He reached out and lightly stroked her face, then gently wiped away the blood from her lips.

Immediately, his thin lips approached her ear.

"You also don't keep your word. You agreed to cooperate with me, but now you want to get rid of me. Do you think of me as just a pawn? Can you discard me whenever you want?"

His body emitted a dangerous aura, and a powerful oppression immediately swept over her.

Freya felt suffocated under the pressure, but she lifted her head to look at him.

"Bradley, I admit I initially used you because I needed the Royal Garden Mansion as a cover. I deceived you, and you should be angry. So why..."

"Because I've fallen in love with you, Freya!"

Boom!

As if struck by lightning, Freya stood still!

What did he just say?

He said... he had fallen in love with her?

"At first, I was angry when I found out you deceived me. But as I spent these days with you, I realized I've developed feelings for you. I even hesitate to let go of your hand. Earlier, you rejected me because I was ugly, but now I'm not ugly anymore. Are you sure you still want to push me away?"

The man suddenly lifted her chin, allowing her to clearly see into his eyes.

Freya bit her lip, feeling a bit flustered, wanting to turn her face away, but the man's strength was too great, and she couldn't move.

Taking a deep breath, she seemed to summon a great deal of determination and looked into his swirling, deep black eyes.

"You're wrong. I never rejected you because you were ugly. At first, I was using you, but as I got to know you, I found you're a good person. I want to help you heal, and I also want... to understand you!"

"Then I'll give you the chance to understand. Freya, don't think about leaving me."

After saying that, he held her hand over his heart, his breathing becoming heavier. "I can help you seek revenge. Just stay by my side as my wife. It'll be much easier than fighting alone out there."

Freya hesitated.

She admitted that Bradley was right. With his help, her revenge plan would progress, and she wouldn't be alone anymore.

"Bradley, I…"

Freya opened her mouth, about to say something when an urgent male voice sounded nearby.

"Mr. Bradley."

It was Shadow.

Bradley's face turned slightly cold, but he effortlessly picked her up and held her in his arms. "We've been inside for too long. It's time to settle the accounts."

Freya exclaimed in surprise. After a moment of dizziness, she found herself in his embrace.

She looked up at his handsome, icy face, her heartbeat slightly chaotic, and her face inexplicably blushing.

She had speculated more than once that if Bradley could stand up and didn't have burn scars on his face, he would be incredibly handsome. Now, the fact proved that this man was indeed very handsome, so much so that she felt nervous just looking at him.

With beautiful features and deep, charming peach blossom eyes, he smiled coldly, yet there was tenderness in his gaze when he looked at her, causing people to involuntarily sink into it.

The key was his physique. She had seen and touched it more than once. Now, being so close together, she was so nervous that her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

"Are you nervous?"

Close to her, Bradley could clearly feel her heartbeat, and his lips curved into a smile.

Freya pursed her lips and pushed him away slightly. "Put me down. I can walk by myself. Besides, do you really intend to walk back like this?"

"After pretending for so many years, I don't want to pretend anymore!"

The hot, moist breath landed on Freya's face, instantly causing a wave of goosebumps. Her face turned completely red.

This man was definitely doing it on purpose!

Every chance he got, he flirted with her. From just now until now, she couldn't help but feel attracted to him several times.

Bradley glanced at her, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Indeed, this face still held an allure for her. Her shy demeanor, with eyes slightly misty, and most importantly, her heartbeat was so fast!

"Now that I'm not ugly anymore, let's take some photos tomorrow and make up for the missing wedding certificate photos."

Freya lifted her head, her clear eyes reflecting the man's stunningly handsome face. His deep, affectionate gaze made her involuntarily flutter inside.

In that moment of eye contact, she hastily averted her gaze, feeling her ears burning.

Previously, unaware that Mr. Adams was Bradley, she had thought of him as a conspirator in a fleeting encounter. But now that she knew they were the same person, her heart inexplicably fluttered with nervousness.

Seeing her glance at him and blush like that, Bradley's lips curved even more.

She was shy, proving that his appearance had some seductive power over her!

Shadow following behind clearly saw the smile at the corner of Bradley's mouth and was filled with astonishment.

Mr. Bradley smiled?

Previously, he had kept himself locked away in a dark world, never allowing anyone close. But now, for a woman, he stood up and even smiled at her.

Shadow found it unbelievable!

But as a well-trained bodyguard, Shadow never meddled in the master's secrets, only protected the two as they left, then disappeared mysteriously like a deity.

…

The old mansion.

In the room.

Ethan lay on the bed as Lola was entwined around him.

From the moment they started until now, she was incredibly satisfied.

She hadn't expected Ethan to be such a powerhouse, so capable, much stronger than the muscular man she had encountered in Shangri-La.

Plus, he was rich and handsome!

Right now, Lola's mind was solely focused on clinging to him and urging him to marry her soon.

"Ethan, that cripple has been in the mountain for so long, and he hasn't come out. Could he have really been eaten by wild animals?" Lola's restless little hands pinched Ethan's muscles.

She was full of seductive charm!

Ethan had been intense just now, aggravating his wound, and now he was in too much pain to pay her any mind.

"It'd be good if he died. Then no one would oppose us in the future."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant's voice came from outside, "Mr. Ethan, Mr. Austin requests your presence in the hall!"

"Tell Grandpa I'm feeling unwell and it's inconvenient for me to come over," Ethan said impatiently.

"But sir... Mr. Austin says you must come, or else he'll have someone bring you over."

Upon hearing this, Ethan immediately sat up from the bed, his tone cold. "What does Grandpa want to see me for?"

"I don't know."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat and he asked, "Is Bradley there?"

"Yes, sir, both Mr. Bradley and Madam are there."

Ethan's entire demeanor instantly changed!

They had actually returned safely?

If Grandpa was looking for him now, it was definitely to hold him accountable!

Lola was also extremely nervous. She had also been involved in this matter. If Mr. Austin started investigating, even she would be in trouble.

"Ethan, what should we do now?"

Ethan was extremely annoyed and muttered to her, "What can we do? If I'm in trouble, we'll die together."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was pushed open, and several strong bodyguards rushed in, directly lifting the two of them away.