?Chapter 1226:


    Freya stood her ground. “But this time I really mean it.”<fnef37> Official source is f?ndnovel</fnef37>


    “And when have you ever not meant it?” Ellis arched a brow at her.


    She didn’t even like her phone that much. But once she got into the zone on herputer, time just slipped away. He couldn’t overlook that.


    “If you say no, I’ll be upset.” Freya gave his hand a gentle squeeze and looked up at him with those radiant peach blossom eyes. “The doctor said a pregnant woman’s happiness is important.”


    Ellis’s lips curved as he gave her slightly round cheek a teasing pinch. “You love pulling that card. Think I can’t stand to see you unhappy?”


    “Exactly.” Freya’s smile was faint, but undeniably sweet.


    He pinched her cheek again. She was sly, no doubt about it. She always made arguments impossible to win. “You want to help Greta?” Ellis asked.


    “Yes.” Freya nodded with honest conviction. She wasn’t trying to hide anything. “She wants to leave the country, and I want to help her cover her tracks.”


    Ellis didn’t let her go. “If you help her, she might just end up spending a few more years apart from the guy she actually likes.”


    Freya blinked. She stared at him, confused. “You lost me.”


    “Didn’t you notice she’s into that man?” Ellis started feeding her nonsense with a straight face.


    Freya thought about it, then shook her head.


    So far, the most she’d noticed was that Greta seemed vaguely intrigued by Noel, but “liking” him? That didn’t track. If she really liked him, she wouldn’t be asking for an escape n.


    “It’s not surprising if you didn’t pick up on it. There’s been a lot going on between her and Noel these past few months. If you help her now, you could end up ruining their little game.”


    Freya’s interest was piqued. “Game?”


    “A good old-fashioned game of cat and mouse. She runs, he chases,” Ellis replied slowly, his voice rich and smooth like warm velvet.


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    Freya tilted her head, puzzled. Why was this the first she was hearing of it? “When I was chasing you, did you want anyone interfering?” Ellis asked pointedly.


    Freya gave it some thought. “Didn’t really matter.” Whether there were interruptions or not, if fate wanted them together, they’d end up that way. If not, then nothing could force it.


    “But I didn’t feel that way,” Ellis said softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I wanted to win you over little by little, and be happy—just like we are now.”


    Freya instinctively turned to look at him. Their eyes met. And something unspoken passed quietly between them.


    “But…” Freya still wavered.


    “Let me put it another way.” Ellis wasn’t done with his ploy.


    Freya nodded. “Go ahead.”


    “In a one-on-one live shooter game, do you think it’s better if both yers rely on skill, or should one of them cheat with some invisibility hack?” Ellis guided her thoughts with care.


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