Chapter 19: A Suspicious Coincidence

Freya returned home with her stationery and immediately resumed writing. She didn't want to spend unnecessary time thinking about Ethan and Serena. In the original novel, protagonists attracted trouble wherever they went. Staying far away from them seemed like the healthiest strategy.

That evening, Louis arrived earlier than usual. Freya was in the kitchen preparing chicken when he leaned against the doorway. "Tell me exactly what happened today." She glanced at him. "I already told you." "You gave me the short version."

Freya put down the knife. "Fine. Serena and I reached for the same box of pens. We spoke for maybe thirty seconds. At checkout she heard my name, recognized me, and then Ethan arrived. She apologized for what happened to you. I said business is business. Then I left."

"That's all?" "That's all." Freya narrowed her eyes. "Unless you're secretly jealous because I spoke to Ethan Hale." Louis's face remained completely calm. "No." "Good, because he's not my type."

The answer came too quickly. Louis looked at her. "What is your type?" Freya opened her mouth, then stopped. She had never considered the question in this life. "Someone financially responsible," she finally said. "That's your first requirement?" "Obviously."

Louis glanced around their modest kitchen. "Then I'm currently disqualified." Freya laughed. "Completely. You're at the bottom of the rankings." He nodded as though accepting a business evaluation. "I'll work on improving my position."

Freya assumed he was joking and returned to cutting vegetables. Louis watched her for another moment before going to his room. He called Derek immediately. "Check why Serena Wells was at that shopping center today." Derek was silent. "You think the meeting was arranged?"

"Probably not. Check anyway." Less than an hour later, Derek called back. Serena had attended a nearby charity planning meeting and stopped at the stationery store afterward. Ethan had picked her up. There was no evidence they had known Freya would be there.

Louis should have dismissed the encounter as coincidence. Instead, another detail caught Derek's attention. "There's something else. Melissa Hart was at the same shopping center when Freya sold the bags earlier this week. Clement approached her near your apartment the day before that."

"Three encounters," Louis said. "Within several days." "Exactly. Melissa and Clement are connected, obviously. Serena probably isn't. But someone has been asking questions about Mrs. Stone's routine." Louis's expression cooled.

"Who?" "Still tracing it. One of the building staff remembers a man asking whether you two actually live there. He claimed to be delivering documents." Derek paused. "Louis, someone is checking whether the bankruptcy is real."

Louis looked toward the kitchen, where Freya was humming quietly while cooking. She believed she had entered the story after everything important was over. She had no idea that several groups were already watching the apartment, his movements, and now possibly hers.

"Increase security around the building," Louis ordered. "Quietly. Don't let her notice." "Should we tell her?" "Not until we know what this is."

When Louis returned to the kitchen, Freya handed him a spoon. "Taste the sauce." He did. "Too sweet." She frowned and tasted it herself. "You're wrong." For a moment, the business schemes outside the apartment seemed distant. Louis handed the spoon back and said nothing about the danger beginning to gather around them.