Chapter 5

Cornelius knew she was coming and had prepared a lavish dinner.

When they were children, she and Francis had been sent to the countryside to toughen up. Cornelius not only taught them martial arts but also took them fishing in the river and weeding in the fields.

So many beautiful childhood memories were tied to him.

After dinner, Chloe claimed the best guest room first.

It was the one Cornelius had prepared for Freya.

"It's fine, Master. It's getting late—you should rest. The three of us can sort out the rooms ourselves."

Cornelius had always kept a regular schedule. With a warm smile, he bid them goodnight and retired to his room.

Freya grabbed Chloe and pulled her out of the guest room. "Miss Swanson, there are no extra rooms. You can share with Francis."

Chloe's expression stiffened, but then something seemed to occur to her and she smiled. "Sure. Sweet dreams, Miss Gilbert."

Francis's face tensed. Freya was actually making Chloe share a room with him? Wasn't she jealous?

Or was this her way of expressing displeasure?

"Come on."

In the end, Francis asked nothing and let Chloe lead him away.

Night fell.

Freya had just drifted off to sleep when a piercing scream shattered the silence.

"Help! Someone help me! Don't rape me!"

Freya rushed out of her room to find Cornelius standing in the courtyard, his face utterly bewildered under the moonlight.

Chloe stood with her hands pressed to her chest, looking every bit the violated victim.

The moment she spotted Freya, Chloe latched onto her like a lifeline.

"Miss Gilbert, your master tried to rape me! I just came out to use the bathroom, and the moment he saw me, he started groping me!"

Freya knew her master. He would never do such a thing.

Francis's face darkened like a storm cloud. He draped his suit jacket over Chloe's shoulders and fixed Cornelius with an icy stare.

"Master, I never imagined a man your age still couldn't control himself!"

Cornelius's face flushed crimson. He stood rigid with indignation. "I did no such thing! This girl saw me and suddenly started screaming. I was wondering if she had some kind of mental illness!"

"Francis, you know exactly what kind of man he is. How can you not see through this?"

Never in his life had Cornelius been slandered like this. He turned to Freya. "Freya, you believe me."

Freya stepped in front of him, shielding him without hesitation.

"Chloe, how many times are you going to pull this self-directed little act before you're satisfied?"

Chloe looked as though she'd suffered the greatest injustice imaginable, her voice tearing through the night. "The Swanson family isn't one to be trifled with! If I want, I can make sure your master rots in prison for the rest of his life!"

Freya was livid. "You wouldn't dare!"

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "If you want this to go away, then cripple your master's martial arts skills. Otherwise, I'm sending him to prison!"

Francis glanced at Freya and Cornelius, his expression conflicted.

He swept Chloe up in his arms. Moonlight cast a silver sheen over his tall silhouette.

"I've already called in people from another martial arts school. Master Cornelius owes Miss Swanson an explanation for tonight!"

The sound of hurried footsteps approached.

Francis's voice rang out, cold and commanding. "Whoever cripples Master Cornelius's martial arts skills gets five million dollars!"

"Francis! Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?!"

The only answer Freya received was his retreating back.

Dozens of men in black martial arts uniforms swarmed forward. Freya had no choice but to fight.

Within minutes, she had taken over a dozen blows. The pain made her gasp.

But when she saw them surrounding Cornelius on the ground, kicking and punching him, even pulling out knives to sever his tendons, she forgot her own pain. She grabbed an iron rod and threw herself into the fray like a woman possessed.

Even the most vicious thugs feared someone willing to die fighting.

They had no choice but to give up and leave in frustration.

With trembling hands, Freya called an ambulance and the police.

Looking at Cornelius lying unconscious, she broke down and wept.

If she hadn't insisted on visiting him, if she hadn't said too much, he would never have suffered this disaster!

The next day, Cornelius slowly regained consciousness.

Freya rushed to his side. "Master, does anything still hurt?"

He reached up and gently stroked her hair. "Freya, you've almost surpassed your master now."

Her eyes grew wet. She tilted her head back, fighting to keep the tears from falling.

"Master, I'm leaving Capital City. I didn't marry Francis."

"I've chosen someone else—someone who loves me deeply."

Cornelius seemed to have expected this. He smiled softly. "No matter who you marry, the most important thing is your own happiness."

"Freya, it really is time for you to see the world."