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Chapter 23
‘But…….’
But Mother was dead. Because of that, the only person she had ever considered family was gone. Freya bit her lip, unable to make an easy decision.
“The road is really congested.”
As they reached the bridge over the Shurinn River, the car that had been gliding smoothly slowed to a crawl and soon came to a stop.
“Looks like downtown’s nightlife is beginning.”
Blake spoke offhandedly, as if the gridlock was familiar. At his words, Freya looked around.
The sun had already dipped its red head beneath the river, summoning the night. Across the capital’s lifeline of water, lights began to bloom on the opposite shore.
That land was Blake’s creation—a planned city born from his hands. It was a stepping stone that fed countless mouths and gave the youth a place to nurture their dreams.
“Freya Swan……?”
A startled voice made Freya turn her head. In the car beside them, a couple gawked, their eyes darting between her and Blake.
Now that she noticed, most of the cars on the road had their tops down. Some were crammed with passengers sitting shoulder to shoulder.
Because the bridge was still jammed, Freya felt like an animal trapped in a zoo cage, forced to endure whispers from every direction.
Blake glanced back at her as she hastily covered her face with her hand.
“Ah. I forgot to close the roof. By tomorrow morning, gossip about Miss Swan and me may be all over town. But if you’d just sign the documents, this scandal could transform into a successful business partnership instead of a sordid affair……”
Just then, the car began creeping forward again. Hearing the faint amusement in his voice, Freya realized he had planned this situation.
There were other routes to downtown—less crowded ones, though longer. He had deliberately chosen this. Freya glared at him. She really did not want to work under him.
“If you keep glaring at me like that, won’t people think I kidnapped you?”
Sensing her sharp gaze, Blake teased gently. Freya sighed and eased the tension around her eyes.
The car crossed the bridge and gradually descended. Entering the forest of skyscrapers, rows of buildings adorned with dazzling lights lined the streets.
It was nothing like the neighborhood where the Swan estate or their townhouse stood. The commercial district was noisy, filled with music and shouts. Just looking at it made her dizzy and nauseous.
She considered asking Blake to close the roof but stopped herself. Even such a small request might come with an outrageous price.
Clutching her chest, she looked up at the Harperd Company’s towering building.
It was so tall that her neck ached before she could glimpse the top. Freya felt an uneasy premonition—that this lofty height might one day become the perspective she’d be forced to live with forever.
The inside of Harperd Company’s building was as lavish as its exterior. Freya tried not to gawk, but her eyes kept drifting to the fountain in the lobby and the exotic carpets spread across the floor.
Most astonishing was how cold it was inside, even in midsummer. She had heard that department stores and theaters in big cities sometimes used air-conditioning, but since she rarely went out, this was her first time seeing it.
Seeing the employees’ neat, dry hair reminded her of Nancy, who used to fan her while dripping with sweat.
“Miss Nancy is in the conference room.”
Blake pressed the button for the top floor as he spoke. As the elevator soared upward, Freya felt her knees go weak. It wasn’t her first time in one, but new inventions always filled her with dread.
She forced herself to hide her fear of the elevator dropping and asked,
“The conference room……?”
“Yes. Sometimes meetings run all night. To prepare for that, we built a penthouse on the top floor, where simple meals and rest are possible. The view is excellent. I think it’s a very suitable place for Miss Nancy to recuperate.”
“Thank you…… for the kindness.”
“No need to mention it.”
Blake tilted his head politely. After an awkward silence, they finally arrived at the top floor. A guard recognized Blake and opened the conference room door.
“Miss!”
The moment the door opened, Nancy, who had been pacing anxiously, rushed out like an arrow. Freya hugged her, patting her back as she sobbed.
“It’s all right, Nancy. Everything’s all right now.”
Blake watched their tearful reunion with indifference before strolling into the kitchen. The clinking of dishes followed, then his voice rang out:
“Coffee? Tea? Or perhaps some strong liquor to forget reality?”
He grinned mischievously, swirling a glass of whiskey. Freya looked at his sly smile and answered,
“Coffee…… please.”
Soon the aroma of coffee filled the air. Freya guided the still-crying Nancy to the long sofa. As Nancy wiped her tears, she said,
“That damned man. He really planned to lock you in a mental hospital.”
“What exactly happened?”
“On the day of the engagement, I was worried about you and went to your room—just to check if you were sleeping well. But your bed was empty, thunder was booming outside, and then I found a candlestick fallen in front of the Count’s room.”
Nancy took a breath before continuing.
“And then I heard Rachel’s voice from inside the Count’s room. I had a bad feeling, so I pressed my ear to the door.”
Her clenched fists trembled at the memory.
‘Really, is it okay not to go after Miss Swan? She can’t possibly endure weather like this.’
‘Jacob, I told you already. Be strong. You are the master of the Swan estate—not that little girl.’
‘But Rachel, putting her in an asylum seems too cruel. She treated me kindly. She’s done nothing wrong……’
‘Don’t tell me you love Freya Swan? Are you confessing that in front of me?’
‘Of course not. You’re the only one for me, you know that. I just pity her. After losing both parents, her relatives all ganged up to brand her insane. We might end up in hell for this.’
‘Hell? Jacob, you don’t know the meaning of hell. Do you know what it was like for me, enduring how your son treated me?’
‘That was only because you said we should keep our relationship secret……’
‘Of course. Having a child too early was bad enough—I didn’t want to rot away as the wife of a country bumpkin. Unlike my father, you have Swan blood. I knew this day would come eventually.’
‘Rachel…….’
‘Enough talk. Contact Mr. Spencer right away. And get that quack doctor, too.’
Nancy wiped her tears with the back of her hand as she went on.
“But then the housekeeper caught me. Damn them…… All the servants at the townhouse had sided with Jacob. They said they’d use me to threaten you, so I ran for my life. Thankfully, Mr. Harperd helped me.”
“It was only the right thing to do,” Blake said, setting three cups of coffee on the table. He sat down leisurely across from Freya and pulled a silver cigar case from his pocket.
Nancy glanced nervously at Freya. Freya loathed tobacco and cigars—just the faintest whiff made her cough and flee.
Snap—
But what Blake pulled out was a cigar-shaped chocolate. He casually bit off a piece and sipped his coffee.
“So you thought I meant to trick Miss Swan from the start…… Why are you looking at me like that? Ah, you thought this was a cigar case, didn’t you?”
“T-tastes differ, after all.”
“I’ve always disliked smoking. When I need to think, nothing works better than sweets. And this chocolate costs more than many fine cigars. Would you like one?”
“No, thank you.”
“Ah, that’s right. Miss Swan doesn’t like sweets.”
“Huh? My lady doesn’t?”
Nancy looked at him, puzzled. Blake, realizing his slip, quickly changed the subject.
“I’ve dragged this out long enough. Let’s get to the point. Given how things stand, neither of you can return to the Swan estate. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to spend the rest of your life in an asylum.”
Freya nodded calmly.
“Mr. Blake is right. I have no intention of going back. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be a model for Harperd Company.”
“Model? You? For Harperd? What?”
Nancy blinked between the two, not understanding. Blake clicked his tongue, folding his arms.
“Ha! I saved you from being locked in a madhouse, and this is how you repay me? Ungrateful indeed.”
“Thank you for saving me. But business is a separate matter. I want to negotiate.”
