Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Chapter 214 Unexpected Encounter

Freya’s POV

The elevator doors had barely closed when my phone started ringing. Isabella’s name flashed across the screen.

"Excuse me," I murmured to the others before answering, "Hello?"

"Mom, are you done with work? When are you coming home?" Isabella’s voice sounded eager.

Since my ankle injury, Isabella had been calling daily. Yesterday, after learning I’d healed, she’d asked when I’d be home. I’d been too swamped with work to commit to anything then.

"Just finished, sweetheart. I’ll be home soon," I promised, my heart warming despite the emotional mess I’d been navigating all day.

By the time I hung up, we’d reached the ground floor. Finn looked at me with undisguised curiosity.

"Miss Freya, you have a child?" he asked, surprise evident in his tone.

"Yes," I answered simply, not offering more.

"I... wouldn’t have guessed," he said, clearly recalibrating his assumptions about me.

I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. He’d probably assumed Johnny and I were a couple, given how attentive Johnny had been toward me throughout the meetings.

Kim joined in, equally surprised. "Is your husband in our industry as well?"

I froze momentarily, the casual question landing like a grenade. "Something like that," I managed to reply, keeping my voice neutral.

Finn nodded thoughtfully. We’d discussed technical matters earlier, and he’d clearly recognized my expertise. He seemed about to ask more about my husband but must have sensed my reluctance from my expression and thankfully dropped the subject.

Johnny remained silent beside me, though I could feel his tension. I knew he wanted to blurt out that my "husband" was actually their boss, Silvano Moretti himself. But with our divorce pending and their ongoing business relationship with Umbra Technologies, such a revelation would only complicate matters unnecessarily. Worse, once they knew who I was, some might target me to curry favor with Aurora.

After leaving Umbra Technologies, Johnny and I parted ways.

When I pulled up to the mansion, Isabella was already waiting downstairs. She ran to me the moment I stepped out of the car. "Mom!"

"Hey, sweetie," I said softly, stroking her hair. Before I could ask if she was hungry, she looked down at my feet.

"Mom, are you really better?" Her eyes were full of genuine concern.

"Yes, all healed up," I assured her.

"Which part was hurt? Let me see!" she insisted.

Relenting, I slipped off my cotton shoes and pointed to my previously injured ankle.

Isabella crouched down to examine it closely. "I don’t see any wounds..."

"The swelling’s gone down completely, so you can’t see anything now," I explained.

"Oh..." She stood up and took my hand. "Mom, you just recovered, you shouldn’t stand too long. I had dinner prepared for us. Let’s eat!"

"Sounds perfect," I said, letting her lead me to the dining room.

The table was set for two. Silvano’s place sat conspicuously empty.

Noticing my gaze, Isabella explained, "Dad said he’s busy with something and won’t be home for dinner. It’s just you and me, Mom."

When I received the notification, I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

Johnny noticed my expression. "Something wrong? Not a fan of hot springs?"

"It’s nothing," I replied.

But it wasn’t nothing. I was remembering just two weeks ago when Silvano and Isabella had abandoned me at a hot springs resort, leaving me all alone. It felt like yesterday, though almost half a month had passed.

Time flies when your life is falling apart.

Despite my reluctance, I couldn’t miss the first team event since rejoining the company, so I went along with everyone.

Unlike the private hot springs estate where we’d gone before, this was a large commercial resort with various entertainment facilities.

After changing into a bathrobe, I headed to the women’s bath. Our company had few female employees, and no one else had arrived yet. I had just settled into the water when I noticed a little girl about Isabella’s age crouching at the edge of the pool, curiously reaching toward the water.

The pool was about four feet deep, and the child looked shorter than that. Concerned she might fall in, I started to rise—just as she tumbled into the water with a splash.

I rushed over, quickly pulling her out and holding her in my arms. She clung to my neck, coughing and crying, her face turning red from the effort.

I patted her back gently, trying to comfort her while asking about her family as I carried her toward the staff area to find help.

As soon as we exited, I froze. Standing just a short distance away was Alpha Xander.

Before I could react, the little girl in my arms stretched her hands toward him through her tears. "Uncle Xander!" she cried.

Selene instantly went alert, recognizing the powerful Alpha’s presence. I stood perfectly still, holding his sobbing niece, my body instinctively tensing in the presence of another pack’s Alpha.