“Ms. Vanessa was hospitalizedst night and woke up this morning insisting on seeing Colby,” the


    nurse exined.


    Sophie remained silent, offering no reply.


    Perry, lying on the hospital bed, overheard the conversation and asked in confusion, “Vanessa? Who’s


    Vanessa?”


    “An old acquaintance of Colby,” Sophie replied, her wordsced with ambiguity.


    Perry read between the lines, and spoke earnestly, “Sophie, your marriage to James has already failed.


    I hate to say it, but Colby is also not the right man for you. You should end things with him sooner


    rather thanter.”


    “Uncle Perry, Colby, and I aren’t what you think.”


    “The intentions Colby has for you are clear to anyone who cares to look, but he has too many skeletons


    in his closet,” Perry said, his eyes filled with worry. “All I want is for you to be safe and happy. Being


    with Colby will only lead to trouble. If ites to it, better to stay single. After all, our family is wealthy


    enough to ensure you’ll never want for anything.”


    “I understand your concems. Please don’t worry about me; just focus on getting better,” Sophie


    reassured him, prompting a nod from Perry.


    As Sophie left the hospital room, she saw Colby and Adler conversing in the hallway but chose not to


    approach them, Perry’s words echoing in her mind.


    Was Colby truly not the one for her?


    “Sophie!”


    Jenna’s voice came from behind. She ran up in her high heels, still dressed in her g gown, and


    hugged Sophie tightly. “I’ve seen the news! How are you? Did that jerk James mistreat you?”


    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    “I’m fine, as you can see,” Sophie reassured her.


    Jenna rxed upon seeing Sophie unharmed. “You have no idea how worried I wasst night. I wanted


    toe find you, but Adler insisted it wasn’t safe to go out after dark. I was like, ‘Who’s it not safe for


    exactly?”


    With that, Jenna yfully raised her fist.


    Sophie chuckled. “So, you spent the whole night at the hospital?”


    “Yeah, Adler had to leave for a bit to help Colby with something, but it didn’t take too long,” Jenna


    shared, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially, “You wouldn’t believe how much Vanessa cost usst


    night–tens of thousands, all on Colby’s ount.”


    That made Sophie feel a pang of jealousy, which quickly passed.


    Jenna continued, “But don’t worry, I’ve already checked for you. Colby and Vanessa aren’t what you


    think.”


    Sophie bit her lip before finally voicing her concern, “Who is Vanessa, exactly?”


    “The White family used to be quite prestigious overseas. Mr. Elwood, Vanessa’s father, once took a


    liking to Colby and gave him opportunities abroad, essentially making him his benefactor. After Colby


    established his own empire, he bought out the declining White family business following Mr. Elwood’s


    death,” Jenna exined.


    “So, Colby now owns the White family’spany?”


    Jenna nodded. “Vanessa is Mr. Elwood’s only daughter. He hoped Colby would remember his old


    kindness and take Vanessa under his wing, expecting Colby to simply finance her lifestyle. But


    Vanessa sees herself as Colby’s fiancée.”


    Jenna tapped her temple. “She’s got it all twisted up here.”


    Just then, a weak voice called out, “Colby.”


    Sophie turned to see Vanessa, pale and in a hospital gown, making her way toward