Page 78 of Captive Mafia Wife

Am I seeing things?

Freya’s seated at our table as she is every morning, the sun streaming in, glittering off her ring, her light hair shining. My chair, across from hers, is empty. I catch a whiff of her floral perfume, confirmingshe’s real.

She wears her thin white robe, sipping coffee. Merry trots over to say hello to her.

“This tastes funny. Or is it a smell?” Looking down at the dog—“Merry, did you?” —she sniffs the mug. “Nope. Def the coffee.”

Hearing her voice, my heart lunges in my throat. I clear it away. “Didn’t you get my note?”

“Och! You scared me!” Startled, she turns to me. “There you are! My God! Where have you been? You haven’t even heard the news.”

Why is she here? My voice sounds strange. I feel dazed. “What news?”

“The sweetest news ever!” Her face beams as she’s barely able to contain her excitement. She pops up out of her seat, prancing over to me. She leans up, kissing my cheek. “Leah reached out. She’s giving Ophelia her surname and making a new extract.”

The only thing that matters is me and Freya, where we stand. What choice has she made? “That’s good. But Freya?—”

She keeps talking excitedly. “That’s not the best part! Leah’s legally changing her name to Ophelia Pearl! Isn’t that just darling? She said it was a tribute to us for taking such good care of her daughter.” Her hand goes to her heart. “I was so touched and told her you would be as well.”

“Of course…yes.” What is Freya doing here?

She leaves me, going back to her seat at the table. Pushing the mug of coffee as far from her as possible,she says, “Can you make me a tassie of tea? I can’t get it perfect like you do.”

“Absolutely.” I move without thinking. My mind is so focused on what I said in my note—how I told her she could leave, be free, single, a millionaire, our marriage annulled. How is she still here?

There is only one answer…

She has not read my note. She does not know of my offer. That’s why she’s still here.

My heart sinks as I remember the words I wrote, my pulse racing in my eardrums as I penned my proposal.

Freya,

You’ve said the words to me you so deserve to hear. I can’t say them. I don’t know if I ever can.

You deserve a man who doesn’t send a driver to bring you to his home and doesn’t keep you captive under the guise of your safety. Did I want to keep you safe? Absolutely. But I brought you here because I was filled with a selfish need to have you since the first moment I saw you.

You deserve so much more. You deserve the world.

Now, I know better. All that matters is that you have everything you want and need. Stay if you wish. Nothing would make me happier.

Or go free.

I’ll have the wedding annulled and give you half of everything I own. Take Merry, please, and leave me Joyeux.

Fredrick

Now,she looks up at me expectantly, wanting me to sit, chat, and pour tea.

I slide into the chair. My chair. The one I always sit in. I lift the kettle, filling her favorite delicate teacup only halfway. I tip the milk pitcher, a dot of cream swirling through the tea. My stomach turns, knowing I can’t take the coward’s way out. This time, I’m forced to tell her in person.

I hand her the tea.

She takes a sip, nodding with approval. “Perfection.”

My throat is tight, my words choked. Finally, I say, “My note. Did you read it?”

“That was real?” Her head cocks to the side. Her light brow furrows.

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