Chapter 3

Freya POV

As a VIP client, Halle’s treatment was swift and smooth.

Seeing the pained expression on her face finally ease, Jasper let out a long breath of relief.

"Freya, this kind of mistake should never happen. Halle is our guest. I hope you’ll be more careful."

He barely bothered to hide his accusation.

My heart ached with a familiar bitterness.

"You really think I did it on purpose?"

He looked at me for a few seconds before giving my cheek a brief, stiff kiss.

"Halle is pregnant. If anything were to happen to her or the pup, we would both feel immense guilt, right? I know you can take good care of her."

After the cold war of my last life, I began to lose myself to depression.

This time, all I wanted was to quietly wait for the moment I could finally leave.

"I will," I replied, though the weight pressing against my chest made it hard to breathe.

The next day, after finishing her meal, Halle offered some feigned compliments.

"Freya, you really are amazing in the kitchen. Not like me. I can’t cook at all, and I’m so picky on top of it."

Jasper’s tone was indulgent.

"What does it matter? Freya will give you the best care. Just relax and stay here."

The tenderness in his eyes was sharp as needles against my skin.

Halle reclined on the sofa with a dramatic sigh.

"Jasper, Pregnancy is unbearable. Everything aches. I don’t know how I’ll get through the next few months."

Jasper’s gaze fell on me.

"Freya, why don't you give her a massage? She's carrying a pup. It's hard on her body."

Something fluttered low in my own belly—I was carrying a pup too.

I had already put in a lot of effort preparing lunch for her, and I was exhausted.

But I still agreed.

"Of course. I’ll go get things ready."

I glanced down at the mark on my collarbone. It had already faded to nearly half its original color.

Two days left.

Lying comfortably on the massage bed, Halle basked in my service.

She had brought her own incense, and the overwhelmingly strong scent of ylang-ylang made my stomach turn.

"Freya, look at you, trying so hard to please Jasper. But all I need is a single word, and he’ll arrange everything for me."

"I’m not trying to please him. I’m just showing respect," I replied softly.

Halle's expression twisted in annoyance.

"Stop with that high and mighty act, like you don’t care about anything. I’m here to take back what belongs to me."

I continued my work, my fingers moving slowly on her shoulders.

"I never intended to fight you for what you want," I said calmly. "You’ve seen the mate-bond dissolution papers yourself."

By the time the massage ended, my legs felt weak. I staggered toward my room, desperate just to collapse into bed.

Jasper stepped out of his study and stopped, his eyes fixed on my face.

"Freya, why are you so pale? Are you feeling sick?"

He reached out to touch my cheek, and my stomach lurched violently.

I pushed him away and ran for the bathroom, vomiting so hard until it felt like my insides had emptied out.

When I stumbled back, Jasper stood there, silent, guilt flickering in his eyes.

Jasper watched me silently, his eyes filled with a flicker of guilt.

""I didn’t know you were unwell. I’m sorry. Let the maids handle things from now on."

"It’s okay. I can manage."

He carried me to bed anyway, pulling the blanket up over me.

Then, suddenly, he caught my hand.

"Freya... are you pregnant?"

My heart stopped.

"No… I’m just tired." I pulled my hand away.

The fleeting hope in his eyes vanished.

"The way you looked just now… it was exactly how Halle acted when she was feeling sick. I just thought…"

I gave a small, weary smile and closed my eyes.

Jasper stood by the bed for a while before finally leaving.

Was he really hoping for a pup?

Would he even care if it were mine?