Chapter 26

Since the couple hadn't seen each other for months, and Freya had made a special trip only to leave without seeing Matteo, Auntie Sara felt compelled to remind him: "Sir, Madam didn't look well when she left. She seemed angry."

Auntie Sara initially assumed Freya had an urgent matter requiring her immediate return home. Only now, realizing Matteo was unaware of her departure, did she suspect something was amiss. Angry? Freya had always been gentle and accommodating with him. Could she even get angry? How novel.

Matteo offered a dismissive smile, brushed off Auntie Sara's concern with a casual reply, and went upstairs. Back in his room, just as he was about to open Freya's letter, Raven called. After answering, he carelessly tossed the envelope aside and left the room. Shortly afterward, the envelope fell from the bed to the floor. That night, Matteo didn't come home.

The next day, while cleaning, Auntie Sara found the envelope and recognized it as the one Freya had asked her to give Matteo yesterday. Assuming he'd read it, she placed it in a nearby drawer.

After arriving home, Freya went straight upstairs to pack. Six years had passed, and she had accumulated quite a few belongings. However, she only took a few sets of clothes, two sets of toiletries, and some professional books. After their marriage, Matteo had provided monthly living expenses for her and their daughter, deposited into two separate cards—one for Freya, one for their daughter. Freya, however, used only her own card for daily expenses, never touching her daughter's. Furthermore, because she loved Matteo, she frequently bought him clothes, shoes, cufflinks, or ties whenever she saw something she thought he'd like. Her own expenses were low due to her work. Her heart and eyes were focused on her husband and daughter; she wanted to give them the best. Therefore, most of the living expenses Matteo provided were spent on her husband and daughter.

Given this pattern, there shouldn't have been much money left in her card. However, since their daughter had been living with Matteo in Country A for the past year or more, Freya had fewer opportunities to buy things for them. Yet, over four million remained. This sum might be insignificant to Matteo, but it was substantial for her. Since it was her money, Freya didn't hesitate to transfer it out. Leaving both cards behind, she took her luggage and left without looking back.

She owned an apartment near her workplace—not large, just over a hundred square meters. She'd bought it four years ago to help a friend meet their sales quota when they'd run away from home. She'd never lived there before; now it proved convenient. The apartment was regularly cleaned, so it wasn't dirty; a simple cleaning would make it livable.

Exhausted after a long day, past ten in the evening, Freya washed up and went to bed. “Ding ding, ding ding, ding ding—” A harsh alarm jolted her awake. Disoriented, her mind went blank for a moment. Then she remembered—it was 1 AM locally, meaning it was around 7 AM in Country A, where Matteo and their daughter were. They usually had breakfast then. Ever since their daughter had gone to Country A with Matteo, Freya had called her daughter at this hour. Because she was tired from work and preferred to sleep early, she'd set this alarm to avoid missing their chat.

When their daughter first went to Country A, she hadn't adjusted well and missed her mother terribly, wanting to call constantly. But as time passed, her daughter's phone calls shifted from affectionate longing to perfunctory and impatient responses. The alarm had long since lost its purpose. She simply couldn't let go. With a bitter smile, Freya hesitated, then deleted the alarm and turned off her phone before returning to sleep.

Meanwhile, Matteo and Isabella were finishing breakfast. Although Matteo knew Freya usually called their daughter at this time, he wasn't always home and didn't pay much attention to the routine. He noticed Freya hadn't called today but didn't think much of it, heading upstairs to change after breakfast.

Isabella found her mother increasingly long-winded and enjoyed their phone calls less and less. Seeing that Freya hadn't called at this late hour, she assumed something must have delayed her. Her bright eyes darted mischievously as she grabbed her schoolbag and ran for the door. Auntie Sara hurried after her: "Young Miss, it's still early; you can leave later!" Isabella ignored her, happily running to the car. How fortunate that Mom was too busy to call on time today. If she didn't leave now, once Mom called, she'd have to chat with her—no way she wanted that!

After their marriage, Freya had started working at Matteo's company, initially for his sake. Now, with divorce imminent, she had no reason to stay. The next morning at the company, she handed her resignation letter to Jake.