"If direct attack doesn't work, we'll play it smart. Right now, Ian and Kevin are fighting in the nest. When they're nearly done, that's when we swoop in."

Freya blinked. "Since they're fighting among themselves, why don't we escalate their conflict and let them fight intensely? That way, it'll be much easier for us to make a move, won't it?"

Bradley lovingly patted her head and said, "Ian's got some lady to get close with Kevin. Now that Kevin has been poisoned, the security heightened in the palace, it's nearly impossible for anyone to sneak in. Furthermore, Ian has been hiding in the Duke's Palace ever since he rescued Brian and his brother. It won't be easy to make a move against him either."

"So, no sparks yet. Let's just wait and see."

Freya pursed her lips.

Was Ian too chicken to step out?

Even better. She had a plan to drag him out and also ... mess up his bromance with Kevin for good, ensuring it cannot be repaired!

"Rest well and stop overthinking. Remember, you're not to step out without my approval."

Bradley caught that scheming glint in her eye. He knew she was plotting something again.

Freya squinted, grinning, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, by the way, Honey, what did you do with Steve?" she asked.

"He got a real nice send-off," he replied.

"What?"

Freya's jaw dropped. "You killed him?"

She had some serious payback planned for that creep once she healed up. Maybe stick him with a bunch of needles to let off steam.

But before she could even lay eyes on him, he was already killed?

Freya felt a bit disappointed and pouted.

Bradley leaned in close, their foreheads touching. "Just messing with you. He's alive and kicking," he assured her.

"Ah, so now you're getting good at lying," Freya teased.

She stared at him with puffed-up cheeks.

Bradley chuckled, reached out, and gently pinched her cheek, deflating it in a snap.

Freya was so mad she wanted to smack him, but he grabbed her hand first. "Easy, Honey. Your wound just healed, don't move around."

After that, he hopped onto the bed beside her, pulling the blanket over their legs.

"I had Shadow whip up loads of those plum blossom hidden weapons, all poisoned up with One Leaf Needle, plus some blood-sucking mosquito eggs laid on them. Gonna give him one a day so he can savor the agony."

"Besides, you've risked your life to capture Steve, obviously planning to handle him on your own. How could I possibly go ahead and kill him while you're still unconscious?"

Upon hearing this, Freya realized she had misunderstood him.

She hugged him lightly, saying, "Honey, I knew you'd understand me best. I wanted to deal with Steve myself. He's just too disgusting. Letting him die would be too easy for him."

"Do you want to see him?"

"Nah, I can't stand looking at him. I'll have Ella jab him daily so he feels the pain,"

There was a sly smile on her lips.

With just one hidden weapon strike, she'd make sure he had no heirs left.

The two chilled together, chatting away.

Before they knew it, Freya had fallen asleep in Bradley's arms.

It wasn't until then that Bradley realized he had stuff to handle outside.

Freya was right, stirring up trouble in the Logan family now would pay off down the road.

Sneaking out of bed, he fixed his clothes and slipped out of the room.

Downstairs, he spotted Matthew with a computer, tapping away on the sofa.

"What are you doing, Matthew?"

Bradley asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

Matthew freaked out and shut the laptop in a panic.

"Nothing, just browsing."

He looked guilty, as if he had done something bad.

Bradley strolled over, swiped the computer, and checked it out.

His expression darkened instantly, like a storm cloud rolling in.

He said in a deep voice, "Who taught you this?"

This kid, picking up hacker tricks out of nowhere.

Matthew gulped, shrinking back a bit. "Nobody taught me, I ... I just figured it out myself. I saw this book in Dad's study, so I read it."

Aunt Ella taught him this. She instructed him not to reveal her if questioned.

Matthew then lied, saying he learned it on his own.

Bradley was torn between believing and doubting, his eyebrows knitted tight. "Isn't it time for Mr. Shelby's class today? He's been missing for a while, hasn't he?"

"Dad, Mr. Shelby has not come for days,"

He said honestly.

Since that day when Mommy attended class with him, Mr. Shelby hadn't returned.

"Why hasn't he come, did you make the teacher angry again?"

"No, Dad. Mommy told him not to come. Mommy also mentioned that she wants me to start kindergarten."

"No way!"

Bradley's face soured big time.

The whole reason for keeping Matthew out of kindergarten was for safety.

Besides, with Matthew's health issues, it's not advisable for him to have too much contact with others.

And now Freya said she would send him to kindergarten? It made no sense at all!

Bradley was cool with Matthew having his own hobbies, but when it came to kindergarten, there was no debate.

Suddenly, there was noise upstairs, so Bradley turned to check it out.

He spotted Freya on the railing.

"Don't be too hard on the kid. It was my idea for him to go to kindergarten."

Freya said, slowly walking down the stairs.

She planned to talk with Bradley after making promise to Matthew that day.

It's just that a lot happened afterward, causing a delay in discussing this matter.

Hearing sounds from upstairs, she peeked out to see what happened.

Since Matthew brought it up, she figured it was time to chat with Bradley.

"Freya, you know Matthew's situation. Kindergarten isn't for him," Bradley's eyes turned serious, and he spoke with determination.

It was unusual for Freya to see him so firm. He used to be easygoing, no matter her decisions were.

"I get your worries, but Matthew's ready for kindergarten now. He deserves his own world, and he's much healthier. Nothing bad will happen."

Freya insisted, determined to help Matthew integrate into a normal kid's life

Even though Matthew was not her own child, she felt deeply sorry for him. She wished that over time, he could find his own happiness, just like other kids.

"Freya, let's shelve this discussion for later, okay?"

Bradley knew if they kept talking like this, he would give in.

With the city in such chaos, sending Matthew to school wasn't the safest option.

Freya grabbed Matthew's hand, consoling him, then shot Bradley a glare.

"Don't dodge the issue. I promised Matthew, so I can't back down now."

Bradley felt a bit embarrassed being scolded by his wife in front of their son.

With his hands in his pockets, he sighed, "Fine, I'll go along with it. Once things settle down, he can go to school."