Colby strode forward protectively, positioning himself in front of Sophie. "I said, leave Sophie alone." Colby''s expression was icy.


    The smile on Lennon''s face vanished as well. He set down the fork he had been holding and removed his scarf, revealing an aged voice that carried an undeniable authority. "Is this how you speak to your grandfather?"


    Years of living in luxury had given Lennon a somewhat fuller figure. His face bore some lines and wrinkles, though not excessively so, and his hair was graying. He maintained an impably neat appearance, resembling a distinguished elderly gentleman. However, his eyes, so simr to Colby''s, brimmed with a wild, dangerous aggression.


    "Colby, your grandfather hasn''t been troubling me. We were just having a meal."


    Hearing the mention of a meal, Colby''s attention was drawn to the pies that were ced in front of Lennon.


    Colby stepped forward and casually took a piece with his fork to ensure the pie wasn''t poisoned.


    "It''s a bit salty," he remarked nonchntly.


    Sophie crossed her arms, saying, "Colby, I made that pie."


    "It''s delicious."


    Lennon''s expression darkened at his grandson''s quick change of tone. Colby''s behavior was just like his lovestruck father back in the day!


    "You''ve had the pie, and I''m taking her with me. Any objections?" Colby gave Lennon, who was enjoying the scene, a cold nce.


    Lennon spoke up, "I''ve prepared the meal for her, and you''re just going to take her away like that? What do you say? are you leaving or staying?" Sophie looked towards Colby, her voice soft. "Let''s stay. I''m hungry."


    Colby frowned, then turned to Lennon. "My wife says she''s hungry. Where''s the food?"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Off you go, you''ve got yourself a wife and forgot about your grandpa!"


    Lennonined but was already leading the two out of the kitchen and up the stairs.


    The servants had prepared a change of clothes for Lennon, and in no time, he appeared neatly dressed in the grand hall of the Costello family home.


    The grand dining table of the Costello family hall was usually not disclosed to outsiders. Sophie chose a spot closest to Lennon, signaling for Colby to sit down as well. Though somewhat reluctant, Colby sat down next to Sophie at her behest.


    The long dining table seemed to distance people from one another, far less conducive to familial bonding than a smaller table might have been.


    Lennon''s thoughts drifted to the past, to times before his son had married. xander''s wife was sitting by his side just like now.


    He hadn''t expected to witness a simr scene decadester.


    Assuming a formal tone, Lennon said, "Russell Enterprise has gone bankrupt, but the Costello family are not gatekeepers. Still, I must ask, when did you learn of my identity?" "From the first nce, I knew," Sophie responded directly. "Sir, with all due respect, you''re dressed in bespoke and limited editions from head to toe. It''s hard not to be suspicious." To this, Lennon was slightly surprised.


    Was it that obvious? He hadn''t noticed.


    Lennon nced at the butler beside him and inquired, "Did you choose these clothes?"


    "Sir... The clothes were selected as per your instructions, but you didn''t specify a budget..." The butler looked somewhat aggrieved. The situation was not really his fault.


    Lennon grumbled, "You should have informed me sooner. And here I was, ying along."


    "Seeing how much you enjoyed your role, I didn''t say anything." "You, child, are just like her mother," Lennon remarked.


    Sophie simply smiled, looking at the table now set with avish Western dinner. Lennon, however, had lost his appetite. He said, "Since Colby truly loves you, and I genuinely like you as well, you should set a wedding date soon. I''d like to handle the wedding preparations to fulfill one of my responsibilities."


    Hearing this, Sophie paused in her meal, and Colby spoke up, "We appreciate your concern, but we have our own ns for the wedding."


    "What are you saying? You have someone you love but won''t marry her soon. Isn''t that indecent? Our family certainly has the means for a wedding, so why be so stingy?" Lennon clearly misunderstood, and the butler coughed softly, whispering, "Sir, Ms. Sophie hasn''t divorced yet."


    "Not divorced? With that Burke boy?"


    Lennon disliked James, a fact well-known in social circles, though he maintained civility on the surface.


    Taking a deep breath, Lennon''s look towards Colby grew disapproving "You were fussing over such small matters. Your woman even remain someone else''s wife! You''re much more feeble than your father."


    With that, Lennonmanded, "Say it''s my order. Intervene in the Burke family''s affairs immediately. They must divorce within three days!"


    Sophie''s voice softened, soothingly


    addressing the elder, "Grandfather, there''s no need for you to worry


    about this. James and I will have our divorce papers sorted out soon. It''s just that we must keep up appearances for a little longer."