Freya searched all over herself but couldn't find it.

She retraced her steps back to the wooden cabin, but it was nowhere to be found. She grew anxious.

Where could it have fallen? This item was incredibly precious to her; she had even secured it tightly with the pendant of her necklace. She had checked it before leaving in the morning; it couldn't have simply disappeared without a trace.

Meanwhile, at Austin Corporation...

Bradley sat on the sofa, making a phone call.

"Search everywhere! Even if you have to scour the entire city, find Poppy for me!"

She was the girl he had tirelessly sought for seven long years. How could he give up now?

Although the Shadowfang Jade Whistle had returned to his possession, he had yet to fulfil the promise he made to her all those years ago.

Even if Poppy was now financially secure and didn't require his aid, he still felt obligated to explain himself to her face-to-face. He had been coerced into breaking his word back then, and he needed to rectify it.

Regardless, he owed this girl a debt of gratitude for saving his life. He was resolute in his determination to find her, no matter what it takes.

"There's something I must tell you. The person you've been searching for, Marigold Nichols, she is using a false identity. There's no such person in this world."

Bradley's expression turned extremely grim.

He was about to speak when he heard a knock on the door, following by Harry's voice.

"Boss, how do you intend to handle Ms. Turner?"

Bradley narrowed his eyes. "Where is she?"

"In the lounge." the man replied.

Bradley rose from the sofa, and strode out of his office.

His handsome face was dark and ominous as he fixed his sharp, chilling gaze on Sharon Turner lying on the ground, trembling with fear.

She remembered how he had grabbed her by the throat, his intentions clear. His eyes were bloodshot, reminiscent of a ferocious beast.

She couldn't tell if it was the effect of the drugs or if Bradley was naturally this terrifying.

"Mr... Mr. Austin, I didn't drug you, it wasn't me…"

Sharon Turner's pale face was contorted with fear as she explained, trembling uncontrollably.

Bradley withdrew his gaze with disgust, sitting down opposite her.

"Did you enjoy drugging people?" His voice dripped with icy disdain.

Sharon Turner shook her head frantically in fear. "No, please, you can't do this to me..."

"If you dare to lay a hand on Mr. Bradley, this will be your fate."

Harry approached with the drugged liquid, firmly grasping Sharon Turner's chin and forcing it down her throat.

Despite the warm liquid flowing down, Harry poured it too quickly, causing most of it to spill out and wet her skirt.

Sharon Turner struggled desperately, feeling the potent effects of the drug. She couldn't bear to think about what would happen next when it took full effect.

She wasn't naive enough to believe that Bradley would help her; she knew he would only make her suffer.

As soon as Harry finished pouring, Sharon Turner felt something starting to happen to her.

"Take her to a crowded street corner and leave her there. Since she enjoys playing games, let her have her fill. And as for the rest of the Turner family, kick them out of the capital city at this instance!" Bradley's voice was cold, his black eyes exuding an aura of darkness.

"Please, Mr. Austin, have mercy on me." Sharon Turner pleaded. Her consciousness already fading, but still terrified by his words.

"Harry, get rid of her!"

His entire being emanated an icy chill as he commanded.

Harry quickly called for assistance and dragged Sharon Turner away.

Bradley returned to his office, clutching the Shadowfang Jade Whistle in his hand, his gaze chilling.

Marigold Nichols...

How dare she use a false identity to fool him.

Poppy, who are you really?

Back at her place, Freya searched high and low, but the jade whistle was nowhere to be found. She was growing increasingly worried.

"Freya, what exactly are you looking for?" Sean couldn't help asking when he saw her frantic state.

"Have you seen a fang-shaped whistle, white in colour?"

"No." Sean shook his head.

"It might have dropped somewhere in the city. I have to go back and look for it."

"But aren't you supposed to meet my grandfather?"

"Not now unfortunately. I'll come back another day. You need to keep Great Uncle stable and make sure he doesn't leave the house."

The Shadowfang Jade Whistle was crucial to her; she couldn't afford to lose it.

Without further ado, Freya boarded a plane and flew back to the city. By the time she arrived, night had fallen.

She went home first and searched high and low, but found no trace of it.

Considering a trip back to Sean's farm, she had scarcely set foot outside the house when she collided head-on with Bradley.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked, pulling her into his arms.

Freya pursed her lips. "There's something I need to take care of. I'll be back soon."

"What happened to your lips?" Bradley noticed a wound on her lips.

"Just a fishbone prick." Freya replied hesitantly.

"Really?" Bradley clearly didn't believe her. The wound looked more like a bite mark.

"Really, if you don't believe me, you can ask Rosa. I accidentally got pricked while eating fish for lunch."

"Why do you also have a wound on your lips?" she inquired, noticing a mark on Bradley's lips as well.

Bradley's eyes flickered. When he was entangled with Poppy, she had bitten him.

Though he had treated it, the scar was still visible.

Feeling a twinge of guilt for getting involved with Poppy, Bradley couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her.

"Freya, you're the only one I love, but today, I made a mistake."

Freya was kissed into a daze, pushing him away gently.

"What did you do wrong? Don't tell me you cheated on me behind my back?"

Freya's cheeks flushed red as she looked at him.

She still hoped that he would confess to her. Even though Poppy was herself, she still couldn't accept him deceiving her.

Seeing him silent, she immediately became anxious. "What, was I right? You've been cheating on me?"

Bradley heard this and felt a pang of annoyance.

If it weren't for Harry, everything that shouldn't have happened would have occurred.

Although he was drugged, it was still his fault for touching another woman.

He didn't want to hide anything, nor did he want her to discover this episode on her own.

After a moment of hesitation, he decided to come clean.

"Freya, I'll come clean, but you have to promise me not to get angry, not to ignore me, and not to leave the house."

His eyes were filled with anxiety and insecurity.

Freya looked at him, frowning slightly.

Bradley's excessive dominance and control issues were signs of his insecurity and lack of safety.

These were all symptoms of the poison.

She reached out and held his hand, nodding. "Okay, I promise."

As long as he was honest, she didn't have much reason to be angry, especially since she was the one he had infringed upon.

Her only fear was if he concealed things and refused to admit his mistakes, and when she found out later, he would brush it off with a simple "I had no choice."

In that case, their relationship would lack any trust whatsoever.

Upon hearing this, Bradley recounted today's events to her in detail.