Meanwhile, in the main reception hall.

The festivities were at their peak.

Standing on the stage, Lance held a microphone, his soothing voice resonating across the venue.

"Thank you all for sparing your valuable time to join us in celebrating the third anniversary of Cloud stone. I'm Lance Fenton, overseeing Cloudstone's affairs. Please enjoy yourselves tonight, and forgive us if our hospitality falls short."

As Lance concluded his speech, murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd.

Many had assumed someone else owned Cloudstone Group, but it was revealed to be Lance Fenton, the head of the Fenton family.

For a moment, numerous attendees approached Lance with wine glasses, eager to ingratiate themselves.

This was a young man at the peak of authority, and securing his favor was akin to controlling a lifeline.

Lance navigated through the crowd and eventually reached Bradley and Freya.

"Mr. Austin, delighted to collaborate!"

"Absolutely!"

Bradley clinked glasses with him before embracing Freya and departing.

However, Bradley's partnership with Lance didn't signify he had relinquished all concerns; Lance clearly harbored ulterior motives towards Freya, a fact Bradley wasn't fond of.

Observing the pair's departure, Lance's fingers tightened around the tall glass, veins bulging.

The festivities then transitioned to singing and dancing.

As melodious music filled the air, guests joined hands and moved to the dance floor.

With a gentlemanly gesture, Bradley extended his hand to Freya. "My dearest princess, would you honor me with a dance?"

Freya smiled, placing her hand in his.

Though the invitation seemed whimsical, she found it endearing.

With a firm grip, Bradley effortlessly led Freya into his embrace.

Their presence commanded attention, their perfect pairing eliciting envy from onlookers.

The spotlight was specifically focused on them, the combination of handsome man and beautiful woman was too perfect, making many socialites jealous with envy, their eyes turning red.

Lost in the graceful movements of the dance, Freya and Bradley exchanged smiles, seeing only each other in their eyes.

While Freya had danced at such events before, witnessing Bradley's dance was a first.

Exuding nobility and aloofness, Bradley's every move exuded masculine charm, leaving Freya's heart racing.

Caught in his tender affection, Freya stumbled, accidentally stepping on Bradley's shoe.

"Freya, if you enjoy watching me so much, I'll give you plenty to see when we're home," Bradley teased, leaning close to her ear.

His warm breath tinted her cheeks crimson.

Bradley was aware of his attractiveness; he had even feigned ugliness in the past to avoid undue attention.

While he disliked women ogling him, he made an exception for Freya.

Even if he's stripped off, it's okay.

"Who said I was watching you? Don't be so full of yourself," Freya chided playfully, avoiding his gaze.

Their whispered exchange resembled playful banter between lovers.

The combination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman became the most beautiful scenery in the audience.

Women's gazes, a mix of admiration and envy, were fixed on Freya, longing to take her place as Bradley's dance partner.

Suddenly, on the dance floor, a woman stumbled towards them.

Bradley narrowed his eyes.

Swiftly, he wrapped his arm around Freya's waist and twirled her in the air.

The woman fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

After the flawless spin, Bradley embraced Freya once more, his icy gaze directed at the fallen woman.

His male companion hurried over to assist, apologizing to Bradley and Freya.

"Sorry, Mr. Austin, my girlfriend accidentally twisted her ankle and startled you both."

"It's fine. She seems to be hurt. Help her to the side to rest."

Freya glanced at the woman's swollen ankle.

"Thank you for your concern, madam. We'll take our leave now."

The man escorted the woman to the sofa and asked in a hushed tone, "What happened?"

"I don't know. Someone bumped into me, and I fell."

The woman's eyes were red with grievance. She fell down and was embarrassed in front of Bradley. It was so embarrassing.

On the dance floor.

Juliet clenched her fists tightly.

Although Freya couldn't avoid the collision, Bradley's quick action easily escaped the crisis.

Originally, Juliet planned to embarrass Freya, but her scheme backfired.

However, she remained determined. With Lance and Bradley now ensnared, she just needed another chance to trap Freya and tarnish her reputation.

The ball continued.

It’s as if nothing had happened.

Bradley and Freya continued to dance together.

The two immersed themselves in the atmosphere. Bradley, looking at the woman in front of him, gradually felt his pupils dilate. He couldn't help but kiss her.

But even this light touch made him feel parched, with a sense of evil rushing to his head.

Realizing his reaction, he squinted his eyes.

He had been drugged by Juliet before, so he knew what this feeling meant.

He suppressed the burning sensation but found it impossible to control.

Obviously, this thing was accumulating power rapidly. Once it erupted, it would be fierce. He was already struggling to control it.

Freya saw sweat beading on his forehead, and veins protruding.

She even felt him tightening his grip around her waist. That's when she realized something was wrong with him.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?"

"I might have been drugged again. Be prepared, and think about what to do later."

Bradley's voice was hoarse, like a saw cutting through iron, making people feel uneasy.

They had agreed on one month before.

But now, fearing he couldn't control himself, he warned her in advance.

Once this thing erupted, even if Freya could do acupuncture, it would still be difficult to alleviate it for a while.

Moreover, he had a premonition that the dosage of the drug this time was several times higher.

"Let's leave here first. I'll take a look at you."

Freya bit her lip, her moist red lips shimmering with intoxicating luster, making Bradley even more uncomfortable.

"Wait a moment. Finish this dance first. You have three minutes to think."

He forcibly suppressed the evil thoughts and continued to dance with her.

But every time his palm touched her skin, it brought a scorching sensation.

These three minutes were endless torment for Bradley.

Finally, as the song was about to end, he directly lifted Freya and strode out of the dance floor.

"Where are we going now?"

Freya clung to his neck, her heart pounding nervously.

She realized that if he lost control, she might be unable to escape tonight.

She wasn't mentally prepared, and the thought of pain frightened her.

"Let's go home."

His voice was hoarse.

Anyone willing to confront him in this scenario must have been well-prepared. It was possible that even the rooms upstairs had been tampered with.

He couldn't take any chances.

Despite the discomfort, returning home was imperative.

Among the attendees were nobles and business rivals, all with motives to harm him. He needed to tread carefully at every turn.