It looked like Sophie couldn''t avoid spending some alone time with Jonah.


    Before long, Jonah had stepped into the hospital room. "Ms. Sophie, Mr. Odie asked me to take you home," he said curtly.


    "Got it," Sophie replied.


    She threw back the covers and struggled to get out of bed. Jonah just stood there, not offering to help, and watched as she hobbled out of the room.


    He followed her, matching her slow pace exactly. He was like a cold, unfeeling machine, just there toplete a task.


    "Ouch!" Sophie gasped in pain. A nurse, noticing her struggle, quickly came over to support Sophie. She turned to Jonah and scolded him, "How can you just watch your wife in pain and not help her?" Jonah frowned, clearly annoyed.


    Sophie quickly rified, "He''s not my husband, just a friend."


    "Even as a friend, you should be offering some support," the nurse retorted.


    She ced Sophie''s arm in Jonah''s, and although Jonah looked like he was about to pull away, the nurse continued, "This patient is injured. She needs support while walking, or her wound might reopen and need to be redressed."


    "Thank you. He''ll make sure I stay steady," Sophie said, leaning all her weight on Jonah''s arm.


    Jonah''s arm was rock-solid, not even flinching under her weight. Spurred by the nurse''s words, he reluctantly supported her into the elevator. Downstairs, Jonah drove the car to the hospital''s entrance, opened the door for Sophie, and then started driving without a word.


    Through the rearview mirror, Sophie could only see Jonah''s eyes, cold as ice, as if he never felt anything at all.


    After a while, they still hadn''t reached the Minton family mansion.


    "This road doesn''t seem to lead to the Minton family''s ce, does it?" Sophie asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.


    Having been in Summerfield for a few days, Sophie had a good sense of the routes around the Minton family''s area. It shouldn''t take more than twenty minutes to get there from the city center hospital. Jonah showed no intention of stopping, and Sophie, trying the car door, found it locked.


    "What are you nning?" she asked, her voice more forceful.


    Suddenly, Jonah braked hard, and they found themselves on a secluded road, surrounded by empty lots and a man-madeke under development. Jonah got out of the car and pulled Sophie out.


    "What are you nning?" Sophie demanded, trying to keep her voice steady, but she knew there was no one around. Even if there were, they were likely employees of Minton International. If Jonah wanted to get rid of her here, it would be all too easy.


    Jonah''s voice was cold and menacing. "Tell me why you''re sticking so close to the boss, or I''ll kill you."


    Jonah stepped closer, and Sophie,


    ncing back, saw theke not far


    behind her. It seerhed Ponan


    It


    intended to drown her withoutCòntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    anyone knowing.


    "Odie didn''t tell you to kill me," Sophie said, trying to sound confident.


    "The boss didn''t, but I won''t let


    anyone who threatens him live, "m Jonah replied/his eyes filled with a chilling light.


    Sophie took a step back. "If you kill me, your boss will never get what he


    ve


    wants."