Chapter 293 Out of Sight, Never Out of Mind
Aiden rolled his eyes, sighed, and shook his head. “Freya, you’re so naive. Too naive,
Freya didn’t mind being called that by Louis, but coming from Aiden? She wasn’t having i “How am I naive?”
“You really think someone like my uncle, with how proud he is, would let a bunch of women use ‘love‘ as an excuse to scheme against him? You think he’d just sit back and take it? And don’t forget, even back then you two were still legally married. Disrespecting you was the same as slapping him in the face. He knew that perfectly well. Otherwise, think about it- back when I didn’t like you and his friends didn’t either, did any of us touch you? Did anyone out there dare give you trouble?”
Freya paused. Aiden had a point. Even back when Old Freya was at her lowest, when people openly looked down on her, no one had ever treated her badly to her face. No one had thrown shade directly at her or humiliated her outright. Even when people mocked her behind her back, they were still polite in person. Before Louis’s bankruptcy, no one had ever confronted her or made her feel truly unwelcome.
“And later on, once Uncle Louis fell for you, you became the one he cared about most. There’s no way he’d let anyone make things hard for you then,” Aiden added seriously.
Freya froze for a moment. A warm, soft feeling stirred in her chest. That kind of quiet, invisible protection–offered even before she was aware of it–was something that truly moved her.
“Weren’t you saying you wanted to go find your uncle? Let’s go,” she said suddenly, the urge to see Louis rising in her chest.
Aiden gave her a strange look. “That was just an excuse. Uncle Louis is probably talking business with someone right now, Why go bother him?”
…Right. The emotional haze lifted, and Freya’s reasoning returned.
“You’re right. Let’s head over there instead,” she said, pointing toward the refreshment area.
“Aiden, Freya?” a familiar voice called out. Freya turned and saw Kendrick approaching, with Baylon right behind him.
“Hey, Aiden! Miss me?” Kendrick reached them first and immediately messed up Aiden’s hair with a heavy–handed rub.
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Chapter 298 Out of Sight, Never Out of Mind
“No! Argh, get off” Aiden shrieked and scrambled behind Freya, clutching his head. “My: hair!”
“Hey Freya,” Baylon chimed in brightly, jogging over to greet her. Then he leaned down, trying to pull Aiden out from behind her. “What’re you hiding for? It’s been ages—you didn’t
miss us at all?”
Aiden dodged and swatted at their hands. “Not even a little! I didn’t miss you at all!”
“Come on, you little brat.” Kendrick tried to yank him out, but Aiden’s hands were locked tight over his head. With no way to mess his hair further, Kendrick had to give up.
“Seriously, even kids have pride! Why don’t you mess up your own hair?”
Baylon flicked Aiden’s forehead. “We were going for that ‘messy chic‘ look! What’s a kid doing being all formal and proper?”
“Nope! I want to look proper!” Aiden refused to move his hands.
“Alright, alright. Someone doesn’t appreciate aesthetics. You want proper, you got it. Look at what Louis has done–raised a kid who’s all serious and no fun,” Baylon said with exaggerated regret, finally giving up on styling Aiden with a goofy cowlick.
“You two aren’t with Louis?” Baylon asked, now totally relaxed around Freya–especially after Louis had personally told them she was someone to treat like family.
“He’s over there somewhere. I think he’s talking business,” Freya said, nodding toward the other side of the hall.
“Then what are you two doing standing around here?” Kendrick asked, puzzled. It’s kind of a weird spot. Just… loitering?
“We were just eating.” Aiden explained. “Then a bunch of women swarmed over, all trying to cozy up to Freya. Two of them even started fighting. It was so embarrassing. We decided to get out of there, and then you guys showed up.”
Η
Kendrick and Baylon both glanced toward the spot where Aiden had gestured. Seeing the familiar faces, they both wrinkled their noses.
ay too close.
“Smart move,” Baylon nodded/“That bunch is best avoided. Too much dram and you’ll get dragged into it. Better to walk away before they start flinging drinks.”
“But wait, weren’t you hungry? Going back for more food?” Baylon asked.
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AV
10:54 Fri, 27 Jun
Chapter 293 Out of Sight, Never Out of Mind
“Didn’t Louis take you two to eat before the gala?” Kendrick chimed in, surprised. That’s his wife and nephew. Louis wouldn’t forget something like that.
“We already ate,” Aiden said with a dramatic sigh. “But now we’ve got nowhere to go. We’re just bored.”
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