Chapter 9: Entanglement

As for whether there were other reasons beyond these three, Freya couldn't be sure, but she had a feeling things weren't that simple.

So, she shook her head. "I'm not going with you. Go back to wherever you came from."

Clement's carefully arranged expression of concern froze for a moment. Clearly, this wasn't the answer he had expected.

He had known Freya for years. Even after their breakup, he understood exactly what kind of woman she had become. She loved luxury, hated hardship, and cared more about money than almost anything else. When news of Louis's bankruptcy spread, Clement had been certain Freya would be among the first people to abandon him.

That was why he had come personally.

Yet here she was, carrying groceries like an ordinary housewife and rejecting him without the slightest hesitation.

"Freya, don't be stubborn." Clement softened his voice. "I know you're angry with me because of what happened back then. I admit I made mistakes, but that was years ago. We've both grown up since then."

Freya stared at him.

He really had the nerve to describe cheating on her with her best friend as making a few mistakes.

"Clement, we're not together anymore," she said calmly. "In fact, I'm married. Whatever happened between us ended a long time ago, so there's nothing for us to discuss."

Clement's brows drew together. "Married? Louis is finished. Do you really think that marriage still means anything?"

"Whether he's finished has nothing to do with whether I'm married to him."

"You never loved him."

"And?"

Clement was momentarily speechless.

Freya shifted the heavy grocery bags in her hands. Her fingers were already aching, and she had no interest in standing on the roadside discussing the original owner's disastrous love life.

"If that's all you came here to say, I'm leaving."

She turned toward the apartment complex.

Clement stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.

"Freya."

Her expression immediately cooled.

"Let go."

Perhaps something in her eyes surprised him, because Clement's grip loosened slightly. The Freya he remembered would never look at him like this. Back then, even after catching him with another woman, she had been heartbroken rather than intimidating.

Now there was only impatience in her eyes.

"I just want to help you," Clement insisted.

"Then help me by letting go."

Clement didn't.

Freya glanced at his hand around her wrist and wondered whether smashing one of the grocery bags into his face would count as wasting food.

Before she could decide, a black sedan stopped beside the curb.

The rear door opened.

Derek stepped out first.

He had been speaking when his gaze landed on Freya and Clement. His words abruptly stopped.

Clement was still holding Freya's wrist.

Freya was carrying groceries.

The two of them were standing only a short distance from Louis's apartment complex.

No matter how Derek looked at the scene, it didn't seem innocent.

His expression became complicated.

Clement noticed him as well. His eyes shifted toward the car, and something resembling satisfaction flashed across his face.

Freya caught that tiny change immediately.

Her suspicion deepened.

So he really was hoping Louis would see them.

Before she could pull away again, another person emerged from the car.

Louis.

He wore a simple dark coat over a white shirt. Even without the expensive watches, tailored suits, and entourage he once had, there was nothing remotely defeated about him. His posture remained straight, his expression composed, and his dark eyes calmly settled on Clement's hand.

Clement finally released Freya.

"Mr. Stone." He smiled. "It's been a while."

Louis looked at him without expression.

"Mr. Knox."

There was no anger in his voice.

For some reason, that made the atmosphere even stranger.

Freya looked between the two men and suddenly understood why the original novel had described Louis as terrifying even after his downfall. Clement was obviously here to humiliate him, yet Louis's expression made it seem as though Clement wasn't important enough to provoke him.

Clement slipped his hands into his coat pockets. "I heard about what happened to your company. It's unfortunate."

"Thank you for your concern."

"If there's anything Knox Group can do, don't hesitate to ask."

Freya nearly rolled her eyes.

If this man became any more fake, he might as well print the word hypocrite across his forehead.

Louis merely nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

Clement looked at Freya again. "Think about what I said. You still have my number."

"I deleted it."

Clement's smile stiffened.

Freya added, "And don't come looking for me again."

Derek lowered his head, seemingly fascinated by the pavement.

Clement stared at her for several seconds. Perhaps realizing that staying any longer would only embarrass him, he finally smiled again.

"Fine. You're angry right now. We can talk another time."

"There's nothing to talk about another time either."

Clement's jaw tightened.

He gave Louis one last glance before turning around and walking toward a silver luxury car parked nearby.

Freya watched him leave and silently added another conclusion to her earlier analysis.

This man definitely wanted something.

Otherwise, someone as proud as Clement wouldn't tolerate being rejected repeatedly while continuing to act affectionate.

"Are those heavy?"

Louis's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Freya looked down at the grocery bags. "A little."

Louis reached out and took both bags from her before she could react.

"Wait, I can carry one."

"It's fine."

He turned toward the apartment entrance.

Freya hurried after him.

Derek followed behind them, his gaze moving repeatedly between Louis and Freya. He had expected at least one question about Clement, but Louis said nothing.

That somehow made Derek even more curious.

Inside the elevator, Freya glanced at Louis.

His face remained calm.

She hesitated.

Should she explain?

Technically, she hadn't done anything wrong. Clement had appeared on his own, and she had rejected him immediately. But considering the original Freya's history with Clement, remaining silent might create unnecessary misunderstandings.

Besides, she was currently living under Louis's roof—or rather, in an apartment whose rent Louis had already paid.

She decided clarity was better.

"That man just now was Clement Knox."

Derek almost coughed.

Louis looked at her. "I know."

"Right. Of course you know." Freya suddenly felt stupid. "I mean, he came here on his own. I didn't ask him to come."

"Okay."

Freya waited.

That was it?

"He wanted me to leave you and go with him," she continued.

Derek's eyebrows shot upward.

Louis's expression finally changed slightly.

"And?"

"And I told him no."

"I heard that part."

"Then that's everything." Freya relaxed. "I just didn't want you to misunderstand."

The elevator doors opened.

Louis stepped out carrying the groceries. After walking several steps, he suddenly stopped and turned toward her.

"Why would I misunderstand?"

Freya blinked.

"Well... he's my ex-boyfriend."

"He's your ex-boyfriend, not your current boyfriend."

"Exactly." Freya nodded enthusiastically. "That's what I think too."

Louis stared at her for a second before turning away.

Derek covered his mouth with one hand.

He was almost certain Louis had smiled.

Once inside the apartment, Freya immediately took the groceries into the kitchen.

She checked the time and nearly jumped.

"It's already eleven forty!"

She had promised lunch shortly after twelve.

Freya hurriedly took out the ribs and began washing them.

Louis removed his coat and watched her rushing around the kitchen.

"There's no need to hurry."

"I told you lunch would be ready after twelve. You must be hungry."

"I can wait."

"You say that because you're not the one cooking."

Louis fell silent.

Derek, who had followed them inside to discuss business, nearly laughed.

Freya pointed toward the living room without looking back. "You two go talk. I'll call you when lunch is ready."

Derek looked at Louis.

Louis actually obeyed.

The two men sat in the living room while Freya worked in the kitchen. Soon, the sound of chopping vegetables filled the apartment, followed by the aroma of ribs simmering in sauce.

Derek leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"She's really cooking?"

Louis gave him a sideways glance.

"You saw breakfast this morning."

"Seeing an omelet and watching Ms. Stone cook an entire lunch are two different things."

Louis opened the folder Derek had brought. "Focus on work."

Derek reluctantly turned his attention to the documents.

"The liquidation process is almost complete. The people watching us have started relaxing. They seem convinced you don't have enough resources left to make a comeback."

"Good."

"Knox Group has also been unusually active recently."

Louis's fingers paused on the document.

Derek continued, "They've contacted three of our former partners. Clement's older brother is probably trying to acquire some of the assets released during liquidation."

"Let him."

"And Clement suddenly appearing here today..."

Louis raised his eyes.

Derek immediately stopped.

After a moment, Louis said quietly, "Find out why he came."

"You think it wasn't just because of Ms. Stone?"

"Clement Knox doesn't do anything without calculating the benefit first."

Derek nodded.

That was exactly what he thought.

From the kitchen, Freya's voice suddenly came through.

"Louis, do you eat spicy food?"

The cold atmosphere disappeared almost instantly.

Louis turned his head. "A little."

"How little? Normal-person little or rich-person little?"

Derek choked on his water.

Louis remained silent for two seconds.

"Normal-person little."

"Okay."

Derek stared at him.

Louis calmly returned his attention to the documents.

Twenty minutes later, Freya placed the final dish on the dining table.

"Lunch is ready."

She had prepared braised pork ribs, scrambled eggs, a vegetable salad, mushroom soup, and rice. It wasn't luxurious, but the aroma alone made Derek hungry.

Freya looked at him. "Are you staying for lunch?"

Derek instinctively glanced at Louis.

"If it's not inconvenient..."

"It's not. I made enough."

Derek immediately sat down.

Louis looked at him expressionlessly.

Derek pretended not to notice.

Freya served the rice and sat opposite them.

After taking his first bite of the ribs, Derek's expression changed.

"Ms. Stone, this is really good."

"Thanks."

"You seriously knew how to cook all this time?"

Freya's hand paused.

Why did everyone keep asking that question?

She repeated the explanation she had given Louis. "There were cooks at home before. Why would I cook when someone else was already doing it?"

"That makes sense." Derek accepted the explanation far more easily than Louis had.

Freya breathed a silent sigh of relief.

During lunch, she noticed Louis ate considerably more than he had at breakfast.

Apparently, the problem hadn't been that he ate very little.

He simply preferred proper meals.

Freya silently revised her future grocery budget.

After lunch, Derek received a phone call and stepped onto the balcony.

Freya began clearing the dishes.

Louis picked up two plates.

"I'll help."

"No need."

"You cooked."

"And?"

"I'll wash the dishes."

Freya stared at him as though he had just announced he was going to perform surgery.

"Do you know how?"

Louis's expression went blank.

Freya immediately realized how insulting that sounded.

"Sorry. I mean... have you washed dishes before?"

"No."

"Then don't start today." She took the plates from him. "If you break one, we'll have to buy another. We're poor now. We can't afford unnecessary losses."

For the first time, Louis genuinely didn't know what to say.

Freya carried the plates into the kitchen.

Behind her, Derek had just returned from the balcony and heard the final sentence.

He lowered his head so quickly that his shoulders shook.

Louis looked at him coldly.

Derek immediately straightened.

"I didn't hear anything."

Louis ignored him.

But when his gaze drifted toward the kitchen, something unfamiliar lingered in his eyes.

For three years, this marriage had existed almost entirely on paper.

Freya had never asked where he went, when he returned, whether he had eaten, or whether he was tired. He had provided her with money, and she had stayed out of his life. It had been a simple arrangement, one he had never expected to change.

Yet after losing everything, he had somehow come home to warm meals, flowers on the dining table, groceries in the kitchen, and a wife warning him not to break a plate because they were poor.

Louis lowered his eyes.

He still didn't believe someone could change completely overnight.

But for the first time, he found himself genuinely curious about what Freya Stone was trying to do.