The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

"Sorry to break it to you, but your inheritance? It's gone." Freya's face was adorned with a superficial smile, yet it bore an unmistakable air of superiority.

Johanna and Leland were livid, their faces flushed with anger. Meanwhile, from outside the room, a maid's astonished voice echoed, "Mr. Sutton? What brings you here?" At that, Freya frowned slightly.

Before anyone noticed, Kieran appeared at the doorway. He had seen everything happening in the room and let out a cold laugh.

This aggressive side of Freya was something he hadn't seen before.

Seeing Kieran, Johanna quickly plastered a sycophantic smile on her face. "Mr. Sutton, you should have given us a heads-up. I would have sent someone to welcome you!"

"No need. I'm just here to say my piece and then I'm out," Kieran replied, keeping his tone even and giving nothing away.

"Of course, of course!" Johanna could hardly conceal her glee. She hurriedly dragged Leland out of the room, cheerfully saying, "Don't worry, Mr. Sutton, we'll be out of your way. I'll have someone prepare a coffee for you!" Before leaving, Johanna made sure to close the door behind her.

Freya was all too familiar with such lowly tricks. If the news of Kieran being in Ms. Dawson's room alone with her got out, society would assume she was Kieran's woman. And in Echo City, no one dared to mess with Kieran's woman.

Freya opened the bedroom door immediately, avoiding being alone with Kieran. "Mr. Sutton, whatever you wish to say, let's talk downstairs. After all, since our engagement is off, it's inappropriate to be alone together. It might lead to gossip." Even in modern times, people's minds were still stuck in outdated and narrow-minded thinking.

A man and woman were alone in a room, with the door shut as if hiding something.

Kieran scoffed coldly, "Freya, playing the weak and pitiful in front of Grandma, bullying and insulting your family when they're not around. I truly underestimated you before." "Me, bullying them?" Freya laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke.

Kieran had not caught the whole story, misunderstanding her intentions regarding the Dawson family's fortune.

But it didn't matter. The more Kieran despised her, the happier she was. The sooner she severed ties with Kieran, the better.

Freya smiled. "Mr. Sutton, you're right. I'm a deceitful woman and not worth your time to come to the Dawson family to see me."Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Kieran's eyes were filled with disdain. "If Grandma hadn't asked me to find and apologize to you, do you think I'd come to see you? Freya, you think too highly of yourself."

"Oh, it's Audrey then. Rest assured, Mr. Sutton, I'll explain everything to her. You won't be put in a difficult position." Freya stepped aside, seriously telling Kieran, "Mr. Sutton, if you've said all you wanted, the way out is downstairs. I won't see you out." Kieran stepped threateningly closer to Freya as if he hadn't heard her, his gaze full of menace. "Freya, I'm warning you, stop spreading rumors before Grandma. If she finds out about Ellie's suicide attempt..."

Kieran had a dangerous aura, looking as if he was about to explode at any moment.

Freya felt a tightness in her chest. She knew no one was more important than Eloise to Kieran. If she harmed Eloise, she would cross Kieran's red line. He would never let her off.

"Mr. Sutton, easy. I will explain the situation to Audrey. It won't involve Ms. Harwood."

"That's for the best." Kieran increased the distance between them and left without looking back.

Downstairs, Johanna had just brewed some coffee for Kieran, only to see him storming out of the Dawson family. She called out, "Mr. Sutton! Won't you stay a bit longer? Mr. Sutton!" Kieran didn't stop, leaving Johanna stomping her foot in frustration.

Pointing toward Freya's room on the second floor, Johanna shouted, "You can't even keep a man around! What good are you? You're useless!"

Standing in her room, Freya heard Johanna's insults. She walked calmly to the hallway on the second floor, casting a chilling glance downstairs at Johanna.

Johanna shivered as Freya's icy glare bore into her, a side of Freya she had never seen before, far from the gentle and compliant girl she used to be. Johanna thought, 'If Freya were to inherit the Dawson family fortune... No, I have to come up with a plan. I can't let this engagement fall through!'