When Freya saw Bradley's lack of response, panic flashed in her bright eyes. She knew what he wanted.

"We are just husband and wife in name only."

She knew he loved his word games and setting her up for a fall.

He wanted her to call him by that nickname, to accept the nature of their relationship.

Bradley's face instantly twisted in anger.

In the end, she still refused to accept him.

The smile lingering in Bradley's eyes vanished, replaced by ice as he intently stared at Freya like he wanted to see through her mind.

However, her eyes were filled with an unwilling gleam.

She refused to acknowledge their relationship.

Did she really hate him that much?

Bradley had the sudden urge to take off his mask and ask her once more.

Did she hate him because his appearance disgusted her?

Before he could say a word, Freya offered up an explanation. "I had sworn on my mother's grave that I would not marry until I have avenged her. I've broken that oat by marrying you. I would fulfill my duties as a wife and take good care of you, but you must promise me not to force me into anything."

"Okay. I won't force you to do anything. I just want you to call out to me this once."

Bradley suddenly felt like he was a joke. He would use all sorts of mind games to manipulate others, but he had to resort to threats and bribes to deal with a girl.

Yes.

He just wanted her to admit who he was to her.

Freya pressed her lips together and finally said after a lot of hesitation, "Honey."

Bradley chuckled.

He was in a good mood, so he wanted to tease her, to see her blush while her heart raced.

She did not disappoint him. Her whole face was bright red. She looked so alluring, so captivating.

He glanced at her and smirked, "Since you called me that, you are now mine. I will take care of you, protect you, and of course, help you get revenge.

"I'm also looking forward to the day you'll lead me by hand to your mother's grave to tell her of our relationship."

Freya's heart skipped a beat as she heard that.

Was he confessing his love to her again?

In less than a day, two men had confessed their love to her. It made her feel rather overwhelmed by the attention.

However, compared to James' confession, Bradley's confession shocked her even more.

She did not know why. Even though James was superior in every way, she actually felt an inexplicable sense of safety when around Bradley.

That was what her heart, the most honest voice within her, said.

Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard footsteps urgently walking toward them.

They had arrived.

Knock, knock.

Lydia's voice could be heard soon after the knock.

"I'm not mistaken, Dad. Freya and James are in this room. It has been over an hour. We must pray that nothing happened when a man and a woman have holed themselves up in a room all alone."

Upon hearing that, Bradley's face darkened as he glanced at Freya.

She innocently looked back at him with raised eyebrows.

He had appeared before she could even meet with James.

"Rest her. I'll deal with this," he said before wheeling himself toward the door and opening it.

"An-"

Lydia looked like he was about to barge into the room. When she saw Bradley, her eyes went wide as she exclaimed in shock, "Bradley, why are you here?"

The man inside was clearly meant to be James. Why was it Bradley?

Lydia felt unease build up in her as she stretched her neck to peer around Bradley.

As it was now night, it was hard to see anything inside the room as it was only lit by one warm yellow lamp by the bed.

However, from where Freya was, she could clearly see the people outside.

Apart from Lydia, Owen and Brian's whole family were there.

Freya internally scoffed. It looked like her suspicions were correct.

Lydia had planned everything to make something happen between her and James, then she would have Owen and Brian's family catch them in the act.

Once they were found out, Lydia would frame it as Freya cheating on Bradley while fiercely humiliating James' family. Eventually, Freya would be chased out of the Austins due to having seduced her nephew.

Unfortunately, no matter how flawless Lydia's plan was, she had underestimated Freya and Bradley.

In the end, the only one humiliated would be Lydia.

Freya looked at Bradley. While he was in a wheelchair, his presence was so strong that she felt a sense of safety she could not name even far away on the bed.

Her original plan was to use Ethan as a scapegoat, but Bradley was shockingly even more ruthless as he used Arthur instead.

It seemed like the room next door was heating up while these people tried to catch people cheating in here.

Freya did not speak and quietly watched from the bed.

Lydia knew something was wrong. Why was Bradley in the room? Did she have the wrong room?

"I should be asking you that instead, Lydia. Why did you bring Owen and Brian here?"

There was an ugly look on Owen's face. He glanced at Lydia and said in a deep voice, "Lydia, what are you up to now?"

Lydia had rushed over to tell him that Freya and James were having an affair in the villa out back. He had only rushed over because he was worried those two would ruin the Austins' reputation.

He had not expected to bump into Bradley here.

Lydia broke out in a fit of cold sweat. No wonder she would not find Bradley. He was here.

The room was dark, and she could barely see anyone else in the room. Did Bradley know about this? Was that why he was here before she could bring him over?

At that thought, Lydia hurriedly asked, "Bradley, is Freya inside?"

Bradley turned to look at the bed with an indescribable look on his face as he nodded. "Freya was exhausted, so she's resting right now."

Exhausted?

Then…

They were too late. Freya and James were done before Bradley rushed over. Was he stopping them from going in because he did not want the truth to be known?

The more Lydia thought about it, the more she felt this was the case. Bradley was disabled, which was a handicap in that department. Even if Freya was drugged, he could not satisfy her.

Moreover, if Freya was drugged, she would not be able to calm down without doing it. This made Lydia even more convinced that Freya and James had definitely done the deed.

"Lydia, Freya and Bradley are resting here. Stop acting so mysterious. Let's go back."

Owen was seething in anger. He had not liked Lydia from the start. If she were not pregnant with Arthur's child, he would never have allowed her to marry Arthur.

All these years, she had caused trouble for his sons and schemed to oppress Briand and Bradley. He had known all about it. As long as she did not go too far, he was willing to turn a blind eye.

However, she was now ruining Freya's and James' reputations.