"No, I will spoil you. Whatever you desire, it shall be yours. If you seek freedom, I shall grant it. My only wish is to spare you from hardship."

From a tender age, burdened with the mission to reclaim Solterra, he inherited the reins of the Austin Corporation from Owen at the age of twenty. The years he devoted to this cause were marked by sweat and tears beyond imagining.

Managing a corporation demanded immense energy and time. He dreaded the thought of her growing distant due to work, which left him feeling unsettled.

Freya understood Bradley's concerns and wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting playfully, "Mr. Austin, I comprehend your worries. I vow to leave for work with you, and awaiting your return at home every single day. I can ensure that our marital bliss remains undisturbed."

"If confining me at home is your wish, it shall be so. However, such restrictions would suffocate me. Isolating me from the world outside might eventually cause me to lose myself. Should that happen, we might find ourselves drifting apart."

"By the time I age, you might grow disenchanted with me, perhaps even entertaining thoughts of other women surpassing me. Must I resign myself to such fate, passively awaiting rejection?"

"Reject you?" Bradley's gaze darkened as he grasped her chin, his voice deep with emotion, "You have been the one to reject me all along. Once you return to work, your allure will only intensify. Men will flock around you, vying for your attention. Do you truly wish to provoke my jealousy?"

Freya blinked, smiling helplessly, "Then tell me, who in the capital city can rival you?"

The man's eyes darkened.

Previously, he had never felt threatened. Even James Austin failed to be a threat to him. Yet now, despite already having her, he couldn't shake this sense of insecurity.

“In my heart, you reign supreme. No other compares to you. Therefore, you needn't fear losing me to another.“

Bradley regained his composure and gazed deeply into her eyes, his silence speaking volumes.

Freya comprehended his possessiveness; he disliked her venturing out into the limelight. But she needs to return to work, and she wouldn't compromise.

"Bradley…" Freya noticed his silence and wrapped her arms around him, acting coy, "You must promise me. I shall comply with any request you make."

Bradley's lips curled slightly, his voice husky, "Any request?"

Yes, Freya nodded earnestly.

"Very well, then give me a child."

"Can we wait a few years? By then, you can have as many as you desire." She understood Bradley's intentions. Indirectly, he sought to bind her with a child.

Once she was pregnant, her focus would shift entirely to the child, leaving little room for anything else. This man was cunning indeed.

Bradley let out a soft sigh. "Ann, must you really return to work?"

"Yes." Freya affirmed.

"Very well, but you must promise me. No socializing, no getting too close to other men, and you must be home by half-past five every evening."

Bradley understood her nature. If pushed too hard, she would feel suffocated and seek to escape. It was better to indulge her for now and find other ways to bring her back home obediently.

Furthermore, the plan for Solterra has nearly ripened. He will soon return to claim the throne, thus putting an end to his lingering in the capital city.

"As you command, my husband!" her lips curving into a smile that warmed Bradley's heart.

As long as he agreed, she was willing to comply with any request.

Bradley leaned in to kiss her brow and eyes. "I adore your obedience and sweet nature. An obedient woman is the most endearing."

"An obedient woman will be bullied every day." Freya recalled their earlier encounter, her cheeks flushing.

God knows what possessed her to help him with such a thing.

"Is there any porridge left?" She felt her mouth bitter and astringent, longing for something to rid her of the taste.

Bradley raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't I enough to satisfy you?"

This man...

How could he be so suggestive in his speech?

Freya playfully punched him, coquettishly remarking, "Mr. Austin, your mind is filled with naughty thoughts, not at all charming."

Bradley seized her small hand, a smirk playing on his lips. "You ignited the fire. The sooner you feed me, the sooner I'll be charming."

Pfft!

This man, not even blushing while making such suggestive remarks.

They say that suggestive talk ignites passion like a wildfire. Perhaps from now on, he would never be satisfied, and she wouldn't know how to handle him.

"I want to eat something." Freya said, avoiding his previous topic.

Bradley pinched her cheek gently. "Darling, what do you want to eat, hmm?"

Though his words seemed innocent, they sparked a flurry of thoughts.

"Bradley." Freya was truly annoyed now. She grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him. "If you keep acting like this, I'll...I'll ignore you!"

Forcing her into such temptation, yet he remained unfazed. This man had thick skin indeed.

Bradley caught the pillow and tossed it aside before leaving the bedroom with a smile.

Watching his tall figure depart, Freya sighed deeply, feeling as if she had narrowly escaped a trap.

She had been through so much, and now her mind was filled with indecent thoughts that she couldn't shake off.

Covering her face with her hands, she felt unsettled.

God knows what she had done to deserve this!

Downstairs, the aroma of food wafted through the air. Perhaps from exerting too much energy, she felt famished. That bowl of porridge hadn't filled her up at all.

Freya tidied herself quickly before heading to the living room.

To her surprise, she spotted a familiar figure bustling about in the kitchen, not Rosa or Frederick, but—

Bradley.

Thinking she might be mistaken, Freya rubbed her eyes.

No, she wasn't mistaken. It was indeed Bradley in the kitchen.

Freya was taken aback. Glancing around, she saw no sign of Rosa or Frederick, prompting her to ask, "Why is no one else home?"

"Last night, I gave Frederick and Rosa half a day off. It's just the two of us at home now."

That explained it.

She had wondered why the house suddenly felt so quiet.

But upon closer thought, something didn't add up. Why would they be given time off out of the blue?

Recalling the absurdity of last night until now, Freya suddenly felt like she was ensnared in a scheme.

Bradley had lied to her.

And his intention? To spend some intimate time with her?

This man was truly wicked.

Suddenly, even the porridge didn't taste appetizing anymore. "I want to eat meat. Can you make some for me?"

Glancing at the busy man in the kitchen, Freya saw a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Want to eat meat? Well, here's a ready man. Care to eat?"