorting, "Mr. Sutton, if you''re trying to pin something on me, at leaste up with a believable story. My leg is in this condition, and I can''t even move my hand. Where do I get the time to go to Taste Terrace?"


    Hearing this, Kieran instinctively wanted to check Freya''s leg and hand.


    But by then, Freya had curled under theforter, and Kieran''s gaze offended her again.


    Freya shot back a re. "What are you looking at? Get out!"


    Kieran said coldly, "If I find out you went out with Ronan..."


    "Then what?"


    "I''ll break your leg."All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Upon hearing this, Freya couldn''t help butugh, "Kieran, what are you to me? Even Audrey can''t control me, so what makes you think you can? We''re no longer engaged. Recognize your ce!"


    "So, you love bringing up our annulment of engagement?" Kieran''s brows furrowed.


    Ever since their annulment, he could tell Freya was overly joyous. That expression didn''t seem fake at all. She was genuinely happy.


    "Yes. I''ve been looking forward to our annulment, Mr. Sutton. Didn''t you know that?"


    "But before..." Kieran wanted to bring up how Freya used to chase after him.


    But the words died on his lips.


    Bringing up the past, Freya said without changing her expression, "The past is.the past, and now is different I''ve said it. I used to like you, but I''m turning over a new deaf and will not chase after you anymore. It''s as simple as that."


    ¦«¦¯


    Listening to Freya''s heartless words, Kieran suddenly felt an urge to strangle her.

 Chapter 255

    "Fine! You said it, not me. Who the heck needs your affection anyway?"


    Kieran turned to leave, but a wave of irritation washed over him. Turning back to Freya, he snapped, "In Echo City, all I need to do is lift a finger, and a line of women will be waiting to marry me. I don''t need you, Freya. There will be others. You''re not irreceable." "I figured that out long ago, Mr. Sutton. You don''t need to remind me every single time, right?" Freya rolled her eyes, thinking Kieran was too full of himself.


    Seeing Freya''s indifferent attitude added to Kieran''s frustration, leaving him storm out.


    Outside, fearing a confrontation, Jarrett had waited anxiously by the door.


    "Mr. Sutton, about Ms. Miller..."Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Grandma seemed to like via, right? Let''s go with her then." Kieran''s tone was icy. Jarrett looked up in disbelief. "Choose Ms. Miller? But what about Ms. Harwood..."


    Ms. Harwood would be devastated if she discovered Kieran had moved on so quickly. "Enough. Just do as I say." Kieran was running out of patience.


    Why did he always end up so agitated after seeing Freya? Was she his jinx?


    Inside, Freya let out a sigh of relief once Kieran had left.


    Thankfully, she had quickly hidden the documents Ronan had given her. She''d be doomed if Kieran, the paranoid skeptic, had seen them. From the outside, Nancy knocked, "Ms. Dawson, it''s me."


    "Come in." Freya casually threw on a robe.


    Nancy entered with a jar of ointment. "Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton ordered this ointment for your use."


    "For me?"


    Was there something wrong with it? Freya opened the jar to find a white concoction without an officialbel.


    "Unbranded product?" Freya blurted out.


    Nancy said, "Mr. Sutton got this from abroad through a contact, specifically formted for your wounds, with many precious ingredients." Hearing this, Freya muttered, "It must be nice to be rich..."


    Only someone as wealthy as Kieran would have personalized medicine developed just for them. That was why every heiress in Echo City wanted to be Kieran''s fianc¨¦e.


    en


    Meanwhile, in his study, Kieran was going through thetest reports.


    Jarrettid out the information. "Mr. Sutton, we''ve finished digging into the Southern Suburb. It''s definitely a fresh offshoot under Ronan''s wing."


    "New?"


    "Yes, the Beckett Group''s subsidiary, W Group, has made quite the entrance with thend in Southern Suburb, showing strong momentum." Holding the report, Kieran frowned when he saw the CEO''s name, Susan. "Susan... I''ve never heard of such a person in the Beckett Group."


    "She''s a returning schr with a Ph.D. in finance and a mysterious background. She keeps a low profile and was recently recruited by Ronan with a hefty sum. She''s considered a strong asset."


    At this, Kieran scoffed.


    A strong asset? This year seemed to be unusually ducky for Ronan. First, dodging a bullet at the auction, causing Kieran to fall into his trap acquiring the Southern Suburb Jand, which turned from a loss to jackpot overnight, and adding a


    so-called strong asset to his team.


    "Dig up everything on Susan. Money talks, and I refuse to believe there''s anyone the Sutton Group can''t outbid."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 256

    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." As Jarrett was about to leave, he added, "Mr. Sutton, I''ve found a ce near Summit University. Regarding Ms. Dawson..."


    Images of the words Freya had said to Kieran earlier shed through his mind.


    "She kept saying we were over and that she had nothing to do with me anymore, right? Then let her go."


    "Let her go? But, Mr. Sutton, you..."


    This morning''s conversation was entirely different. To keep Freya around, Kieran had evenpromised by agreeing to a blind date with the Miller family.


    Jarrett swallowed the rest of his sentence.


    Kieran''s moods had always been stable, but he''d be unpredictable since the fallout with Freya.


    "Send her away. Just seeing her annoys me."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett turned and left the study.


    Kieran leaned back in his chair, exhausted, feeling the pain on his left cheek. Images of Freya''s smooth skin and her blushing cheeks invaded his thoughts. He must be out of his mind to have been daydreaming about a woman like Freya. At dusk, Freya heard noises from downstairs, indicating someone was moving things.


    Shortly after, Nancy entered her room.


    Freya asked, "Nancy, what''s happening outside?"


    "It''s Mr. Sutton. He''s sent people to move your belongings, Ms. Dawson. He said the new house is ready, and it''s time to move you there."


    "That fast? I thought they couldn''t find a ce?"


    "Well... I''m not sure about that."


    "Alright then, I''ll pack up myself. No need to bother you." With that, Freya got out of bed.


    Nancy was startled and hastily said, "Ms. Dawson! You''re injured. How can you get out of bed? Let me..."


    "No, I''ve got this!"


    Nancy was momentarily stunned by Freya''s response.


    Previously, Freya had been attentive


    and careful around Kieran, cherishing every moment she could spend by his side. But then, she seemed indifferent, even eager to packup and leave at the news of moving out.


    Eventually, Nancy stood up and said, "Well... then I''ll leave it to you, Ms. Dawson."


    "Sure." Freya''s main concern was to


    hide the items Ronan had given hostThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    She couldn''t let anyone from the Sutton family find them. belongs to


    wontent


    Nancy left Freya''s room, sighed, and turned around to see Kieran.


    Nancy took a step back in surprise, "Mr. Sutton."


    "Weren''t you supposed to help Freya pack? Why are you out here?"


    "I... uh..." Nancy hesitated to exin.


    Kieran, however, scoffed, "She must be panicking since she knows she''s leaving the Sutton family, right? She doesn''t want to go, does she?


    BUMS


    He should have known Freya was always saying one thing and meaning another.


    Confronted with the reality of leaving, she must be desperate.


    "Not really." Nancy awkwardly replied, "Ms. Dawson seemed happy. She started packing her belongings herself."

 Chapter 257

    "She''s happy and started to pack her bags?" The question nearly had Kieran choke on his incredulity. Was this woman that eager to leave the Sutton Mansion?


    "Mr. Sutton... are you alright?" Observing Kieran''s expression, Nancy couldn''t help but feel a bit intimidated. Kieran had been riding a rollercoaster of emotions, swinging from joy to irritation without warning. "I''m fine!" Kieran''s response was icy. "If Freya loves packing, let her haul her bags downstairs! No need to lend her a hand anymore!"


    With that, Kieran stormed back to his room, leaving Nancy bewildered.


    Was Kieran mad at himself or at Ms. Dawson?


    In no time, Freya had stuffed the project contract into the deepest recesses of her suitcase. Standing it upright, she heard Nancy''s knock. "Ms. Dawson." "Come in." Freya had finished packing.


    Noticing Nancy''s hesitation at the door, Freya said, "My leg''s been giving me trouble. Could you help me take this suitcase downstairs?"


    "Um... Mr. Sutton ordered that you should carry your luggage downstairs. He insisted we not get involved."


    "What''s gotten into him?" Freya couldn''t help but blurt out.


    Kieran was the one wanting her gone, and refusing help due to her injury was also his doing.


    Was he trying to mess with her?


    At a loss for words, Nancy couldn''t even begin to guess what Kieran was thinking.


    Seeing her neatly packed suitcase, Freya dered, "It''s fine. I won''t him. I''ll handle it myself."


    swnovel


    Saying so, Freya was already on her phone, booking a moving service.


    The driver was stunned when the moving service van stopped at the Sutton Mansion.


    Such wealthy folks were using a moving service?


    Kieran


    the


    aving breakfast


    when Freya called out to The driver even


    helped her down the stairs


    Catching sight of this, Kieran could only scoff. Hiring a moving service for her luggage? She had her ways. Then, Kieran averted his gaze, pretending not to acknowledge Freya''s existence.


    belongs to en.kikit


    "Jarrett, give Ms. Dawson the address."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett walked over to Freya and handed the driver the address.


    Smiling politely, Freya said, "Thank


    ank~


    you, Mr. Sutton, for your hospitality these days. I wish you and Ms. Miller a joyous engagement. Goodbye."


    Every word from Freya was sincere, but it somehow sounded off to Kieran.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Wishing him a pleasant engagement? That didn''t seem like something Freya would say.


    When Kieran processed it, Freya was already leaving.

 Chapter 258

    Watching the closed door of the Sutton Mansion, Kieran abruptly set down his fork.


    Momentarily shocked, Nancy asked, "Mr. Sutton, aren''t you eating?"


    Kieran had barely touched his food. Rising from his seat, he said icily, "I''ve lost my appetite." With that, Kieran headed straight upstairs.


    Jarrett shook his head at Nancy. Kieran only ever lost his cool over matters concerning Freya.


    Kieran had chosen a quiet apartment around Summit University. The U-Haul driver helped Freya move her belongings up before leaving.


    It was a modest two-bedroom apartment, not even reaching a thousand square feet, but it was enough for her alone.


    However, Freya took in the apartment''syout and size and couldn''t help but remark. For a big-shot CEO like Kieran, he sure was tight-fisted.


    After getting everything sorted, Freya sprawled on the bed. Given her current condition, any movement risked worsening her injuries. Not only her arm but her leg had sustained damage to the muscles and bones, so the doctor''s advice was to lie in bed for a month without moving. After a month, she could start some rehabilitative training.


    But Freya nced at the calendar on her phone. In ten days, she had exams.


    In her previous life, she was excellent in high school, which allowed her to enter Summit University upon graduation. Later, she devoted all her attention to Kieran, neglecting her university courses. Although she learned a lot about management while working at the Sutton Group, that didn''t directly trante to managing apany in university exams.


    Freya was feeling a headacheing on. One only realized what he needed when it was time to use it.


    Even after being reborn and spending all her time in the library, she had forgotten much of her university knowledge. It seemed she needed to figure out how to pass her exams and get that diploma. Barely alive, Freya dragged herself to the school library the following day.


    Luna couldn''t help but click her


    tongue in surprise upon seeing how badly Freya had been beaten at the police station. "Reya, when did you be so passionate about studying? Even like this, you stille to the library!"


    "As you can see, I''ve started loving books now." Freya bent her head, flipping through the study materials that might appear in the exam.


    University knowledge was like a vast ocean. Aiming for a passing grade was a tall order for her.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Luna said, "Just do your best alone! Why drag me into this? Don''t be sopetitive."


    Luna was a cker, attending Summit University purely for a diploma.


    Freya knew she couldn''t rely on


    Luna for knowledge, so she rested her chin on her hands and said, ¡°I


    have no choice. I''ve fallen too famet


    behind in my courses. If I can''t


    graduate, these years will have been for nothing."


    "That''s true. You used to have Kieran''s connections. The dean would''ve just handed you a diploma. Now, without Kieran as your fianc¨¦, it''d be a miracle if the dean didn''t kick you out."  en


    Freya had taken a long hiatus from school following her father''s death.


    Back at school, Freya missed too much coursework and would have to repeat the year if she failed her exams.


    But at Summit University, there was no such luxury as repeating a year. One would be out if he failed, which ounted for their 100% graduation rate.


    At that moment, looking puzzled, Luna said to Freya, "Wait, what exams are you looking at?"


    "Huh?" Freya nced down and said, "Aren''t thesest year''s final exam papers?"


    "No." Luna pointed at a line on the paper, saying, "These are real questions from the finance postgraduate entrance exam. Howe you''ve written so much?"

 Chapter 259

    Freya found herself engrossed in the exam paper before her, all thanks to Luna''s remark.


    And how could she not be?


    The ring block letters on the page had somehow eluded her until then! It was even more astonishing that it was her seventh consecutive day tackling exam questions.


    "Ph.D. Qualifying exams... No wonder they felt so daunting."


    "Daunting? You haven''t even been to school this year! How on earth did you write so much? Freya, what''s your secret?"


    But Freya wasn''t bluffing her way through. Her edge came from her previous life when she had spent three years proactively managing affairs at the Sutton Group alongside Kieran.


    She had gotten to know the ins and outs of the financial world so intimately that tackling these questions felt like child''s y.


    A sly smile crept onto Freya''s lips as she nced at her nearlypleted answer sheet. She thought, "This is in the bag."


    Meanwhile, at the Sutton Group headquarters, via entered in a chic, ivory Chanel-inspired mini skirt that turned heads when she stepped into the building.


    "Is that Ms. Miller? I heard she''s Mr. Sutton''stest fianc¨¦e prospect."


    "She''s gorgeous, but I wonder what she''s like as a person."


    "She must be here to deliver lunch for Mr. Sutton, just like Ms. Dawson used to..."


    Colleagues whispered to each other at their desks.


    Back then, to curry favor with Kieran, Freya devised creative lunches to deliver to him every day. Yet Kieran hardly spared them a nce. t seemed unlikely that via''s efforts would fare any better.


    Oblivious to the office gossip, via went to the executive floor, where Jarrett emerged from a meeting room. Upon seeing via, he approached and said, "Ms. Miller, Mr. Sutton is in a meeting and cannot see you now. You can leave the lunch with me."


    "It''s fine. I''ll wait for Mr. Sutton to finish. We can have lunch together."


    via had always been a pampered heiress, rarely lifting a finger for anything menial.


    She wouldn''t have bothered preparing lunch anding over if her parents hadn''t insisted she win over Kieran to secure her ce as his fianc¨¦e.


    Realizing Kieran''sck of interest from the day before, via knew she had to seize every opportunity to make her presence felt.


    "You can wait over there," Jarrett pointed to a spot near the break room and added, "It''ll get busier here during lunchtime. I hope you won''t mind, Ms. Miller."


    "What do you mean? I''m supposed to be Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e, and you''re asking me to wait in the break room?"


    "When Ms Dawson used to bring


    lunch, Mr Sutton didn''t even offer her a spot to wait. You''re already getting better treatment." Although Jarrett spoke with a smile, his words left via feeling slighted.


    "What''s Freyapared to me? The Dawson family is almost bankrupt. How could you evenpare me to her? You better get me a private room, or I''ll have Audrey handle this." Jarrett''s expression remained unchanged by via''s threat.


    Freya would never resort to dropping Audrey''s name to get her way. It seemed via was taking herself a tad too seriously.


    "Please feel free to do as you wish, Ms. Miller. I have work to attend to." With that, Jarrett returned to his duties, leaving via in a huff.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 260

    via could feel her face turning red as the secretary dared disrespect her. She had always been favored and the belle of every ball, and never before had she faced such indignity. Without hesitation, via whipped out her smartphone and speed-dialed Audrey''s number.


    The housekeeper, who was manning thendline, picked up the phone. "Is Mrs. Sutton avable? I need to speak with her," via demanded, barely containing her frustration. Recognizing the urgency in via''s voice, the housekeeper didn''t dare dy, quickly rousing Audrey from her afternoon rest.


    "What''s the matter?" Audrey''s sounded with annoyance.


    "It''s Ms. Miller on the phone. It seems she''s quite upset," the housekeeper informed Audrey before passing the phone over.


    Mustering every ounce of patience, Audrey answered the call.


    On the other end, via was practically in tears, looking like the world had wronged her in the worst possible way. "Audrey! Does Mr. Sutton not fancy me? I might go home if he doesn''t!"


    "What happened? Calm down and tell me," Audrey sighed, her patience wearing thin with via''s sobbing.


    via quickly spilled her grievances. "I kindly brought some food for Mr. Sutton, but he ignored me! He didn''t even arrange a proper lounge for me, and his secretary, Jarrett, acted as if I didn''t exist. My family, the Millers, may not be high society, but we have our dignity. His treatment is utterly humiliating. Does he not care for me at all?"


    Back home, via was used to having her every whim catered to. A simple cry and her parents would rush to console her.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Hearing via''sints, Audrey couldn''t help but rub her temples in frustration. She was expecting a crisis, not a high-school drama.


    "Kieran''s busy with his work. You should be understanding. I''ll have a word with himter. Leave the food with Jarrett if you can''t wait. You'' have plenty of time to get alongter it''s not the end of the world."


    Hearing Audrey''sck of support, via was dumbfounded. ''Isn''t Audrey known for her protective streak over Freya? Why is she so dismissive now?''


    Before via could protest, Audrey


    had made up her mind. "If you feel aggrieved, I''ll talk to your parents. Perhaps it''s best if you and him call it quits. I''ll find you a more suitable matchter."


    "Audrey, that''s not what I meant..."


    "It''s settled then. I''ve got to go," Audrey interrupted, hanging up before via could say another word.


    Audrey had initially been impressed


    ??? 2A0


    by the Miller family''s modest but respectable background of a manageable small to medium enterprise. Little did she know that their daughter would be this senseless and ill-mannered over such trivial matters.


    As Audrey stood up, the housekeeper approached. "Mrs. Sutton, Mrs. Dawson is here to see you."


    "What does she want?" Audrey frowned, her disdain for Johanna not even slightly veiled. "Tell her I''m not avable. Ask her to leave."


    "But... she insists it''s urgent and won''t leave until she sees you," the housekeeper exined, having never encountered someone as persistent as Johanna.


    Johanna sold her daughter one day, and God knows what the next. Audrey found Johanna''s type particrly tiresome. Yet, Audrey reluctantly agreed to see her to avoid a scene in her house.

 Chapter 261

    Joanna was in a bind. She had taken out a loan of ny million, leaving her bank ount virtually empty. To make matters worse, Kieran had broken off his engagement with Freya at the worst time.


    Without Kieran''s connection, Joanna got increasingly ostracized within their social circle. Even the friends she used to y cards with started to ignore her calls after hearing about Kieran and Freya''s split. Desperate, Joanna had no choice but to turn to Audrey. At that moment, Audrey sat on the couch, deep in thought and visibly tired, when she said, "Mrs. Dawson, what brings you here?"


    There was a distance in Audrey''s tone.


    Joanna quickly replied, "Mrs. Sutton, I''m here concerning the things between Freya and Mr. Sutton." Her voice was pleading.


    But Audrey responded coldly, "It concerns the two young people. Since they''ve chosen to call off the engagement, Mrs. Dawson, you shouldn''t interfere."


    Freya had been nothing but a disappointment to Audrey. And Audrey had no interest in seeing Freya continue as part of the Sutton family.


    Joanna hurriedly said, "Mrs. Sutton, I know Freya has let you down, and that''s why I came - to solve this problem for you."


    "Oh? And how do you propose to do that?" Audrey asked, intrigued yet skeptical.


    "Mrs. Sutton, I know Freya has been disobedienttely, and you had your eye on Miss Miller from the Miller family."


    Throughout, Joanna carefully watched Audrey''s reaction. When seeing no change in Audrey''s expression, Joanna continued, "Miss Miller, who''s been spoiled her whole life, can''t handle the slightest difort. Now, my niece Kara, she''s a different story-friendly, obedient, capable, and from a modest background. Without Mr. Sutton''s help, Kara wouldn''t have been able to attend Summit University. I heard Mr. Sutton even came to Kara''s aid at the club recently. Kara has wanted to look after Mr. Sutton, even if it means being a humble maid by his side."


    Joanna''s insinuations were clear. But Audrey understood it well. Essentially, Joanna was trying to push Kara onto Kieran.


    Upon hearing this, Audrey couldn''t help butugh, "Mrs. Dawson, you do know how to y your cards."


    First, it was Freya, then Kara. Joanna''s greed knew no bounds.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Joanna could sense the mockery in Audrey''s words but didn''t care. After all, what mattered was securing a good position for Kara, her blood rtive, while Freya was only her stepdaughter.


    Joanna eagerly said, "Mrs. Sutton, you''ll like this sensible and well-behaved girl if you meet Kara! If Kara were to look after Mr. Sutton, you''d be at ease, wouldn''t you?"


    IMS


    "Since you''ve put it that way, bring her here for me to see. Perhaps our families can still be rtives if she''s as good as you say." Upon hearing Audrey''s response, Joanna was over the moon. "Great! I''ll have Karae over to meet you right away!"


    After Joanna left, Audrey scoffed, ''Such a greedy woman!''


    "Mrs. Sutton, are you seriously considering letting Mrs. Dawson''s niece look after Mr. Sutton? Doesn''t that seem inappropriate?" After all, via was the precious daughter of the Miller family. But who was this Kara that had suddenly appeared?


    "Why refuse a gift horse? As long as she''s obedient, easy to handle,


    doesn''t cost much, and looks


    decent. Besides, I''d take anyone as long as it''s not that Harwoodgirl."


    Audrey had initially favored Freya. Unfortunately, Freya was too headstrong. So, Audrey decided to find a morepliant girl to fill Freya''s shoes.

 Chapter 262

    Freya would surely rue the day she didn''t cling tighter to the Sutton family, the mighty oak tree of social stature and power.


    Meanwhile, in the bustling confines of Sutton Group, Kieran emerged from the conference room, his strides confident and purposeful, only to find via perched in his office. His brow furrowed in displeasure at the sight. "Who let you in?" he demanded in an icy tone.


    "No one was around, so I walked in," via replied, her voiceced with a carefree chuckle.


    Across the desk was an array of dishes via had prepared. It was a hearty lunchprising three dishes and a soup, all seeming quitevish for a midday meal.


    "I wasn''t sure what you liked, Mr. Sutton, so I prepared several. Hope it suits your taste," via said, approaching him.


    But Jarrett stepped in before she could get closer, effectively blocking her path. "Ms. Miller, Mr. Sutton is exhausted and needs to rest. Please leave now."


    "What do you mean? When I arrived, you told me to leave, and now, after waiting for half an hour, you''re asking me to leave again? Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?" via''s brows knitted together in visible annoyance. Kieran, however, walked over to his desk, dialed a number on the desk phone, and spoke in a detached tone, "Come up now." He hung up abruptly, not giving via a chance to argue.


    Seeing Kieran''s cold expression, via suddenly felt a rush of panic.


    "I dislike people entering my office without my knowledge, and even more so when they litter my desk with garbage," Kieran stated coldly.


    "What did you say?" via''s face flushed with humiliation. "I cooked for the first time for someone. Don''t you think you''re being a bit too harsh?" Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Kieran remained emotionless, signaling the security guards who had just arrived. "Escort her out," he ordered.


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton," they acknowledged, approaching via to lead her away.


    via''splexion turned ashen. "Kieran! What is the meaning of this? I am your fianc¨¦e. How can you treat me this way?"


    Her cries caught the attention of others in the office, quickly making her the subject of office gossip.


    "Thought Ms. Miller had Mr. Sutton all figured out, but it looks like she''s another joke."


    "She can''t handle this? She''s no match for Ms. Dawson, then."


    "Guess Ms. Miller is out of the picture now."


    Whispers filled the air as Kieran nced disdainfully at the desk


    instructed Jarrett, "Clean


    swnovel


    this up."


    "Right away, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett swept the dishes into the trash can with practiced ease, which the security promptly removed.

 Chapter 263

    Kieran slumped into his executive chair, a memory of Freya bringing him lunch shing through his mind.


    Back then, Freya barely dared to step into his office, always rushing off after leaving the food as if terrified of disturbing him.


    At first, Kieran threw all those meals away. But once Freya found out, she stopped bringing lunch, saying she didn''t want to cause him any trouble to deal with it. Thinking of Freya at the moment... Suddenly, Kieran turned to Jarrett and asked, "Was I too harsh on Freya?"


    "Well... maybe a bit," Jarrett hesitated to say. Kieran''s treatment of Freya was beyond harsh.


    Breaking his usual reserve, Kieran inquired, "What''s Freya up to now?"


    "Ms. Dawson... seems she went to school early today."


    "To school?" Kieran frowned, "She can barely walk. Who let her go to school?"


    "Um..." Jarrett was at a loss about what Freya was thinking. After all, if Freya mentioned it to Kieran, even without attending sses, Kieran would find a way to graduate her. Kieran instructed, "Call the principal and tell him to have Freya sent home to rest. She shouldn''t go to school until she''s fully healed."


    "But finals areing up. If Ms. Dawson can''t pass, she might get expelled."


    "What''s the use of cramming now? With her grades, she''d fail anyway."


    Kieran knew well about Freya''s capabilities. She was far behind since she had missed so many sses, and even ast-minute effort wouldn''t secure her graduation.


    "Right, I''ll speak to the principal then." Jarrett went to make the call.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    After getting through, the principal seemed confused. "Ms. Dawson? She took a medical leave this morning and went home."


    When hearing that, Jarrett paused. ''Went home?''


    After Jarrett hung up, Kieran''s face showed a rare hint of confusion. "She went home?"


    "Yes, the principal said she took a medical leave this morning and left." Jarrett was puzzled. ''Why did she go there for a medical leave when a phone call would suffice?''


    Kieran scoffed, "It seems I overestimated Freya."


    He had thought she was dedicated to her studies, but it turned out she went to take leave.


    "Mr. Sutton, the hospital called. The specialis team is ready. Do you


    want detailed updates on


    Dawson''s rehabilitation?"


    still


    belongs to en.ent


    "Do I look like I want to be bothered?" Kieran gave Jarrett a cold nce. "From now on, don''t trouble me with anything about her."


    swn y


    "Understood, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett couldn''t help but ask, "And what about Ms. Dawson''s graduation?"


    "She won''t graduate."

 Chapter 264

    After taking a break for several months, with her heart set on marrying into wealth, it was a long shot for Freya, the heiress with more dreams than sense, to pass the entrance exams for Summit University. "So, Mr. Sutton, won''t we give Ms. Dawson a hand?"


    "School is a ce for learning, not cutting corners," Kieran replied coldly. "She''s asking for it if she doesn''t have the chops and still insists on trying."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    "Let the school know they shouldn''t give Freya any special treatment just because of the Sutton family." "Yes."


    Meanwhile, inside Summit University, the ss was buzzing with gossip about Kieran and via''s fallout.


    "Have you guys heard? Mr. Sutton''stest fianc¨¦e is out of the picture!"


    "What? Already? I thought they hadn''t even made it official?"


    "Yeah, my mom works for thepany. She told me the Miss from the Miller family got the boot!"


    "So, you''re saying there''s a chance for us?"


    "Are you kidding? We''re talking about Mr. Sutton here. It wouldn''t be our turn even if he ran out of options in his usual circles!"


    ...


    Hearing about via''s dismissal,


    Kara couldn''t help feeling a bit of schadenfreude. In this ss, filled with kids from affluent families, they were still a step away from the elite circles. Yet, the parents of these students boasted annual sries in the millions.


    On the other hand, Kara was the only one who had entered Summit University through a rtive''s connections.


    "Kara, Mr. Sutton is your former brother-inw, right? Come on, spill the beans. Why did he call off the engagement with Freya?"


    "Yeah, was it because of the affair, like the rumors say?"


    "An affair? Please, Mr. Sutton was way out of Freya''s league. Everyone knows how hard Freya was chasing after Mr. Sutton. He never took her seriously."


    Since Kieran broke things off with


    Freya, Kara started feeling more isted in ss. Despite Freya being the one at fault, Kara was the one who got shunned. Feeling unjustly treated, Kara just bit her lip and stayed quiet.


    Someone in the ss couldn''t resist taunting her further. "Didn''t Kara try to get a word in with Mr. Sutton? Come on, Kara, tell us what happened between Mr. Sutton and Freya."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "How would she know? She''s a distant rtive of the Dawson family and got in here through connections. With her grades, she should''ve been content with a local college in some small town."


    The mocking was relentless. In their world, social hierarchy was an unspoken rule. Those with solid family backgrounds were at the top of the food chain. And those who didn''t fit the bill became the butt of their jokes.


    ustomed to a simpler life in the


    countryside, Kara found the city overwhelming. She''d avoid high-end salons and fancy spas and even felt out of ce in upscale stores, fearing she might soil the expensive clothes just by trying them on.


    These habits soon made her the subject of ridicule among the female students, who could afford anything in the mall without a second thought.


    Even though they were initially friendly toward Kara, their disdain for the "country girl" eventually showed.


    Kara clenched her teeth, unable to respond. In this ss, she was at the bottom of the social hierarchy.


    Now that Freya and Kieran had broken up, she had even less standing to confront her ssmates. With these thoughts, Kara''s resentment toward Freya grew deeper.

 Chapter 265

    Instead of embracing her role as a future Mrs. Sutton, Freya had dared to call off the engagement! The decision had left Kara practically invisible at school, unable to lift her head high in the halls. During this low point, the dean walked into her ss, scanning the room purposefully.


    When his eyesnded on Kara, he promptly approached her and said, "Kara? Could you step out for a moment? Someone''s here to see you."


    "Who''s looking for me?" Kara''s heart raced with anxiety.


    Could it be her family from the countryside dropping in unexpectedly? Just the thought embarrassed her, and she dreaded the teasing she might get from her ssmates!


    "It''s a car from the Sutton family! Hurry up. Don''t keep them waiting."


    Upon hearing it was the Sutton family''s car picking her up, Kara''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Her ssmates exchanged confused looks, clueless about what was going on. Hadn''t the Sutton family ditched Freya? Why would the Sutton family send a car for a distant rtive of the Dawson family?


    A shared suspicion began to form in their minds. Could it be that Mr. Sutton called off his engagement with Freya because he had taken a fancy to Kara?


    Soon, Kara left with the dean. Those mocking her moments ago stood up, stammering, "Kara, we were joking earlier. Please don''t take it to heart."


    "Yeah, we''re all ssmates. We only joked because we like hanging out with you. Please don''t be upset!"


    The mockers were then terrified. If Kara had any connection with Mr. Sutton, a few words from her could get them expelled!


    "It''s fine. I''m not one to hold grudges," Kara replied, her tone noticeably higher yet still maintaining a semnce of grace.


    Once Kara had left, the rest of the ss became visibly anxious.


    "Could Mr. Sutton be interested in her?"


    "Just a country bumpkin, what does she have that we don''t?"


    "We''re doomed. After the way we treated Kara, she''s going to make us pay."


    By then, Kara had reached the school''s main entrance with the dean, noticing even his obsequious demeanor toward her. A sense of superiority welled up within her.


    en


    Was this how it felt to enter high society? So, this was the taste of privilege.


    Soon, their bodyguard escorted Kara into the Sutton family''s limousine.


    As she settled into the back seat, her posture straightened, and she couldn''t help but ask, "What does Mr. Sutton want with me?"


    "Ms. Orson, it''s not Mr. Sutton who


    wishes to see you but the matriarch of the Sutton family." The driver''s polite response surprised


    wno


    A flicker of disappointment passed through Kara''s eyes when she heard it wasn''t Kieran who had asked for her. She had hoped... Recalling how Kieran had protected her at the club, she had thought maybe he was interested in her.


    Catching a glimpse of her disappointment in the rearview mirror, the driver thought how easily she wore her heart on her sleeve.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 266

    Meanwhile, Freya was back at her apartment with Luna in tow.


    Freya sprawled out on the bed,ptop open and buzzing with the chaos of her new startup''s demands, when Luna burst in with excitement. "Freya! You''ve got to see what''s happening in our school''s neer group chat!" "What''s up?"


    "Just look!" In a sh, Luna handed her phone to Freya, pointing at a photo of Kara. "Isn''t that Kara?"


    "It is."


    Kara was unmistakable, her features clear in the close-up shot.


    Luna fumed. "I knew it! That woman is up to no good. She''s gunning for your old spot!"


    "What spot?" Freya was puzzled, clueless about what Luna meant.


    "Of course, she wants to rece you as Kieran''s fianc¨¦e! Look. Everyone in the group''s saying she was picked up by a Sutton family limo before ss today! Pics, or it didn''t happen, right?"


    Upon hearing that, Freya''s interest was piqued. True enough, her phone was aze with gossip about Kara and Kieran''s rtionship.


    Luna continued, "Since you and Kieran called off your engagement, Kara''s a distant rtive at best. Why would the Sutton family''s limo pick her up? Now, everyone''s whispering that Mr. Sutton and Kara are together, and that''s why Kieran broke it off with you! It''s infuriating! Isn''t this tarnishing your reputation?"


    "Tarnishing my reputation? If anything, this makes Kieran look bad, not me."


    It seemed to Freya that this painted Kieran as the viin. Thebel of being a jerk was firmly attached to Kieran. Not that Freya ever thought too highly of him, to begin with.


    Exasperated, Luna smacked Freya on the head. "Are you joking? Kieran dumped you, Ms. Dawson, for some country bumpkin! How are you supposed to show your face after this? Have you lost your mind?"


    "Do you think Audrey is foolish? You find this situation ridiculous, so why would Audrey agree to Kieran''s being with Kara? Besides, doesn''t Kieran already have a fianc¨¦e? Even if Kieran is fine with these rumors, Ms. Miller wouldn''t stand for it."


    "via? Please, haven''t you heard?


    Kieran publicly ousted her from the Sutton Group. He made it clear that they were never officially together, not before and definitely not on the future!"  en


    Hearing this, Freya paused, "Really?"


    "Cross my heart!"


    "Oh no..."


    "Now you realize ''oh no''? Shouldn''t you be storming over to the Sutton family demanding justice?"


    "No, what meant was..." Freya was about to exin how she''d hoped Kieran''s involvement with via. would finally extricate her from the messy love triangle with Kieran and Eloise.


    WithN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    and


    wasn''t


    tehran disinterested in via


    Faving pushed her aside, ¨¤ ever? Content beloPosition


    a more precarious


    At that moment, Luna pressed her hand to Freya''s forehead, concern etched on her face. "Freya, are you okay?"


    "Yeah."


    "Then what are you waiting for? Let''s go demand some justice!"


    As Luna made to haul Freya up, she turned and saw Kieran, who had appeared behind them at some unknown point. "Ah!" Luna stumbled backward several steps in shock.


    When had Kieran arrived?


    Looking even more troubled than Luna, Freya asked with a dark tone, "How do you have the keys to my ce?"


    "I bought it. What do you think?"

 Chapter 267

    Luna shot Freya a look that screamed, "Help me". Freya subtly gestured for Luna to make a run for it.


    When Luna fabricated that story about Kieran, Kieran had pinned it on the Jennings family. And Luna''s parents had warned her, time and again, not to cross Kieran. So, at that moment, the best n for Luna was to bolt.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''ve got some stuff to take care of back home, Mr. Sutton... You two carry on." With that, Luna was out the door like a bat out of hell.


    After Luna left, the room, already quiet, fell intoplete silence. Indifferent as usual, Freya eyed Kieran and asked, "Mr. Sutton, did you need something?"


    Kieran stepped closer, saying, "I didn''t know you cared so much about me."


    Freya was stunned. When did she show any concern for Kieran? Had any part of her conversation with Luna been about him? Wasn''t it all about her concerns?


    "What... what are you here for?" Freya''s wariness toward Kieran grew by the second.


    Kieran and Eloise were like ticking time bombs to her, unpredictable and dangerous. Freya wished she could spend her whole life without ties to Kieran. But fate had cruelly thrown her back into a moment she was infatuated with him. Left with no choice, she thought of every possible way to distance herself from Kieran.


    "Thatnd in the Southern Suburb, did you invest in it?"


    "You came all this way just to ask me that? Freya frowned. Was Kieran out of his mind? He


    never bothered with suc


    before.


    "Just answer my question."


    "No!"


    Of course, Freya couldn''t admit she owned that piece ofnd in the Southern Suburb. So, she lied.


    Kieran''s expression remained impassive as he said, "Jarrett mentioned you were at school this morning."


    "Mr. Sutton, don''t you think your


    question is too out of the blue?" Freya Couldn''t see any connection between the two. Was he looking for trouble?


    Kieran''s gaze fixed on Freya as he casually mentioned, "I have nothing to do with via, and Kara means nothing to me."


    "And why are you telling me this? I''m well aware you''re involved with Eloise."


    In Kieran''s mind, via was only a potential business marriage prospect. Kara, at best, was a low version of Eloise.


    After Eloise came


    back from abroad


    three yearster, Kieran was


    determined to propose to her, no matter the cost. Eloise would


    ept, and they would have a grand wedding witnessed by the whole world. At that time, the only person who would suffer would be Kieran''s business-arranged fianc¨¦e.

 Chapter 268

    Freya had no intention of ying the tragic side character in this story.


    As she was mulling over her situation, Kieran suddenly grabbed her arm.


    Freya instantly went on alert, ring at Kieran and instinctively trying to pull her arm back. "What the heck are you doing?"


    "Stay still." Kieran looked down at the rming scars on Freya''s arm and said, "I promised to take care of you until you fully recover. Don''t try ying games with me, pretending to dy your recovery on purpose."


    "As if I have time for that," Freya snapped back without mercy. She thought he was crazy. She was eager for her wounds to heal quickly so she could ace her finals at Summit University.


    Pulling her hand free, she said, "My arm is healing just fine. Thank you very much. I''ll be ready for physical therapy in a month, so there''s no need for your concern, Mr. Sutton." "Yet, I hear you''ve been cramming at the library, trying to cover every possible subject for the finals?"


    "Kieran, are you having me followed?" Freya couldn''t believe he would stoop to such tactics.


    Kieran''s expression remained calm and detached. "You''re overthinking it. I don''t need to follow you. People report your whereabouts to me."


    After saying that, Freya got the picture. It seemed the dean of Summit University was eager to curry favor with Kieran, looking to hit their annual performance targets. ''Alright then. If that''s how Kieran wants to y it.'' Freya thought.


    Freya retorted, "I was bored, so I hit the library. You''re reading too much into it, Mr. Sutton. As for the finals, I''m not even sweating it."


    "Really?" Kieran scoffed. "Given your past performance, do you think you can graduate? Dream on! Maybe if you begged me, I might consider helping you out."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Looking at Kieran''s smug face, Freya


    curse him out as a ''damn


    wished she could spit at him and


    businessman.'' But she held back her anger, saying, "If you came here to waste my time with this nonsense, suggest you leave and let me rest."


    After that, Freya turned andy on her bed, showing she had finished the conversation.


    Waiting at the door, Jarrett cautiously entered after a while and said to Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, it''s about time."


    Since noon, after via had left, Mr.


    Sutton imed he wasn''t interested in Freya''s affairs, yet he couldn''t resisting over. He had a meeting scheduled for 4 PM, but there he was, wasting half an hour. If Audrey found it out, there would be hell to pay.


    Kieran''s gaze finally shifted away from Freya as he replied indifferently, "Understood."


    As he was about to leave, he paused by the doorway and added, "Someone will pick you up for the hospital tomorrow. Don''t oversleep."


    With her eyes closed, Freya pretended not to hear. Ignoring him was her best defense. Kieran was thest person she wanted to deal with.


    After the sound of the door closing, she finally opened her eyes and defiantly flipped the bird toward the door.


    Outside, Jarrett followed Kieran,


    reporting, "Mr. Sutton, we''ve tried e


    digging into this Susan from


    §Ù§Ý§ñ


    Group, but there''s nothing on her. It''s


    like she''s a ghost."


    Kieran frowned. "Nothing?"


    "Nothing. I''ve used all our contacts abroad, and still, we''ve found no trace of Susan''s records. It indicates she''s no ordinary person." "Keep looking."


    "That might be difficult," Jarrett hesitated, adding, "Perhaps we should consider arranging a private meeting with this Susan?"

 Chapter 269

    No matter how you slice it, Echo City was Kieran''s turf. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry who rolled into Echo City had to tip their hat to Kieran. Jarrett couldn''t believe a young woman, fresh from abroad, would dare to snub Kieran''s invitation. Hearing Jarrett''s words, Kieran''s expression was ice-cold, and he said, "She''s not worth my time."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    On his way out, Kieran turned to Jarrett and said, "Keep an eye on Freya. Don''t let her wander off."


    Jarrett nodded. "Yes, sir."


    Meanwhile, Freya was still in the room, ncing out the window.


    Somehow, Kieran had stationed his people inside the apartment building. The Sutton family''s men are easy to recognize due to their uniformed bodyguards taking turns standing guard at themunity entrance. Was this how Kieran controlled her movements? The thought made Freya furrow her brows. Wasn''t Kieran taking things a bit too far? After calling off their engagement, he still treated her like his personal property.


    Though irritated, Freya knew she was powerless in the situation. Who could challenge the might of Echo City''s kingpin, a man whose mere finger snap could send shivers down the city''s spine?


    Only a fool would think they could melt Kieran''s heart-a man as hard as stone. Apart from Eloise, no woman stood a chance with him.


    With that in mind, Freya pulled out her phone and dialed Ronan, saying, "Kieran''s got me on this recovery program with specialists. It looks like it''ll be another two months before can step out as ''Susan.'' I''ll need you to keep my info under wraps for now. I bet it won''t be long before Kieran catches wind of the name ''Susan.""


    Kieran''s reputation as the CEO of the Sutton Group wasn''t for nothing. Beyond his ancestral fortune, his keen insight was unparalleled. With W Group hitting the stock market, Kieran would''ve instantly spotted Ronan''s ace up the sleeve-her, using the alias ''Susan.''


    Freya felt a headacheing on. If she''d disguised herself as an utterly unattractive woman, Kieran would never have taken an interest in her. But trusting Ronan''s strategy...


    en


    "Don''t worry. I''ll protect our partnership and ensure my cash cow doesn''t fall," Ronan''s voice carried a hint of amusement.


    Freya knew this guy was a sly fox, so she didn''t bother with pleasantries and hung up shortly after. Though,pared to Preston, Ronan was somewhat more bearable.


    Freya had no grand ns. She only wanted to escape Kieran''s clutches, kick Johanna and her son out, and then live a carefree, wealthy life away from the drama surrounding Kieran, Eloise, Preston, and


    Ine


    swntonan.


    Maybe Caleb would be part of that picture, too. But looking back, Caleb was rarely seen except when defending Eloise, ying a minor role in theirplex love square. Sometimes, Freya mused that their world was like a giant romance novel. Eloise was the protagonist, while she was doomed to be the disposable side character.


    Preston yed the strong second male lead, Ronan the arch-nemesis, and Caleb. Well, he was the love interest with barely any screen time.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 270

    Imagine being the unluckiest person in the bunch. That was Freya''s thought as shey low, nursing her wounds at home. Her strategy was simple. She would keep her distance from Kieran, stick close to Preston, align with Ronan, and, whatever happened, don''t cross Caleb. That way, she figured her future wouldn''t end in tragedy. As evening approached, Kieran returned to the Sutton Mansion, only to see Kara, d in a white dress, offering him slippers and eagerly attempting to help him out of his jacket. "Mr. Sutton, let me help."


    Kieran barely nced at her, not interested in her assistance.


    Kara awkwardly pulled back her hand, feeling the sharp sting of rejection.


    "Nancy?" Kieran called out but received no reply.


    Kara stepped forward. "Is there something you need, Mr. Sutton? I''m here to help."


    She was hopeful, having donned a dress chosen by Johanna, one of Eloise''s favorites. Eloise even had an identical one.


    Acknowledging her lingering presence, Kieran asked, "Who allowed you into my home?"


    Rather than feeling insulted as most would, Kara meekly apologized, "I''m sorry, Mr. Sutton. I thought Mrs. Sutton had informed you..." Before she could finish, Kieran lifted her chin, noting that despite her makeup and Eloise''s dress, Kara looked nothing like Eloise.


    With hopeful eyes and a bite to her lip, Kara seemed to expect more from Kieran, aware of his past with Freya. She had tried everything to win his favor, but Kieran forcefully removed her peach-colored scarf, startling her.


    "Ellie dislikes anyone wearing the same clothes as hers. Wear it once, and I''ll tear it once."


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Leave!" Kieran''s anger was palpable.


    Kara froze in fear, but upon seeing Kieran''s cold gaze, she stammered an apology, ming Audrey for her actions.


    "Kieran, don''t frighten her," a voice came from inside. Audrey, supported by Nancy, approached.


    Holding back tears, Kara looked even more pitiful.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing Kara''s demeanor pleased Audrey, who then scolded Kieran, "Kara is a distant cousin from the Dawson family. Mrs. Dawson sent her here to express gratitude for your support with her education. Don''t be so harsh."


    "Gratitude? By offering herself?" Kieran scoffed. "Mrs. Dawson is


    indeed eager to bind her famil


    the Suttons. Freya left, and ies Kara. So insatiable."

 Chapter 271

    Hearing Kieran say that, Kara immediately stood up, her words tumbling out in a flurry of defense, "Mr. Sutton, it''s not like that. My aunt isn''t that kind of person! It was my own decision to repay Mr. Sutton. It has nothing to do with my aunt!" The sincerity in Kara''s eyes was unmistakable.


    Seeing how Kieran had flustered Kara, Audrey stepped in and gently pulled Kara to her side, saying, "Now, now, there''s no need for that tone. I find Kara here to have a wonderful nature, and I''ve taken quite a liking to her. From now on, I''ll keep Kara by my side to look after me. Since Freya Dawson has moved out, I''ll be returning to live here. If you don''t want Kara looking after you, then she can look after me. It''s still a way of repaying a kindness."


    Audrey''s words were a clear disy of her fondness for Kara.


    Seizing the opportunity, Kara quickly said, without giving Kieran a chance to respond, "If thedy of the house wouldn''t mind, I''d be more than willing to look after her."


    "Well, that settles it then. I''ll have you stay," Audrey dered, patting Kara''s hand.


    By the time Audrey stopped talking, Kieran couldn''t find a way to disagree.


    Just as he was about to head upstairs, Kara added, "I''ve prepared a hot bath for you, Mr. Sutton, and also cooked some of your favorite dishes. If Mr. Sutton doesn''t mind... The dishes my cousin used to make, I can make them too." "You can?"


    Kieran''s interest was suddenly piqued. Since the engagement party, he hadn''t had a chance to try Freya''s cooking.From N?velDrama.Org.


    Kara nodded eagerly, "Yes, I can. Maybe Mr. Sutton would like to try them."


    "I''ll have them brought up."


    With that, Kieran headed upstairs.


    Kara''s spirits lifted at Kieran''s willingness to try her cooking, and she quickly said, "I''ll bring them right up!"


    Without another word, Kieran went upstairs, leaving Kara to her tasks.


    Audrey watched Kara with satisfaction. Smart and obedient - indeed, a fine choice for a granddaughter-inw, if only her family background were more fitting for the Suttons. But as apanion to ward off the likes of Eloise Harwood, she was perfect. Soon after, Kara confidently brought the dishes up to Kieran''s room.


    She knocked on the door, but there was no reply.


    Finally, she boldly pushed the door open.


    The sound of water running from the bathroom made Kara''s cheeks flush.


    Soon after, Kieran appeared, wearing a loose bathrobe, radiating a strong masculine vibe that made Kara blush even more.


    "Just leave it and go," Kieran said, his tone cool.


    Pel


    Kara hurried to exin, "It''s my first day, so I''m not yet familiar with your preferences, Mr. Sutton. I''d like to hear your feedback, in case there''s anything you dislike... I can


    immediately make change el


    "There won''t be a need for changes."


    swnovel


    Kieran''s reply was indifferent: "Because you won''t be staying with the Sutton family for long."


    Kara''s face fell at his words.


    Kieran approached the dining table, where the dishes reminiscent of Freya''s cooking awaited him. He sampled a bite and then, without another word, set down his fork.


    Kara held her breath, hoping for approval.


    These recipes were passed down by Johanna, who had imed that Freya had meticulously written them down to perfect her culinary skills even going as far as to write down the recipes herself to remember them. These were the very recipes Freya had discarded, but Johanna had salvaged.


    "Well? Is it good?" Kara asked, her confidence in her cooking skills unwavering, certain she couldn''t be much worse than Freya.


    However, as she anticipated winning over Kieran with her culinary efforts, he simply put down his fork and said coldly, "Take your dishes and leave."


    Caught off guard, Kara managed to ask, "Mr. Sutton... do you not like it?"


    How could that be?


    These were recipes directly from Freya''s own collection!

 Chapter 272

    It was inconceivable!


    Freya, who had even perfected the art of ting like it was an art form from a Michelin-starred restaurant.


    How could this be?


    Could it be that Freya had been holding back secrets?


    "Get out, can''t you hear me?"


    Kieran''s gaze grew colder by the second.


    Kara shivered under Kieran''s stern look, "I... Mr. Sutton..."


    "Trying to mimic someone else''s sess, what''s your game?"


    "I... I..."


    "Do you think dressing up like Freya, trying to win my favor like Ellie, or perhaps you''re after something more?"


    "No... No..."


    Kieran could see Kara''s intentions clear as day, and her face grew paler.


    "Leave!" Kieran shouted, his expression as dark as thunder.


    Panic painted Kara''s face as she hurriedly cleared the table of its dishes.From N?velDrama.Org.


    As Kara hurried away, Kieran''s thoughts couldn''t help but drift to Freya. He had always observed how painstakingly careful Freya was. Back then, he suspected Freya had ulterior motives; he never believed in genuine affection. All of Freya''s actions, he thought, were aimed at benefiting from him.


    Even today, his thoughts remained unchanged.


    Yet, while tasting Kara''s cooking, all he could think of was Freya.


    Even though the dishes looked almost exactly like Freya''s, something about the taste just wasn''t right.


    It wasn''t the dish; it was the person behind it that made the difference.


    Realizing this, Kieran leaned back on his couch, massaging his temples.


    Lately, his mind was cluttered with thoughts of Freya.


    This woman''s tactics were so sophisticated that they were interfering with his work.


    He couldn''t let this continue.


    Kieran promptly called Jarrett.


    "Mr. Sutton."


    "Has the expert team arrived at Crescent Medical Center?"


    "They have."


    "Going forward, I don''t want to hear about Freya''s matters anymore.


    Once Freya''s recovery is confirmed, I intend to sever all ties with her."


    Jarrett paused, slightly taken aback.


    Sever all ties with Freya?


    What had suddenly gotten into Mr. Sutton?


    "Just do as I say."


    sw novel


    With that, Kieran hung up, leaving Jarrett Jooking puzzled. Had Ms. Dawson done something


    evel


    unforgivable again?


    But that couldn''t be right; Ms. Dawson had been home all day, not stepping out once.


    What was going on with Mr. Sutton?


    The next morning, Freya was


    surprised to find the Sutton family''s entourage had been moved from her building.


    Before she could revel in her relief, there was a knock at the door.


    Upon opening it and seeing Jarrett, she asked, "What brings you here so early?"

 Chapter 273

    "Dr. Reynolds had arrivedst night," Sarah mentioned, ncing over her shoulder as she led the way, "Mr. Sutton asked me to take you to the hospital now." "What about Kieran? He''s not here, is he?"


    Mentioning Kieran made Freya tense up visibly.


    With a hint of curiosity in her voice, Sarah replied, "Mr. Sutton mentioned that he won''t be apanying Ms. Dawson for these minor check-ups anymore."


    "That''s a relief." Freya let out a sigh, more to herself than to Sarah.


    "A relief?" Sarah paused, slightly taken aback.


    Was Ms. Dawson really that averse to seeing them, especially Mr. Sutton?


    This wasn''t like the Freya she remembered.


    Noticing Sarah''s puzzled look, Freya quickly added, "Mr. Sutton is a busy man, he really shouldn''t be wasting his time on me. Weren''t we headed to the hospital? Let''s get going."


    Freya was eager to get her physical therapy started. With only nine days left until the exam, if her right hand couldn''t wield a pen, she''d have to resort to using her left.


    Though Sarah found it odd, she didn''t press further and continued leading Freya downstairs.


    The downtown hospital was a hive of activity early in the morning. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a team of specialists flown in from abroad, everything was set for Freya''s arrival. As soon as she walked in, she was swiftly ushered into the consultation room. Among the figures in the room, one particrly handsome man caught Freya''s attention. He appeared to be of mixed heritage, with deep-set, sky-blue eyes that seemed to sparkle.


    He must have noticed Freya''s gaze because soon, his eyes were scrutinizing her.


    Standing by Freya''s side, Sarah keenly observed this exchange. She contemted whether she should inform Mr. Sutton of this unexpected development when suddenly Freya leaned closer and whispered, "Is that doctor here for my consultation? What''s his story?" "He''s one of the youngest leading specialists from abroad, Dr. Anderson-Neil Anderson. Despite his youth, he''s nearly hitting thirty."


    "Thirty''s still quite young!"


    Freya eximed, her mind


    wandering to the thought of thepetitive nature even within the medical field. If she wanted to take the Dawson legacy to new heights, there was indeed a long road ahead.


    As Freya was lost in her thoughts, Neil approached them with a friendly smile, then turned to Freya, "Ms Dawson, may I examine your hand, please?" .


    "Of course."


    Lon


    Freya offered her hand confidently: Neil examined her hand with a gentle touch that, despite the


    swnov


    scars, caused no difortable


    "Does it hurt?"


    "Not at all."


    "That''s good."


    Neil then addressed Sarah, "Secretary Sarah, I''d like to take Ms. Dawson for a hand CT scan if you don''t mind?"


    "Go ahead."


    After a nod from Neil, Freya followed him to the CT room, finding themselves alone.


    "You''re quite aplished for your age, Dr. Anderson."


    "And so are you, Ms. Dawson."From N?velDrama.Org.


    Neil returned her gaze, adding, "I was curious who could''ve convinced Preston Tyler to call me in. But seeing you now, I understand." "Preston?"


    Freya paused, caught off guard, "You mean it wasn''t Kieran who asked you toe?"

 Chapter 274

    "Look, this side of the pond belongs to Preston, not Kieran. Only Preston could''ve convinced me to make this trek," Neil quipped, raising an eyebrow towards Freya. "What, Preston didn''t spill the beans to Ms. Dawson?" "I... I haven''t heard a peep."


    Since her injury, Preston hadn''t shown his face even once.


    How could she have guessed that Preston had gone so far as to hire a professional medical team for her?


    "Alright, time to shoot," Neil said, his tone shifting to a more professional demeanor. After Freya cooperated with the filming, Neil escorted her out.


    Shortly after, Neil delved into a deep discussion with the expert team.


    Meanwhile, Freya quietly took out her phone, opening her chat with Preston. But seeing their sparse conversation, she hesitated.


    It was Preston''s orders that led to the Harwood family being targeted, ultimately causing her injury. By that logic, Preston shared part of the me.


    Yeah.


    That must be why he specifically brought Neil in.


    With that thought, Freya pocketed her phone again.


    Her harsh past had taught her not to be too self-absorbed. She once believed Kieran''s marriage proposal meant he had feelings for her, only to face a tragic oue.


    This time, Freya decided to learn from her past. If Preston wasn''t bringing it up, she''d act as if she was in the dark.


    When the information eventually leaked, that''s when she''d apologize to Preston.


    Jarrett, observing Freya''s internal struggle yet clueless about its nature, cast her yet another perplexed look.


    Ms. Dawson had been acting rather oddlytely.


    Initially, Jarrett thought Freya''s


    recent coldness towards Mr. Sutton was just for show. But afterText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    spending a few days together, it was clear to him that Ms. Dawson, genuinely disliked Mr. Sutton


    How quickly things change from top to bottom!


    swnover


    "We''ve nearly wrapped up our discussion. Ms. Dawson''s hand does look a bit gruesome, but with proper rest and rehabilitation, it should heal in no more than three months," Neil exined.


    "That long?" Freya frowned, then asked, "I have a crucial exam in nine days. Will I be able to write?" "Can you write now?" Neil countered.


    Freya thought for a moment, "If I don''t strain it, yes, but after a while, it gets sore, stiff, and a bit painful."


    "That settles it," Neil dered. "You''re in the recovery phase. I wouldn''t rmend a lot of writing; it''ll just tire out your hand. And given that the final exams at Summit Universityst three days, and you''ll have to write a lot, I personally wouldn''t advise it."


    Hearing Neil mention Summit University, Jarrett sensed something was amiss.


    How could a doctor from overseas know Ms. Dawson was at Summit University?


    This prompted Jarrett to consider reporting to Kieran.


    But recalling Kieran''s call from the previous night, instructing him not to bother him with Ms. Dawson''s matters, Jarrett hesitated.


    To report, or not to report?


    "But this exam is crucial for me. Can I use my left hand?" Freya inquired. "I''ve heard you doctors have nimble hands, adept with both left and right. Could you share some techniques?"

 Chapter 275

    "Do you really want to learn?"


    "I do!"


    Freya''s gaze was intense as she looked at Neil.


    Neil replied, "It''s all about practice. Your left hand is fine; you could definitely learn to write with it. But nine days? That''s a bit of a stretch."


    "I''m not afraid of a challenge. But I need to graduate."


    Having a diploma from Summit University was like holding a key to a whole new world.


    In their circle, a high education was crucial.


    Especially from Summit University, which held a unique significance.


    For a family like the Suttons, Summit University might not seem like a big deal.


    However, for the Dawsons, who were dangerously close to financial copse, failing to graduate from Summit University could strip them of any opportunity to continue their family legacy. "Alright, I''ll teach you."


    Neil smiled at Freya, quietly adding another item to Preston''s tab.


    Overseas consultancy fees, travel expenses, meals, amodation, and now tuition.


    He was sure to make a hefty sum off Preston.


    This was a no-lose deal.


    Meanwhile, Jarrett''s phone rang.


    After exchanging pleasantries with Freya, he stepped away to answer the call.


    Kieran''s voice was cold. "How much longer will you waste at the hospital?"


    "Mr. Sutton, regarding Ms. Dawson..."


    Jarrett hadn''t finished his sentence when Kieran interrupted, "Your job was to get her to the hospital, not to babysit."


    "... Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    "Have the driver take her home."


    "Understood."


    Jarrett was increasingly puzzled by Kieran''s intentions.


    But since Kieran had given his orders, Jarrett had no choice but to ry the message to Freya.


    "Ms. Dawson, there''s urgent


    bus


    let


    at thepany, so I must


    leave, I''ll arrange for a driver


    Stake


    you home."


    "That won''t be necessary," Neil interjected. "The seminar just


    wrapped up, so I can teach M


    Dawson how to write with her left


    hand." er left


    BUM


    "This..."


    Jarrett hesitated.


    Mr. Sutton hadn''t approved any private sessions between the foreign consultant and Ms. Dawson.


    Noticing Jarrett''s hesitation, Freya asked, Jarrett, isn''t this


    t of the rehab sed to


    set belongs to


    "...Alright then, should you need anything, Ms. Dawson, feel free to contact me." "Will do."


    Jarrett cast a worried nce at Neil before leaving with the rest of the Sutton Group.


    Neil shrugged off his coat, saying, "Ms. Dawson, after you."


    Freya nodded to Neil, and they left the hospital, one following the other.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Outside, a sleek ck Rolls-Royce stood conspicuously.


    Freya remarked, "A Rolls-Royce parked here? Must be some rich kid showing off."


    Neil paused, then said, "That''s mine."


    "Excuse me?"


    Freya pointed at the ck Rolls-Royce, asking, "Yours?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 276

    "Yeah,


    right."


    "Are doctors rolling in dough these days?"


    "Ms. Dawson, I''m not just any doctor. I''m a doctor from a wealthy family." As Neil said this, he opened the door, inviting Freya into the car.


    "Ms. Dawson, there''s no need to be nervous. It''s rare to mingle with people from different worlds in our circles since we''re all on the same financial level. You don''t have to suspect any ulterior motives from me." Freya smiled. "I don''t think you have ulterior motives. I''m just genuinely curious why Preston asked you to treat me."


    "That''s a question you should ask him, Ms. Dawson."


    "Are you close with him?"


    "We''re friends, I guess."


    "He has friends?" Freya found it hard to imagine. Interacting with someone like Preston must be quite the ordeal.


    "Ms. Dawson, you don''t really know Preston. He mighte off as awful to those on the outside, but once you get to know him, you''ll find he''s even worse than you imagined."


    Listening to Neil''s attempt at humor, Freya forced a smile.


    It was not funny since she was starting to understand what he meant.


    As Neil drove, it wasn''t until they were halfway there that Freya realized something was off. "This isn''t the way to my ce."


    "Ms. Dawson, quick on the uptake." Neil had deliberately taken three turns from Freya''s apartment, yet she still noticed they weren''t heading toward her ce.


    "Where are you taking me?" asked Freya.


    "Preston messaged me, insisting I bring you to see him."


    Neil said it and added meaningfully, "Seems like Preston is finally in love with someone."


    Freya frowned. "Dr. Anderson, your jokes are not funny."


    "Enough teasing." Neil continued,


    "He has serious business with you but is not interested in you romantically. After all, I''ve never seen Preston show interest in any woman."


    en


    "Are you suggesting... he''s into men?"


    When Freya asked this, Neil paused, then shushed toward her, "Shush, I didn''t say anything."


    Freya twitched her lips. She wouldn''t believe a word Neil said if she hadn''t known Preston''s deep love for Eloise in the past life.


    Shortly after, Neil parked the car outside Tyler Mansion.


    Freya couldn''t believe Preston lived in such a ce as she followed Neil out of the car.


    "This house... has it been here for twenty of thirty years?" Freya looked around. Even though they were in the city center, this vi stood alone, easily overlooked.


    Moreover, from the outside, it looked like a very simple two-story vi with a vintage vibe, almost entirely covered in ivy creeping up toward the second-floor windows.


    Neil exined, "He has always liked it here, mainly because it''s secluded and hard to spot. That''s why he chose this ce."


    Neil led Freya inside. Hans opened the door as if he had timed their arrival precisely as they entered.


    Noticing Neil''s arm supporting Freya, Hans said nothing, but Neil exined naturally, "Ms. Dawson has trouble walking. I''m just helping her."


    Hans spoke in a measured tone, "Mr. Tyler is waiting for you."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 277

    Preston was on the second floor of the decrepit building that unsurprisinglycked an elevator.


    Already nursing a serious injury, Freya could only proceed slowly up the stairs with Neil''s support. When they reached the study, Freya was visibly sweating.


    "Did Preston do this on purpose? Couldn''t we have discussed whatever it is in the living room?" sheined.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Neil sighed deeply, a note of solemnity in his voice. "Preston isn''t like that. He, well, he might be trying to pull your leg."


    Hans, who was ahead, couldn''t help but twitch at their conversation as the study door swung open.


    Preston was seated at his desk, gesturing for them to sit down.


    Freya noticed Preston''s study was unlike any other. No desk or chair was in sight, reced by a cozy set of sofas and a coffee table.


    Remembering Preston''s recent short stay at the Echo City Hotel, it appeared he had purchased this ce with ns to permanently settle in Echo City.


    "What are you standing around for?" Preston looked at Freya. "Sit."


    Neil helped Freya to a nearby sofa. Her limping gait was somewhatical.


    "Mr. Tyler, what did you want to see me about? Let''s cut to the chase. Why put me through all this?"


    If Kieran found out about this visit, he''d give her grief.


    "We''ve transferred the money to the Dawson Group. Here is my contribution of shares to the Dawson Group," Preston announced, sliding a contract across the coffee table to Freya.


    At first nce, Freya saw a share transfer agreement for the Tyler Group.


    She hesitated to open the document, probing, "And how much are you nning to give me?"


    "Not much, just ten percent."


    At that, Freya gasped. Ten percent and Preston thought it was ''not much''?


    "Preston, you''re something! Ten percent in the Tyler Group makes me a major shareholder. If you down, go down with you! What did I ever do to you for you to put me in this position?"


    "Ms. Dawson, please calm down." Neil coaxed Freya back onto the sofa and turned to Preston reproachfully. "Preston, you''re out of line here. She sold you the property in good faith, and this is how you repay her?"


    ''This isn''t how you woo a woman.''


    Unfazed, Preston replied, "This ten percent will generate significant monthly profits for you. It''s a gesture of goodwill, Ms. Dawson. Why would you take it the wrong way?"


    "Preston, I''m not stupid. Everyone''s


    aware of your antics abroad. Echo


    City isn''t some wild,wless ce. If


    you stir up trouble here, our


    ones in hot water, and the


    shareholders will end up under investigation too. If ites out that


    I was the one who sold you thatnd, how am I supposed to clear my name?"


    usations of moneyundering, especially involving billions, could lead to severe prison time or worse. All Freya wanted was a peaceful life, far removed from Preston''s sinking ship.

 Chapter 278

    "Ms. Dawson, rest assured. Here at Echo City''s Tyler Group, we''ve always been above board with our dealings. Even if there''s an investigation, I can guarantee it won''t trace back to you, Ms. Dawson."


    While speaking, Preston looked at Freya with a confident smile. "Doing business with me is all about high risk and reward. I don''t take you for the faint-hearted, Ms. Dawson. If you were, you wouldn''t have approached me in the first ce." Freya shifted ufortably under Preston''s gaze.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Preston was no saint. His demeanor reeked of that all-too-familiar trader''s greed. Initially, Freya approached Preston to secure her future. Little did she know how difficult he would be to deal with. She couldn''t fathom how someone like Preston would be devoted to Eloise.


    "Okay, if this is Mr. Tyler''s goodwill, I ept it. But I want it in writing," Freya dered.


    Preston raised his eyebrow. "Say the word."


    "If anything rted to Tyler Group goes south, it has nothing to do with me."


    "Ms. Dawson, don''t you think that''s a bit cold?"


    "I have no emotional ties to you."


    "If you sign, I''ll ept this share agreement. But if you don''t..." Freya trailed off, leaving Preston awaiting her following words.


    Taking a deep breath, Freya went on, "If you don''t sign, I''ll turn myself in. We can both go down if ites to that."


    Preston''s reaction was tough, a rarity for him. Neil was the first to chuckle, saying, "Ms. Dawson, you seem unaware. If you turn yourself in, the ''fish'' might not die, but the '' will break."


    Freya knew of Preston''s influence abroad, and he was considered a dark horse in Echo City. But Preston''s adversary was no ordinary foe. It was Kieran. The saying goes, even a mighty dragon cannot crush a local serpent. If Kieran sought to oppose Preston, the oue of their conflict was uncertain.


    Rather than being implicatedter, Freya preferred to clear her name from Preston''s dealings from the outset.


    "Fine, I''ll sign," Preston conceded.


    Neil interrupted, "Ms. Dawson, this boils down to trust. You should know Preston seldom operates by the book. Even with his signature, there''s no guarantee he''ll keep you out of it." Neil''s solemn advice was met with a cold nce from Preston, silencing him immediately.


    Freya retorted, "That''s overseas. Here is Echo City. A signature here holds legal weight. Mr. Tyler, being new to Echo City, likely doesn''t have the connections I fear."


    "You''re right. This time, I''ll honor my word." Preston said in an almost patronizing tone and instructed Hans to have theirwyer prepare another contract.


    While waiting for the contract, Preston''s attention finally settled on Freya''s bandaged arm. Wrapped in gauze, her arm, alongside the bruises on her face, painted a picture of her recent ordeal. Feeling Preston''s gaze on her, Freya shivered and asked, "What are you staring at?"


    "To see Ms. Dawson still standing, despite such harsh treatment, is truly remarkable."


    "You knew?" Realizing Preston was aware of her tribtions fueled Freya''s indignation. "Had you not meddled with the Harwood family,1 wouldn''t be in this mess. Mr. Tyler, next time you n such actions, could you at least give me a heads-up?"

 Chapter 279

    Freya''s irritation got the better of her, and she pulled at her wound in a swift gesture. Preston couldn''t help but reveal a slight smile at Freya''s clumsy moment, a rare sight.


    Even Neil, who had known Preston for many years, had never seen such an expression on his face. His gaze shifted back to Freya, thinking she wasn''t half bad. It almost seemed Neil had caught Preston off guard, his lips curving into a smirk. "I got your back there, didn''t I? Still upset?"


    Freya snorted, "I got roughed up, not you. Why don''t you try getting hit without being able to fight back?"


    Freya could have stood up to those women, but they were too many and her injured arm put her at a disadvantage. If she had another shot, she doubted she''d end up as beaten up as she was then. "Neil, how bad is her injury?"


    "It''s pretty serious for ady. Most are superficial, but the wounds on her hand and arm are more severe. If they had been a bit rougher, Ms. Dawson could have lost the use of her hand."


    "Let me see." Preston extended his hand toward Freya, who instinctively wanted to pull away, but Preston brought her hand closer to him with a gentle tug.


    Her hand was a mess of bruises, so much so that it was rming at first nce. Perhaps it was the tension, but Freya''s hand trembled slightly.


    Preston observed. "The injury has reached the bones and tendons. It won''t heal in less than three months."


    "Are you a doctor now? I didn''t ask for your opinion." With that, Freya pulled her hand back, all her fleeting good impressions of Preston vanishing. No matter how handsome, it did nothing for her. "Preston is right. When diagnosing injuries, I''m no match for him." Neil''s words held a seriousness that made Freya skeptical.


    Freya thought, ''The head of the internationally renowned Tyler Group is skilled in medicine?''


    "Preston studied medicine back in the day. Didn''t you know?"


    "You''re trying to fool me, aren''t you? Preston barely spent a few years in school, let alone medical school." Freya had done her homework on Preston, whose early years were without


    carormal education. He had? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    carved out a niche for the Tyler


    Group through sheer brawn.


    Seeing he couldn''t fool Freya, Neil yfully added, "I''m surprised, Ms. Dawson. You seem quite interested in Preston to know he didn''t attend school for long."


    "I... I heard about it. That''s all."


    Feeling cornered, Freya instinctively reached for a ss of water. She wasn''t thirsty but took several sips of nervousness.


    out


    Neil nodded. "Indeed, Preston never had formal schooling. But he''s got a sharp mind. After years in the


    trenches abroad, facing countles et


    ve


    injuries he''s got a knack for diagnosing them. I can''t evenpare."


    Freya knew about Preston''s ruthless reputation but was unaware of this aspect of his past. Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer.


    Maybe feeling her watchful eyes on him, Preston looked her way too. Almost instantly, Freya looked away.


    "Mr. Tyler, the contract''s been sent to your phone."


    "Print it out. Let Ms. Dawson have a look and sign it."


    "Right away." Hans quickly printed the contract andid it before Freya to review and sign.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 280

    Preston peered over the contract, its termsid out in stark simplicity as if to ensure Freya had no trouble understanding them. The uses particrly favorable to Freya were even bolded for emphasis. After Freya confirmed everything looked good, she signed her name. When Hans passed the contract to Preston, Preston didn''t nce at it before scribbling his signature.


    Freya stood up, ready to leave. "Mr. Tyler, I''ll be on my way if nothing else."


    "Weren''t you supposed to work on your left hand?" Preston asked, his voice tinged with nonchnce. "Giving up on that?"


    "Dr. Anderson was supposed to help me with physical therapy for that. Unless you''re telling me you''re an expert in that too?"


    Neil interrupted from the side, "Preston might not be a therapist, but he sure can teach you a thing or two if you''re willing."


    Unfortunately for Preston, Freya wasn''t interested in his help and declined outright. Just as she left, she realized Hans had sneakily shut the door.


    Freya turned to face Preston again, who coldly asked, "Would you prefer to sit on your own, or shall I help you?"


    Freya''s expression darkened. So much for Neil seeming like a decent guy, she thought. He was clearly in cahoots with Preston.


    "Fine, Mr. Tyler. How do you n to ''teach'' me?" Freya asked, her voice dripping with reluctance as she sat down again.


    "Let''s see your hand," Preston said inly.


    Freya


    ed her right hand,


    e scars and injuries that


    the simple act of holding


    n challenging.


    "Try writing something," Preston instructed.


    Rolling her eyes internally, Freyaplied. It took her agonizingly long to scrawl out a word in shaky letters.


    "At this rate, you won''t even finish the first question in the exam," Preston remarked dryly.


    Freya didn''t need the reminder. She was painfully aware of her limitations. The uing exam was crucial. And she''d do whatever it took to participate, even if it meant writing with a broken hand


    "Now, try with your left hand," Preston suggested next.


    Though not injured, writing with her left hand proved clumsy and slow. The letters were barely legible.


    Preston nced over and said, "You


    might asConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Coord give up. With


    that, I''d suggest


    you think about dropping out or


    repeating the year."


    "Summit University doesn''t do repeats," Freya retorted, frustration seeping into her voice.

 Chapter 281

    Freya set down her pen, a determined glint in her eye as she said, "Mr. Tyler, you''re wrong if you think you can talk me out of this. I won''t give up. If you can''t teach me, I''ll learn by myself."


    With that, she made to leave.


    Preston called out from behind, "Is a diploma really that important to you?"


    "Yes," Freya replied earnestly, turning to face Preston. "It might not mean much to you, Mr. Tyler, but to me, it''s crucial. I have to pass this test."


    Seeing the resolve in Freya''s eyes, Preston had no choice but to say, "Sit down. I''ll teach you."


    Freya was stunned. "But... didn''t you say I have no coordination?"


    "It''s only a three-day test. I might not make your handwriting better than your right hand''s, but you can write." Preston lightly tapped the couch beside him, signaling Freya to sit. Reluctantly, Freya took a seat opposite him.


    Soon, Preston said, "I meant to sit by my side."


    Hesitant, Freya awkwardly moved to sit beside Preston.


    Preston grabbed a pen from the table and smoothly wrote a word with his right hand, then replicated the action with his left. The words looked nearly identical. Freya was stunned. "How did you do that?"


    "It''s not that hard. Anyone can do it.


    It alles down to focus and coordination. He handed the pen to Freya and advised, "Calm your mind,


    focus on your left hand, pay attention to the pressure, and practice writing. In a day, you should be able to write simple words decently. In a week, you should get used to using your left hand. Speed might be an issue, but practice never hurts."


    "Just practice?"


    Preston added, "The first step to learn anything is always practice. There''s no easy way, but you have nine days. It''s the simplest and best method for you." Freya couldn''t help but feel Preston was underestimating her, but she followed his instructions.


    Time ticked by. Outside, Neil struggled to stay awake, eventually knocking on the door to say, "You two done yet?"


    Freya had been so focused on her writing that she hadn''t noticed the passage of time. When she looked up, she realized it had gotten dark outside.


    At some point, Preston had turned on a deskmp, bathing the table in a warm glow that she hadn''t even noticed.


    The paper before her was covered in densely packed handwriting.


    Preston said, "Let''s break for dinner."


    "I don''t eat dinner."


    The words were out before Freya


    remembered Kieran''s offer of a million for each dinner she ate.


    u


    Reluctantly, she put down the pen, muttering, "I''ll just have a bit


    As Freya left the room, Preston picked up the sheets of paper filled with Freya''s left-handed writing. In less than four hours, she had managed to write smoothly with her left hand. A small smile yed on Preston''s lips.


    This woman was more perceptive than he had thought. But she didn''t realize her brilliance.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

 Chapter 282

    Preston set aside the stack of papers he had been sifting through and slowly left the study.


    In the living area, Hans, d in an apron, was bustling about the kitchen, putting together a simple but hearty meal.


    Freya had always figured someone of Preston''s stature would dine exclusively on exotic delicacies or, at the very least, feast on steaks andvish entrees every night. So, when she saw the spread on the table - a few dishes of green vegetables, the only indulgences being saut¨¦ed shrimp and a baked salmon in a rich, red wine sauce - her perception of Preston was utterly shattered.


    Wasn''t Preston supposed to be outrageously wealthy? Then why settle for such simplicity?


    "Ms. Dawson, Preston really went all out with dinner. It looks like he thinks highly of you," Neil observed, clearly impressed by the evening''s menu.


    Finding a dish as simple as balsamic vinegar-dressed potato sd at Preston''s was a rarity in the past. And then, a full six dishes plus a soup graced the table. Preston, however, remained silent.


    Hans said, "We didn''t expect Ms. Dawson to stay over for dinner, so the fish and shrimp werest-minute additions from Mr. Tyler. Hope it''s to your liking, Ms. Dawson." "Sure," Freya reassured him. "I usually prefer a light dinner and enjoy simple, clean vors."


    With that, Freya discreetly took out her phone, snapped a photo of her meal, then sent it to Kieran.


    Sending Kieran her dinner updates had be a daily ritual for Freya, almost like clocking in for work. Each night''s check-in would her a cool million in reward.


    But this time, Kieran''s response was unusually dyed. Freya couldn''t wait, so she pocketed her phone and started eating.


    Curious, Neil asked, "Ms. Dawson, who were you messaging? Were you checking in with Mr. Sutton?"


    "Checking in? I suppose you could say that," Freya replied. "I eat on time, and Kieran pays me for it."


    Neil burst intoughter after hearing Freya''s exnation, "Getting paid to eat on time? What is this, a new kind of romance?"


    Freya nearly choked on her drink. "Romance? I''d rather die than be in a romance with him."


    Neil''s gaze shifted to Preston, noting theck of reaction on his face before turning back to Freya, "It seems Ms. Dawson loathes Kieran."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "It''s not just loathing. I want nothing to do with Mr. Sutton," Freya said through gritted teeth, her disdain palpable.


    What could have happened to make her speak so vehemently?


    "But I heard Ms. Dawson used to..." Neil trailed off, choosing his words carefully before continuing, "Used to admire Mr. Sutton quite a bit." Neil''s understatement made Freya scoff, "Admire? You mean, I used to be head over heels for Kieran, right?"


    Freya had grown ustomed to people framing her past in such terms, responding, "The past is the past, and things are different now The old Freya might have revolyed her world around Kieran, but the Freya of today doesn''t want to live for anyone. That''s all there is to it."


    "So, Ms. Dawson, since you''re over Kieran, have you considered seeing other men?" Neil''s question aimed to stee the conversation toward


    Preston. ve


    Freya wasn''t oblivious to the hint, opting for directness, "Dr. Anderson, are you trying to y matchmaker?"


    "You could say that," Neil casually replied, sipping his wine before Freya asked, "Do you have a girlfriend, Dr. Anderson?"


    The question nearly made Neil choke on his wine. "Ms. Dawson, why do you ask all of a sudden?"


    "Because I think you''re quite a catch,


    Dr. Anderson, Handsome,


    sessful, and a doctor too. It would be handy to have you around when get older and need medical care. Plus, you seem like you''d make a good life partner..."


    "Stop."

 Chapter 283

    Neil was plotting to y matchmaker for Preston but didn''t intend to get himself caught in the crossfire. If he chatted with Freya any longer, she''d probably ask for his resume and a family tree next. Neil quipped, "Ms. Dawson, I was only asking. I''m not in the market for a girlfriend."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Oh." Freya feigned disappointment, "That''s such a shame. I''m also not looking to date at the moment. Maybe you can ask me out when you''re ready to find a girlfriend."


    Neil cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to mask his difort.


    This woman was sharp. He wouldn''t dare ask Freya about anything rtionship-rted, fearing she had a thing for him. After all, with Freya''s status, which guy in their circle would dare make a move? "Are you full?" Preston asked coldly out of the blue.


    "Pretty much." Freya wasn''t hungry, so she only had some fish and shrimp.


    Preston said, "Once you''re done eating, head upstairs to write. No need to linger and chat."


    Preston sounded like a teacher. Freya stood up. "Then I''ll go write, Mr. Tyler."


    "What did you call me?"


    "Mr. Tyler." Freya exined, "You''ve been teaching me how to write, making you like my teacher. It''s not too much to call you that."


    With that, Freya headed upstairs.


    Neil shook his head at Preston. "Told you not to be so harsh with thedies. Now look. She''s treating you like a teacher. Good luck chasing after her now."


    "Got nothing better to do?" Preston shot back.


    Neil quickly bowed and focused on his meal, not uttering another word.


    Meanwhile, at the Sutton Group''s office, Kieran scrutinized the photos Freya sent on his phone, and his


    bet


    y furrowed.


    Jarrett walked in. "Mr. Sutton, we''


    got


    Foment tonight. I d out." Content belopt


    Sories


    "Come here."


    "Huh?" Jarrett approached with a puzzled look but came over to Kieran.


    Kieran handed him the phone, saying, "Take a look. Does it seem like a meal for one?"


    Jarrett observed the photo, which showed two dishes and as also


    sured the edge of another


    te.


    but


    After thinking, he said, "Looks like it''s not for one."


    "Freya doesn''t like eating much at night. How could she eat all this?"


    Kieran was puzzled. Plus, the dishware wasn''t the same as at Freya''s apartment.


    Kieran asked, "Is Freya back at her apartment?"


    "She should''ve been back by noon."


    "Who took her back?"

 Chapter 284

    "It''s Dr. Anderson." Jarrett said, "Yeah, the doc from the expert team. It seems he and Ms. Dawson hit it off right away."


    "Hit it off?" The more Kieran heard, the less he liked it.


    Was it hitting it off, or was there something more intentional?


    Beside him, Jarrett couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Sutton, didn''t you mention you didn''t want to hear anything about Ms. Dawson anymore?"


    "Who said I wanted to hear about her? I''m worried she might stir up trouble while I''m responsible for her and try to pin it on me." Kieran''s tone was icy, showing he wanted nothing to do with Freya.


    After hearing Kieran''s reply, Jarrett nodded, choosing not to say anything more.


    Knock. Knock.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the office door. Jarrett opened it and saw Kara, dressed in a ck and white striped dress, hesitating at the entrance.


    Seeing who it was, Kieran frowned, "Who told you toe here?"


    "Mr. Sutton... Audrey said you had a dinner event tonight, so she sent me over." Kara looked down, clearly embarrassed.


    Kieran''s expression turned sour. Typically, Eloise apanied Kieran to such social events. For years, Kieran had never brought anyone else to these gatherings. Audrey sending Kara over meant she was to take Eloise''s ce. "Kieran." Just then, Eloise walked in, dressed in the same clothing style.


    Seeing Kara also in a ck and white striped dress, Eloise''s face showed confusion. "And you are?"


    Eloise didn''t know Kara, but seeing her almost entirely mimicking her, Eloise felt no threat.


    Eloise wasn''t worried about such a woman taking Kieran away, just like when she saw Freya trying to copy her.


    "This is Kara." Jarrett introduced Kara with those two words.


    Pretending to be puzzled, Eloise asked, "Kara Snyder? I remember hearing about a daughter from the Snyder family in real estate, but I


    don''t know her name. Are you Ms.


    Snyder?"


    en


    "I... I..." Kara lowered her head, embarrassed by Eloise''s question. She was nowhere close to being the Snyder family''s daughter, just a country girl.


    But such a confession was something Kara couldn''t bring herself to make in front of Eloise.


    "Thisdy isn''t Ms. Snyder. She''s Kara Orson, Ms. Dawson''s cousin." Jarrett finally stepped in to rify Kara''s identity.


    When Eloise heard this, she acted surprised, "Oh, you''re Ms. Dawson''s cousin?wouldn''t have guessed if Jarrett hadn''t mentioned it. You and Ms. Dawson don''t look much alike, but that dress..."  en


    "This dress... I picked it up after Freya was done with it..." Kara scrambled to exin.


    But the truth was, the dress wasn''t one of Freya''s hand-me-downs. Freya had burned all of those clothes long ago. Johanna had bought this new dress for her.


    Everyone present could tell Kara


    was lying After all, Freya''s physique was nothing Kara could match. The dress fit Kara perfectly, which wouldn''t have been the case with Freya''s old clothes.


    Eloise smiled slightly. "So, Ms. Orson, what brings you here to see Kieran today?"All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

 Chapter 285

    Facing Eloise''s inquiry, Kara was utterly speechless. Could she say she was to tag along with Kieran for a social gathering? Compared to Eloise''s background, how could she measure up?


    "I, I was here to..." Kara couldn''t bring herself to speak.


    In front of the real deal, how could she dare admit she was there to apany Kieran to a social event?


    "Grandmother asked her toe along with me," Kieran said, his tone casual.


    His words made Kara''s face turn beet red.


    "Ms. Orson, no offense, but this event will be crowded with international tycoons. Your presence could cause some misunderstandings and might hinder smoothmunication," Eloise paused deliberately before continuing, "How proficient are you in foreignnguages? Can you engage in daily conversation? Technical jargon is also quite important here. I assume you''re familiar with that, right?"


    Hearing this, Eloise raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? Is that so?"


    "I..."


    Kara was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by Eloise''s barrage. She had thought being by Kieran''s side merely required her to have a good drinking capacity but hadn''t thoughtnguage skills were also a necessity.


    Kara had good grades, but without experience abroad, she could not chat smoothly with foreigners.


    Eloise continued, "You know Kieran''s status. If outsiders see him with apanion like you, it might tarnish his reputation and the Sutton Group''s. I suggest you brush up on yournguage skills beforeing back." With that, Eloise walked to Kieran, slipping her arm through his, and said, "Kieran, shall we?"


    "It seems Ms. Orson isn''t quite familiar with this stuff."


    "Sure." Kieran stood up without giving Kara another nce.


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Go back home. Don''t let me see you stepping into the office again." Kieran''s voice was icy.


    Standing there, Kara trembled at his words. It was her first time meeting Eloise. She had tried to find information about her online, but Kieran had protected Eloise so well that she couldn''t find any photos. Everyone in their circle knew Eloise was Kieran''s exception.


    Kara thought dressing up like Freya would help her get closer to Kieran. However, after seeing Eloise, she realized the huge gap between them.


    Meanwhile, Kieran and Eloise had entered the elevator. Kieran was stoic as Eloise finally said, "Kieran, did Audrey... take a liking to that girl?"


    "Yes."


    "Could you possibly..."


    "She''s not fit to be the Sutton family''s futuredy."


    Eloise smiled at his words, but Kieran added coldly, "I didn''t ask you toe today. How did you know about tonight''s event?"


    Confronted with Kieran''s question, Eloise''s eyes welled up with tears. "You''ve been ignoring me these days. I just wanted to see you..."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "I''ve said I would ensure your safety in Echo City, but Ellie, you must also understand boundaries."


    At his words, Eloise''s expression changed subtly.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 286

    The elevator doors had swung open.


    Jarrett kept Eloise at bay inside the elevator, then thoughtfully pressed the button for the underground parking lot, saying, "Ms. Harwood, our ride''s waiting on the ground level. You best head back on your own." Seeing Kieran reject her, Eloise felt a sharp pang in her heart. Kieran had always pampered her before. It was the first time he''d rushed her away like this.


    A nameless sense of foreboding surged within her. Women''s intuition could be irrationally urate. Kieran must have found someone he fancied.


    Outside the Sutton Group, as Kieran watched the car pull away, Jarrett reported, "Ms. Harwood should have left by now."


    "Check the employees. Find out who''s been tipping her off."


    "Only the secretarial department knows your schedule. I''ll start digging and find the mole."


    "Once you find them, kick them out." Kieran''s tone was cold as he said, "The Sutton Group has no ce for traitors." ""Understood."


    The night was quiet. In Preston''s study, Freya was rotating her somewhat loose wrists. Her left hand began to numb.


    After a day''s effort, her handwriting was finally legible. But it was still far from Preston''s ability to write with both hands equally well.


    "He can write identically with both hands... What monster..." Freya murmured, not noticing Preston had walked in until he spoke indifferently, "A monster like me."


    Startled by his sudden presence, Freya looked up sharply. Indeed, Preston had entered the room without her noticing.


    Noting it was nine o''clock at night, Preston handed Freya a drink.


    Eyeballing the dark red concoction with suspicion, Freya hesitated, "What kind of drink is this? I don''t usually have beverages at night."


    "It''s sour cherry juice."


    "Sour cherry juice?" Freya looked puzzled at Preston, asking, "Why give me this?"


    "You''ve been skipping meals at night for years, which isn''t great for your stomach. You''re used to it, but this juice can help improve your


    swnove.n


    stomach health. Eventually, vol. ne start feeling hungry at nov


    "Really?" Freya eyed the sour cherry juice, the tart aroma wafting up. Finally, she closed her eyes and downed the drink in one go. The juice was a sweet and sour mix, primarily of cherries but with odd vors.


    "What else did you put in besides sour cherries?"


    "A secret recipe." Preston''s tone was nonchnt.


    Freya regarded him skeptically.


    A secret recipe? What in the world?


    The room was lit only by a warm-toned deskmp.


    Preston casually sat on a couch, pouring himself a half ss ofN?velDrama.Org content rights.


    21?


    Wy, looking rxed, a stark


    contrast to his intimidating demeanor earlier.


    Time ticked by.


    Using her left hand, Freya struggled to finish an economics essay she had been mulling over. Before she could sign her name, Preston stepped forward and picked up the paper from her. Preston slowly read, "The Echo City Economic Essay..."

 Chapter 287

    "Give it back!" Freya instinctively stood up, aiming to snatch the essay from Preston''s grasp, but he had swiveled around, wine ss in hand, sinking into the couch to peruse her work. With her leg making it challenging to move swiftly, Freya had to approach Preston to retrieve her paper.


    Eventually, Freya plopped down on the sofa, disregarding Preston''s actions. But Preston seemed genuinely engrossed in Freya''s essay, his face asionally breaking into a smile. Seeing Preston''s amusement, Freya couldn''t shake off the feeling that he was mocking her limited understanding.


    "I just threw it together. No need to make a big deal out of it," Freya remarked.


    "Who taught you this? Your professor?" Preston looked at Freya with evident curiosity.


    "No, it''s all my ramblings, just scribbles!" Freya responded, feeling a tad embarrassed under Preston''s gaze. She couldn''t sit still anymore. She rose to stand before him, determined to take back the paper from his hands.


    Preston allowed Freya to take the essay,menting, "It''s quite good. If you submit this for your final project, I bet you''ll graduate with flying colors."


    "Oh? You''ve studied at Summit University?"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Nope."


    "Then how do you know I''d graduate?"


    Freya knew Preston hadn''t pursued higher education. She folded the essay and shoved it into her pocket, saying, "Summit University is all the offspring of tycoons, moguls, and politicians. Their insights are leagues beyond mine. My humble contributions are hardly worth showcasing."


    "So that''s what you think," Preston observed.


    "Shouldn''t I? I''m only stating the facts."


    Preston wanted to tell her she had


    no idea how brilliant she was. But seeing Freya''sck of confidence, Preston smiled. "After reading your essay, which is rich in detailed arguments and packed with


    technical terms, it''s clear you have a solid grasp of economics. It


    presents a fresh academic


    perspective, so I think it would work


    well as your thesis."


    "Really?" Freya looked at Preston skeptically. "You''re trying to tter me, aren''t you? After all, you''ve never even been to college." She immediately regretted her words. People of influence typically didn''t appreciate reminders of their shorings.


    Preston, however, seemed unfazed, replying, "True, I didn''t go to college. But those who did are now working for me. Education is important, but having a sharp mind is crucial.


    don''t have a college degree. €


    but


    those with diplomas are part of my


    enterprise. Does that part of my


    "You''re bragging about yourself, aren''t you?"


    sense?"


    Freya never considered herself particrly smart. Her father had modest expectations for her, not even aspiring to attend college, just wishing for her happiness.


    So, she had never applied herself in


    school, and even getting into Summit University felt to Freya like a result of her father''s influence rather than her merit. Once at Summit University, she had devoted herself to Kieran, neglecting her studies even more.


    Freya was uncertain of her academic standing. She only knew that Eloise excelled, so Kieran was drawn to her. Imitating Eloise, Freya felt utterly insignificant. Preston caught the self-deprecation in Freya''s eyes.


    "Your writing''s good. Keep at it. Why don''t you stay here tonight? No need to rush back," he suggested lightly.

 Chapter 288

    "Wait up!" Freya said, "What do you mean I don''t have to go home? Are you saying I should stay here?"


    She couldn''t quite believe what she was hearing.


    "Is there a problem?" Preston''s tone was indifferent as he nced at his watch and said, "Ms. Dawson, take a look at the time. Nobody''s got the time to drive you home." "I can make my way back."


    "No cabs allowed at my doorstep."


    Freya frowned, asking, "What kind of rule is that?"


    "You know, I''ve made quite a few enemies overseas. If they find out where I live, it could spell trouble. So, please, Ms. Dawson, don''t make things harder for me."N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    When Preston said this, Freya could almost see a chilling gleam in his eye, the kind one might have aftermitting a cold-blooded act.


    Freya suddenly found herself at a loss for words. This ce was secluded. Hardly a soul passed by. It wouldn''t take much effort if Preston wanted her gone.


    "I... I can walk out and call a cab." Freya''s voice was barely a whisper.


    Preston raised an eyebrow. "If you''re up for a midnight trek of over a mile, be my guest."


    He made a point of looking at Freya''s injured leg as he said this. If Freya could manage a mile...


    Freya asked, "Where will I sleep then?"


    "Turn left outside the door and pick any room you like. There''s plenty to choose from."


    With that, Preston casually lit a cigar. Freya wasn''t fond of the smell of smoke, so she quickly grabbed her crutch and left the study. Noticing Freya''s distaste for the cigar, Preston took a single puff and then snuffed it out.


    Outside in the hallway, Freya turned left and randomly chose a room. It was bare, almost empty, giving it a spacious feel. Freya was puzzled. For a two-story vi, it seemed unusually sparsely decorated.


    By then, Preston had also left the study. Seeing Freya had chosen the


    sondroom on the left, he said,


    "You''re taking this one?"


    set


    "This one will do." Freya had settled onto the navy blue bedding because she just couldn''t be bothered to move anymore.


    The other two rooms were closed,


    probably upied by Hans and Neil, leaving her with the room at the back. Her mobility was limited, and this room was conveniently close.


    swng


    "It''s yours," Preston said, then turned around and returned to the study.


    What did he mean by ''it''s yours''? Freya frowned in confusion. Preston always said things she couldn''t grasp.

 Chapter 289

    It was past midnight, yet the light in the study was still on.


    Tossing and turning in bed, Neil couldn''t sleep. When he finally gave up and exited his room, he spotted the beacon of lighting from the study door. He approached and knocked before pushing the door open.


    There, sprawled on the couch amidst a sea of papers, was Preston, chuckling over a document in his hand.


    "Look who''s burning the midnight oil," Neil remarked as he entered, bncing two sses of whiskey in his hands-one for Preston and the other for himself. Preston barely sipped his drink before revealing, "Gave my room away."


    "To whom? Hans?" Neil probed, getting no response. He ventured a guess, "Freya?"


    Preston nodded. "Yes."


    Neil was visibly stunned. "Freya? But aren''t you the guy with a no-entry policy for your room? I''ve never even stepped foot in there."


    Preston remained silent, his well-known dislike for others touching his belongings evident. However, it seemed that Freya was an exception to his rule.


    "I''ve got to say, though, that girl''s


    quite the character. She reminds me of this feisty kitten I had overseas, always puffing up and showing her ws, but in a yful way. She''s got personality. She suits you." Neil leaned back onto the couch and


    continued, "So, are you shifting your sights?"


    Preston had seen Eloise. To him, she was neither particrly intelligent nor remarkable. And Kieran seemed indifferent to her. But Freya was a different story. She mattered to Kieran.


    "But with the Dawson family being out of favor, I doubt you''d gain much from aligning with them. If Kieran doesn''t care for Freya, you''re not trapping anyone."


    Preston hade to Echo City not to contest with the Beckett family but to y them against each other for his gain. Yet, he needed a lever to engage Kieran''s more formidable side, and Freya seemed to be it.


    "About her hand, are you confident you can heal it?" Preston changed the subject.


    "It''s partly skill, partly her determination to recover. A lot of patients don''t heal because they don''t have the courage to push through or they''re trapped by their mindset. But Ms. Dawson seems tough. It shouldn''t be an issue."


    Neil paused and added, "You knew what you were doing when you had Eloise''s ce trashed-to see whom Kieran would prioritize. And it''s Freya. Hence your sudden interest in roping her into your schemes." "You''ve said enough," Preston replied calmly.


    "Okay, I''ve overstepped. But you know it''s true." Setting down his ss, Neil stood up and concluded, "Sweet dreams, then. Goodnight."This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 290

    Neil spun on his heel and left the study, closing the door behind him as he went. Preston watched the half-full ss of whiskey on the desk before downing the remaining liquid in one gulp. It was around midnight.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Ss had finished all his tasks for the night and nced at Kieran, sitting in a booth at Eclipse Lounge, asionally checking his phone with a distracted air.


    "You''ve been off in your world all night. What''s going on?" Ss asked hesitantly.


    Kieran returned to reality, putting his phone down with a slight hint of irritation.


    Ss knew Kieran wasn''t one to ck off at work, so he quickly deduced it had something to do with Freya.


    "It''s Ms. Dawson again, isn''t it?" When Kieran remained silent, Ss knew he''d hit the nail on the head. It always came back to Freya. The old Kieran would never have been like this.


    "Let me guess. You''re restless because Ms. Dawson hasn''t messaged you all day, right?"


    Seeing the look on Kieran''s face, Ss knew he''d guessed correctly again.


    So, Ss said, "Face it, Kieran. You''ve fallen for Freya."


    Kieran''s expression changed instantly. "Fallen for Freya? What nonsense are you spouting?"


    "It''s not nonsense. It''s all there! Liking someone means you can''t help wanting to contact them to know what they''re up to. How many times have you checked your phone now, hoping to see a message from Freya? I know you''re too proud to message her first, but doesn''t that frustrate you?"


    Noticing that Ss seemed to have seen through him, Kieran''s expression darkened.


    "People said Ms. Dawson was into you, and you wouldn''t give her the time of day. Now, she''s stopped orbiting around you, and you''re the interested one. You''re just... well..."


    Kieran''s re cut off Ss''s following words. "Freya is a woman who''d do anything for money. How could I fall for someone like that?"


    Hearing this, Ss shook his head. "If


    Ms. Dawson was after money and status, why would she call off the engagement? After all, your grandmother adored her. She could have easily taken Mrs. Sutton''s ce. There was no need for her to go through all that."


    "That''s because she''s set her sights on Ronan and Preston. She wants more than Mrs. Sutton''s position. She wants me, well, my attention, Kieran reasoned, though he seemed to find his argument unconvincing.


    Seeing through Freya''s disdain and loathing for him these past days, Kieran couldn''t believe Freya was after him.


    Ss was about to call out Kieran''s


    vanity but quickly focused on the matter. "So, Ms. Dawson is a fool? Would she rather chase after Ronan and Preston, leaving Mrs. Sutton''s position behind? Not to mention, with Ronan''s uncertain inclinations and Preston being such a dangerous character, she''d rather throw herself at them. She wouldn''t know what hit her!"


    Listening to Ss, Kieran fell silent.


    "Face it, Kieran, you''re in love with Ms. Dawson. You''re just not aware of it, and that''s why you''re so distracted."


    "Enough," Kieran stood up, his tone cold. "Don''t bring this up again."


    With that, Kieran addressed his secretary at the door, "Jarrett, drive me home."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett led Kieran out of the nightclub.


    Ss watched Kieran''s retreating figure and shook his head in resignation.


    Outside Eclipse Lounge, Kieran had gotten into the car.


    Jarrett asked, "Mr. Sutton, should we head straight home or..."


    Kieran instructed, "Go to Freya''s apartment."

 Chapter 291

    Hearing the suggestion, Jarrett hesitated, "Head over to Ms. Dawson''s apartment? But, Mr. Sutton, it''s quitete. Don''t you think..." ''Isn''t it a bit inappropriate?'' He didn''t dare to finish his thought aloud.


    Kieran, however, paused before asking, "Do you think I have feelings for Freya?"


    "Well..." Jarrett was at a loss for words. He thought, ''Shouldn''t the person involved be the one who knows best about their feelings?''


    "Speak up." Kieran''s voice turned colder.


    With no choice left, Jarrett said, "It''s just that... since the engagement party, Mr. Sutton, your behavior toward Ms. Dawson seems... different than before."


    Kieran exined, "That''s because she always manages to get under my skin. It''s frustration."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "But Mr. Sutton, if you didn''t care about someone, how could their words have the power to anger you?


    Jarrett''s remark left Kieran momentarily stunned.


    Jarrett continued, "When you''re around Ms. Harwood, you''re always polite since you''ve made amitment to her. You take responsibility seriously, and you promised to take care of her, so you won''t let anyone mess with her. Even when people spread rumors about you, Mr. Sutton, you just shrug them off. But with Ms. Dawson, it''s different. She''s the only one who really gets to you emotionally."


    "Enough." Frowning, Kieranmanded, "We''re going to Freya''s apartment."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett directed the car toward Freya''s apartment.


    Standing at the apartment


    Kieran hesitated, not


    forward. Contes


    swivel.ne


    It was past midnight, and he wondered whether Freya was already asleep.


    "Mr. Sutton..." Unable to hold back, Jarrett spoke up.


    The security guard would likelye over to inquire if they didn''t move soon. "Come up with me."


    "Me?" Jarrett was stunned, wondering what his role was in this.


    Kieran didn''t offer him a chance to refuse, heading toward the apartment''s elevator.


    Upon reaching Freya''s floor, Kieran stood at her door, hesitating before finally knocking. There was no response from inside the apartment. Upon seeing so, Kieran''s brows furrowed more tightly.


    He knocked again. But still, there


    was


    Hewer. Realizing something


    elet


    was amiss, Kieran decisively used his key to open the door.


    The apartment was empty. Freya was nowhere to be found, not even in the bedroom.


    Kieran''s expression grew increasingly grim.


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    "Find her!"

 Chapter 292

    In the dead of night, Freya was jerked awake by a nightmare. In her dream, she got kidnapped and boarded the ship again. The salty sea breeze and the kidnapper who pinned her down were all too vivid. When Freya opened her eyes, she was in cold sweat. It was unsettling, feeling as if the ordeal had happened to her all over again.


    Realizing it was all a dream, Freya rubbed her temples, fatigued. Suddenly, the lights in her room flickered on.


    Freya shot up in bed, eximing, "Who''s there?"


    Preston was standing at the doorway.


    Upon recognizing him, Freya sighed with relief and said, "What are you doing standing at my door in the middle of the night? You scared the life out of me."


    "Scared? What were you screaming about then?"


    "Screaming? What did I scream?"


    "I could hear you from the next room, begging someone to... save you."


    Hearing this, Freya felt a chill run down her spine. Had she been talking in her sleep about her nightmare? The thought made Freya feel somewhat exposed, and she cautiously asked, "Did I say anything else?" "Just that, nothing more."


    That was a relief. Freya sighed with relief, d she hadn''t revealed more in her sleep.


    "Should I have heard something else?" Preston teased.


    "No! It was just a bad dream. I dreamt of something evil chasing me, so I kept shouting for help. Sorry for disturbing your rest, Mr. Tyler." "Can you go back to sleep?"


    "No." Ever since she had this second chance at life, Freya had been haunted by nightmares, fearing she''d wake up back on that dreadful ship.


    This time, her anxiety had sparked another nightmare, likely because she was staying at Preston''s ce. After these dreams, Freya found it harder and harder to fall back asleep.


    Preston suggested, "If you can''t sleep, get up. I know something that might help."


    "Oh?" Freya was curious but cautious.


    She followed Preston to his study, bracing herself for what he might suggest.


    "You''re not going to make me practice handwriting, are you? I can refuse, right?" She half-joked, hoping for an alternative to the hours of writing practice she''d endured.


    Preston replied nonchntly, "A drink might help. It makes sleepe easier."


    He poured a ss of whiskey and handed it to Freya.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    atel


    Freya wasn''t big on drinking. Her only brushes with alcohol were the asional, moderate cocktails at the Eclipse Lounge. But given her trouble sleepingtely, she figured she might as well give it a shot.


    With a resigned gesture, Freya downed the whiskey Preston offered her.


    The taste was bitter and spicy and not to her liking at all. It was a far cry from the mixed drinks she was used to at the Eclipse Lounge. Preston watched her reaction, slightly surprised.

 Chapter 293

    "What''s up? Why are you staring at me like that?"


    A bit puzzled, Freya looked at Preston and said, "Didn''t you tell me to have a drink?"


    Preston replied, "I told you to sip, not to chug."


    Saying so, Preston took back the ss from Freya. "This drink''s strong. One ss is enough for you. You might have a headache tomorrow."


    "I''m already feeling a bit dizzy." Freya leaned back on the couch, saying, "Mixing it with some juice might have tasted better. But didn''t Dr. Anderson tell me I should drink with my injury?"


    "A little sip helps with sleep."


    "That''s true." Freya had never seen the appeal of alcohol until she began to feel its effects sneaking up on her. Then, out of the blue, she blurted out, "Tell me, do you have ulterior motives for being close to me?"


    When Preston caught Freya''s direct gaze, he knew she was drunk. Her tolerance was much worse than he had anticipated.


    Freya stood up and went straight for the ss in Preston''s hand.


    Caught off guard, Preston let Freya take it from him.


    Freya poured herself another ss and gulped it down quickly. This time, she let out a burp, and the dizzy feeling got even stronger.


    "You must have an agenda with me." Freya reaffirmed her suspicion, then suddenly leaned in closer to Preston. That direct gaze made Preston chuckle.


    Freya said, "Let me guess. You''re trying to use me against Kieran, right?"


    Preston''s smile gradually faded.


    Freya continued, "I''ve thought about it. Your original target was supposed to be Eloise. Why switch to mee


    suddenly? There must be something


    fishy."


    §Ú§Þ


    "What do you think I want to use you for?" Preston''s tone had a hint of danger.


    Freya moved even closer to Preston. Her eyes were so captivating that one nce could easily trap you.


    Preston waited for Freya toy out his entire scheme.


    However, he heard Freya saying word by word, "I guess you must adore Eloise and can''t bear to use her, so you came after me!"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    When Preston heard this answer, he suddenly found it amusing. He couldn''t believe this woman thought she knew what he was up to.


    "I adore Eloise?" Preston repeated the question.


    "Yes, you''re madly in love with


    Eloise. Knowing I''m Kieran''s fianc¨¦e,


    you deliberately flirt with me. You


    want to use me to hurt Kieran so that Eloise would be yours. If Kieran finds out I conspired with you against him, he''d torture me Perfect, you could also get your revenge for Eloise!" Freya got more agitated as she spoke, feeling as if Preston was a nemesis from a past life.


    ?


    "You''re drunk," Preston said as he stood up and reached out to steady Freya by her shoulders. "Given bow you''re feeling, it''s time to head to


    bed."


    BUMS


    Freya stared at Preston for a while, her eyes gradually reddening.


    Seeing this, Preston paused.


    The next second, Freya''s tears started flowing. "It hurts..."


    "Hurts?"


    "My hand hurts... my legs too..." Freya''s face turned red instantly, eyes reddening, making it hard for anyone to reprimand her.


    "Let me have a look." Preston pressed Freya down on the couch to inspect her injuries.

 Chapter 294

    Checking the wound and finding nothing amiss aside from a slight warmth, Preston lifted his head and said, "You''ve had too much to drink."


    Facing Preston''s calm response, Freya cried harder. "Why did you trick me into drinking? Dad always said, girls shouldn''t drink too much! You''re not a good guy!"


    Preston rubbed his forehead, admitting that letting Freya drink to fall asleep was a terrible idea. Finally, he conceded to Freya''s usations and said, "Okay, I''m not a good guy. So, what do you want now?" Freya sniffled, "You... you apologize to me."


    Preston silently observed as Freya rambled on.


    Seeing her tears escte, Preston finallypromised, "Okay, I''m sorry."


    "That didn''t sound sincere!"


    "What counts as sincere?"


    "Make a contract, saying you''ll never bully Freya again or make her join your crazy schemes!"


    "Maybe I should offer youpensation, too?"


    "Yep!"


    "You''re not even drunk." Preston stood up, refusing to deal with Freya''s tantrum on the couch any longer.


    But as he turned to leave, Freya suddenly stood up, yelling, "Don''t you dare walk away! Ah!"


    Freya stumbled forward, trying to grab Preston''s sleeve but missing because he moved away too quickly. Almost instantly, Preston turned and caught Freya in his arms. "Done with your tantrum?" "Yeah."


    Preston smelled strongly of tobo, and Freya instinctively wanted to push him away butcked the strength.


    "If you''re done, go back to sleep."


    "I can''t stand up." Freya''s legs were sore, having arrived without her cane.


    "Want me to carry you?"


    "Not really... Ah!"


    Before she could finish, Preston hoisted her onto his shoulder.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    The sudden loss of bnce sobered Freya up. "Preston! Please put me down! I can walk!"


    Regardless of Freya''s protests,


    Preston ignored her. Being tall, Freya felt her insides churn from the


    Tel.n


    height, her stomach burning.


    Eventually, Preston threw Freya onto


    the bed.


    en


    Freyanded with a wince, tears blurring her vision as she looked at Preston and said, "Now I really can''t move."


    "What are you two doing up sote?"


    Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Neil emerged from his room. Spotting the scene, he froze, "Preston! What have you done?"


    Entering, Neil was hit by the overwhelming smell of alcohol.


    Frowning, Neil said, "She''s injured. How could she drink?"


    He then adjusted Freya''s position, but even the slightest movement caused her pain in her injured back.


    Unable to hold back his frustration,


    Neil snapped, "Preston! Do you think she''s one of your buddies? You can''t throw a girl on the bed like that!"


    "I, I didn''t know." Preston had never been this close to a woman. He only thought Freya was light and didn''t


    swn y


    realize his mistake until it was toote.

 Chapter 295

    "Does it hurt here?" Neil asked, gently probing Freya''s back. "Hey, hey, don''t move... Stop, stop."


    Freya winced in pain. The fall onto the bed and Preston''s not-so-gentle push seemed to have worsened her condition.


    Neil examined Freya''s back concernedly before saying, "It''s nothing serious. You just bumped into some bone. You''ll be fine after some rest."


    "I thought I was a goner at Preston''s hands," Freya said, casting a resentful nce at Preston, who stood awkwardly to the side.


    Neil adjusted his sses and chided, "Why on earth were you drinking?"


    "I... couldn''t sleep," Freya mumbled, embarrassed. She couldn''t bring herself to admit her nightmares had scared her awake. It seemed too humiliating.


    "I bet Preston led you astray, right?" Neil used, turning his gaze toward Preston. "You know she''s a delicate flower, not as sturdy as the buddies you''re used to roughhousing with. If you break her, what are you going to do? Spend the rest of your life making it up to her?"


    Freya looked at Neil and asked, "Dr. Anderson, can I ask you something?"


    "Sure, what''s up?"


    "Does Preston have some health issue?"


    "What? Of course not! How could Preston have health issues?"


    "Then, is he unable to find someone to settle down with?"


    "Well... Preston''s got the looks and the money, a real catch. But he might be too intense, which scares thedies away."


    "No wonder," Freya nodded in understanding.


    Puzzled, Neil asked, "No wonder what?"


    "No wonder you''re keen on setting me up with Mr. Tyler. You''re afraid he''ll end up alone."


    Freya and Neil didn''t notice


    100%


    Preston''s darkening expression the clock struck four in the morning,


    and Freya''s intoxication began to


    fade.


    Regret washed over her as she recalled her drunken antics before Preston. ''Freya, oh Freya, you''ve done it this time. Anyone but Preston would have been fine. After all, Preston will be part of Eloise''s team. He''s not someone to get close to, let alone offend.''


    Meanwhile, back in his study, Preston was deep in thought.


    Sitting close by, Neilmented, "Ms.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    How could you be rough with such a delicate girl? Hey, Preston, are you


    is quite the character.


    "She said I had ulterior motives for using her against Kieran."


    "What? She knows?" Neil jumped up from the sofa, rmed. "Or does she suspect our intentions?"


    "She thinks my real target should have been Eloise, not her," Preston continued.


    Neil grew more anxious as he listened. How could Freya know about Preston''s original ns? "And then?" Neil urged.


    Preston paused before adding, "She said I''m head over heels for Eloise, doing all this to be with her." "What? That doesn''t make sense," Neil eximed, utterly confused.


    Preston''s supposed undying love for Eloise? Where on earth did Freya get that idea?


    Preston was as baffled, but Freya''s conviction had nted a seed of doubt in his mind.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 296

    When Preston was abroad, he heard through the grapevine that Kieran had a thing for ady named Eloise. Naturally, curiosity got the best of him. But upon finally meeting Eloise, she seemed ordinary, nothing out of the ordinary.


    And there was Freya. From the moment Prestonid eyes on her, he could tell she was a woman full of mischief and charm. Somehow, Preston found himself inexplicably drawn to her.


    It baffled Preston how Freya could tell he had a thing for Eloise, thinking Preston was head over heels in love with her.


    "Don''t overthink it," Neil said, lifting his ss to pour himself some whisky. "Hans has looked into Freya''s background. She hasn''t left Echo City in over twenty years. She''s not worldly."


    As Neil was about to take a sip, Preston snatched the ss from his hand.


    "What the heck?" Neil eximed, surprised.


    "She''s used it," Preston replied, leaving Neil speechless.


    The morning had broken. Freya had fallen asleep sometime during the night and only woke up around noon. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, gently waking her. She stretched, feeling a slight headache, which Preston had warned her she''d feel this way. Knock, knock.


    "Come in," Freya answered when she heard a knock at the door.


    Hans entered. "Ms. Dawson, lunch is ready."


    "Got it," she replied, quickly freshening up before heading downstairs.


    Preston and Neil were in the dining room. The table was set with simple yet satisfying dishes. Preston


    seemed to prefer less greasy food Each dish had just a hint of meat, and the main course was surprisingly nd, just some rolls. However, there was a small, exquisitely prepared te of pasta before Freya and Neil.


    "Come, sit," Neil gestured to Freya.


    She sat opposite Preston.


    The first dish was saut¨¦ed


    mushrooms with rapini, which Freya quite liked. Then came broli saut¨¦ed with shrimp. Freya was also a fan. They had fried eggs and soup. They were all good.


    Seeing Freya enjoying the meal, Neilmented, "Really? Ourdy here is fine with these simple dishes?"


    "I don''t mind them. I''m not much for greasy food, either," Freya replied, tasting a bit of each dish.


    Neil pushed the broli and shrimp to her. "This one, Preston had Hans make it for you."


    "You guys don''t seem to like shrimp much, huh?" Freya observed, recalling Preston and Hans had hardly touched it the night before.


    "They''re not into seafood," Neil shrugged.


    "Why not?"


    "Just a habit," he replied nonchntly.


    Freya nced at Preston, who,


    along with Hans, mostly stuck to the vegetarian options, pairing pickles with olls as if it was the most naturalbo in the world.


    Preston enjoyed such simple meals despite his reputation as a big shot overseas.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 297

    Freya couldn''t help but feel self-conscious as she caught Preston''s gaze drifting toward her. Quickly, she diverted her attention, only for it tond on the sandwich Hans was devouring with the enthusiasm that made it seem like a delicacy despite it being a in sandwich. "Ms. Dawson, would you like a sandwich?" Hans asked, noticing her curious gaze.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "Could I?" Freya inquired with hesitation.


    "Of course," Hans replied, fetching another sandwich from the kitchen counter and cing it before her.


    Freya added some cheese and took a bite. It was, after all, a sandwich and cheese-nothing extraordinary.


    "If it''s not to your liking. Don''t force yourself," Preston said without looking up.


    Freya nced at the sandwich in her hand and retorted, "Who said so? It''s quite nice for a change." Then, she took another defiant bite.


    Despite her usually small appetite, Freya finished the entire sandwich because she didn''t want to waste it. Thankfully, the portion wasn''t toorge, so she could enjoy a satisfying meal at Preston''s without feeling overwhelmed.


    Preston couldn''t help but smile at her reaction.


    "Full?" Preston inquired, noticing Freya''s slightly flushed cheeks.


    Nodding emphatically, Freya confirmed she couldn''t eat another bite.


    "Time to practice your handwriting then," Preston suggested.


    Freya got up from her chair and limped upstairs. At the staircase, she finally remembered, "Mr. Tyler, do you have a charger? My phone diedst night."


    Busy washing dishes, Preston replied casually, "I''ll have Hans bring one up to you."


    "Great!" Freya epted and headed upstairs.


    Soon after, Hans delivered the charger, and Freya thanked him before gging in her phone. She hadn''t grasped the gravity of the situation until her phone booted up and began disying a barrage of notifications.


    Shocked, Freya quickly noticed that most were missed calls from Kieran, several messages from Jarrett, and a flood of texts and app notifications. Kieran had sent numerous messages the night before, none of which Freya received because her phone was off.


    Herplexion darkened. ''Could Kieran have realized I wasn''t in my apartmentst night?''


    "Ms. Dawson, the boss wants you in his study," Hans informed her.


    "I can''t go to the study now. I need to head home," Freya stated, not wanting to provoke Kieran further against the Dawson family.


    With the Dawson Group still in a


    precarious stage of development, any move from Kieran could jeopardize her ns. With that thought, Freya hastily gathered her things. Preston appeared at the doorway as she was about to leave the room.

 Chapter 298

    When Freya''s gaze met Preston''s, she hesitated, her previous determination to leave momentarily faltering.


    "Where are you off to?" Preston asked, his tone indifferent.


    "Kieran''s looking for me. I have to go home for a bit," Freya replied.


    Hearing that, Preston pressed, "And what about your writing? Are you still practicing?"


    "Um... Yes, but..."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Practice isn''t something you do sporadically. If Kieran''s calling you back every day, does that mean you''ll leave every day?"


    Freya fell silent under Preston''s reprimand, not daring to speak up.


    Preston added coldly, "You''re free to go, of course. But if you do, don''t bother returning to me for writing lessons."


    At this, his tone turned icy, leaving Freya with no doubt about how serious he was. She had produced an essay with her left hand just the night before, and abandoning her progress was not an option. Overhearing themotion upstairs, Neil came down to investigate. Seeing both silent, he asked, "What''s going on here?"


    "I... I wanted to head back for a bit, but Mr. Tyler isn''t keen on the idea," Freya exined, cautiously watching Preston''s reaction.


    Preston remained impassive, which Neil quickly picked up on. "Is it Kieran calling you back?"


    Freya nodded. "Yes."


    "You''ve called off the engagement. Why bother with Kieran?" As Neil spoke, he gently pushed Freya back onto the couch, continuing, "I get it You''re worried Kieran might retaliate against the Dawson family. But look. Preston''s taken you under his wing as your mentor. He''ll look out for you."


    Freya found herself reassured by Neil''s words and sat back down.


    "If Kieran bes a nuisance, I''ll take you back tonight, iming it''s for a physical therapy session. With the engagement off, he has no say over who you''re friends with t makes sense, right?"


    "Right. That makes sense."


    Comforted by Neil''s logic, Freya no longer felt inclined to put up with Kieran. She would have cut ties with him long ago had she not felt outmatched. "Then stay here and rx. I''ll ensure you get back safely once it''s dark," Neil promised, trying to put Freya at ease.


    Observing Preston''s silent agreement, Freya nodded. "Okay, thanks, Dr. Anderson."


    "Don''t mention it! You''re Preston''s student, which makes you mine, too. Preston and I have always had each other''s backs."


    Noticing Preston''s gaze, Neil quickly excused himself. "Uh, I''ve got things to attend to. I''ll be back tonight."


    With that, Neil left, and so did Hans, leaving Freya''s room in silence.


    Turning to Preston, Freya ventured, "So... should I go and practice writing in the study?"


    "Suit yourself," Preston replied without a nce, leaving.


    Thanks to Neil''s intervention, Freya felt justified in staying in the Tyler Mansion, unlike the previous night when Preston had kept a close eye on her.

 Chapter 299

    Freya had buried in books the whole afternoon. Preston hadn''t uttered a word when her wrists ached from the relentless practice.


    Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Freya broke the silence. "Mr. Tyler, how do you think I''m doing?"


    She handed over a sheet of paper to Preston, her effortsid bare.


    Preston barely nced at it before saying, "Keep writing."


    "Write what?"Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Rare words." Out of nowhere, Preston produced a list of a hundred rare words,ying the challenge before Freya.


    At first nce, Freya felt as if the sky was falling. These words were not part of everyday vocabry. Each one was like a cryptic symbol, with some strokes numbering over twenty. The print was far from clear, demanding close inspection of even the tiniest details, like a tricky bend or hook that could easily lead to mistakes. That was a real test of penmanship. Freya doubted that even her strong right hand could beautifully craft these hundred rare words.


    Preston was asking the impossible.


    "Mr. Tyler..."


    "Finish it or go home," Preston said coldly, looking like he had anticipated her protest.


    Under pressure, Freya had no choice but to face the daunting list again, picking up her pen with difficulty.


    When Neil returned home, the day had turned to dusk, his handsome face showing signs of hard work. He casually pushed open the door to Preston''s study.


    Seeing Freya practicing at the coffee table, Neil paused, then said, "You''re still at it? Preston, how can you be so heartless with a girl?" Approaching Freya, Neil surveyed the cryptic text on the table, his expression indescribable.


    "How is it? Can you make anything out of it?"


    Meeting Freya''s hopeful gaze, Neil


    paused before managing to save


    "The writing... it''s good, but maybe it would look better on yellow paper!"


    Freya forced a smile. So, her writing resembled cryptic symbols?


    ncing at his watch, Neil said, "It''s gettingte. I should take you back to your apartment."


    Freya was eager to return. Despite Neil''s reassurances that Prestone would support her, she knew from past experiences that the only person she could rely on was herself.


    She couldn''t afford to ce all her hope in Preston. After all, his help was conditional on his interests.


    "So, I''ll..." Freya started, her eyes filled with hope and resignation as she nced at Preston, who sat on the sofa. Without looking up, Preston said, "Go ahead."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 300

    When Preston finally left, Freya heaved a sigh of relief, feeling like she''d just dodged a bullet.


    Ever the gentleman, Neil offered Freya a supporting arm as they exited the room. The study, with its coffee table and couch almost at the same level, had left Freya no choice but to sit on the floor while practicing her writing. Now, standing up felt like a Herculean task. Preston waited until no one was there before approaching the coffee table to inspect Freya''s handwriting efforts. The script was far from beautiful, but the uracy was spot-on. A small, satisfied smile crept over Preston''s face as he instructed, "Hans." "Yes, boss?"


    "Go get afortable executive chair and a desk."


    "But boss, I thought you disliked those office chairs and desks?"


    When Hans voiced his question, it hit him that these items were for Freya. He quickly made himself scarce.


    Half an hourter, Freya was standing outside her apartment building, the night having fully embraced the sky above. She remembered it was Kieran''s working hours. Even if he were furious, Kieran wouldn''t have waited for her in the apartment all this time. With this thought, she boldly opened the apartment door.


    Instant regret flooded Freya as she spotted Kieran sitting in the middle of the living room, his expression eerily cold. Despite the p she had given him, she had never seen him wear such a frosty demeanor before.


    The room was almost in total darkness, save for the cold moonlight seeping through, casting an eerie chill across the ce.


    "Where have you been?" Kieran''s voice was eerily calm, in contrast to the tension in the air.This is from N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya wasn''t gone for an hour, or even six, but a whole day.


    Facing his inquiry, Freya retorted, "I stayed at Luna''s ce. Why? Mr. Sutton, now you''re keeping tabs on my whereabouts?"


    "Is that so?" Kieranughed coldly, adding, "I contacted Luna''s fatherst night. Guess what he said?"


    Realizing Kieran had prepared his chessboard, Freya didn''t bother with do, it''s


    excuses. "Kieran, whatever I th


    none of your business. Please stay out of my personal life."


    After saying that, she limped toward her room. But Kieran pinned her against the wall in a swift motion.


    "Kieran! What the hell?" Freya''s face paled, shock and anger mingling in her voice.


    Before she could protest further, Kieran''s lips crashed against hers, his kiss a turbulent mix of anger and desperation.


    The pain at the corner of her lips


    was immediate, and Freya''s


    expression darkened. She p


    him away, aggravating her injuries.


    "Kieran, have you lost your mind?"


    CUMS


    "I must have, to let you lead me by the nose again and again!" With that, Kieran''s grip tightened around Freya''s neck, the suffocating pressure building rapidly.


    "Let... go!"

 Chapter 301

    Watching Freya gasping for air, Kieran suddenly retracted his hand, looking as if jolted back to his senses.


    In a moment of rage, he had still hurt Freya despite his efforts to restrain himself.


    "Cough, cough!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Clutching her throat, Freya coughed several times in session.


    Kieran frowned, his voice tinged with regret, "I didn''t mean to..."


    "Enough!" Freya had no desire to hear any apologies from Kieran.


    She didn''t owe him anything. If it weren''t for Kieran constantly threatening her with the Dawson Group, she wouldn''t have to be all smiles before him.


    "Mr. Sutton, can you leave now?"


    When facing Freya''s icy demeanor, Kieran''s face darkened. "You were gone all day. I was worried about you!"


    "Worried about me? I must thank you for the concern then, Mr. Sutton." Freya''s reply sounded with sarcasm.


    After seeing Freya''s disdain for him, Kieran''s emotions surged as he stepped closer. "What did I ever do to you? Why do you look so irritated every time you see me? Freya, you weren''t like this before. What did I do wrong? Tell me!" "No, Mr. Sutton, you did nothing wrong. It''s my fault."


    It was her fault. It was her fault to have fallen for someone she shouldn''t have. It was her fault to have been hopelessly devoted for three years only to be coldly cast aside.


    These were her choices, so she had no right to hate Kieran. But it didn''t mean she couldn''t despise him!


    Since her rebirth, Freya didn''t intend to seek revenge against Kieran and Eloise. She only wanted to stay far away from them. But the more she retreated, the more Kieran pursued.


    Freya couldn''t make sense of it.


    How could someone be so


    despicable? When she loved him,


    ignored her. Now that she had


    stopped, he was chasing her relentlessly. Was this amon w in all men?


    Freya said, "Kieran, please stay away from me from now on. I don''t want to see you!"


    Seeing the disgust in Freya''s eyes, Kieran felt as if a thorn had pierced his heart. Images of Freya trying to please him in the past flooded his mind. Back then, he looked at Freya with the same disdain.


    "Freya, how dare you?" Kieran grabbed Freya''s arm, paying no heed to the wound.


    Freya winced in pain but maintained herposure, her gaze icy as she


    looked


    chieran! You didn''t


    cherish me


    when I loved you. Now that I don''t and I''ve walked away, you''re not happy? How can you be so despicable?"


    "You''re calling me despicable?"


    No one had ever dared to insult him like that! Kieran''s expression grew darker. Disregarding Freya''s resistance, he leaned in to kiss her again. But it was more of a bite than a kiss. Kieran was forceful, and soon, the taste of blood spread in their mouths.


    Freya, refusing to tolerate his behavior, drove her knee into Kieran''s abdomen and pped him hard across the face. The motion was fluid, even though it aggravated her wounds.

 Chapter 302

    Although Freya was in pain, she felt more of a sense of relief.


    "Kieran, I''m a pushover," Freya said, her tone stern, not at all joking. "Come at me again, and I dare you!"


    But Kieran was too worked up to care about what Freya was thinking. As he stood up and moved toward her, Freya, not understanding what had suddenly gotten into Kieran, walked over to the table, grabbed a pair of scissors, and pressed them against her throat. The drastic action instantly cooled Kieran''s rage. His face darkened as he said, "So, you''d rather die than be with me?"


    "Yes," Freya replied coldly. "Touch me, and I''d rather die!"


    Those words hit Kieran hard.


    Freya kept a vignt watch on Kieran''s movements, ready to act if he took one step closer. Seeing a few drops of blood trickling down her neck, Kieran stopped, his voice cold as he dered, "Fine, Freya. From this day forward, we go our separate ways. It''s as if we''re dead to each other!"


    With that, Kieran turned and left Freya''s apartment. When his footsteps had faded, Freya let go of the scissors, her entire body copsing to the floor, drained of all strength.


    "Crazy! Kieran must have lost his mind," Freya muttered, touching her bleeding lip. She couldn''t fathom why Kieran had acted so out of character, especially when he seemed to despise her, going as far as washing his hands if she merely touched him.


    But Kieran was a man of his word. If he said they were through, then they were through. Comforted by this thought, Freya stood up, cursing under her breath at Kieran for being insane.


    Freya received thest transfer of a


    million dors the following day. Realizing something was off, she immediately checked her messaging app, only to find Kieran had blocked her. That was for the best, Freya thought. While it meant no more daily influx of a million dors, at least she was clear of Kieran.


    Determined to make a clean break, Freya deleted Kieran from her contacts and blocked his number. She then relocated to a more modest apartment near Summit University.


    When Neil came to pick her up that afternoon, his expression was indescribable upon seeing her new ce.


    "Isn''t it a nice ce?" Freya inquired, pointing out the amenities. "It''s got a garden, a park, and even an elevator. The facilities are quite decent."


    "Ms. Dawson, if you needed a ce


    to stay, you could have asked


    Preston to hook you up with a luxury apartment," Neil remarked, bewildered by the old neighborhood that seemed stuck in the past. "It feels a bit beneath someone of your stature to live here. Don''t you think so?" Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Neil had never seen such an outdated living building, looking like it was from two decades ago. The ce was a mix of elderly residents and renters, crowded and disorderly. Despite its proximity to Summit University, it was hard to imagine any student choosing to live there.


    Freya sighed, "But it''s the closest I could get."


    Given Summit University''s affluent student body, whose parents typically secured nearby upscale properties for theirfort, Freya''s options were limited. Johanna had advised against buying a ce near the university, so Freya had stayed on campus. But, with her current situation, returning to campus housing was out of the question.

 Chapter 303

    Navigating the stairs was always a hassle.


    "Just crash here for a few days. Preston will sort something out for you," Neil said as if it were the most natural solution.


    Freya replied, "There''s no need to trouble Mr. Tyler. I have my ce."


    "Don''t be silly. Think about it. After all that Preston has put you through, leaving you nowhere to turn, he owes you somepensation, right? Otherwise, you''re at a total loss..." Neil''s voice trailed off as he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Turning around, he saw Preston standing behind him.


    The neighborhood had quickly filled with curious onlookers. Preston''s limited edition Maybach instantly became the center of attention. In this agingmunity, a luxury car like that had never appeared.


    Watching themotion outside, Freya wished they could only leave. But the sight of a young, beautiful girl getting into a fancy car with two incredibly handsome guys sparked a flurry of gossip among the bystanders. "What''s going on?"


    "These young girls today are always chasing after rich men. They''re shameless."


    Amidst the murmuring, Kara stepped forward.


    It was the most affordable housing near Summit University, where Kara had lived for a while. But Audrey had allowed her to stay in the Sutton Mansion, so she returned to pack her things.


    Upon seeing Kara, a neighbor quickly asked, "Kara, is that someone from your school? She''s leaving with two wealthy guys."


    "Yeah," Kara replied. Though sheText ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    hadn''t seen who the two men were, she recognized Freya. She couldn''t believe Freya had caught the eye of such high-profile men after leaving Kieran.


    Thinking about how she''d been receiving cold treatment from Kieran at the Sutton Mansion made Kara envious But then again, what did it matter how rich they were? They couldn''tpare to Mr. Sutton.


    With that thought, Kara found some sce. Freya had engaged Kieran by imitating Eloise, so Kara believed she could do the same. "Nowadays, college students know no bounds, using their looks to get whatever they want."


    "Exactly! I would never rent my property to that kind of woman. It''s disgusting!"


    "It''s shameless."


    The neighbors'' gossip became even more spiteful. Kara couldn''t help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. When she first met Freya, Freya''s aloof demeanor immediately rubbed Kara the wrong way.


    Freya was Ms. Dawson, but so


    what? Without Kieran, she had to live


    in this run-down neighborhood,


    subject to everyone''s judgment the moment she stepped outside.


    But Kara was different. She could live in the Sutton Manion, with a personal ride to and from school. In her eyes, Freya''s refusal of Kieran was foolish.

 Chapter 304

    In the schoolyard, the buzz was all about Kara and her sudden connection to the illustrious Sutton family.


    "Kara, are you for real moving in with the Suttons?" one of her ssmates asked in disbelief.


    "Please tell me you''re joking. We''re talking about the Suttons here."


    Within just three days, Kara had be the talk of the town-or more urately, the school''s most envied figure. The sight of her being picked up by the Sutton family''s sleek ck limousine had everyone buzzing. Yet, Kara had remained tight-lipped about the whole affair.


    Kara blushed and tried to deflect, "Guys, I promised Audrey I wouldn''t b about it."


    At the mention of Audrey, the students'' eyes gleamed with curiosity.


    "Audrey? Kieran''s grandmother?"


    "OMG, Kara, don''t tell me you''re going to be the future Mrs. Sutton?"


    No one in their ss hade close to rubbing shoulders with someone of Kieran''s stature.


    Kara''s cheeks flushed even more. "I can''t say anything, guys. Just drop it."


    Her reaction only fueled their spection further.


    Remembering their past behavior toward Kara, a few girls quickly cozied up to her. "Kara, we didn''t mean anything by it. It was all joking around. Don''t take it to heart." "From now on, you''re my bestie. Tell me if anyone messes with you, and I''ll back you up." "Yeah, Kara, if you marry into the Sutton family, don''t forget about us."


    Kara listened to the ttery, feeling a rush of satisfaction. She was once invisible in this school due to herck of status. Now, with her connection to the Sutton family, everyone was eager to be in her good graces. Was this how Freya felt every day?


    "So, Kara, is Mr. Sutton nice to you?"


    "And is the Sutton Mansion as grand as they say? We heard it''s the biggest estate in Echo City."


    Mention of the Sutton Mansion had their imaginations running wild, picturing Kara living avish lifestyle.


    "I can''t talk about it," Kara demurred, appearing shy.


    Eager to curry favor, one student intervened, "Let''s not make Kara ufortable with all these questions!"


    "I always said Freya wasn''t right for Mr. Sutton. Only someone like Kara deserves to be part of the Sutton family!"


    "I believed in you all along, Kara. Remember when I bought you lunch? Maybe you could invite us to see the Sutton Mansion sometime?"


    At the mention of visiting the Sutton


    Mansion, Kara, told them Audrey disliked unexpected visitors and turned them down, so a wave of


    disappointment washed over th


    group Kara knew what they were after. They saw her as a stepping stone to get closer to Kieran. She wasn''t about to give them that chance.


    Just then, a knock on the ssroom door interrupted their chatter.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Everyone turned to see Ronan standing at the entrance.


    "Professor Beckett..."


    Realizing ss was in session, the students quickly returned to their seats. Ronan had been listening at the door, but for how long?


    Kara felt a chill down her spine.


    Fooling her ssmates was on


    thing, be in


    Ronan was another. She''d


    trouble if he reported this


    to the Sutton family.


    "ss is starting," Ronan announced, keeping his tone neutral but his eyes locked on Kara.


    Feeling as though her secrets wereid bare, Kara barely breathed.


    She couldn''t focus on a single word during the ss. When the bell finally rang, she was the first to spring up, eager to escape.

 Chapter 305

    "Kara, where are you off to?"


    The folks in the ss were itching for a bit more gossip about Kieran. But Kara was already hot on Ronan''s heels, stepping out of the ssroom.


    "Professor Beckett!" Kara called out to Ronan, cheeks ame.


    Ronan halted in his tracks, as expected.


    "What''s up?" His demeanor was indifferent, edged with a hint of aloofness.


    Biting her lip, Kara started, "About what we chatted during the break, actually..."


    She couldn''t bring herself to finish.


    "This has nothing to do with me." Ronan''s tone was indifferent, uninterested in whatever they had discussed.


    Stunned by hisck of concern, Kara paused. When she snapped back to reality, Ronan was already far gone.


    ''Isn''t Ronan supposed to be backing Freya? But he''s Ignoring mepletely.'' A smile Kara herself didn''t notice spread across her face. ''It seems luck''s on my side.''


    With graduation exams around the corner, a high society girl like Freya, having been out of school for so long, was bound to fail. And once Freya got kicked out, no one would remember the lies Kara had spun. Meanwhile, Freya stared nkly at the desk before her at the Tyler Mansion.


    "Like it?" Neil approached, boasting, "This masterpiece was for you by Hans on Preston''s order. Check out the craftsmanship. Feel the texture. It''s top-notch."


    Freya walked over and ran her


    fingers across the desk surface. It


    was, indeed, exquisite mahogany.


    She hadn''t expected Preston to


    prepare such a unique gift for her.


    en


    "This was ast-minute arrangement?" Freya looked toward Preston, standing by the door.


    A desk of such caliber was rare in the marketce, almost heirloom quality. "Yeah." Preston''s expression remained neutral.


    "Practice


    Vitreou don''t pass the


    exam for


    week, I''ll chop up this desk


    "Content belong desk


    esUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Freya''s lips twitched.


    Only Preston would think of using mahogany for firewood.


    "Don''t worry. I''m fully confident." Freya sat down, filled with assurance.


    Even the chair''s craftsmanship was wless. Preston went all out.


    Right then, Freya''s phone rang.


    Seeing it was Luna calling, she answered immediately. "Luna, what''s up?"


    Usually, Luna would text. Freya feared the worst.


    All she heard was Luna''s anxious


    voice on the line. "Kara will be l


    have any clue about this?"met


    Sutton of the Sutton family.


    WK


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 306

    Freya furrowed her brow in frustration. "Where did you hear that?"


    "Are you out of the loop? The school''s social media is blowing up over it!" Luna''s voice came through, tinged with impatience. Kieran''s fianc¨¦e could have been anyone, but it couldn''t be Kara. Wouldn''t that make Freya theughing stock to outsiders?


    Luna fumed. "What was Audrey thinking? I used to think she was one of the good ones. I can''t believe she''d pull something like this! She''s trying to make you look bad."


    Freya tried to soothe her. "No worries. It might just be rumors, not the truth. And even if it is, I don''t care."


    "I''m upset for you, and you are not even worried!" Luna sounded huffy over the phone.


    Suddenly, Preston coughed from the side.


    Hearing a man''s voice, Luna paused, "What was that sound? Could it be..."N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Freya knew Luna was probably imagining a whole drama in her head.


    Holding her forehead, she said, "Luna, it''s not what you think."


    "I get it. I get it. I understand everything!" Luna suddenly sounded excited, "I thought you''d be heartbroken over Kieran, but look at you, moving on so quickly. That''s my girl! I was worried for nothing. Since you''re busy, I''ll hang up. I don''t want to interrupt. Next time we meet, you''ll have to tell me everything!"


    Luna hung up the phone excitedly, not even waiting for Freya to exin.


    Freya nced at Preston, who remained silent and didn''t even look up at her, confirming that the cough was just a coincidence.


    "Focus on your handwriting. Put your phone on silent."


    "Yes, Mr. Tyler." Freya quickly silenced her phone and dedicated herself to practicing her handwriting.


    Meanwhile, Eloise smirked in school as she browsed through the heated discussions on her phone.


    "Ellie, I''m sure these aren''t true. Don''t take it to heart." Jenny was trying tofort Eloise.


    Little did she know that Eloise couldn''t care less about Kara, who was only a copycat in her eyes Eloise was confident that Kieran


    wouldn''t fall for someone like Kara.


    en


    "I''m fine. I trust Kieran. It''s all baseless rumors."


    But using Kara to get under Freya''s skin? She found that amusing. After all, it was by mimicking her that Freya had caught Kieran''s attention in the first ce.


    "Isn''t the school about to distribute extra study materials? Freya hasn''t been aroundtely. Should we call her toe pick it up?" Eloise feigned concern.


    After hearing that, Jenny''s


    expression soured, "Even now, you''re


    thinking of someone like Freya?


    Have you forgotten? If it weren''t for Freya, Mae wouldn''t have...


    Mae was forced to drop out, with hardly any schools willing to take her in. Rumors had it that she even got taken to the police station for a stern talking to, used of assault,


    had


    been in the holding cell. The Garcia family''s business had failed with their house vandalized by someone unknown.

 Chapter 307

    Even the Harwood family couldn''t escape their share of trouble.


    "Come on, that''s all water under the bridge now. I believe Ms. Dawson isn''t the type to hold grudges, especially since she was hurt too, right?" Eloiseforted Jenny.


    Not the sharpest tool in the shed, Jenny replied with dissatisfaction, "After everything Freya did to you, you''re still thinking about her, Ellie. You''re too kind, so people like her walk all over you."


    Eloise smiled and didn''t say a word. She snorted inside, ''Thinking about Freya? No, I only want her to experience what it feels like to be theughingstock of the school.''


    In the past, because Freya was Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, not many dared to mess with her. At most, they would only sneer at her behind her back. But things were different. Freya had broken off her engagement with Kieran.


    And plenty at school wanted to see Freya humiliated, especially since her cousin Kara and her ex-fianc¨¦ were engaged, making Freya the butt of the jokes around the school.


    Freya was practicing for only a short while in the afternoon when her phone began lighting up with message notifications. She caught the pop-ups out of the corner of her eye and instinctively wanted to ignore them, but when she noticed they were offering study materials, she paused.


    On closer inspection, she saw the messages were from the ss president.


    Freya hadn''t been to school in days, and even when she did appear, it was only to spend a brief moment in the library. She had never heard anything about collecting study materials.


    Seeing Freya looking solemnly at her phone, Preston said in a light tone, "I thought you were supposed to be focusing on your writing. What''s up?"


    "They''re talking about picking up study materials with our student IDs."


    Freya had never heard of such a requirement.


    Considering what Luna had told her an hour ago, Freya was even more convinced this was a ploy to make her the butt of a joke, knowing she hadn''t been to school in days anding up with an excuse to get her there. Such lowbrow tactics were petty.


    M


    "There''s no need for you to go yourself. I''ll have someone pick up the study materials for you," Preston said evenly. Freya nodded. Given her current physical state, climbing stairs was a struggle, let alone carrying study materials.


    Back in the ssroom, Jenny and the others were waiting for Freya to show up. But there was no sign of Freya.


    One of the boys asked, "Jenny, do you think Freya wille? She hasn''t been to school in ages. I doubt she''de to pick up some study materials."


    Jenny had nned how to


    embarrass Freya and was more anxious than anyone else. "Shelte, for sure. Otherwise, she can kiss her graduation goodbye


    BUMS


    After being away for so long, Freya would need these materials. Without them, she''d be even less prepared for the exams.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Sure enough, not long after, they heard footsteps outside the ssroom.


    Jenny quickly sat up, eager to see


    Freya walk into their trap and end up drenched. But to her surprise, the door was opened by a man in a ck suit, clearly a bodyguard.


    When the door opened, the man seemed to sense the danger and kicked aside the bucket of water meant for Freya.


    Seeing that, everyone in the ssroom was stunned.

 Chapter 308

    "I''m here for the study materials."


    The message was short and to the point. Standing at the front of the ssroom, the ss representative couldn''t help but gulp as he looked at the figure in a ck suit waiting at the door. "Here... Here you go..." Carefully, he handed over the review materials to the intimidating visitor.


    Without another word, the man in the ck suit turned and walked out of the ssroom. As soon as he was gone, an eerie silence fell over the room.


    "Who was that guy?"


    "How would I know? I told you not to post that stuff in the group chat. Now look what happened!"


    Jenny prepared some review materials, but she had done so with the mischievous intention of pranking Freya. She had gathered outdated textbooks from over a decade ago.


    If anyone studied from those materials, they''d be in trouble.


    "Is Freya even going to show up?"


    "I bet she won''t. How could she face anyone now?"


    "Yeah, after being dumped by Mr. Sutton, I wouldn''t show my face at school, either."


    Jenny stomped her foot in frustration, upset that her n to lure Freya out hadn''t worked.


    Soon enough, Hans brought the review materials back to the Tyler Mansion.


    Freya had been poring over countless books in preparation. Seeing the materials Hans had brought, she couldn''t help butugh. It was another petty trick by her ssmates. Seeing Freya didn''t bother to look at the materials before setting them aside, Hans asked, "Ms. Dawson, don''t you need these?"


    "They''re notpletely useless. I can at least use the back for handwriting practice," Freya said nonchntly as she flipped the papers over and began to write.


    As the evening grew darker, Freya


    had yet to check the messages on her phone. When she finally turned it over, she found Ronan had sent her the documents for the Southern Suburb project.


    "Just show me when you''re done." Preston approached her, and Freya instinctively hid her phone. She wasn''t ready to tell anyone about the Southern Suburb project yet. "I think I did pretty well. Don''t you think so, Mr. Tyler?" Freya handed her work nonchntly.


    Preston nced over it briefly andmented, "It''s an improvement, but not much."


    Freya wasn''t sure if that was apliment.


    "Why does my hand feel so sore today, unlike yesterday?"


    "That''s because you''re not used to working hard. It''s normal for your wrist to ache from handwriting f you''ve never done it before," Breston said, his tone indifferent.


    Freya rolled her eyes inwardly. Hisment was as helpful as saying nothing.


    "Still, to reach this level in just two days is impressive. The exam shouldn''t be too difficult for you. You don''t need toe here so often anymore." Preston casually ced the paper on the table.


    Freya was secretly thrilled. She hadThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    much to handle with the Southern Suburb project and needed to stay in touch with Ronan. Preston''s constant supervision made that difficult.


    "You seem quite pleased."

 Chapter 309

    "No way. You must''ve seen it wrong." Freya was seriously eyeing Preston before her.


    "I never get it wrong." With those words, his face a mask of stoicism, Preston stormed out of the room.


    Then, Hans strolled in, saying, "Ms. Dawson, let me drive you home."


    "Sure."


    Freya couldn''t wait to get back. Ronan would bombard her with texts if she dyed it any longer.


    Preston had other things on his mind tonight, so he hardly paid her attention. When Freya descended the stairs, Preston had left the building.


    In the evening, Hans drove Freya to the entrance of her neighborhood. The local gossip queens, a bunch of elderlydies who spent their days chatting on the street, happened to witness the whole scene. Freya stepped out of the luxury car, and in no time, another luxury vehicle pulled up. Another charming man got out.


    Ronan frowned. "I called you. Why didn''t you answer?"


    Facing Ronan''s inquiry, Freya replied, "It wasn''t a good time."


    Ronan asked, "Is your ankle better?"


    Ronan hardly ever acts worried like that, so Freya got really suspicious. "Why do you ask?"


    The matter in Southern Suburb can wait, but you muste with me to a ce right now."


    "Where?"


    "W Group," Ronan paused for emphasis, "which is, technically, yourpany."


    Watching Freya slip into another luxury car, the neighborhood''s olddies couldn''t help but show their disapproval.


    "God, she has no sense of self-respect."


    "Daytime with one man, nighttime with another, what kind of girl does that?"


    "Thank God my grandson didn''t end up with someone like her. Who knows what kind of disaster that would bring to a family!"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Inside W Group, that was Freya''s


    first


    nomin to thepany, which was


    nominally hers. Though, for the time being, Ronan was the one in charge.


    Freya looked around andmented, "The interior design is nice. Thank you."


    "No need for thanks. You''re footing the bill." Ronan seemed indifferent, looking as if such matters were trivial to him.


    "So, you dragged me here to see thepany''s decor?" Freya doubted Ronan was that trivial.


    "Many are looking into your personal information, Freya. I hope you can recuperate swiftly and apany me to the W Group''sunch party."


    Freya was confused. "Wasn''t it not a priority before? Why the sudden rush?"


    Ronan said, "Everyone online is super curious about you, the mysterious beauty who just came back from overseas. It''s the perfect time to introduce you. With all this buzz, W Group is going to make a huge ssh when we go public."


    "When do you want me to attend?"


    "The day after tomorrow."


    "The day after tomorrow? Are you expecting me to show up limping?"


    Freya couldn''t believe what Ronan was proposing. He had a knack for springing surprises, not asking if it was feasible.


    "It''s up to you whether you want to face Kieran with the upper hand or let him uncover your identity and ruin everything."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 310

    Freya knew Kieran''s skills. It would be only a matter of time before he dug up information on her.


    If she didn''t take the initiative and gain the upper hand, and Kieran would find something incriminating, she and W Group would be in deep trouble. With this in mind, Freya said with difficulty, "I''ll do my best."


    "It''s not about doing your best. You have to make it happen." Ronan patted Freya on the shoulder. "It''s all or nothing now. Think it through."


    "I won''t let him find any ws," Freya assured.


    Ronan hummed in response, an indifferent sound.


    While Freya was still surveying her office, Ronan suddenly said, "Oh, by the way."


    "What now?" Freya looked at Ronan with confusion.


    She thought, ''What''s with Ronan today? Acting all mysterious?''


    "Today, I heard something quite interesting at the university. Want to hear it?"


    "Nope."


    Even if Ronan didn''t mention it, Freya felt it was somehow rted to her and probably to Kieran and Kara.


    Ronan faked a disappointed tone, "That''s too bad. I was just about to spill the beans about your ambitious cousin, who''s been fooling everyone in her ss, saying she''s the predestined fianc¨¦e of someone from the Sutton family. But it looks like you''re not interested." "Wait, what do you mean misleading?"


    Wasn''t that the truth?


    "Weren''t you not interested?" Ronan kindly said, "Freya, you should keep a closer eye on the people around you. The country girl Kara might have bigger ambitions than you think."


    "Thanks for the heads-up. I''m well aware."


    "That''s good then." Ronan added, "We''ve finished the office tour. How about we grab dinner, and then I''ll drop you off?"


    "No need, thanks. I just moved into a new ce and haven''t had the chance to tidy up yet."


    Freya shook her head.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Then, as if remembering something, Ronan asked, "I haven''t asked you how bad your financial situation is now. Why settle for a ce that''s practically a bird''s nest?"


    Freya smiled. "Housing near Summit University is scarce. The upscalez apartment Kieran rented for me is no longer avable, and I was in a rush to move, so I had to settle for what I could find."


    "That old building is not the cleanest. I do have some friends in real estate. I''ll ask around tonight, and if there''s anything avable, I''ll have the movers transfer your stuff in a few days."


    "How could I impose?" Though Freya said this, she couldn''t help but beam with joy. "Of course, you''ll have to pay."


    Ronan had always been meticulous about keeping ounts clear. Since Freya had known him, she had never benefited materially from their friendship. But that was fine with her. Their rtionship was based on mutual interests, clear and


    none


    straightforward, ensuring no debts of gratitude owed.

 Chapter 311

    In the world of close-knit rtionships, there''s nothing more grounding.


    Dusk fell as Ronan dropped Freya off at her apartment building. No sooner had Ronan''s car disappeared into the evening than Freya entered.


    She immediately felt the watchful eyes of a few olddies lounging around, their gazes following her every move.


    But when Freya got to her rental, she noticed her door was slightly open. Inside, a woman in her forties was digging through the closet Freya had neatly arranged. The middle-ageddy had her hands all over Freya''s suitcase, prying it open. Upon seeing that, Freya''s brows knitted in frustration. "What do you think you''re doing?"


    Unphased by Freya, the middle-aged woman didn''t alter her confrontational stance. "I''m terminating our lease. You can''t stay here anymore, starting now!"


    Freya couldn''t help butugh in disbelief. "I''ve paid. On what grounds are you kicking me out?"


    "Because I own this ce. If I say you''re out, you''re out!" Thendy''s tone was sharp. "This is a respectable home. I can''t have someone like you tainting it. What if future tenants get sick because of you? Do you think I''d be able to rent it out again?" "What are you implying? Sick with what?"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Don''t y dumb with me! Your antics are the talk of the neighborhood! Barely moved in, and you''ve entertained three different men. Who knows what kind of filth you''ll bring into my house next?" Thendy''s words were harsh and judgmental. Freya''s demeanor turned icy. "Watch your mouth!"


    "Oh? Is what I''m saying not true? Listen. You''re moving out today, willingly or not."


    "Fine, I''ll move. But what about you going through my belongings without permission? We need to settle that first." Freya stepped into the chaos of her room. "These ake my items. And you evicting me without proper cause is a breach of our agreement. Exin it, or I''ll have to call the police."


    "Call them! See if I care!" Thendy was defiant.


    Their argument had drawn the attention of the neighbors. Doors opened, and heads poked out as the residents of the old building,cking


    en elevator, craned their necks


    to see themotion.


    Then, Kara, who had returned to fetch something, witnessed the scene. Kara lived upstairs. Seeing Freya about to be thrown out and hearing the talk of calling the police, Kara panicked.


    During the day, Kara had spread


    rumors about Freya in the neighborhood. If the police came, they would undoubtedly delve into Freya''s past, especially since Kieran had only recently brought Freya home from the police station.


    Kara quickly stepped in to defuse the situation, "Ma''am, Freya is my cousin. Could you give her a little more time to stay here until she finds a new ce?"


    Kara''s sudden intervention softened thendy''s demeanor a bit. Kara was also a tenant and a well-behaved girl, which had put her in thendy''s good graces. Upon learning Freya was Kara''s cousin, thendy frowned. "This woman is your cousin?"


    "Yeah." Kara waited anxiously for thendy''s response.


    With a huff, thendymented, "Kara, I don''t mean to be rude, but how could you have such a cousin? She''s tarnishing my property!"


    "Yes, it''s all Freya''s fault. Please, ma''am, could you show some leniency?" While speaking, Kara discreetly slipped a few bills into thendy''s hand.

 Chapter 312

    Thendy eyed the crisp twenty-dor bill in her hand and finally relented, "Fine, she can stay for the night. But she must be gone by tomorrow. This ce isn''t for just any Tom, Dick, or Harry. I won''t have her bringing bad luck to my doorstep!" The neighbors whispered and pointed at Freya, thinking she was no saintly debutante.


    Freya couldn''t help but find the whole situation somewhat amusing. Even the upscale apartment Kieran had found for her didn''t impress her much, let alone this run-down neighborhood. Pulling out her phone, Freya dialed 911. The keypad was clear for everyone to hear.


    Thendy was furious to see Freya calling the police. "Oh, so you call the cops? I haven''t reported you for solicitation yet! Everyone,e and have a look. Isn''t this woman outrageous?" "Freya, Freya!" Kara rushed to Freya''s side, pleading, "Let''s not make a big deal out of this. For my sake, please? Calling the police could make things worse for you..."


    Kara''s vague insinuations convinced the onlookers that Freya was up to no good.


    When Kara reached out to touch her, Freya smoothly withdrew her hand, stating, "I don''t recall having a cousin like you. Ms. Orson, aren''t you too eager to paint yourself in gold?" Freya''s unapologetic tone drew sympathy for Kara from the crowd.


    "What''s wrong with you? She''s trying to help you out of kindness and even spending her money to smooth things over here! How could you be so harsh?"


    "Exactly, it''s not like you''re some princess. You''d think you were born into wealth the way you act like she''s dying to be rted to you!"


    "Appreciate it when people are trying to help. You should get thrown out, left to fend for yourself with nowhere to stay!"


    The neighbors'' moring voices seemed to drown Freya out.


    As the 911 call went through, the operator quickly answered.


    "911, what''s your emergency?"


    Freya replied urgently, "A woman has broken into my home, gone through my stuff, and is spreading lies about me. I need police sent here right away. Also, can I speak to your chief?"


    Freya''s request to speak directly toCcontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    the chief caught the officer off guard. It was the first time they had encountered someone demanding to talk to the chief upon calling Could this person''s identity be of significant importance?


    The neighbors exchanged nces, wondering what Freya was up to.


    The officer replied, "Sorry, our chief is busy and not in the office, but we''ll dispatch officers to your location. If you wish to speak to our chief directly, try calling his office.


    Freya was not satisfied with this response.


    OUMS


    "Fine, then I''ll contact your chief myself," she said, providing her address before hanging up.


    "All this fuss for the chief over such a trivial matter? As if you''re some VIP!"


    "She will do anything for attention!"


    "I don''t believe you can get through to the chief. With all the chief has to manage, do you think the chief would bother with amon citizen?" The skepticism continued.


    Thendy scoffed, "If she could


    contact the chief, I''ll eat my hat! Does she think she''s someone, huh? If she were, why would shee to a ce like this? Does she think we''re fools?"

 Chapter 313

    Everyone around didn''t take Freya''s words to heart, thinking she was blowing smoke.


    Yet, Kara knew better. Freya could pull it off, being the heiress of the Dawson family and Kieran''s ex-fianc¨¦e, no less. Kieran had gone down to the police station to bail Freya out.


    "Freya, why make it awkward for everyone? Maybe we shouldn''t bother the chief over this. Today''s mess is on thendy, and I''ll apologize on her behalf!" Kara was eager to end the situation.


    But Freya wasn''t about to let things slide so easily. Touched her belongings, insulted her in public, and tried to evict her without due process? She wasn''t some pushover.


    Before everyone''s eyes, Freya whipped out her phone and dialed the chief''s number, which went through instantly.


    The chief''s tone was unmistakably polite toward Freya, who wasted no time stating her location, apartment building, and unit number before coldly requesting, "I expect the chief here within twenty minutes. I have an urgent matter." The chief said, "It won''t take twenty minutes. For Ms. Dawson, I''ll be there in fifteen!"


    As their call ended, Freya put the phone on speaker, shocking the bystanders. Freya had indeed called the chief.


    Thendy''s face fell. "Who knows who she was talking to? Maybe she just got someone to pretend to be the chief. I''ve seen this kind of bluff. There''s nothing to make a fuss about."


    ¡°And a chief, listening to a youngdy like that? As if we''re all fools here!"


    Kara''s expression turned increasingly troubled. Freya''s identity could no longer be a secret if the chief came. Recalling the rumors she had spread about Freya earlier that day, Kara found herself at a loss for words.  t sto


    "Whether it''s true or not, we''ll know once he arrives." Freya''s gaze then shifted to Kara.


    Sure enough, it wasn''t long before police officers arrived.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Upon seeing the rundown apartment building, one sighed because he thought it was some wealthy family dispute. But it turned out to be a squabble involving a tenant of a dpidated apartment!


    "What''s the matter here? Get on with it." The officers'' demeanor wasn''t friendly. And heined in his heart, ''We''re here for this?'' "The situation is, officer, I need to report this woman for engaging in prostitution at my property," thendy stated quite seriously.


    The officers immediately turned their attention to Freya.


    With her striking looks, one officer frowned and asked, "Who called the police?"

 Chapter 314

    Freya said, "It was me who called the cops."


    Freya''s admission even surprised the officers. "You called the cops on yourself?"


    "This woman," Freya gestured toward herndy with frustration and disbelief, "uses me of prostitution, barged into my apartment, and turned everything inside out. She rummaged through my belongings and tried to kick me out. We had a lease agreement. Her actions are illegal. I called the police to protect my rights." Freyaid out her case with rity and conviction.


    Thendy, however, was unimpressed, retorting, "She''s renting from me. You think I''m going to let my ce turn into some brothel? Is it wrong for me to kick her out? Officer, I need you to be fair here!"


    Feeling the usual headache ofplex neighborhood disputes, the officers were hesitant. Dealing with such disputes was always tricky, like trying to solve a puzzle where all the pieces seem to fit nowhere.


    "Is it true? Are you involved in prostitution?" The officer turned to Freya with a skeptical look.


    "No," Freya answered firmly.


    "She''s lying! I saw her meeting with several men today. It wasn''t just me. Many in the neighborhood saw it, too. Luxury cars kept showing up. In the afternoon, she left with two men, and at night, she met another. If she''s not a prostitute, then what is she?" Thendy presented her case like an open-and-shut matter, painting Freya in a criminal light.


    Eager to fan the mes, the neighbors interrupted, "Yeah, we saw it, too."


    "I''ve never seen so many fancy cars around here until she showed up. She must be a whore. What a shame!"


    "Pretty face like hers. If this woman was not walking the streets, what is she doing?"


    The crowd grew, each adding their judgments and spections.


    Annoyed by the unfolding drama,


    officer finally said, "If that were the


    case, you would need toe with


    us for further investigation


    belongs to entertent


    "To be detained for defending my rights and privacy?" Freya couldn''t help butugh at the irony.


    Eager for Freya to be taken away, Kara pleaded, "It was an ident! Let''s forget it happened, okay?"


    She looked from thendy to the officer, desperate for a resolution.


    "If it''s prostitution, that''s a criminal charge. Come with us, and we''ll sort this out," the officer insisted.


    "Just take her away already!"


    "Look at her. She can''t even defend herself now."


    "Thought she was so high and mighty, iming to have


    connections. There''s no sign of the chiefrushing over. It just proves she was lying!"


    Wanting to wrap this up, the officer moved toward Freya with handcuffs, "Let''s go." Just then, the Chief arrived, sweating from the hurried climb.


    Seeing the officer about to handcuff Freya, the Chief''s face turned sour. "Stop! What do you think you''re doing? Unlock those right now!" Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 315

    Chief Brennan was practically gasping for air as he spoke.


    The officer''s expression was a mix of surprise and disbelief as he recognized the chief. "Ch-Chief?"


    Chief Brennan snapped, "I''m speaking to you. Hurry up and let go!"


    "Chief Brennan, you''ve trained your subordinates well. I''m filing aint, and he wants to take me away. It''s funny." Freya spoke without amusement in her voice. Seeing Freya irritated, Chief Brennan broke out in a cold sweat. "Yes, it''s my fault for not properly training my team, Ms. Dawson. I apologize for startling you!"


    Watching the typically stern Chief Brennan bending backward for a woman, the officer couldn''t help but ask, "Chief, who is this?"


    "This is Ms. Dawson! Who gave you the right to apprehend Ms. Dawson? Have you lost your mind? If you don''t value your life, I value mine! Release her immediately!"


    "Chief, please don''t be upset. I''ve exined everything to this officer, but it seems it didn''t quite sink in."


    With a sarcastic smile stered on her face, Freya spoke. Chief Brennan, feeling the heat, quickly chimed in, "These are just the newbies, still learning the ropes. Ms. Dawson, please don''t take it personally!" Witnessing the scene, the neighbors exchanged puzzled nces. Who was this Ms. Dawson to make the chief so deferential?


    "Don''t just stand there. Let''s discuss my issue." Freya''s gaze settled on Mrs. Simmons, thendy.


    Having never seen


    such aPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    coherent sentence. "This woman... this woman, she''s been prostituting in my property! I was trying to clean up my house. What''s the problem with that?"


    Though she said it with conviction, thendycked her earlier confidence.


    "Nonsense! Utterly preposterous! ''This woman, that woman?'' Ms. Dawson is the heiress of the Dawson family. How could she be involved in prostitution? What were you thinking?"


    "What? An heiress? Why would an


    heiresse to our little town to rent an apartment? Chief, you must be joking." Mrs. Simmons found it hard to believe an heiress would choose to rent a ce in their


    humble town.


    The other neighbors were equally incredulous, unable to ept the person before them was not just anydy but a genuine heiress.


    "I mean it. Ms. Dawson is the former fianc¨¦e of the Sutton Group''s CEO and the heiress of the Dawson family. She''s also the current head of the Dawson Group! It''s a blessing that she chose to live here, yet you dared to rummage through her betongings and drive her out? What were you thinking? Who here has been spreading rumors about Ms. Dawson? Step forward now!"


    Chief Brennan was visibly angry. Even though Kieran had broken off the engagement with Freya, given his attitude toward her, a reconciliation seemed possible at any time.


    It was a political favor he was keen to extend. Moreover, Preston had taken a stand for Freya. He couldn''t afford to refuse toe to her aid.


    At that moment, no one dared to step forward. After all, now that the neighbors knew Freya was an heiress, who would dare to cross her?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 316

    After a long, uneasy silence, someone finally broke the ice.


    "No, no, it wasn''t me. I heard it from someone else!"


    "Nor was it me. Who knows who started it during the day? Everyone just went along with it!"


    "I never imagined she was the Dawson heiress. Whoever started this rumor is despicable!"


    The neighbors passed the me quickly, distancing themselves from the rumor.


    "Ms. Dawson, please leave it to me. I assure you, within three, no, two days, I''ll have a satisfactory answer for you," the chief stated with unwavering confidence.


    At that moment, Freya''s gazended on Kara, who squirmed ufortably under her scrutiny.


    "There''s no need. I already know who''s behind the rumor," Freya said, her voice cold.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Kara''s nerves shot up another notch.


    "Who is it? I''ll bring them in to ensure justice for you, Ms. Dawson!"


    The crowd was eager to find the rumor monger and relieved that their actions hadn''t caused Freya harm. Otherwise, they''d be in trouble.


    "Mrs. Simmons, do you think you owe me an apology?" Freya''s eyes fixed on thendy.


    Since Mrs. Simmons discovered Freya''s identity, she had been too stunned to speak. Realizing Freya expected an apology, she quickly responded, "I''m sorry, Ms. Dawson. I had no idea about your background. Had I known, I would''ve never treated you this way. I''m sorry. I''ll return all your belongings immediately!"


    Joking aside, being a Dawson heiress meant no trivial matter. Mrs. Simmons dared not sh with Freya any longer. She immediately


    collected Freya''s belongings, neatly arranging them in the cupboard.


    swnov


    "Ms. Dawson, it''s gettingte, and this ce hardly seems fitting. How about I arrange a luxury suite in a hotel for you? Staying here is beneath you," the chief offered his


    demeanor markedly improved from


    their first encounter.


    Money and status really did change things.


    "No need, Chief Brennan. I''m fine here. Perhaps you should focus on better training your deputies to prevent them from harassing the townsfolk," Freya suggested.


    "Of course, Ms. Dawson! You''re right!" the chief hurriedly agreed.


    Having previously offended Freya, Chief Brennan was cautious not to slight her further.


    Once the chief had left, Mrs. Simmons also made a hasty exit, followed closely by Kara.


    Reaching the elevator, Mrs. Simmons abruptly freed Kara''s hand, chiding, "You should''ve told me Freya was a Dawson heiress. If I''d known, would I have dared to kick her out? What were you thinking?" Kara hung her head in shame, murmuring, "I thought Freya preferred to keep her identity private. I''m sorry."


    "You should''ve at least warned me. That was utterly embarrassing!"

 Chapter 317

    Mrs. Simmons had a soft spot for Kara, but none of her fondness remained.


    Kara bit her lip in frustration while watching Mrs. Simmons leave in the elevator.


    Freya had broken off her engagement with Kieran, so why were people still siding with her? It was downright unfair!


    The following morning, gossip that Freya was a wealthy heiress spread throughout the neighborhood, turning her into a hot topic of conversation over coffee and pancakes. Everyone was curious to see what this rumored heiress looked like.


    So, when Freya stepped out, she noticed countless curious stares. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Freya called Ronan. "Were you serious about finding me a ce to stayst night?" "Why would I lie? I''ve found something. I was just about to call you."Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Great. I want to move out immediately."


    "That urgent? Who''s got you upset?" Ronan could instantly tell something was off with Freya''s mood. She didn''t like being the center of attention, scrutinized by prying eyes. "Yeah! Exactly!"


    "All you need to do is stay put, or I can send someone to pack everything you need." With that, Ronan hung up.


    Freya was waiting at the entrance of the apartment, and soon enough, Ronan pulled up in his car.


    A few bodyguards in sleek suits stepped out, greeting Freya respectfully. "Ms. Dawson."


    "My stuff is upstairs."


    "Just a moment, please."


    Without further ado, six bodyguards went up to pack Freya''s belongings.


    Skeptical about Freya being an heiress, the neighbors were stunned by the scene unfolding before them. They had never witnessed such a spectacle!


    Freya casually browsed her phone in the park while the bodyguards efficiently packed her things. Soon after, they loaded everything into the car and approached Freya, saying, "Ms, Dawson, we''ve gathered all your belongings. Mr. Beckett has arranged for another car to take you."


    "Okay." Freya got up to leave.


    190


    Many residents had snooped around for details, and upon learning Freya was leaving due to the previous night''s incident, they felt a sense of loss. It had been their first encounter with a true socialite! They wondered who had spread those rumors about Freya.


    When the rich heiress moved out of the neighborhood, everyone was bummed about missing out on future chances to rub elbows with the wealthy.


    "I remember someone pretty iming she was a hooker."


    "A pretty girl in our apartment building? Only Ms. Dawson fits that bill."


    "What about that girl iming to be Ms. Dawson''s cousin? What was her name?"


    "You mean Kara?"


    When overhearing this as she approached, Mrs. Simmons was shocked. Justst night, Kara was speaking up for Freya. Realizing this little schemer was the cause of her trouble, Mrs. Simmons stormed upstairs, fuming with rage.

 Chapter 318

    "Little tramp! Get out here, now!" Mrs. Simmons, thendy, stormed into Kara''s room with a fury that could scare off a bear.


    When Kara saw Mrs. Simmons barge into her room, her face went pale. "Mrs. Simmons, how could you barge into my room like that? You... Ah!"


    Before Kara could finish her sentence, Mrs. Simmons pped her across the face.


    "How dare you hit me!" Kara''s face twisted in anger and disbelief.


    Being the school''s darling, Kara wasn''t used to taking aggression. That was a first.


    "Why can''t I hit you? Do you have any idea how much trouble you''ve caused me? You knew Freya was a high-society belle, yet you kept spreading rumors about her around the neighborhood. You''ve made an enemy out of her for me. How could you be so malicious?" Mrs. Simmons used in a voiceced with bitterness.


    Kara''s face turned all shades of angry as she shot back, "And who can prove I started those rumors? Why are you ming me?"


    "You know damn well if you were the one! It''s always the same with you jealous types, but I never thought you''d drag me into your schemes, trying to make an enemy out of Ms. Dawson and y the saint! The world doesn''t work like that. Now, pack your things and get out. I won''t have tenants like you!" Mrs. Simmons was known for her fiery temper.


    Standing up indignantly, Kara retorted, "As if I could care less about staying in this old dump! I was nning on leaving anyway. You''ll regret crossing me more than if you''d crossed Freya!"


    Kara had only returned to pack her


    bags. Audrey had long since told her to move into the Sutton Mansion, giving her a few days to sort her


    bothered staying in this v


    things out. She wouldn''t have


    crumbling


    neighborhood if the Sutton family hadn''t dyed sending a car.


    At that moment, Kara seemed to have forgotten the pride she felt when she first moved to the city and found this ce to live in.


    Mrs. Simmons was astounded by


    Kara''s shamelessness. She had only rented her ce to Kara out of pity for a young girl struggling in a new city. And she got backstabbed.t was like a real-life version of betrayal.


    Kara packed up all her stuff and carried it out of the room. But as she stood at the entrance of the neighborhood, she hit a snag. The Sutton family hadn''t reached out to her yet, and she was torn about whether it would be wrong to


    contact them first.


    With little money on her and no way to afford a taxi to a hotel, Kara had no choice but to call the Sutton family.


    A maid answered the phone. "This is the Sutton Mansion. May I ask who''s calling?"


    "It''s me, Kara. I''ve packed my stuff, wondering when I can move over."All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "Move over?" The maid paused, confused. She wasn''t aware of any arrangement for Kara to move in. "Ms. Orson, there seems to be some misunderstanding. I haven''t heard of any arrangements for you to stay with us."

 Chapter 319

    "What? Mrs. Sutton told me to pack my bags the other night, saying someone from the Sutton family would pick me up in a few days." Kara was visibly frantic upon hearing that.


    She got caught between a rock and a hard ce. Where was she supposed to go if the Sutton family backed out?


    "Ms. Orson, don''t worry. I''ll check with Mrs. Sutton," the maid reassured her, shifting her gaze toward Audrey on the couch.


    Quickly concocting an excuse, the maid told Kara, "Ms. Orson, it''s not that Mrs. Sutton doesn''t want you over. It''s just that Mr. Sutton is adamant about not having extra guests. Last night, Mrs. Sutton gave him a piece of her mind, but he''s been stubborn. We''re at a bit of a standstill."Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    Audrey shook her head subtly at the maid.


    The maid cut her off. "Don''t fret, Ms. Orson. If I remember correctly, your lease is up at the end of the month, right? Your ce is close to the university, so why not stay there longer? You might have to shuttle back and forth for a few days. Rest assured. Once Mrs. Sutton convinces Mr. Sutton, someone will go to pick you up immediately."


    "But I..."


    After hearing that, Kara''s anxiety deepened. She had been waiting in this neighborhood for two days and had to wait even longer!


    But before she could finish her thought, the maid had excused herself and hung up.


    Staring at the disconnected call, Kara felt a chill. No ce to stay and no money? What was she supposed to do next?


    Johanna was in debt and couldn''t


    provide her with any financial


    support, and Freya had made it clear


    ?


    that she was unwee by the Dawson family. With all her belongings, how could she move to


    a nearby hotel without taking a cab?


    One problem after another overwhelmed Kara, her hands trembling uncontrobly. She regretted leaving so hastily without securing a fallback n. Meanwhile, back at the Sutton Mansion, "Mrs. Sutton, are you not nning to let Ms. Orson stay?" the maid inquired, getting Audrey''s intentions.


    Audrey responded icily, "Sure, the girl


    is manageable and easy to handle,


    but her background is way too lowly. The Sutton family isn''t just for anyone. If she''s ok with lowering herself to serve, then let her. After all Kieran needs a submissive woman by his side."


    Audrey had always disliked Johanna. And, by extension, she wasn''t fond of Kara. If it weren''t for the desire to have someone more easily controlled to keep Kieran in check, Audrey wouldn''t have considered letting Kara stay at the Sutton Mansion.


    Her previous invitation was politeness. And she had never expected Kara to take it seriously. What a na?ve girl.


    As the afternoon approached, Kara still hadn''t found a ce to stay. All she had was five hundred dors, hard-earned from part-time jobs in her small town.


    Since arriving in the city, the need for money was everywhere, and her savings of seven thousand had dwindled to nearly nothing. Five hundred dors was barely enough for two nights'' stay.


    Just then, she caught the sound of her ssmates''ughter and chattering from up the street.


    Kara paused, stunned.


    They had noticed her, too, including her disheveled luggage.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 320

    Everyone froze when they saw Kara standing there, looking like she had been through a storm. For a second, they thought they were looking at the wrong person.


    After all, Kara, who was supposed to move into the prestigious Sutton Mansion, how could she end up there? And she looked like she had been kicked out, with her clothes all disheveled and her belongings scattered around her. Kara tried to avoid their gazes, but they still noticed her.


    Half-doubting, one of them said, "Kara, is that you? What are you doing here?"


    "Yeah, Kara, weren''t you supposed to head to the Sutton Mansion? Howe you''re all by yourself out here?"


    It was getting dark, and seeing a girl alone on the curb with her bags all around her was not a safe scene.


    Just this morning, Kara had boasted about moving into the Sutton Mansion, and they had all been looking forward to visiting her there. But there she was, sitting by the roadside.


    "I... I was... I got kicked out," Kara muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.


    She didn''t specify who kicked her out, but putting two and two together with the gossip about Kara and Kieran, they quickly med Freya.


    "It must have been your wicked cousin who kicked you out!"


    "I always knew Freya was no good! Her fianc¨¦ running off with her cousin must have made her bitter."


    "But kicking you out in this freezing weather? Freya must have a heart of stone."


    The group exchanged words, building up on their assumptions.


    Seeing they had misunderstood,


    Kara didn''t bother to correct them. It was easier to let them think Freya was to me than to admit her


    "Kara, we''re all friends here. If you have nowhere to go, why not stay with us in the dorm?"


    "Exactly. The dorm''s way nicer than here, and we have a spare bed. You shoulde with us."All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, and it''s only for a few days until you move to the Sutton Mansion, right? Staying in the dorm is just as good."


    The girls from her ss were so eager to strengthen their bond with Kara, hoping it might give them a chance to mingle with the elite through her.


    When Kara heard she could stay in


    the dorm, her eyes sparkled. She remembered her first visit to Summit University and how much she loved the dorms there. The dorms were luxurious, with three students sharing a spacious three-bedroom apartment each room beautifully furnished, almost like a high-end condo.


    Everyone had their room to ensure privacy, and the amenities included private bathrooms with bathtubs and a shared kitchen and living area. The only catch was the exorbitant annual fee of $200,000, which was warb what she could afford.


    Unable to contain her excitement, Kara said, "If I could stay, I''d be so grateful to you all."

 Chapter 321

    "Look, we''re all friends here, right? Helping each other is what it''s all about. Come on, let''s get you settled in your dorm," one of them said, stepping forward to lead Kara away. Kara nced at her messy pile of belongings with reluctance.


    "Surely, all this junk can''t be yours, huh?" one of them asked, eyeing the pile skeptically.


    Though not dirty, Kara''s belongings looked like they were from a discount store''s clearance sale.


    On the other hand, they were all from well-off families, maybe not high society, but ustomed to the finer things in life. Just their bedding and clothes alone could rack up to a hefty sum. Hearing her stuff being called junk, Kara suddenly wanted to ditch them. Her pride got the better of her as she said, "Oh, I don''t know whose stuff that is. I was keeping an eye on it for someone." "Yeah, right. It looks like the kind of stuff someone would dump, not store. Those suitcases and bags? Total thrift store vibe."


    In the upscale area, they rarely saw anyone not living infort and naturally assumed someone had discarded and left the belongings on the sidewalk.


    "Let''s drop it and head back to school. I have some spare sheets and nkets you can use, Kara," one of them offered, linking arms with her in a friendly gesture.


    As they strolled off, Kara kept shooting nces back at her things, all her clothes and must-haves, unsure about ditching it all.


    But the thought of moving into the Sutton Mansion made her decide against taking anything with her. After all, she couldn''t cling to her old life if she wanted to start anew Her bargain-bin stuff didn''t fit hernew status anymore.


    When she followed her new friends to the school dorm, Kara''s heart swelled with pride at seeing the neat, spacious room.


    Back home, everything felt worn out, even with modern conveniences like indoor plumbing, which couldn''t mask the mustiness.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    But there, the apartment was fresh


    decorated with tastefully arranged


    flowers that added a touch of elegance. Living there would be a dreame true for Kara.


    "Kara, this is your room," one girl said, showing Kara into a in but spotlessly clean room.


    It had everything she could need, including a desk, a bed, a bathroom, aputer, a bookshelf, and a wardrobe. There was even a private balcony.


    "It might look bare now, but I''ve asked my folks to send over some of my bedding and stuff. They should be here soon."


    Hearing her roommate consider the room ''bare,'' Kara felt even more out of her depth. It was already beyond anything she''d experienced.


    "Kara, when will Mr. Sutton take you home?" the eager curiosity in her roommate''s eyes was unmistakable.


    Kara felt insecurity as she replied,


    "Mr. Sutton well, Mr. Sutton mentioned since we''re not officially engaged, it might tarnish my reputation to move in so hastily. So, for now, I visit him when I can."

 Chapter 322

    Hearing what Kara had said, her roommate felt a twinge of disappointment but didn''t dare let it show too much before her. After all, mingling with society''s elite gentlemen was their day-to-day dream. It was the quickest and most effective way to leapfrog social sses. "Okay then, you rest here for a bit. When the guy delivering the linens arrives, I''ll have him help tidy up," the roommate offered.


    Kara nodded, taking such conveniences for granted.


    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was the delivery of bed sheets and duvets, the roommate quickly opened the door, only to find not the expected delivery guy but Jenny and Eloise. "Eloise?"


    The sight of these two made the roommate''s eyes light up. Jenny was one thing, but Eloise was practically a celebrity on campus, the heartthrob of every male student.


    Initially indifferent to the noise outside, Kara suddenly tensed up upon hearing Eloise''s name. Why on earth would Eloise suddenly show up there?


    Kara''s anxiety red when she remembered how Eloise had overshadowed her at the Sutton Group''s office.


    "We''re doing a room check. Did someone unauthorized enter your dorm?"


    The dorms had their rules. One shouldn''t stay there without paying the amodation fees. After all, the residents were incredibly rich of high status. An intruder would upset everyone, and the school didn''t want to offend these affluent youngdies. Thus, the school had set rules long ago against unauthorized stayovers.


    As the student council president, Eloise hade to investigate after a dorm attendant reported the situation.


    "A ssmate of mine is temporarily homeless, so I said she could crash here for a bit while she sorts something out," the roommate exined.


    "Your ssmate? Name? I need to


    register it Jenny had always been a bully, throwing her weight around Summit University, where school seniors held sway. No neer dared cross them. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    When Jenny inquired, the roommate responded, "Her name''s Kara. She''s staying for a few days. Her boyfriend will pick her up soon!"


    "Boyfriend?" Eloise interjected, her voice gentle yet authoritative, her smile disarming.


    "Yes, Kara''s engaged. But her fianc¨¦''s family doesn''t want to tarnish her reputation, so she hasn''t moved in with them yet. But I reckon it''ll happen soon."


    Before the roommate could finish


    talking, sensing trouble, another girl


    quickly offered, "Eloise, I''m sorry.


    Could I cover Kara''s


    amodation fees for a few


    days? She''ll be leaving


    "So, no one told me Kara was tying the knot. Where''s she at? Get her out here." Jenny''s forwardness had the roommates trading awkward looks.

 Chapter 323

    "Can''t you hear me? Get out of the room, now!" Jenny''s voice was noticeably higher.


    Reluctantly, Kara emerged from the bedroom, looking hesitant and uneasy.


    "It''s you, huh?" Jenny scoffed coldly. "I thought they were lying. Who''s your fianc¨¦, huh? Let''s hear it."


    Jenny was clearly out to embarrass Kara. Sure enough, Kara''s face had turned pale.


    Oblivious to the situation, one of the roommates blurted out, "Kara''s fianc¨¦ is..."


    "Shut it." Another girl quickly elbowed her friend beside her. It wasmon knowledge at the school that Kieran''s heart belonged to his childhood sweetheart, Eloise.


    And then, Eloise was right there, making it utterly absurd for someone to spread baseless rumors over her head. Whoever had arranged Kara''s room had no clue about the situation between Kieran and Eloise. Suddenly, no one spoke. Kara stood to the side, head down, silent.


    "Speak up! Why don''t you answer?" Jenny red at Kara in front of her.


    Kara was even more shameless than Freya had been!


    "I''m sorry, Ms. Harwood. I didn''t mean topete with you for Mr. Sutton. Audrey asked me to develop a rtionship with him. If it bothers you, I''ll tell her now, and I won''t contact Mr. Sutton again." Kara looked pitiful.


    The rest of the dorm crowd heard the ruckus and came to check out the scene.


    Jenny found Kara''s words


    somewhat amusing. "And who do you think you are? Just a country bumpkin, thinking you could be Mrs. Sutton? You''d still not be in line even if they chose Freya! You have the nerve to say you''ll stop contacting Mr. Sutton? Mr. Sutton is fond of Eloise. You''re, at best, a maid for the Sutton family. Don''t think you''re something special just because Audrey likes you. Ellie could snap her fingers and you''d be a nobody in Echo City!"


    "Alright, Jenny, don''t scare her off." Feeling the humiliation was enough, Eloise stepped in to y the good cop. She said, "Ms. Orson, please don''t take this to heart. Kieran and aren''t a thing. But I heard you''ve been taking care of Audrey at the Sutton family daily, which must be tough. Why not stay at the Sutton Mansion? It would be more convenient, wouldn''t it? Is Kieran unwilling? Do you need me to have a


    word with him?"


    Kara''s expression worsened. People outside were whispering about Kara. Initially, they thought Kara was heading to the Sutton family to be a daughter-inw, but it turned out she was merely a daily caregiver for Audrey.


    How was that different from a maid? And maids could at least live at the Sutton Mansion. Yet Kara had no ce to stay and had to freeload in her ssmates'' dormitory.


    The other roommates doubted Eloise''s words, turning their heads to look at Kara.


    Having had her fill of belittling Kara, Eloise feigned generosity. "Crashing here for a few days is cool. But as the big cheese of the student council, I gotta make sure everyone''s stuff and cash are safe We''ve got a solid track record - nothing''s ever gone missing here, but, you know, if new facese in, it could throw things off if something did go missing. So, not gonna ask you for rent, just need a security deposit to make sure nobody else gets shortchanged. And don''t get me wrong, I''m not saying you''d pinch something - just standard stuff for everyone''s peace of mind." Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    Eloise''s words left no room for refusal. Thus, Kara had no choice but to nod in agreement.

 Chapter 324

    Once Kara had signed the dorm agreement, she handed it to Eloise before her.


    Eloise gave it a once-over before saying, "Sure, you can move in, but make no mistake. If anything in this dorm goes AWOL, you''re the one in the hot seat." "I would never steal anything, Eloise," Kara replied, her expression earnest.


    Eloise gave a slight, indifferent smile.


    Jenny had always had a low tolerance for such attitudes and wouldn''t hide her disdain, rolling her eyes tantly before Kara.


    "Ellie, let''s go," Jenny said, linking arms with Eloise, and the two of them left the dorm room.


    Their departure was like a sigh of relief for the other roommates.


    "It must have been all talk to intimidate Kara!"


    "Exactly, Mrs. Sutton took a liking to Kara. Why would she send Kara to the Sutton family to be a maid? It''s not like the Sutton family is short on staff."


    While the roommates continued to defend Kara, they were unaware Jenny and Eloise''s warnings were based on truth.


    Biting her lip, Kara said, "I won''t take anything. Please don''t worry. Once the Sutton family sends someone for me, I''ll move out immediately and won''t cause any trouble."


    "We''re all friends here. Of course, we believe you! Besides, you''ll be the future fianc¨¦e of the Sutton family''s heir. Why would you need to take our things?" The group warmly reassured Kara. Yet, Kara''s heart sank further, unsure when the Sutton family woulde and pick her up.


    Meanwhile, at the Sutton Group headquarters, Kieran scanned the invitation in his hand and said, "Ronan sent this. Take a look."


    Jarrett nabbed the invite, which was for a big bash celebrating theunch of the W Group.


    "Looks like that mysterious Miss Susan will also attend," Jarrett remarked.


    "Ronan''s kept her under tight wraps, all her information marked top secret. I''m curious what kind of woman has caught Ronan''s eye," Kieran mused, his face stoico


    en


    BUMS


    Jarrett replied, "Even if she''s Mr. Beckett''s ace, she''s a woman and poses no threat."


    Kieran sneered, "I know, but I''m curious."


    Rumor had it that Ronan was not interested in women, maintaining a clean reputation. Kieran wanted to see what kind of woman could change that.


    Seeing Kieran calmly handling work


    on his desk, Jarrett ventured, "Mr Sutton when I sent someone to the apartment yesterday, I found Ms. Dawson had moved out."


    Hearing that, Kieran paused while opening a file.


    "And? So what?"All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "So... should we investigate?"


    "From now on, anything regarding Freya is none of my concern. Do I need to repeat myself a third time?" Kieran''s gaze was indifferent.


    Jarrett had never seen his boss so emotionally involved with any woman. Not even Eloise could stir Kieran''s emotions as Freya did. Yet, it seemed Kieran had quickly lost interest in Freya.


    Kieran instructed, "Prepare for tonight''s g and send Ellie''s gown to her."

 Chapter 325

    Attending events like these always meant showing up with a date. In Echo City, only Eloise seemed fit to stand beside Kieran. Jarrett quickly responded, "Right away. I''ll see to it."


    After Jarrett left, Kieran put down the documents he was holding, his mind inevitably reying the words Jarrett had said.


    Freya had moved out quietly. It seemed she was scared out that night. But that was fine. After all, Freya''s matters had nothing to do with him anymore.


    That was what Kieran thought, though his face involuntarily showed signs of fatigue. He rubbed his nose, trying to banish thoughts of Freya from his mind.


    In his world, his job was always top of the list. There was no slot for someone like Freya who could throw a spanner in all his life ns.


    Meanwhile, Freya sat motionless before the vanity, letting the makeup artist and stylist work their magic on her. For two hours, Freya didn''t dare to move a muscle.


    "Are we done yet?" Freya was on the verge of a breakdown.


    The makeup artist beside her said, "Ms. Dawson, please don''t move. Almost done."


    "You said that half an hour ago." Freya looked a bit wronged.


    She was already hurt, with several wounds on her body. To cover them up, the makeup artist used some specially-made materials to cover them and blended the surrounding skin with foundation, making it look wless. Freya had no idea where Ronan found such a magician. From ten minutes ago, Freya could barely recognize herself.


    "How much longer?"


    This time, it was Ronan asking.


    "Just a moment!" The makeup artist assured Ronan with conviction.


    The stylist also sped up, noticing it was five in the afternoon. Finally, the makeup artist put down the setting spray, dering, "Done!"Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Freya opened her eyes to see the girl in the mirror with sultry eyes, looking unrealistically beautiful. She had an icy demeanor simr to a celestial being descended from the heavens, yet her enchanting eyes added a seductive quality that


    no


    Her makeup wasn''t heavy, but her bright red lips were irresistibly enticing. A beauty mark under her eye added an extra touch of allure.


    Freya had never seen herself dressed up like that, and she was momentarily stunned.


    Looking at her work as if it were a masterpiece, the makeup artist said, "Ms. Dawson''s natural beauty is outstanding. It was the makeup techniques before that didn''t do her justice. Appearing in public like this, she could be mistaken for a top celebrity. No, she''s more like a muse!"


    Normally, Freya might''ve just waved off the makeup artist''sparison as a bit over the top. But catching her own reflection, she couldn''t help but think that even goddess might be selling it short.


    Ronan stepped forward, gently holding Freya''s chin and tilting her face side to side, saying, "You look stunning." "Do you think I look like Freya now?"


    Ronan seriously said, "Only about sixty to seventy percent resemnce. The old Freya would never dress up like this."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 326

    "I just hope Kieran doesn''t recognize me. That''s all."


    And it wasn''t just Kieran. It was everyone else in Echo City, too. As the executive of W Group, she couldn''t possibly be known as the heiress of the Dawson family.


    "Don''t worry. Kieran won''t recognize you," Ronan said, pping his hands.


    The stylist had brought the evening gown Ronan had meticulously picked for Freya.


    Blinding in its brilliance, Freya gasped at seeing the gown. "Isn''t this a bit too grand?"


    The gown was all in diamonds, notrge but numerous, sparkling like stars. The white, strapless, floor-length design screamed seduction and nobility.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    And to top it off, Ronan had even prepared a fox fur stole for her. This outfit would make her outshine movie stars.


    "I want you to be the most beautiful woman in Echo City. That way, no one will mistake Susan for Freya. At most, they''ll only think you look somewhat alike," Ronan said with a smile. "But this dress doese at a cost-two million. I believe Ms. Dawson can afford it." Freya nearly gritted her teeth as she said, "You indeed know how to do business!"


    "Thank you," Ronan replied, his smile widening. "I''ve also prepared a surprise for you tonight rted to this dress."


    "What surprise?"


    "If I told you, it wouldn''t be a surprise, would it?" Ronan said. "But trust me. You''ll love it."


    As night fell, Eloise and Kieran stepped out of the same car.


    Jarrett opened the door for them.


    Knowing about the banquet


    beforehand, Eloise had prepared her evening gown early. She was dressed to the nines, her diamonds glistening, drawing everyone''s attention with a nce.


    "Ms. Harwood, that gown is the icing on the cake. I''ve never seen such a stunning dress before. It suits you perfectly!"


    "This must be Mr. Sutton''s gift, right? We all know how much Mr. Sutton adores you, Ms. Harwood. Today, we finally see it for ourselves."


    "Ms. Harwood is truly unrivaled tonight. I bet even the new executive of W Group can''t hold a candle to Ms. Harwood''s beauty!"


    The crowd showered Eloise withpliments as if lifting her to the heavens, partly out of respect for Kieran, who stood by her side.


    Their praises were not just polite remarks. After all, Eloise was considered the prettiest woman in Echo City. No one in their circle had seen a woman more beautiful than Eloise.


    Eloise smiled modestly, saying, "I''m ttered. I''ve heard Miss Susan is quite the beauty. I wouldn''t darepare."


    With that, Eloise nced at Kieran beside her and added, "What do you think, Kieran?"


    Kieran didn''t bat an eye, not giving any sign of reacting to Eloise''sment.


    Just then, a car engine approached. Judging by the sound, it had to be Ronan''s car Curious eyes turned toward the sound, and everyone was eager to glimpse this reputed beauty, the executive. Eloise was no exception, intrigued by the woman who had won Ronan''s favor.


    Rumors had it that the two had


    known each other overseas. Recently, the gossip had gotten more scandalous, suggesting that Ronan''s disinterest in other women over the years was due to Miss Susan.


    The secretary had already opened the car door.


    Rent

 Chapter 327

    Ronan was the first to hop out of the car, immediately offering a hand to help Freya down.


    The moment Freya appeared, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Freya''s beauty was otherworldly, and her eyes captivated anyone who dared a nce, which seemingly had a magical allure that drew people in. "Is this Susan, the CEO of W Group?"


    "With those looks, no wonder Mr. Beckett is head over heels for her all these years."


    Whispers of awe filled the air.


    Both striking in their own right, Ronan and Freya made a visually stunning pair, captivating onlookers whenever they were together.


    Kieran was also momentarily dazzled upon seeing her, but it didn''t take long for him to spot something amiss as the person before him bore a striking resemnce to Freya.


    "How odd, isn''t Ms. Susan''s dress identical to Ms. Harwood''s?" Someone in the crowd couldn''t help butment, drawing attention to the fact that Freya''s evening gown was remarkably simr to Eloise''s.


    The only distinction was the luxurious white fox fur stole draped over Freya''s shoulders, setting her apart and elevating her aura far beyond Eloise''s.


    Eloise''s smile began to falter. A fashion faux pas was one thing, but to sh with the night''s leadingdy? It wasn''t about wearing the same dress. It was about who wore it better.


    When folks firstid eyes on Freya, it was her drop-dead gorgeous looks that grabbed their attention. But with Eloise, it was her dress that popped before anything else. The contrast was night and day.


    For Eloise, the dress ttered her. But for Freya, she ttered the dress.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    After realizing it, Eloise felt here


    lodged in her chest, making her breathless. What made matters


    worse was noticing Kieran''s gaze on Freya''s face.


    "Kieran." Eloise couldn''t help but call out to him.


    At that moment, arm in arm with Freya, Ronan approached Kieran and Eloise. "Mr. Sutton, she''s caught your eye, has she?"


    Ronan''s sudden quip snapped Kieran back to reality, also striking a blow to Eloise''s pride. Ignoring his date in favor of another''s was an insult.


    Eloise forced a smile, attempting to


    smooth things over. "Everyone appreciates beauty. I suppose. Kieran was curious about the woman who has enchanted Mr. Beckett for so long."


    "As you can see, she truly is a beauty unlike any other, right, Susan?" Ronan turned the conversation toward Freya.


    Freya struggled to maintain herposure. What was he thinking, putting her on the spot like that?


    "Indeed, it seems Mr. Sutton and I


    have the same opinion about


    beauty Birds of a feather flock


    together, as they say." Freya''s voice was soft and gentle.


    Kieran, however, frowned deeper. Though the voice differed, she reminded him so much of Freya.


    With all eyes on them, Kieran extended his hand. "Ms. Susan, I''ve heard so much about you."

 Chapter 328

    Watching Kieran extend his hand toward her, Freya was anything but eager to take it.


    Meanwhile, Eloise had begun scrutinizing the woman before her with keen interest. It was new for Kieran to make the first move to shake another woman''s hand. The crowd couldn''t help but cast curious nces at Freya. Seeing such a gorgeous woman, even the usually aloof Kieran seemedpelled to reach out to her. Ultimately, Freya relented and shook hands with Kieran.


    "Mr. Sutton, my pleasure," she said, though internally she was cursing Kieran harshly.


    Whether intentionally or not, Freya felt her hand suddenly gripped tighter by Kieran.


    Already nursing a wound, her hand throbbed with pain as Kieran''s grip tightened, spreading difort throughout her body.


    But, she had to keep her cool in front of everyone else, muscling through the sting on the back of her hand while keeping a slight smile on her face.


    Kieran observed the woman''s reaction closely, looking for any slip-up that might reveal more about Freya.


    Logically, with the severe injury on the back of Freya''s hand, even a gentle squeeze should have been unbearably painful. Yet, the woman before him showed no sign of difort. Could he have mistaken her identity?


    "Mr. Sutton, that''s enough," intervened Ronan, pulling Freya''s hand back. "Tonight, Susan is my date, and your date is Ms. Harwood. Your actions might give people the wrong idea, suggesting you have a special interest in my date." His words put Eloise in an awkward position.


    Eloise smiled and took Kieran''s arm, suggesting to Ronan, "Mr. Beckett sure loves his jokes. Let''s not stand around the entrance talking. Let''s go in."


    "That sounds good," Ronan agreed.


    Freya breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn''t help thinking Kieran had overdone it with the force of his grip, nearly crushing her bones.


    In a lowered voice, Freya remarked to Ronan, "That should count as a work-rted injury."


    Ronan replied nonchntly, "Don''t worry. I''ll cover it."


    Freya wasn''t seriously expecting Ronan topensate her. She only hoped to keep her distance from Kieran for the rest of the evening, fearing what other tactics he might employ against her.


    From the look in Kieran''s eyes earlier, Freya was sure he harbored suspicions about her identity. Her priority was to find a way to dispel Kieran''s doubts, ensuring no trace of linking Freya to her.


    "Kieran, don''t you think Miss Susan resembles Ms. Dawson?" Eloise brought up Freya out of the blue.


    Indeed, everyone present had noticed the striking resemnce between Susan and Freya.


    Although they had a simr look,This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    their vibes were like night and day. Susan had this polished and instantly mesmerizing thing about her, while Freya, sure, she was a knockout, but didn''t have the same allure, especially because she usually went light on the makeup, leaving her skin looking a touch on the pale side.


    Susan''s presence had visibly unsettled Kieran, whose instincts screamed that Susan was Freya. Yet, Susan''s every move and mannerisms seemed entirely different from Freya''s.

 Chapter 329

    There was something about her, an icy demeanor that screamed ''trouble'' from a mile away.


    "Kieran, did you hear what I said?" Eloise prodded again.


    This time, Kieran snapped out of his daze, replying with a nonchnce and indifference, "You''re overthinking it. Freya can''t be Susan. They only look somewhat simr."


    One was a powerhouse with international exposure, while the other was a sheltered heiress who hadn''t ventured beyond Echo City.


    Freya had been circling Kieran for the longest time. How could she have had the time to study abroad, let alone rise to be the renowned CEO of W Group?


    Eloise felt her heart sink. First, it was Freya. Then, it was Susan. Her intuition screamed that both women were formidable rivals.


    The dinner party was filled with the usual banalities. The high societydies flocked to Susan upon realizing how much Ronan and Kieran favored her, leaving Eloise in their dust as they gravitated toward the neer.


    "Ms. Susan, we''ve heard so much about your beauty and prowess overseas, and finally, we get to witness it ourselves."


    "The rise of W Group owes much to Ms. Susan''s strategic nning."


    "Here''s to Ms. Susan," they toasted.


    From afar, Eloise watched the scene


    unfold, her heart sinking as the same women who once swarmed over her had changed camps. White she always put on a show of not caring about such fleeting admiration, losing it left a gap that was hard to overlook. She wasn''t Echo City''s main attraction anymore. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Turning to Kieran, she noticed his gaze was on Susan, who was effortlessly engaging with a foreign delegate in fluent foreignnguage, a skill Freyacked. The ease with which Susan conversed made Kieran doubt his earlier skepticism. This woman couldn''t be Freya. Freya was never fluent in foreignnguages.


    With that realization, Kieran''s interest waned, his gaze withdrawing as if Susan no longer mattered.


    Once Freya sensed Kieran''s attention shifting away, she reverted to her detached demeanor.


    "Thank you all for joining tonight''s W Group gm Susan, the inaugural CEO of W Group. I look forward to our future coborations and appreciate your support," she addressed the gathering, her poise earning her apuse.


    Yet, her eyes found Kieran, her gaze filled with an amusement starkly different from Freya''s usual coldness.


    Kieran remained stoic, seemingly unfazed and indifferent to Susan''s presence.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 330

    As the sun set, Ronan escorted Freya back to her apartment.


    He had specifically chosen this apartment for Freya. It was not far from Summit University. The ce boasted excellent facilities and utmost privacy, ensuring a hassle-free life.


    Stepping out of the car, Freya could hardly walk. She had to rely on Ronan''s support to reach the apartment building.


    She flung her high heels off in frustration, vowing never to torture herself with them again. "Whoever likes them can have them. I''ve had enough!" "Are they that painful?"


    "Are you kidding? Next time, Mr. Beckett, why don''t you try strutting in high heels? Plus, I was injured. Walking was sheer agony!"


    "Your acting was so convincing. I didn''t even notice you were in pain." With that, Ronan checked the injury on the back of Freya''s hand.


    Kieran seemed hell-bent on proving Susan was Freya, squeezing her hand with all his might during their handshake, hoping to elicit a pained reaction.


    But Freya didn''t give him the satisfaction, even though her hand was reddening, and she didn''t utter a peep.


    "Shame, it almost healed. Now we''ll have to apply more ointment."


    "Where did you keep the ointment? I''ll get it for you."


    "No need. I''ve run out." Freya looked at her reddened hand and went to the bathroom to remove all the foundation and the flesh-colored silicone hiding her wounds, exposing them fully to the air.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    She sighed, feeling the sting in her


    hand. "Kieran must have spent a fortune on that ointment. It worked wonders initially, so I used it


    whenever I was in pain. But it ran out quickly, and now, I can''t get it


    anywhere."


    Freya remembered the ointment specially formted by international experts at Kieran''s request and tailored to her injuries. At first, the results were remarkable, but the efficacy seemed to diminish with frequent use.


    No longer in contact with Kieran, she was too proud to ask him for more, preferring to endure the pain than showing weakness.


    "I''ll call my private doctor to check your injuries tomorrow. If it''s serious, you might need to go to the hospital. How will you manage your exams otherwise?"


    Ronan added, "Just a heads up. The Summit University exam this time is quite tough. You might struggle to pass."


    Seeing Ronan doubt her abilities, Freya retorted, "Just watch, Mr. Beckett. I''ll surprise you with my results." Ronan''s eyebrow shot up, clearly intrigued. "Alright, you''ve got my attention. Let''s see this big surprise of yours." "The biggest surprise you''ll ever get!"


    After Ronan left, Freya quickly removed her makeup andy on her plush bed, reflecting on her day. She had never been fond of makeup, and her skills were mediocre.


    Applying makeup was never about achieving perfection for her. Today, however, thanks to the top-notch makeup artist Ronan had arranged, she discovered a new side of herself she hadn''t known existed.

 Chapter 331

    Freya suddenly realized she didn''t resemble Eloise in the slightest. Freya was Freya herself, not a stand-in for anyone else.


    The following morning, Ronan had his family doctore to check Freya''s injuries. Once the doc got a good look at how banged up she was, he got right to work patching her up and threw in some advice on the way out the door. Freya had intended to practice writing with her left hand in her apartment, but then she remembered it was the due date for library returns at school. With a sigh, she realized she had no choice but to head to the school library. As fate would have it, Jenny and Eloise were there, cramming for what might be the most difficult final exams in years, as rumored. It seemed every senior was burning the midnight oil in the library, desperate not to fall behind.


    Jenny spotted Freya and immediately sauntered over with a smirk. "Well, isn''t it Miss Dawson from the renowned Dawson family? What''s got you wandering here alone to return books? Where''s your ever-present sidekick, Luna? Did she finally ditch you now that word''s out about the Dawson family''s financial turmoil? Trying to avoid guilt by association with the sinking ship?"


    The student council president at Summit University, Eloise, wielded nearly as much power as the faculty. Backed by a posse of female student council members, her influence was undeniable. Despite neither Freya nor Eloise securing the coveted spots for studying abroad, the council''s disdain for Freya, perceived as imitating their beloved Eloise, was palpable.


    The crowd sneered, "With the Dawson family''s reputation in tatters, who wouldn''t want to distance themselves, fearing bacsh from Mr. Sutton?"


    "Kara''s already reduced to being Mr. Sutton''s aide. It seems the older aide''s days are numbered, bound for misery."


    "Rumor has it, Freya, that after your little stunt with Preston backing you up and your vendetta against Ellie''s family, Mr. Sutton''s abandonmentnded you in jail, all banged up Serves you right!" Jenny led the barrage of insults.


    The entire school knew crossing Kieran meantza grim future for Freya. At Summit University, the social hierarchy was merciless, especially to those who offended the powerful. Jenny''s disdain for Freya,


    once unting herExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    and


    causing Mae to drop out, only


    deepened.


    In a sudden move, Jenny reached out to shove her. Freya caught Jenny''s wrist in the left hand, gripping it tightly.


    "Ah! Let go! Freya, release me now!" Jenny screamed with the pain evident in her voice.


    Freya''s grip was rock solid, practically putting Jenny''s wrist in a vice.


    Seeing this, Eloise stepped forward. "Freya, don''t take it too far. Let her go!"


    "Too far? Was it not ''too far'' when she treated me this way? Ms. Harwood, as the president of the student council, shouldn''t you be striving for fairness and justice?"


    Freya''s voice turned colder, signaling she would no longer tolerate their bullying. She was done ying nice, with exams looming and her ties with Kieran severed.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 332

    "Freya! Here is school! Do you seriously think about starting a fight here? Have you lost your mind?" Jenny couldn''t believe Freya, once a darling of high society who had fallen from grace, would dare do anything to her at Summit University!


    Without Kieran''s support, Freya was nothing but a target for bullying at school.


    "It seems like you''ve forgotten how you and Mae ganged up on me not too long ago here at school. You dared toy your hands on me. Why wouldn''t I do the same? Since you''re provoking me, I have my version of the story for the principal." Freya stated her logic calmly and methodically. Ignoring Freya''s words, Jenny blurted out, "You used to be Mr. Sutton''s fianc¨¦e, so even if we couldn''t stand you, we didn''t dare touch you. But now that you''ve called off the engagement, do you think the principal would take your side?"


    Everyone knew about Summit University''s unwritten rules. Only those with status enjoyed special privileges, ensuring their minor offenses got swept under the rug.


    Freya used to get all these perks ''cause she was engaged to Kieran. But now that they split, not even the teachers were throwing her any bones.


    "Are you implying the principal is corrupt?"


    "That''s not what I meant, Freya. Don''t twist my words!" Jenny''s face soured.


    Unperturbed, Freya retorted, "I heard you loud and clear. You''re saying since I''m no longer Kieran''s fianc¨¦e, the principal won''t speak up for me." "You..."


    "Jenny didn''t mean it like that, Ms. Dawson. We apologize for our rudeness. But if you don''t let go, we''ll have to take this to the principal. After all, Jenny is a student council member. Assaulting her in public vites school rules, and even the principal won''t take your side," Eloise quickly interjected, defending Jenny.


    Freya released Jenny''s wrist at the right moment.


    As Jenny broke free, she immediately turned to strike Freya but got stopped by Eloise.


    "Freya, who do you think you''re fooling? I knew you wouldn''t dare do anything to me. Or else, I''d go straight to the principal and report how you got Mae expelled. What you did to her, I can do to you!" Jenny continued to provoke Freya.


    But Freya wasn''t foolish enough to react. She knew better than to waste her time on Jenny.


    "Are you done? If so, I''m leaving. Don''t waste any more of my time." With that, Freya turned to leave.


    Suddenly, Eloise pinched Jenny''s thigh hard. Caught off guard, Jenny yelped in pain. In the library, all eyes turned to Jenny.


    Freya frowned, only to see Eloise feigning concern. "Jenny, what''s wrong? Did she hurt you? Say something!"


    Quickly catching on, Jenny spedN?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    her wrist and used Freya, "Freya, that was malicious! Just because we had issues before doesn''t mean you can attack me on purpose!"


    "Me, attack you?" Freya found the usation ludicrous. She had merely grabbed Jenny''s wrist without causing any harm.


    Yet there was Jenny, an adult, cradling her wrist and crying out in pain.


    Following Jenny''s cue, the other students began to chastise Freya "Freya, that''s too much. What did Jenny do to you? She was upset about Mae getting expelled, and you went too far!"

 Chapter 333

    "Yeah, Freya, that was way out of line! We must get to the bottom of this in front of the principal. Exams are around the corner, and what if Jenny''s hand is seriously injured? Can you live with yourself then?"


    The crowd was getting rowdy, and Freya quickly caught on to Eloise''s scheme. Eloise? She was trying to get Freya kicked out of Summit University before the exams. Such haste seemed a tad too desperate.


    "Freya, I won''t let you off the hook! Come with me to the principal''s office! I''m calling the cops if you don''t exin yourself!" Jenny red at Freya, her face a mixture of grief and anger, looking as if she wouldn''t let go until she had her way. Freya sighed, "Fine, let''s all go to the principal''s office and see who''s lying!"


    Many people had witnessed the event. Freya hadn''tid a finger on Jenny. It was all Jenny''s fabrication!


    "Jenny, let me help you there." Eloise supported Jenny as they left the library while the remaining student council members encircled Freya, ensuring she didn''t escape.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    Soon, they were all standing at the principal''s office door. The principal had never seen such a crowd at his door and was momentarily stunned.


    "What''s all this about?"


    "Principal!" Jenny ran into the office and walked to the principal, showing him her wrist marked with a ring of bruises.


    Through tears, she said, "Principal, look what Freya did to me!"


    Hearing Freya was involved, the principal turned his gaze toward her. "Freya, did you do this?"


    There was a tone of usation in his voice. When Freya was engaged to Kieran, the principal treated her with the utmost respect, but his attitude had changedpletely.  en


    Freya responded, "I didn''ty a hand on her." "Nonsense! We all saw it! Freya attacked Jenny!"


    "Yeah, Freya, don''t try to deny it!"


    "There are cameras in the library, sir. You can check for yourself. Freya attacked Jenny first. We all saw it with our own eyes!" The crowd was eager to prove Freya was the aggressor.


    The principal huffed out a breath, turned to Eloise, and asked, "Eloise, you''re the big cheese of the student council. Were you on-scene when this went down?"


    "I was there." Eloise spoke earnestly, "Ms. Dawson did have a physical altercation with Jenny. Everyone saw it. Principal, the exam ising, and Jenny''s hand is injured. This will affect her performance and indirectly impact our school''s graduation rates. We hope you can resolve this issue fairly and give Jenny the justice she deserves."

 Chapter 334

    If before Eloise had been concerned about maintaining her reputation for fairness, this time around, she tantly sided with Jenny.


    The principal was well aware Eloise was pressuring him. With a look of consternation, he nced at Freya across from him.


    After all, the woman before him was Kieran''s ex-fianc¨¦e from the Sutton family, a lineage that Ronan had always taken great care of. What if the punishment was too severe and drew the higher-up''s attention?


    With a heart of unease, the principal gave Eloise another look, remembering she was Kieran''s favoreddy. He didn''t want to offend her. So, with a decisive p on the desk, he turned to Freya and said, "Freya! They all say they saw you hitting Jenny. What do you have to say for yourself?"


    The principal was desperately signaling, hoping Freya could provide some evidence in her favor, even if it wasn''t entirely convincing.


    Freya wasn''t born yesterday. She made a beeline for Jenny and shot out a hand for her wrist. Jenny tried to duck out, but Freya was faster, not giving Jenny a chance to slip away. Jenny had to let Freya get hold of her wrist.


    "Ouch! Let go! Let go of me!" Jenny struggled fiercely and pushed Freya away.


    "This is the evidence," Freya stated.


    "What? How is that evidence?" the principal exhaled slowly. "Freya, I''m giving you a chance to defend yourself. Don''t just brush this off!"


    Freya exined, "The library has surveince footage, right? It should show me grabbing Jenny''s wrist, my thumb underneath. But the bruise on Jenny''s wrist, the thumbprint, is on


    top. Doesn''t that seem odd? VContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    After hearing that, Jenny''s face turned sour. Even Eloise furrowed her brows. Under such circumstances, who would notice such minor details?


    "The only truth is that Jenny injured her wrist and med it on me."


    "You''re talking nonsense!" Jenny immediately retorted, "With exams around the corner, why would I injure my hand to frame you? You''re spouting nonsense!" "Whether it''s nonsense or not, the surveince footage will tell. Principal, someone is trying to frame me, and I would like a resolution. I trust the school will give me justice."


    At that point, Freya paused and then


    said, "Today, Jenny said since I''ve broken off my engagement with the Sutton family, the principal wouldn''t speak for me. I believe in your integrity that you wouldn''t be so mercenary, right?"


    "You! Freya, you!" Jenny was so angry that her face turned red.


    The principal looked more ufortable. Indeed, he hadn''t wanted to speak for Freya, but he had been in touch with Kieran, who had no intention of making things difficult for Freya. So, he dared not take any rash actions against her.


    Things had gotten even worse! Jenny was even damaging his reputation!


    With this thought, the principal immediately turned his warning gaze toward Jenny, who was so frightened that she didn''t dare lift her head, fearing the principal''s re could cut her down.

 Chapter 335

    "Just some yful banter from Jenny. No need for Ms. Dawson to take it to heart, right?"


    Eloise wasn''t finding the humor in it anymore. Her defense of Jenny was clear to anyone. When Freya used them of fabricating stories and setting traps, it aimed at Eloise.


    "Jokes or not, Jenny has said it, and such talk isn''t great for the principal''s reputation. Let''s hope today''s incident was only a misunderstanding. But if it were intentional bullying, I''m afraid someone might follow Mae''s unfortunate path. With graduation exams around the corner, this won''t look good for the principal or Summit University, right, Principal?"


    Freya''s message was clear. They had to back down, or Jenny could end up behind bars.


    With no choice, Eloise turned to the principal and said, "Principal, with graduation exams nearly upon us, I believe it''s time to resolve conflicts. Consider this water under the bridge as if we were never here. I''ll ensure Jenny apologizes to Ms. Dawson." It was an indirect admission from Eloise that Jenny had targeted Freya.


    Jenny bit her lip, frustration written all over her face. It was Eloise who had coerced her into this scheme against Freya. With their n backfiring, Jenny was the one left holding the bag.


    Jenny felt an unprecedented level of frustration.


    Luckily, the principal didn''t want to blow the situation out of proportion and was on board with Eloise, "You''ve got true leadership, always looking out for the whole group. I''ve got other fish to fry. I''ll leave this mess in your capable hands."


    With that, the principal took the opportunity to exit the office.


    As everyone prepared to leave, Eloise and Freya exchanged nces.


    In Freya''s memories, Eloise had never treated her as an enemy. Perhaps in Eloise''s eyes, she wasn''t a threat. But then, Eloise''s gaze was filled with hatred. Could it be that the wheels of fate were beginning to turn?


    "Jenny..."


    As they exited the principal''s office, Jenny shrugged off Eloise''sforting hand.


    "You suggested we use this method against Freya, and now, you''re abandoning me! Howe you get to y the good guy? The principal knows intentionally targeted Freya, tarnishing his reputation. Who knows what he''ll do to me during the graduation exams!" Jenny stormed off, not caring about Eloise''s reputation before the student


    council members.


    Eloise''s face darkened. In the school, Eloise was the idol of all the boys. To the girls, she was the kind, older sister figure. It was the first time she had been embarrassed beforeN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    content belongs to


    All thanks to Freya! In private, Eloise clenched her fists, trying to contain her frustration.


    Out of the school building, Freya saw a tall, handsome figure despite him wearing a white windbreaker and a baseball cap with a mask. From his aura alone, Freya instantly recognized him. That was Caleb, Eloise''s devoted childhood friend, the unassuming movie star who always stood by her side.


    "Great... why is Caleb here now?" Freya recalled that in her past life, Caleb wasn''t supposed to be in town at this time.

 Chapter 336

    Freya had only seen Caleb once at school, and even then, it was nothing more than a brief collision as she rushed past him, barely sparing him a nce.


    She had assumed Caleb was passing through, stopping by to see Eloise before heading back overseas to continue his acting career. But it seemed Caleb nned to stick around for the long haul.


    Oh no, that couldn''t be worse. This guy seemed straight out of a romantic drama as the lovable third wheel and was smitten with Eloise. And if Caleb saw her, who knew what lengths he''d go to for Eloise?


    Freya had seen too much of this drama unfold. The moment she spotted Caleb, the urge to turn tail and run was overwhelming.


    But her legs wouldn''t cooperate, and after finally leaving the academic building, there was no way she was going back up to invite more misery upon herself.


    So, Freya kept her head down and walked toward the exit, hoping Caleb hadn''t seen her. She was thankful that he seemed too busy looking for Eloise to notice her.


    As Freya thought she was safe, a voice called behind her, "Hey there."


    Caleb''s voice was pleasant to the ear, which hinted at a gentleman.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    But at that moment, Freya''s spine stiffened. When she turned to look, she saw Caleb''s face covered with a ck mask, only his eyes visible and shining like polished gems, captivating enough to ensnare any unsuspecting girl. Freya pretended not to notice him and tried to keep walking, but Caleb grabbed her arm, identally touching a wound and making her wince in pain.


    "I didn''t mean to. Are you okay?" Caleb asked, concern in his voice.


    "Yeah, fine," thought Freya, biting back her thoughts. What was he doing grabbing her like that? They weren''t supposed to cross paths things followed the script of their past lives. Was he trying to back Eloise up by confronting Kieran, and she just happened to be in the way?


    Freya was fuming, but Caleb said, "You''ve got something on your back."


    So, he casually grabbed a piece of paper that was stuck to her back. It had "I''m a loser" written on it in big, bold letters.


    There was no guessing needed.


    That was Jenny''s handiwork. S


    after failing to get her way at the principal''s office, she resorted to this childish prank.


    "Are you... okay?" Caleb asked, his voiceced with worry.


    Anyone could see Freya was a victim of bullying, with injuries all over and malicious notes stuck to her back.


    Seeing the concern in Caleb''s eyes,


    Freya couldn''t help but feel it was all


    an act. She might have fallen for


    Caleb''s concerned act if it were some na?ve, kind-hearted gir


    IMS

 Chapter 337

    But Freya had lived a life and knew who Caleb''s heart belonged to. For Eloise, Caleb would move mountains.


    Especially when it came to Freya, the woman who had stolen Eloise''s lifelong love, Freya guessed Caleb would probably relish seeing her in distress.


    "It''s nothing, just some yful teasing among ssmates." Freya couldn''t wait to get away from Caleb.


    Caleb blocked her path again as she was about to leave and said, "Do you not recognize me? Don''t you remember me at all?"


    Looking into Caleb''s earnest eyes, Freya quickly shook her head. "Sorry, I don''t know you."


    Hearing that, Caleb swiftly took off his face mask, revealing a face that seemed more suited to the big screen than real life.


    As a highly popr actor abroad, Caleb''s face was memorable. But this Caleb was no different from the one Freya remembered from her past life, so there was no surprise on her face.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''m Caleb. Freya, do you seriously not remember me?" he said, his toneced with a teasing note.


    Freya said, "You''re telling me you''re that famous star, Caleb? Come on, stop joking."


    Freya acted as if she had never seen Caleb before and turned to walk away.


    But Caleb followed close, saying, "We met as kids. You stood up for me when I got bullied. Do you not remember me?"


    As Caleb talked, Freya rolled her eyes, thinking actors really knew how to spin tales just to get close to someone. How was it possible she couldn''t recall any childhood moments with Caleb?


    An actor through and through, making up stories seemed second nature. Caleb could tell lies as effortlessly as breathing.


    If not for knowing the rtionship between Caleb and Eloise, she might have taken a moment to wonder if she did know Caleb in her childhood.


    "Sorry, but please stop teasing me," Freya said earnestly.


    But with an injury on her leg, she was slow, no match for Caleb''s long strides.


    Eventually, Caleb blocked her path again.


    Freya said somewhat helplessly, "Is this the new way of hitting on a girl? I know look good, but could you


    O some manners and not chase after me like this?"


    Freya blushed a little as she said this. After all, if it were about looks, Caleb''s face was leagues beyond her own.


    Sure enough, her words stunned Caleb. He probably never expected to be seen as some street harasser. When he gathered his thoughts, Freya was already walking toward the school gate.  en


    Soon, Eloise, looking around near the school building, asked Caleb when he returned, "Where were you just now? Weren''t you waiting for me here?"


    "I just saw Freya."


    Bringing up Freya put Eloise in a bad mood. If it weren''t for Freya, she wouldn''t have faced that humiliating incident outside the principal''s office. "And then?" asked Eloise.


    "Someone had stuck a note on her back. Ellie, don''t tell me you did it."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 338

    In Caleb''s mind, Eloise was never the type to stir trouble.


    A flicker of difort crossed Eloise''s face, yet she insisted, "How could it be me? She''s called off his engagement with Kieran. Even if they hadn''t, I would never hurt anyone like that." After hearing her words, Caleb''s expression softened.


    "You called me back from abroad to show Kieran still has feelings for you. Look, he''s broken off his engagement. Can''t you be at ease?" Caleb said.


    "Thanks to you, but I still feel..." Eloise was unsettled, unable to pinpoint her difort. Perhaps it was a woman''s intuition. She felt Kieran''s attitude toward her had changed.


    "Ellie, you can''t be too greedy. You should know Kieran will never marry you," Caleb bluntly said.


    Hearing that, Eloise''s face lost all color. She had always known that Kieran would never choose her to be his bride. Even if Freya hadn''t been around, he would have chosen someone else. But giving up without a fight just wasn''t in her nature. Even if she couldn''t be Kieran''s wife, she was determined to be the most important and special woman in his heart.


    "Let''s drop it. How about we grab something to eat?" Eloise naturally linked her arm with Caleb''s, and they walked out of Summit University together.


    That afternoon, the principal nced at his phone, first seeing the news of Ronan and Susan from W Group holding hands and then a photo of Eloise and Kieran attending the dinner party together. His heart skipped a beat.


    Had he seen these updates earlier,


    he wouldn''t have embarrassed Eloise that afternoon! With Ronan''s close confidante back in town


    Ronan likely not bothering with and


    Freya anymore, Eloise remained Kieran''s darling. Yet, the principal had just snubbed her publicly. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Worried, the principal decided to call Kieran.


    Jarrett answered the phone.


    With a nervous chuckle, the principal exined, "Jarrett, there was a dispute today between Ms. Dawson and Ms. Harwood. Ms. Harwood wanted strict action to give an ount to the injured student, but Ms. Dawson imed she got framed. With graduation exams around the corner, what do you think?"


    Jarrett nced at Kieran, who was in the middle of an urgent meeting. Finally, he calmly responded, "Mr. Sutton and Ms. Dawson have ended their engagement. As for the school matters, Principal, please handle it as you see fit. Just one thing. Ensure Ms. Harwood doesn''t get wronged."


    "Sure, got it," the principal quickly assured before hanging up.


    It seemed Kieran had moved on from Freya. In that case, the principal thought he should ensure Eloise was treated with the utmost respect, signaling his goodwill.

 Chapter 339

    So, the school principal made another call to the Dean of Students, Director Sampson. When Sampson picked up, the principal spoke sternly, "Director Sampson, it''s me. We''ve reviewed the CCTV footage from the library this afternoon. Freya is suspected of getting into a fight, stirring up trouble, and injuring a student council member''s wrist. It has potentially jeopardized their exam preparations, which is utterly uneptable! I want you to speak to Freya tomorrow and advise her to consider withdrawing from school." "Withdraw? But graduation exams are around the corner. To ask Freya to leave now..."


    "She''s been on a leave of absence for several months already, and now, with her wrist injured, how is she supposed to take her exams? For our school''s graduation rate, she should withdraw." The principal quickly issued his directive, leaving no room for Sampson to argue before hanging up.


    Sampson nced at the phone receiver in bewilderment, muttering, "Why do I always have to be the one to do the dirty work? Why can''t you handle it?"


    Despite hisints, Sampson knew he couldn''t dy the principal''s request. He nned to carefully choose his words and ry the message to Freya the next day.


    Meanwhile, Principal Miller also called Eloise, adopting a much friendlier tone, "Eloise, you''re the student council president. Today, Freya was looking for trouble, and we''ve confirmed from the library''s CCTV footage that she was the aggressor. I''ve instructed Director Sampson to suggest to Freya that she withdraw. You don''t have to worry about this."


    Unsurprised by the principal''s actions, Eloise replied, "Understood. Thank you for ensuring fairness, Principal."


    After hanging up, Caleb, who was nearby, asked, "What''s got you in such a good mood?"


    "Just something worth celebrating," Eloise said, a smile spreading across her face.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya''s biggest mistake was breaking off her engagement with Kieran. In Echo City, a ce where connections speak volumes, without Kieran, Freya was nothing. With the principal''s assurance, Eloise was in high spirits.


    The following morning, Freya received a call from Sampson. Though he spoke diplomatically, Freya could tell he suggested she voluntarily withdraw from school. "Director Sampson, is this your idea or the principal''s?" she inquired.


    Sampson hesitated but quickly responded, "Regardless of whose idea it is, the fact remains. The victim ims you were the one who started the physical contact, and the security footage shows you grabbing their wrist. If this gets out, it could really damage your reputation.


    Besides, your academic performance has been unstable, and with your hand injured, continuing the exams seems futile. It would be more dignified for you to withdraw voluntarily."


    Sampson patiently exined the pros and cons to Freya.


    Freya found the situation amusing. She had proven her innocence to the principal but still got used baselessly.


    "Please tell the principal not to worry about me. I won''t fail the graduation exam. If they think I''ve assaulted¨¨ someone, they''re free to involve the police of the police find me guilty, I have no objections to being expelled," Freya retorted.


    Seeing Freya''s refusal to withdraw, an impatient Sampson said, "Freya, I''m trying to reason with you. Don''t be stubborn. Staying here only affects the school''s graduation rate. Besides, airing this dirtyundry benefits no one. It would be better to withdraw gracefully. With your family''s background, you could go


    abroad. Why insist on staying at


    Summit University?"

 Chapter 340

    Freya''s patience had worn thin when facing another round of persuasion from the school''s guidance counselor. She responded coldly, "Look, if I were involved in a fight, then by all means, let the principal call the cops on me. But if this is all about the school''s graduation


    rates, I''m sorry, but that''s the school''s problem. Why should I bear the consequences?"


    "You... you..." Before Sampson could finish, Freya had ended the call.


    In her view, the call was pointless from the start. Kieran had probably intimidated the principal, or perhaps Kieran had ordered the principal to deal with her in case it would upset Eloise.


    That was nothing new to Freya. She had seen it all before. Especially since Ronan had been away for several days dealing with business at the W Group, the principal probably felt no one would stand up for Freya now that Kieran had dumped her.


    At that moment, Luna''s call came through. Freya answered, only to hear an anxious voice on the other end. "Freya, did you see our school''s group chat? You have to look!"


    Freya checked her phone and found it bombarded with hundreds of unread messages from various group chats and a flood of friend requests, all packed with insults. Some called her a tramp. Others used her of ying both sides. And some imed she used her woes to seduce men.


    Friend requests and insults came in droves.


    The students had even shared a video in the chat - a surveince clip from the library showing Freya grabbing Jenny, though it was blurred and hard to see clearly. Student 1: [I was in the library yesterday. I saw Freya start a fight with my own eyes!]


    Student 2: [Dumped and still acting so high and mighty, all to make Eloise look bad!]


    Student 3: [Who does she think she is? She dropped out to chase after a guy, and when that failed, she expected to return and throw her weight around. Disgusting!] Messages kept pouring in, with some even tagging her directly. Many shared the news on social media, making Freya the Summit University''s shame overnight.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "They''ve gone too far!" When Luna arrived at Freya''s apartment, she was so furious she threw a cushion on the floor, eximing, "I miss one day of school, and this is how they smear you! Eloise used to seem reasonable, and now, she lets the student council do this, huh? Is this deliberate?"


    Freya slumped on the couch and said, "It''s deliberate. They edited the video to make me look like the aggressor, like some crazy woman starting trouble. Everyone believe''s it''s my fault, and if I can''t clear my name, I''ll be branded for life"


    "This kind of news spreads fast in our circles. If it goes down like this, Freya, you''re in danger."


    Being expelled would be the least of her worries. She might end up at the police station.


    Freya''s gaze darkened. She lived by a simple rule, "Don''t start none and won''t be none." But they had chosen toe at her with such tactics, trying to ensure she couldn''t recover.


    Fine. Freya had hoped to graduate without making waves, so she hadn''t confronted Jenny the day before. But since they wanted to escte things, they couldn''t me her for what came next.


    After Luna left that afternoon, Freya


    pulled herself together and headed


    a


    to W Group. Everyone there was top talent poached from the Beckett Group Freya paid them double what they used to earn, so they were all the more dedicated.

 Chapter 341

    Dressed in a sleek ck business skirt suit, Freya looked like the trendy outfit was made just for her. She had gone the extra mile in her appearance to ensure every detail was perfect. Her secretary said politely, "Ms. Susan, here''s the current development status of the Southern Suburb project."


    "Please leave it in my office." As Freya entered her office, she saw Alison, whom she had transferred from the Dawson Group. Alison was one of the few people who knew Freya''s real identity. Once the door was closed, Alison began, "Miss..."


    "I''ve told you, while at W Group, you''re to call me Ms. Susan."


    "Yes, Ms. Susan," Alison corrected herself. "The Southern Suburb development is going smoothly. We''re getting low bids from building material suppliers eager to work with us, and numerous partners are interested in advertising at our hot springs resort. Our project is overshadowing the Sutton Group''s efforts." Freya nodded. "I''m aware."


    The Sutton Group''s hot springs project hadn''t started but was already crushed in its cradle.


    Puzzled, Alison asked, "So, your visit today isn''t about the Southern Suburb project?"


    "I''m here to test... ourpany''s PR capabilities."


    "What?" Alison was stunned. She wondered, ''PR capabilities? What sudden need is there tounch a public rtions strategy?''


    Meanwhile, Kieran''s phone buzzed nonstop at the Sutton Group''s office. The sess of W Group''s hot springs resort meant the Sutton Group''s simr project was dead in the water, leading to a potential loss of billions.


    Kieran, already frustrated, had little


    patience for the constant stream of messages until a notification from Ss caught his eye. Opening the chat, he was met with a flood of forwarded messages detailing how Freya had gotten into a physical altercation at the school library. The messages imed she had


    seriously injured a student council


    member who now couldn''t


    participate in the graduation exams.


    Kieran frowned, opening each article to see vivid descriptions of the previous day''s events at the library Freya was portrayed as aggressive, pressuring the principal and acting unreasonably. There was even a video from the library.


    With a cold tone, Kieran called out, "Jarrett!"


    Jarrett entered promptly. "Mr. Sutton, how can I assist you?"This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "What''s this about?" Kieran tossed his phone to Jarrett.


    After reviewing the messages, Jarrett was equally stunned. "Mr. Sutton, yeah, the principal called me yesterday, mentioning a minor altercation between Ms. Dawson and Ms. Harwood. You were in a meeting, and I thought it was trivial, something you wouldn''t want to be bothered with."


    "So, you decided not to tell me?" Kieran''s gaze turned icy. Jarrett quickly responded, "I''ll get to the bottom of this now."

 Chapter 342

    "Get back here and call the principal now! In front of me, do it!" Kieran''s words were sharp as icicles. Jarrett swiftly ced his phone on the desk, dialed the principal''s number, and hit the speaker button. The call went through quickly. The principal''s voice sounded cheery, "Jarrett, what brings you to call me this early?"


    "Principal, Mr. Sutton would like to inquire about Ms. Dawson''s situation," Jarrett said with utmost seriousness.


    Hearing the question was about Freya, the principal slickly responded, "Ah, we''ve handled Ms. Dawson''s case. After all, she offended Ms. Harwood and even injured a student council member. So, the punishment is perfectly justified, all in Ms. Harwood''s favor." After hearing it was Eloise''s idea, Kieran''s expression darkened.


    Seeing Kieran''s displeasure, Jarrett, knowing what woulde, pressed, "And who authorized this punishment? Was it entirely Ms. Harwood''s whim?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Isn''t it?" The principal on the line was stunned. "I followed Ms. Harwood''s instructions to expel Freya yesterday. Did I misinterpret something? Or was the punishment too lenient?" "Punishment?" Kieran scoffed, "You''re a principal, not a sheriff. What gives you the right to punish?"


    "Mr. Sutton," the principal''s voice trembled upon recognizing Kieran''s voice.


    He hadn''t anticipated stirring Kieran''s anger, especially since he had called Jarrett the day before, emphasizing not to wrong Eloise, which led to Freya''s expulsion.


    How could he have misjudged the


    situation so terribly? In a panic, the principal assured, "Mr. Sutton, rest assured, will invite Ms. Dawson back to school to offer a direct apology and ensure her smooth graduation!"


    Fear was evident in the principal''s tone, worried about Kieran''s potential repercussions.


    The previous principal had been ousted for crossing Eloise, and given that Kieran was the school''s major benefactor, this principal knew better than to make the same mistake.


    "Then make it happen immediately. I don''t want to hear any gossip or see any nder about this incident at school."


    Kieran''s ultimatum was clear, and the principal hurriedly responded, "Rest assured, Mr. Sutton. I''ll handle everything personally. There won''t be any slip-ups!"


    With that, Kieran abruptly hung up the call.


    Inside the principal''s office, the principal wiped the sweat from his brow, regretting not considering the implications of his actions more carefully with such influential figures involved.


    Right then, Sampson walked in and


    put the prepared expulsion notice for Freya on the principal''s desk, looking to score some points. "Principal, ve got MS Dawson''s expulsion notice ready here. Should we go ahead and stamp it now?"


    Before Sampson could finish, the principal threw the notice back at him. "Expulsion? What expulsion? Get online and pull down those malicious rumors immediately! By the end of the day, I don''t want to see a single post about Freya''s expulsion. And those library surveince tapes, find out who''s spreading this nonsense. Bring the culprits to me. They''ll be the ones facing expulsion!"


    Hearing the principal''s orders, Sampson was momentarily stunned. Everyone expelled? Sampson was confused. "But, sir, those are student council members..."

 Chapter 343

    "I don''t care if it''s the student council or not. Mess with the wrong person, and you will pay the price!"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    The principal was frantically looking for someone to take the fall, not caring who was in the student council. He knew he''d be the next one out of a job if they couldn''t sort out the mess with Kieran. Rubbing his temples with frustration, Sampson said, "But, Principal, this news has leaked. We can''t make it disappear."


    "If you can''t make it disappear, consider this your resignation! Get on it, now!" The principal sent Sampson off to deal with Freya''s situation with a dismissive wave.


    Though troubled, Sampson had his order and reluctantly left the principal''s office.


    How could they retract something that had blown up this big? Did he have the magic touch?


    As Sampson checked his phone to see thetest situation, he found all incriminating evidence scrubbed clean. Stunned, he wondered why he was even tasked with this if someone had it handled.


    But then, as if on cue, every group chat buzzed with a high-definition, full video from the library''s security cameras, showing Jenny tantly provoking Freya.


    Besides that, detailed articles about Jenny''s family background and how she had abused her student council powers to bully her ssmates over the years also started circting. These articles were thorough, including testimonies from the students Jenny had bullied, backed by photos and even old surveince footage.


    Photos of Jenny''s tumultuous high school days, featuring various men, had also surfaced. The chat groups were buzzing with discussions about it.


    von


    Jenny''s face turned sour in the academic building as her dark past was exposed. "Who did this... Who is trying to screw me over?"


    That history was long behind her. Who could have unearthed it?


    "Jenny, calm down..."


    Before Eloise could finish, Jenny cut her off. "How can I stay calm? It has to be Freya''s doing! My hand wouldn''t get injured if it weren''t for messing with Freya. And now, on top of this serious injury, Freya avoids expulsion and airs my dirtyundry! That bitch, I won''t let her get away with this!" Content Belongs to


    Fury zed in Jenny''s eyes. With graduation looming, she hadn''t expected this curveball.


    "I''m going to confront her!" Fueled by rage, Jenny stood up and stormed out of the academic building without another word.


    Eloise didn''t try to stop her. Given


    bet


    the situation, it seemed Jenny was on a fast track to expulsion anyway. She might as well do onest thing for Jenny.


    "Where''s Freya? Where is she?" Jenny burst into Freya''s ssroom, shouting at the top of her lungs.


    The ssroom fell silent, everyone staring at Jenny as if she had lost her mind. Who was this madwoman causing a scene?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 344

    "Where''s Freya? Tell her to get out here now!" Jenny was storming through the ssroom, her eyes scanning for Freya, but she was nowhere to be found.


    At that moment, Luna stood up and said, "Hi, we''re in the middle of a lesson. What''s with themotion?"Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    "You think I''m causing a scene? Luna, don''t act like you don''t know what''s going on. I know you''re Freya''s best friend! And with your family owning that major news outlet, you must''ve been snooping around for dirt on me to help her out. How could you guys be so heartless!"


    As Jenny moved to grab Luna''s hair, the teacher, who had been trying to maintain control, finally lost it and mmed a book down on the desk.


    The room fell into a sudden silence.


    "Which ss are you from? Who allowed you to disrupt my lesson like this? Get out, now!" the teacher bellowed.


    Still fuming but stunned by the teacher''s fury, Jenny shot Luna a venomous look before storming out of the ssroom.


    "Serves her right!" Luna was aware Jenny had been bullying Freya for some time. Now that Jenny''s shady past was the hot topic online, Luna felt justice had been served. She thought, ''If you don''t want your misdeeds to be known, don''tmit them in the first ce.'' People like Jenny deserved to get theireuppance!


    Outside the ssroom, a crowd had gathered, all eager to see Jenny''s downfall. Jenny had bullied many school juniors, and seeing her humiliated brought them a sense of vindication.


    "What are you looking at? Scram!" Jenny was past caring about her image. She was determined to wait for Freya and teach her a lesson.


    Sure enough, Freya appeared from the school''s elevator soon after.


    Blinded by rage and not noticing who else was with Freya, Jenny charged forward and pped her across the face.


    The p echoed, and Freya took it


    without a word, causing an intake of breath from the onlookers. Silence enveloped the crowd for a long


    moment.


    Feeling a sense of twisted


    satisfaction, Jenny sneered, "Youet


    think you can get me expelled? My dad''s on the school board. You can''t touch me!"


    "Jenny! What have you done?" A deep, stern voice cut through the air, freezing Jenny in her tracks.


    "Dad?"


    Besides Jenny''s father stood several men in suits, all exuding an aura of power and authority. They were unmistakably business tycoons.


    Jenny quickly recognized many


    faces in the crowd as the school''s


    investors, senior leaders from


    Summit University, and even


    officials from the education department. The principal was there too and none of them looked pleased.


    Jenny was suddenly at a loss. What was happening?


    "Today was supposed to be an inspection day. What are you doing causing such a scene?" Jenny''s father stepped forward, his grip firm on her arm, as confusion swirled in Jenny''s mind.

 Chapter 345

    A surprise inspection? Why on earth would the school suddenly have an inspection?


    Suddenly, Jenny realized something and immediately turned to Freya.


    "It''s you... You did this on purpose!" Jenny continued to create a scene, disregarding the setting.


    Upon witnessing this, Her father, Beasley, lost his patience and pped her.


    What kind of setting was this for such an outburst? How did Jenny dare to cause such amotion?Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Though a significant figure in the school''s board, Beasley was a minor director who had bought his way in. Jenny''s exaggerated ims before the school''s leadership had embarrassed him. "Dad!"


    "Get out! Just get out of here!" Beasley exploded at Jenny. "If you don''t want to study, just go home! Who do you think you are, throwing your weight around like this? Have you forgotten everything I''ve taught you?" His frustration with Jenny was clear for all to see. But Jenny, too worked up to care, believed Freya had set her up.


    "Dad! It''s all Freya''s doing! She''s framing me!" Jenny was frantic.


    However, nobody present believed her. Beasley was beside himself with anger. "Freya was merely leading us on a ss inspection. What setup? Can''t you even lie properly?"


    People might have believed Jenny when Freya was engaged to Kieran. But now that the engagement was off, how could Freya orchestrate an inspection?


    "Dad, it''s her. She dug up dirt on me online deliberately! I''m not lying!" Jenny was desperate, but the other leaders were bing impatient.


    The head leader nced at his


    watch and addressed Beasley, "We''ve wasted five minutes, Beasley. We have other matters to attend to. Maybe you should take your daughter home."  en


    "Sir..."


    Before Beasley could respond, the leaders had moved past Jenny and him.


    The principal red at Jenny, clearly frustrated with her indiscretion. It was unthinkable for a college student like Jenny to speak boldly in such a setting!


    As they were leaving, Freya gave Jenny a meaningful look as if she was mocking her foolishness.


    "You, you!" Beasley was too angry to speak. He wished he could p the sense into Jenny.


    As a minor director, he finally could showcase himself before the school''s leadership, but Jenny had ruined it.


    Pointing at Jenny, he struggled to


    find


    S and finally shouted, "Goet


    home now! And don''t you


    outside until I say so!" Co Step Goet


    "Dad!"


    "Go!" Beasley was barely holding it together. In any other situation, he might have reacted even more severely.


    Despite her rage, Jenny had no choice but to storm off.


    By the ssroom door, the principal was still inquiring about Freya''s cheek, worried about exining any mishap to Kieran. "Ms. Dawson, your face..."


    "It''s just a p. It''s nothing."

 Chapter 346

    "Jenny is way out of line! She had the nerve to throw a punch in front of the school board. Don''t worry. I''ve got your back," the principal assured Freya. Freya nodded and said, "I believe it was never your intention before, and about me getting expelled..."


    "Expelled? What are you talking about?" The principal quickly yed dumb. "There''s never been any expulsion here. I''ll get in touch with the Director Sampson now. Our grades might not be the best, but that''s no reason to believe rumors and expel students. Our school would never do such a thing!"


    Listening to the principal''s bold words, Freya couldn''t help but snort inwardly. Since when did Director Sampson have that much power? Sampson wouldn''t wish to see any student expelled if it weren''t for the principal''s orders.


    But knowing and saying are two different things, so Freya yed along. "As long as my name gets cleared, that''s all that matters. Thank you, Principal."


    "Don''t mention it! That''s what I''m here for. Just remember this, Ms. Dawson. You''ve got to buckle down for the exams. This year''s test is going to be a tough cookie."


    The principal didn''t want to see the school''s graduation rate suffer, but to keep Kieran happy, he had no choice but to let Freya sit the graduation exam. He just crossed his fingers that she wouldn''t do too badly.


    Meanwhile, in the Sutton Group office, Jarrett furrowed his brow and asked, "All the posts have been wiped clean? Who did this?"


    "I''m not sure. Whoever it was, this person acted fast and efficiently. In less than a minute, all the posts were gone, and somehow, it even backfired, exposing dirt on the original posters."


    With such efficiency, it had to be arge corporation.


    The assistant was puzzled, too. They had crafted a PR piece to clear Freya''s name, yet someone else was ahead of them.


    "Jarrett, could it be someone helping Ms. Dawson?"


    "Just spit it out. Who do you think is behind it?" Jarrett disliked beating around the bush.


    The assistant looked troubled, uncertain whether to speak up.


    But it was well known among them that Freya was juggling rtionships with Kieran and had close ties with Ronan and Preston. Maybe it was Ronan or Preston who stepped in.


    IMSContent is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Telling from the assistant''s hesitant look,


    imp/viett guessed what he was


    implying and coldly said, "If you want to keep your job, cut the pointless chatter!"


    "Yes, Secretary Jarrett."


    "Dismissed."


    "Yes." The assistant left quickly.


    Jarrett then entered Kieran''s office.


    "Is everything taken care of?" Kieran asked.


    Von


    "Mr. Sutton, the PR was ready to roll out, but someone got ahead of us. Someone has taken down the videos of Ms. Dawson getting into a fight and proven that she got framed," Jarrett reported.


    Kieran furrowed his brows. "Who?"


    "We haven''t found out yet." Jarrett lowered his head.


    Kieran''s demeanor instantly turned icy. "If you haven''t found out, keep looking until you do! Do I need to teach you how to do your job?" Kieran''s tone was icy. "What do I pay you for?"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton." Jarrett couldn''t help but ask, "So, do we continue the PR campaign to clear Ms. Dawson''s name?"

 Chapter 347

    When Jarrett asked the question, Kieran couldn''t help feeling agitated and annoyed. "Why are we even going through this? What''s the point of defending her now?" Kieran tossed a stack of papers onto the desk in a huff as Eloise breezed through the door.


    Noticing Kieran''s foul mood, Eloise couldn''t help but smile. "Is it Jarrett''s work that''s got you all riled up? What got you so fired up?"


    Eloise had rushed over from her college sses when she heard Kieran wanted to see her. But seeing Kieran in such a state, a wave of unease washed over her.


    Cutting straight to the chase, Kieran asked her, "What''s this I hear about Freya being ndered at school? Did you have something to do with this?"


    The usation in Kieran''s voice was unmistakable. It was a tone he had never taken with her before.


    "Kieran, are you questioning me because of Freya?" Eloise''s voice carried a hint of sadness, "You never used to question me like this."


    Kieran frowned, unable to hide his frustration.


    "We grew up together. Don''t I deserve your trust? I''m not the kind of person who''d do such a thing. Even Caleb believes me. Why can''t you?" There was a glimmer of restrained hurt in Eloise''s eyes. Kieran knew Eloise was stubborn. But today, she had crossed a line.


    He said coldly, "I''ve had people look into it. The principal admitted you wanted Freya expelled. He wouldn''t dare lie to me. Ellie, do you want me toy all the evidence out before you''ll be happy?" Eloise paled at his words.


    "All the evidence is there, with all the posts circting the school and the library''s security footage. How can you say you''re not involved? You think I''d believe that?" Kieran''s tone was distant. "I called you here to ask if you did it and why. If youe clean, I might consider not having you expelled."


    Overwhelmed by emotion, Eloise looked up in disbelief, "Expelled?" Her incredulity in the eyes was directed at Kieran.


    "What you''ve been doing doesn''t fit the role of a student council president. These rumors are out, and your reputation can only get worse. Do you think a scapegoat like Jenny will cover for you? Ellie, aren''t you being too naive?" Eloise tried to maintain herposure under Kieran''s scrutiny, but her expression betrayed her.


    Kieran was sure Eloise had a hand in the issue with Freya. But he still offered her a chance toe clean. "Give me a reason. At least I can ensure you continue your studies at Summit University."


    "Kieran... it wasn''t me, I just... got angry seeing Jenny hurt, but I cooled offter."


    Kieran observed Eloise, still making excuses, and remained silent, confronting this somewhat stranger before him.


    With a quivering voice, Eloise


    confessed, "Yes, I admit I was


    jealous of Freya, but I wouldn''t go as far as to farnish her. We grew up together. I thought you, of all people, would believe me. Yet, I never imagined you''d question me like this... for Freya..."


    Before Eloise could finish, Kieran''sputer suddenly red a familiar conversation. "Ah! Ellie, what are you doing?" Jenny''s voice cried out from the speaker.


    Through the speaker, Eloise could be heard saying This wound might


    §ï§äExclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    look bad, but it''s not serious. Plus, it gives us a solid case to push for Freya''s expulsion when we meet with the principal. Jenny, I know this is hard for you, but as friends, you understand why we have to do this, right?"


    Upon hearing the yback from theputer''s speakers, Eloise''s face paled even more.


    The principal''s recording from the previous evening yed next, sealing the evidence against her.

 Chapter 348

    "Eloise, you''re the student council president. Today, Freya stirred up trouble, and I''ve had the library pull the surveince footage. It was Freya who initiated the altercation. I''ve instructed Director Sampson to expel Freya. You can rest easy."N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Understood. Thank you for your fairness, Principal."


    As Eloise listened to these recordings, her face turned ghostly pale.


    Kieran said, "Ellie, I gave you a chance, and you squandered it."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Eloise saw Kieran reaching for the phone on the desk.


    Realizing he might call the principal, Eloise quickly grabbed Kieran''s arm, pleading, "Kieran! You can''t do this to me! You promised you wouldn''t let anyone bully me!"


    "I promised to protect you from harm in Echo City, not to condone your mistreatment of others." Kieran''s gaze was icy as he looked at Eloise. "Ellie, you must face the consequences if you''ve done something wrong."


    "I can''t study abroad anymore! How can I hold my head up in our circles if I get expelled? Kieran, for my sake! Just pretend you don''t know. Okay?"


    Eloise''s plea was desperate. Pride was her Achilles'' heel. The thought of her reputation tarnished by such underhanded tactics used against Freya was unbearable.


    "Let go." Kieran''s voice was almost frigid, a clear warning to Eloise.


    Seeing the unfamiliar coldness in his eyes, Eloise involuntarily released her grip. "Kieran, doing this is like pushing me to my death."


    "If you want to study abroad, I can arrange for that. But your days at Summit University are over." Kieran remained unyielding.


    Eloise retorted coldly, "I don''t want to go abroad. I want to graduate from Summit University! If you disagree, I might as well die here!" After that, Eloise grabbed a letter opener from the table and pressed it against her wrist.


    Kieran''s expression turned icy. He disliked being threatened, especially in such a manner.


    "Think carefully. I won''t help you cheat at Summit University, and you''ll lose this one chance to study


    at a top university abroad. Are you


    sure?"  4


    wnove


    Eloise was desperate. "I don''t want any woman taking you away from me. I don''t want to go abroad. I don''t want to leave you to Freya!"


    Hearing Eloise''s words, Kieran''s eyes grew colder.


    Jarrett walked in upon hearing themotion and was shocked by the scene front of him. He never


    expected Eloise to threaten Kieran in such a way.


    "Fine, I agree." Kieran''s sudden concession surprised Eloise.


    Kieran added, "I won''t force you to leave the university. You can stay and graduate. But Jenny can''t stay


    at the school, and you''ll lose stay


    any chance of studying abroad. Asdong as you have no regrets, stay in Echo City I won''t interfere anymore."


    "Kieran..."

 Chapter 349

    Eloise murmured, her voice tinged with confusion.


    There was a time when Kieran looked at her with nothing but adoration. But now, it felt like an invisible chasm had formed between them, growing wider with each passing moment. Kieran said coldly, "Jarrett, please escort Ms. Harwood out."


    That formal ''Ms. Harwood'' erected an insurmountable wall between them instantly.


    "As you wish, Mr. Sutton," Jarrett responded, approaching Eloise calmly, which belied the situation. Eloise''s hand, which weakly held a carving knife-not with any real intent of harm, but merely as a desperate ploy for attention was gently relieved of its burden by Jarrett. Such theatrics, meant to manipte through fear of loss, were distasteful to men like Kieran. They only served toplicate matters unnecessarily.


    As Jarrett led Eloise away, Eloise''s eyes remained on Kieran, searching for any sign of the connection they once shared. But Kieran offered no such constion.


    Left alone in his office, Kieran sank into his chair, exhausted. He recalled Naylor''s passing and the solemn promise to watch over Eloise. Yet, at this moment, Kieran couldn''t shield her any longer. Instead, he couldn''t stop thinking of Freya, injured and vulnerable. Had he known the challenges she faced at Summit University sooner, he would never have stood idly by.


    Jarrett re-entered the office, breaking the heavy silence.


    "How is Freya doing now?" asked Kieran.


    "Ms. Dawson... she should still be at school," Jarrett replied.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "At school? Now?" Kieran was incredulous. The social hierarchy at


    Summit University was


    and Freya''s presence there, especially under current


    circumstances, was likely to make her a target.


    "Call the principal. Tell him that even though Ms. Dawson and I are no longer engaged, any mistreatment she suffers is a direct blow to the Sutton Group''s reputation


    Jarrett couldn''t help but interject, "Mr. Sutton, you''ve given that order an hour ago."


    Then, Jarrett Said boldly, "If you''re worried about Ms. Dawson, why not visit her yourself? Continuing this standoff will only lead to regrets if Ms. Dawson moves on. And we both know you wouldn''t want that


    Having worked for Kieran for years, Jarrett knew the depth of his boss''s feelings, which Kieran seemed oblivious to.


    "What business is it of yours?" Kieran''s response was a mix of irritation and dismissal.


    Yet, within seconds, Kieran stood decisively. "Drive me to the school," hemanded.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 350

    At Summit University''s sprawling campus, Freya stepped into the restroom to inspect the bright red handprint on her face in the mirror. She clicked her tongue as she muttered, "That hard of a p? Serves her right to get expelled." Jenny''s expulsion was all but a done deal. A p in exchange for Jenny''s expulsion seemed like a fair trade to Freya.


    After assessing the damage on her face, Freya turned to leave the restroom, only to bump into Kieran. Her pupils instantly narrowed at the sight. How did she run into Kieran outside thedies'' room?


    Instinctively, Freya wanted to pretend she hadn''t seen him, but Kieran wasn''t about to let her slip away.


    "Why didn''t you tell me you got ndered?"


    Kieran''s words halted Freya in her tracks. Outside, she saw a ring caution tape stretched out,pleted with a "Do Not Disturb" sign.


    Turning with a forcedugh, Freya said, "Mr. Sutton, fancy seeing you here. I didn''t notice you just now."


    "Not a coincidence. I was waiting here for you on purpose."


    Kieran had instructed Jarrett to relocate everyone from this floor to ensure privacy.


    He stepped toward Freya and pressed, "You haven''t answered my question."


    "Mr. Sutton, we''ve called off our engagement, meaning there shouldn''t be anything between us anymore. Being ndered is my business. I don''t need to inform you, right?" Freya backed away, eager to put as much distance between them as she could. "Is that so?"


    "Yes." Freya nodded earnestly.


    As Freya thought Kieran was merely stirring trouble out of boredom, he suddenly stepped closer.


    This move put Freya on high alert. Her brow furrowed as she asked, "What are you doing?"


    "Why are you avoiding me?"


    Memories of that night shed in Freya''s mind- Kieran grabbing her wrist, pinning her against the wall, and kissing her fiercely.


    Then, Freya said, "Mr. Sutton, I''m not avoiding you. I don''t see a reason for us to meet."


    "Is your injury healed?"


    "No."


    "Then, ording to the agreement, I''m still your guardian until it does."


    "Guardian? You?" Freya almostughed out loud at that.


    Kieran, her guardian? The same Kieran who in the past life had handed her to kidnappers, watching her die, was iming to be he guardian? What kind of joke was this?


    "Is that a problem?" Kieran stated calmly, "I''ve given it some thought


    haven''treated you well beforeeso you have such a poor impression of me."


    "And your point?"


    "I''m thinking about changing the way I treat you," Kieran said, expecting to see a sh of delight or surprise cross Freya''s face.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Instead, she impassively extended her hand, saying, "Sorry, no need."


    With that, Freya turned to leave.


    Kieran called out, "Freya!"


    "What now?" Freya turned back, her tone impatient, "I''m having trouble moving around, Mr. Sutton. Could you tell your people not to tape off areas around restrooms? It makes it hard to walk."

 Chapter 351

    Freya swiftly tore through the yellow caution tape blocking her path, muttering "Crazy" under her breath as she walked away.


    Kieran''s expression darkened instantly.


    Jarrett approached Kieran, saying, "Mr. Sutton... Ms. Dawson, she... she left."


    "I''m not blind; I can see that," Kieran retorted, his gaze fixed on the caution tape, now a source of irritation. "Get rid of all this stuff; it''s giving me a headache," he said coldly.


    Jarrett wanted to point out that it was Kieran himself who had ordered the tape put up, but he held his tongue.


    "And have you checked where Freya''s been stayingtely?"


    "Sir, you mentioned you didn''t want to be involved in Ms. Dawson''s matters, so I..." Jarrett trailed off, only to be met with a chilling look from Kieran. "Even if Freya is my ex-fianc¨¦e, her affairs reflect on the reputation of Sutton Enterprises! I want to be informed about her, in detail and promptly!" "Yes, Mr. Sutton," Jarrettplied.


    Meanwhile, Jenny got expelled right before finals, missing out on herst opportunity to graduate.


    On the day of the exams, to everyone''s surprise, Freya showed up at the testing center. The other students were taken aback.


    Wasn''t Ms. Dawson injured and unable to take the finals? Yet, there she was.


    Ignoring the stares, Freya made her way to her seat, her wrist bandaged, limping slightly, her right hand hardly able to hold a pen. The room was filled with curious nces, wondering how she would manage her exam. Soon after, the exam papers were distributed.


    Luna, worried about Freya, had hoped to sit near her, but the


    crowded room and seating arrangements based on exam numbers made that impossible. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    As the room buzzed with the tension of students scribbling answers, Kieran, in the middle of a meeting at Sutton Enterprises, nced at his watch and asked, "Has the final exam at Summit University started?"


    Jarrett, already briefed on the schedule, confirmed, "Yes, it started ten minutes ago."


    The room was filled with confused looks, wondering why Kieran would suddenly ask that.


    "Meeting adjourned," Kieran announced, setting aside his documents.


    The sudden adjournment caught everyone off guard, leaving them puzzled as their discussions were only halfway through.


    "Mr. Sutton, are we heading to Summit University?" Jarrett asked, following Kieran.


    "I''m the university''s biggest benefactor; visiting during finals shouldn''t be an issue, should it?"


    "No issue at all."


    "Then let''s go."


    Jarrett followed Kieran out.


    Eloise was also taking the exam,


    sitting towards the back, while Freya was up front. The principal, phone in hand, entered the room to announce, "The board will be visiting shortly; let''s


    eeveryngiting


    order."


    is in

 Chapter 352

    When word got out that an inspection was on the horizon, a wave of unease swept through the students of Summit University. An exam inspection? That was news to everyone. Those in the back rows, who had been casually prepping their cheat sheets, quickly stashed


    them away. Getting caught cheating here wasn''t just a p on the wrist; it was grounds for immediate expulsion.


    "Did anyone else miss the memo about the bigwigs dropping by? Who''s evening?" one student whispered.


    "Beats me. The campus has been a hot messtely," another replied.


    The back row was buzzing with hushed gossip until a sharp look from the proctor silenced them. Freya, however, remained unfazed, diligently working through her exam.


    Suddenly, the room was filled with gasps, drawing Freya''s attention away from her paper to the doorway, where Kieran stood. His eyes swept across the room, clearly looking for someone.


    "The integrity of our exams is paramount here at Summit University. There''s no room for shortcuts," the principal dered, standing by Kieran''s side.


    Kieran''s gaze eventually settled on Freya, who today had chosen simple casual wear, her sses framing her face and her hair loosely tied up, making her blend into the crowd. Initially, Kieran hadn''t even noticed her.


    Her right hand was bandaged, making it tough for her to write with her left. Every so often, she''d shake out her stiff hand.


    "Is that Mr. Sutton? What''s he doing here?" someone whispered nearby.


    "Mr. Sutton in our exam hall? Must be here for Eloise," another spected.


    "But isn''t Eloise at the back? It almost seems like Mr. Sutton''s attention is..."


    Their spection was cut short by a cough from the proctor.


    Freya wasn''t concerned with


    Kieran''s reasons for being there; ber focus was on her rebellious hand, which seemed even more uncooperative today due to nerves.


    Kieran noticed Freya''s struggle and frowned, "Why is there a disabled student taking the exam?"


    The principal was momentarily taken aback. Disabled student? That was Kieran''s ex-fianc¨¦e, the one he was always so protective of.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Though internally critical, the


    principal knew better than to voice


    his thoughts. "This student''s determination to participate in the final exams ismendable. Qur students are resilient, always striving to..."


    Before he could finish, Kieran''s icy stare silenced him.


    "What''s the problem?" Kieran''s voice grew colder.


    "No... No problem at all," the principal stammered, not daring to offend.


    When Kieran spoke, everyone listened. After a hesitant nod from him, the principal quietly told the proctor to take Freya to the next room for an oral exam. "But..." the principal started.


    Kieran''s firm stance left no room for


    discussion. The principal knew


    better than to argue with the


    magnate''s wishes. Freya was to be moved, and that was final.

 Chapter 353

    Freya furrowed her brow in confusion.


    What the heck?


    As she walked into the next room repurposed as her exam hall, the proctor motioned for Freya to take a seat.


    Outside the window stood Kieran.


    "Freya, just look at the questions and tell me the answers. I''ll jot them down for you," he offered.


    The proctor was surprisingly amodating, probably shocked that a student had managed to pull strings to get a private exam room.


    "Ma''am, I can take the exam myself."


    "It''s the administration''s call. You''re injured, and we don''t want that to mess with your graduation."


    While saying this, the proctor picked up the half-finished exam paper Freya had ced on the desk.


    The proctor was momentarily stunned by Freya''s answers. "She answered all of these? Was this student not just riding on someone''s coattails?" the proctor thought. "Ma''am, I''ll continue then," Freya said, proceeding to articte her responses methodically.


    The proctor bent her head, diligently filling out the exam paper.


    The more she wrote, the more bewildered she became.


    This year''s graduation exam was notoriously tough, with few students expected to answer everything correctly, let alone the trickier questions. Yet, Freya was answering with ease. Kieran, listening from outside, couldn''t help but frown.


    The principal, standing beside Kieran, unsure of what was going through his mind, ventured, "Mr. Sutton...?"


    "Where are your copies of the exam? Hand them over."


    "Right away, Mr. Sutton."


    The principal quickly signaled someone to bring the exam papers to Kieran.


    Kieran merely nced over them briefly.


    The content was indeed moreplex than what Summit University usually offered.


    Yet, as Freya''s confident answers floated through the door, Kieran''s frown deepened.


    "Mr. Sutton, is something amiss?"


    The principal peered tentatively at Kieran''s reaction.


    He hadn''t seen the exam, so he was in the dark about Freya''s performance.


    "Was this exam leaked beforehand?"


    "Leaked?... Of course not. Only Mr.


    and Mr. Beckett had requested see it... No one else."


    s to en.kikistori


    When Kieran heard that Ronan and Preston had ess to the exam content, his previously furrowed brows finally eased up. He should''ve known, Freya wasn''t capable of pulling off these answers on her own. It seemed he''d overestimated her.


    ene


    Handing the exam back to the principal, Kieran remarked, "No need to worry, I''ve got other matters to attend to."


    "Understood, Mr. Sutton."


    As Kieran left, the principal, left holding the exam, was puzzled.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    What was up with the exam?


    After Freya finished, she got up and left the room.


    The proctor was left in a daze.

 Chapter 354

    Principal Martin spotted the bewildered proctor, Mr. Thompson, and approached to inquire, "What''s got you staring into space? How did Ms. Dawson fare?" Mr. Thompson, at a loss for words, simply handed the exam paper to Principal Martin.


    The exam was filled with densely packed, well-structured, and high-caliber answers.


    Skeptical, Principal Martin checked the remaining questions, only to find them wlessly answered as well.


    "Did you leak the answers to her?"


    Faced with the principal''s question, Mr. Thompson hurriedly denied, saying, "No, absolutely not!"


    He insisted, "I didn''t help her with the answers at all. She did it all by herself!"


    Hearing that Freya had managed this feat on her own left Principal Martin dumbfounded.


    Hadn''t Freya taken a break from school? How could she achieve such a high level?


    Outside, students cast curious nces towards Freya, their eyes filled with scrutiny.


    "Why does she get to take the test outside the ssroom?"


    "Didn''t they say she was injured?"


    "Injured? Looks more like she''s pulling strings because she''s got connections with Mr. Sutton."


    Doubts hung heavy in the air, but Freya remained cool and collected.


    Luna rushed to Freya''s side, asking, "Reya, what happened when they took you out? Did they bully you? Was Kieran trying to mess with you?" Luna was genuinely concerned for Freya.


    Freya shook her head, "I''m fine. It was just a normal exam session."


    "That scared me!"


    Relieved it was just a normal exam Luna said, "I thought Kieran was out to get you. You wouldn''t believe how nasty the other students were talking!"


    "What were they saying?"


    "What else? That you had an unfair advantage!"


    Luna was funding, "You''ve barely managed to learn to write with your left hand, and now? Now they suspect you of having an unfair advantage. I really can''t tell if Kieran is trying to help or just making things worse."


    Freya knew Kieran''s involvement wouldn''t bring anything good.


    But the exam was over, with another one tomorrow and thest one the day after. She just hoped Kieran wouldn''t show up every time.


    Meanwhile, Eloise had already left the exam area and quickly spotted a luxury car parked outside the school gates. She ran towards Kieran, calling out, "Kieran!"


    Kieran turned, his expression turning sour upon seeing Eloise approaching.


    Eloise, pale-faced and obviously distressed from her exam performance, confronted him, "Kieran, did you pull strings for Freya?"


    She was appalled at Kieran''s tant favoritism.


    Jarrett intervened, "Ms. Harwood, you''re mistaken, Mr. Sutton didn''t¡ª"


    "I saw it with my own eyes!"


    Eloise, holding back tears, protested, "Kieran, you can''t do this to me! It''s just not fair!"


    "Are you done?"


    Kieran''s tone grew colder.


    Stunned, Eloise fell silent.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    With a dismissive tone, Kieran said, "Ellie, I''m truly disappointed in you."


    Then, Kieran revealed a cheat sheet that had fallen to the ground.

 Chapter 355

    When Eloise caught sight of the cheat sheet on the floor, her expression froze in an instant.


    She thought it was lost forever, yet here it was, in Kieran''s hands.


    "The principal mentioned your grades have been slipping, so I decided to check your exams. The proctor found this note near you. This handwriting is unmistakably yours. Are you still going to deny it?" Kieranid out the ring evidence right before her eyes.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "Kieran... just let me exin..."


    Eloise struggled to keep her emotions in check, but Kieran was done listening to her exnations. "I think there''s nothing left to discuss between us."


    Handing the cheat sheet back to Eloise, Kieran turned and signaled for Jarrett to open the car door and leave. "Kieran!"


    No matter how much Eloise called after him, Kieran had no intention of getting out of the car to see her again.


    "Mr. Sutton, don''t you think you''re being a bit harsh on Ms. Harwood?"


    "Have I not been patient enough with her? Look at what she''s done; how am I supposed to cover for her?"


    The Eloise he knew would never stoop to cheating, especially not in such a crucial exam.


    Hearing this, Jarrett ceased his attempts to persuade.


    Kieran massaged his temples, a tiredness etched in his features.


    "Mr. Sutton, what about Ms. Dawson?"


    Today, in front of all the students, Ms. Dawson was taken away, leading many to believe she had an unfair advantage.


    This was not good for Ms. Dawson''s reputation.


    "She''s not innocent."


    Kieran hadn''t expected that Ronan and Preston, two men, had helped Freya cheat.


    He thought Freya, despite being ill, wanted to graduate fairly. It seemed he was mistaken.


    Such people did not exist in their circle.


    Meanwhile.


    As Freya approached the school gates, she saw Preston sitting in a limited-edition Maybach. When the ck tinted window rolled down, Freya was met with Preston''s chiseled profile. Preston nced at Freya, who immediately pretended not to see and shifted her gaze elsewhere. Her whole demeanor screamed: I don''t know the person in the car, he has nothing to do with me. "Hans." Preston''s voice was low inside the car.


    Hans quickly understood Preston''s intent, opened the car door, and walked towards Freya.


    Freya intended to ignore him, but Hans blocked her path: "Ms. Dawson, the boss is waiting for you in the car."


    With more and more students


    gathering, Freya didn''t want to draw attention at the entrance of Summit


    University, Especially since during the exam, everyone already suspected she had taken a shortcut, leading the principal to arrange a separate exam room for her.


    Now, seeing her with Preston would only fuel rumors.


    Though Freya wasn''t particrly bothered by what others thought, she didn''t want her achievements to be overshadowed by scandal.


    "Could you ask Mr. Tyler to park a little further away? I''ll walk over. It won''t dy your ns."


    Hans maintained his poker face, repeating firmly: "Ms. Dawson, please."


    Seeing Hans''s emotionless face, Freya finally cracked a smile and followed him into the car. Inside the car.


    Freya clenched her teeth as she opened the door.


    Seeing her ready to bite his head off,


    Preston said leisurely, "Ms. Dawson sure knows how to bite the hand


    that feeds her. Just a few days ago, you were calling me Mr. Tyler, and now you don''t even recognize me."


    "Mr. Tyler, admit your car is top-notch and expensive, but could you please not park it right at the school entrance every time? It''s not a good look."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 356

    "Is there a problem?"


    "It''s bad for my reputation," Freya added.


    Preston just shrugged, not bothered. "I do what''s easy and helps me out. I don''t care about other people''s rep," he said. "You..."


    Truly, he was the man who had once fiercelypeted with Kieran in their past lives.


    Freya held back her frustration.


    What else could she do? Fight him?


    Then she''d surely be the one to end up worse off.


    She imagined a hundred ways she might lose that battle. So, she chose to bite her tongue.


    Preston changed the subject. "How did the exams go?"


    "Thanks to you, absolutely brilliantly."


    "Hmm."


    Preston said, "Hand me your left hand."


    "Why?" Freya asked, though her left hand was already reaching out to him.


    Preston ced a jar of ointment in her hand.


    Freya recognized it; it was simr to the one Kieran had once specially made for her.


    "Where did you get this?"


    She remembered that this wasn''t something you could just buy. It was something special Kieran made just for her. You couldn''t even get it if you were ready to pay top dor. Preston simply said, "Neil sent it."


    "Oh."


    That made sense. Preston, Mr. Cold-hearted, obviously wouldn''t lift a finger to help her. "These," he instructed, "apply three times a day for a month. That should do it."


    "Really? Is it even better than what Kieran gave me before?"


    Freya examined the small jar in her hands.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Preston nced at her and said, "Don''tpare what he gave you with what I give."


    At that, Freya paused, looking at Preston to find him already looking away.


    Not topare his gifts with Kieran''s?


    Right, sworn enemies and all that.


    ssic sworn enemy dialogue.


    Freya pocketed the ointment, saying, "Dr. Anderson really is a good man. I uld find a way to properly thank him."


    "There''s an opportunity today."


    "Oh?"


    Freya looked at Preston, asking, "Dr. Anderson is at your ce?" "Yeah."


    "Then I''ll cook dinner tonight, a proper thank you to Dr. Anderson." Freya stated, "Not to brag, but my cooking skills are pretty top-notch." She looked at Preston earnestly.


    Though Preston seemed to ignore her


    The words. 1


    the corners of his mouth slightly upward in a


    momentary smile.


    At the Tyler household.


    When Neil spotted the three of theming back, he strolled up to them, apple in hand. "You''re back so soon? I figured you had tests this afternoon."


    "More exams tomorrow, but we''re done for today."

 Chapter 357

    Freya stepped forward and snatched the apple right out of Neil''s hand.


    Totally taken aback, Neil just gawked at her.


    "Ease up on the fruits, we''ve got a feasting up tonight!" Freya announced.


    "A feast?" Neil was puzzled.


    With Preston and Hans, the two reigning frugality kings, around, where on earth would a feaste from?


    He had been staying with the Tyler family for days and hadn''t seen a proper meal yet!


    Neil almost blurted out his thoughts but decided to ask Hans instead, "What feast? Where''s this feasting from?"


    "Ms. Dawson mentioned she''s preparing a big dinner to thank Dr. Anderson."


    "Thank me? For what?"


    "For your ointment."


    Hearing what Hans had to say, Neil was even more confused. "But shouldn''t you be thanking Preston, not me? He''s the one who shelled out the cash!"


    Sure, developing those ointments wasn''t cheap, and it was Preston who footed the bill. Despite Preston being notoriously tight-fisted with his own expenses, skimping wherever he could, he never hesitated to splurge on matters important to him.


    Like the time he funded Freya''s ointment development without blinking an eye - a cool million just like that. The researchb was over the moon!


    "Let''s not worry about the boss''s affairs, Dr. Anderson. Just know this dinner is to thank you."


    "Being a good Samaritan without seeking recognition? What are you, the modern day Mother Teresa?"


    Neil almost burst into apuse for Preston.


    Later, spotting Freya fiddling with her phone in the kitchen, Neil approached her. "Ms. Dawson, what are you up to?" "Ordering groceries."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "Groceries?"


    "Yeah, there seems to be no fresh market nearby, so I''m ordering from a supermarket app to cook something up."


    As Freya exined, Neil''s face fell. "Ms. Dawson, do you even know where we are?"


    "No clue. Oddly, the GPS isn''t working."


    "That''s because this is the Tyler family estate... Of course, it wouldn''t work."


    Preston had loads of enemies on his case, tons of people wanting him gone. So, anywhere Preston bunked down was fitted out with signal jammers. But, it didn''t screw up the Wi-Fi or anything.


    "How about you just tell me what you need, and I''ll go get it? It''s not far."


    "Alright then!"


    Freya didn''t hesitate and sent Neil the list she had prepared.


    "I wasn''t sure what you liked, Dr. Anderson. I hope it''s enough, but I can always add more."


    Reviewing the list, Neil''s eyes lit up. It had been ages since he had a meal this grand!


    "It''s enough! More than enough!"


    Neil assured her thrice, fearing she might change her mind.


    "I was thinking of making some Western dishes since I know you''re from abroad, but..." "Please, no Western food."


    Just the mention of Western cuisine made Neil queasy. "You have no idea; White people''s food is so repetitive, I''m sick of it. I''ve


    developed a love for the diverse


    vors here, especially spicy


    Sichuan dishes. Could you make an extra spicy dish tonight?"


    Freya had never met a foreigner so passionate about spicy food. "No problem, Dr. Anderson. Especially for you, after bringing that ointment..."


    "I was about to say, that ointment, it wasn''t actually..."


    "Neil, are you going to buy those groceries or what?" Preston''s voice suddenly interrupted from behind, and Neil immediately mped his mouth shut.

 Chapter 358

    Neil gave Preston an eyeroll, then huffed out a sigh, "Okay, okay, I''ll go get the groceries. You two have your chit-chat." With that, Neil grabbed his car keys and headed out the door of the Tyler family home. "Leaving so soon?"


    Freya tried to watch Neil as he left, but Preston stepped right in her line of sight, blocking her view.


    "Where''s that ointment I gave you?" he asked.


    "It''s been in my pocket the whole time."


    As she spoke, Freya pulled out the ointment.


    Preston took it from her and said, "Come here."


    Although Freya was puzzled, she followed Preston into the living room. He motioned for her to sit on the couch and then began to apply the ointment to the back of her hand. "Ouch-"


    Freya winced and inhaled sharply from the pain - Preston was being a bit too heavy-handed.


    Preston looked up at her, and his movements softened unconsciously.


    He had never applied ointment for someone else before and hadn''t realized his own strength at first.


    Girls seemed to be as delicate as cotton, easily hurt by the slightest touch.


    "How''s that?"


    Facing Preston''s question, Freya replied, "It doesn''t hurt anymore, but it feels a bit itchy."


    Saying so, Freya tried to pull her hand back, "I think I can manage on my own."


    But Preston didn''t let go of Freya''s wrist. He just shrugged, "Can you manage doing it with only one hand?"


    "I suppose... It''s not that difficult."


    Back when Freya lived alone in her apartment, she always took care of her ow ¨¤ wounds. The only trickl


    was opening the caps of bottles.


    part


    Freya couldn''t help but admire Preston''s profile as he applied the ointment, perfect and wless.


    Although Preston usually appeared aloof and reserved, his caring and gentle side was genuinely heartwarming. Just as Freya was lost in thought, Preston suddenly released her hand, asking, "Do you have any other injuries?" "Where you can see, there''s probably a bruise."


    Freya intended her words to lighten


    the


    but truthfully, she was et


    in bruises from a scuffle at


    e police station. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    It looked like those female prisoners had really taken out all their pent-up anger on Freya, not showing any mercy.


    Her arms, thighs, cheeks were almost all bruised, even the corners of her mouth showed slight signs of bruising. "Roll up your pants."


    Freya thought the request a bit much, but before she could react, Preston continued, "Are you waiting for me to do it?" ""No, I''ll do it."


    Freya obediently rolled up her pant leg, revealing wounds even more shocking than the rest.


    Preston merely nced at them before beginning to apply ointment to the bruises, carefully covering each one.


    Freya could tell Preston was trying


    to go easy, but the cool feel of the ointment gave her skin a tingle making her cheeks turn all rosy.


    When Preston asked again if she had any more injuries, Freya quickly replied, "Actually, there are no more injuries!"

 Chapter 359

    "Last time I plopped you on the bed, did I... did I hurt your back?"


    "No, absolutely not!" Freya''s eyes blew wide open.


    Internally, she was screaming: Dude, are you for real? You really think I need you ying doctor on my back?


    Preston couldn''t help but frown at Freya''s resistant gaze.


    He seemed somewhat puzzled by the emotion this woman was trying to convey.


    To Preston, offering help was just that offering help, gender didn''t y into it.


    But clearly, for Freya, there was a distinction.


    Offering help might be just that, but men were men and women were women.


    "Boss, Dr. Anderson called earlier, asking if we needed to stock up on some greens, since it looks like we''re heavy on the meats tonight."


    "No need, let''s stick to the menu Ms. Dawson provided."


    "Got it."


    Freya remembered Neil saying that Preston, like her, wasn''t a big fan of really rich, heavy meals.


    Thinking back to the minimalist setup Preston had in his hotel room, and then to the simple meals he''d have at home, Freya couldn''t help but throw out her own wild guess: "Mr. Tyler, are you into self-denial?"


    Preston looked up at her, and Freya, trying to backtrack from what she''d insinuated, added, "I mean, all these tycoons making waves internationally, aren''t you all supposed to indulge in exotic delicacies? But Mr. Tyler, you seem to live quite modestly here." ''Modestly'' was putting it lightly.


    Anyone else would call this ce bare-bones.


    For someone wealthy, living in a vi


    this spartan, with hardly any decorations, just fast food and instant noodles in the fridge, and a bedroom that boasted little more than a bed, was unthinkable


    The vi wasn''trge by city-center standards, but it felt spacious due to theck of furniture.


    Freya was sure this vi was a hard sell, snapped up by Preston at a bargain price.


    She even thought that Preston''s


    o was driven more by its and affordability theol


    factor.


    any


    Considering Preston had spent a fortune onnd, splurging on a


    luxurious vi would have been easy,


    had be found one to his li


    But apparently, this neglected, old-style vi caught his preference.


    "I''m not much for material possessions; sorry if it feels a bit austere for Ms. Dawson."


    Preston clearly misunderstood Freya''s point.


    He stood up, no longer inclined to chat.


    Freya wanted to rify, but Preston simply headed upstairs.


    "Talk about touchy..." Freya was just airing her curiosity.


    Preston, though, took it real personal, called her a spoiled rich girl before he stomped off.


    Upstairs, Hans approached Preston, saying, "Your room is all set. Is Ms. Dawson staying over tonight?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "No." Preston''s response was ice-cold as he retreated to his room.

 Chapter 360

    Hans stood there, puzzled.


    He had no idea what had just happened downstairs.


    Freya was sitting on the couch, tucking away the ointment she had been applying.


    In no time, Neil had returned from his grocery run.


    As Neil walked in with two heavy bags, Freya said, "Just leave the stuff in the kitchen, I''ll start cooking now."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "Are you sure you can handle the knife with your hand like that?"


    Neil spoke up, "From a doctor''s perspective, I''d really suggest you get someone else to chop the veggies. What if your hand slips and you cut yourself?" Freya hadn''t considered this before Neil mentioned it, and suddenly realized she indeed needed someone to help her chop the vegetables.


    So, naturally, her gaze fell on Neil.


    When Neil saw Freya looking his way, he quickly said, "My knife skills are pretty trashpared to Preston''s. I''ll get him toe down and give you a hand."


    Saying this, Neil quickly made his way upstairs, eager to avoid kitchen duty at all costs.


    Upstairs, Neil knocked on Preston''s door. After knocking for what felt like an eternity without a response, he just called out, "Preston, get down here! Ms. Dawson needs help with chopping."


    After saying that, Neil didn''t forget to whisper at the door, "This is your chance to shine! I''ve set this up for you, so hurry up and open the door!"


    Hans came out of the opposite room, seeing Neil hovering at the door, and asked, "Dr. Anderson, what are you up to?"


    "I''m trying to get your boss toe out."


    Neil exined, "I''ve finally found a perfect opportunity for him to showcase his charm to Freya. Her hand is injured, and she can''t hold a knife properly. Preston''s knife skills are exceptional, so he''s the perfect man for the job..."


    Before Neil could finish, a sharp noise from downstairs interrupted him. The sound of a knife hitting the floor was unmistakably loud.


    Preston almost instantly opened his door and rushed downstairs.


    Neil realized what might have happened and muttered, "Oh no!"


    They all hurried down.


    They found Freya bending over to pick up the knife she had dropped.


    As she looked up at the group rushing down, still bent over, she said, "I just didn''t grip it properly..."


    Silence fell. Neil was speechless, having thought she had actually hurt herself!


    Preston stepped forward, picked up


    the knife, and moved to the chopping board. Seeing the vegetables Freya had already washed and the recipe lying beside, he didn''t utter a single word before starting to process the ingredients.


    Freya had always cooked alone, never expecting to be flustered with help. Yet, to her surprise, Preston was systematic and organized, needing only a nce at the recipe to understand Freya''s cooking sequence.


    Neil watched the two from outside the kitchen, smiling like a proud matchmaker.


    To him, they were the perfect couple, even if there was a bit of scheming involved.


    Hans brought the apron in, but Freya''s hands were busy, so Preston naturally took the apron and tied it around Freya for her.


    "Ms. Dawson, your apron."

 Chapter 361

    Freya looked down at the apron Preston had tied around her waist, spacing out for a moment. By the time Freya snapped back to reality, Preston had already moved to the side, continuing with his chopping. Outside the kitchen, Hans and Neil, as if oblivious to what had just happened, made their way to the living room, engaging in some unknown conversation.


    Freya couldn''t help but take another look at Preston.


    He was deeply focused on his chopping.


    The profile of Preston''s face seemed wless. Although he was usually reserved and not much of a talker, he appeared quite serious in the kitchen.


    Actually, not just in the kitchen. Whenever he was working on something, he was always serious.


    Otherwise... he seemed a bit standoffish.


    "Seen enough?"


    Suddenly, Preston''s words broke Freya''s train of thought.


    Freya coughed lightly and said, "I just... thought there was something on your face."


    Without responding, Preston gave Freya the chance to swiftly reach out and tap his cheek. Although it was just a brief moment, Preston was visibly startled.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    The flour that was on Freya''s hand now smeared across Preston''s face.


    Outside the kitchen, Hans instinctively wanted to intervene but was stopped by Neil.


    Neil said, "Let them be. They''re just flirting. Why would you interrupt? Come back here!" "Flirting?"


    Hans couldn''t see any sign of affection between them. It seemed like Freya did it on purpose.


    "Just stay back, trust me, I know what I''m talking about," Neil said with a confident pat on his chest.


    Hans had no choice but to halt.


    But they both knew their boss was a stickler for cleanliness. The thought of his reaction to the flour on his face made them wonder. "Over here."


    Freya and Prestonmunicated, maintaining harmony in the kitchen.


    The tasks of chopping and washing were not difficult, and Preston quickly made his way out of the kitchen.


    Neil pointed at the flour on Preston''s face.


    But Preston seemed to have already known it was there and precisely wiped it off with a paper towel. Neil knew he wasn''t wrong.


    This seemingly unapproachable man was finally showing a different side.


    As time ticked away, evening approached, and Freya emerged from the kitchen with dish after dish.


    Neil quickly stepped up to help, taking the dishes from Freya''s hands.


    Looking at the spread of spaghetti with meatballs, pork ribs, garlic oysters, and grilled salmon, Neil''s Inuith watered. Co watered.


    Not to mention thefort dishes that followed, like chicken stew with mushrooms, spicy fish, and a bowl of sd, all of which were Neil''s favorites.


    "Dinner''s ready! This beats Preston and Hans'' cooking by miles! I can smell the aroma from here!"


    Neil said, rubbing his hands together, seemingly eager to start the meal.


    Preston sat across from Freya.


    Freya poured some drinks, cing them in front of everyone, and said, "Today want to thank Dr. Anderson


    for the ointment he gave me. really appreciate it, this one''s for you!"


    en


    Seeing Freya raise her ss, Neil quickly lifted his.


    Ironically, it was a wine ss filled to the brim with iced tea.


    "No need to thank me!"


    "Who brought the iced tea?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 362

    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.

 Chapter 363

    Freya was methodically savoring her meal, a mix offort foods that were a testament to the cozy American diner they were in.


    Finally, Preston withdrew his gaze and dered, "So, it turns out, there''s no punchline."


    Hearing this, Freya let out a sigh of relief.


    She knew Preston loved his drama.


    Neil chuckled from the side, "Not funny, man. Not funny at all. Preston here loves his dad jokes. Ms. Dawson, please don''t take him seriously." "Why would I? It''s all good."


    Freya set down her fork, noting, "Looks like it''s gettingte. I should be heading out."


    Neil quickly stood up, "Leaving so soon? Won''t you stay a bit longer?"


    "No, I''ve got an exam tomorrow. Need to get some rest. Thanks for the ointment, Dr. Anderson. I''ll be off then."


    As Freya slipped on her jacket, ready to leave, Preston also put down his utensils, "Let me walk you out."


    "No need."


    "You sure about walking out alone?"


    Freya hadn''t driven herself over, and without Preston to lead the way, she''d have trouble finding her way out.


    "Well, if you insist, Mr. Tyler."


    Freya wasn''t about to y the coy card. After all, it was Preston who had brought her here, so naturally, he should take the responsibility to see her off. Stepping outside the Tyler estate, Preston, this time, opened the car door for Freya.


    Freya thought to herself: He''s quite the gentleman.


    Silence filled the car as Preston drove. Freya couldn''t fathom why Preston had insisted on taking her home.


    Did he suspect she was the elusive Susan from W Group?


    Impossible.


    Ronan had crafted her identity so meticulously that it would withstand scrutiny for a while.


    If Kieran couldn''t pierce through her guise, Preston had no chance.


    As they approached a fork in the road, Preston suddenly said, "I''m offering you another chance to tell the truth."


    "What?"


    Before Freya could grasp the situation, Preston elerated down the road.


    Freya felt the car push her back into her seat as Preston''s speed hit rming levels, even seeming to crash through a barricade. "Preston! You''ve lost it! This road is off-limits!"


    Freya urged Preston to stop.


    The night was pitch ck, visibility was near zero, and the road''s lights were out, making it a forbidden path. Without high beams, an ident was almost certain.


    Preston, unfazed, replied, "There''s a broken bridge a mile ahead. If you don''te clean, we might as well take a plunge together." "What did you say?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Freya froze, "Are you serious?"


    "I''m a decent swimmer, butst!


    checked, Ms. Dawson, you''re not et


    fond of water. Whether you can save


    yourself after the fall is a gamble."


    As he spoke, Preston floored the gas pedal even harder, the speed climbing relentlessly: "Time''s running out."


    "I told you! I don''t know anything! It has nothing to do with me!"


    Freya was genuinely scared now.


    Her fear of water, deep and abiding, made the prospect of plunging from a broken bridge all the more terrifying.


    "That''s not the answer I was looking for."


    Tense, Freya watched the road ahead, pleading, "I''ve told you it has nothing to do with me! What will it take for you to believe me?"

 Chapter 364

    "If you can say with your hand on your heart that you''ve got no ties to the Old South Side before we take the plunge, I''ll believe you."


    "You!" Freya''s face turned pale.


    How was this any different from a witch hunt?


    The high beams were already illuminating the broken bridge ahead, and with a resigned sigh, Freya closed her eyes, leaving her fate to the heavens: "Say what you will, but I swear, I''ve got nothing to do with the Old South Side!" Out of the corner of his eye, Preston saw Freya''s resignation and, in the nick of time, mmed on the brakes.


    They stopped less than an inch from the edge.


    The anticipated crash never came.


    When she opened her eyes, Freya saw they were at the other end of the bridge.


    "Hey, you two!" Not far off, patrol cars were shing their lights at them.


    Soon, two officers got out of a cruiser, one of them shining a shlight towards them as he approached.


    The light hit the car window, nearly blinding Freya.


    "Out of the car, both of you!" The officer''s tone was brash andmanding.


    Freya nced at Preston, but he showed no intention of opening the door. Instead, he started to reverse the car right in front of the officers.


    "Get out of the car, now!" The cop obviously wasn''t expecting them to rebel, and as they ignored his orders and backed up, he was shocked.


    "Do you know this is illegal? Get out of the car now!" The officer''s face darkened with anger.


    Freya wanted to persuade Preston


    toply, but instead, he easily turned the steering wheel and sped off,pletely disregarding the traffic cop trailing behind them.


    en


    swng


    "Preston! You''re breaking thew!" Freya couldn''t help but remind him from the passenger seat.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "Do I look like I''m afraid of breaking thew?" Preston drove with one hand, unbothered by the possibility of the police chasing them.


    Before long, the wail of police sirens


    sounded from behind, followed by


    an officer booming over a loudspeaker: "Vehicle ahead, stop immediately. You are breaking thew! Vehicle ahead, stop immediately. You are breaking thew! Failure toply will have consequences!"


    "Preston!" Freya couldn''t believe Preston could rule Echo City with an iron fist.


    She admitted that Preston might be a formidable figure abroad. But once back home, abiding by thew was a duty of every citizen.


    Clearly, no matter if it was abroad or in Echo City, Preston had no ns to do so.


    In no time, Preston''s car was surrounded by police from all directions.


    Entering a restricted area was dangerous enough, but Preston also fled the scene, a grave offense.


    Police cars from every direction were honking their warnings at Preston.


    Trapped in the middle, Freya unbuckled her seatbelt and urged, "Just drive up and exin things to them!"


    Preston had no intention of opening


    the door, but an officer had already approached their car window, pressing a gun against the ss: "Get out of the car now!"


    "Preston!"


    The situation escted, but Preston showed no fear.

 Chapter 365

    In a no-go zone where not a single car dared to tread, Preston ignored the police cars barricading the way and mmed the elerator, zooming past them.


    Freya, who had just unbuckled her seatbelt, was nearly thrown forward by the sudden surge of power.


    "You might want to buckle up unless you fancy a concussion," Preston advised, a hint of amusement in his voice.


    "You!" Freya snapped her seatbelt back into ce almost instantly upon his warning.


    The police cars, taken aback by Preston''s audacity to break through, were even more determined now. As Preston''s car hit the main streets, additional police units joined the fray, causing severe congestion.


    This was downtown, the heart of the city''s hustle and bustle. A spectacle here would undoubtedly make the morning headlines.


    Surrounded by police cars, Freya could only think one thing: they were utterly doomed.


    She was swamped with regret for getting mixed up with Preston, a guy way more powerful and trouble-making than she''d thought. The never-ending honking from the other cars, all pushing for Preston''s ride to get a move on, just boosted the mayhem. The cops were now trying to pry open the doors of Preston''s car.


    Looking at the faces behind the car window, Freya felt a knot of anxiety. She hoped this wouldn''t escte further, praying it wouldn''t end up as a highlight on the evening news.


    Meanwhile, within the offices of The Sutton Group.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "What did you say?" Kieran asked, sure he''d misheard.


    Freya''s car was blocked by the police?


    This was unusual news to him; he hadn''t even known Freya drove, yet here she was, barricaded by police cars in downtown.


    "Mr. Sutton, it''s true."


    Jarrett''s tone was grave, adding, "It''s not just Ms. Dawson. Preston''s involved too."


    The second Preston''s name came up, Kieran''s vibe switched to frosty real quick.


    "Preston?"


    "Yes. The situation''s blown up. There are reporters on the scene. Should we suppress the news?"


    "What do you think? Get on it now!" Kieran was on his feet in seconds.


    If this hit the social news, the fallout


    could


    De


    significant. What was thinking? Didn''t she realize


    implications? Content betheeya


    At the police station, Chief Brennan stood up abruptly upon hearing the news What? Whose car did they stop? Ms. Dawson''s?"


    "Alright, alright. I''m on it. Immediately. You''ll have your satisfactory response!"


    Without even grabbing his coat, Chief Brennan ordered a car and headed straight to the chaos.


    "Tell them! No aggressive tactics! I''ll be there shortly."


    After issuing hismand, Chief Brennan hurried to his car, keenly aware of the urgency.


    Downtown was already a mess, traffic snarled beyond recognition.


    Freya quickly realized Preston had orchestrated this chaos deliberately.


    "What''s your game?" she said, her voice getting stern. "You''re


    deliberately making a scene. Do


    actually want to end up on the


    evening news?"

 Chapter 366

    "Really now?" Preston''s voice was a mix of challenge and amusement.


    "Are you insane? If you''re on a suicide mission, leave me out of it!"


    Freya tried to yank the car door open, but it was locked from the outside.


    Outside, a traffic cop, who had been ready to forcefully open the door, paused mid-motion as he answered a call on his phone. The surrounding cars, trapped in the sudden blockade, could only wait in frustrated anticipation. In no time, a patrol car made its way through the congestion.


    "Chief Brennan! This is the car! The driver went berserk, drove into a no-entry zone and ignored all attempts to stop him..."


    Before the officer could finish, Chief Brennan cut him off, "Enough! Do you have any idea who''s in that car?"


    "Doesn''t matter who it is, everyone must follow thew!"


    "Follow thew? Did they break it, really? They just took a wrong turn, no harm done. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"


    Chief Brennan, red-faced and fuming, pushed past the officers and approached the car.


    As the window began to lower, he found himself face to face with Preston.


    Remembering made Chief Brennan''s heart pound; he had a clear memory of the drama at the police station recently, when Preston stepped in to handle a sensitive issue involving some female inmates. "Can we go now?" Preston''s voice was calm, almost casual.


    "Of... of course, you can..." stammered Chief Brennan.


    As Preston rolled up the window, Chief Brennan hastily cleared the way, allowing Preston to drive off unimpeded.


    "Chief Brennan! How can you just let them go like that?"


    "What else do you want? One''s Ms. Dawson, and the other, the internationally feared Preston. You wanna mess with them? They didn''t hit and run. Why are you so eager to catch them? Is our police force just here to chase after drivers who take a wrong turn?"


    Chief Brennan didn''t want to dwell on the matter any longer. "Get your men back in order. Next time you see this car, steer clear!"


    With that, he returned to his car, realizing his back was soaked with sweat.


    The power Preston wielded was a clear sign that Echo City was on the brink of change.


    Meanwhile, Freya couldn''t believe the police would yield to Preston''s influence. "Preston, do you have any idea what you''ve done?" "First time in Echo City, I had to make a memorable entrance." Preston raised an eyebrow. "Doesn''t Ms. Dawson understand?"


    "You''re stirring up trouble to make a statement in Echo City?"


    "It seems Ms. Dawson is smarter than I thought, pretending not to know all day."


    Preston continued, his eyes carrying a hint of menace, though his smile remained. "While you deny


    involvement in the Southern Suburb affair you won''t stop investigating. If


    I find out you''ve lied to V


    The threat was clear, and under the cover of night, Freya felt an undeniable fear of the man before her. Preston was indeed a formidable figure. "Ms. Dawson, we''re here."


    Preston gestured for Freya to exit the car. Somehow, they had stopped without her noticing.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Anxious to get out, Freya scrambled with her seatbelt, forgetting to unfasten it With a simple push of a button, Preston unfastened her seatbelt, his voice soft but stern, "Don''t let me down in tomorrow''s exam."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 367

    Freya was still shaken from the earlier events when, upon heading upstairs, she was cornered right at her apartment door by Kieran.


    The hall was totally empty, so Freya jumped a bit when Kieran showed up out of nowhere.


    "What are you doing here?" she asked.


    "You''ve caused such a mess today, and you have the nerve to ask me what I''m doing?"


    Kieran pinned her against the wall, and with Freya''s strength, there was no escaping his grasp.


    All she could do was give in, saying, "The person who caused a mess today wasn''t me, and it''s not like it''s affected you in any way, Mr. Sutton. Let''s not forget, we''ve already called off our engagement. Even if my reputation is tarnished, it won''t drag you down." Seeing Freya''s indifferent attitude only fueled Kieran''s anger. "I''ve told you countless times, Preston is bad news. I warned you to stay away from him! Did you even listen?"


    Freya couldn''t understand why Kieran was so upset. To her, Kieran was way scarier than Preston could ever be.


    "Mr. Sutton, I think it''s best we keep our distance. You''ve already made me the talk of the town with today''s exam fiasco. What more do you want?"


    "You know what they say, ''you can run but you can''t hide.'' Preston helping you cheat, you thought you could keep it under wraps forever?"


    "What nonsense are you spouting now?"


    Freya had no idea where Kieran was getting his rumors from and found the whole situation tedious. She pushed past him, stating, "I don''t care what you think, but if you''re using someone without proof, that''s defamation."


    "You know damn well whether I''m speaking the truth. Freya, I didn''t expect you to go this far, getting both Ronan and Preston to snag this year''s exam papers for you. Seeing how close you were with Preston today, if it wasn''t for him giving you the answers, how could you have passed today''s exam with flying colors? And here I was, making special arrangements for you to have a separate exam room because of your injured hand, thinking I was being considerate."


    "Considerate or spiteful, you know


    best, Mr. Sutton! Dragging me away in front of everyone, wasn''t it just to spread rumors about me getting special treatment? Don''t paint yourself as a saint!"


    "You!" Kieran was fuming, unable to believe his intentions were being twisted by Freya. "Fine! I did it on purpose, wanted everyone to think you got special treatment. Happy now?"N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Kieran was just about ready to explode, but at the thought of Freya getting chummy with Preston, he pointed a finger at her, giving a stern warning "Stay away from Preston. And for your information, I''ve had the exam board revise tomorrow''s papers overnight. Don''t think for a second you can cheat your way through this time!"


    Freya rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn''t stick that way. "Don''t let the door hit you on the way out."


    With that, she unlocked her door with a scan of her fingerprint.


    The door mmed shut behind her, leaving Kieran seething even more.


    She had moved out of his apartment only to move into one provided by Ronan!


    If he hadn''t had his people investigate, he would have been none the wiser about Freya''s new living situation.


    Jarrett had been hiding in the


    emergency stairwell the whole time,


    onlying out once Freya had retreated into her apartment. He approached Kieran to inquire, "Mr. Sutton, about Ms. Dawson...


    swnov


    Kieran didn''t even let him finish, unleashing his pent-up anger on Jarrett. "How could you not inform me about Freya moving? That''s a big deal!"


    "I... I..." Jarrett was at a loss for words. Hadn''t Mr. Sutton specifically ordered him not to bring up anything rted to Ms. Dawson?


    But faced with his furious boss, Jarrett could only bow his head and admit his fault. "Mr. Sutton, I failed to fulfill my responsibilities. I''ll reflect on this."

 Chapter 368

    "If you pull something like that again, don''t even bothering into work."


    "...Yes." Jarrett''s head sank even lower.


    "But Mr. Sutton, you had the principal change all of tomorrow''s exam questions. What if Ms. Dawson can''t graduate because of this?" "She brought it on herself. Who does she think she is, trying to game the system?"


    Kieran took a deep breath, "If she really wants to graduate, she''lle to me."


    "Yes."


    Jarrett lowered his head once again.


    Meanwhile, inside Summit University.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Kara had been staying in her dorm for days, waking up at dawn and returning from the Suttons'' like a nanny who wasn''t paid a dime.


    Her roommates, who had been expecting Kara to head to the Suttons'', started to doubt her.


    One of them tested the waters on purpose: "Our final year exams are almost over, and in a month or two, we''ll be on summer break. Kara, you won''t be able to stay in the dorm then. Are you nning to live with the Suttons, or would you like to stay at my ce?" "I...I..."


    Of course, Kara wanted to stay with the Suttons.


    But from what she had observed of Audrey recently, it didn''t seem like she was wee to stay.


    Moreover, Kieran had barely returned to the Suttons these days, spending most of his time at the office or in hotels.


    He hardly ever came home.


    For Kara, getting a chance to see Kieran was difficult, let alone changing his opinion of her.


    "Kara is practically the Suttons'' future daughter-inw. She''s definitely going to stay with the Suttons. How could she possibly stay at your ce, right Kara?"  en


    Another roommate chimed in.


    BUMS


    A painfully awkward smile crept onto Kara''s face. "... Yes, of course."


    "But didn''t you say Mr. Sutton thought living together might tarnish your reputation? Or maybe, Mr. Sutton just couldn''t stand the loneliness?" The roommates giggled, letting their imaginations run wild.


    ¨ºt


    Kara''s face turned beet red. The thought of something happening between her and Kieran made her feel like it''d all be worth it. But the realization that she hadn''t been invited to stay made her anxious.


    Where would she go once she couldn''t stay in the dorm anymore?


    "Sophie, I know it''s a bit much to


    but... I don''t want to rush into


    staying with the Suttons. Cont


    possibly stay at your ce over the summer?"


    Kara knew exactly whom to turn to.

 Chapter 369

    In the dorm, Sophie was clearly the one rolling in dough. Her parents raked in millions annually, and they lived in a quaint two-story Victorian house, a stark contrast to the rest of us who, though locals, only had a fraction of the Sophie family wealth. Sophie had always shown a particr fondness for Kara, making her immediate eptance unsurprising. After all, she was potentially securing a future as Mrs. Sutton.


    "Of course, why not!" Sophie eximed. "I just can''t fathom why you wouldn''t want to move into the Sutton estate sooner. It''s practically a castle, with gardens that could put our backyards to shame! What''s holding you back?"


    Blushing, Kara stuttered a bit before she confessed, "I''m... I''m kinda scared."


    Even though she didn''t spell it out, it was clear what Kara was worried about.


    The revtion prompted a wave of shock. "No way! Has Mr. Sutton really never...you know?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "I heard your cousin threw herself at him to catch his attention. Once a man''s got a taste for it, it''s hard to stop. And you''re practically his fianc¨¦e. How could Mr. Sutton resist?"


    We crowded around, eager for the juicy details.


    Kara, visibly ufortable from Freya''s mention, found an ally in Sophie, who quickly came to her defense. "Please, Freya''s hardly a role model. But our Kara? Mr. Sutton adores her too much to rush anything." Kara managed a small smile thanks to Sophie''s support.


    "Did you guys hear about Jenny being expelled?" Sophie changed the subject.


    "Really? Where''d you hear that?"


    "It''s all over the school bulletin and the group chat. Haven''t you seen it?"


    We scrambled for our phones, and sure enough, there was Jenny''s expulsion notice.


    Sophie had never been fond of Jenny''s arrogance, backed by


    Eloise''s influence. "Jenny finally got what wasing for her. Heard her dad got booted from the board, too."


    en


    "Eloise always had her back. What happened this time?"


    "Don''t you know? It was Mr. Sutton''s doing. Once he speaks, not even Eloise can sway him."


    Sophie nudged towards Kara, "Plus, now that Mr. Sutton''s got Kara, Eloise is probably thest thing he''s thinking about. I bet it was Kara,


    sticking up for Freya, right? belongs to


    Kara was taken aback by Sophie''s assumption, but the others seemed to buy it. "Yeah, Kara''s too kind. She must''ve gone to Mr. Sutton on behalf of her cousin."


    "Kara, you really stood up for us. You''re amazing!"


    The room buzzed with excitement, elevating Kara to almost heroic status.


    In truth, Kara was clueless about the recent events.


    Faced with the adoration, she couldn''t bring herself to confess her ignorance. "Freya is my cousin, after all. I couldn''t just watch her suffer.... only mentioned it to Mr. Sutton never expected him to take it to heart."


    EY


    "Absolutely. Remember how everyone said Mr. Sutton favored Eloise? Looks like for Kara, he''d throw all that away. Our Kara''s destined to be Mrs. Sutton."


    "Knew it! Mr. Sutton treasures our Kara above all."

 Chapter 370

    Listening to the chorus of agreement around her, Kara almost believed it herself.


    She totally forgot about her real-life situation, like she was really about to be Kieran''s fianc¨¦e soon. But then Kara remembered how Kieran had disregarded Eloise''s feelings for Freya, sending waves of anxiety through her once more. Could it be... Kieran had truly fallen for Freya?


    No, if it were Eloise, she wouldn''t have said a word.


    But why Freya?


    Freya was just a fallen Ms. Dawson, someone whose family was barely holding on, not much better off than her, a country bumpkin who''de from nowhere.


    If Freya could usurp Eloise''s ce and steal Kieran away, then she could just as easily snatch the title of Mrs. Sutton from Freya.


    The next morning, Freya got up at the crack of dawn to head to Summit University.


    Today was exam day, and most students had arrived early. As soon as Freya stepped into the exam hall, she felt every gazend on her.


    Those looks were filled with contempt, scrutiny, and disdain.


    Who didn''t know that Freya had gotten a backdoor entry into a private exam hall thanks to Mr. Sutton?


    Even though the results didn''te out right away, everyone was convinced Freya must''ve cheated.


    Freya walked in under their collective gaze.


    Eloise was sitting in the back row, surrounded by members of the student council whispering about Freya''s misdeeds.


    "She thinks she''s something special? All because of Mr. Sutton''s influence?"


    "And who knows what sly tricks she used. I despise cheaters the most!"


    The person who said this wasn''t aware that their words had struck Eloise deeply.


    Eloise''s face darkened.


    Seeing Eloise with that gloomy look, they figured it was ''cause she didn''t crush it on yesterday''s exam. Eloise had been in a foul mood since then.


    "Ellie, with your grades, you could totally crush her. If this final exam is


    so tough and you don''t do wis


    she does, then we''ll report her!"


    but


    "Right, we''re graduating anyway, we''re not afraid of her! Why should she tantly cheat? Such people don''t deserve to graduate!"


    When everyone thought Eloise would agree, she suddenly said, "Enough."


    At that, the few around her dared not speak further.


    "Ellie... what''s wrong?"


    One of them asked tentatively.


    Eloise coldly replied, "I just want to focus on my exam. I couldn''t care less about anything else."


    Yesterday, Kieran had exposed her cheating scheme.


    And today, the principal had a talk with her, making it clear that she would be closely watched during the exam, all because of Kieran. Especially since today''s paper had been urgently revised, even if she had the previous answers, it wouldn''t help.


    Her concern now was whether she could graduate at all, not whether Freya could.


    At that moment, the invigtor walked in and addressed the students, "Yesterday, someone


    cheated. I won''t name names. But if anyone cheats today, I''ll catch them red-handed, and they can forget about graduating this year.


    When the invigtor finished, everyone''s gaze shifted to Freya as if she was the culprit.


    Suddenly, everyone looked at Freya as if she was their enemy.


    "Papers will be distributed now, and the exam starts in five minutes. Be careful."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    The invigtor''s tone was stern.


    This time, following Kieran''s order, no special amodation was provided for Freya.

 Chapter 371

    So there Freya was, confined to therge lecture hall, navigating through her exams with just her left hand.


    Thanks to the ointment Neil had given her the day before, Freya woke up feeling her hand had significantly improved. It was no longer stiff but rather more flexible.


    All through the exam, Freya was heads down, deep in her work, while around her, everyone else seemed to be in a state of panic.


    Word around was that the test had been revised, and everyone had assumed it would be made easier, but it turned out to be theplete opposite.


    Many students were at a loss, staring nkly at their papers, while only a handful seemed to navigate through the questions with some degree of ease. Even Eloise, sitting all the way at the back, looked super stressed.


    The questions were obscure, hardly resembling anything from the textbooks but rather focusing on practical insights, including several examples from the current year that demanded personal analysis, significantly ramping up the difficulty. The uniqueness of the questions, far from any known patterns, tested the students'' creativity and quick thinking.


    It took Eloise a while to get started, and even then, her progress was hesitant.


    "Look at Freya, how is she writing so fast?" whispered a member of the student council incredulously, observing Freya from the front row.


    Thisment disrupted Eloise''s concentration, and as her gaze shifted towards Freya, she indeed saw her writing furiously.


    A single thought dominated Eloise''s mind: Impossible.


    The questions were too novel, with no simr cases in the textbooks. This exam was a shot in the dark.


    Yet, Freya seemed to write with divine guidance.


    Could it be that Freya had ess to the answers through some special means? There had to be a catch.


    As time ticked by and the moment to hand in the papers approached, Eloise''s paper was stillrgely iplete, including thest two major questions.


    Looking up at Freya, Eloise noticed


    she had already stopped writing, not because she was stuck, but


    seemingly because she had finished early and was revising her answers.


    en


    When the invigtor finally called time, everyone reluctantly submitted their papers.


    Freya, limping slightly, handed hers over with difficulty.


    The invigtor, initially giving it a cursory nce, found herself engrossed in Freya''s densely written answers, momentarily losing herself in the reading.


    Snapping back to reality, she


    remembered to call Freya back, astonished by the brilliance


    disyed on the paper. In her career, she couldn''t recall encountering such a gifted student.


    Meanwhile, at The Sutton Group headquarters.


    Kieran, ncing at the clock, noted the exam should be ending about now.


    Jarrett was going over the year''s project ns when Kieran suddenly interrupted, "Call the principal."


    "Mr. Sutton, are you inquiring about Ms. Harwood''s performance?" Jarrett asked.


    "I want to know about Freya''s," he rified.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Jarrett paused, surprised.


    Mr. Sutton was aware of Ms.


    Dawson''s cheating allegations. This time, with the test papers altered by Mr. Sutton''s instructions, Ms.


    Dawson wouldn''t have had the ne


    chance to cheat, leading to


    ap


    expected drop in her performance.

 Chapter 372

    "Why even bother asking?"


    But when your boss gives an order, you just do it. So, Jarrett picked up the phone and dialed the principal''s office. The call was answered promptly.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "Mr. Sutton is inquiring about Ms. Dawson''s test today. Could you fax us a copy of her exam, please?" Jarrett requested.


    "Of course, of course, I''ll get the proctor to send Ms. Dawson''s exam right over to The Sutton Group!" the principal responded eagerly.


    After hanging up, the principal was puzzled. He had been all set with Ms. Harwood''s test.


    Why on earth was Mr. Sutton interested in Freya Dawson''s exam?


    However, it didn''t take long before the fax machine spit out a copy of the exam,nding in Kieran''s hands.


    Kieran skimmed over the test. Freya''s answers were spot on, made sense, and were straight to the point-couldn''t have asked for better responses. Moreover, she had taken some innovative approaches, especially in the calctions, which were spot on. The only w was her handwriting, which was a bit awkward.


    Kieran frowned upon seeing the exam.


    "Didn''t I say to switch out the entire test? Did you do it?"


    "Mr. Sutton, I''ve checked the exam, and it''spletely different from the original. It''s definitely been changed."


    "And the answers?"


    "As per your instructions, only the principal had ess to the answers. No one else could possibly have them." Upon hearing this, Kieran handed the exam to Jarrett.


    Taking the exam, Jarrett was equally puzzled by the answers.


    "This is...?"


    "This is Freya''s own work."


    Kieran was more ready to believe Freya had cheated than admit she really got finance stuff this good. Without a few years of experience, it would be hard to produce such aprehensive set of answers.


    "Mr. Sutton, could it be that Ms. Dawson learned something from herte father?"


    "To run The Dawson Group into the ground like that, and you''re telling me she learned a bit?" Anyone with a brain wouldn''t have turned such a promising enterprise into a mess.


    "But I heard that after Mr. Dawson passed away, The Dawson Group was managed by Johanna and her son, with no direct involvement from Dawson."


    Hearing Jarrett say this, Kieran''s brow furrowed deeper.


    He suddenly remembered visiting Freya''s home after their engagement party.


    l.ne


    He had seen her be quite aggressive towards Johanna and her son,¡¢ mentioning something about thepany and inheritance.


    At that time, Freya wasn''t really on his radar, so he didn''t really take notice. But now, with Jarrett''s reminder, Kieran connected dots.


    No wonder Freya acted that way towards her stepmother and half-brother.


    If he were in her shoes, he definitely wouldn''t have let them off easy either.


    "Who''s running the Dawson family''s business now?"


    "It seems to have reverted back to Ms. Dawson''s hands."


    "Find out, find out how thepany got back to Freya." "Right away, Mr. Sutton."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 373

    Meanwhile, inside Summit University.


    "Ellie, are we really going to look for Freya''s exam paper? If we get caught, we''re all going to be expelled!" The students who had been eager to give Freya a hard time during the day were now getting cold feet.


    They were all talk in front of Eloise, but none dared to actually mess with Freya.


    After all, the campus was buzzing with gossip about Freya''s special connection with Ronan. Plus, there had been several sightings of Preston picking up Freya in his car.


    "Just do it, okay? If anything goes wrong, I''ll take the me," Eloise bravely took responsibility.


    She had Kieran''s protection, after all. Even if they were caught, expulsion was unlikely.


    With that reassurance, everyone else rxed a bit and they all quickly slipped into the examiner''s office.


    At this hour, the office was deserted.


    The student council had a spare key to the office, so they quietly made their way inside.


    The desk was piled high with the day''s exam papers.


    Eloise quickly found her own paper and was pondering how to add a few extra points when the others stumbled upon Freya''s paper.


    "Freya ims she didn''t cheat, but this is so obvious! Does she think we''re idiots?"


    "Exactly! With such difficult questions on this year''s finals, none of us could fully answer them. How could she have filled out her entire paper if not by cheating?"


    "Moreover, Freya had taken a leave of absence for several months. Her grades weren''t outstanding before, so how did she suddenly be so brilliant? There''s definitely something fishy going on." The group exchanged these thoughts amongst themselves, buzzing with indignation.


    Eloise leaned in to take a closer look at Freya''s paper.


    Freya''s paper was densely filled out, and although the handwriting was a bit sloppy, the content was


    understandable to these finance students.


    "Freya must have gotten the answers in advance," Eloise concluded, clenching the paper in her hand.


    This exam had been modified at the


    else


    d have given Freya the e


    Jealousy surged through Eloise, and almost on impulse, she ripped Freya''s paper to shreds.


    "Ellie!"


    The others were shocked.


    This was a final exam paper! Tearing it up was sure to cause trouble. What were they going to do now?


    As Eloise came back to her senses, she realized the gravity of her mistake.


    She had just destroyed Freya''s exam paper.


    Regaining herposure, she said, "We can''t let anyone know about this! Quickly, find another nk paper and write Freya''s name and student ID on it!"


    "O-okay!"


    The group scrambled into action, soon finding a nk paper.


    Eloise hastily wrote Freya''s name and student ID on it, trying to salvage the situation as best as they could.

 Chapter 374

    A group of students, shlights in hand, painstakingly pieced together Freya''s shredded exam paper. They meticulously copied the answers onto their own sheets, each hoping to secure their graduation.


    At first, Eloise scoffed at the idea of cheating, but the looming threat of not graduating pushed her into it.


    That evening, Freya returned to her apartment, her phone buzzing with a call from Alison.


    Lately, the business had been steady - not making a fortune, but not facing any significant troubles either.


    Freya, puzzled by Alison''s call, picked up the phone.


    "Alison? Is there trouble at the office?"


    "Nothing major with the office, but..." Alison trailed off. "Today, Jarrett called, asking about a few things. Did you and Mr. Sutton patch things up?"


    "Patch things up? With Kieran?" Freya paused, perplexed. "Why would he ask that? What exactly did Jarrett inquire about?"


    "Jarrett was asking some of the staff about why Johanna and her son were ousted from thepany. He also inquired about recent business matters. I thought... since Mr. Sutton never cared about the Dawson family affairs before..." Hearing this, Freya fell silent for a moment.


    Jarrett was Kieran''s right-hand man; his questions were undoubtedly Kieran''s as well. But why the sudden interest in the Dawson family? Could he suspect her true identity? Impossible, Ronan had concealed her identity as Susan wlessly; no one else could know.


    "I understand. But if anyone else probes about the Dawson family or how Johanna and her son left thepany, y dumb." "Understood, Miss."


    Alisonplied, but soon added,


    also been frequent


    edy, looking to b


    from the


    het


    belongs to entwent


    "Borrow money? The nerve." Freya couldn''t help but scoff.novelbin


    l.ne


    Johanna had once splurged on a grand event at the Majestic Manor Hotel for Lnd Dawson, hoping to boost his social standing. It backfired spectacrly, turning into a scandal instead and costing her a fortune.


    And now, she was eyeing thepany''s funds to bail herself out of her debts.


    yel


    "Just stick to the n. No matter how much of a scene Johanna causes, thepany''s stance firm we''re broke. Not a penny for her, Freya instructed.


    "Got it, Miss," Alison quickly agreed.


    After hanging up, a smirk yed on Freya''s lips. She was curious to see Johanna''s next move.


    That night, amotion erupted at the entrance of Summit University, with Johanna loudly arguing with the security guard.


    "My niece studies here! How dare you deny me entry? Do you have any idea who I am? Cross me and you''ll regret it!"


    Johanna was infamous for her arrogance, always ready to unt her misced sense of entitlement.

 Chapter 375

    But Summit University had its own set of rules. After 7 p.m., if you weren''t part of the schoolmunity, you weren''t getting in.


    "I don''t care who you are. If you''re not a student or staff, you''re noting in! If you want to see your niece, give her a call and have here out to meet you!" At those words, Johanna was fuming.


    She had pulled strings to get her niece enrolled in the school, and now she couldn''t get in?


    Given the debts she had, and with no help in sight from Freya or thepany, her only hopey with Kara, who was tirelessly working for the Sutton family.


    Johanna quickly dialed Kara''s number, but there was no answer.


    Not far away, Kara was getting ready to head out with her dorm mates.


    As they approached the school''s main gate, Kara looked up and spotted Johanna. Instantly, Kara''s expression soured.


    "Kara! How dare you ignore my calls!"


    Johanna, desperate at this point, didn''t think twice before she pulled Kara aside.


    "Auntie! I didn''t do it on purpose. My phone was on silent!"


    Kara appeared genuinely upset, and her dorm mates were shocked to see Johanna treating her so poorly.


    Johanna didn''t care whether Kara''s phone was on silent. Clutching Kara''s arm tightly, she said, "I''ve been calling you non-stop, and you don''t pick up. Think you''re too good for us now that you''ve climbed up the socialdder? Don''t forget who bought you that phone, who used their connections to get you into Summit University, and who gave you the chance to get close to the Sutton family! Without me, you''d still be a nobody in some small town, not here in the big city making something of yourself!" "Auntie, I know I was wrong. I won''t do it again!"


    Kara''s face went pale. She couldn''t stand the thought of her dorm mates seeing her in such an embarrassing situation.


    "Kara''s phone was really on silent. She didn''t mean to ignore you."


    "Yeah, how can you treat Kara like this? She''s going to be Mrs. Sutton."


    Everyone in their circle knew


    Johanna was notorious fornovelbin


    leveraging her daughter''s beauty for her own benefit. Once attached to the wealthy Mr. Dawson, and after his untimely death, she was quick to push Freya into a strategic marriage, albto ensure her son could take over thepany.


    "Mrs. Sutton?" Johanna scoffed. "Would she have had this chance without me?"


    Then turning to Kara, she demanded, "knew you had it in you. You''ve already won over Kieran, so why didn''t you tell me? Now, I need you to go to the Sutton family and


    get me two hundred mOV


    "What?!" Kara was stunned at the astronomical figure.


    Two hundred million? How could she possibly ask the Sutton family for such an amount?


    "You''re about to be Mrs. Sutton, aren''t you? If it hadn''t been for me, how could you have even met Kieran? It''s about not forgetting where you came from. You owe me!" Johanna had been trying to reach Audrey to no avail.


    She needed to secure those two hundred million fast; otherwise, her debts would only spiral.


    "If you can''t get it from Audrey, then plead with Mr. Sutton! Surely, they won''t leave my niece out in the cold after everything!"


    Kara realized the gravity of her


    boastful ims to her ssmates about being the future Mrs. Sutton In truth, after her initial meeting with Kieran she hadn''t seen him at the Sutton residence at all, let alone secured his affections.


    "I don''t know, Auntie. That''s a lot of money. How can I even begin to ask Audrey for such a favor..."

 Chapter 376

    As soon as Kara heard that Johanna was nning to drag her to meet Kieran, her expression soured even further.


    She barely had anything to do with Kieran to begin with, and now Johanna was trying to create a scene by bringing her to him. What would Kieran think of her?


    A vain, lying fraud.


    With that thought, Kara immediately wrenched her hand away from Johanna and ran to take refuge behind her dorm mates.


    These folks already had a poor impression of Johanna, and now seeing her trying to pressure Kara into borrowing money, they instinctively shielded Kara.


    "This is Summit University, not some ce where you can throw your weight around! Mrs. Dawson, I''d suggest you leave before we decide to bring the faculty into this."


    "Yeah, what you''re doing is no better than selling your own daughter!"


    Johanna was fuming after hearing these bold statements from the young girls. "Ungrateful bitch, I''ve provided for you, and this is how you repay me? You think they can protect you? You''reing with me to get that money today!"


    But Kara was determined not to let Johanna just take her away. She shook her head vehemently in protest.


    Her dorm mates reassured her, "Kara, don''t worry, we''ve got your back. She can''t do anything to you. Let''s go."


    Summit University had a strict rule that outsiders couldn''t enter the campus after evening hours. Seeing Kara walk away with her dorm mates left Johanna fuming alone at the entrance.


    That ungrateful little wretch!


    But now, where was she supposed to find the money? It seems she might have to use Kara to threaten Audrey!


    After all, Kara was already involved with Kieran, squeezing a hefty sum shouldn''t be too much for The Sutton Group.


    Meanwhile, Kara''s dorm mates were puzzled.


    "Kara, how did the Dawson family end up owing so much money?"


    "Yeah, two hundred million!"


    When Johanna mentioned that number, everyone was in shock.


    How could anyone owe that much?


    "I really don''t know, I don''t have much to do with the Dawson family, to be honest."


    Hearing about the Dawson family''s massive debt, Kara was quick to distance herself.


    A regr family might owe thousands or hundreds of


    thousands, but two hundred million? How Could The Sutton Group just cough up that kind of money for no reason?  en


    Thinking this, Kara felt even more justified in her actions.


    "Without Freya, the Dawson family is nothing much."


    "Exactly, Kara, don''t consider Mrs. Dawson as family anymore!"


    "Yeah, you''re going to be Mrs. Sutton, why keep ties with people like that?"


    ...


    Kara nodded reluctantly, though she still pretended to be troubled, "But she is still my aunt..."


    "Does she treat you like her niece? Kara, you''re just too kind, and that''s why she''s taking advantage of you."


    Kara remained silent.


    After all, these people were only friends with her because of her supposed connection to Kieran.


    If they ever found out she had nothing to do with Kieran, who knows how they would turn against her.


    The next morning.


    When stares


    entered the school, the


    got were colder than


    thenovelbin


    particrly from the student council members.


    Their gazes held a mixture of disdain and schadenfreude.


    "Reya!"

 Chapter 377

    Luna dashed over to Freya, her voiceced with urgency. "Why are you just getting here now? I''ve been calling you, and you didn''t pick up." "What''s going on?" Freya eyed Luna with puzzled concern.


    Leaning close, Luna whispered, "Last night, Johanna made a scene right at the school gates. It was a big deal - lots of people saw. By morning, there were rumors all over the school''s social media saying the Dawson family''s hit rock bottom. They''re saying Johanna''s trying to cash in on her daughter again!"


    "Cash in... again?"


    Freya zeroed in on the key phrase.


    Nodding vigorously, Luna continued, "Yeah, it''s about Kara. You''re bing the talk of the school. They''re saying Mr. Sutton dumped you because he wasn''t interested anymore, and then Johanna tried to push her niece into Kieran''s arms. Last night, she was supposedly taking Kara to the Suttons to demand 200 million!"


    Hearing the figure, Freya''s eyebrow twitched subtly.


    Initially, Johanna had borrowed a hundred million. With interest piling up, it had just edged over another hundred million. The fact that she was now demanding 200 million outright hinted that there was more going on behind the scenes.


    It was all because the year-end was approaching.


    After Galen had been fired by her, the year-end audit would uncover the embezzlement of several million that Johanna and Jarrett were involved in.


    No wonder Johanna was so desperate for money.


    "It''s fine, let''s not worry about it. The exams are what matter most."


    Once today''s exam was over, the rest would be water under the bridge.


    She could finally put one worry to rest.


    Freya made her way to her exam seat, noticing the wide berth her peers gave her.


    Suddenly, the principal, followed by a group of school officials, entered.


    The principal, looking particrly stern, announced, "Today''s exam will be dyed by ten minutes."novelbin


    "Dyed? Why?"


    "What''s happening? Is there some kind of emergency?"


    The students buzzed with spection.


    Freya frowned. Why would the exam be suddenly halted?


    The room was filled with confused nces, no one knowing what had happened.


    Eloise and a few who had sneaked into the office to tamper with their papers the day before seemed particrly on edge. Could it be... their deed had been discovered?


    en


    Eloise clenched her fists, anxious.


    With the final exams at stake, she couldn''t afford any mistakes.


    "Someone among you has cheated! The school''s administration is taking this very seriously. The cheater shoulde forward for a chance at leniency," the principal dered, sending a wave of shock through the room and making Eloise even more nervous.


    Everyone was eager to uncover the mystery.


    Freya scanned the room, quickly noticing Eloise''s unnatural demeanor in the back.


    Freya furrowed her brow. Eloise had always been known for her


    academic and moral excellence


    never involved in cheating. Why


    would she look so troubled?


    "It seems none of you are willing to admit to cheating!"


    The principal''s tone grew heavier. "This is yourst chance toe forward. Otherwise, I''ll have to call you out one by one."


    A few seconds passed in silence.


    Eventually, the principal began calling names, ramping up the tension amongst the students.

 Chapter 378

    Eloise''s grip tightened even more.


    Fortunately, the principal only called out a few inconsequential names, not implicating the student council in the slightest.


    "You lot have tarnished the name of our school! The decision has been made to expel you from this institution, with no chance of re-admission!"


    Whether it was a performance for the benefit of the faculty or not, cheating on exams had been the norm in previous years. As long as students passed their exams, essays, and defenses, they would graduate without issue. But this year, the exam questions grew tougher, and the testing environment stricter.


    Several students couldn''t believe that after four years, they were being expelled just for smuggling in cheat sheets.


    Their emotions ran high..


    This made Eloise, sitting at the back, even more nervous.


    Freya noticed this and couldn''t help but ponder. Could it be... Eloise cheated?


    But the exams were all revised; how could Eloise have cheated?


    "Ellie... What are we going to do? Are we in trouble?"


    One of the student council members realized the principal was serious this time, instantly bing anxious.


    If they were discovered, who knew what kind of punishment they''d face.


    Those caught with cheat sheets were expelled; their fate would surely be no different if found out!


    "Don''t overthink it; your name wasn''t called, was it?"


    Eloise frowned, knowing they couldn''t afford to talk much in the exam hall.


    So, she pretended to be silent and started working on her paper.


    Freya looked down at her test paper, an idea suddenly dawning on her After making sure of her answers, she subtly altered her response to thest question.


    After turning in her paper, Freya couldn''t resist a quick nce at Eloise, who was sitting in the back row, making her feel suddenly guilty. "Ellie, it''s time to hand in your paper." Someone reminded Eloise.


    Eloise nodded and submitted her paper.novelbin


    Today''s questions were as challenging as ever, leaving Eloise uncertain of her performance, surrounded by equally worried expressions. Why were this year''s questions so much harder? Was Summit University not concerned about their graduation rate anymore? "Reya!"


    Luna found Freya outside the exam


    hall, just in time to overhear someone mockingly say to Freya, "So well-connected that even a thorough check didn''t reveal your backdoor entry. Quite the solid backing you have."


    "What did you just say?"


    Luna was ready to confront the nderer physically.


    Freya held Luna back, then turned to the mocker, you can find any proof of me.cheating, feel free to report me to the principal. If you can''t, then stop spreading rumors. You knew about my connections, you should have been more polite to me."


    Freya''s presence silenced the opposition. They were left speechless.


    "So arrogant! It''s all because of Mr. Sutton! Without him, she''s nothing!"


    A few people grumbled resentfully but didn''t dare to take any action against Freya.


    After all, they had witnessed Kieran clearing a new exam hall for Freya themselves.


    After the crowd thinned out, Luna let off steam, saying, "These people have no talent of their own, so they just spread rumors!"


    Freyaforted her, "Let it go, Luna. I don''t have the energy to stoop to their level."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 379

    "Seriously, you''re just gonna let them walk all over you like that? And now they''re spreading rumors about you behind your back! It''s your reputation that''s gonna take the hit, not theirs. I''m just so mad on your behalf." Watching Luna puff up in indignation, Freya couldn''t help but chuckle, "You know they''re just spinning tales. But... I did stumble upon something quite intriguing."


    "What? Do tell!"


    "Eloise cheated."


    "What?! Eloise, of all people?"


    Luna''s eyes lit up with an almost predatory gleam.


    Eloise, the president of the Summit University Student Council, was well-known for her excellent academic track record, although there had been a noticeable dip in her grades recently. Given her public persona, the idea of her cheating seemed almostughable. "Freya, where''d you hear that? Is it for real?"


    "I can''t be 100% sure, but she looked really off today, especially when the dean mentioned they were cracking down on cheaters during exams. She seemed way too anxious."


    "Right? If she hadn''t cheated, why would she be nervous?"


    Grabbing Freya''s arm in a rush, Luna dered, "Let''s go straight to the dean''s office and report her!"


    Eloise had tried to frame Freya in the dean''s officest time. Although her n didn''t work out, it had revealed her true colors to Luna.


    Eloise always maintained a facade of kindness and generosity at school, but it appeared she was also capable of ying dirty when it suited her.


    "Hold up!" Freya stopped Luna in her tracks.


    Seeing this, Luna fumed, "After everything she''s done to you, you''re still thinking of letting her off the hook?"


    "Who said anything about letting her off? But going to the dean without any solid evidence, just because she looked nervous today? That''s not gonna cut it."


    Freya exined calmly, "Besides, Eloise has Kieran covering her back. Without evidence, if Eloise turns the tables on us, iming we''re falsely using her, what then?"


    "So, knowing what we know is the same as being clueless if we don''t have evidence to prove Eloise''s guilt!"


    Luna deted like a balloon, her earlier enthusiasm evaporated.


    Freya smiled, "We might not have evidence now, but we can find it. The school''s surveince footage could prove other students cheated, yet failed to catch Eloise, indicating she didn''t use crib notes."


    "But how can we use her of cheating without crib notes?"


    "Have you forgotten who Eloise is? She''s the president of the Student Council. What does the teacher in charge of the council have in abundance?" Luna paused for a moment, then it clicked, "Keys!"novelbin


    "Exactly, keys." Freya continued, "As the president of the Student Council, Eloise has ess to a spare key for the exam supervisors'' office. With that key, and probably other


    vel


    privileges thate with her position-after all, the council president is one of the most trusted students among the


    faculty-sneaking into the office to


    tamper with the exam papers wouldn''t be too hard, would it?"


    "Wow, even with Kieran''s backing, Eloise''s audacity is truly astonishing! For the Student Council president to secretly alter her own final exam paper That''s egregious. I doubt anyone at Summit University has dared to do something like this in a century!"

 Chapter 380

    Luna couldn''t even begin to fathom the kind of punishment Eloise might face if the truth came to light. Expulsion? That seemed like the best-case scenario. More likely, the university would collectively cklist her. After all, who would want a student with such a notorious reputation for dishonesty?


    "So, what''s our n for catching her in the act?" Luna wondered aloud. "Today''s the final exam, and it''s even harder than yesterday''s. I bet a lot of students won''t be able to answer the questions. Do you think Eloise might panic about failing, resort to her old tricks, and sneak into the office to change her answers? Should we stake out and catch them red-handed?"


    Freya shook her head. "This is too big for Eloise to pull off alone. She must have aplices, likely some members of the student council, those close to her. Just the two of us staking out could backfire if they spot us. Remember, they''re the student council; they have authority over us. What if they turn the tables and use us of trying to cheat? They have more people on their side."


    "It''s infuriating! We can''t just do nothing and watch them get away with changing their answers and graduating smoothly. That would be so unfair!"


    Freya said, "Given how tough this exam is, the school isn''t stupid. They wouldn''t want the graduation rate to hit a new low by setting such difficult questions. I think although the exam is hard, the passing grade might be lowered. It''s probably internal news that hasn''t been shared with us students yet." "That makes sense. If the passing grade isn''t lowered, I bet the graduation rate could drop by half."


    "We can think of this, but Eloise might not. As the student council president and traditionally one of the top students, she wouldn''t want her graduation grade to look bad. She''ll definitely try to change her answers to ensure she has the highest score in the school." Freya was certain Eloise would try to tamper with her exam paper again.


    Without a standard answer, Eloise would have to scour through others'' papers for the right ones. Not to boast, but Freya was confident her paper would rank among the top three in the entire school. And that final question wasn''t something just anyone could answer. If Eloise happened to copy her answer, things would get much more interesting.


    Plus, Freya knew Eloise too well. She


    wouldn''t let her graduate smoothly without a hitch. The exact nature of her sabotage remained to be seen. novelbin


    "Luna, just to be safe, I think we need a backup n."


    At Freya''s suggestion, Luna''s face showed a hint of confusion.


    A backup n? What kind of backup n?


    The next morning, the university''s official website had already posted the previous day''s exam results.


    To ensure fairness, each department disyed every student''s scores on their notice boards.


    When Freya spotted her nearly perfect score on the website, she couldn''t help but beam with pride. Luna quickly snapped a picture of the department''s notice board and sent it to her.  en


    Freya was ranked second. But taking the first spot was Eloise.


    Even by Summit University''s standards, that was an exceptionally high score, especially considering the high difficulty of this exam. Freya was more convinced than ever that Eloise must have cheated.


    "Reya, you''re a genius! Who would''ve


    thought they''d lower the passing grade by thirty points? This means so many of us can graduate now."

 Chapter 381

    After all, it was the final exam, and the faculty wanted to up the ante a bit, but they never said anything about not being able to lower the passing grade. Besides, at Summit University, with so many kids of entrepreneurs around, how bad could the grades really get?


    Lowering the passing grade by thirty points meant that about eighty percent of the students could now graduate.


    On the phone, Luna continued, "But Eloise''s score was almost perfect! That''s just bizarre."


    Freya pondered for a moment.


    During the first exam, the questions hadn''t been changed. It was the second exam when modifications were made.


    So, it was very likely that Eloise had smuggled in some crib notes for the first exam.


    What Freya hadn''t expected was that Eloise would just tantly copy the original answers, scoring almost perfectly. "Luna, I''ve got to go, I''ll hang up now."


    "Okay."novelbin


    After hanging up, Freya immediately texted Ronan.


    Freya: I want to see Eloise''s paper from the first exam, and the answer key that was used then.


    Ronan simply replied with an OK.


    The content of the exam was quickly sent over to Freya in pictures.


    Freya carefully examined the answers. Eloise''s were almost identical to the key.


    Their department never really had absolute right answers, especially for the essay questions towards the end, which were supposed to be based on personal understanding and theoretical knowledge


    However, Eloise''s answers were a perfect match for the key. Freya chuckled softly.


    She guessed it was because Eloise knew Kieran would have her back, and no one would dare to scrutinize her paper, so she just went ahead and copied it outright. All she wanted was that dazzling score on the graduation exam.


    Leaning against her headboard, Freya smiled slightly.


    Well, in that case, she couldn''t be med for exposing these two test papers.


    Freya asked Luna to upload the two papers to the university''s forum, and by the afternoon, the post had exploded.


    Luna''s family was in the media


    business, skilled at catching eye-catching points. Plus, Luna used an anonymous ount, making it impossible to trace her IP address, while also getting some bots from her family to spread the word.


    So, the post spread rapidly.


    When Eloise heard the news, still a member of the student council, she was confronted in her dorm.


    The scandal had blown up big time, and even the school''s disciplinarymittee came looking for Eloise, all to verify the content of the exam papers.


    Although Eloise looked troubled, she also knew that if it was just a matter of simr answers, these people couldn''t really do much to her.


    After all, she had Kieran backing her up.

 Chapter 382

    "Just because the answers are simr, why am I being used of cheating?"


    At that moment, Eloise was sitting in the principal''s office.


    The principal himself looked incredibly troubled.


    It would be one thing if it were anyone else, but the person sitting before him was Kieran''s sweetheart.


    With patience, the principal began, "Ms. Harwood, I really don''t want to suspect you of cheating, but someone has posted what they im to be evidence on the school''s forum. We have to take it seriously. However, this is just a formality. You''re the president of the student council, and I''m sure you wouldn''t do anything against the school''s code of conduct!"


    The principal was tantly favoring Eloise.


    So what if she really cheated? Eloise''s status set her apart from the others.


    As long as there was no concrete evidence, Eloise could still graduate under his watch.novelbin


    When the principal said that, Eloise could finally breathe a sigh of relief, feeling the weight of stress lift from her shoulders. All thanks to Kieran, the principal wouldn''t dare to do anything to her.


    Eloise responded, "Principal, someone''s clearly trying to frame me, causing damage to my reputation. I hope the school can find out who''s behind this soon. I''m innocent, and I''d like to see who would go to such lengths to nder me."


    "Absolutely, Ms. Harwood, we''ll investigate thoroughly and ensure you receive a satisfactory response," the principal quickly agreed, then added with difficulty, "The only issue is that the post was made anonymously, and we can''t trace the IP address. It''s a bit challenging. Maybe Mr. Sutton could lend a hand?"


    When the incident first came to light, the principal had already attempted to track down the perpetrator, to no avail.


    It was clear that the person behind this was a tech whiz.


    And now, with the post gaining traction on the forum, despite efforts to remove it, the school''s attempts were no match for professional hackers, leaving many posts untouched.


    Now, with rumors of the school protecting Eloise circting online, if the education department caught wind of this, they would definitely intervene.


    Thus, the principal hoped to pass the buck to Kieran, letting him handle the matter and save the principal a headache.


    What the principal didn''t know was that Eloise dared not inform Kieran.


    Because cheating, Kieran was well aware of it.


    Kieran has never been a fan of those kinds of tricks, and the only reason he didn''t rat out Eloise before was because they go way back. But with the situation blowing up like this, Kieran would definitely not cover for her.


    Taking a deep breath, Eloise said, "Do I really need to bother Kieran with such a trivial matter? Then what''s your role as principal? These are all baseless usations, and no one has caught me cheating. You should know how to quell this storm, right?"


    Hearing Eloise''s words, the principal felt embarrassed.


    Wasn''t this asking him to cover for her outright?


    "Let''s leave it at that, I have other matters to attend to. I hope the school can handle this soon."


    Eloise stood up and walked out.


    The dean, witnessing this, felt a mix of frustration and anger.


    Cheating and yet so defiant.


    He approached the principal''s office, saying, "Principal, Eloise is taking things too far. Does she really think the school exists to serve her? If the education department leaders find out about this, we''re in trouble!"


    "Do you think I''m not aware of that? But what can we do? She has Mr. Sutton backing her."


    The principal was internally vexed.


    The person who reported this


    couldn''t even provide solid evidence,


    and now, with such ambiguous proof, the situation had escted, putting him in a bind between covering up and being used of deliberate favoritism.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 383

    "Not covering up, yet without solid evidence... isn''t this putting him in an impossible situation?"


    The principal said, "Just post a rification on our school''s forum. Say that after our investigation, Eloise is not suspected of cheating for now. Let''s not blow this out of proportion among the students." It seemed like the only option left.


    If he couldn''t calm the storm, his tenure as principal would be considered a failure.


    Meanwhile-


    "This is outrageous! The school is just brushing the issue under the rug? Then what was the point of me going through all the trouble of hiring those online mercenaries?"


    Luna was visibly fuming.


    In just an afternoon, all their posts were banned.


    Although many students still wanted to discuss the issue, the school''s official website had already posted a stern warning.


    They were forbidden from continuing the discussion.


    Otherwise, they would face consequences.


    "I expected as much, no need to get so worked up."novelbin


    "What? You expected this?" Luna was stunned. "You knew the school would suppress this?"


    "Of course." Freya said, "Who is Eloise? She''s Kieran''s favorite, and given Kieran is our school''s biggest benefactor, as long as there''s no concrete evidence or major public outcry, the school''s totally going to cover for Eloise." "Then why did we even bother?" Luna felt deted, like a balloon losing air.


    Had she known, she wouldn''t have put in so much effort, only for Eloise to get off scot-free.


    "Don''t worry, our efforts weren''t wasted. Eloise must have cheated, otherwise, the school wouldn''t have stepped in to smooth things over without even providing the basic evidence. Now, the more the school tries to suppress this issue, the


    more people will talk about it over coffee and dinner. Everyone''s not a fool; such obvious shielding is in for all to see."


    Besides, Eloise''s exam paper was strikingly simr to the answer sheet.


    This year''s final exam was super tough, leaving a bunch of studentsining. If it was found that someone had ess to the answers in advance, it would cause an uproar.  en


    Especially since the school had caught a group of cheaters just the day before.


    If they only targeted students without


    nections while letting off


    those with backing, it would spark significant public outrage.


    "So, you''re saying... after today, you have more dirt to spill?"


    Luna''s eyes sparkled with anticipation.


    She knew Freya wouldn''t let it go so easily!


    "Just wait and see. Eloise''s cheating will be exposed tomorrow."


    Because of the school''s intervention, the forums were silent about Eloise''s cheating.


    On the second day, as the controversy brewed.


    Luna rushed to the bulletin board in the teaching building first thing in the morning to check the exam results.


    Because of adjustments, the test was even harder than the day before.


    Yet, Eloise still topped the list.


    Luna searched in vain for Freya''s score.


    Just as Luna was puzzled, she suddenly noticed a score at the very bottom of the bulletin board.

 Chapter 384

    The report card made it crystal clear-Freya''s test score was a big, round zero.


    Luna was dumbfounded when she saw it. How in the world did Freya get a zero?


    She remembered ncing over at Freya several times during the exam, and Freya was writing away like there was no tomorrow. Even if she did poorly, a zero just didn''t add up. Especially since Freya had aced the first day of exams. How could her grades take such a nosedive overnight?


    Something was off. Way off.


    Luna didn''t hesitate and called Freya right away, her voice full of urgency, "Freya! Did you see your test score? How did you end up with a zero? Did you turn in a nk sheet or what?" On the other end, Freya had already checked her results online.


    Zero? It seemed Eloise was hell-bent on not letting her graduate. But maybe this was for the best. It proved her suspicions were right.


    Meanwhile, over at The Sutton Group headquarters.


    Kieran got wind of Freya''s test score pronto.


    He had seen Freya''s answers for the second day. She nearly had a perfect score. Zero was out of the question.


    "Jarrett, call the principal."


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Without missing a beat, Jarrett dialed the principal''s number.


    When the principal saw it was Jarrett calling, a wave of panic washed over him, assuming Kieran was on the warpath about Eloise.


    He picked up immediately, addressing the caller, "Jarrett, does Mr. Sutton need me for something?"


    ""Are you aware?"


    Jarrett was gearing up for a lengthy exnation, but the principal seemed to catch on quicker than expected.


    Before Jarrett could eveny out the situation, the principal blurted out, "About Ms. Harwood''s issue, we''re.


    already on it. Please assure Mr.


    Sutton that Ms. Harwood won''t face any undue hardship at our


    nstitu


    But if the Department of Education starts snooping around, Mr. Sutton might need to intervene."


    Caught off guard, Jarrett asked, "Ms. Harwood? What happened with Ms. Harwood?"


    The principal was equally stunned, "Isn''t Mr. Sutton having you call about Ms. Harwood''s cheating scandal? I thought..." Hearing this, Kieran''s face darkened.novelbin


    ¡°What''s going on? Exin. Now." Kieran grabbed the phone, his voice ice-cold, "Why did Freya get a zero on her second exam? And what''s this about Ellie cheating?"


    "A zero? Impossible! I''ve reviewed the paper myself! While it wasn''t perfect, it was certainly above average!"


    The principal, now sounding a bit


    sheepish, added, "As for Ms.


    Harwood... Well, her answers from the first day''s exam matched the marking scheme too closely, leading to rumors spreading. The school forum was aze with it yesterday. But rest assured, Mr. Sutton, I''ve managed to quell the situation. It


    should be fine..."


    Kieran''s tone grew even colder, "And you''re telling me this now because?"


    "I, uh, thought you knew, considering Ms. Harwood would have informed you..." The principal was at a loss for words.


    "Send me Ellie''s second exam paper. Now!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 385

    The next day at Summit University, the campus buzzed with anticipation. It was the day when thest of the graduation exam results would be made public.


    The leaderboard at the school''s noticeboard clearly showed Eloise at the top of the ss, with scores nearly perfect, a stark contrast to Freya, whose results mirrored the zero she had gotten the day before. As Eloise made her way through the campus, Freya intercepted her.


    Eloise, visibly annoyed, said, "What do you want, Ms. Dawson? I''m in a bit of a rush. If this isn''t important, I need to be on my way."


    "Ms. Harwood, do you think cheating and wrecking someone else''s work is fun or something?"


    Freya didn''t beat around the bush, causing a flicker of panic in Eloise''s eyes.


    "What are you babbling about? I have no idea what you mean."


    "Oh, you''ll understand soon enough," Freya retorted, her wordsced with ambiguity.


    This prompted Eloise to pursue the matter further. "Hold on! What do you mean by that?"


    "It means nothing, just that whether you cheated or not, you know best, Ms. Harwood. You can''t hide the truth forever. You should have known that getting involved in such deeds woulde to light someday."


    Freya''s words struck a nerve. She recalled the severe repercussions for cheating at Summit University, including expulsion and a tarnished academic record that would follow her everywhere.


    "Freya, I know you have a grudge against me, but you can''t just throw around usations without proof."


    Eloise''s facade started to crumble when she figured out Freya might actually be onto something. The idea that someone from the student council, her partners in crime for messing with exam papers, could have turned on her was unthinkable.


    They were all in this together; who would risk exposing themselves?


    "This is nonsense! If you have evidence, take it to the Dean. If not, stop ndering me in public. I bet you wouldn''t be wasting your breath here if you had any proof. You''re just upset because you think I got in through the back door, but let''s not forget who''s been consistently at the top of their ss here. And let''s also not forget your recent exam scores - all zeros. Jealousy is an ugly thing, but it shouldn''t ruin one''s reputation," Eloise countered, her words carrying the weight of her academic reputation and the trust she had built with her professors over the years.


    ¡ª


    Indeed, no one had suspected Eloise of cheating, given her track record. The rumor mill, fueled by a forum post using Eloise of cheating, had quickly pointed fingers at F as the source, assuming hero jealousy was the motive.


    "Of course, I have evidence. Why else would I confront you about this, Ms. Harwood?" Freya''s statement left Eloise speechless. Could Freya actually have proof? Impossible!novelbin


    Yet, there it was a challengeid bare, shaking the foundation of Eloise''s carefully constructed facade of perfection.

 Chapter 386

    Freya had known all along that Eloise thought she was bluffing, banking on her own poprity to sway public opinion against her. But this time, Eloise had miscalcted. Freya actually had proof.


    The courtyard was buzzing with students, their curiosity piqued about what evidence Freya imed to hold in her hands.


    Then, as everyone watched, Freya suddenly whipped out a USB drive, causing a buzz among the onlookers.


    "A USB drive? What''s she going to do with that?"


    "How is a USB drive supposed to be evidence? Is she joking?"


    Eloise scoffed, "I don''t get it. What''s that supposed to prove? That I hid cheats on it and used aputer to cheat during the exam?"


    "Of course not," Freya retorted. "This USB contains footage from a camera I discreetly ced outside the invigtor''s office. It clearly shows members of the student council breaking school rules, tampering with exam papers." "Eloise, you''re freaking out. Which school rule says I can''t put a camera outside the invigtor''s office? Drawing a nk? Why so nervous?"


    The crowd sensed Eloise''s panic. If she was innocent, why react so strongly?


    The whispers grew louder as more people gathered, some even recording, eager to post the drama online.


    "I''m just shocked at your actions,


    Freya. For a mere final exam, to go to the lengths of setting up a


    camera outside the office? Aren''t et


    there enough cameras in the hallways? Ms. Dawson, you really do y it safe," Eloise managed, though her voice betrayed her distress.


    She wasn''t sure how much Freya had caught on camera. If it was only footage of them going in and out of the office, maybe they could talk their way out of it. But if Freya had been daring enough to put a camera inside the office, they were toast.


    "This final exam? Downy it all you want, but both my exams scored zero. How''s that possible, even if I guessed on a multiple-choice question? I was merely curious if someone had tampered with my paper, hence the drastic measure. And look, it revealed something quite interesting."


    Raising her voice for effect, Freya announced, "The student council president and members sneaking into the invigtor''s office to alter exam papers, destroying others'' work. This isn''t something a mere expulsion can fix." Seeing Eloise''s dismay, Freya smirked and said, "I''m off to the principal''s office to share my findings."


    As Freya turned to leave, Eloise instinctively blocked her way, "You can''t go!"novelbin


    The surrounding crowd buzzed with spection.


    "Could it be true, like the rumors said? Eloise cheated?"


    "But her grades were so good, why would she need to cheat?"


    "Her grades dropped recently, and she lost her study abroad spot. Suddenly scoring high again does seem fishy."


    "The student council has been too powerful for too long. If they''re capable of this, they need to be severely punished."

 Chapter 387

    The students around were increasingly siding with Freya.


    Freya looked at Eloise and said, "Ms. Harwood, if you keep blocking me, things might get even messier. I''d advise you to step aside."


    Eloise red at the USB drive in Freya''s hand, lowering her voice to a whisper only they could hear. "Don''t think you can ruin me, Freya. Kieran won''t let you get away with this!" "Oh really? But the evidence is right here. I''m curious to see how Kieran can protect you now."


    Freya walked past Eloise, her expression unchanging.


    Eloise wanted to call out to Freya but was mindful of the onlookers and their judgment.


    The buzz of Summit University, especially within the highly sought-after Finance department, meant that news of the incident spread like wildfire.


    By the time Freya reached the principal''s office door...


    The principal, watching the surveince footage on hisputer, looked troubled.


    The footage clearly showed Eloise and two student council members entering the exam supervisor''s office.


    They unlocked the door, and then, all the hallway lights went off.


    Someone had obviously tampered with the main switch, cutting off the power to the entire floor.


    The group emerged about twenty minutester, and what they did inside during that time remained a mystery. "What should we do about this, Principal?"


    The principal, troubled by Freya''s presence, replied, "Well... this only proves that Eloise and some student council members entered the office. It doesn''t necessarily mean they tampered with the exam papers. And it''s also possible the exam supervisor asked them to grade papers. But don''t worry, Ms. Dawson, we will investigate thoroughly!"


    "Grade papers? Principal, we''re talking about the final exams here. Do you even believe what you''re saying?"


    Freya had anticipated his response.


    After all, with Kieran backing Eloise, the principal wouldn''t dare use her without solid evidence.


    "Ms. Dawson, this matter requires further investigation... and weck concrete evidence," the principal said, his words coated in diplomacy.


    He had no desire to use Eloise, knowing the uproar it would cause wouldn''t benefit him either.


    Hearing this, Freya smiled slightly, "Principal, I understand your concerns, but who says I don''t have solid evidence?"


    The principal was taken aback at her statement.


    More evidence? How could that be?


    "Shielding Eloise could have serious implications, Principal. Imagine if the school defends her innocence, but then reveal evidence of her cheating. That would spell trouble for you too," Freya said, her wordsced with veiled threats.


    The principal grew visibly uneasy. "Ms. Dawson, this evidence you speak of... what is it?"novelbin


    Just then, a knock echoed at the door.


    Before the principal could respond, the door swung open.


    Standing at the doorway were inspectors from the Department of Education, causing the principal to jumpto his feet in surprise. "Department of Education?"

 Chapter 388

    Principal Martin stood frozen in ce, his eyes wide with disbelief.


    Why on earth was the State Board of Education sending someone over now?


    In the next moment, his gaze shifted to Freya.


    The lead investigator from the Board walked in, clipboard in hand. He nced up at Principal Martin and asked, "Are you Principal Martin of Summit University?" "Yes, that''s me."


    Principal Martin hurried forward, extending his hand in a gesture of friendly greeting towards the representative from the Board.


    However, the gesture was met with indifference. Without barely a nce, the investigator said, "We''ve received reports of cheating within your institution, is that correct?"


    "Yes, yes, the students involved were dealt with yesterday. They''ve all been expelled."


    "I''m not referring to yesterday''s group."


    The investigator''s face was serious as he continued, "We''ve got an anonymous tip-off. A senior in the finance department and the president of the Summit University Student Council, Eloise Harwood, along with other council members, are used of cheating and messing with exam papers. Is there any truth to this?"


    "Who? Who reported this? Howe I wasn''t informed? Why wasn''t I given a heads-up?"


    Principal Martin hadpletely overlooked Freya standing beside him.


    Freya spoke up, "Principal, I''ve already informed you. Have you forgotten?"


    At this, Principal Martin''s gaze snapped to Freya.


    He opened and closed his mouth, unable to utter a word.


    It turned out Freya was the whistleblower!


    "State Board of Education, let me assure you, our school has a zero-tolerance policy towards cheating. I was unaware of this situation until now! Eloise has always been an exemry student and as the president of the Student Council, her academic performance has been outstanding. It''s hard for me to believe she would do such a thing... However, regardless of my personal beliefs, I assure you a thorough investigation will be conducted and a full report will be provided to the State Board of Education!"


    Principal Martin thought he had navigated the conversation smoothly.


    Yet, the investigator from the Board simply stated, "That won''t be necessary. We already have conclusive evidence of Eloise''s


    ??? ???


    cheating. ording to Sumgelnovelbin


    University''s regtions, any student council member found cheating will be expelled and stripped of their academic status."


    Hearing this, Principal Martin was stunned.


    Conclusive evidence? Where did they get conclusive evidence?


    His eyes immediately found Freya.


    Could it be that Freya had alreadypiled and delivered the conclusive evidence to the State Board of Education?


    "Comrade from the State Board of Education, may I review this


    so-called evidence? Given the gravity of the situation for a student of our schoot, as the principal, I feel obligated to inquire. That shouldn''t be against the rules, right?"


    Seeing Principal Martin still shielding Eloise, Freya didn''t bother to argue. The evidence she had was undeniable.


    Upon hearing Principal Martin''s request, the Board investigator indeedid the evidence before him. Principal Martin was taken aback as he looked at the exam papers - crumpled and nearly torn to shreds.

 Chapter 389

    After piecing the torn examination papers together, the principal could clearly see Freya''s student ID and name on them.


    The papers were fully answered, marking Freya''s submission for the third day of exams.


    Witnessing this, the principal''s expression shifted noticeably.


    He was well aware these papers belonged to Freya.


    And he couldn''t fathom Freya scoring zero in both the second and third exams.novelbin


    After all, he had already reviewed Freya''s papers.


    But when it came to Eloise, he had been turning a blind eye.


    At this moment, the principal tried to muster a defense for Eloise, saying, "What does this piece of paper prove?"


    "It proves that Eloise copied my exam and then destroyed mine." This time, Freya responded to the principal''s question.


    "And how can you prove she copied your exam and then threw yours away? Maybe this is your..."


    "Principal, these two are my exams that scored zero."


    Freya pulled out two nk exam papers from her backpack.


    Aside from the course title and her name, the content of the papers was empty.


    "You can clearly see the handwriting on these two papers is different, right?" Freya said. "So what? You can''t prove these zero score papers are not yours!"


    "My right hand was severely injured, and the doctor told me not to write with it for a month. So, during the exams, I had to use my left hand, which made my writing all crooked and twisted. But the handwriting on the exams where I got a zero jis neat I and tidy. This means someone must have destroyed my original paper and filled out a nk one with my name and student ID. That''s the first piece of evidence."


    Hearing Freya''s words made the principal''s face grow even sterner yet he retorted, "Even if someone did destroy your original paper, you can''t be sure they copied your answers. Maybe..."


    en


    "All the principal needs to do ispare Eloise''s exam paper with mine to see if the answers are the same. That will give us our conclusion." "Answers can naturally be simr! After all, the core of answering can''t change. You can''t use someone of copying just based on that."


    Seeing the principal still defending Eloise, Freya presented her final piece of evidence: "You''re right, Principal, but there''s one thing you can''t argue away." "And what''s that?" the principal asked, puzzled.


    "In the third exam, I became


    suspicious after the second exam, so I deliberately made up a fictional case study for thest question, involving entirely made-up events and characters that couldn''t be found anywhere online. Yet, those same fabricated details appeared on Eloise''s paper."


    Freya brought up the photo of Eloise''s paper on her phone, cing it next to hers. The simrity was strikingly 99.9%.


    The principal''s facial muscles twitched as he looked at thest question.


    Freya had set a trap, and Eloise had walked right into it.


    "Do you have any more doubts, Principal?"


    The irrefutable evidence wasid out before him.


    Freya had known her paper must have been destroyed, which is why she had meticulously searched every trash can in the school building, only to find the torn pieces of her exam.

 Chapter 390

    The evidence wasid bare, and Principal Martin, glimpsing the stern expression of the representative from the Department of Education, knew he could no longer shield Eloise. To continue doing so would mean risking his own neck next.


    In a burst of anger, Principal Martin eximed, "Eloise! To think our faculty ced such trust in her! Tomit such an act, it''s despicable, outrageous! I will immediately apply the school''s disciplinary measures to those involved in the cheating scandal and restore Ms. Dawson''s rightful grades!"


    As he said this, he strode over to his desk and called the vice principal, demanding, "Expel Eloise immediately! She must be made to leave the school!"


    Observing Principal Martin''s reaction, the Department of Education official noted something down before saying, "Principal Martin, now that Eloise''s case is resolved, perhaps it''s time we discuss your role in this affair."


    "What? My involvement?" Principal Martin was taken aback.


    How was this tied to him? Why would the Department of Education probe into his actions without cause?


    "ording to our records, a post popped up on the school''s official website the day before yesterday, directly using Eloise of cheating. However, the school seems to have ignored it, even going as far as to suppress and block all rted discussions, effectively burying the issue. Is there any truth to this?"


    Hearing the Department of Education''s words made Principal Martin uneasy.


    Could it be they suspected him of epting a bribe from Eloise, thus turning a blind eye to her cheating?


    Internally, Principal Martin felt wronged; he hadn''t taken a dime! It was Eloise who had pressured him through Kieran.


    "Sir, there was such an incident. At the time, I consulted Ms. Harwood in detail about this matter. Ms. Harwood adamantly denied any cheating, and there was no solid evidence online to prove her guilt. Ms. Harwood demanded a satisfactory response from the school. To protect the school''s reputation and ensure students could focus on their graduation exams, we decided to temporarily suppress the matter."


    Principal Martin emphasized the word "temporarily."


    But the Department of Education representative was not swayed by his eloquence.


    Those in their positions often had to be diplomatic, turning a blind eyezon asion, but with the scandal now exposed and causing a stir, Principal Martin was expected to take responsibility.


    "Mr. Martin, we are aware of the specifics. Please wait here for further instructions."


    With a few cold words, the Department of Education official left the office.


    Once the Department of Education representatives had departed, Principal Martin copsed onto the sofa, feeling a storm brewing.


    "Principal Martin, I''m sure you have plenty more to sort out, so I''ll leave you to it," said Freya, turning to leave.


    In desperation, Principal Martin blurted out, "Ms. Dawson, I''ve done nothing to wrong you, how could you do this to me?"


    The questions from the Department of Education were already causing him trouble. This could spell the end of his tenure at Summit University, or even harm his future career prospects!


    He would have preferred being transferred to another school; that would have been the best oue.novelbin


    But from the looks of it, things weren''t going to be that simple.


    "Principal, how can you say you''ve done nothing wrong? I received a zero, remember? If Eloise hadn''t taken things to the extreme, I might not have reported her. You can me Eloise if you must, but it will reim what is rightfully mine."


    As Freya finished speaking and turned to leave, she heard Kieran''s voice at the door, "So, this is about reiming what''s yours, huh?"


    Kieran looked serious as he walked up to Freya, saying, "I underestimated you. Freya, did you really need to push it this far?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 391

    "Mr. Sutton, I''m at a loss for what you''re getting at here."


    "Why would you go after Ellie like that? Did you really have to take it so far?"


    Facing Kieran''s usation, Freya replied coolly, "Kieran, don''t you think your bias is showing just a tad too much? Or is your Ellie somehow not cruel to me? She tore up my paper, resulting in a zero for me. Your Ellie didn''t want me to graduate. I simply reported her actions. Is that not allowed?"


    "You..."


    "By the look on Mr. Sutton''s face, you must''ve known all along what Eloise has been doing to me, right? Yet, you did nothing to stop her, choosing instead toe after me. And here I thought Mr. Sutton was all about justice, regardless of who''s involved." Freya had always known that when it came to anything involving Eloise, Kieran would undoubtedly take her side.


    No matter what Eloise had done.


    "But what can you do? Mr. Sutton, you''re a bitte to the party, and the damage is done. If you truly can''t stand the thought of your Ellie facing expulsion, then you''d bettere up with a solution yourself." Freya walked past Kieran without another word.


    Jarrett initially wanted to stop Freya but was halted by Kieran: "Let her go!"


    "But Mr. Sutton..."


    Jarrett was at a loss.


    Their Mr. Sutton hade specifically to deal with Eloise''s situation, even intending to have the principal correct the injustice done to Freya''s grades.


    Ms. Dawson had misunderstood, so why didn''t Mr. Sutton let him exin?


    "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Dawson has brought in the Department of Education, and I''m backed into a corner! My job is on the line, and I''m hoping you can help me find a way out!


    The principal was desperate, almost clinging to Kieran for a lifeline.


    But Kieran''s mind was elsewhere. Suddenly, he grabbed the principal by the cor and said, "You had already looked at Freya''s paper beforehand, didn''t you know her failing grade was a setup? Who gave you the right to tantly favor Eloise like this?"


    "I... I..."


    The principal, seeing Kieran''s anger, was at a loss for words.novelbin


    And who else was to me for his unconditional favoritism towards Eloise? Wasn''t it Kieran himself?


    "Mr. Sutton, I admit my mistake, but I''m at my wit''s end here, Mr. Sutton!"


    Before the principal could finish, Kieran turned and walked away.


    Jarrett followed closely behind. The principal was leftpletely isted.


    It was their mistake, yet in the end, he was the one to bear the responsibility?


    The


    tears, regretting his actions, bu


    Was on the verge of s to en. h


    Meanwhile.


    Eloise and the student council members had already been brought to the dean''s office.

 Chapter 392

    The principal''s directive was delivered straight to the point by the Dean of Students: "You''re all being expelled."


    Eloise felt a chill run down her spine at those words.


    "What? Expelled? But we''re about to graduate. Why are we being expelled now?"


    "Exactly, sir, you owe us an exnation! Why on earth are we being expelled all of a sudden?"


    The tension was obvious among the two student council members standing nearby, pushing the Dean for answers.


    However, the Dean''s face remained impassive as he retorted, "The nerve of you to ask why? First, take a good look at what you''ve done! Sneaking into the proctor''s office to change your test papers? Have you lost your minds? Who gave you the nerve to do that?" As their scheme wasid bare, the culprits'' faces turned ashen.


    They thought they had covered their tracks perfectly, having even shut down the electricity to the floor where the proctor''s office was located before making their move.


    Who could have leaked their secret?novelbin


    "Sir, do you have any evidence of these usations?" Eloise managed to ask, struggling to maintain herposure.


    But the Dean had heard enough. "What more evidence do you need? The evidence is with the Department of Education. The issue has escted, and with the Department stepping in, all the proof is irrefutable. Not only did you alter your own papers, but you also maliciously destroyed others''. Eloise, as the president of the student council, you''re facing expulsion. You should be more concerned about your own future now."


    Hearing this, the panic among the members of the student council was palpable.


    "Sir, I had nothing to do with this! I didn''t alter any papers! Those are my real scores!"


    "Yeah, this was all Eloise''s doing! We had nothing to do with it! She''s the president; we just followed her lead!"


    "Right! Eloise was the one who destroyed the papers, not us!"


    As the truth emerged, everyone was quick to throw Eloise under the bus.


    After all, it was her idea in the first ce that led them down this risky path.


    And nobody expected this year''s graduation exam passing score to drop so significantly, making their original scores more than enough to graduate. They thought, at worst, they could just retake the exam.


    But it was Eloise who assured them the n to alter their papers would never be discovered, leading them down this foolish path.


    Now facing expulsion, they were all too eager to pin the me entirely on Eloise.


    Eloise steadied herself and asked, "Sir, did the principal personally say this?"


    "Of course, it was directly from the principal. Do you think I have the power to expel you on my own?"


    The Dean then added solemnly, "For


    the rest of the student council, getting expelled is the best you can hope for. In the future, you might have to look for education somewhere else, maybe even abroad, But Eloise, you''re being expelled, cklisted by Summit University. It''s not going to be easy for you to find another prestigious university. However... we all know that Ms. Harwood doesn''t


    necessarily need a university degree, considering Mr. Sutton has got your back. He''ll likely sort everything out for you."


    Even though Summit University was filled with the children of wealthy entrepreneurs, Kieran Sullivan was the most influential backer imEcho City.


    At that moment, Eloise clenched her fists, realizing they were all aware of Kieran''s support for her.

 Chapter 393

    Why would they expel her?


    That Freya, managing to stir up such a storm with the Department of Education...


    Eloise almost bolted from the principal''s office. She fumbled for her phone, intending to call Kieran, but then she looked up and saw Kieran standing right in front of her. "Kieran!"


    Eloise quickly grabbed Kieran''s arm, her voiceced with urgency, "They''re going to expel me. You have to help me, I can''t get expelled!"


    Normally, Kieran would have jumped at the chance to solve her problems without a second thought. But this time, Kieran let go of Eloise''s hand.


    Seeing this, Eloise was stunned.


    Why?


    "Ellie, when you make a mistake, you have to face the consequences. You''ve really crossed the line this time."


    Kieran had never imagined that Eloise would team up with others to cheat on the final exams.


    He also couldn''t believe that Eloise, driven by jealousy, would tear up Freya''s exam paper.


    "Do you have any idea how important the final exams are for a student? Especially for a student at Summit University. You tore up Freya''s paper. Did you even consider the consequences?"novelbin


    Seeing that Eloise remained silent, Kieran continued, "The consequence is that Freya won''t be able to graduate from Summit University. She was already in a tough spot, and now she''ll be theughingstock of the wholemunity. Is that what you wanted to see? Ellie, when did you be like this? You''ve changed so much, I hardly recognize you."


    The old Eloise was kind, generous, and although stubborn, she was aloof and cold, never one to harm others for her own gain.


    Listening to Kieran''s reprimand, Eloise found herself at a loss for words.


    In truth, she had always been this way; it was just that Kieran didn''t know.


    She wasn''t worried about losing Kieran before because his heart belonged to no one else. But now, Freya had earned a spot there.


    "You only ask me why I''ve changed,


    but why don''t you ask yourself? You said you''d always be good to me, but then you fell for Freya. You know I''m jealous of her... But why don''t


    you ask me why I''m ov


    Tears streamed down Eloise''s face.


    Kieran''s voice turned cold, "I promised to always look out for you, and why do you think that was? All these years, despite the rumors in Echo City, I never exined myself because I had promised to take care of you. But I never said I would marry you. I told you, if you found someone you loved, I would give you a dowry as a brother, to ensure you marry off with dignity, not as the orphan of the Harwood family."


    "No!"


    Eloise grabbed Kieran''s arm, saying, "I know you love me. I''ve always known, ever since we were kids. Why did everything change when Freya showed up? Kieran, you''re being too cruel to me! It''s you!"


    Kieran released his arm from


    Eloise''s grasp, his tone unyielding,


    "Our past bond grew as we did, but if you mistook my care for affection, then that''s on me. However, I never promised you anything. And your love isn''t me. He asked me to take care of you on his deathbed. When you had that ident, lost the baby, and Echo City was abuzz with gossip, I took the me without defending myself, all to protect your reputation. I''ve fulfilled my duty, but it''s wrong of you to attack Freya just because I care for her."


    Hearing Kieran admit his feelings for Freya left Eloise frozen in ce.


    "Kieran... say that again."


    Eloise looked at Kieran, her eyes searching his face.


    Even when Kieran had previously made excuses for Freya, he had never openly admitted to having feelings for her.


    This time, Kieran faced Eloise, his words deliberate, "I care for Freya. You shouldn''t have treated her that way."


    With those words, Kieran turned and walked away. Eloise, in a frenzy, reached out and clung to Kieran''s arm, crying out, "Kieran! You can''t do this to me! You can''t just leave me behind!"

 Chapter 394

    "Let go." Kieran''s gaze was icy cold.novelbin


    Eloise was taken aback by the frigid look in Kieran''s eyes.


    As Kieran turned to leave, Eloise quickly caught up to him. "Fine, you may not like me, and that''s okay. But you have to help me with this graduation mess."


    Hearing this, Kieran frowned.


    "I can''t get expelled. You said you''d always have my back! If I get kicked out, I''ll be aughingstock, Kieran. Even if our childhood friendship doesn''t mean much to you anymore, you should at least keep your promise." Eloise stared defiantly at Kieran.


    Even if Kieran had no feelings for her, he had to help her out with this. She refused to be the joke of Echo City.


    Kieran felt like he had never truly known the woman standing before him.


    Without a word, he walked away.


    "Kieran! You promised to always look out for me, to never let anyone bully me! Kieran!"


    Despite the woman''s cries behind him, Kieran remained silent.


    Indeed, he had made a promise, and even if he was reluctant, he had to fulfill it.


    Jarrett approached Kieran, asking, "Mr. Sutton, should we give the Department of Education a heads-up? If Ms. Harwood does get expelled, she won''t be able to show her face in Echo City."


    "Go ahead and make the call."


    Kieran felt a headacheing on.


    He hoped this would be thest time he''d have to bail Eloise out.


    "Understood."


    Jarrett quickly made the call to the Department of Education and then returned to Kieran''s side.


    Dealing with the Department of Education was different from dealing with a principal.


    This time, it seemed Kieran would have to personally intervene for Ms. Harwood''s sake.


    Meanwhile, Freya stepped out of the principal''s office and spotted Luna waiting outside the building.


    Seeing Freya, Luna immediately ran up and I grabbed her arm, asking,


    "How did it go? Is everyverner


    sorted?"


    "It should be."


    With the Department of Education stepping in, Eloise and those student council I members were definit


    facing expulsion.


    Luna breathed a sigh of relief.


    "I thought Eloise was untouchable, but it seems even Mr. Sutton can''t save her this time."


    Then, looking up at Freya, Luna said, "By and eway, Reya, I saw Kieran Jarrett heading towards the building earlier. Did you see him?"


    "I did."


    "For Eloise?"


    "Who else would it be for?"


    "Right, I saw him rushing to the building, so it had to be for Eloise."


    Everyone knew Eloise was Kieran''s weak spot.


    If not for dealing with Eloise''s situation, Kieran wouldn''t have hurried to the school.


    "This time, it''s not just Eloise in trouble; even the principal might face consequences."

 Chapter 395

    Freya had never intended to confront the principal directly, but unfortunately, the principal had failed miserably at his duties, choosing instead to shield Eloise at every turn. So, if things turned ugly, she couldn''t be med for not pulling her punches.


    "Freya! Kieran!" Out of the blue, Luna called out.


    Freya turned just in time to see Kieran making his way towards her.


    Freya''s gaze darkened, almost instinctively grabbing Luna''s hand, ready to make a run for it.novelbin


    But Kieran''s voice, cold and stern, stopped her in her tracks, "Freya, you stop right there!"


    Freya didn''t show any signs of stopping; if anything, Luna seemed more frightened than ever.


    Freya had never been this bold before, daring to walk away in such a situation.


    Kieran, seemingly used to this, quickly caught up and grabbed Freya''s wrist, almost dragging her towards the school building.


    "Freya!" Luna tried to follow, but Jarrett blocked her way, saying, "Ms. Jennings, Mr. Sutton needs to have a word with Ms. Dawson alone. Please, do not interfere." "You!"


    Luna clenched her teeth, feeling helpless, and could only watch as Freya was led away by Kieran.


    She couldn''t possibly get Freya away from Kieran alone.


    That''s right! Ronan!


    Luna dashed towards the auditorium, where Ronan was likely attending a school forum today. Meanwhile,


    Freya shook off Kieran''s grip, frowning, "Kieran! Let go!"


    "So, you''re that eager to cut ties with me?"


    "It''s not about wanting to cut ties, Kieran. We''ve already drawn the line."


    Freya didn''t hide the disdain in her eyes, "Kieran, when did you be so clingy? Don''t tell me you''ve actually fallen for me? That''s augh. I''m the scheming witch who''d do anything to be Mrs. Sutton. I''m worlds apart from your ideal woman. Or is it because I stopped being your loyal follower, and suddenly you start missing me? The great Mr. Sutton, reduced to this? Please."


    Hearing Freya''s sharp words, Kieran''s grip on her arm tightened, his knuckles turning white, "Say that again?"


    "Even if you ask me to repeat it a hundred times, my answer won''t change."


    Freya scoffed, "Mr. Sutton, the high and mighty often forget, don''t they? You once said you''d never fall for someone like me. After everything did to win you over, you didn''t even bat an eye. Have you ever thought


    your own sincerity could be C


    trampled just like you''ve trampled on others?"


    Kieran unconsciously let go of her arm, taken aback by her words.


    His pride wouldn''t let him beg a woman, so he ended upughing bitterly. "Fine, Freya. This is your choice."


    He hade to clear the air about his intentions, wanting to confess his feelings for her.


    But after hearing Freya''s words, he couldn''t bring himself to speak his heart.


    "Mr. Sutton, I hope you''ll stop bothering me from now on. Dealing with you is exhausting, honestly. I now understand the disgust and impatience you felt towards


    ??? 34


    because I''m feeling the same What


    I want most is for you to de


    from my life, never to cross paths again."


    Kieran stared at Freya, unable to utter a word, his forehead veins bulging, finally managing through gritted teeth, "Freya, just don''t regret this!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 396

    "How could I possibly regret it? If Mr. Sutton wants to leave, it''s music to my ears."


    Freya spoke with a poker face.


    Given what she knew about Kieran''s personality, he definitely couldn''t stand being humiliated by a woman like this. Just then, Ronan approached them.


    It was clear from his deliberate pace that he was intentionally heading their way.


    Kieran, who had initially wanted to strike up a conversation with Victoria, instantly lost interest.novelbin


    "I heard one of my students was cornered here, so I thought I''de and check it out. Didn''t expect to find Mr. Sutton."


    Ronan effortlessly positioned himself beside Freya.


    Together, they looked like a match made in heaven.


    Kieran had never found the sight of these two together so irritating before.


    "Mr. Sutton was just here for a casual chat, but I think he might be wanting to leave now. Right, Mr. Sutton?"


    Freya clearly sided with Ronan, their rtionship seemingly closer, making Kieran feel like an outsider.


    And to think Freya was once his fianc¨¦e.


    "Yeah, we''re done here. You two carry on."


    Kieran turned and left the academic building.


    Jarrett had never seen Kieran with such a dark expression before. He hesitated before stepping forward, asking, "Mr. Sutton... Did your conversation with Ms. Dawson not go well?" Everything had been fine on the way to the school, but now Kieran was visibly upset, probably because of Ms. Dawson.


    Without saying a word, Kieran was deeply invested in a woman for the first time.


    But Freya had just said those things.


    "From now on, I don''t want to hear anything about Freya. Keep your mouth shut about her."


    Kieran left these words behind and strode off towards the school exit.


    Hearing this, Jarrett was stunned. He had heard such derations from Mr. Sutton three times before Yet, every time he failed to report Ms. Dawson''s whereabouts, he would end up getting a scolding from Mr. Sutton.


    So, should he believe Kieran this time or not?


    Back inside the academic building.


    Freya let out a long sigh.


    Ronan raised an eyebrow, saying, "Congrattions are in order for graduating top of your ss."


    "How did you know? I thought you''de to tell me about my zero score."


    "Just came out of an emergency meeting. Two members of the student council have been expelled reinstating your exam score. Though, the paper was damaged beyond recognition, you''ll have to retake it. It''s to silence any critics."


    "And you''re congratting me for being top of the ss?"


    "I''ve seen your paper. You''re undeniably the best. A retake won''t pose any difficulty for you."


    "Well, then I''ll take your word for it."


    At this point, Freya paused, then added, "Wait, you said two members of the student council were


    expelled? What about Eloisean e1.g


    "Eloise graduated smoothly."

 Chapter 397

    When Freya heard that Eloise had graduated without a hitch, she thought her ears were ying tricks on her. "Eloise graduated? Why would they make such a decision? She was the ringleader in the cheating scandal; how could she not face any consequences?" "It was a decision made by the Department of Education. The principal has been dismissed and is under investigation. Summit University will wee a new principal in a few days. It''s the best oue we could hope for."


    "Was it Kieran?" Freya voiced the suspicion that was nagging at her.


    But then she quicklyughed at herself. What a silly question. Who else but Kieran could pull off something like this in Echo City?


    Ronan spoke slowly, "You''ve done enough already. How can youpete when someone has a more powerful backer? You have to admit that."


    Upon hearing Ronan''s words, Freya looked up at him sharply. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Ronan furrowed his brows.


    "Are you saying you''re not in the same league as Kieran?" Freya didn''t mince her words.


    "I never said I was your knight in shining armor."


    "But now we''re two peas in a pod, and Kieran has seen you bail me out more than once. He must think you''ve got a soft spot for me, sees me as your next target. If you don''t stand up for me, won''t people say Mr. Beckett got cold feet facing Kieran? That would tarnish your reputation."


    Ronan raised an eyebrow, "Trying to goad me won''t work, you''re barking up the wrong tree."


    "Ronan!" Freya blocked his path as he turned to leave. "You''re really going to abandon me? Remember, I''m your star pupil, Miss Susan."


    Seeing Freya''s determination, Ronan crossed his arms and said, "So you want to see Eloise pay that badly?"


    "It''s not about what I want. She''s the one out to get me. I always pay my debts, whether it''s revenge or settling scores. How could I let her off after she copied my answers and tore up my paper?"


    "And what do you propose? The


    verdict is already out. Do you expect me to walk into the Department of Education and change their minds? I might be a lecturer, but I don''t have that kind of influence."


    "Ronan, don''t y dumb with me. You wouldn''t have brought it up if you didn''t have a n. What''s your price? I''ll pay."


    Freya was sure Ronan had a way to deal with Eloise.novelbin


    Ronan just smirked, "I might have a


    solution. As for your end of the


    bargain... let''s say you owe meganeg


    I''ll tell you what I want when decided."


    With that, Ronan turned and left the academic building.


    On campus.


    Eloise received the final verdict on her case and breathed a sigh of relief upon knowing she could. graduate smoothly. She always knew Kieran wouldn''t abandon her.


    As long as she could graduate, nothing else mattered.


    She was confident she could handle Freya; it was only a matter of time.


    After all, her connection with Kieran wasn''t something Freya could hope to break with just a few months of effort. "Eloise, we''ve got trouble!" A member of the student council burst into the ssroom, panic written all over his face. The other students were still there, watching as he pulled Eloise aside and whispered something in her ear. Eloise''s face went pale instantly.

 Chapter 398

    Almost instantly, she whipped out her phone, only to find that a video had gone viral on the school''s forum. It showcased her, pulling Kieran by the arm, demanding he solve her graduation issue. The video was brief, yet the views had already soared into tens of thousands,


    with some threatening to send it to the Department of Education. If that happened, not even Kieran could save her.novelbin


    Eloise felt like a deted balloon, slumping into her chair as her ssmates cast peculiar nces her way, her face contorting with difort. She had never been subjected to such scrutiny before.


    The girl who once basked in Kieran''s high regard was now attracting those kinds of looks. Unpleasant, wasn''t it? Freya remembered the disdain and judgment she faced all too well when she was falsely used of cheating. Now, she was just giving Eloise a taste of her own medicine.


    Outside the ssroom, Freya observed quietly.


    Upon spotting Freya, Eloise bolted from the ssroom and grabbed her, using her in a frenzy, "It was you, wasn''t it? You''re the one who posted the video! Why are you doing this to me, Freya? You stole my ce!"


    "Let go!" Freya pushed Eloise away effortlessly. Eloise, no match for Freya, stumbled and fell, attracting an ever-growing crowd of onlookers.


    Freya, standing tall, looked down at Eloise, "You brought this upon yourself. You had the grades, yet your greed for being the top of the ss led you to coax others into changing their grades with you. How do you deserve to be the student council president, let alone escape punishment? Do you think Kieran will protect you forever? Wake up."


    Eloise, faced with the crowd''s judgmental stares, retorted in desperation, "Freya, you framed me! I never cheated! The video is fake!"


    "Fake? So the student council


    members who went with you to change their grades are also fake? I''m sure they have a lot to say. If not for you, they wouldn''t be facing expulsion right before graduation."


    This left Eloise speechless as those involved in the grade-changing, scheme approached her.


    close allies, now they looncecher


    at her


    as if she was nothing.


    "Eloise, you''re so selfish! You promised us it would be safe, but now, while you graduate smoothly, we''re your scapegoats. Why should you go unpunished?" "Because Kieran likes you? I think he''s tired of you. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have refused to help you in the video."


    "Eloise, give me back my diploma! Even without cheating, I could have graduated. Why should your mistake cost me my future?"


    In their eyes, their years of subservience were supposed to pay off at graduation. Yet, Eloise''s actions had jeopardized their futures.


    The situation heated up when they started to physically confront Eloise, ming her for their misfortune. Freya watched, a cold smirk on her face. They say Heaven forgives those who sin against it, but those who sin against themselves cannot live. Eloise had only herself to me.

 Chapter 399

    That afternoon, the verdict on Eloise''s academic fate took another devastating turn.


    This time, Eloise wouldn''t be able to graduate. In fact, she was expelled from the university. Several staff members suspected of covering up for her were stripped of their positions. When Jarrett ryed the news to Kieran, the decision was already final.


    Given the scandal''s magnitude, the education board took the matter extremely seriously.


    Even Kieran, with all his influence, couldn''t sway the oue this time.novelbin


    Considering the implications, there was no way Eloise could smoothly graduate.


    "Mr. Sutton, Ms. Harwood is here at the office. She''s been waiting downstairs, insisting on seeing you. Should I send her up?"


    Jarrett had never seen Ms. Harwood treated with such disregard before.


    "No."


    Kieran''s response was icy.


    He felt he had done all he could for Eloise under the circumstances.


    "But if we don''t see her, Ms. Harwood might cause a scene downstairs." "Have security escort her out."


    At Kieran''s order, Jarrett was visibly taken aback.


    Even in the face of previous crises, Mr. Sutton had never issued such amand.


    "Did you not understand me? Or do you need me to repeat myself?"


    "Of course not!"


    Jarrett quickly left the office.


    Downstairs, Eloise had rushed to The Sutton Group, thinking Jarrett''s arrival meant she was being invited up. Instead, she received a


    .n


    dismissal: "Ms. Harwood, Mr. Sutton is tied up in meetings. Perhaps you should head back."


    "Kieran doesn''t want to see me, is that it?"


    Eloise''s face paled as she spoke, "Jarrett, please, could you talk to Kieran again? I really need to see him!"


    "If it''s about the graduation issue, Ms. Harwood, there''s no need. Mr. Sutton has said there''s nothing he can do."


    Kieran had tried everything, but the


    harsh reality remained unchanged. Eloise refused to believe Kieran was out of options. She dered,


    "Jarrett, tell Kieran if he see


    me today, I''ll wait here for him. If he doesn''te out, I''ll wait here till I pass out."


    Seeing Eloise''s determination, Jarrett sighed in frustration but eventually turned to the security guard, saying, "Security, please escort Ms. Harwood out." "Jarrett! Have you lost your mind? You''re actually kicking me out?"


    Eloise was in disbelief as she looked at Jarrett.


    Jarrett felt helpless, responding, "Ms. Harwood, this is Mr. Sutton''s directive. I have no other choice."


    "Jarrett, let go of me! Let go!"


    No matter how much Eloise protested, the security guards didn''t relent.


    As Eloise was being escorted out, whispers spread among thepany''s staff.


    "Ms. Harwood is being dragged out? That''s a first."


    "Didn''t you hear? Ms. Harwood has fallen out of favor."


    "What? I thought Mr. Sutton was head over heels for her?"


    "You''re out of the loop. Haven''t you seen the posts on Summit University''s forum? Mr. Sutton never had feelings for her. The only reason he looked after her was because of her boyfriend, thatte Naylor!"

 Chapter 400

    "Naylor? Who the heck is Naylor?"


    Freya shot Luna a puzzled look as they sat across from each other in the school cafeteria, amidst the hum of student chatter and the clinking of cutlery.


    Luna, who was fiddling with her phone, replied nonchntly, "Oh, that''s one of our seniors."


    Handing her phone over, she added, "Apparently, he''s from the Marshall family. But the Marshalls don''t live in Echo City anymore. Heard they moved overseas after Naylor''s death. Now, the forums are alive with gossip about Eloise, iming she, Naylor, and Kieran grew up together. The rumor has it that Eloise and Naylor got carried away, and she ended up pregnant. They were nning to make it right with a shotgun wedding, but then Naylor tragically died in a car ident, and soon after, Eloise had a miscarriage. The reason Kieran''s been so devoted to Eloise all these years is because of a promise he made to Naylor on his deathbed. There''s nothing romantic between them."


    As Freya scanned the information on the phone, she saw numerous photos of Eloise and Naylor entering a maternity store, the images clearly several years old, hinting at a story from a bygone era.


    Could the rumors actually be true?


    A frown creased Freya''s brow.


    If so, why had Kieran abandoned her to rush to the airport for Eloise in the past?


    "Reya? Reya?" Noticing Freya''s dazed expression, Luna asked, "What''s up? You look so out of it."


    "It''s nothing." Handing back the phone, Freya remarked, "But this doesn''t prove Kieran doesn''t care for Eloise."


    "True, but everyone thinks Kieran''s affection is out of obligation, not love. Otherwise, why wouldn''t he shield her from trouble?"


    "Who says he didn''t?"


    If it weren''t for Ronan stepping in, Eloise would have graduated smoothly.


    Kieran outright rejected


    "Didn''t you see the video on the


    Only when she yed thenovelbin


    card did he agree."


    Luna sighed, "For once, I thought the guy had some integrity, albeit not much. But given Kieran''s influence he could have easily protected. Eloise He chose not to, and I bet she could''ve graduated without a hitch otherwise."


    Freya fell silent for a moment.


    Indeed, if Kieran had wanted to, no matter who came after her, he could have kept Eloise safe.


    Yet, he didn''t.


    Was she wrong about Kieran?


    Freya shook her head.


    What did it matter? Kieran still sided with Eloise in the end.


    After a sip of water, she said, "I''ve got ns tonight. Happy graduation, Luna."


    "Happy graduation!"


    Leaving school behind, Freya returned to the Dawson residence.


    She had been away for a few days, nursing her injuries, turning the. Dawson household upside


    her absence. Content bell


    Upon her return, Johanna greeted her with uncharacteristic warmth.


    "Freya, I heard about your ident. Why didn''t you stay home to recover? Let me see where it hurts."

 Chapter 401

    As Johanna was speaking, she reached out to touch Freya''s arm.


    But Freya pulled away.


    Johanna missed her chance, but still, a smile was stered on her face. She said a bit hesitantly, "Freya, it''s your graduation day. Why didn''t Mr. Suttone back with you?"


    "Are you joking? Kieran and I have already called off our engagement. Why would hee back with me?"


    Freya said coldly as she sat down on the living room sofa.


    Johanna walked over to Freya quickly and said, "Freya, let''s not y dumb here. Everyone knows Kieran never really liked Eloise. You two didn''t need to break off your engagement! I know you''re kind-hearted and you did it to be noble, but that''s unnecessary now. Eloise is pretty much a nobody in our circles now. She can''tpete with you."


    Johanna then got Freya a cup of tea.


    Freya was surprised that Johanna was so well-informed to know about the situation between Eloise and Kieran so quickly.


    "Johanna, the engagement is off. It''s pointless to talk about it. I can''t marry Kieran."


    "Why are you being so stubborn? It''s clear to anyone with eyes that Mr. Sutton has feelings for you. Now that the obstacle is gone, what''s wrong with swallowing your pride and reconciling with Mr. Sutton? Without the Suttons'' support, what will be of the Dawsons? You don''t want to see your father''s empire crumble, do you?"


    Seeing Johanna''s anxious and earnest look, Freya knew that the creditors must havee knocking.


    Otherwise, Johanna wouldn''t be spouting such nonsense, even going so far as to suggest she marry into the Sutton family.


    "Johanna, do you have anything else? If not, I have to head to the office to take care of some business."


    Freya didn''t give Johanna any face.


    Now that school was out, Freya naturally didn''t need to stay in her campus apartment.


    It was time to move back home.


    With Johanna cornered by debt collectors and yet too scared to sell off family treasures, Freya intended to keep a close eye on her, ensuring none of her possessions were sold off


    en


    *Ding Ding* - Freya''s phone chimed with a message from Alison.


    After changing into a casual outfit, Freya had her driver take her to the office.


    "Miss, here''s the financial report I''ve prepared."


    The financial statements from the previous year and the first quarter of this year wereid out before Freya.


    "This is all the evidence of Johanna


    Popriating the Dawson family


    funds. When do you n to take


    , Miss?"


    Johanna had been a thorn in Freya''s side for a long time, and she had been wanting to get rid of her.


    She ced the reports on the table and slowly uttered, "Now."


    As long as Johanna was part of the Dawson family, she''d covet its wealth.novelbin


    Previously Freya hadn''t had the power to act against Johanna, but now, as the CEO of W Group and with the support of Ronan and Preston, handling Johanna was an easy task.


    This time, no one could save Johanna.


    Meanwhile, back at the Dawson family home.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 402

    When Lnd got home in the evening, he found his mom, Johanna, pacing back and forth in the living room. Furrowing his brows, he asked, "Mom, what are you doing?" "Lnd, what time do you call this toe back?"


    "Ran out of cash. Sent you a message, but you didn''t reply. Came back to grab some money."novelbin


    Hearing that Lnd hade back for money, Johanna couldn''t contain her frustration. "Money, money, money! That''s all you ever think about! Do you have any idea that we''re broke now?" "Broke? You must be kidding."


    Lnd couldn''t believe his ears. He had always livedvishly, finding the $50,000 monthly allowance barely enough for his expenses. Even during the Dawson family''s hard times, his allowance had never been cut. He refused to believe they were out of money now. "Oh, my dear boy..."


    Before Johanna could finish, a loud knocking interrupted her, causing her face to pale.


    Knowing all too well it must be debt collectors at their door again.


    Seeing someone pounding on their door, Lnd''s face turned sour. "Who the hell is that? Knocking like a maniac?"


    About to confront whoever was at the door, Lnd was quickly stopped by Johanna. "Don''t you dare open that door, son!"


    "Mom, who''s at the door? Why can''t I open it?"


    Lnd was visibly upset. Being the young master of the Dawson family, he was used to walking tall at school, never facing any disrespect.


    The idea that someone dared to harass them at their own home was uneptable to him.


    But Johanna pulled Lnd to sit down, insisting, "Don''t you open that door! Just sit here with me!"


    Lnd was confused, not understanding what was going on.


    The pounding on the door grew louder, with one voice shouting, "Hey, bitch! I know you''re in there. Open up before I break this damn door down!" "Who the hell wants to smash our door? You picked the wrong house!"


    Lnd''s temper red up instantly. He was about to get up when suddenly, the door was kicked open.


    Standing in the doorway were several thugs, wielding baseball bats and looking every bit the part of street hooligans.


    Johanna''s face drained of color


    eli


    when she saw them; she never thought the debt collectors would actually break in. Lnd too wasn''t looking too great, realizing the number of people they were up against made him swallow hard, asking, "Mom, what''s going on? Who are these guys?"


    "I... I..." Johanna was at a loss for words with Lnd.


    But the intruders spoke first, "Today''s your final deadline. If you don''t pay up, we''re gonna break your son''s legs!"


    "Wait, wait! I''ll pay! Haven''t I already


    given


    give thirty million? Please, just


    give me a few more days to gather the funds... It takes time, you know..."


    "Our boss has given you plenty of extensions! Don''t forget you owezus ninty million, interest not included! You have one hour toe up with the money, or your son''s life is over."


    en

 Chapter 403

    Lnd''s face turned ashen when he heard those words.


    "Mom! What are they talking about? Debt? Ny million what?"


    Johanna had hoped to keep her financial troubles from her son, but now that their creditors had shown up at their doorstep, she had no choice but to bite the bullet. "Son, please, get the money I saved for your future wedding!"


    "Mom! What are you talking about? That''s my money! Didn''t you say that money was for me to buy a house when I get married? How can you just take it away?"


    Lnd was visibly upset, but seeing his confusion, Johanna pped him across the face, saying, "What''s more important, money or your life? Listen to me and get that money now!"


    Ever since Johanna had married into the Dawson family, she had been saving money for Lnd every year, amassing over thirty million in over a decade.


    Though it wasn''t enough to clear all their debts, using the thirty million could buy them some time.


    Lnd, realizing how serious the situation was as he faced the threatening group, reluctantly went upstairs to get his bank card.


    The leader of the creditors nced at Lnd''s bank card and sneered, "So you still have money, huh? ying poor with us! Listen,dy, you owe us another forty million! If you can''t pay up, I''m going to make sure your son won''t be able to walk again!" "I''ve already given you thirty million! That''s over sixty million in total! I really don''t have any more money! Please, just give me three more days, I swear I''ll gather the money to pay off the remaining forty million!"


    Johanna pleaded earnestly, having already sold almost everything she owned, she was virtually penniless.


    Now, even the money she had saved for her son''s future was gone.


    "We''ve already given you extension after extension. You want three more days? Then your debt will increase to fifty million!"


    As the threats grew worse, Lnd was about to throw a punch but was quickly subdued when someone hit him in the back with a baton. The attack left Lnd crumpled on the floor, unable to get up.


    "You think you can stand up to me?" the leader mocked mercilessly as Lndy on the ground.


    Seeing her son in pain, Johanna panicked, "I have another five million! And some family heirlooms even the deed to one of the Dawson family''s houses. It should all add up to forty million! I''ll give it all


    wh you


    now!" novelbin


    Desperately, Johanna called Freya.


    At that moment, Freya was seated in the Dawson family''s office.


    Johanna''s call came through, and Freya answered leisurely, hearing Johanna''s frantic voice, "Freya, didn''t your dad leave us an inheritance? I remember there being five million and a bedroom, right? I want to sell the house and get the money. Can you transfer it to me now?"


    "Johanna, this is so sudden. What happened?"


    Johanna dared not reveal her dealings with loan sharks to Freya.


    The Dawson family had a strict policy against such dealings.


    If the word got out, Johanna was afraid she would lose her dignity and possibly get kicked out of the family by Freya.


    Knowing Johanna wouldn''t disclose


    her dealings with loan sharks, Freya smiled slightly and said, "I''ll send the


    contract to your phone right now.


    Once you sign, it will take effect


    immediately, and I''ll have our.


    finance team transfer the funds to you. But this also means you and your son will renounce any im to my father''s estate."


    Faced with the dire situation, Johanna didn''t hesitate, "Okay! I''ll sign it! Sending it now!" Soon after, Johanna received the contract from Freya on her phone.

 Chapter 404

    Johanna barely had the time to nce at the contract before she hastily scribbled her signature on it.


    Within moments, a substantial amount of money popped up in Johanna''s bank ount, only to be swept away by the loan sharks''pany in the next second. The entire process was so swift, it almost seemed orchestrated. Yet, in this moment of panic, Johanna failed to notice anything amiss.


    "You''ve got money after all! Dragging your feet with us for so long, now bring down all those fancy trinkets you''ve been hoarding!"


    Hearing the debt collector''smand, Johanna practically sprinted upstairs to gather all her cherished possessions.


    All of these were luxurious items and jewelry her father had bought for her when he was still alive. Johanna had never really wanted to wear these items, except for once at Lnd''s birthday g.


    "Is this enough?" Johanna asked, her hands full of jewelry extended towards the debt collector.


    The lead collector barely nced at the offerings before grabbing Johanna by her cor, furious. "You think you can hide stuff from me? There''s gotta be more! Bring out all your jewelry, what''s this going to cover?" Terrified by the man in front of her, Johanna did recall hiding some items, but she was too frightened to think about how the debt collector could possibly know.


    Eventually, Johanna steeled herself and brought down all her jewelry, including luxury brand handbags and clothes.


    "And your son''s stuff too! Bring them all down."


    Lnd was always extravagant, never looking at price tags when shopping. His collection of limited edition cars, out-of-production sneakers, and even celebrity-signed apparel could fetch a hefty sum. Hearing this, Lnd couldn''t hold back any longer. "Why should I give you my stuff?"


    "Debts of the father fall to the son! Besides, it''s you. Your folks owed us money, why shouldn''t you pay us back? Or else, I could start by


    scratching up your mom''s pretty face, then move on to breaking your legs!"


    reand


    Lnd had never faced such threats before young and naive, was quickly subdued by the debt


    ver


    collector''s words. Contnovelbin


    belongs


    In the end, all of Lnd''s vehicles and other valuable possessions were handed over to the debt collectors.


    Satisfied, the debt collector nodded approvingly before leaving the Dawson residence with his crew.


    Johanna copsed to the floor,


    devastated that a single


    high-interest loan had wiped


    out


    swnl


    everything she and her son owned.


    Meanwhile...


    Freya was in the Dawson Group office when she received a call from the debt collector.


    "Ms. Dawson, everything''s been taken care of. We''re just waiting to liquidate everything and transfer the funds."


    "Understood, thanks for your efforts today."


    "It''s no trouble at all, all at Mr. Tyler''s request."


    Freya smiled slightly. Indeed, this was all thanks to Preston.


    If not for Preston, she wouldn''t have been able to so easily im all of Johanna and Lnd''s assets.


    Assets that rightfully belonged to her father.


    After hanging up, Freya looked up at Alison and said, "It''s done. Let''s proceed."


    "Yes, Miss Dawson."

 Chapter 405

    Alison swiftly dialed 911. Within the Dawson household, Johanna and Lnd had barely caught their breath when the sound of police sirens echoed from outside.


    Johanna was momentarily stunned by what she saw. Lnd was even more baffled.


    What on earth was going on today? Why were the cops showing up at their doorsteps?


    Before Johanna could even process the situation, the police had already filed in, with one officer immediately handcuffing Johanna''s wrists, stating, "Johanna, you''re being arrested on charges of financial fraud. We''re acting on a report and need to take you in for questioning." "What financial fraud? I''ve done nothing wrong!"


    Johanna panicked, but the officer was indifferent to her protests, coldly stating, "We''ll discuss this at the station. Take her away!"


    "Why are you taking my mom? Let her go!"


    Lnd attempted to follow, but the officers paid him no heed.


    He could only watch helplessly as his mother was led away by the police.


    Everything about today was utterly bizarre.novelbin


    Lnd immediately tried to call Freya.


    But the call that went through without issue just moments ago was now mysteriously unreachable.


    "Why isn''t she answering?"


    Lnd''s frustration grew darker.


    With Johanna in trouble, Freya was the first person Lnd thought of for help. Without Freya, he couldn''t think of anyone else who could possibly get his mother out of this mess.


    Meanwhile, inside the offices of The Dawson Group, Freya saw her phone buzzing non-stop with calls from Lnd. She immediately knew Johanna must have been detained by the police.


    "Miss, as you instructed, all the evidence has been submitted. Johanna will definitely be facing jail time this round."


    "We won''t be providing Johanna any legal assistance. Understood?"


    "Yes."


    Alison nodded, unable to resist ncing up at Freya more than once.


    Previously the youngdy had seemed uninterested in the world beyond her personal bubble, never meddling in thepany''s affairs even when Mr. Dawson was around.


    He hadn''t expected her to act so decisively and efficiently, managing to deal with Johanna so effortlessly in less than a month.


    "Alison, gather some folks, and let''s head home," Freya said with a slight smile.


    "Miss, is this...?"


    Freya''s smile broadened slightly, "It''s time for an eviction."

 Chapter 406

    It was already evening, and Lnd had been pacing around his house, restlessly waiting for a call from Freya. But there was no word from her, not even a beep from his phone.


    The moment Lnd noticed a car pulling up outside the Dawson estate, one bearing the Dawson Corporation logo, he dashed out the door.


    He barely caught a glimpse of Freya stepping out of the car before he exploded, "Why the hell didn''t you answer my calls, Freya? Do you have any idea what''s happened at home? We need to head to the police station right now and bail my mom out!" His tone was demanding, his grip on Freya''s arm unyielding as he started to drag her towards the direction of the police station.novelbin


    However, Freya pushed Lnd away, catching himpletely off-guard.


    "What the hell, Freya! You dare push me?" Lnd was astounded. He had always strutted around the house with an air of invincibility. He hadn''t expected Freya to ever push back.


    Just as Lnd was about to retaliate, Alison stepped in between them. With a simple, effortless pull, he neutralized Lnd''s aggression.


    "Alison! Have you lost your mind too? You darey a hand on me? You''re nothing but apdog to the Dawsons! Think I won''t fire you on the spot?"


    Lnd''s threats were empty, his voiceced with impotence.


    Freya responded with a calm yet icy tone, "Lnd, you''re no longer part of the Dawson family. You hold no position in thepany. Even our janitor wouldn''t answer to you, let alone Alison."


    "Freya! What nonsense are you spouting? I''m the Dawson heir! How am I not part of the Dawson family? Are you trying to seize my position while my mom''s in jail? Dream on!"


    Lnd red at Freya, his anger palpable.


    Freya scoffed, "Why would I need to take your position? You were never my father''s child in the first ce. Your mother had an affair with Galen within thepany, and I''ve already dealt with him. I forgave your mother, but she embezzledpany funds and has been pilfering our assets for years. You and your mother''s ambitions towards the Dawson estate were simply too much."


    "You''re lying! My mother would never have an affair!"


    Lnd''s face turned ashen.


    Freya continued, "Considering your youth, I overlooked your previous insolence. But your mother? After all she''s done against my father and the Dawson family, I can''t possibly forgive her."


    She then produced a document, "This is the contract your mother just signed. Now, not only do you have no ties to thepany, but the Dawson family as well. The rights to the Dawson family estate have been sold to me, and your mother''s share of the inheritance has been settled. We are nowpletely unrted, and I have every right to evict you as Ms. Dawson."


    Lnd''s face grew paler with every word.


    Freya held the evidence in her hands. Johanna had signed the contract right in front of Lnd.


    "Freya! I am the only male Dawson left! I am the rightful heir! You can''t do this to me!"


    "Were those Johanna''s words?" Freya knew Johanna had been instilling this belief in Lnd since he was young.


    But Lnd was nothing but a disappointment, unworthy of being her father''s son.


    "Let me make it clear, you are not the Dawson heir, nor are you my father''s son. Legally, you and your mother have no connection to me or the Dawson family. Face reality, Mr. Dawson."


    en


    Freya''sst words were dripping with sarcasm.


    In her previous life, she had naively handed over her father''spany to Johanna and her son, leading to its bankruptcy within three years.


    Johanna had fled with Lnd and Galen.


    This time, she was determined not to leave any chance for Johanna and her son to entangle with The Dawson Group again.


    "Take him away." Freya''s voice was cold and detached.


    The Dawson family''s security quickly dragged Lnd out, his slippers barely clinging to his feet as he was unceremoniously ejected from the Dawson estate without a chance to resist. "Pack up all of Lnd and Johanna''s belongings and throw them out," Freya ordered, ensuring the final severance of their ties with the Dawson legacy.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 407

    "Yes, Miss."


    Alison quickly had someone go upstairs and gather all of Lnd and Johanna''s belongings, carelessly tossing them into a trash bin.


    When everything was ounted for, Freya had it all dumped right in front of Lnd.


    Watching his clothes, shoes, and books being thrown out, Lnd''s expression turned from disbelief to utter disgust.


    "Keep an eye on him. From now on, Lnd and the Dawsons have nothing to do with each other. If Lnd shows up at the Dawson doorstep causing trouble, call the police immediately." "Yes, Miss."


    To prevent any further disturbances, Freya had even arranged for a security detail.


    Then Lnd, snapping out of his shock, started frantically pounding on the Dawson''s iron gate, yelling at Freya, "Freya! I''m your brother! You can''t do this to me! Let me in, Freya! I''m the rightful heir to the Dawson estate!"


    Freya couldn''t be bothered to waste her breath on Lnd, simply turning her back and heading into the Dawson residence.


    Seeing the house free of Johanna and her son''s presence, Freya finally allowed herself a moment of satisfaction, smiling contentedly.


    "Miss, what''s our next move?"


    "All of Johanna''s assets have been transferred to thepany''s ounts, covering any gaps. I believe our projects with the Dawson partners can proceed without issues for now."


    As long as Kieran doesn''t stir up trouble, Freya thought to herself.


    But after today''s humiliation, she doubted Kieran would bother her again.


    That was for the best.


    Meanwhile, at the Sutton residence.


    As soon as Kieran stepped through


    the door,


    Kara ran up to him, f


    to her knees: "Mr. Sutton!


    beg you, help my aunt


    Tears streaked down Kara''s face, making a pitiful sight.novelbin


    In the living room, Audrey maintained herposure, albeit with a hint of impatience.


    She had thought Kara to be a docile girl, but now, faced with a real crisis, the girl seemed utterly clueless.


    The Suttons had already broken off their engagement with the Dawsons, effectively severing all ties.


    Even if the Dawsons were in trouble, it was Freya who should be seeking their help, not Kara, who had no


    official status or connectionel


    Kieran frowned.


    He had never liked Johanna, much less wanted to get involved in Dawson affairs.


    "Jarrett, see Ms. Orson out."


    "Mr. Sutton..."


    Kara was stunned, unable to believe Kieran could be so cold-hearted, not even bothering to ask about the Dawson''s situation.


    "Ms. Orson, please follow me."


    "No! Mr. Sutton, I know you''re the kindest person in the world. Please, for old times'' sake, help my aunt!"


    "I believe I''ve made myself clear; you shouldn''t be here."


    Kieran''s gaze was icy, chilling Kara to the bone with just a nce.


    Eloise had already informed him days earlier about the school rumors involving him and Kara.


    Kieran was well aware of the games women yed; he often chose not to intervene out of sheer indifference.

 Chapter 408

    After all, Kara had nothing to do with him. Anyone with half a brain would realize that with their worlds so apart, a connection between them was impossible.


    The rumors had to be Kara''s own fabrication.


    Kieran had no taste for such maniptive people; in fact, he found her utterly repulsive.


    Kara was oblivious to the fact that Kieran was already privy to her actions. In a bid to sway him, she said, "But my aunt''s troubles are also affecting the Dawson family. Mr. Sutton, are you really going to just stand by?" "Jarrett, did I stutter before? Or do you need me to repeat myself?"


    "Yes, Mr. Sutton."


    Once again, Jarrett approached Kara, saying, "Ms. Orson, if you don''t leave now, I''m afraid I''ll have to resort to drastic measures." Kara paled at his words.


    Her aunt Johanna''s imprisonment could ruin her if word got out at Summit University, where she was just starting her freshman year.


    If her lies were exposed, with no one to back her, how was she going to survive the next three years, let alone afford tuition?novelbin


    "Mr. Sutton! Please, I beg you, help my aunt! Lady Sutton! Considering how obedient I''ve been these past few days, serving you, I beg you, Mr. Sutton, please help my aunt!"


    Kara was a mess of tears.


    Audrey, observing the disdain Kieran held for this woman, shifted her tone, "Your aunt''s criminal actions are out of our hands. This is really a matter for the Dawson family. If you''re looking for help, I suggest you reach out to Ms. Dawson." The mention of Freya caused Kieran''s gaze to flicker momentarily.


    Freya? She certainly wouldn''t bother with this.


    And he had a hunch that Johanna''s imprisonment was somehow connected to Freya.


    Realizing he was still fixated on Freya, Kieran grew even more irritable.


    "Get her out of here!"


    "Yes, sir."


    This time, Jarrett didn''t bother with pleasantries, dragging Kara out of the Sutton estate. Despite her cries and


    , he remain


    unmoved.


    "Kieran, now that the Dawson estate is in Freya''s hands, and with no heir apparent, do you understand what this means for us?" Audrey settled back into the sofa, a n forming in her mind.


    Although Johanna''s imprisonment was causing a stir, it was good news for the Sutton family. It meant the Dawson lineage was at a dead end.


    Freya, a single woman, how could she possibly uphold the Dawson corporation?


    If Kieran were to marry Freya, it would be like securing a fortune for the Sutton family.


    An opportunity too good to pass up.


    Kieran, of course, understood all this.


    "Kieran, whether you like Freya or not, the Sutton family''s interests must alwayse first, understand?"

 Chapter 409

    Kieran knew exactly what his grandma meant with those words.


    Previously, his engagement to Freya might have been purely due to her fitting social status, but now, pursuing marriage with her could mean gaining the entire Dawson n''s favor.


    At that moment, Kieran couldn''t help but recall what Freya had told him earlier that day. His pride as a man surged once again.


    "Grandma, you don''t need to worry about this anymore. We''ve broken off the engagement, and there''s no way I''m going back to ask for her hand again," he said firmly before turning and heading upstairs. Audrey was well aware of her grandson''s temperament. Her expression darkened.


    If her dear grandson was too proud to act, then it was up to her, the grandmother, to prepare everything for him.


    The next day, news quickly spread that Johanna was jailed and Lnd was kicked out of the house.


    As the sole heiress of the Dawson family, Freya naturally assumed her position at the helm of the Dawson Group.


    Now,fortably seated in the office of the Dawson Group, Freya was approached by Alison.


    "Miss, this morning, the Sutton family sent someone over to extend their greetings and invite you to attend a dinner at the Majestic Manor Hotel tonight," Alison informed her.


    "The Sutton family?"


    Kieran was reaching out to her?


    Freya was skeptical only for a moment before realizing it wasn''t likely Kieran who wanted to see her, but rather Audrey.


    Having lived a long life, Audrey was slyer than a fox. Freya had barely assumed her position as the Dawson heiress when Audrey eagerly extended an invitation, clearly with ulterior motives.


    "Miss, given that the dinner is at the Majestic Manor Hotel and you''re now the sole heiress of the Dawson family, it''s only right for you to attend. Besides, there have been rumorstely about the strained rtionship between the Sutton and Dawson families, causing many of our partners to hesitate in working with us, fearing they might offend the Sutton family. Your attendance at the Sutton family''s dinner could silence many critics and improve the Dawson Group''s situation in Echo City," Alison exined.


    Freya was well aware of all this.


    However, attending the Sutton Group''s dinner meant she had to prepare meticulously.


    She couldn''t allow Audrey to take advantage of her, yet she wanted the world to know that the Sutton and Dawson families were


    peace.  at


    But the thought of seeing Kieran that evening...made Freya''s head throb with annoyance. "Prepare a formal evening gown for me. Make it as grand as possible," she instructed. "Yes, Miss."


    Since the dinner was ostensibly in her honor, she intended to dress the part, letting every guest know that she, Freya, was now the one in charge of the Dawson family


    IMS


    By evening, the Majestic Manor Hotel was bustling with activity. The streets were aglow, lined with luxury cars.


    Wealthy men in suits stepped out, their arms linked with elegantly dressed women.


    Freya''s arrival at the Majestic Manor Hotel drew immediate attention.


    The biggest news from the day


    before was that Freya had bold/et


    reported her stepmother to the


    authorities and evicted her brother.


    Her high-profile appearance at a Sutton family event the next day was bound to stir up surprise.


    "Weren''t the Dawson and Sutton families at odds?"


    "Why would the Sutton family invite Freya to their dinner?"novelbin


    "Who knows? Mr. Sutton and Freya broke off their engagement, right? Won''t it be awkward for them to meet now?"


    Whispers filled the air as everyone was curious why Freya was invited to the Sutton family''s dinner that night.


    Inside the Majestic Manor Hotel, Alison knocked on the door of the second-floor lounge.

 Chapter 410

    "Mr. Sutton, the guests have arrived. We should make our way downstairs now."


    "Okay." Kieran rubbed his temples, his mind involuntarily reying the conversation he had with Freya the previous day.


    If it weren''t for his grandmother''s insistence on hosting this dinner, he wouldn''t have even considered meeting Freya.


    Downstairs.


    As soon as Freya made her entrance, she became the center of attention.


    It wasn''t because of any extravagant outfit she wore, but rather because Freya was now the sole heir to the Dawson fortune. Whoever married Freya would hit the jackpot.


    Should anything happen to Freya, the entire Dawson estate would go to her husband.


    Thus, all the men in the room had their eyes fixed on Freya.


    "Freya,e here, my dear," called out Audrey, her face beaming with affection for Freya.


    It was hard to imagine that just a few days ago, Audrey had shown nothing but disdain for her.novelbin


    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Freya made her way to Audrey.


    Audrey affectionately patted the back of Freya''s hand and said, "You''ve grown more beautiful by the day. You and Kieran haven''t seen each other for a while, have you? He''ll be down soon. I''ll have him keep youpany, how about that? Young folks should enjoy dancing and having a few drinks together, don''t you think?"


    It was clear Audrey was putting on a show for the guests.


    This was her way of signaling to everyone present that Freya was favored by the Sutton family.


    Freya merely smiled politely, replying, "Mrs. Sutton, I just saw Mr. Sutton yesterday, and I got the impression he wasn''t too keen on spending time with me."


    Upstairs, Kieran had just descended the staircase when he overheard Freya''s conversation with Audrey.


    Remembering the previous day''s events, his expression turned sour again.


    "Nonsense. I know my grandson better than anyone. He adores you. The broken engagement was just a moment of anger. Young people can be impulsive, but he''s here tonight specifically to apologize to you." Audrey beckoned Kieran over with a smile as everyone watched.


    Now, it wasmon knowledge


    that Kieran held no affection for Eloise. The rumors of their having a child together werepletely unfounded.


    Eloise had another man in her life.


    Thus, the idea that Kieran saw Freya as a substitute for Eloise due to her looks was dismissed.


    In fact, they seemed quite well-matched.


    It was at this moment that Freya finally understood Audrey''s intentions.


    So, the Suttons were eyeing the Dawson fortune now that it was vulnerable. Freya sneered inwardly.


    Mrs. Sutton''s calctions were indeed clever.


    Embrace when there''s value to be had, and push away when there''s none.


    Such a refined self-interest.


    "Kieran, what are you waiting for? Why don''t you take Freya for a walk around the garden?" "Grandmother..."


    Kieran started to protest but was silenced by Audrey''s stern look.


    "Alright."


    With a stoic face, Kieran approached Freya, saying, "Ms. Dawson, this way, please."


    Freya didn''t refuse. Spending more.


    time with


    Kieran in the public eye could only benefit the Dawsone family.


    "Mr. Sutton, I never thought Mrs. Sutton''s word alone would make you stoop to see me," Freya said, her voice dripping with sarcasmo


    swnovel met

 Chapter 411

    Kieran''s disdain for Freya was more palpable now than ever before.


    It was aplete role reversal from their past interactions.


    "Freya, do you really think Grandma taking a shine to you is a good thing?" Kieran couldn''t believe Freya failed to see the obvious truth that everyone else seemed to understand.


    His gaze wandered over her. Today, Freya was donned in a shimmering gold dress, her appearance meticulously put together, exuding an air of formality.


    As he studied her profile, Kieran frowned. In this moment, Freya''s features ovepped with those of Susan in his mind.


    Suddenly, Kieran halted and straightened Freya''s posture with a swift movement, an action that seemed quite abrupt. Freya furrowed her brows, "Mr. Sutton, we''re in public. What are you trying to do?" "Quiet," he said, scrutinizing Freya''s face, trying to confirm his suspicion.


    Susan was known for her aloof beauty, a chill aura surrounding her that screamed ''keep away''. Her looks were unmatched across Echo City, her eyes captivating in a way no one else''s could be.


    From the moment Kieran firstid eyes on Susan, he thought she looked a bit like Freya. However, no one else seemed to see the resemnce. Susan''s behavior and the way she spoke were also quite different from Freya''s.


    Initially, Kieran hadn''t been


    suspicious, but Freya''s exceptional


    performance on the Summit


    University''s final exams had raised his doubts. How could a student, who had taken a half-year break from college, suddenly show such remarkable progress?


    The answers on that test paper were clear and well-founded, the kind that only a seasoned business veteran could produce. Considering Susan''s background, Kieran grew even more suspicious that the woman before him was the famed CEO of the W Group, Susan.


    "Mr. Sutton, have you seen enough?" Freya blinked, her eyes sparkling with a vivacitypletely unlike Susan''s icy demeanor.


    Kieran frowned, questioning his own judgment.


    "Why are you staring at me like that, Mr. Sutton?" Freya asked. "Did you mistake me for someone else?"


    "No," Kieran replied coldly. "You''re not even close to her."


    From Kieran''s gaze earlier, Freya could tell he suspected she was Susan. However, considering the vast differences between Susan and Freya, aside from their simr faces, it was hard to connect the two.


    It had to be said, the identity


    provided by Ronan was quite effective. One was the enigmatic CEO of the W Group, returned from studying abroad. The other, a Dawson family heiress who had never left Echo City.


    Even if Kieran harbored suspicions, it would be difficult for him to imagine they were the same person.


    "Oh my!" Freya let out a deliberate shriek, and Kieran instinctively reached out to steady her. The moment their skin touched, his eyes were filled with concern.novelbin

 Chapter 412

    The guests at the event couldn''t help but notice the unfolding drama.


    It was no secret that Kieran had been openly disdainful of Freya, but now, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he seemed uncharacteristically concerned for her.


    Seeing the reaction of those around her, Freya, as if she had anticipated this, withdrew her hand and said, "Thanks for the hand, Mr. Sutton."


    Kieran quickly realized he had been yed by Freya.


    Given the previous standoffish attitude of The Sutton Group towards The Dawson Group, it led many to believe that the Suttons and the Dawsons were at odds. This had resulted in a dry spell of partnerships for the Dawsons. But now, with Kieran showing a softer side towards Freya, it was likely that many would be knocking on the Dawson family''s door.


    "Freya, are you using me?"


    Kieran was taken aback. He hadn''t realized Freya was so scheming.


    He had always thought of Freya as naive, but it seemed he was the one who was truly clueless.


    "Mr. Sutton, isn''t it true that we''re just using each other? There''s nothing wrong with that," Freya replied with a shrug.


    After all, Kieran had used her in the past; it was merely her turn now.


    "Don''t think I don''t know what you were plotting by inviting me here, trying to corner me into a tight spot. It won''t be that easy."


    Kieran''s face changed at Freya''s misunderstanding.


    "Corner you into a tight spot?"


    She really had an imagination!


    His grandmother might have had such intentions, but he certainly did not.


    Jarrett, standing by and seeing his boss''s frustrated expression, couldn''t help but interject, "Ms. Dawson, you''ve got it all wrong. Our Mr. Sutton didn''t mean to..."


    "Didn''t mean to corner me into a tight spot? That''s hardly believable, isn''t it?"


    Today''s guests invited by The Sutton Group were all wealthy and influential in Echo City, and with so much media present, wasn''t it obvious they wanted to spin a narrative about her and Kieran? Freya was all too familiar with these tricks.


    But she hadn''t expected Kieran to stoop so low.


    "Freya, let me make this clear, I have no intention of trapping you!"


    Saying this, Kieran stepped closer to Freya.


    These past few days, he had been reflecting on his feelings for Freya. She stepped back, frowning, "Kieran I haven''t done anything to provoke you. I came here today to y along with your act for the Dawson family, not because I have feelings for you."


    "But I have feelings for you."


    His words left Freya stunned.novelbin


    "Didn''t you know? Eloise and I never had anything. The child she was carrying wasn''t mine."


    "...So what? How does that concern me?"


    Seeing Freya''s indifference, Kieran, trying to keep his cool, said, "I turned Eloise away because I want to pursue you."


    Freya looked into Kieran''s earnest


    face, seeing the sincerity in his words. Yet, the Kieran from her past memories started to blend with the man standing before her.


    Whether Kieran genuinely liked her or not no longer mattered. What mattered was, she now loved herself more.


    "Are you done?" she said coldly.


    Kieran, taken aback by her indifferent tone, paused.


    Freya continued, "I used to like you, but what can I do... I don''t anymore."


    Johanna and her son cast out, she was the Dawson family heiress, with her own career to boot.


    Why should she tie herself down for a man?


    Freya and Kieran drifted apart, "Thanks for the hospitality, Mr. Sutton, but the show''s over. I should bid you goodbye."


    With that, Freya left the Sutton Group''s g to the astonished gaze of Kieran.


    The crowd was left in disbelief.


    But for Freya, a weight was lifted off her shoulders. She was set to take over the reins of The Dawson Group, serve as the heiress of the Dawson family, and act as the CEO of W Group. However, one thing was certain: she would never be Mrs. Sutton.


    [End of Story]


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!