She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 213 Kristian

Attacked Melvin

"Why are you here?" Gerard asked, his voice tight. He could feel the chill radiating from Kristian, a wave of unease creeping up his spine. "Is that... Ms. Briggs?"

Gerard blinked in disbelief. What in the world' was Melvin doing here with Freya? And Freya... she looked

completely out of it-drunk or something even worse.

"Hand her over to me." Kristian closed the distance with long, deliberate strides, eyes sharp and presence intimidating, every inch of him radiating authority.

"No chance," Melvin shot back. "I've got business with my boss."

"What kind of business brings you to a hotel?" Kristian's tone was biting, a flicker of relief crossing his featuresnoveldrama

as he realized he'd arrived just in time. "You think I don't know what you're up to?"

Kristian knew exactly how much trust Freya placed in her assistant. And yet, Melvin had tossed it away-for

cash.

Melvin's confusion was written all over his face.

Gerard, sensing the tension twist even tighter, stepped in. "Hold on, Mr. Shaw. Maybe this is just a mix-up?"

"Either walk away now, or I'll have you hauled off to the police station to sort it out," Kristian threatened, his

glare as cold and sharp as a blade.

Melvin stood frozen, caught in the headlights.

If he explained, the cameras would betray him.

If he stayed quiet, he was headed straight for trouble with his boss, no less.

"Call the police, Gerard."

"Mr. Shaw..."

"Call the police!"

"There has to be a mistake," Gerard said, reading the atmosphere and trying to keep the peace. "Melvin's not that kind of guy."

Kristian turned that cutting glare onto Gerard, making him break into a nervous sweat.

All Gerard could do was tug at Melvin's sleeve. "Come on, say something." Kristian kicked Melvin square in the side, not holding back in the slightest.

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Chapter 213 Kristian Attacked Melvin

Caught off guard, Melvin stumbled back, and Freya slipped from his arms straight into Kristian's waiting hold.

Just as Melvin opened his mouth, Freya, nestled against Kristian's chest, whispered something under her breath.

She hated being held like that. But she'd come too far to drop the act now.

"Take me away. Don't make this harder for Melvin," Freya murmured so only he could hear. "We're using this to trap whoever's behind all this."

Kristian froze for a second.

Gerard, catching the sudden shift in the air, panicked even more. "Mr. Shaw..."

"Since you're Gerard's friend, I'll let this go-for now," Kristian said coolly, keeping the performance going. "But you'd better watch yourself."

And with that, he scooped Freya up and walked out of the hotel.

Freya was speechless. Was he doing this just to mess with her?

"Mr. Shaw." Gerard made one last attempt to defend Melvin. He was convinced Melvin wouldn't do something

like this.

Kristian ignored him, tossing back a simple, "Let's go."

Gerard hesitated, torn, but followed. As he passed Melvin, he whispered, "Just explain everything tomorrow. I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding."

Melvin didn't say a word. If it came to blows, he could hold his own.

But he'd seen Freya whisper something to Kristian, and right after, Kristian decided to let him go.

It felt like Freya had changed the plan and wanted them to split up for now.

Five minutes later, Kristian and Gerard exited the hotel with Freya, keeping up appearances the entire way.

Just as Melvin turned to leave, a man emerged from a room on the 23rd floor. The same man who'd handed him

a check earlier.

"Mr. Swain, hold on a moment." The man's tone was soft, almost pleasant.

Melvin frowned, turning to face him. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you followed through on our arrangement."

"Freya's with Kristian Shaw now."

"I'm aware," the man said with a slight smirk. "But that's no issue. Freya doesn't

get along with him. She trusts you far more."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Melvin played dumb.

"Even though Kristian Shaw took her tonight, you just act like nothing happened tomorrow," the man explained. "If she asks, say you passed out too. When she tells you to investigate, we'll supply a food poisoning report. Then, whatever Kristian Shaw says will look like a lie-and she'll believe in you even more." Melvin's expression remained unreadable.

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Chapter 213 Kristian Attacked Melvin

He realized that the man clearly knew too much about the tension between Freya and Kristian

"Of course, not everyone can afford to cross Kristian Shaw," the man added when Melvin stayed sex of you're not up for it, walk away-but that check becomes worthles

"Got it," Melvin replied, turning to leave without another word.

Once he was gone, the man made a call, quietly reporting everything that tad just unfolded.

Meanwhile, Freya sat in the car with Kristian.

Gerard, behind the wheel, was still unsettled. He didn't want Kristian to carry the wrong impression of Melvin "Sir, I really think you've got this wrong, Melvin doesn't care about status or money. He wouldn't do something

like this."

"You trust him that much?" Kristian turned his gaze to Freya, the tension easing

slightly.

"Yes," Gerard said without hesitation. "I'd stake my future on it."

That got Freya's attention. She opened her eyes.

Inside the car, safely away from any surveillance, she didn't have to pretend

anymore.

She shifted'in her seat, looking toward Gerard. "Last time you offered to cover the shortfall, and now you stake your entire future? What exactly happened that night you two got drunk?"

Gerard blinked in surprise, then caught on fast. "Ms. Briggs?"

"Yes."

"You're... you're okay?" Gerard asked, visibly puzzled by how normal she looked.

"I'm fine," Freya answered. She wasn't trying to dig too deep, but Melvin was her assistant. "So, what really happened that night?”

Gerard instinctively glanced at Kristian.

He suddenly realized he'd been played. What else could he say?

"Not much," he replied, figuring Melvin hadn't filled her in. "We just drank, got

rooms, and crashed. Next day,

back to work."

"One bed?" Freya asked.

"Of course not," Gerard responded quickly. "We each had our own."

But Freya's cool expression flickered with doubt. If that were true, how did his earlier reaction make any sense? "Please don't look at me like that. Seriously, nothing is going on between me and Melvin!" Gerard tried to explain, realizing how his earlier words might've sounded. "We're just good buddies, that's all."

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