"Dummy."


    Sophie lifted her hand and pinched Colby''s cheek, feeling a slight prickling sensation on her fingers. She frowned and asked, "Since when did you start growing a beard?"


    Colby grabbed the hand Sophie was using to pinch his cheek. "Who did you think was standing guard outside the Minton estate these past few days?"


    "You didn''t leave at all?"


    "Not for a moment."


    "What about when you had to use the bathroom?"


    Faced with Sophie''s question, Colby made a shushing gesture. "Men have their ways."


    Sophie couldn''t help but chuckle at Colby''s serious expression. She threw herself into his arms, feeling extremely sleepy. "Now I know why I''ve been sleeping so well thesest few days. It''s because you were keeping watch over me."


    Sophie buried her head in Colby''s chest, her hair soft and tickling his chest a little.


    Colby''s throat bobbed unconsciously, his voice a bit husky. "Given how well I''ve performed, shouldn''t I get a reward?"


    "A reward? Yeah, I guess you deserve one." Sophie asked yfully, "But today, outside the Minton estate, there was talk of taking someone down and smashing surveince cameras. Shouldn''t that be... Ah! Colby! Put me down!"


    Before Sophie could finish her sentence, Colby had already scooped her up and was striding towards the house.


    "Colby!"


    Sophie''s expression was a mix of annoyance and amusement. The next second, Colby gently set her down on the couch. Looking at Sophie, who now had flushed cheeks, Colby chuckled lightly. "Alright, no more teasing. I''ll go run a bath for you."


    "For bedtime prep?"


    Hearing this, Colby tapped Sophie''s forehead lightly, saying seriously, "Who''s being more improper now?"


    "Isn''t it for bedtime prep?"


    "I''m just worried you haven''t beenfortable these past few dayszat the Minton estate," Colby said with concern. "Odie locked you up in a room, didn''t he? Did you suffer a lot?"


    "Suffer?"


    Sophie thought for a moment.


    The food was better than at a Michelin-starred restaurant, the bedrger than in a presidential suite, and she even found some amusement with Odie from time to time. Putting other things aside, days without Colby were indeed hard.


    Catching Colby''s sympathetic gaze, Sophie pretended to be aggrieved. "Yes, I''ve suffered a lot. Look, I''ve even lost weight!"


    Sophie twirled in front of Colby, who frowned slightly. "I''ll go give him a piece of my mind, to stand up for you."


    Saying this, Colby was already standing up, looking as though he was about to teach Odie a lesson.


    "Hey! I was just kidding! Don''t go!"


    Sophie quickly grabbed Colby, saying, "How dare Odie mistreat me? He''s been pampering me with delicious food and drinks every day. I''ve actually gained weight."


    "So, have you gained weight or lost it?"


    "I''ve gained it, really!"


    Sophie spoke earnestly. These days at the Minton estate, despite Odie iming he was teaching her a lesson, she ate morevishly than Odie himself at every meal. "Alright, I''ll let him off this time. Next time, I''ll teach him a proper lesson."


    Seeing Colby''s reaction, Sophie couldn''t help butugh. She said, "The one who needs a bath to rx isn''t me, it''s you."


    Sophie reached out and touched Colby''s beard, saying, "Howe every time I''m not by your side, you let yourself go like this? Last time, was the one who shaved you. I''m not around, how scruffy are you going to get?" Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t talk nonsense."


    l.ne


    Colby frowned and covered Sophie''s mouth with his hand, saying


    seriously, "There won''t be a next time. You will always be by my side, and I will never let you be alone." en.swhovels