Freya was startled out of her wits. When she realized it was Bradley, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Honey, you scared me."

"Sweetheart, what are you looking for?"

Freya bit her lip tightly. Wasn't he asleep? How did he wake up again?

"It's nothing." she replied nervously.

"Really?" He arched an eyebrow, clearly not believing her.

Freya mustered up her courage and huffed, "You went out in the middle of the night. How am I supposed to know if you really went to the company and weren't to fool around?"

"You suspect me of seeing other women?" He was taken aback.

"Yes, you spent the day with that Poppy person. I was worried and insecure."

She started making up stories, just to get through this for now.

Bradley tightened his hold on her. "So you've been angry this whole time, you haven't forgiven me at all?"

"I'm angry, because you're too handsome and there are always women eyeing you. I'm afraid I can't control you."

Freya transformed into a jealous little wife, her expression full of grievances.

Seeing this, Bradley cupped her face and looked deeply into her eyes. "Freya, I promise you, I won't fall for anyone besides you."

"Really?"

"I'm not lying."

"Then you're not allowed to meet Poppy again, got it?"

"Yeah, anything you say."

He pulled her back onto the bed, holding her even tighter this time, as if afraid she would leave if he relaxed.

Freya felt a little suffocated by his embrace and gently pushed him away. "Honey, it's uncomfortable."

He then relaxed his grip slightly.

After all the commotion, Freya couldn't sleep anymore.

If the jade whistle was indeed in Bradley's hands, she would let him keep it for now and find an opportunity to reclaim it later.

As for the most important thing now, it was to detoxify him as soon as possible.

"Honey, tomorrow I have to fly to see my Great Uncle. I'll first improve my relationship with him, and then I'll take you to see him."

"It's not safe for you to go alone. I'll go with you."

Bradley buried his chin in her shoulder and rubbed against it.

"I'm not a three-year-old child who needs someone to look after me all the time. Besides, Sean is there, so there won't be any problems."

"I'm even more worried if he is there."

Bradley squinted.

"Hayden Barnes is my Great Uncle, and Sean is my cousin. Besides, he's gay. I'm safest with him."

Freya started brainwashing him, but the more she said, the darker Bradley's expression became.

"You seemed to know Sean very well. How long have you known each other?"

Freya dared not speak anymore. The more she said, the more mistakes she made, so it is best if she just keep quiet.

In the end, she resorted to various acts of coquetry as he reluctantly agreed.

However, he proposed a condition: Xavier would accompany them.

Freya thought about it. Xavier was Hayden Barnes's disciple, so it would be better if he went.

The next day, Freya and Xavier set off.

Freya brought a lot of good wine to please her Great Uncle Hayden.

She was confident that she could persuade him to develop an antidote for Bradley.

Upon reaching the small cabin, they immediately heard a series of noises emanating from within.

Soon after, the stern voice of Sean echoed out.

"Grandpa, where are you going?"

"Your grandma is missing. I'm going to look for her."

Oh no, Hayden Barnes was still in the midst of a tantrum about running away from home.

Freya swiftly entered the cabin, carrying the wine. As she passed by the traps, she made a point to warn Xavier, "Watch out for the peanut shells; they're all traps. Falling won't kill you, but it could maim you."

Hayden Barnes rushed out with his luggage, coincidentally bumping into the two.

Freya called out, "Great Uncle, where are you going? Look what I brought you."

The old man smelled the aroma of wine as his eyes lit up.

He bounded over to Freya like a monkey and snatched the wine from her hands.

"Sue, you're here, what a good sister, bringing me wine."

"Sue?"

Freya was dumbfounded.

Did Great Uncle mistake her for her grandma?

There was nothing Sean could do. His grandpa had also just mistook him for his dad.

His grandfather's idiosyncrasies were escalating, and he never adhered to conventions, always unpredictable.

With the wine in hand, Hayden Barnes quickly calmed down and ceased his tantrum about leaving home.

Xavier and Sean went aside to gather information, while Freya sat beside Hayden Barnes, attempting to build rapport with him.

"Great Uncle, I brought you a lot of wine. Take your time drinking. I'll bring you more once you finished."

"What Great Uncle? I'm your brother." Hayden Barnes corrected her.

Freya rubbed her nose and smiled, "Yes, yes, you're my brother."

"Sue, that man you brought back earlier, is he your new boyfriend?"

"..."

Fortunately, she didn't bring Bradley. If he had heard that, he would tear Xavier apart.

"Brother, he's merely a friend. My actual boyfriend is in the capital. I'll introduce him to you in a couple of days," Freya explained.

"Sure, bring him by so I can assess him. If he doesn't measure up, he can forget about marrying my sister," Hayden Barnes declared solemnly, stroking his goatee with a serious expression.

Freya felt a twinge of apprehension as she contemplated Hayden Barnes's reaction.

It was clear that his current state might not bode well for meeting Bradley, especially if he disapproved. She mulled over the possibility of his rejection and its consequences.

"We're already registered. You have to agree even if you don't want to," she asserted.

"What?"

Hayden Barnes exclaimed, rising from his seat. "Sue, how could you make such a decision without even bringing him home? Do you have no respect for me as your brother?"

Freya hadn't anticipated this vehement response.

Freya was aware of her grandmother's tumultuous love life in her youth. Despite her family's disapproval, she married a man of humble means. However, after he achieved success, he abandoned her.

Then her grandmother remarried and gave birth to her mother.

Tragically, her grandfather passed away early, leaving her grandmother widowed, and she raised her mother all by herself.

It seemed that her Great Uncle was concerned about her grandmother, so even in his current state of mental instability, he still harboured concerns for her grandmother's happiness.

"I genuinely love him, and he's been nothing but good to me. Brother, you've met him before and even consented to our marriage. Don't you remember?" Freya began weaving tales, exploiting Hayden's mental state, knowing he wouldn't discern the truth.

"Is that so?"

Hayden mused, stroking his beard.

"Yes, it was last year. I brought him home."

"I forgot about that. Bring him over again for me to meet. The past is irrelevant." Hayden took another sip of wine, nodding contentedly.

Watching his behaviour, Freya was certain that he was drunk.

Bradley's collection consisted mainly of potent liquors, and although Hayden was accustomed to drinking, he couldn't handle such strong spirits.

She summoned Sean and Xavier to assist in moving him inside, before settling down for a discussion.

"Sean, how long has Great Uncle been like this?"