In the bedroom on the second floor, Gordony in bed, looking quite unwell.


    Rick stood at the doorway, noting Sophie and Colby''s return, and closed the partially opened door.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Rick said, "Mr. Gordon''s condition has been all over the ce and hasn''t really improved. This time, the illness hit him hard, and he might be bed-bound for several days." Next door, a team of medical specialists was in a meeting.


    Sophie nced at Timothy, who was cleaning on the second floor, then asked, "Can Colby and I go in to see Mr. Gordon?"


    "The master needs rest right now, so only one of you can go in. Who will it be?"


    Rick''s gaze fell on Colby.


    Colby got straight to the point, "Who does he want to see?"


    "..." Rick cleared his throat and then looked at Sophie, saying, "Maybe Ms. Sophie should go in."


    Sophie was a bit taken aback. These people loved to beat around the bush; even their way of speaking was a test of patience.


    "Alright, I''ll go," she said.


    Rick opened the door, and Sophie walked in.


    Outside the room, Colby leaned against the wall and deliberately lit a cigarette.


    Rick said, "Mr. Colby, smoking is prohibited on the Burke Estate."


    "Will he die if I smoke?"


    "..." Rick didn''t dare stop Colby, so he let him smoke right in front of him.


    Inside the bedroom.


    As soon as Sophie walked in and saw Gordon lying in bed, pale-faced, she said, "Mr. Gordon, I''m here now. Isn''t it time for you to open your eyes?" Hearing this, Gordon, who had been lying on the bed looking very weak, opened his eyes.


    "Your observational skills aren''t bad," Gordon said as he sat up and moved to a wheelchair beside him. Sophie, always sharp, said, "This isn''t the first time you''ve pulled something like this, Mr. Gordon. Last time, I w fooled because I was naive, but I won''t be deceived by you now.


    Besides, Timothy was just outside.


    11


    I


    was


    Rick had intentionally left the door ajar, as if letting someone see the urgent situation inside.


    &


    Now, with the Mintons taken over, James back control of the Burke family, and Lennon having died in shooting incident, everything had ced them at a disadvantage in Devonport. If Gordon were to fall ill now, it would give their rivals an absolute advantage.


    "Good, you''ve gotten smarter," Gordon said. "Right now, I''m supposedly gravely ill, and with Lennon''s death, the Costello family''s responsibilities are overwhelming. You''ll have to personally handle thepany''s affairs."


    With that, Gordon handed Sophie a seal, saying, "This is my personal seal. I''m entrusting it to you now. From here on out, the affairs of the


    Aldridge family will also be .ne


    responsibility. With this seal and my shares in Aldridge Global, you will have full authority in the Aldridge family, regardless of the decisions that need to be made."


    "For me?" Sophie frowned. "Mr. Gordon, isn''t this inappropriate? Now that Harold is back, this seal should naturally go to him."


    Gordon didn''t answer Sophie''s question but simply said, "Another thing, no one must know I''ve given you this seal."


    "Including Colby?"


    "Including Colby," Gordon confirmed. "In the meantime, I''ll teach you some business knowledge, which must also remain confidential." "Business knowledge? Mr. Gordon, I..."


    "I know you''ve formally studied various business subjects in school, but what I''m going to teach you will be something you''ve never learned before."