Colby''s face was a mask of indifference as he spoke in a calm, almost detached voice, "I''ve got nothing to exin." "Fine!"


    Odie turned to Griffin, his voice sharp, "You hear that? After all these years, it''s done. Thest time I helped you was thest time. From now on, you walk your path, and I''ll walk mine. Today marks the end of the road for the three of us. Once we wrap things up here, I''m heading back to Summerfield. Whoever tries to reach out first is the loser."


    Odie scooped up the tie from the ground and stormed out of the Burke Estate without a backward nce.


    Sophie wanted to step in and exin, but Colby grabbed her wrist, gently shaking his head. He didn''t want to exin. The past was just that-the past. He wanted to keep Griffin and Odie out of what wasing next.


    "Colby, some things need to be cleared up," Sophie said softly. "You can''t just decide to end rtionships on your own."


    She gently patted the back of Colby''s hand. With his eyes cast down, Colby silently let go of her hand. Sophie dashed out. She knew Colby wasn''t one to mince words. He did what he did and never felt the need to exin himself. If he wouldn''t exin, she''d do it for him. Outside the Burke Estate, Odie was already in his sports car. Just as he was about to hit the gas, Sophie ran up, causing Odie to m on the brakes.


    Seeing this, Odie quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, flung open the car door, and approached with a dark scowl, "Sophie! Are you crazy? Who told you to run out in front of a car like that?"


    Sophie mustered a weak smile and said, "Mr. Odie... I need to talk to you."


    Odie''s eyesnded on the bandage on Sophie''s forehead. Frowning, he said, "Can''t you stop getting yourself into trouble? It looks awful!"


    "Does it? I think it''s fine."


    Sophie touched the bandage on her head, but Odie swatted her hand away and began to unwrap it before she could protest. He went back to the car and returned with a fresh roll of bandages.


    Leaning against the car, Odie rewrapped the bandage around Sophie''s head and asked, "What did you want to tell me?"


    "I wanted to say, when Colby drove you away, it wasn''t for... the White family''s power, but to keep us out of the mess, right?"


    Sophie paused, her eyes wide, "You knew all along?"


    "How long have you known Colby?


    How long have we known him?" Odie


    said, his voice t. "We''re not mad that he yed us; we''re mad he didn''t say a word. If he had just told us what was on his mind, we wouldn''t have stayed abroad out of spite. All these years, the back-and-forth was just us hoping he''de clean."


    Finally, after securing the bandage, Odie added, "Sophie, this is where our paths split. Some things between brothers don''t need to be spelled out. We get what he meant, you don''t need to say more. Some experiences, some feelings,Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    and


    just having them is enough, don''t you think?"