She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 130 Handle Him However You Need To

Hugh had never been one to grace the kitchen with his presence. It wasn't a place he sought out; in fact, he often kept his distance, preferring to let a cook handle the preparations. The kitchen had always seemed more like an unfamiliar territory, a place where he didn't belong

But now, here he was, standing over a stove, actually cooking.

"When you got back to Jeucwell, Dad started experimenting with recipes all by himself," Ethel remarked, an amused grin dancing on her face. “He burned through a lot of ingredients before he finally nailed today's

recipes."

Freya, for her part, wasn't picky about food. As long as it was edible and safe, she was content.

Yet, Hugh always went above and beyond to impress her. He believed she deserved nothing less than the best, even if it meant stepping far outside his comfort zone.

"Come on, try my cooking," Ethel urged, coaxing Freya closer as she offered a piece of succulent pork bathed in a savory sauce. "These are my specialties. What do you think?"

"It's delicious," Freya responded with a contented smile, her senses delighting in the rich yet delicate flavor. “It's well-seasoned and fragrant.”

Ethel beamed, her face lighting up with pure joy.

In that instant, Hugh appeared from the kitchen, holding a bowl of soup, still wearing his apron.

His face brightened when he saw Freya and, with eager steps, he made his way toward her, proudly holding the bowl aloft. "Mina, you're back," he said warmly, his smile wide and filled with relief.

"Yes," Freya replied, her face softening at the sight of him.

Hugh glanced at the table. "Let's eat."

"Alright," Freya responded, settling into her seat.

Ethel joined her, taking her place at the table, but Hugh remained standing. There was a gleam in his eyes, a quiet joy in simply seeing Freya at the table with him.

Freya noticed his stillness and asked, "Isn't it hot?"

"Huh?" Hugh blinked in surprise.

It was only then that he realized how hot the soup was, its steam rising in a lazy swirl. With a hiss, he hastily placed it down, clearly embarrassed.

Ethel burst into laughter, teasing him. "Dad, you're hilarious!"

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Hugh's cheeks flushed with a crimson hue, his embarrassment plain.

He quickly removed his apron and joined Freya and Ethel at the table.

He quickly shed the apron and joined Freya and Ethel at the table. Freya, with a gentle smile, took the ladle and served Hugh a bowl of soup, handing it to him.

For a fleeting moment, Hugh froze, staring at the bowl in his hands. His heart swelled in his chest. His eyes. shimmered with emotion, a single tear slipping free, betraying him despite his best efforts.

"Dad, tears won't make the soup taste better," Ethel teased, her words light- hearted and full of warmth.

Hugh chuckled, wiping away the tear, his eyes still red but filled with tenderness.

He took a spoon and began sipping the soup, savoring the warmth that filled him with comfort. He drank slowly, as though each drop carried with it a moment of peace.

Two years had passed, and Freya was finally willing to share a meal with him again.

As Hugh watched her, Freya's chest tightened, a heavy, unexplained weight settling inside her. It was a strange sensation, one she couldn't name-an odd pressure that lingered, gnawing quietly at her.

"Let's eat first," Freya said, her voice taking on a subtle shift. "I need to talk to you afterward."

*Alright," Hugh responded softly, his voice thick with emotion.

The meal continued, but the atmosphere was different.

The conversation slowed, and the food began to cool, left forgotten as they lingered at the table.noveldrama

Hugh's thoughts were simple. He wasn't sure when he'd get another chance to sit and eat with Freya. He cherished this fleeting moment, as if it were a rare treasure, something he could never take for granted.

For Freya, however, her thoughts were occupied with how to approach the subject of Edwin.

Cheryl was Edwin's younger sister. If Hugh married Cheryl, then Edwin would legally become his brother-in-law.

If Edwin were imprisoned, it would certainly affect both Cheryl and Hugh.

This was a conversation that needed to happen.

It was half-past eight when Hugh finally placed his fork down, signaling the end of the meal.

Freya had eaten, but she hadn't done much else. With the cook off for the day, it seemed only right that she help clean up.

But before she could move, Hugh rose, taking the dishes from the table. "You and Sheila go watch TV. I'll take care of this," Hugh insisted.

Freya didn't argue. He was determined, and she let him have his way.

On the sofa, Ethel nibbled on fruit, her eyes narrowing with curiosity as she glanced at Freya. "Mina, what's the secret between you and Dad that I don't know? Don't just brush me off with 'you're still young'; I'm almost twenty, you know."

"I'll tell you later," Freya responded, a faint smile curving her lips.

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< Chapter 130 Handle Him However You Heed To

The two of them sat together on the sofa-one engrossed in the TV, the other quietly contengutang, the

conversation yet to come.

Fifteen minutes later, Hugh returned, having finished cleaning up.

He settled onto a single sofa and turned to Freya, his voice gentle. "What did you want to talk about?

"I'm going to send Edwin Newman to prison," Freya said bluntly, her word coming out like a calm declaration

"If everything goes as planned, he'll be sentenced to ten to twenty years."

Hugh and Ethel exchanged a look of surprise, then both blurted out in unison, "That's it?"

Freya frowned. Wasn't this something Hugh cared about?

"Handle him however you need to," Hugh reassured her, his voice steady, "Don't let it weigh on you."

Freya felt a weight lift from her chest. "Alright."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Oh, okay," Hugh replied simply.

The conversation meandered on, brief and intermittent.

Ethel sighed, observing the exchange,

Her father, a master of smooth talk in the business world, seemed at a loss for words with her sister.

"Dad, didn't you say you'd deal with Kristian at Lionel's birthday party in Jeucwell

on the 15th?" Ethel probed, trying to find another topic. "Have you figured out how to handle it?"

Hugh hesitated, his gaze flicking toward Freya,

Ethel caught the shift. "Why are you looking at Mina when I asked the question?"

Hugh froze, flustered. Ethel was being deliberately provocative.

"I bet you can't handle him," Ethel said, her tone suddenly serious.

"Impossible!" Hugh retorted, instinctively defensive.

Ethel's grin was mischievous.

Freya glanced over, and Hugh felt a brief pang of panic.

He had failed to intimidate Kristian enough before. Her daughter wouldn't think he lacked authority as a father, would she?

The thought unsettled him, and he found himself wishing he could rewrite history, assert himself more effectively in that moment.

"You don't need to teach him a lesson," Freya interjected decisively. "I've divorced him. The less involvement,

the better."

Hugh, realizing there was nothing left to say, quietly agreed. "Alright."

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Chapter 130 Handle Him However You Need To

He didn't argue, though a quiet bitterness lingered within him toward Kristian.

As there was nothing else to discuss, Freya stood. "I'm going upstairs. Come to me if you need anything."

"Alright." Hugh wanted to keep her there, but deep down, he knew he'd have nothing meaningful to say. He wouldn't know how to start the conversation, even if he tried.

She didn't want to talk about family matters or Kristian. And after a long day at work, the last thing she needed was a talk about the company.

Ethel shook her head in amusement, casually holding a snack pack. "Dad, is 'alright' the only thing you can say? In that case, how are you supposed to start a conversation with Freya?"

Ethel dramatized, placing her hand over her heart. "In my opinion, you should say, 'Why go upstairs? Leaving so soon after dinner? Don't you want to spend more time with me? I'm your dad, after all. Don't you even see me as one?**

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