Colby’s eyes were filled with tender affection.


    To outsiders, Colby was like an emissary returned from hell. Everyone was afraid of Colby. They


    dreaded him.


    But the Colby in front of her was always a man of few words, asionally cunning and unorthodox in


    his actions–a defiantly charming


    mon


    This Colby was endearing and by no means frightening.


    “Wait here for me.”


    Colby went downstairs and brought up a heart–shaped dessert. It looked like a cherry jam–filled


    sponge cake.


    The thought of a serious and eamest person like Colby making a heart–shaped dessert warmed


    Sophie’s heart.


    “Try it.”


    Encouraged by Colby, Sophie took a small bite. The taste of cherry was bittersweet. The sourness was


    intensified, but the aftertaste was delightfully lingering.


    “You would have made an incredible chef.”


    1 used to be one.”


    “I remember you told me you


    “That too.”


    u once worked as a barber”


    “Could you share more about your past with me?” Curiosity sparkled in Sophie’s eyes.


    “Alright.”


    Sophie prepared to listen to the stories she had only heard bits and pieces of from Adler and Jenna but


    rarely from Colby himself.


    Like why Mr. Elwood from abroad had taken notice of him.


    How he made a name for himself overseas, bing renowned far and wide.


    Most importantly why, despite being the heir to the Costello family, he had to undergo so many trials


    before Lennon finally brought him back.


    These questions had long upied Sophie’s mind.


    “Let me think”


    Colby’s thoughts seemed to stretch far into the distance.


    Sophie listened intently.


    As far as Colby could remember, his mother had instilled one idea into him: revenge.


    He was to avenge himself against all members of e Costello family because they had made his


    mother’s life miserable.


    His mother started with medication, then turned to alcohol,ter to smoking, and gradually, when


    smoking and drinking could no longer satisfy her, she began using drugs. Eventually, in a fit of


    madness, she jumped off a building.


    # € 2 8 5 2 188 22 32 32 3


    Colby was without citizenship and naturally became an orphan wandering abroad. To survive, he was


    willing to do anything. He had to do everything.


    The White family’s lineage was dwindling, and someone like Mr. Elwood would not normally seek an


    heir in this ce. However, He needed someone fearless, capable of handling dirty work.


    Despite its public, phnthropic facade, the White family operated a vast underworld empire. This dark


    enterprise was something the pampered heirs could not handle. They had to find someone from the


    slums who had fought to live.


    Later, Mr. Elwood set his sights on sixteen year–old Colby.


    To eliminate those at odds with the White family, he had blood on his hands, climbing step by step to


    the head of the White family


    Sophie listened quietly when Colby suddenly said. “This is what outsiders know as the entirety of my


    story”


    Sophie was taken aback. “What do you mean, what outsiders know?”


    Was this story not the meal situation?


    Colby gently tapped on Sophie’s forehead, saying, “These stories


    half–truths and half–fictions.”Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “Like what?“.


    DNT 50