Chapter 178 A Setup
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After eating and drinking her fill, Freya looked up to find that Louis had only finished half a bowl of congee. Most of the side dishes on the table had ended up in her stomach. Only then did she start to feel something wasn’t quite right.
“Did I eat a little too much?”
“Not at all.”
Freya glanced discreetly at his bowl. This man was nearly six feet three, and for dinner, he’d only had half a bowl of porridge and a tiny bit of side dishes. Her portion had been at least double his.
“You burn more calories,” Louis added.
Freya stared at his expressionless face and felt her teeth ache.
Unbelievable. Only a boss–level guy could say something so ridiculous without a trace of guilt. Then suddenly, a thought struck her.
“Wait, were you not even hungry? Did you bring me here just so I could eat?”
“Let’s go. You should rest early.” Louis didn’t answer her question. He stood and motioned for her to follow.
Freya pressed her lips together, obediently picked up her purse, and stood to leave with him. If that’s really the case, then this man’s character is even better than she thought.
When they got home, Louis told her to go wash up first. Freya didn’t hesitate.
She needed a hot bath—and afterward, a hot foot soak. When you’re young and your body catches a chill, if you don’t deal with it right away, you’ll pay the price when you’re older.
Watching her walk into the bathroom with her change of clothes, Louis soon heard the sound of running water. A thin layer of steam began to fog up the frosted glass. He stood silently at the large window of the balcony that opened off the living roo
eacup in hand.
Outside, countless lights flickered across the city. The cool autumn breeze drifted in through the screen door, sweeping away the agitation in his chest.
Louis stood there, sipping tea and watching the lights shimmer in and out. From time to time, the distant sound of car horns cut through the quiet.
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14:09 Mon, 23 Jun Goj
Chapter 178 A Setup
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His life could be divided into four chapters. The first was his childhood, filled with happiness and innocence under his parents‘ care.
The second began after they passed, when he lived with his grandfather and focused on his studies–most memories from that time involved rushing from one class to another.
The third started when he joined the Graham Group, becoming endlessly busy with work; the days seemed full, but in truth, they were all the same. The fourth was this recent period, ever since he faked his bankruptcy. For the first time, he had come to understand what real life felt like.
Freya’s cooking wasn’t exceptional. To be honest, for someone raised on refined and exquisite cuisine, her food was merely passable. As for her looks, she was attractive, yes–but he wasn’t someone who lusted after beauty. He judged women more by intellect and benefit.
Zooming out a bit, she barely earned enough from writing to cover basic expenses. She didn’t wear makeup and never took much care with her appearance. Her biggest hobbies were gaming and eating snacks.
The only redeeming habits were her consistent reading and regular workouts. Compared to his past business partners, or even the daughters of old family friends, Freya didn’t measure up. Even compared to his college classmates, she couldn’t be called outstanding.
If the bar was set at “qualified to be the young madam of the Graham family,” then by any measure, she fell short.
possess
But if he stopped trying to force those standards onto her, the small virtues she did became like stars scattered across the sky–subtle, perhaps, but beautiful in a way that left one in quiet awe.
She didn’t crave wealth. She had a sound moral compass, lived by principles, and had boundaries. Her character was above reproach. She was kind, hardworking, and approached life with optimism and sincerity. Most importantly, she truly lived–present and grounded in each day.
Louis stood at the window, his gaze distant as he tapped lightly on the rim of his teacup.
fe with. But When he was young, he used to imagine what kind of person he’d spend . after growing up and seeing so many different kinds of people, he had come to view love as nothing special.
His refusal to date wasn’t because he lacked opportunity; he simply didn’t want to be ruled by instinct or waste effort in that direction.
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14:09 Mon, 23 Jun
Chapter 178 A Setup
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He didn’t believe he’d be as lucky as his parents–finding someone he liked who also liked him, with every aspect of life andaracter in perfect sync. If such a person wouldn’t feel joy. He’d only wonder if they had ulterior motives.
did
appear, he
Marriage, love–it was all unnecessary to him. So when his grandfather told him to get married, he just did it. If it hadn’t been her, it would’ve been someone else. What he needed was a Graham family daughter–in–law, someone who wouldn’t cause problems.
How could I have known that the woman I chose casually would later become so entangled in everything? By his original plan, things should have ended cleanly when he filed for bankruptcy.
He turned and glanced at the bathroom. The sound of running water was still going strong. Louis lifted the corners of his lips in a faint smile.
He wasn’t a clueless kid; he knew clearly whether he’d caught feelings or not. And he could tell whether she had or hadn’t. He just hadn’t decided yet what kind of life he wanted to live -and how far she was worth going for.
