A few hours before now-

With a screeching sound, a sleek red Ferrari parked in the parking lot of Maplewood Apartments. Freya pushed open the car door, tapped her card at the entrance, and went upstairs.

In the past, she used to bum meals off Joanne, so she had the access card and keys to Joanne's apartment.

Pressed for time, she didn't change her shoes and pushed open the door to get in, only to be stunned at the corner of the porch.

Though having been unoccupied for more than half a year, the room still remained clean and in order. It made sense since Joanne had hired people to maintain her house, so there was no need to be surprised about that.

However, what to make of the steaks, wines, and candles on the table?

Didn't Joanne have a fight with Brian? Was she still in the mood for a romantic dinner?

Freya was wondering, and then someone opened the kitchen door. In a brown apron, Chris carried out a bowl of salad. Seeing her, he was not surprised at all and directly walked to her. He picked up pieces of vegetables for her. "Taste this for me."

Freya was dazed, but she still opened her mouth and swallowed it.

Swallowing a bite of salad, she finally realized. Joanne's phone call was fake. In this apartment, there was never Joanne who got bullied by Brian, only Chris.

"Who came up with this?" asked Freya.

Glancing at her, Chris didn't answer and change the topic. "How's the taste? I didn't get the time to make the dressing myself, or it'll taste better."

"..."

Freya knew that it was Chris's idea. He was unwilling to admit that one day, this kind of thing would happen to him. Thus, he stayed silent.

She recalled the way Joanne talked on the phone. Though she had been faking it, Freya had pictured something terrible on her mind, and even her mother believed it...

She had to exclaim out loud. "I didn't expect Joanne to be such a good actress..."

Chris frowned, dissatisfied. He lifted Freya's chin with one finger. "I came up with this idea, and you should thank me first."

Freya. "..."

Chris reached into Freya's purse, found her phone and unlocked the screen to call her parents. Freya almost jumped up. "What are you doing?"

"Hello? Freya?"

Someone picked up the phone, and there came Mr. Norris's voice. Freya's eyes widened instantly.

Chris bent down near her and lowered his magnetic voice. "Tell your dad you'll stay at Joanne's place and won't go home tonight."

Freya had to take the phone; otherwise, their relationship would be exposed. "Dad..."

She tried hard not to sound guilty or feel nervous.

"What is it?" asked Mr. Norris, "how's Joanne now?"

"She..." Freya took a deep breath and managed to utter a complete sentence. "She's not well and won't eat anything. I think I'll stay with her tonight."

"..." Mr. Norris was silent.

Freya hurriedly added, "Didn't you hire bodyguards for me? I can't get into any trouble even if I want to, right? You don't need to worry. Should I let Joanne talk to you?"

"Never mind. Stay with her and take good care of her." Mr. Norris finally gave up.

Freya hung up the phone and heaved a heavy sigh. At the next second, she felt a great sense of achievement.

It turned out this was what it felt like to have deceived Mr. Norris!

However, before she calmed down, she was circled by the waist. At the next second, she completely fell into Chris's arms. He dangerously approached her. "Did you miss me?"

Freya considered and knew the sword would fall anyway whether she nodded or not.

"No, I didn't!" She smiled brightly and happily said something she didn't mean. "Are you Mr. George Washington who everyone thinks about every day?"

Chris suddenly jerked his head down and Freya thought she was going to have another education. However, when Chris's lips were one centimeter away, he released her-

He calmly uttered. "Let's eat."

Freya's lips curled and then she walked to the dining table, wondering what was going to happen. Then, Chris helped her pull the chair and bent behind her, whispering, "I'll teach you a lesson after dinner."

That sent chills down Freya's spine.

She knew that Chris wouldn't let her go that easily!

Nevertheless, was this the first time that Chris had ever cooked something in a western style?

Freya always knew that Joanne could make both western and eastern food; however, she didn't expect Chris to be the same too. Moreover, they looked quite delicious as well.

Chris cut his steak and pushed them in front of Freya. "Try this."

Freya had a bite and found the medium-cooked stake very flavorful as well as fresh. The taste was even better than that in most western restaurants in the street.

She smacked her lips and said, "Chris, I almost want to propose to you one more time!"

Chris raised his brows with an annoying and proud look. "No need. You have my permission."

"..." Freya didn't find proper words to answer him. "His mood brightens at such a small kindness."

She refrained from the urge to lash out at him and suddenly it occurred to her. "How will you see me next time? Joanne can't fight Brian all the time, right?"

"There's no next time," said Chris, "I'll visit your dad tomorrow."

"Why not today?" Freya blurted.

Chris paused. "I wanted to, but his secretary said he was not available."

Freya didn't know how to answer and put down her knife and fork. She tenderly looked at him.

Not available, that was simply Mr. Norris's excuse.

To put it bluntly, that meant Mr. Norris refused to meet Chris.

As the Everbridge Group president, Chris was always refusing to meet others. When did he need to wait to meet someone?

Chris knew what Freya was thinking, so he pushed the vegetable salad in front of her. "I'm fine. He can't use the same excuse to avoid me again and again, and I'll let him meet me tomorrow."

Freya suggested. "How about I bring you home tomorrow?" That way, Mr. Norris couldn't refuse Chris anymore!

"You can't do that, and he'll get angry."

If Mr. Norris kept making excuses to avoid Chris, he didn't want Chris in sight. When Chris hitched a ride with Freya to the Norris Family's house, he would only upset Mr. Norris.

Freya didn't want Chris to be turned down again, so she suggested. "What if he still won't see you tomorrow? If he refuses you again, then forget about it now. You can try when he calms down."

Chris did not agree or disagree. He simply told Freya not to worry about it and she should leave this to him.

After dinner, Chris did the dishes. He dried his hands and walked out of the kitchen. "Alright. Let's go home."

"What?" Rarely did Freya fail to realize-which one? The bodyguards Mr. Norris hired were downstairs. How would Chris take her away?

Chris had his way. He took Freya into the elevator and pushed the B-2 button. In this way, they easily slipped past the two bodyguards. He picked the car and drove Freya to his apartment.

Freya felt excited and thrilled. Grabbing the safety belt, she mysteriously asked Chris. "Know what we look like right now?"

"What?" Chris thought about it. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith?"

"Wrong!" Freya crossed her arms in front of her chest to form a big "X" shape, correcting him. "Having an affair!"

With lips twitching, Chris didn't know whether to get angry or laugh. When he turned around to see Freya's silly happy look, he could only inwardly sigh.

Never mind, no matter what the simile was, it was fine as long as she felt happy.

It was still early when they reached Chris's apartment, so Freya took a shower and cozily lay on the sofa for a movie. It happened that Candy sent today's photos to her mailbox, so she dragged Chris to browse through them.

In the end, she expectedly asked Chris, "How do I look?"

Chris didn't flatter or diss her. "You look fine."

"Fine?" Freya glared at him. "Don't you know that women hate this kind of vague answers?"

"So what do you like?"

Freya straightened up on her knees, akimbo. "You should tell me I'm pretty! In a very sincere way!"

Chris's eyes lingered on Freya's body for a while. "I think you look prettier in my photos."

Freya thought of the photos they took in Ancient Town and involuntarily glanced at a white wall. It turned out that he had already set up the photo wall. He randomly stuck their photos on the wall and used wooden photo frames, which corresponded to the style of the living room.

Before, he always considered Chris's apartment too simple. Though perfect and comfortable, it did not look like a home.

Now, it looked much livelier!

Moreover, if he hung their photos in the living room, did that mean he accepted her as the hostess of this apartment?

Seeing her absorbed in her thoughts, Chris was about to launch a sneak attack on her, but the ringing phone stopped him.

It was from Jack.

He frowned and took the call. Jack told him about the incident that Steven almost slapped Joanne in the face during President Frenk's birthday party.

A trace of coldness flashed through Chris's eyes, and then he snapped the phone on the coffee table.

Freya was startled. "What did Jack say?"

Chris told her Jack's account, and Freya found it hard to imagine.

Since young, she had been close to her parents. Even if sometimes, she got in Mr. Norris's hair, Mr. Norris would at most snap at her.

She couldn't imagine a father hitting his daughter.

"Is Joanne alright? Should I call?"

"No need. Brian's with him. She'll be alright." Chris's eyes turned cold and dark, and a storm seemed to be brewing.

Freya found it scary to see Chris like this. He was like a silent beast. He might be quiet now, but once he moved, he would storm as powerful as a thunderbolt, stirring up a bloody war.

She kissed on Chris's lips. "Let go of the past."

When her mother passed away, Joanne was not the only one in pain. Though he had never revealed it, after all these years, like Joanne, Chris had never really let go of their mother.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked going against the Scott Group in business.

In the entire world, the one he cared about the most was Joanne. Tonight, Steven almost laid a finger on her. Thus, if he lost control, he might do something he would regret later.

Freya wanted to distract her but Chris pushed her away.

"..."

She seemed lost and seemed to find it hard to believe. Freya looked at Chris, unable to understand what was happening.

Chris pecked her lips. "I'll take a shower first." He scanned her and his eyes became suggestive. "Wait for me."

Freya. "..."

She turned out to have worried for nothing!