She Took The House The Car And My Heart novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53 Emulating Felipe’s Tactics

“Alright, you two, enough about women,” Felipe interrupted, weariness evident in his voice. “Can’t we shift to another topic?”

“Have you resolved your problem?” Kristian inquired, his sour mood apparent as he deliberately tried to dampen his friend’s spirits.

Felipe hesitated mid–pour, then responded with feigned casualness, “Only things that trouble me deserve to be called problems. What I’m experiencing doesn’t even register on that scale.”

“Have you discovered who fathered her child?” Kristian pressed deliberately, twisting the knife.

Felipe slammed his glass onto the table, his composure finally cracking. “How exactly am I supposed to determine that? You understand how chaotic the entertainment industry is. Directors, producers, co–stars–she herself probably can’t identify the father of her child.”

A heavy silence descended between Kristian and Zander.

“You’re exaggerating,” Zander ventured after a moment. “I believe she’s quite a committed actress.”

“Is there anyone you actually dislike?” Felipe snapped, his temper flaring. “She’s wonderful, Freya’s wonderful -apparently everyone you’ve ever encountered is wonderful.”

Zander retreated into silence.

Felipe drained his drink in one swift motion, attempting to quell the frustration simmering within him.

The thought of his wife carrying another man’s child constricted his chest painfully.

“If it bothers you this much, why not divorce her?” Zander suggested, striking a vulnerable spot. “She seems quite eager to end things with you.”

A cold gleam flashed in Felipe’s eyes as he retorted, “If I divorce her, how else can I make her understand what betrayal truly feels like?”

“You’re crazy,” Zander concluded bluntly.

Felipe had no desire to remain any longer or continue the conversation.

He stood abruptly and addressed Kristian, “I’m heading out. Enjoy yourselves.”

As he prepared to leave, he seemed to recall something important.

He extracted a small perfume bottle from his pocket, spritzed himself generously, then produced a fresh lipstick. He applied it to his palm and pressed it against his collar, creating a distinct mark.

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Both Zander and Kristian watched his peculiar ritual with bewilderment.

Kristian wrinkled his nose at the overpowering fragrance. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Giving her a taste of her own medicine,” Felipe explained dispassionately, discarding both items as he spoke with unsettling calmness.

“That’s certainly an unconventional approach,” Zander remarked.

“What an absolute fool,” Kristian muttered.

“I can hardly find an actual woman to leave lipstick and perfume on me,” Felipe explained matter–of–factly, displaying no embarrassment. “She betrayed me once; I’ll ensure she experiences that sting of betrayal repeatedly.”

“If she no longer cares for you, no amount of perceived betrayal will affect her,” Zander cautioned. “But if she still harbors feelings, this could deeply upset her, and stress isn’t beneficial for a pregnant woman. It might harm the baby.”

Felipe’s posture stiffened momentarily before he dismissed the concern with a wave. “It’s not my child, so why should that concern me?”

With those words, he departed.

However, both Zander and Kristian noticed him discreetly wiping away the lipstick mark as he exited.

“Let’s leave as well,” Zander suggested to Kristian.

Kristian’s gaze lingered on the abandoned lipstick and perfume, his eyes darkening perceptibly. “You go ahead.” “Okay.” Zander donned his mask and hat before departing.

At eleven that night, Freya had just returned home from her meeting with Trent and finished showering.

As she prepared for bed, her phone vibrated, capturing her attention. She answered on speaker, “Gerard?” “Yes.” Gerard glanced nervously at his boss in the back seat, steeling himself before continuing, “I need to discuss something with you. Are you at home currently?”

“I am,” Freya confirmed.

She had a good impression of Gerard, appreciating his courage to stand against Kristian.

Gerard felt a surge of remorse, mentally apologizing to Freya repeatedly as he replied, “I’ll come up to see you then.”

“Alright.”

The call disconnected abruptly.

Gerard pressed his lips together anxiously, glancing at Kristian. “I’ve completed the task as requested.”

“I’ll overlook your previous indiscretion, but should it happen again, your position at Shaw Group will be terminated,” Kristian stated firmly, draping his suit jacket over his arm, his crisp white shirt contrasting

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Chapter 53 Emulating Felipe’s Tactics

sharply with his dark trousers.

“Understood completely,” Gerard acknowledged.

Kristian exited the vehicle with purposeful movements, striding foward Freya’s residential building.

“Wait!” Gerard called after him.

Kristian paused, his chiseled features emanating a cool detachment, accentated by the stark white of his shi against the evening darkness.

“Should I perhaps secure accommodations nearby where you might refresh yourself before meeting Ms. Briggs Gerard suggested tactfully, his eyes briefly noting the telltale lipstick smear on Kristian’s collar.

When Kristian had summoned him at nine o’clock for transportation, he had responded without hesitation. However, the sight that greeted him–his immaculate boss marked with lipstick and enveloped in heav perfume–had been utterly unexpected.

Even during Kristian’s relationship with Ashley, such evidence of intimacy had never been visible. Thei physical contact had rarely extended beyond consoling gestures.

Yet tonight, the lipstick stain and overwhelming fragrance suggested considerable proximity with someone.

Kristian responded with biting coldness, “Am I required to bathe and change clothing before I’m permitted in her presence?”