James moved closer to Sophie and asked, "Who did you go see ''Bizarre Worlds'' with at the cinema?"


    "Why are you still hung up on this? I went with Jenna, okay?"


    Sophie didn''t want James to continue to bring up the topic, but he persisted, "I had Colt investigate all the cinema ticket records in Devonport. Neither your name nor Jenna''s was on any ount. You didn''t go to the cinema. Why did you lie?"


    Sophie was taken aback that James would have Colt look into such a matter. Managing a weak smile, she said, "James, don''t you have anything better to do? Colt is a senior executive assistant, and you had him digging through all of Devonport''s ticket records?"


    """Bizarre Worlds'' wasn''t a box office hit. It''s easy to look into. We can easily find this out with our backend data analysis. Don''t change the subject. I want to know why you lied to me."Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Sophie knew he liked ''Bizarre Worlds,'' something even Colt wasn''t aware of.


    Sophie''s gaze towards him was filled with fear and loathing, and he could never understand what he did wrong.


    Today, Sophie mentioned the Schrock family again.


    His business intuition told him something was amiss.


    As Sophie remained silent, James said, "You bought a piece of wastnd for a billion dors, which now has be S Corporation''srgest shopping district. S Corporation''s first fortune was due to thatnd. I thought it was a fluke before, but now, it seems you knew all along."


    James edged closer to Sophie, asking, "What exactly are you hiding from me?"


    Faced with James'' relentless approach, Sophie gathered her scattered thoughts.


    She couldn''t let James know about her rebirth. The talk of rebirth would sound insane to anyone.


    Just as Sophie was about to speak, footsteps were heard outside the cave. Sophie''s breath hitched, and James immediately pulled her deeper into the cave.


    Peeking through the weeds, they


    saw two burly men pacing back and


    forth outside, d in ck raincoats, their cold firearms gleamingo ominously.


    "They''re mercenaries," Sophie whispered, gripping James tightly.


    The men seemed not to be leaving. Had they discovered their hiding spot?


    But there was no way out for them now, nor could they retreat further.


    Suddenly, James whispered, "There''s a draft."


    A draft?


    Sophie closed her eyes and, indeed, felt the air from behind. How could there be a draft in a cave?


    James gestured for Sophie to follow him deeper into the cave. They treaded cautiously to avoid making noise until they finally spotted the air vent. There was a draft and a fork in the path; clearly, it was a tunnel that should quickly lead to an exit.


    Just then, the mercenaries parted the weeds with their guns.


    "Found you," one of them said in a rough voice tinged with a chilling sneer. "Run!" James shouted.


    James pulled Sophie, and they ran towards the side of the tunnel.


    Bang-!


    Bang-!


    Two gunshots rang out, and


    Sophie''s heart pounded fiercely. The tunnel seemed endless, and the echoingughter of the killers filled the empty passage behind them.