Chapter: 4

If Kristian was divorcing her to spare her some tragedy, she'd forgive him-maybe even help. But if he was just an unfaithful jerk? She'd drop him without a second thought.

Thirty minutes later, her phone buzzed with Fred's verdict. "Zero troubles. No illness, no crisis. Why the hell are you asking? Kristian's loaded, hot, and sharp-you two are a match. Don't you like pretty boys? Give it a shot!"

She ignored the jab and shot back, "You are so blind." Then she silenced her phone.

No external factors meant only one thing—Kristian was pure scum.

Fred stared at his screen, baffled. Did Freya wake up in a mood today?

Freya's gaze landed on the divorce papers. After a pause, she snatched a pen, scrawled her name, and shoved them into a drawer. Then she headed for the shower.

When she emerged, her phone was a disaster—dozens of unread messages and 32 missed calls.

No guessing needed. Frederick Price—aka Fred-had clearly blabbed about her resurrection to the entire world.

Towel draped over her damp hair, she reached for her phone— only for it to ring again.

The caller ID flashed; it was her father. Her chest tightened. Two years of silence, and now he called?

She'd left Alerith City due to a situation involving her mother, and neither had she reached out to her father nor had he contacted her—until now.

After a pause, she answered coolly. "Hello."

Silence.

Freya, never one for patience, was about to hang up when Hugh Briggs' raspy voice cut through. "Mina."

That name clawed at buried memories. "What do you want?" she asked flatly.

Hugh hesitated, guilt threading his words. "Frederick told me you reached out. Said you were digging into Kristian. Need help?"

"No." Freya had no interest in his involvement.

A beat passed before Hugh ventured, "What's your relationship with him?"

"A couple." She let the word hang. "About to divorce." Hugh's breath hitched. She was married?

"You-" he started.

"If that's all, I'm done." Freya didn't want to waste any more breath on him.

"Wait!" he rushed. She held her tongue. The line crackled with tension.

Finally, he muttered, "When are you coming back? That woman's gone."

Then, hastily, he added, "Your mom's belongings are untouched."