"Really? When did that happen?"


    "Right when Sophie was born!" Adler said. "It was one of those rare times when the four big families got together. But Sophie was just a newborn then, so she definitely wouldn''t remember." Jenna chimed in, "Wow, I''m surprised you remember something from so long ago."


    Adler thought for a moment. "I was too young to remember much, but I do recall that banquet being the most extravagant I''d ever seen. That''s why it stuck with me. And! That was the first time I met Colby. Back then he... Ouch!"


    Adler couldn''t finish because someone kicked his seat from the back.


    "Just drive and stop babbling."


    "Fine, fine! But why the kicking?"


    Adler freed a hand from the wheel to rub his backside.


    Sophie turned to Colby. "You were there on the day I was born?"


    Before Colby could answer, Adler jumped in, "Of course! Everyone from the four families was there. The Russells were really well-liked around here, and Uncle Shen was such a generous guy. The birth of a Russell daughter was a big deal back then. It wasn''t just us showing respect even small-time businessmen and top international entrepreneurs showed up."


    Adler reminisced with a smile, "The Russells were really in their heyday."


    Even though many years had passed, Sophie remembered the grandeur of her family''s past. After her parents died, the Russells started to decline.


    Turns out, her connection with the four families started way back when she was just a baby.


    "Wait, if everyone from the four families was there, were the Gordons too?"


    "Yeah, they were," Adler said while driving. "The Aldridges always had this air of mystery. They brought a whole entourage. Those who knew thought they came to celebrate Sophie''s birth; outsiders might''ve thought it was some mafia movie. I remember Mr. Gordon-he wasn''t very old but already had this leader''s aura. Then he... Ouch!"


    Adler felt another hard kick from the back seat.


    This time, he turned around angrily "Colby! Do you realize how crucial the driver is? If you kick me unconscious, who''s gonna


    As soon as he spoke, Adler saw Colby''s warning re.


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    Seeing this, Adler''s defiance faded. "Alright, I''ll let it go this time, but not again, okay?"


    "No! Colby, don''t interrupt him. I want to hear what happened next," Jenna said, nudging Adler yfully.


    Adler sighed, "Ah, it''s nothing major. We''ll talk about itter."


    "Don''t you hate it when someone leaves a story unfinished? You better..."


    "We''re here! We''re here!"


    Adler quickly parked at the Tredgold family''s gate.


    The security guard came out and, seeing


    Stadler''s car, signaled for t


    to stop. He frowned and


    here! Turn arout


    Jenna looked at the guard quizzically. "Is this your family''s security guard?"


    Adler cleared his throat. "Must be new."


    Straightening his tie, Adler got out of the car and walked up to the guard. "It''s me, open the gate."