“Colby! What are you talking about?” Sophie hurriedly pushed the family crest back to Colby.


    Even as an outsider, she knew the significance of the Costello family crest and was shocked that Colby


    would entrust such an important item to her.


    “Sophie, once I give something away, I never take it back.”


    Colby ced the family crest on Sophie’s chest. The Costello family crest signified the head of the


    Costello family. Possessing this crest was akin to having absolute authority within the Costello family.


    Colby looked at Sophie, a smile in his eyes, and whispered softly, “You are the wife I have chosen.”


    Sophie’s heart pounded like a drum, unsure of how to respond. In her past life, she had devoted herself


    to James and had never been chosen so decisively.


    Now, Colby’s words stirred something within her.


    L


    Just as Sophie was about to speak, Adler’s voice suddenly came from outside. “Colby, the dinner you


    asked me to buy…”


    Adler’s voice stopped abruptly upon seeing the scene inside. Sophie quickly stepped back from Colby.


    Adler was holding a beautifully packaged meal box, and upon noticing Colby’s dark expression,


    instantly realized his timing was off.


    “Should I leave?” Adler hesitated.


    “Don’t go! I need to talk to you!” Sophie stepped forward, her mind in turmoil, mumbling unclearly, “I


    was just getting a bit hungry, what did you buy?”


    “Colby asked me to get dinner since you probably hadn’t eaten anything after work.” Adler spoke while


    ncing at Colby’s expression.


    Wow, Colby looked furious!


    Sophie opened the meal box to find her favorite gourmet dish. She was surprised and asked, “I thought


    they didn’t do takeout?”


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Well


    you I’m


    re personally, and with the right amount of money, anything’s possible.” Adler said, “Colby really went


    out of his way for et friend and I’ve never received such treatment.”


    Adler sa: this and even made a joking gesture toward Colby, but Colby’s expression did not improve.


    Adler was nervous. It couldn’t be that he had interrupted a heartfelt confession just by walking in, could


    it?


    No way! Who confessed so suddenly?


    ? ? ? ? ? ?


    But the next second, Adler saw the family crest on Sophie’s chest.


    He thought he was seeing things, so he looked again. It really was the Costello family crest!


    “Colby! That’s really low of you!”


    Adler’s exmation made Sophie drop her chopsticks on the floor.


    Colby frowned, “Get out!”


    “You can’t just confess and expect-”


    Adler was cut off as Colby covered his mouth with one hand and dragged him out forcefully.


    Sophie watched the scene unfold, her hands touching her slightly warm cheeks. She felt her heart just


    skipped a beat.


    The next day, Burke International held an urgent meeting. Since the masked ball hosted by S


    Corporation, Burke International had


    severed ties with severalpanies that quickly switched allegiance to S Corporation. The projects


    now undertaken by S Corporation and those previously spearheaded by Burke International were in


    directpetition.


    The twopanies had be rivals.