Chapter 141: Clement's Apology

Clement Knox requested a meeting with Freya through her assistant rather than contacting her personally. The formality surprised her enough that she agreed to a short conversation at Awake Stories.

He arrived alone.

For once, Clement did not dress his words in charm.

He told Freya that Knox Group's internal investigation had confirmed how Meridian advisers manipulated his rivalry with Louis. But he refused to use that as an excuse.

"They pushed buttons because I gave them buttons to push," he said.

Freya appreciated the accuracy.

Clement apologized for their college relationship, for enjoying her devotion while looking down on her, and for approaching her after Louis's supposed bankruptcy partly to satisfy his own ego.

He did not ask her to forgive him.

That made the apology easier to hear.

Freya considered the original woman's memories. The humiliation of discovering Clement with her best friend still existed somewhere inside her, but the pain no longer felt immediate.

"I accept that you're apologizing," she said. "That doesn't mean we're going to become friends."

"I know."

Clement smiled faintly. "Louis would probably object anyway."

"Louis doesn't choose my friends."

Clement immediately corrected himself. "Right. Bad habit."

Freya almost laughed.

Before leaving, Clement gave her a folder containing additional Meridian emails uncovered by Knox Group. His lawyers had already provided copies to investigators, but some messages mentioned Adrian's efforts to monitor Northstar after the collapse.

Freya forwarded the folder to her attorney without reading it immediately.

Clement paused at the door.

"For what it's worth, you seem happier now than you ever did in college."

Freya did not know whether that observation belonged to her or the original Freya.

Perhaps it belonged to both.

"I am," she said.

After Clement left, her assistant peeked into the office.

"Ex-boyfriend?"

Freya stared. "How do you know that?"

"He has the energy."

Freya laughed so hard she had to put down her coffee.

Louis heard about the meeting that evening.

He asked only whether Clement had caused trouble.

"No. He apologized."

Louis nodded.

Freya waited.

"That's all?"

"What else should I say?"

"Aren't possessive billionaire husbands supposed to become jealous?"

Louis stepped closer. "Would you like me to perform?"

Freya backed away laughing.

He caught her around the waist.

"I don't need to compete with Clement," Louis murmured.

"Arrogant."

"Accurate."

Unfortunately, Freya could not completely disagree.

Afterward, Freya wrote a short private note about closure and then deleted it because it sounded like one of her own overly dramatic chapter endings. Some relationships did not need grand conclusions. Sometimes the healthiest ending was simply two people walking away with clearer understanding than they had before.

Afterward, Freya wrote a short private note about closure and then deleted it because it sounded like one of her own overly dramatic chapter endings. Some relationships did not need grand conclusions. Sometimes the healthiest ending was simply two people walking away with clearer understanding than they had before.

Afterward, Freya wrote a short private note about closure and then deleted it because it sounded like one of her own overly dramatic chapter endings. Some relationships did not need grand conclusions. Sometimes the healthiest ending was simply two people walking away with clearer understanding than they had before.

Afterward, Freya wrote a short private note about closure and then deleted it because it sounded like one of her own overly dramatic chapter endings. Some relationships did not need grand conclusions. Sometimes the healthiest ending was simply two people walking away with clearer understanding than they had before.

Afterward, Freya wrote a short private note about closure and then deleted it because it sounded like one of her own overly dramatic chapter endings. Some relationships did not need grand conclusions. Sometimes the healthiest ending was simply two people walking away with clearer understanding than they had before.