Meanwhile.

Lily and Lisa returned to the store with the clothes in tow.

As Lily began to hang each piece, Ella approached. "You must be exhausted. Take a break, I'll handle these."

"But..."

"No 'buts'. Freya mentioned how hard you've been working lately, so she got lots of fruits and snacks for the break room. Everyone, help yourselves!"

Ella announced to the group.

"Freya's so considerate!"

"Yeah, working at Julia's Boutique is a dream!"

The employees cheered.

But Lily clenched her fists tightly, feeling far from elated.

Julia's Boutique offered unparalleled perks, beyond what Selena's could provide.

From pay to treatment, it was top-notch.

Lily had vowed to excel since joining.

But she never expected Selena to resort to kidnapping her family and threatening her loyalty to Julia's.

Exposed or not, she couldn't bear to stay here any longer.

In Julia's eyes, she was now a criminal, unworthy of the kindness shown by others!

Her eyes welled up, and she forced a bitter smile at Ella. "Ella, I'm feeling a bit unwell. I think I'll take the afternoon off."

"Alright, take care."

Ella's gaze lingered on her, offering a sympathetic smile. "Grab a bite before you go. You look pale."

"Mm."

Lily followed the group back to the lounge.

Observing her retreating form, Ella squinted her eyes before proceeding to sort through the clothes that had just arrived.

Each item had been tampered with, posing potential disastrous consequences if worn by unsuspecting customers.

Ella called upon White Fox and her team, who had been lurking in the shadows, to swiftly handle the situation.

Sending everyone to the lounge for snacks was merely a diversion, facilitating the execution of the next phase of their plan.

White Fox and her team entered, carrying several large bags of clothes while removing the compromised ones.

"Ella, I'm putting my life on the line to play along with you. Remember to put in a good word for me with the boss and get me promoted by year-end!" White Fox exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I'll ensure the boss recognizes your efforts and grant you a senior position,"

Ella assured her, signaling for them to act quickly.

The lounge occupants could emerge at any moment, risking the exposure of their plan if they encountered White Fox's team.

Meanwhile, Lily stared at the table filled with fruits and snacks, her mood growing increasingly somber.

Despite her fondness for sweets, she found herself unable to indulge.

Noticing Lily's distracted demeanor, Ava became concerned. "Lily, you look quite pale. Are you feeling unwell again?"

"I-I'm fine,"

Lily forced a smile.

However, the more one observed her smile, the more it appeared strained and unnatural.

"I've heard that eating sweets can help uplift your mood when you're feeling low. Try this mousse cake; it's absolutely delightful,"

Ava suggested, extending a piece of cake.

"I'm not hungry, and my stomach feels a bit upset," Lily declined politely.

"What a pity. With so many delectable treats, it's a shame you won't be able to enjoy any,"

Ava lamented, before devouring the cake with evident satisfaction.

All the employees were chatting and laughing heartily.

They expressed gratitude for being part of Julia's, considering it the happiest thing in their lives.

As Lily listened, her discomfort grew further.

In the end, her eyes welled up with tears.

She couldn't bear it any longer and addressed the group, "You guys go ahead and eat. I'm heading home."

With that, she pushed the door and fled outside.

The others exchanged puzzled glances.

"What's going on with Lily? She seems like she's been crying."

"Yeah, she doesn't seem herself. Did something happen at home?"

"It's strange. She used to love sweets so much, even if she had a stomachache, she'd still indulge. But today, faced with all these sweets, she seems indifferent. That's not like her."

The colleagues continued to speculate.

…

A chilly breeze swept through the area.

Bradley dodged Freya's punch and seized her wrist.

Freya narrowed her eyes at him and muttered, "You cheated."

"We're just enjoying ourselves as husband and wife. No need for rules. We can play however we want," he replied calmly.

With those words, he lightly tapped her chest. "Enough, let's go home."

"Who said I'm playing!"

Angered, Freya attempted to push him away.

In the next instant, Bradley simply embraced her. "What's gotten into you?"

Freya was lifted up, and in her fury, she wrapped her legs around his waist and landed a punch on his cheek.

There was a resounding slap in the otherwise silent room.

A trickle of blood appeared on the man's lips.

His handsome face bore a noticeable red mark.

Freya was surprised that he didn't dodge, and she regretted her action as she lowered her gaze.

Her voice was filled with pain as she asked, "Why didn't you dodge?"

"As long as you're happy."

"I've told you, I don't need your permission. Acting like this only makes me angrier."

Freya's eyes were red, and she struggled to break free.

But to her surprise, Bradley held her tighter.

You're my wife. Regardless of right or wrong, supporting you is my duty. Bradley's gaze lingered on her, filled with infinite affection.

Meanwhile, Shadow One watched silently, seething with resentment.

The sight of Freya striking Bradley pained her deeply, almost driving her to intervene.

However, she knew she lacked the right to do so.

"So, when you were teaching Shadow One to box, was it like this?" Freya bit her lip, regarding him with a mix of resentment and suspicion.

Initially, Bradley was taken aback by her accusation.

But soon, clarity dawned upon him.

She discovered that her anger stemmed from his teaching Shadow One to box.

She was experiencing jealousy.

At that moment, he couldn't help but smile helplessly. "No, I merely offered guidance. I didn't lay a finger on her."

"You're lying! You clearly taught her hands-on!" Freya accused.

"No, I didn't."

Bradley held her tightly, whispering near her ear, "You forgot, I can't touch any woman except you."

His warm breath made Freya blush.

She had actually forgotten about this.

Was she really feeling jealous for no reason?

But she refused to admit it, turning her face away from him.

Seeing her stubbornness, Bradley sighed softly.

He reached out to pinch her cheek, saying in a deep voice, "Are we still going to spar?"

Freya's face contorted in conflict, but soon, she pushed him away with a swift motion, breaking free from his embrace.

Using one hand to steady herself, she maintained her balance.

But in the next moment, she looked up with a slight smile and said, "Let's do it."

Bradley watched her with keen interest.

"Very well, let's proceed."

With that, he threw the first punch, but when it approached her face, his movement noticeably hesitated.

He couldn't bear to harm her even in the slightest.

In the end, he eased his force, gently meeting her fist with restrained resistance.

"Bradley, if you're going easy on me, I'll genuinely be upset," Freya warned.

Could this even be considered boxing?

Moreover, with her boxing skills, she didn't need him to hold back.