returned, he needed someone to manage his elders at home-and Fr

he really think she was a fool? Otherwise, why wou

and for divorce, frustra

eeling herself, a stubborn

th, crossed to the sofa

two years-and typed, "Check if Shaw Group's facing a

ploded onto the s

y-Fr

t I'd hear fr

rs, Frey

ve you

bother ex

ired back a sing

aved.

e phone aside

she'd forgive him-maybe even help. But if he was just an

No illness, no crisis. Why the hell are you asking? Kristian's loaded, hot

b and shot back, "

silenced

eant only one thing-K

en, baffled. Did Freya

use, she snatched a pen, scrawled her name, and shove

s a disaster-dozens of unread

aka Fred-had clearly blabbed about h

air, she reached for her pho

flashed; it wa

Two years of silenc

ing her mother, and neither had she reached out t

she answered

enc

about to hang up when Hugh Briggs

awed at buri

want?" she

"Frederick told me you reached out. Said

no interest in h

h ventured, "What's your

t the word hang. "

gh

hed. She wa

he st

Freya didn't want to wast

" he r

d her t

rackled wi

"When are you coming b

ed, "Your mom's belon

hone. For a flicker, emotion cross

before he co

ration curdling in his chest. He ha

e flicked her phone to airplane mode, towe

assed witho

ning, she was up-dres

owed; her lips, naturally full, needed no enhancemen

ng a warmth that could insta

on the sofa. Her shoulder-length hair was pin

acefully, reaching for a coat an

her purse, her tone co

ilored suit emphasized his h

stil

ce was indifferent. His gaze linger

w." Her tone

ked it i

unmistakable edge. "If you want our divorce to go smoothly on Monday, push asi

's eyes

out to make a call. Fragments floated

nuckled. Inside, she seethed. Even now,

was how she shone today-vibrant, untamed.

she wanted to shop. Freya mentione

he four bodyguards trailed behind her like pack mul

e chimed nonsto

ue, his jaw hardened. This wasn't retail therap