Polly frowned, "Fine, I''ll give you your phone back when you''re ready to leave."


    "Polly..."


    "I''m doing this for your own good, Sophie. If Odie searches your room and finds this phone, we''re both toast. I''m just trying to keep us safe. I hope you can understand."


    Sophie sighed and said, "Alright, I agree. But you better keep that phone safe. No slip-ups."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll guard it with my life." Then, Polly turned and left the room.


    Late at night, in the Pord family''s study.


    "I''m done with studying! That''s it!" Angelo, frustrated, hurled a throw pillow at James.


    James, lounging on the couch, effortlessly dodged the pillow.


    "Get familiar with the Pord family''s share distribution, analyze the market prospects, and back it up with evidence. Prepare a detailed exnation of the recent financial statements, identify current issues, and outline our strengths and weaknesses."


    James'' tone was calm, as if he were discussing something trivial. He closed his book and added, "Finish this, then you can go to bed."


    Angelo was exasperated, "Come on! How am I supposed to finish all this in one night? When you say ''sleep,'' do you mean tomorrow night?"


    James nced at his watch and said, "Not one night, one hour. I''m heading to bed soon."


    "One hour..." Angelo''s voice faltered as he gritted his teeth, "James, could you even finish this assignment yourself?"


    "I know the Pord family like the back of my hand, so I wouldn''t need an hour."


    "I don''t believe you!" Angelo shot back, "The Pord family''s businesses are vast. You remember all of them?"


    "What''s one plus one?"


    "Two."


    "Exactly. To me, it''s as simple as one plus one equals two."


    Angelo had heard people boast before, but this was next level. "If you''re so capable, why do you even need my family''s help?"


    James poured himself a cup of coffee and said, "You have fifty-eight minutes left. If you can''t finish, you won''t be sleeping tonight."


    "That''s harsh. You''re even tougher


    than my brother. You two could be real siblings. Maybe you should be


    Kira instead. I think you''d beve


    better fit than me."


    When James remained silent, Angelo, driven by curiosity, probed, "By the way, who''s the person you want to protect?" "Fifty-seven minutes."


    "I really want to know! Tell me, maybe I know them too."


    James stayed silent.


    Angelo continued, "I bet it''s your wife!"


    At that, James paused, his hand holding the cup mid-air.


    "Is it Nichole? The Freeman family''s fake daughter?"


    Devonport had been buzzing with the scandal involving the Freeman family''s fake heiress recently. The real heiress had a history ofContent is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    prostitution and jail time, while


    the


    fake one, Nichole, had married James. It turned into Devonport''stest gossip.


    When James still didn''t respond, Angelo said, "Really? I heard Nichole was involved in murder.


    Impersonating others isn''t new to her How could you fall for someone like that?"


    "It''s not her."


    "Not her? Then who? Are you having an affair?"


    Right after he spoke, a ''crack'' echoed as the cup in James'' hand shattered.