From last night until now, the body has endured high-intensity strain, compounded by old injuries and allergies, leaving the person feeling detached.

Just moments ago, holding her proved to be a complete struggle. He feared that if he relaxed his grip, she would slip away, and he wouldn't be able to catch up to her again.

Freya found herself pinned beneath his weight, her organs protesting from the impact. Despite pushing against the man's chest with all her might, she felt scorched as if a layer of skin had been peeled away.

How high was his fever?

Ignoring this question, Freya pushed him away forcefully and then proceeded to check his pulse.

His breathing was erratic, and his breath came in rapid gasps. Without treatment, this condition could prove life-threatening.

Freya called Ella to prepare a bed. While Culinary Crown Court was primarily a clinic, it did have rooms designated for patients to rest.

After administering the IV drip, Freya went to fetch a towel to wipe his face. As she turned around, the man's hand reached out and tightly gripped her wrist.

"You promised not going to run."

Freya turned to face him helplessly. "I'll get some water to clean your face. I won't run," she assured him.

Relieved, Bradley released her hand, but his dark eyes followed her as she left, lingering until she returned with the water.

At that moment, Freya's phone rang.

She glanced at it.

It was a call from James.

After a moment's hesitation, she glanced at Bradley and said, "I'll take this call. I'll be back shortly." She explained in case he thought she might flee again.

With her phone in hand, Freya went to the lounge and answered the phone, "James, what's up?"

Following a brief silence, a low, mellifluous voice emanated from the receiver, "I couldn't reach Uncle Bradley's phone, and you weren't at the hospital either. Are you... with him now?"

"Yes," Freya replied candidly. "He's undergoing treatment at Culinary Crown Court due to high physical stress and injuries causing a high fever. If you have urgent matters, I can pass the phone to him. However, his condition is precarious right now. If it's work-related, he might not be able to handle it himself."

"No need. I simply wanted to thank him in person. Since he's unavailable now, I'll visit Culinary Crown Court tomorrow."

It was at this moment that Freya realized something. Despite knowing James for many years, he couldn't quite make his way into her heart.

On the boat, Bradley took a bullet for her, demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice everything for her, including his life.

Had it been James in that situation, he would have acted rationally, choosing to jump into the river with her and abandon the ship.

But Bradley chose differently. He stayed behind to buy time for her, allowing her and Herbie Jenkins to escape first.

Moreover, when she fell off the cliff, Bradley prioritized finding her above all else. What about James?

He was preoccupied with managing the company's crises.

There were countless other instances…

All of these observations pointed to one conclusion—

James lacked the ruthlessness of Bradley.

Acknowledging the message, Freya responded, "Alright, I'll pass on your message."

"Also, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. You need to rest more," James advised. "And congratulations on finally avenging and reclaiming Barnes Group."

"Thank you."

After ending the call, Freya returned to the room to find Bradley still awake.

Taking the initiative, she said, "James called. He wants to thank you in person. He'll visit you tomorrow morning. I'm curious, what did you do to assist him?"

Although Freya wasn't one for gossip, she sensed a distance between James and Bradley. Despite working together at Austin Group, they didn't seem to offer each other much support.

Moreover, James' guilt-laden voice on the phone hinted at unresolved issues between the two men.

"The crisis at Austin Group was primarily caused by Arthur's schemes. He instigated the board to punish James. However, I managed to quell the situation."

Bradley explained nonchalantly, as if discussing a trivial matter.

Freya approached him with a damp towel and said, "This is mainly my fault. If you weren't looking for me, you wouldn't have had to abandon company matters, giving opportunists a chance."

"Then you know I did it for you, yet you still pick fights with me," Bradley raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with a hint of resentment.

"I pick fights with you not because of this," Freya muttered, wiping his face with the towel.

Bradley seized her wrist, his voice hoarse. "Then tell me why. Is it because the assistant fell into my arms, or because I didn't explain it to you in time?"

Freya remained silent.

She opted to avoid discussing that topic and shifted the conversation. "Is the company crisis resolved?"

"It's nearly sorted," he responded.

"You handle things quite efficiently," she complimented him casually.

Hearing this, Bradley narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Were it not for the unexpected hacker intrusion, the issue might have lingered for two more days.

With that in mind, he recalled the upcoming celebration at Cloudstone Corporation and turned to her. "Are you free these days?"

Having finished wiping his face, Freya tossed the towel into the basin before looking at him.

"What's on your mind?"

"In three days, there's a business banquet, and I need you to accompany me," Bradley stated, pulling her to sit beside him. His tone sounded more like a declaration than a question.

Freya pursed her lips. "Let me think. I've just taken over at Barnes Group, and there's a lot to handle."

Moreover, she had plans to meet Michael Hayes that day and attend the banquet with Bradley, which might complicate matters.

She didn't want to stir up trouble, so she had to decline.

"News of our marriage is already public. If you don't accompany me, how will others perceive it?" Bradley's tone was assertive as he gently lifted her chin. "And aren't you afraid someone will snatch me away?"

"If you were that easily taken, I wouldn't want you."

As the words left her mouth, she noticed a shift in Bradley's expression. A trace of anger flashed in his eyes, and the pressure of his grip on her chin increased.

Looking up at him, Freya sensed a different aura emanating from him. His eyes now exuded a chilling coldness unlike before.

He assertively wrapped his arm around her waist and forcefully pushed her down. "Then who do you desire?"

Freya felt a sense of unease as he towered over her.

With his neatly groomed hair falling to partially cover one eye, he appeared sinister yet dangerous, like a predator fixated on its prey.

"I was perfectly fine before you arrived," she averted her gaze, unwilling to meet his eyes. For some reason, she particularly disliked his interrogative tone.

It made her feel as if she were being interrogated about her personal life, as if she were casting doubt on his fidelity.