The doctor sighed with relief, "This guy''s incredibly lucky; while most folks have their hearts on the left, his is on the right. So, he''s not in any real danger. With some good rest and recovery, he''ll be back to normal."


    Sophie exhaled, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.


    Just then, Odie and Jonah were wheeled out of the operating room, both out cold.


    Even though Sophie was dying to know what had gone down, it was pointless right now.


    Meanwhile, Adler was in his car outside the hospital when his phone rang. His face darkened almost instantly.


    "Colby! Sophie! We''ve got a problem!"


    "Sir, please keep your voice down in the hospital!"


    A nurse tried to stop Adler, but he quickly apologized, "Sorry, sorry, it''s an emergency!"


    He rushed over to Sophie and Colby, blurting out, "Burke International is in trouble!"


    Sophie frowned, "What happened? Slow down and tell me."


    "Alright, alright!" Adler took a deep breath, "You know James, right? That jerk! He showed up at Burke International today!"


    "What?"


    "And get this, he took back the 45% of shares that were given to you! How the heck did he get his hands on them?"


    Adler was fuming, hands on his hips.


    "Those shares... I always left them with Odie. Today, Odie was supposed to take them to Burke International to take over. How could they end up with James?" "Exactly! How could James get them? I''m baffled too!"


    Adler added, "Jenna and I were right; there''s


    something fishy about


    James! That guy must be plotting something against us! He''s been the top dog in Devonport for years, and he''s got some serious tricks syp his sleeve. If he can pull off a shooting, What can''t he do?"


    Sophie''s mind raced as she listened to Adler.


    Colby cut in, "Don''t overthink it. You stay here; I''ll go see what''s up."


    "No, you stay here; I''ll head to Burke International."


    Colby hesitated, then nodded.


    Sophie continued, "I still have a 10% stake that


    Bea.


    I haven''t handed.bet


    s better if I go, just in c


    I


    s get heated."


    "I''m going with you."


    Sophie shook her head, "Odie needs someone watching over him here, and if it''s not you, I won''t be at ease." Colby pressed his lips together, conceding.


    Adler interrupted, "Enough, it doesn''t matter who goes! If we wait any longer, James will take over for sure!"


    "I''m going!" Sophie told Adler, "Get the car ready; we''re heading to Burke International now!"


    "Got it!"


    Sophie and Adler hurried off, leaving the hospital corridor behind.


    Colby nced back at Jonah and Odie in the ward, remembering what Griffin had told him recently.


    He had always been cold-hearted and emotionally detached, like a stagnant pool of water.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Sophie was the only exception in his life.


    He couldn''t bear the thought of


    Sophie being the one lying in t


    bed


    Instead of Odie... it would


    driven I him mad.