Bradley Austin was lost in thought, the weight of Freya Lawson's question hanging in the air.

She had a penchant for luxuries, and for her, he'd spare no cost. Especially when she was his, and only his.

But her voice pierced his contemplation, edged with uncertainty. "Why the silence? We hardly know each other to be trading gifts, Mr. Adams. I'll send everything back. Where should I wire the refund?"

His response was cold, unyielding. "Gifts from me aren't meant for return. If they're not to your liking, just get rid of them."

Freya Lawson hesitated. His casual dismissal of items so pricey was baffling. "It'd be a waste to discard them. I'll have them refunded to your account."

A thick, palpable silence ensued.

Within the vast confines of his office, Austin's demeanor shifted to one of icy displeasure. The gifts were chosen with care, and her refusal stung.

Perry Patrick, ever the tease, chuckled beside him. "Boss, she seems more worried about your wallet than you do."

With a glare, Austin switched off the speaker and moved towards the balcony, leaving behind a trail of tense energy.

In his absence, Patrick laughed heartily. "A woman trying to save for our rich boss? How refreshing!"

Gabriel Rousseau, leaning in, whispered, “So Perry, what's the scoop on this enigmatic woman?”

Patrick smirked. “She's the Lawson family's Freya Lawson. Sent away, then brought back. You know the rest."

“And their relationship?” Rousseau pried.

Patrick leaned back, playful. “Why don’t you grill the boss?"

...

Austin stood on the balcony, the skyline at his feet, his voice dripping with ice. "Your friend Madeline Luna works at Shangri-La. The gifts? Let's call them...employee perks. If they're not needed, send the money back."

Realization dawned on Freya Lawson. Were these meant for Madeline Luna?

The coldness in his voice was unmistakable. Still, she ventured, “Alright, they go to Madeline Luna. And the dress? Shangri-La's uniform?"

It hurt. The dress, a symbol of his affection, reduced to just work attire.

The man's slender fingers massaged his temples, his handsome face shrouded in a gloom. Given his current status, gifting her might indeed come off as too forward, especially since they'd only met twice.

While the furniture could be passed off as an employee perk from his company, the outfit was another story.

Bradley Austin struggled for an explanation, finally saying, "The dress was a gift from the store. It's not the company uniform. If you don't like it, give it back when we meet."

He could discard the furniture, but not the dress. He recalled the sparkle in Freya Lawson's eyes when she looked at it, indicating her fondness for the piece.

He reckoned that since she wasn't game to accept his lavish gift right now, he'd stash it at his villa for a better moment down the line.

Meanwhile, Freya Lawson raised an eyebrow in disbelief. A gift from the store? What kind of shop just hands out million-dollar dresses on a whim? She wondered if this guy really thought he could bamboozle her with such a tall tale. Did he take her for a fool?

Freya Lawson pursed her lips and suggested, "Mr. Adams, just give me an address, and I'll send it over to you."

"No need. Just have Miss Luna bring it when she comes to work," the man's voice came through, tinged with irritation. It was evident he felt she was pushing him away. Without waiting for a reply, he abruptly ended the call.

Taken aback by his temper, Freya Lawson paused. Just as she was processing the conversation, the store owner approached, "Madam, are you still returning the items?"

"Sorry, I've changed my mind," she responded, and after a quick call to Madeline Luna, she left the department store.

With time to spare, she decided to visit Culinary Crown Court to discuss the upcoming birthday banquet for Bruce Lawson with Milo. Later that evening, she intended to revisit Royal Garden Mansion to retrieve her mother's necklace. Freya Lawson knew the Lawson family suspected her act of playing dumb. With Sophie Lawson inviting both Arther Austin and the elderly Mr. Austin to the banquet, and having caught her in a seemingly compromising position, she was sure they'd target her during the event. The stakes were high, and she needed to preempt any potential moves against her.

After strategizing with Milo and as darkness fell, Freya Lawson finally set off.

....

At the Royal Garden Mansion.

Freya Lawson stood at the entrance, gazing upon the familiar yet distant estate. Everything appeared unchanged despite her absence.

Did anyone even notice? Was she just a mere afterthought, like a blade of grass among a vast field?

With a self-deprecating chuckle, Freya discreetly entered the premises.

She'd hoped to move unnoticed, but the sharp-eyed Frederick Johnson spotted her almost immediately.

"Madam! Where have you been? We were all terribly worried," he exclaimed.

Feigning confusion, Freya replied, "I took a walk last night and... got lost."

She had been careful to avoid the security cameras when she left and believed no one knew the details of her departure.

"Lost again?" Frederick responded, torn between amusement and exasperation. Why did their young mistress insist on these midnight wanderings?

Before Frederick could mention Bradley Austin's absence, a stern voice boomed from behind.

"Where have you been? Why are you just returning now?"

The icy tone, laden with anger, sent shivers down the spine.

Feigning fear, Freya retreated behind Frederick, murmuring timidly, "Bradley's angry. I'm scared."

Stepping forward, Frederick intervened, "Bradley, the lady said she got lost."