Soon after, Bradley appeared with Freya napping in his arms.

Patrick was shocked to see the bruises covering her body. "What happened? Did you two go at it that hard?"

Bradley ignored him, responding with a chilling glare.

Patrick shook so hard that he couldn't speak any further.

At this moment, Officer Zane came over with an apologetic smile. "Mr. Austin, this is our mistake. We are truly sorry for causing you such trouble."

Bradley's expression was cold and chilling like he had come from hell.

He didn't say a word, just picked up Freya and strode away.

Officer Zane let out a sigh of relief. Was this a close call?

Patrick didn't keep up but instead gossiped with Officer Zane. "Officer, what did Mr. Austin and Mrs. Lawson do to end up in the police station? Why were they taken in?"

"This is quite a story. It all started when ..."

Officer Zane told them what had happened.

Patrick grew increasingly surprised as he listened, eventually bursting into laughter and clapping his thighs.

Kidnapping minors?

Criminals?

Bradley Austin, the CEO of the prestigious Austin Corporation and the prince of the Solterra Dynasty got arrested at the police station after being mistaken for a minor girl trafficker.

Gabriel's mouth twitched in surprise when he heard the news.

"Patrick, is it hilarious? Bradley really screwed up this time."

Patrick came back and told Gabriel what had happened. When he burst out laughing, Gabriel remained calm.

"Do you know why Freya was injured?"

"Because Bradley was too rough in bed."

"You're wrong. Freya was kidnapped and nearly assaulted!" Gabriel frowned. Although he hadn't personally gone to rescue her, he had heard about it from his subordinates.

Bradley was enraged. He slaughtered the thirty hooligans on the spot, not sparing one.

"Who did this?" Patrick exclaimed in shock.

"Her father, Bruce Lawson."

"This beast even attacked his daughter. He is not human." Patrick cursed.

"Bradley has fallen for her. I'm worried that his love for her will get in the way of his revenge."

Gabriel shook his head, his eyes full of concern.

"Don't worry, Freya is an extraordinary woman. She will be a great help to Bradley."

"Don't forget about Juliet!"

Patrick's smile froze when he heard that.

Juliet was indeed not easy to deal with.

She's done Solterra a favor so that Bradley couldn't abandon her.

Royal Garden Mansion.

After Freya fell asleep, Bradley went to the basement, where Bruce got locked up.

At this time, Bruce was topless and tied to a pillar. Wounds and blood covered his body.

His fear rose to a crescendo when he stared into the dank basement.

He kept passing out from the pain of Shadow's whipping, only to be painfully woken up again and again.

His underling poured brine over him, causing him to cry out in agony.

Bruce pleaded for mercy, desperately wishing for a swift end.

However, Bradley wouldn't let him go. He planned to slowly torture Bruce till he wanted to die.

When the whip hit him, the scorching iron burned his skin.

The air was thick with the smell of roasting flesh and blood as Bruce writhed in agony, begging for mercy as he died.

"Mr. Bradley, spare me. I won't dare to do it again."

"Have you ever thought of saving her while enduring the suffering?" Bradley sat across from him, unmoved by his pleas. His black eyes burned with terrible wrath, while his face looked grim.

Bruce struggled, desperately pleading, "Yes, I was trying to go back to save her. She's my daughter."

Daughter?

Bradley raised an eyebrow. He sneered coldly, gesturing to Shadow. "Take off his pants and hang him up."

Two bodyguards immediately removed Bruce's pants and hung him from the beam.

Bruce peed in fear. The liquid ran down his body and into his mouth, making him queasy.

Bruce had yet to learn what Bradley was planning to do. He was hung up and could barely breathe. Seeing the man's expressionless face, he trembled in horror.

"Mr. Bradley, please give me another chance. I promise I will cherish Freya and never hurt her again."

"It's too late."

Bradley quickly jumped from the sofa and tossed Shadow a short, heated knife.

"Cut him. When his blood runs dry, throw him out in the wilderness to feed the wolves."

Bruce was so scared that he peed his pants for the second time. His eyes widened in fear as he looked at Bradley, sobbing and begging for mercy.

"Mr. Bradley, I may not be a perfect father, but I'm still Freya's father. You have no right to treat me like this. You're breaking the law."

"Breaking the law? In the face of power, I am the law!" Murderous intent showed on Bradley's icy, handsome face. "Do it," her urged impatiently.

Shadow wasted no time, swiftly moving as a chorus of agonized screams followed.

The basement was thick with the smell of blood. Bruce passed out from the pain, his blood dripping onto the floor in a steady stream.

Shadow sent some of his men to bring Bruce away, following Bradley's orders to dump him into the mountainside.

A father like him didn't deserve any mercy.

After dealing with Bruce, Bradley returned to the villa.

The man's dark and fierce face softened only after seeing Freya sleeping soundly on the bed.

The antidote finally cleared the toxins in her body.

However, her body was still eerily cold. Bradley held her hand and rubbed it carefully. Only then did her hand gradually warm up.

The bruises on her body were superficial, but they were still numerous and shocking to look at.

Bradley's face turned dark and terrifying as he thought of Kai pressing on her and tearing her clothes.

How could he allow bullies to target the woman he had vowed to protect with his life?

Bradley rubbed her hand against his face, murmuring, "Freya, don't you trust me?"

Even in such a dangerous moment, she never thought to ask for help.

She had always been so strong, believing she could shoulder everything alone.

But in the end, she always ended up hurting herself.

Bradley caressed her face with distress, then kissed her forehead sweetly.

The phone rang at this moment. He frowned as he looked at the number.

"What is it?"

"Juliet has been clamoring to see you. She's so emotional, so I gave her a sedative. She's asleep now." Xavier's tired voice came over the phone.

Bradley's eyes clouded as he looked at the figure on the bed and finally said, "I know."

"Are you coming over then?"

"Tell her when she wakes up that I'm busy tonight."

He planned to find her that evening, but Ella called halfway there to say Freya was in trouble.