NovelOnlineChapter 844: The gended, and Lionel wandered into the backyard.
Every step he took stirred up memories-Freya painting under the sun, sharing stories in the breeze, guiding his hand over the chessboard. Only now did he realize why this Christmas felt dimmer than years before. Freya wasn't with them. Kristian had driven away the light in his winter.
Freya completely cut off contact with Kristian the moment the chess match cto an end.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe stared at the phone resting in her palm, torn between dialing Lionel or letting the impulse pass. After several long minutes of inner debate, she chose not to call. Reaching out now might make it seem like Kristian had urged her to do so, and that could stir guilt in Lionel. It was better to wait until tomorrow. A holiday greeting on Christmas wouldn't seem suspicious.
With her thoughts finally in order, she set aside her worries, at least for the tbeing, and made her way downstairs.
The next day, Freya, Ethel, and Hugh joined Winslow for lunch. That evening, they headed back to Miguel's for dinner.
Surprisingly, Miguel refrained from criticizing Freya this year. For once, the evening was warm, festive, and full of good cheer.
After dinner, Freya picked up the phone and called Lionel to send her Christmas wishes.
Lionel's voice lit up with boyish excitement the moment he heard her. He was delighted beyond words, showering her with blessing after blessing, chatting on and on, unwilling to let the moment end. Their conversation stretched on for nearly an hour before Lionel, though reluctant, finally brought the call to a close. By eleven, Miguel had already retreated to his room for the night. Ethel glanced over and saw Freya quietly gazing out at the fireworks.
"Mina, what are you thinking about?" More chapters gvlnovo "Nothing," Freya replied, her eyes still fixed on the stars in the sky.
This marked her first Christmas at hsince their mother had passed, and the moment carried a bittersweet weight. The past two Christmases had been spent at the Shaw family's residence-lively enough, yes, but they lacked the deep, aching nostalgia of tonight. Ethel gently linked arms with her. "You don't need to say it. I know you're thinking about Mom." Freya froze, caught off guard.
"When you weren't here those two years, Dad and I would sit together, missing both you and Mom," Ethel said softly. "We'd talk about you a lot, wondering where you were, and whether you were doing okay." "Mina," Ethel said again, her voice dipping just enough to call her attention.
"Yes?" Freya murmured.
"In just over twenty days, it'll be your birthday," Ethel said, her tone lifting into a lighter rhythm. She had always remembered Freya's birthday, never once forgetting. "Is there anything you're hoping for this year? Any wish you want to ctrue?"
"Not really," Freya answered, her voice detached. d. Birthdays didn't carry much weight anymore. The older she got, the less they meant to her.
But Ethel wasn't one to give up so easily. She had every intention of celebrating it. She was just about to reveal her plans when a call from Jarrett interrupted.
Not wanting to eavesdrop on their lively exchange, Freya quietly got up and wandered elsewhere.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
