As Colby was heading out, he made it crystal clear: if even a single hair on Sophie''s head was harmed, there''d be hell to pay. But now, her injuries were way beyond just a few missing strands. The bruises and bloody cuts covering her body would likely send Colby into a frenzy-he might even storm through Summerfield with a machine gun if he saw her like this.


    "Let''s cut to the chase. What''s going on with James and Colby?" she demanded.


    "James? You mean the James from Burke International?"


    "Yes, that one!"


    William looked puzzled. "I haven''t heard anything, Ms. Sophie. Why are you bringing him up all of a sudden?"


    "If there''s nothing going on, why did James suddenly ask to meet me tomorrow at Minton Casino?"


    William looked even more bewildered.


    Seeing his clueless expression, Sophie realized she wouldn''t get any useful information from him. Frowning, she said, "The Minton family is too dangerous. It''s a good thing Wayne is gone; otherwise, if you were recognized, Odie would never let you off."


    "I''m here to treat your wounds, Ms. Sophie. Your wound''s been soaked; if we don''t clean and medicate it properly, it might get infected," William said as he


    tended to her arm.


    "These next few days, you need to be extra careful, Ms. Sophie. Colby said finding evidence isn''t the priority-your safety is," he added.


    Sophie murmured, "I know."


    Colby... pleasee back safely. Come and get me.


    The next morning, Sophie hadn''t slept a wink. Odie was already waiting in the living room.


    With dark circles under her eyes, Sophie descended the stairs, spotting Odie leisurely sipping coffee.


    14:44


    "Morning," Odie said slowly.


    Sophie couldn''t bring herself to smile. She walked up to him and said, "I''m ready. Go ahead and test me."


    Seeing her no-nonsense approach, Odie yed dumb. "Test you on what?"


    "Didn''t you say you were going to test my knowledge today?"


    "Oh... right, I remember now."


    Odie motioned for her to sit across from him. Sophie was quite eager, "Where should we start?"


    "Not in a rush. Have a cup of coffee first to wake up," he said, pushing a cup towards her.


    Sophie downed the coffee in one gulp. "Mr. Odie, can we start now?"


    "Alright then. Who is Minton International''s biggest partner right now?"


    "The Gibbs family."Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "Minton International has many ventures in Summerfield. Which one is the most lucrative?"


    "Casinos?"


    "Wrong."


    "Then what is it?"


    Amused, Odie replied, "Drugs."


    Hearing the word ''drugs'', Sophie felt a chill run down her spine. Drugs like cocaine were banned nationwide, yet Minton International was making a fortune off it.


    Odie suddenly leaned in closer. "Do he night!!


    you remember the night, I brought


    you to Summerfield? How I injected you with something on the ne?"


    Hearing this, Sophie felt a sudden chill down her spine, the sensation from that night enveloping her once again.


    Resting his chin on his hand, Odie


    said, "When you drank that coffee


    w you didn''t seem wary of me


    just now


    at all. Didn''t you find the taste a bit


    off?"


    212


    Soon, Sophie saw Odie''s image begin to blur, and her limbs instantly felt weak. What''s happening?


    Could it be the coffee...


    Odie''s tone turned cold. "I''ve been waiting all night for you to tell me about


    James wanting to meet you, but you''ve really let me down."