Chapter 33: A Reader Named L

Freya noticed the reader for the first time because of an unusually thoughtful comment. Most readers reacted emotionally to cliffhangers, argued over romantic interests, or demanded faster updates. This account simply used the name "L" and left a short observation about one character's business decision.

The comment pointed out a weakness Freya herself had debated while outlining the chapter. She replied, explaining the character's reasoning without revealing future plot. The next day, L commented again, this time on the protagonist's refusal to accept financial help.

"Independence is useful," the reader wrote, "but refusing help solely to prove independence can become another kind of dependence—allowing fear to make the decision."

Freya stared at the sentence longer than she expected. It sounded less like a casual comment and more like criticism directed at her personally. She replied: "Only if the help comes without conditions. Most money comes with invisible strings."

L answered several minutes later. "Then the problem is the person offering it, not the money." Freya frowned at the screen. This reader was annoyingly logical.

At dinner, Louis noticed her expression. "Something wrong?" "A reader is arguing with me." "About your story?" "About financial independence."

Louis calmly ate his food. "Maybe the reader has a point." Freya looked at him sharply. "How do you know what they said?" His chopsticks paused for the smallest fraction of a second.

"You just told me the topic." "I didn't tell you their argument." Louis remained perfectly composed. "I assumed." Freya stared suspiciously, then shook her head. "Anyway, this L person thinks accepting help isn't a weakness if you trust the person offering it."

"Reasonable." "You're both annoying." Louis hid his amusement by drinking water.

After dinner, Freya returned to her room and uploaded another chapter. L appeared in the comments within twenty minutes. "The pacing is better in this chapter," the account wrote.

Freya replied: "Better than what?" "The previous three. The conflict had started repeating." She reread the last few chapters and reluctantly realized the reader was correct.

"Are you an editor?" she typed. L responded, "No." "Writer?" "No." "Then why are you analyzing my pacing?" There was a longer delay before the reply appeared. "I read business reports for a living. Patterns are patterns."

Freya laughed. Whoever L was, the person had an oddly serious approach to web fiction. She added the account to her familiar-reader list and returned to writing.

In the living room, Louis closed the reading app on his phone. He had never intended to comment when he discovered her pen name. The first message had been impulsive. Now he had somehow entered an ongoing debate with his own wife while sitting less than twenty feet away.

Derek called at that moment. "Are you busy?" "No." "You sound distracted." "I'm reading." Derek went silent. "Freya's novel?"

Louis's expression cooled. "Do you have work to report?" Derek laughed loudly enough that Louis moved the phone away from his ear. "The great Louis Stone secretly reading romance fiction. I wish your grandfather could see this."

Louis ended the call. A minute later, Freya shouted from her room, "Louis, do we have more coffee?" He answered that they did, then looked down at the reading app again. The newest chapter had just appeared. Against his better judgment, he opened it.

Freya eventually stopped replying and forced herself back to work, but she bookmarked L's comments for later. Critical readers were valuable, especially ones who could explain why something felt wrong instead of simply complaining. She had no idea that her newest source of useful feedback was sitting in the next room, reading every update with an attention he normally reserved for contracts worth millions.