The soup was made for Freya according to Bradley's instructions, but Lydia had the servant drug it.

Lydia had promised the servant a sum of money as well as the chance to leave the Austins' employment to live a great life. She would never have to serve anyone again.

Thus, no matter what, she would do as instructed.

Even if things went awry, Bradley was the one to request the soup while she would have disappeared with her money. No one would be able to find her.

Just as the servant was thinking of her plans, the villa door suddenly swung open. A slender figure flashed out from within. The servant had just taken a few steps when she felt a sharp pain coming from her neck before she lost consciousness.

Freya looked down at the servant with a smile glinting in her eyes.

This was nothing. How dare they scheme against her when they were so weak.

Since Lydia wanted to play, Freya would play along. Let's see who will have the last laugh.

…

In the bedroom.

Lydia was fiddling with her newly done nails when she received a text.

Servant: Madam, everything is done.

Her lips curled up in a cold smirk upon reading that.

Great. Now, she would invite Owen over to watch the show and thoroughly humiliate Bradley and Brian's family. She would have Owen be disappointed in them. Everything the Austins owned would be her family's then.

Aside from the drugged soup, she had servants leave a note in James' room, saying that Freya was waiting for him in the villa out back.

As long as James felt something for Freya, he would never give up on the chance to be alone with her.

Shortly after Freya left the room, James had rushed over to the villa. Lydia's plan was flawless. This time, she would be the ultimate winner.

As Lydia relished in her victory, James had already arrived at the backyard. As he was about to walk toward the villa, Frederick called out to him from behind him.

"Mr. James, Mr. Bradley is asking for you."

James narrowed his eyes. If Bradley wanted to talk to him, then it had to be because of Freya. He glanced at the villa and messaged Freya before following Frederick.

Meanwhile, Arthur was still worried about Lydia's plan. Hence, he snuck over to the villa to gather some information. Suddenly, a slender figure darted up to him from behind. Arthur fell to the ground.

Inside the villa.

Freya threw the servant's limp body on the bed when her phone beeped.

It was a message from James.

James: I'll see you later.

See me later?

Freya shuddered. The man Lydia had planned for her was James?

It looked like Lydia had suspected Freya's relationship with James. Still, how evil to use James to trap her.

If anything happened between them, it would be considered incest, a great immoral sin.

If Owen witnessed that, Freya would be ruined, Bradley would be humiliated, and James' family would be embarrassed.

Freya had to admit that Lydia's move was quite clever.

It was much more malicious than the scheme Sophie had in mind.

Freya let out a chuckle.

She had a bait of striking back with double the force when someone went after her.

Since Lydia wanted to be ruthless, Freya would be ruthless as well.

Freya looked at the servant on the bed and scoffed before walking out of the room.

Just then, a figure appeared before her. She looked up to find Bradley in front of her. Without saying a single word, he grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

She was about to speak when she spotted a bodyguard walking toward them while carrying another man. As the bodyguard walked closer, she was shocked to find the other man to be Arthur. Her eyes went wide.

The bodyguard thew Arthur down on the bed next to the servant before backing out and locking the door behind him.

"As I said, we are the best partners," Bradley said with a smile before Freya could say anything.

Frederick had informed him that the soup had been drugged. Worried for Freya, Bradley had rushed over.

He was surprised to find Freya knocking out the servant. That was when he thought of this plan.

Since Lydia wanted to humiliate them, she would have a taste of her own medicine and be humiliated herself.

The fire back then would not have happened if Lydia had not ordered it. Otherwise, Arthur would have been too cowardly to do it.

Lydia had been secretly trying to sow discord between him and Owen, all for the sake of seizing the family assets.

Over the years, Owen had held Bradley in high regard, even showing an intent to hand over his own shares to Bradley. Lydia had been afraid Bradley would take away everything from the Austins, so she schemed to kill him.

If not for his luck, he would have died in that fire long ago.

To his surprise, seven years later, Lydia had not changed her ways and has even intensified her hatred of him by continuously sending women to harass him. Since she was seeking her own downfall, he did not mind giving her a push.

Freya looked into his eyes, which were still as dark and vast as ever.

He saw through her thoughts at a glance, but she had no idea what he was thinking.

"Let's talk inside."

With how things have developed, Lydia would soon bring the witnesses over. It would be too conspicuous for them to be in the corridor, and it would be easy for them to be found out.

Freya nodded and let him carry her into the room Lydia prepared for her.

She waited until Bradley put her on the bed before asking, "How did you know I was here? Do you have someone following me?"

"Frederick spotted someone spiking the soup. I was worried something would happen to you, so I came to check on you." Bradley glanced at her. With how flushed her cheeks were, she was clearly affected by the drug.

Freya was indeed feeling rather hot at that moment. Although she spat out the last mouthful of the soup, she had actually ingested quite a bit of the soup. Additionally, the needle was barely able to control the effects of the drug. Bradley's touch had caused her whole body to heat up.

"Don't come near me for now. Let me calm down!" Freya pushed him away, took out a silver needle, and gritted her teeth before pricking herself a few times.

While acupuncture could not remove the effects of the drug, it could temporarily suppress the effects.

Bradley frowned. Would she rather endure the pain of pricking herself with a needle just to avoid anything happening between them?

Was she that against being with him?

After the few pricks, the red flush on her cheeks faded by quite a bit. Bradley approached her and hugged her.

"Freya, you are my legally wed wife. Whatever happens between us, it's legitimate in the eyes of the law."

The sudden hug caused the effects of the drug to surge through her once more. It was even worse than before. Freya hurriedly struggled.

"Mr. Bradley, you promised not to lay a hand on me…"

Freya had spoken with difficulty. The drug's effects were raging out of control, making her want to get closer to him.