"Yes, for the sake of Freya, he's willing to sacrifice everything. Despite being so seriously injured, he still insists on carrying a heavy burden for her. How many men in this world can truly do such a thing?"

"Perhaps if you train him well, Patrick could become the second Bradley," Ella joked, though her face remained largely expressionless.

Madeline's delicate face blushed. "How did you find out?"

"Um, what about that?" Ella gestured subtly in a certain direction, her hand hesitantly grazing her nose. "From a moment ago until now, he's been standing over there, watching you. His blatant expression makes it crystal clear to anyone, even a fool, that there's something special between you two."

After saying that, she waved her hand, "Go find him, I should go back and clean up the mess."

The rain persisted, and as Ella departed, Patrick, holding a black umbrella, swiftly approached Madeline.

Freya curled up in Bradley's arms.

Suffering from a high fever, she oscillated between feeling hot and cold, her overall condition dire.

"Hold on, we'll reach the hospital soon," Bradley held her tightly. Freya's body was burning up, and he too began to feel feverish.

Struggling to open her eyes, Freya's delicate fingers clutched his shirt as she hoarsely whispered, "Don't... go... to the hospital. I want to... go home with you."

"No, your wound is infected. You must go to the hospital," Bradley attributed it to her fear of injections, but he continued to patiently coax her, "Be good. I'll ask the doctor to be gentle with the injection, so it won't hurt."

"I'm... not afraid of injections. I want to celebrate my birthday with you at home."

Earlier that morning, Madeline had informed her that Bradley had ordered flowers and arranged a gift at the jewelry store, preparing to spend her first birthday at the Royal Garden Mansion. She didn't want to miss it.

Upon hearing this, Bradley was taken aback. He lowered his head to look at her, a glimmer of excitement gleaming in his cold, dark eyes.

So, she wanted to celebrate her birthday with him at home, which was why she resisted going to the hospital.

"Birthdays can be celebrated later, but your wound cannot wait!"

Freya pursed her lips, her cheeks flushed with fever, her voice hoarse. "A makeup birthday isn't a real birthday anymore. Besides, today is my mother's memorial day. I want her to see me make a wish, to know that I'm doing well now, so she can rest assured in heaven."

Bradley furrowed his brow slightly, his warm palm grasping her small hand not too tightly. "Alright, then let's bring the birthday banquet to the hospital. Let your friends come and accompany you in making wishes."

Freya stared at him for several seconds, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she nodded.

"Thank you, Bradley Austin."

"Just now, I already promised in front of your mother's tombstone. My current identity is your husband, so it's only natural for me to be good to you."

Bradley paused, lowering his head to whisper in her ear, "And also, by calling my full name, did you want me to kiss you?"

Freya blushed; that wasn't what she meant at all.

But that's how he interpreted it, and he leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her moist lips.

"Mr.Bradley, we've reached the hospital..."

Before 'we've reached' could be finished, Shadow immediately swallowed the words and turned his head, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

Freya felt awkward. She grabbed onto the man's shirt with both hands, trying to stop his intimacy, but the man was still domineering and stubborn, brushing her lips regardless.

As the kiss ended, Freya blushed deeply, hiding her face in his embrace, too embarrassed to even raise her head.

Being caught in such an intimate moment was truly humiliating.

Bradley lowered his gaze to her flushed face, quietly curling his lips into a smile. She seemed to blush at the slightest touch; even a gentle kiss could turn her this crimson.

"Shadow is a well-trained bodyguard who has been by my side for over a decade. Rest assured, he promises to keep his lips sealed."

With that assurance, Bradley gave Shadow a meaningful look. Shadow stepped out of the car first, then courteously opened the door for the two of them.

Bradley carried Freya towards the hospital, the sight of the faint and deep bloodstains on her face unsettling.

Shadow wanted to remind them several times, but he knew Bradley's temperament too well, so he refrained from saying anything and instead picked up his phone to call Xavier.

Freya was swiftly taken to the emergency room, where the attending doctor approached to reinsert the indwelling needle for her.

Standing nearby, Bradley promptly reminded, "She's afraid of pain, so please be gentle when inserting the needle."

The doctor glanced at him, his tone matter-of-fact. "Inserting an indwelling needle inevitably involves some discomfort. If it's misplaced, it may need to be reinserted multiple times. Pain is unavoidable, and if the patient leaves the hospital without permission and their condition worsens, we'll need to reapply for admission procedures. Sir, may I ask your relationship to the patient?"

"I'm her husband," Bradley retorted, his expression clearly displeased at the questioning of his identity.

The doctor dismissed the concern, attributing it to typical family worry.

"Since you're family, please proceed with the hospital admission procedures promptly. The patient is running a high fever, and the situation is concerning."

"I'll stay with her. I'll join you after you finish the examination."

The attending physician, a woman, frowned upon hearing this. "The patient has abrasions all over her body, and some wounds need stitching. Hospital regulations prohibit family members from entering the treatment area. Please cooperate."

Bradley remained stoic, refusing to budge.

The female doctor was about to insist when Xavier hurriedly arrived.

"Bradley, leave my sister-in-law to Julie. You come with me first to deal with the wound!”

Bradley was indifferent to his own injuries, more concerned about Freya's condition. After all, she must have suffered greatly from the fall.

Seeing her covered in bandages, blood seeping from some wounds, heightened his worry.

Freya knew what he was worried about, so she extended her hand without the needle and gently nudged him, saying, "Don't worry, I'm fine! Don't forget, you still have to surprise me for my birthday later! I'll be waiting for your surprise!"

Only then did Bradley follow Xavier out and tended to the wound on his back.

Due to the commotion at the press conference and the running back and forth with Freya, coupled with the rain soaking his wound, Bradley's injury was quite serious.

The wound not only burst open but also festered, with the shirt fabric sticking to the flesh. When Xavier helped him unbutton his clothes, he was truly shocked.

"I really think you're crazy, to do this to yourself for a woman!"

Bradley's cold eyes narrowed, his voice low, "If it were your woman being treated like this, could you bear it?"

The thought of Sophie, that venomous woman, arranging for over twenty men to harass Freya made Bradley's blood boil by just hearing the number. He wished he could kill them all on the spot.

Xavier was well aware of what had happened at the press conference. Freya's appearance exposed her stepmother's crimes and personally sent her to prison.

This stepmother was truly vicious to the extreme. For the sake of a huge compensation, she hired someone to commit murder. She even arranged for over twenty men to...

Even though he wasn't present at the scene, Xavier wished he could rush to the press conference and beat her up.

She was just too ruthless!