The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

"No way. You must've seen it wrong." Freya was seriously eyeing Preston before her.

"I never get it wrong." With those words, his face a mask of stoicism, Preston stormed out of the room.

Then, Hans strolled in, saying, "Ms. Dawson, let me drive you home."

"Sure."

Freya couldn't wait to get back. Ronan would bombard her with texts if she delayed it any longer.

Preston had other things on his mind tonight, so he hardly paid her attention. When Freya descended the stairs, Preston had left the building.

In the evening, Hans drove Freya to the entrance of her neighborhood. The local gossip queens, a bunch of elderly ladies who spent their days chatting on the street, happened to witness the whole scene. Freya stepped out of the luxury car, and in no time, another luxury vehicle pulled up. Another charming man got out.

Ronan frowned. "I called you. Why didn't you answer?"

Facing Ronan's inquiry, Freya replied, "It wasn't a good time."

Ronan asked, "Is your ankle better?"

Ronan hardly ever acts worried like that, so Freya got really suspicious. "Why do you ask?"

The matter in Southern Suburb can wait, but you must come with me to a place right now."

"Where?"

"W Group," Ronan paused for emphasis, "which is, technically, your company."

Watching Freya slip into another luxury car, the neighborhood's old ladies couldn't help but show their disapproval.

"God, she has no sense of self-respect."

"Daytime with one man, nighttime with another, what kind of girl does that?"

"Thank God my grandson didn't end up with someone like her. Who knows what kind of disaster that would bring to a family!"

Inside W Group, that was Freya's

first

nomin to the company, which was

nominally hers. Though, for the time being, Ronan was the one in charge.

Freya looked around and commented, "The interior design is nice. Thank you."

"No need for thanks. You're footing the bill." Ronan seemed indifferent, looking as if such matters were trivial to him.

"So, you dragged me here to see the company's decor?" Freya doubted Ronan was that trivial.

"Many are looking into your personal information, Freya. I hope you can recuperate swiftly and accompany me to the W Group's launch party."

Freya was confused. "Wasn't it not a priority before? Why the sudden rush?"

Ronan said, "Everyone online is super curious about you, the mysterious beauty who just came back from overseas. It's the perfect time to introduce you. With all this buzz, W Group is going to make a huge splash when we go public."

"When do you want me to attend?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow? Are you expecting me to show up limping?"

Freya couldn't believe what Ronan was proposing. He had a knack for springing surprises, not asking if it was feasible.

"It's up to you whether you want to face Kieran with the upper hand or let him uncover your identity and ruin everything."