As the conversation shifted, Gordon nced at Sophie and asked, "I heard from Rick that you checked out the attic on the third floor." "... Yeah, I did."


    "What did you find?"


    Sophie lowered her eyes and replied, "Just some old stuff. I''m sorry, Mr. Gordon, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision."


    Gordon didn''t push further. Instead, he eyed her snow-white satin dress and said, "Ms. Sophie, dressed like that, are you going somewhere?"


    "There''s a press conference. I''ve got some things to sort out."N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Gordon gave a gentle smile, "I''ve caught wind of the buzz online. It''s nothing major. If you ever need the Aldridge family to step in, I can arrange for that."


    "If it''s not a big deal, I can handle it myself. No need to trouble you, Mr. Gordon."


    "Mr. Gordon... take care of yourself. I''ll be heading out now."


    "Alright."


    Gordon nodded.


    Sophie took a few steps toward the door but hesitated.


    Seeing her pause, Gordon asked, "Ms. Sophie, is there something else on your mind?"


    "I... had a dream."


    "A dream?"


    "In it, it felt like I had lived with the Aldridge family for a while. I saw the attic on the third floor; it was like a beautiful princess room. There was a gentle big brother who would stay by my side and tell me stories." Sophie wanted to ask if Gordon knew anything about it. Or if he was that person.


    But when she turned back, Gordon''s face still held a gentle smile. He said, "Just a dream, Ms. Sophie. You''re reading too much into it. I don''t think we met when we were kids."


    "... Yeah, it was just a dream. I must be overthinking."


    Sophie felt a bit relieved. If Mr. Gordon himself said he hadn''t seen her, then surely it was just a dream.


    After Sophie left, the smile on Gordon''s face slowly vanished.


    "Sir, you should get some rest."


    "Yes."


    Gordon leaned back against the bed, murmuring, "Yes, it''s time to rest."


    Rick, observing this, felt a pang of sympathy. Mr. Gordon was the one who truly understood Ms. Sophie, yet he always chose to keep his


    d. Every polite exchange


    seemed to pull them further apart.


    A "Mr. Gordon" here, a "Ms. Sophie" there, as if they were just they were just temporary


    if


    Ders thrown together b chance. Content be there


    Outside the Burke Estate, Sophie nced towards Gordon''s room before getting into the car.


    Since her illness, something about the vast Burke Estate felt oddly familiar to her.


    "Sophie, let''s hit the road."


    Colby opened the car door for her.


    Sophie nodded and climbed in.


    "Come on, Sophie, show them what you''ve got at the press conference!"


    "Absolutely! Show them the spirit of the Russell family heiress!"


    Adler and Jenna chimed in, making Sophie chuckle, "We''re not going to war, you guys are overdoing it."


    Adler quipped, "Who says we aren''t? This is the battlefield! You''re the warrior with a rifle!"


    Jenna added, "I heard James and ire are doing a ribbon-cutting at the newly opened Lewis Inc next door. Sophie, hosting the press conference right next to them, is definitely stirring the pot!"