Colby stood by, listening to the voices inside, a soft smile ying on his lips. "No need."


    He should''ve known by now. Sophie had transformed into an independent spirit, soaring like an eagle. Even without his protection, she was capable of reaching new heights. Colby leaned against the door, smiling as he listened to Sophie passionatelyying out her ns for thepany. His smile deepened with every word. Seemed like his visit wasn''t wasted after all.


    Meanwhile, over at the Aldridge family home, Gordon opened a gilded cage and set a goldfinch free. The bird, having been caged for so long, had forgotten how to fly. But despite its initial clumsiness, it pped its wings toward the window, never looking back as it flew further and further away.


    "Sir, wasn''t that your favorite goldfinch?"


    "To love something doesn''t mean you have to hold onto it," Gordon replied with a gentle smile. "True love means letting go, giving her the freedom to find herself and the life she truly wants."


    His voice softened but held a trace of amusement. "Loving someone means not getting in their way. As long as she''s happy, I''m happy."


    There was a storm brewing that night, but he was confident that no matter how fierce it got, she would weather it.


    Back at the S Corporation''s conference room, Sophie, feeling a bit worn out, finally saw everyone off and stepped out. Suddenly, she heard the familiar flick of a lighter. Turning around, she saw Colby ying with the lighter she had given him some time ago. He had cherished it so much that he even engraved an ''M'' on it.


    "How long have you been here?"


    "An hour."


    "You waited an hour?" Sophie blinked in surprise. "So, you heard what happened inside?"


    "Half of it," Colby chuckled. "I never knew mydy had such grand ambitions."


    Sophie blushed, "I was just showing the leadership qualities I should have!"


    "I know," Colby murmured, "You''re amazing."


    He reached out and took Sophie''s hand, and they walked quietly together.


    Sophie lowered her gaze, "But... they said I''m not really my parents'' daughter. Did you know? Seeing ire''s face made me doubt everything."


    "ire?"


    "What? You didn''t hear?"


    Sophie tried to sound nonchnt, "There''s this woman who looks almost just like me, acts and talks like me too. Imagine if she stood in front of you one day, would you mix us up?" N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Even if she were twice as simr, I''d never confuse anyone for my wife."


    Sophie burst intoughter, "Just ying around! I did question my identity at first, because I can''t


    remember anything before I wa


    eight. But once I calmed down and thought about it, her story was full of hotes."


    Not to mention, her parents would never mistake her for someone else. And then there was that ne. If ire had really been kidnapped, how could the kidnappers miss such a valuable piece? And how could an eight-year-old kid possibly escape?


    Sophie looked puzzled, "But... there''s just one thing I can''t wrap my head around."


    "What''s that?"


    "The kidnapping she talked about... did it really happen?"