Nathaniel’s search of the garden proved fruitless. Freya had already gone.
Sawyer and Mandy were also missing, presumably having left with her.
The garden was in full bloom, with the strong scent of flowers mingling with the evening breeze. Despite the warm summer night, Nathaniel felt as if he were in an icy wasteland, his heart feeling utterly frozen.
“Mr. Nathaniel, you’re moving so fast. Wait for me!” Grace finally caught up, with Koen following behind.
“Koen, call Freya,” Nathaniel instructed.
He was aware that Freya had blocked him and likely hated him right now, but she probably hadn’t done the same to Koen.
They needed to keep some form of communication open, especially since Freya needed his consent to finalize the divorce.
Koen quickly dialed Freya’s number, and she answered after a moment. Koen handed the phone to Nathaniel, who took it and said, “Why have you blocked me?”
“What’s your point, Freya?”
Freya collected her thoughts and replied, “Blocking someone is my choice. I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“Nathaniel, we have thirty days to resolve this. If it’s too troublesome, we can finalize the divorce tomorrow. It would be better for both of us. You’re busy and don’t need to waste time on this relationship.”
“Is this really how you’re handling things?” Nathaniel’s anger flared.
“Is our relationship not important? Over the past year since your release, how much have I invested? Can’t you see that?”
“Are you really making a fuss over Sawyer?”
“Besides, you’re the one who betrayed our marriage. What right do you have to end it? Do you really think you have the right, Freya?”
Freya’s frustration turned into a bitter laugh. “Nathaniel, I know you’re hard to deal with, but you used to be reasonable. Now, you seem completely unfair.”
“Who has truly betrayed our marriage and torn apart our relationship? It’s always been you, not me!”
Nathaniel was left speechless. Reflecting on their past, he realized that he was indeed the one who had wronged Freya.
Nathaniel had initially misled Freya, using her as a means to deal with the Gomez family and falsely accusing her in connection with Abigail, which led to her imprisonment.
Despite his repeated apologies and deep regret, Nathaniel was increasingly anxious about Freya pulling away from him.
The more he tried to hold on, the more she seemed to slip away, like sand through his fingers.
But Nathaniel couldn’t let go. Freya had become the central person in his life, and he felt he couldn’t live without her. The brief time without her felt like a torment, making everything in his life and work seem unbearable.
Freya sighed and said, “Nathaniel, you’re too controlling.”
“You never really listen to others. In your world, your rules are the only ones that matter, and everyone else has to comply. I’m exhausted, Nathaniel. We should end this.”
“Freya!” Nathaniel shouted before Freya abruptly ending the call, as if continuing the conversation would be an affront to her.
Nathaniel, furious, threw his phone against the wall, breaking it into pieces.
Koen, watching this, was distressed. That was Nathaniel’s new phone.
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