She Took The House The Car And My Heart novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157 Ashley Appeared In Alerith

The next morning, Freya rose with the dawn.

She slipped into her jogging clothes and headed out for a morning run, spending half an hour feeling the cool air on her face. When she returned, the smell of breakfast drifted from the kitchen, and she found Hugh there, busy making the meal.

In the past few days, whenever Freya was home, Hugh had taken it upon himself to cook.

The maids were only tasked with cleaning and some light shopping.

“Call Sheila down for breakfast, Mina,” Hugh said, briefly pausing his movements when he saw Freya, though his tone remained unchanged.

Freya gave a simple nod in agreement.

Breakfast passed in silence.

It was the weekend, and with no classes to attend, Ethel remained home, as usual.

After finishing her meal, Freya stood, preparing to leave for Anita International to take care of some tasks.

But before she walked out the door, she hesitated, emotions swirling inside her. Finally, she turned to Hugh, her voice firm yet gentle. “Dad, you can make your own choices about your life and happiness.”

Hugh froze, his fork suspended midair, stunned by her words. For a long moment, he simply stared, unsure how to respond.

“I’m off to work,” Freya added, her words cutting through the tension before she exited.

Hugh’s chest fluttered with an unexpected excitement. He turned to Ethel, still eating, and asked, “What did your sister just call me?”

“Dad.”

“What?”

“She called you ‘Dad‘.” Ethel sighed inwardly, knowing where this was headed.

Hugh’s face softened, as though still trying to convince himself that he wasn’t imagining things. “Really?”

“Yes,” Ethel answered, pausing to put down her utensils. “If you don’t believe me, I can call her back and have her say it again for you.”

“Stop it!” Hugh grinned, pretending to be annoyed, but there was no hiding the sheer joy lighting up his face.

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Chapter 157 Ashley Appeared In Alerith

That single word had erased all the bitterness he had carried from the previous day. His mind replayed Freya’s voice saying “Dad” over and over again. It was like a melody that he couldn’t stop hearing After all this time, Freya had finally called him Dad again.

Ethel, noticing the smile creeping across his face, couldn’t help but tease, “When I call you Dad, you don’t look this happy. Come on, admit it. Am I adopted?”

“You little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“Who was it yesterday saying Mina seems like a completely different person, huh?”

“Definitely wasn’t me,” Hugh huffed, still smiling, unable to contain his pride.

smiling

Freya had intended to head straight to the office, but just as she was about to leave, her phone rang. It was Ashley.

Hearing Ashley’s voice, Freya almost couldn’t believe it. “Ashley?”

“It’s really me,” Ashley’s voice sounded much the same as it always had. “I’d like to meet with you. Is that okay?”

“I’m busy,” Freya replied curtly, turning her down.

Ashley sat at a café, gazing out the window at the endless parade of cars. Her mood was far from pleasant. Holding her phone, she said with calm urgency, “I can come to you.”

“Miss Bradley, I don’t think we’re that close,” Freya replied, her grip on the steering wheel tightening as she continued driving. She couldn’t figure out why Ashley had suddenly come to Alerith. Hadn’t Ashley once said that returning to that man was like stepping into hell?

“Please, I’m begging you,” Ashley pleaded.

Freya heard the desperation in her voice, her own hands tightening on the wheel, her expression unreadable.

Had she not known about Ashley’s past, she wouldn’t have cared at all. Whether Ashley begged or not wouldn’t have made a difference.

But for some reason, Ashley’s plea evoked the image of someone being manipulated.

After a moment’s thought, Freya decided. “Where do you want to meet?”

“The café next to Shaw Group building.” Ashley’s voice relaxed, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips.

Freya set her GPS and drove off.

Half an hour later, she arrived.

After parking, she saw Ashley sitting by the window. She looked even more worn than when she’d left. Though it was only autumn, she wore a scarf.

Her white knit sweater and flowing hair gave her an air of fragile calm, but her appearance screamed of silent

battles.

As Freya walked in, Ashley’s gaze instantly locked onto her.

In that moment, a glimmer of hope sparked in Ashley’s eyes.

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Chapter 157 Ashley Appeared in Alerith

Freya took a seat across from her, her voice distant and cold. “What do you wan

“That person wants me to kill Kristian,” Ashley murmured, gripping the speen in her coffee cup, biting her p as though to hold back tears.

Freya blinked, caught completely off guard. “What?”

She stared at Ashley, utterly confused.

“Someone tells you to kill, and you just do it?” Freya asked, her disbelief evident in her voice

“I don’t have a choice,” Ashley replied, her words heavy with a sense of helplessness.

“You’re your own person. How can you not have a choice?” Freya’s tone grew sharper, disbelief edging into her words. She thought Ashley was a fool for even considering such a thing “Your grandmother and younger brother are under protection now. No one can threaten their lives.”

Ashley fell silent.

Freya scrutinized her for a moment before continuing, “The more you give in, the more that man will see you as easy to manipulate. He’ll use the same leverage to force you into doing things you’d never otherwise consider.”

Ashley avoided Freya’s gaze, her face clouded with doubt.

She understood the logic. But fear and anxiety often led her to make irrational decisions

“If you knew who he was, you’d understand why I couldn’t resist,” Ashley finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

Freya’s brow furrowed.

She remembered the photos of Ashley with a strange man, but the information she had uncovered about him didn’t seem to add up to anything extraordinary.

At the time, she’d been preoccupied with her divorce and hadn’t looked further into it.

“Can you help me get Kristian to meet with me?” Ashley finally revealed the true purpose of this meeting

Freya noted the change in Ashley’s expression. “For what?”

Ashley didn’t answer right away.