At twilight, Sophie had already changed into her evening gown and was making her way downstairs. Sandy and Vanessa still hadn''t returned, but Odie had been waiting in the living room for quite a while. He nced at his watch and then looked up to see Sophieing down the stairs. "What took you so long?" he asked, clearly impatient.


    Sophie caught the irritation in his voice, "It takes time for a girl to get ready perfectly, Mr. Odie. If you''re in such a rush, feel free to go ahead. I''ll catch up."


    Odie let out a sarcastic snort. "Yeah, right. I leave first, and then you make a run for it? Sophie, do you really think I''m that foolish?"


    "Oops, Mr. Odie caught me," Sophie said, feigning surprise. But before she could react, Odie grabbed her arm, making her stumble. "Stop ying games with me. I''m not giving you any chance to escape," he said, snapping a pair of handcuffs onto her wrists. Sophie studied the handcuffs in disbelief andughed. "You actually brought these?"


    "What do you think?" Odie replied with a smirk.


    "So, when I joked about handcuffsst time, it wasn''t that you didn''t want to-you just didn''t have them?"


    "I had Jonah get them ready. Without my key, you''ll have to wait for a firefighter to rescue you."


    "You...," Sophie started, but Odie just dusted off his jacket and said to Jonah, "Let''s go."


    "Yes, boss," Jonah replied, leading the way. Sophie looked at the handcuffs on her wrists and couldn''t help but chuckle again. Could Odie get any more childish?


    Outside the Costello mansion, Colby sat in his car, watching Odie''s vehicle drive away. His subordinate''s voice crackled through the Bluetooth earpiece. "She is in the car with Odie." "Thanks, Captain Obvious," Colby retorted. "I''ll follow them. You guys stay put."


    "Yes!"


    Colby floored the gas pedal.


    Meanwhile, Sandy and Vanessa returned to the Costello mansion Polly, who was in the living room, deliberately rushed forward and bumped into Sandy.


    "Ah!" Sandy yelped, startled. She pped Polly across the face. "What are you doing? Watch it! Don''t you know this is my new dress?"


    "I''m sorry! I''m so sorry!" Polly immediately bent down to pick up the scattered jewelry. "I didn''t see you, my apologies, Ms. Sandy!"


    Sandy nced at the jewelry strewn across the floor-earrings worth millions and priceless diamond nes, none of which were hers. Polly noticed that Sandy had taken the bait, and prepared to leave.


    Sandy shouted, "Stop right there! What are you holding?"


    Polly looked visibly nervous. "Nothing... It''s nothing..."


    "Don''t lie to me! What are these, and where are you taking them?"


    "I..." Polly bit her lip, hesitant.


    Sandy''s voice turned icy. "Let me remind you, I''m the future Mrs. Minton If you don''t listen to me, I''ll have Odie throw you out! Now, who do these belong to, and whatare yout nning?"


    "I... I..."


    "Still not talking? Fine, I''ll have someone kick you out right now!"


    Seeing Sandy genuinely angry, Polly immediately caved. "Ms. Sandy! Please, no! I''ll tell you!"


    Polly, with her head lowered, cedN?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    the items in front of Sandy. "These... these were prepared by Mr. Odie for Mrs. Costello. He nned to take her to


    o the Minton''s dinner party, but she rushed out and forgot them. So I was rushing to deliver them to her!"