Chapter 58 58
FREYA POV
I didn't wait to answer Gladys, I just took a U turn out of the store and ran, I pushed through the glass doors of the store and ran.
"Freya! Wait! What’s wrong?" Gladys shouted from behind me, but her voice was just background noise right now.
I reached the car and fumbled with the keys. My hands were shaking so violently I could barely hit the unlock button. It wasn't because I was sad, maybe I’m shocked…Yes..It was a deep shock, so deep I didn't have a word for it.
Because. I didn't see this coming. Not even in a million years of my life.
I got behind the wheel and tore out of the parking lot. I drove with a speed that was reckless. Other drivers honked their horns; some probably called me a madwoman as I swerved through lanes, but I didn't care. The only thing I could see was the road and the memory of that ten-million-dollar figure in my head.
Tears started flowing down my face, hot and fast. I kept muttering to myself, my voice thick with sobs.
"Why? Why me?"
I didn't understand. What was so special about me? He had already done enough. He saved me from Mark, he gave me a home, he protected Luna. And now this? It was too much. It was more than anyone had ever given me in my entire life.
When I reached the estate, I didn't slow down. I sped through the gates so fast the guards had to snap their heads around to look at my direction. I didn't care about the tires screeching on the gravel. I slammed the car into park right at the front entrance, threw the door open, and stepped out.
And luckily, I saw them immediately.
Steve and Luna were right at the entrance of the door, just about to head inside. Steve had his hand on the doorframe, looking back over his shoulder at the sound of my arrival.
I didn't even wipe my face. I just ran.
I threw myself at him, jumping into his arms with a force that would have knocked any other man over. I wrapped my arms around his neck in a tight, desperate hug. I buried my face into his shoulder and just started crying. I didn't mind the guards watching. I just held onto him like he was the only solid thing left in the world.
"Freya?" His voice was low, rumbled against my chest. His large hands came up, hovering for a second before they locked around my waist, holding me firm.
I couldn't even speak. I just sobbed into his shirt, clutching the fabric in my fists. I had spent so long being handled like trash by Mark. Now, being held like this, after finding out what he did for me, I felt like I was finally breaking—but in a good way.
"Mommy? Why are you crying?" Luna’s small voice came from somewhere near our knees.
Steve didn't pull away. He just tightened his grip on me, his chin resting on top of my head.
"She’s okay, flower," Steve said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Your mom is just having a moment."
" millions of dollars, Steve," I choked out into his shoulder. "Why?"
I stayed there, buried in his chest, my breath cut through as the tears finally began to slow down. Steve didn’t push me away. He just stood there like a mountain, holding me while the world felt like it was spinning.
He leaned down, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. His voice was a low, rough murmur that only I could hear.
"I told you once before, Freya," he whispered. "You need to learn how to make better use of your tears. Crying over a bank balance is a waste of water."
A shaky, wet laugh escaped my throat. Even now, when he had just changed my entire life, he couldn't help being a bit of a jerk. I pulled back just enough to look up at him. My eyes were red and my face was a mess, but the intensity in his gaze made my heart skip.
I really wanted to call him a possessive scumbag. I wanted to scream that he couldn't just buy my life without asking. But I looked down and saw Luna watching us with wide, curious eyes. I swallowed the insults and just balled my hand into a fist, hitting him squarely in the chest.
It was like hitting a brick wall. He didn't even flinch.
"You are unbelievable," I said, my voice still thick. I looked at him, trying to convey everything I couldn't say out loud. "I... I think I'm going to need a very long lesson on how to say a big enough thank you for this."
A slow, dark smirk spread across his face. "I'm a very patient teacher, Freya. We can start that lesson whenever you're ready."
"Mommy?" Luna called out again, She looked worried, her little brows pinched together. "Why are you hitting Uncle Hulk? Is he in trouble?"
The sound of her voice snapped me back to reality. I took a deep breath, wiped my cheeks with the palms of my hands, and forced a smile. I knelt down to her size, opening my arms wide.
"No, baby," I said softly as she stepped into my embrace. I hugged her tight, breathing in the scent of sunshine and the garden on her hair. "Uncle Hulk isn't in trouble. Mommy is just... she's just very, very happy."
Luna pulled back, looking from me to Steve. "Is it because of the horse?"
"Yes," I lied, looking up at Steve over her shoulder. Luna didn’t stop there. She was vibrating with excitement, her small hands gesturing wildly as she started telling me every detail of her afternoon.
“Mommy, you won't believe it!” she chirped, her eyes sparkling. “Uncle Hulk just rode me on his bike! It was so fast! And he promised to ride me on a real horse next time. A big one!”
I stayed on my knees, level with her, as she kept talking and talking. Every word she said felt like a gift. As she spoke, fresh tears rolled down my cheeks. They weren't like the tears from before; these were quiet. I just kept nodding, hanging on to every word she said.
In this moment, I realized I had found joy everywhere. It wasn't just the money or the store. It was the fact that my daughter was safe and laughing.
I looked around the foyer. Aside from Steve, there was Nana, who watched over us like a silent guardian. There was Ben, and even the mysterious Diana. All the love and security I had never received from my own family or from Mark was coming through these people now. It wasn't just coming in small bits; it was coming in a thousand-fold.
Everything I had ever been denied was being poured into my life at once.