Chapter 200 Old Friends Meet

"Well..." Freya hesitated, struggling to find a good excuse.

Her heart was racing for no clear reason.

It had been a while since she last saw Alfred alone.

There wasn't any particular reason for it.

They were both just busy with their own lives.

Besides, ever since she was a teenager, Shadow had sent her to Samuel's side to help handle various troublesome matters.

Over time, Freya naturally began to see herself as Samuel's person.

Now, getting closer to Alfred seemed a bit inappropriate.

"What, you don't want to?" Samuel's suspicion was piqued by Freya's hesitation.

His deep eyes emitted a dangerous glint, making Freya feel a chill down to her bones.

She quickly lowered her head. "I wouldn't dare."

Samuel was quite satisfied with Freya's loyalty, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face. "Good. Help me find out which woman is around Alfred."

Alfred kept his heart closed as tightly as a stone that refused to bloom.

But once he accepted someone, he would tightly control them, never allowing them to leave or betray him.

This personality wasn't exactly great.

But sometimes, it could be the best way to be exploited.

Gabriella was the best example. Initially, Alfred had hoped to use her to gather more useful information bit by bit.

But in the end, Gabriella would rather die than stay by his side.

Did all the women Alfred took a liking to behave extremely?

Samuel couldn't figure it out. The only thing he could do was have his people investigate this matter carefully, hoping for a breakthrough.

Despite her extreme dissatisfaction, Freya had no way out and could only grit her teeth and persist.

"Don't worry. As long as you handle this well, I won't treat you poorly." Samuel's eyes softened considerably. As if the previous coldness was just a facade.

Freya forced a smile. "I understand."

Then she turned to her own tasks.

Samuel, sitting on the sofa, looked much more relaxed.

Having someone who once knew Alfred best try to open Alfred's heart again shouldn't be too difficult. It would also test Freya's loyalty.

If something really happened on Alfred's side, Freya would surely find out.

The midday sun was gentle, and today was a rare holiday.

Gabriella didn't bring Charles along but instead wandered the nearby streets alone, letting the sunlight bathe her.

The daily routine of home and work could wear anyone down, even the toughest person. Occasionally sneaking out to escape those constraints was a great pleasure for Gabriella.

There were no noisy office sounds or Charles calling for his mom, just the faint sound of the wind brushing her cheeks and the chirping of sparrows in the trees.

Nothing seemed to have changed here; it was almost the same as two years ago. Every weekend, many people flocked to the downtown shopping street.

Some came to shop and treat themselves, while others were simply bored. Whether they were wealthy heiresses or poor students from nearby schools, everyone could find something of interest here.

Even Gabriella was occasionally drawn to the small trinkets displayed in the stores, a smile appearing on her face.

Suddenly, a hand patted Gabriella's shoulder.

Gabriella turned around to see a pair of smiling eyes. The person was delighted to see her. "Are you Gabriella?"

The person had a youthful face, looking so cute that people often mistook her for being younger, which had been a lifelong annoyance for her.

Gabriella hesitated for a second, then her eyes widened in surprise. "Azalea?"

Azalea Gray's face lit up with a smile. "I can't believe you still remember me."

"How could I forget?"

In elementary school, Gabriella had moved several times with her mom.

The most memorable move was when she met Azalea.

Although they lived on an old street, kids didn't pay much attention to their surroundings. They only remembered their friends and whether they had fun.

Friendships back then were simple. As long as two people got along, they would stick together.

Though Gabriella and Azalea didn't spend much time together, Azalea left a deep impression on Gabriella.

"I saw you from a distance and thought it might be you. I had to come over and check. I can't believe we met again." Azalea's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Old friends always had a lot to catch up on.

They stood on the street, chatting until lunchtime.

Soon, they found a restaurant.

Gabriella had few friends in town and usually acted alone.

It was impossible not to feel lonely.

Seeing an old friend brought Gabriella some comfort.

Her mood improved, and she kept smiling.

"You have no idea how boring my life was after you moved away." Azalea eagerly shared stories from back then.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the restaurant.

Alfred's expression was subtle. He looked at Freya, sensing something was off about her today, or that she was hiding something.

Freya usually appeared calm and composed.

Knowing her well, Alfred couldn't ignore her current state.

"What's going on? Why did you insist on meeting today?" Alfred's voice was calm as he stared at Freya, hoping for an answer.

"Nothing, really. It's just been a long time since we sat down and talked. I happened to be free today, so..." Freya's voice was steady, but her eyes stayed on Alfred, noticing he wasn't looking at her but at something in the distance.

Curious, Freya turned to look. "Is there a problem?"

Alfred snapped back quickly, but his eyes remained on Gabriella. "Nothing."

He hadn't expected to run into Gabriella here.