Bradley carried Freya back to the bedroom before throwing her onto the bed. An oppressive aura radiated from him as he looked down at her.

"Tell me, what is your relationship with James?"

Frederick had reported to him that Freya and James met three years ago, and they had a rather extraordinary relationship.

Back in the study, he had watched through the huge French windows as they walked into the gardens together.

If nothing inappropriate happened, why did they need to sneak around?

Arthur was filled with anger and jealousy. Even his eyes were blazing with fire that made Freya involuntarily shrink back.

He was scary when he went mad.

Freya pursed her lips and continued to play dumb. "He's your nephew, so he's my nephew…"

That made Bradley lean in close and pull her into his arms without saying a single word. There was a vicious smile on his lips.

"I'll give you one last chance. Come clean. What are you hiding from me?"

His grip around her wrist was very tight and strong, causing pain to shoot up her arm.

He used to be so gentle in the past, but now he was being unusually rough with her.

Freya struggled and resisted.

However, he only hugged her even tighter like he wanted to merge their bodies together.

Freya bit her lip and mustered the courage to look into his furious eyes.

"You know it, so why ask me?"

There was nothing to hide now. Bradley had known she was playing the fool, but he never exposed her for it.

He had seen her be alone with James. If she continued to play dumb, then she would only be dragging James into this mess.

He chuckled before roughly tilting heir chin up. His voice was icy cold as he spoke.

"I want you to tell me yourself!”

His eyes were deep and mysterious, like black holes that drew her in with an inexplicable allure that could devour her.

Freya stared into his eyes as she bit her lip, looking like she was determined to stand her ground.

"I'm not a fool, Mr. Bradley. When I was twelve, I was mentally unstable for a period of time after my high fever. I got better later though. I played dumb because my foster family was abusive. My father then forced me to marry you. Rumors said you were cold-hearted, cruel, and likely to abuse your wife, so I continued to play dumb..."

She was ready for him to blow up at her.

However, Bradley's face was blank after she was done explaining. He looked eerily calm.

It proved that he knew she was just playing dumb and merely did not expose her.

Freya looked into his eyes and hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you feel deceived, we can…"

"Except for lying to me by playing dumb, you still haven't told me what your relationship with James is."

Bradley interrupted her before she could finish speaking. The anger in his eyes were still blazing brightly even though it had died down a little.

Freya shuddered and lowered her eyes for she was too afraid to look at him.

He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up. "Speak!"

"I…" Freya hesitated. If she told him she was Lexi, the doctor Bradley had been searching for years to cure him, he would be very angry.

It was actually making her feel guilty.

From the moment she moved into the Royal Garden Mansion, Bradley had cherished her, given her the best, and protected her from anyone who would dare say a thing against her.

He had proven that he could protect her.

Freya did not want to lie to him anymore. She wanted to cure him. Perhaps it would be easier for her to do what she needed to do after she revealed herself.

"I know James because I owe him for all that I am today. He introduced me to Mr. Gunther, the renowned doctor who taught me everything I know."

Bradley narrowed his eyes. He knew about that, but what he wanted to know was who she really was.

Before he could ask, Freya continued, "I'm Lexi, the famous doctor you have been searching for all these years."

His eyes turned cold upon hearing that. He naturally knew of Gunther Jeeves, the famous doctor known as Asclepius whose skills were legendary.

When he was disfigured in the fire, Gunther had helped him a lot. To his great surprise, he even had an apprentice, who was Lexi.

More importantly, Freya was Lexi.

Lexi, the one who refused to cure him, had been by his side all along.

He felt it was all too hilarious. The look in his eyes kept changing as he stared at Freya.

"Why won't you cure me?"

After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke.

Freya looked deep into his eyes. "I've already withdrawn from the world. Why should I treat you?"

Ha!

Bradley let out a bark of laughter in anger. "The reason is that you are now my wife."

Freya did not know what to say. She actually was at a loss for words.

"From now on, do not ever meet James alone." He then held her tight in his arms. "You are my wife, so you should do your duty. I don't care what happened between you two. Right now, he is your nephew."

Freya struggled and puffed out her cheeks in frustration when she could not push him away. "I lied to you. Shouldn't you divorce me and kick me out?"

That was her understanding. Perhaps he might even have someone beat her up or kill her like the previous three women.

However, he wanted her to fulfil her obligations as his wife.

Freya stared into his deep, unfathomable eyes, trying to see his thoughts, but he kept them well hidden. She could not figure him out at all.

His frosty face held no trace of a smile as he stared at her in silence for a long time before he let out a cold bark of laughter.

"The Royal Garden Mansion is not a place you can come and go as you please. Without my permission, don't even think about leaving."

The chilling aura he exuded caused the room temperature to lower as well.

Freya clenched her fists. Just as she was about to say something, he spoke up first.

"I know you came to me for revenge. I can help you, but you must trust me unconditionally. Of course, I have other conditions."

Freya did not expect him to say that. Looking back up at him, she asked, "What conditions."

"Simple. Stay by my side, treat me, and be my wife."

Bradley suddenly leaned in close to her. Flustered, she tried to lean away, but then he grabbed her hand.

"You also have to promise me that you won't touch me unless I make the first move," she countered.

She had not imagined he would want her to stay after she came clean about her deception. Still, she had to admit that the Royal Garden Mansion was her best bet at protection. With Bradley's power, he could help her.

"Okay."

Bradley had agreed without hesitation. As long as she stayed, he had plenty of time to make her fall in love with him, one way or another.