After leaving the police station, she found a quiet spot, making sure no one was around before asking, "Ella, what did you want to tell me?"

"Madeline, there's something I need to tell you. But please, don't get too excited, and keep your voice down."

"Okay. Go ahead."

Ella remained silent for a moment before speaking up, "Actually, the body you saw at the police station wasn't Freya. Freya is alive, and she's with me now."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Madeline jumped in shock, quickly realizing that she was too loud. Covering her mouth, she whispered, "Ella, you have to tell me what's going on!"

Ella recounted Freya's ordeal.

These are all within Freya expectations. She anticipated Sophie Lawson's intentions against her after the confession. So, she had Ella install a tracking system on her phone to ensure her safety.

When the driver tossed Freya's phone out of the car window, only for it to be caught by a mischievous monkey by chance. Ella's attempts to track its location were confounded by the monkey's antics, thus prolonging the search for Freya.

When Freya was found, she was covered in injuries, unconscious.

"How is Freya doing? Is she seriously injured?" Madeline's voice betrayed her nervousness, but deep down, she felt more guilt than anything.

With Freya in such a dire situation, she had been fooling around with Patrick at home – she was hardly a friend!

"Fortunately, she protected her head and face when she fell. So while she has many bruises, they're all superficial wounds. However, she lost a lot of blood and is still unconscious."

"Tell me which hospital you're in, I'll come to you."

"Madeline, don't get too excited. The fewer people who know Freya is alive, the better. What you need to do now is pretend Freya is dead and make sure Bradley holds the press conference on time. I'll attend with Freya."

Madeline agreed reluctantly, but the thought of Bradley weighed heavily on her mind. "Bradley has been searching for Freya tirelessly for two days and nights, and when he heard the news of her supposed death, he collapsed from shock. I'm worried he won't be able to focus on preparing for the press conference."

" We need your help. Freya has been waiting for this day, and we can't give up."

"Alright, consider it done!"

...

At the hospital.

Ella had just hung up the phone when Freya woke up.

Except for her face, her entire body was wrapped in bandages, her complexion pale from the loss of blood.

Freya felt disoriented. She hadn't expected to survive the fall from such a height.

"How are you feeling?" Ella approached her with a cup of water.

Freya took a sip, feeling her throat less parched. She croaked, "It hurts, everywhere hurts."

"I'll go get the doctor. We can have painkillers if it is too much."

"I am fine." Freya replied weakly. The pain from scraping against the rocky cliff when she fell was far worse than this.

This pain is nothing.

"I called Madeline. She said the police found a female corpse at the wolf's den, along with your necklace. Bradley believed that was you and collapsed. The situation doesn't look good."

Ella briefed her on the situation, not expecting Freya to rise abruptly from the bed in a panic. In her haste, she inadvertently pulled out the IV drip, causing blood to flow back into the drip tube.

"Freya dear! Please calm down!" Ella noticed a piece of torn skin on her hand, blood gushing out, and her eyes welled up with pain.

Freya's breath hitched. She hadn't thought her absence would be such a torment to Bradley. Despite his own injuries, he sought for her.

That man was silly!

Tears flowed down her cheek as she felt the sensation of being loved and caressed by someone.

"Ella, I think... I've fallen for him, No man has ever treated me as well as he does. I used to try to keep my distance, but now I think of life without him. I wish I could give him everything I have."

"Silly girl, if you love him, go after him! Both Madeline and I will give you our full support!" Ella carefully wiped the blood away from her hand, continuing, "I can see that Bradley is a good man. With him, you'll be well-protected."

"So, Freya sweetheart, once this is settled, be the best Mrs. Austin you can be. I'll take care of the clinic for you. Go pursue your dreams!"

"Ella, do you know what the luckiest thing in my life is?" Tears welling up in her eyes. "Meeting you and Madeline is the greatest thing that has happened to me. Both of you are my family, my pillars of strength."

Ella smiled, enfolding her gently in her arms. "If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago. You saved my life."

"Yes, I did save you, but this was paid off a long time ago." Freya looked at her best friend sheepishly. "I've found my happiness, but my dear Ella, where is yours?"

Ella smirked, lightly pinching her nose. "Perhaps it's on the way, or maybe it's already by my side. Fate has its own timing!"

...

In the medical room.

Xavier gave Bradley a fever-reducing injection, and his temperature gradually subsided.

When Bradley woke up, his first instinct was to grab Xavier's arm, his voice hoarse. "Where's Freya? How is she?"

"She—"

Xavier's expression darkened. He knew that no matter what he said now, Bradley's emotions would be affected

"I am asking you! Where is Freya!"

Bradley's temper snapped when he did not receive any response. He ripped the drip out of his arm, causing blood to spurt out and smear the white bed linens.

He attempted to sit up, but Xavier pushed him back down in a pre-emptive move. "The police station brought some news. The body does not belong to Freya. Her current whereabouts are a mystery. Would you like to also ruin yourself at such time?"

It wasn't Freya, it wasn't her…

It means she might still be alive. He hadn't lost her…