HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 63: An Unexpected face (2)

"....." Freya neither confirmed nor denied, her expression calm and unreadable. She only raised her gaze to Arabella, who obviously came with ill intentions.

"At least you’re aware of your shortcomings,’’ Arabella scoffed lightly.

Freya remained unperturbed, letting the jab roll off her. Arabella could interpret her silence however she pleased. She had no interest in making her intentions blatantly obvious, like Arabella and many other young misses vying for favor with the Kratos family.

To her, an easy and predictable woman would quickly become dull in the ever-changing preferences of powerful men.

"Do you believe in the rumors as well?" Freya asked shortly after, her tone calm but probing.

This wasn’t her first time of hearing such rumors. When they first came out, she had brought them up to her grandmother, who later assured her that they were not likely to be true. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Perhaps someone had intentions of spreading them.

Like Arabella or the Young miss Kingston herself.

This was why she had calm and curious thoughts earlier until her good-for-nothing cousin opened his mouth and addressed her that.

"Of course not." Arabella snorted, folding her arms with her disdain evident. "The engagement simply never existed in the first place.’’

Freya studied Arabella’s face for a moment before tugging her lips upward into a faint smile. ’’Alright, I understand.’’

’She doesn’t know anything.’ Her eyes flickered in disdain as she turned her gaze away.

Freya had assumed that Arabella would have held some sort of information concerning the rumors, but it seemed she had overestimated the latter.

Well, what did she expect from someone hopelessly self-absorbed in herself?

Compared to her, Arabella was very lucky. If only the arrogant young miss used her brain in the right directions.

If she were the Arabella, she would have found a way to develop a friendly relationship with the famed President Kingston. Let everyone be aware that they were close as sisters. Not like Arabella, who had destroyed the image of the sisterly relationship.

From there, she would be introduced to the Young master Kratos through her good-for-nothing cousin, and then do her best to win his heart.

As the well-known genius of the Easmond family, Freya had always set high standards for herself, and her expectations of a spouse were no different. To her, only someone like Young Master Kratos could ever match her caliber.

She had been opportune to meet him once, and that was during the funeral of his parents. That encounter had left a lasting impression on her. Unlike the other young masters, who were either intimidated by her reputation or too eager to impress her, Young Master Kratos had been entirely different.

Not only was he strikingly handsome back then, but he had exuded the essence of what she believed a true man and worthy spouse should have—wealth, status, good-looks and an unshakable presence.

Other young masters have always looked at her obvious intentions, but the Young master Kratos then, had nothing of sort in his gaze.

Such a person was destined to be her husband.

Her grandmother also had the same intentions as her, which was fortunate. She didn’t have to go to unnecessary blind dates.

’’Freya.’’

Freya looked at her mother, who gestured a subtle nod towards her.

’It’s time.’ She understood what the signal meant at heart. There was a presentation she had to give as the genius young miss of the Easmond family.

Many of her guests were well-known researchers and renowned medical doctors far and wide. Her actions would undoubtedly leave a good impression on them, and that would boost her reputation to the skies.

"I must excuse myself, Sister." Freya said, turning to Arabella, who seemed lost in her own thoughts. Whether the words registered or not, Freya offered a polite smile before stepping away with her mother.

Her heart was much calmer than compared to moments ago.

Although she still viewed her Arabella as nothing more than a foolish and self-absorbed person, but ironically, Arabella’s words helped soothe her unsettled mind.

Her cousin’s words clearly disturbed her mind, but she needed to be calm for her upcoming presentation.

’After tonight, I will investigate the truth behind these rumors myself.’ Freya’s expression remained poised, but her eyes gleamed with a strong resolve as she walked toward her moment in the spotlight.

****

At the same time, these interactions took place, Ayana was locked inside a guest room alongside her unexpected fiancé.

’’You...’’ Ayana struggled to find her words. ’’What are you doing here?’’

She certainly did not expect to see her fiancée.

’’I was invited.’’ Although there was a visible distance between them, his familiar voice rang out clearly in her ears.

’’...’’

Right.

Ayana’s face warmed up slightly as she lowered her gaze, feeling a bit awkward. How could she have asked such an obvious question?

’’I also wanted to see you.’’ Her gaze shot back up at his words, her hazel eyes widening slightly. She hadn’t expected such a direct confession from him.

’’W-Why?’’ Her voice trembled a bit. Such reflex felt shameful for someone like her who had always spoken to others in absolute confidence.

It was only in the presence of this man that she behaved like a teenage girl when her mental age wasn’t the same.

’’Do I need a reason to see my fiancée?’’ For some reason, she detected some sort of amusement in the tone of his voice. Was he perhaps laughing at her series of silly questions?

This stung the pride of the famed President Kingston.

’’Yes. You certainly do need a reason, young master Kratos.’’ This time, Ayana replied strongly as she straightened herself and confidently closed the distance between them. The cool breeze of the night caressed her face as she faced him outside and tilted her chin to meet his gaze.

’’So, why do you want to see me?’’ Her words came out with a sharp edge.

She and Axel might be engaged secretly. However, they were neither friends nor lovers. Even he held the position of a savior in her heart, she did not believe that he came to her without reason.

If it was a sense of duty, then he wasted his time as Matt was there to fill up for him as a partner. Besides, they have not agreed to announce their engagement just yet.

’’You seem irritated.’’ He observed, looking down at her.

’’That’s clearly your imagination, Young master Kratos.’’ Ayana shot back without hesitation. She definitely wouldn’t confirm that.

Silence followed afterwards as they held each other’s gaze outside the balcony. The atmosphere gradually became tensed with no words exchanged and neither willingly to surrender their gazes.

It was a silent tug between two strong-headed people like them.

’’We should start calling each other by our first names as fiancés.’’ He demanded out of nowhere, just when she was about to bid him farewell if he had nothing to say to her.

Ayana blinked in surprise. ’Our first names?’

What suddenly prompted this man to address the sense of formality between them?

’’I assumed we had gotten closer recently, but I guess that was simply my overconfidence.’’ He continued before she could address his words.

’’.....’’

’’You cried on that day as well. Am I wrong?’’ He added.

’’.....’’

’’I apologize if my words had disturbed you deeply that day, Ayana.’’ He expressed with an intensity in his eyes that she could not refute aside.