10
.
At the door, Saige spoke respectfully. “Mr. and Mrs. Laurent, the conference is about to start.”
I rose from my seat. Harper, smiling sweetly, stepped forward to neaten the lapels of my suit jacket, then fastened my tie for
- me.
I drew in a deep breath, ready to head out, only to suddenly think of Freya.”
Without meaning to, I asked, “Has my wife arrived?”
Saige’s expression flickered with confusion.
It was only then that I realized–right now, “my wife” no longer referred solely to Freya.
That thought stirred an odd feeling in my chest. I had forced Freya to surrender her title as my wife, and worse, to publicly acknowledge that her husband belonged with another woman–his mistress./
e too far.
Thinking of it now… I realized I had gone
My brows furrowed. “Haut
Freya arrived?“\
This time, Wolter understood we meant. He quickly bowed his head in unease.
“Sir, Ma’am Freya hasn’t arrived yet.“”
The moment I heard that she was still absent, my expression darkened.”
“What do you mean she’s not here yet? Call her right now. The conference is about to start!“}
“Yes, sir,” Saige replied hastily.”
But with the event minutes away from beginning, there was no time to wait for Freya to appear.
Taking Harper’s hand, I turned and led her toward the red carpet outside.
The venue was already a sea of noise and flashing lights.
Cameras of all sizes swung toward us
shutters clicking furiously.”
In contrast to my impassive face, Harper’s was glowing with smiles.
As we stepped onto the red carpet, reporters fired questions at us nonstop.
I ignored them entirely. Harper, wanting to respond, had no chance to pause; I kept pulling her forward without slowing.”
When we finally reached the microphones, I knew I should be smiling.
But I couldn’t.”
My mind was fixed on the fact that Freya still hadn’t arrived.
I was torn between worry and irritation.
She had promised to attend. Yet she hadn’t shown up.
Was it because she couldn’t bear to see me standing beside Harper?
The thought pricked my heart with an unfamiliar ache.
But there was no time to dwell on it.\
The microphone was already in front of me. It was time to announce Harper’s identity to the world.
D
6:11 AM P
Rodney’s POV
