Chapter 44

When Kara saw Freya, fear took hold. “Absolutely, yes! Of course!” The receptionist quickly helped Freya swipe her card to access the elevator.

“Did you see that? That was Ms. Dawson!”

“What’s with Ms. Dawson’s outfit today?”

“Ms. Dawson looks stunning. How have we never noticed how beautiful she is before?”

“Isn’t it obvious? She’s trying to impress Mr. Sutton. Everyone knows Ms. Dawson usually dresses like Ms. Harwood. Wonder which of Ms. Harwood’s outfits she’s imitating this time!”

In the CEO’s office of the Sutton Group, Kara was busy serving Kieran coffee, running errands, and even taking the initiative to move Miles for him. Jarrett couldn’t help but admire Kara for her dedication and hard work. The last person who did as much was Freya.

“Ms. Dawson, Mr. Sutton is in his office. I’ll take you to him.”

“Okay.” Freya’s gaze fell on Kieran’s office. The office had semi-transparent glass doors, allowing a clear view inside. Kara was seen attentively tidying Kieran’s desk, her eyes filled with adoration for him. The scene was all too familiar, almost identical to Freya’s past self. Freya’s eyes turned cold.

Kieran was getting impatient, about to send Kara away, but then he looked up and saw Freya outside. Freya’s appearance had changed drastically from before, which also surprised Kieran. However, Kieran quickly regained his composure, his lips curling into a mocking smile. He reached out and gently hooked Kara’s chin, lowering his voice, “Tie my tie.”

“Mr. Sutton…” Kara blushed, and her eyes were filled with shyness. Soon after, Kara leaned in closer to Kieran to tie his tie. The scene was uncomfortably intimate, and as Freya hesitated at the door, Kieran said, “Polish my shoes.”

“What?” Kara was stunned. Polish his shoes? But…

“What, can’t you bend down?” Kieran mocked. “Freya used to do it. When I asked her to polish my shoes, she would kneel without any dignity to do it.”

Outside, hearing Kieran’s words, Freya couldn’t help but sneer. Back then, she was madly in love with Kieran, willing to do all sorts of demeaning things. For Kieran, though, it was just something to laugh about.

After hearing Kieran’s words, Kara knelt, using her white scarf to polish his shoes. Freya’s memories and the present overlapped, making her stomach churn. The next second, Freya pushed open the office door. She stood up, ready to leave, but Kieran grabbed her wrist.

“Just where do you think you’re running off to? You’re not done yet. I didn’t say stop, so get back down and keep cleaning my…” He remained even and unbothered.

“Mr. Sutton,” Kara replied, kneeling back to polish Kieran’s shoes.

Meanwhile, Kieran leaned back in his office chair, addressing Freya: “Freya, there are things you won’t do, but plenty of others will, and they might even do it better than you.”

“Mr. Sutton, I didn’t come here to watch you be vile,” Freya responded, her tone icy.

Unfazed, Kieran replied, “All you need to do is apologize to Ellie on your knees. If you do that, I’ll pretend none of this ever happened, and the engagement party will go on as scheduled in two days. Plus, I’ll make a hefty investment in the Dawson Group.”

Freya remained silent. Kieran scoffed. “It’s just an apology. Your knees have always been flexible, and you’ve knelt before. What? Can’t do it now?”

He stood up, walked over to Freya, and said, “If you’re going to be a lapdog, at least play the part. Weren’t you always so obedient?”

Feeling Kieran’s proximity, a chill ran through Freya. She took a step back to put some distance between them and eventually sat down on the couch reserved for guests. “Mr. Sutton, let me remind you. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Johanna begging me. As for your threats of pulling your investment or causing trouble, I couldn’t care less. And apologizing to Ms. Harwood…”

Freya looked up at Kieran, a smile playing on her lips. “It’s not like I held a knife to her throat and forced her to harm herself. Why should I apologize?”

At her words, Kieran’s smile faded. Freya’s indifferent attitude left Kieran with a knot of frustration in his chest that he couldn’t untangle.

Kieran said coldly, “Think carefully before you speak, Freya.”

“Mr. Sutton, I’ve thought it through. I won’t apologize,” Freya said firmly. “Ask me a hundred times, and the answer will remain the same.”

The tension in the air was palpable when Kara ran to Freya, pleading, “Freya! I shouldn’t have approached Mr. Sutton, but please don’t be mad at him! Our company’s success depends on Mr. Sutton’s support! If he pulls his investment, the Dawson Group is ruined!”

“Ms. Orson, let me remind you. You’re not a Dawson. What does the Dawson family’s affairs have to do with you?” Freya’s sharp retort instantly drained the color from Kara’s face.

“Fine! Just fine!” Kieran laughed, clearly frustrated. “You dove into a pool, got your head wet, and now you think you can talk tough!”

“Thanks to you for throwing the ring into the pool, Mr. Sutton, I had an epiphany,” Freya said calmly. “All I ever wanted was to be with someone I love. But how can there be love in a marriage that was never equal, to begin with? So, Mr. Sutton, not only will I not apologize, I refuse to be engaged to you. Please find someone else. If Ms. Harwood isn’t an option, Ms. Orson seems a perfect fit.” With that, Freya glanced at Kara, adding, “At least, she, like I once did, will do anything for you without limits.”

Kieran frowned at her words.

After Freya left, Kara rushed forward, blaming Freya, “Mr. Sutton, Freya is too proud… I apologize on her behalf…”

“Out!” Kieran suddenly roared, causing Kara to go pale and retreat quickly. Not daring to upset Kieran further, Kara ran off crying.

Jarrett entered, looking troubled, “Mr. Sutton… Ms. Dawson… she’s gone.”

Kieran’s expression darkened, and Jarrett didn’t dare say more. The office sank into a long silence before Kieran finally spoke up, “Was I ever really that bad to her?”

“Do you want the truth, Mr. Sutton?”

Kieran glanced at Jarrett, prompting his response.