The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

No matter how you slice it, Echo City was Kieran's turf. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry who rolled into Echo City had to tip their hat to Kieran. Jarrett couldn't believe a young woman, fresh from abroad, would dare to snub Kieran's invitation. Hearing Jarrett's words, Kieran's expression was ice-cold, and he said, "She's not worth my time."

"Yes, Mr. Sutton."

On his way out, Kieran turned to Jarrett and said, "Keep an eye on Freya. Don't let her wander off."

Jarrett nodded. "Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, Freya was still in the room, glancing out the window.

Somehow, Kieran had stationed his people inside the apartment building. The Sutton family's men are easy to recognize due to their uniformed bodyguards taking turns standing guard at the community entrance. Was this how Kieran controlled her movements? The thought made Freya furrow her brows. Wasn't Kieran taking things a bit too far? After calling off their engagement, he still treated her like his personal property.

Though irritated, Freya knew she was powerless in the situation. Who could challenge the might of Echo City's kingpin, a man whose mere finger snap could send shivers down the city's spine?

Only a fool would think they could melt Kieran's heart-a man as hard as stone. Apart from Eloise, no woman stood a chance with him.

With that in mind, Freya pulled out her phone and dialed Ronan, saying, "Kieran's got me on this recovery program with specialists. It looks like it'll be another two months before can step out as 'Susan.' I'll need you to keep my info under wraps for now. I bet it won't be long before Kieran catches wind of the name 'Susan.""

Kieran's reputation as the CEO of the Sutton Group wasn't for nothing. Beyond his ancestral fortune, his keen insight was unparalleled. With W Group hitting the stock market, Kieran would've instantly spotted Ronan's ace up the sleeve-her, using the alias 'Susan.'

Freya felt a headache coming on. If she'd disguised herself as an utterly unattractive woman, Kieran would never have taken an interest in her. But trusting Ronan's strategy...

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"Don't worry. I'll protect our partnership and ensure my cash cow doesn't fall," Ronan's voice carried a hint of amusement.Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

Freya knew this guy was a sly fox, so she didn't bother with pleasantries and hung up shortly after. Though, compared to Preston, Ronan was somewhat more bearable.

Freya had no grand plans. She only wanted to escape Kieran's clutches, kick Johanna and her son out, and then live a carefree, wealthy life away from the drama surrounding Kieran, Eloise, Preston, and

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Maybe Caleb would be part of that picture, too. But looking back, Caleb was rarely seen except when defending Eloise, playing a minor role in their complex love square. Sometimes, Freya mused that their world was like a giant romance novel. Eloise was the protagonist, while she was doomed to be the disposable side character.

Preston played the strong second male lead, Ronan the arch-nemesis, and Caleb. Well, he was the love interest with barely any screen time.