Angelo and Sandy nodded like a couple of eager little birds, promising, "We swear! We won''t tell a soul!"


    With that assurance, Rick finally stepped aside, letting Angelo and Sandy make their quick escape, like they were running from a fire.


    Jenna stayed put, frowning as she asked, "Rick, about that kidnapping from years ago, the little girl I saw in the hospital-that was Sophie, wasn''t it?"


    "Ms. Jenna, it''s not as tangled as you think. All you need to know is that Mr. Gordon is doing everything for Ms. Sophie''s well-being."


    Rick left the room, leaving Jenna with her thoughts. Adler noticed her troubled look and chimed in, "Don''t worry. Mr. Gordon''s a sharp guy; he wouldn''t miss a beat. Come on, lighten up." "It''s just... I feel guilty about keeping Sophie in the dark."


    "Let''s trust Mr. Gordon''s judgment," Adler suggested. "He''s looking out for Ms. Sophie, and we shouldn''t rock the boat. What if meddling makes things worse for her?"


    Jenna nodded, a bit reluctantly. "Alright, just this once. But if Sophie ever presses me..."


    "Even if she does, you can''t spill the beans."


    Colby''s voice came from outside, catching them off guard. Jenna turned to see Colby had quietly entered.


    "Colby? When did you get back?"


    Jenna frowned, "Do you even know what happened yesterday? Sophie''s got a raging fever now!"N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Colby''s eyes narrowed at the news, but he quickly said, "Keep it under wraps."


    "What''s the deal?" Jenna demanded. "You owe us some answers! How can you keep Sophie in the dark too?"


    "You know what went down with that kidnapping; those memories could really hurt her."


    Jenna hesitated, recalling her childhood memory of a bloodied Sophie in the hospital. What nightmare had left her so scarred? Sophie was just a kid back then.  en


    "I get it... I won''t say a word."


    "Thanks."


    Colby turned and left the room.


    In the bedroom, Odie was lounging by a chair while William had just given Sophie an injection. Colby walked in to find Sophie already asleep. "Coming back sote, did you dig up anything?"


    Odie''s tone was icy.


    Colby replied, "You knew all along?"


    "How could I not know about the Russell family saga? Remember, I''m the Minton family heir."


    Odie eyed Colby and said, "What happened to the Russells was all Jensen''s doing. The Minton family took a hit but managed to cripple the Aldridge family too. It even led to the failed marriage alliance between the Russells and the Aldridges. When


    you look at it, the Mintonhen


    family


    came out ahead."


    Colby''s eyes shed with cold anger.


    Seeing this, Odie frowned. "Why the re?"


    "I''ve half a mind to punch you."


    "Hey, it wasn''t me who pulled those strings. What''s the point of hitting me?"


    Odie continued, "This is a Minton secret, one I only learned after bing her. I figured the mastermind went after your Costello family first, then the Aldridges, and finally the Russells. The Tredgolds were always the weakest, hiding out in Devonport, steering clear of the big four families, so no one bothered with them. After all this time, only May ended up losing her mind."