The car was moving slowly and steadily. Freya felt her eyelids getting heavier, and her head kept tilting in Bradley's direction, both possible signs of exhaustion from the night before.

With closed eyes, Bradley, who hadn't slept all night and was feeling fatigued, felt a small head leaning against his shoulder.

As Bradley turned his head, he felt his thin lips brush against her eyebrow, causing him a sensation like a surge of electric current to course through him. It was at that moment that his long-suppressed heart began to crack.

The sight of the sleeping girl was mesmerizingly beautiful. Her fluttering eyelashes resembled butterflies, and her slightly parted red lips moved in sync with her steady breath, releasing a sweet fragrance that intoxicated Bradley's senses.

Bradley stared at her expressionlessly, and the sight of her sleeping face, unguarded and vulnerable, made his stomach churn. He could not resist wrapping his arms around her and letting her lean her head on his strong shoulder.

His eyes were as dark and cold as the ocean as he studied hers.

In an impulsive moment, he fiercely kissed her lips.

The car smoothly stopped at the entrance of the Royal Garden Mansion.

Bradley ended the stolen kiss and, carrying the still sleeping girl in his arms made his way toward the master bedroom on the second floor.

He gently placed her on the bed, where she slept soundly.

Bradley pulled a thin blanket from the side and carefully covered her. As he turned to head for a shower, he suddenly felt a hand grab hold of him.

Freya's unconscious murmurs filled the air as she cried out, "Mommy, please don't leave me."

Bradley felt a sharp blow on his heart, leaving him dazed.

Surrendering to the moment, he allowed her to grasp onto him, lying down beside her and embracing her tightly. He gently patted her back, attempting to comfort her fragile emotions.

Freya appeared to feel her mother's embrace. She curled up tightly, seeking solace in Bradley's broad, comforting chest.

Her small hands clung to his waist, and gradually, her breathing steadied.

Freya, with her slender frame, emitted a captivating fragrance that enticed Bradley. The scent permeated the air, acting as an intoxicating poison.

Her breath brushed against his face, igniting a series of electrifying sensations that tingled through his entire body, causing his scalp to prickle and his senses to ignite.

Bradley swallowed hard. His rough hands couldn't resist touching the girl's cheek. His dark eyes glimmered with an intense and burning desire that he struggled to control.

Unbeknownst to Bradley, an insatiable desire would overpower him whenever he was near this girl, rendering him unable to resist its pull.

A warm, yellow light flooded Bradley's vision, adding brightness to his initially deep gaze. However, alongside the surge of desire, a fire ignited in his heart, yearning for more.

Indulging in his cravings, Bradley leaned down and passionately kissed the girl, closing the distance until their lips gently met.

The dam of suppressed desire burst and the flood of emotion was released. As their lips locked, Bradley's once aloof heart was warmed by the sensation, filling the void within him.

His mind had lost all control over his body.

He couldn't care less about her intellectual impairment because all that mattered to him was that she belonged to him.

Freya was rudely awoken by the suffocating feeling of being smothered by Bradley's passionate kiss. The sight of those blood-red, blazing eyes was enough to make her feel like she was being engulfed in flames.

Fear overcame her, prompting her to push him away and retreat to the edge of the bed, gazing at him in terror.

"Mr. Austin," she managed to say, biting her lip and examining herself, relieved to find that her clothes remained intact.

After being bitten by her, Bradley looked at her terrified face while blood dripped from the corners of his lips and glinted in the light.

His repressed desire waned slightly as he suddenly realized that he had been too rash. At nineteen years old, his new bride was still young and inexperienced. Forcing himself onto her now would only cause her trauma.

He realized that he had to first make her fall in love with him if he wanted to keep her by his side.

Bradley squinted at Freya with cold, narrow eyes and leaned toward her, which made her ball up her fist in anticipation of a counterattack.

But at that moment, she felt a warm sensation on her lips.

Bradley sat in a wheelchair beside her after he licked the blood off the corner of her lips with his tongue.

"I'm about to get in the shower. Get some sleep," he advised.

Freya sighed in relief as she watched Bradley vanish into the bathroom. She suspected that Bradley would try to make a move on her if she hadn't woken up at this precise moment.

Not knowing how hard he had kissed her, her lips were a little sore.

Bradley's faint mint scent permeated the room, and the gloomy atmosphere made the place just as elusive as Bradley himself.

Freya clung to her body tightly, exhausted but unable to sleep for fear that Bradley would do something inappropriate to her while she slept.

She made the decision that she would find a reason to move out of this room the following day because she no longer wanted Bradley to be by her side when she slept.

Bradley's silhouette was just barely discernible in the all-glass shower, and the sound of running water could be heard through the open door.

Freya held a silver needle tightly but pretended to be asleep until the sound of running water stopped.

She could hear the approaching wheelchair louder and louder, but she received none of the rude treatment she had anticipated.

All Freya heard was a dull "thud," and when she opened her eyes, Bradley was gone.

Freya lay on the bed, eyes wide open, vigilant for any sign of life outside, but eventually, she gave in to the onslaught of sleep and closed them.

...

Freya woke up the next noon, and the only reason she didn't sleep in until night was because Frederick came up to knock on the door.

Stretching lazily, she rose from the bed, realizing that she had slept deeply throughout the night.

After a refreshing shower, Freya changed into a simple white dress and went downstairs to the dining room, where Frederick was patiently waiting for her.

As soon as he saw her coming down, he respectfully addressed her, "Mrs. Austin, Mr. Austin instructed me to wait until you finish your lunch and then take you to buy some new clothes."

"Go shopping?" Freya looked puzzled.

Frederick nodded. "Indeed, that's what Mr. Austin requested. He said you can buy all the clothes you like."

Freya nodded her head and said, "Oh."

Lunch was a delicious feast, consisting of her favorite steak and a generous serving of roasted lamb.

As she savored the meal, Freya reflected on how, despite Bradley's eccentric temper, had been treating her well.

Bradley was the second person in her life, after her mother, to treat her with such kindness and respect.

With these thoughts in mind, Freya couldn't help but ask, "Where is Mr. Austin? Isn't he joining us for shopping?"

"Mr. Austin had some matters to attend to and went out. If you miss him, you can give him a call," Frederick repeated the message Bradley had conveyed before leaving.

Freya shook her head as she didn't miss Bradley at all. He had always taken advantage of her whenever he returned, and she wished he never came back.

After lunch, Freya noticed the driver from the Royal Garden Mansion waiting outside the door.

Freya and Frederick got into a car and set off for the mall together.

Freya fell asleep soon, and Frederick didn't disturb her.

She appeared naive and even a little silly, initially making Frederick doubt whether she was worthy of Bradley.

After all, Bradley was a promising young professional who deserved a partner of exceptional brilliance.

However, Frederick changed his mind after seeing how Bradley treated her the night before. He saw that Bradley, who had previously shown no interest in women, wrapped a blanket around Freya and stole a kiss from her.

Bradley had requested that they not disturb her sleep until lunchtime, so Frederick didn't try to wake her up until then. It was the first time he had seen Bradley care so deeply for someone.

When Frederick saw Freya sleeping soundly, he sighed.

Once they reached the shopping center, Frederick woke her up, "Mrs. Austin, we've arrived."

Frederick's phone then suddenly rang.