Within the Aldridge family, Adler drove Sophie and Jenna to the Burke Estate first, before he and Colby rushed off to check on thepany.


    As soon as they stepped inside, Sophie and Jenna saw a flurry of international medical experts moving in and out of the hall, seemingly deep in discussion. Various butlers and maids were hurrying between the first and second floors, indicating that something urgent was happening.


    Sophie recalled that in her previous life, Gordon wasn''t supposed to pass away this soon. Even though many things had changed since her rebirth, an illness shouldn''t have progressed this quickly, right? "I wonder what''s going on now," Sophie mused aloud.


    Beside her, Jenna looked visibly nervous, clearly shaken by themotion in the Aldridge family''s hall. Thest time she had seen such chaos was when the previous head of the family had passed away. "I''ll go up and check," Sophie said.


    "I''ming with you!"


    On the second floor, the maids were too preupied to notice Sophie and Jenna. Sophie immediately made a beeline for Gordon''s bedroom.


    Outside the room, two guards stood watch. As Sophie and Jenna approached, the guards stopped them.


    "Ms. Sophie, Ms. Jenna, he is recuperating and isn''t taking visitors."


    Jenna''s concern was evident as she asked, "Is it really that serious?"


    The guard''s silence spoke volumes.


    "Since we can''t see him, let''s wait downstairs," Sophie suggested.


    Just as she was about to turn away, filled with worry, Rick emerged from the room and said politely, "Mr. Gordon has something to discuss with Ms. Sophie. She cane in." Jenna, puzzled, asked, "Can''t Ie too?"


    Rick smiled, "Ms. Jenna, didn''t you visit just yesterday? And the day before that, and the day before that..."


    "Alright, alright, I won''t go in! You two have your secret talk," Jenna conceded quickly.


    She was just concerned about


    Gordon''s health and had been visiting frequently. Little did she expect that her visits would be tiresome before even Gordon got tired of them!


    "Jenna, I''m heading in," Sophie said.


    "Go ahead, and remember to wear a mask!"


    The smell of disinfectant during her previous visits had been almost unbearable. Jenna couldn''t fathom how Gordon''s frail body could handle so many medications.


    Following Rick into Gordon''s


    bedroom, Sophie was met with a strong scent of disinfectant and instively covered her mouth. She expected to see a weak and pale Gordon in bed.


    To her surprise, the bed was empty. Instead, Gordon was sitting on the sofa, ying cards with two maids.


    Sophie was taken aback. "What''s going on?"


    Gordon looked up, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he saw Sophie. "Come and sit."


    "You... aren''t you supposed to be sick?" Sophie asked, ncing at the ying cards on the table and then at Gordon''s healthyplexion.


    Sophie pointed at Rick, who pretended not to notice and exited the bedroom, making sure to close the door tightly behind him.


    "Mr. Gordon, you..."


    "Hold on a second," Gordon interrupted.


    He triumphantly revealed a pair of jokers, causing both maids to shake their heads in defeat. Then, with a flourish, heid down his remaining cards in a sequence: "Straight flush, I win" ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Gordon stretched out his hands, grinning, "Pay up."


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