?Chapter 1111:


    They met at a cozy restaurant, the kind with soft lighting and warm vibes.


    At first, they kept things light, chatting about nothing serious over drinks.


    Soon, n leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes.


    “So, what’s this about, man?”


    Ellis met his gaze steadily. “You didn’t buy what I told you the other night, did you?”


    “Huh?” n’s face was a picture of confusion.


    “You think I’m stepping out on Freya, don’t you?” Ellis asked, his voice smooth as he sat there, sharp in his tailored suit.


    “Why would I think that?” n blinked, thrown off bnce. “You said the woman you met that day was the designer working on the rings. You cleared it up—why would I doubt you?”


    Ellis’s eyes locked onto n’s, searching for a crack in his story. n just looked more puzzled, like he was trying to solve a riddle with half the pieces missing.


    “If you didn’t doubt me, why have someone tail me?” Ellis asked, cutting straight to the point, as he always did with those he trusted.


    n opened his mouth to protest but froze, remembering the favor Freya had asked a few days back—to keep an eye on Ellis, to make sure he didn’t cross paths with her.


    “Uh…” n fumbled, caught off guard. He couldn’t spill the real reason, so he dodged. “Would you believe me if I said I had a good excuse?”


    “Yeah.”


    “Really?”


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    Ellis nodded, unruffled.


    “I swear, I wasn’t doubting you. I took your word for it.” n hadn’t expected to get caught like this. “But I can’t tell you why I did it.”


    Telling the truth would mean betraying Freya, and that was a line he wouldn’t cross.


    A spark shed in Ellis’s eyes, and his lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. “This is about Freya, isn’t it?” he said, his voice low and steady.


    “How’d you—” n stopped himself, then pivoted fast. “Why bring her into this? She’s got nothing to do with it.”


    “Didn’t you meet up with her that same night?” Ellis countered, catching n’s stunned expression. “I just found out myself.”


    “So, do you know why she’s here?” n pressed, fishing for more.


    “Not entirely. But it’s not for work.” Ellis’s tone was smooth, every move calm and graceful. “If she doesn’t want me to know, I won’t pry.”


    “You’re not worried she’s cheating on you?” n asked, his lips tightening, hoping to nudge Ellis into digging deeper.


    He secretly wished Ellis would uncover Freya’s n to propose. But Ellis always gave Freya her space. If she wasn’t ready to share, he wouldn’t push. He trusted her to open up when the time was right.


    “No way,” Ellis said, a warm smile lighting his eyes, the kind that only came when he thought of her. “I’ve got faith in her.”


    “That’s solid,” n said aloud, but inside, he was screaming in frustration. How could Ellis be so clueless at the worst possible moment? Wasn’t he going to investigate at all?


    Freya’s proposal n was a sure thing now.


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