Odie being around was one thing, but when Griffin and Elodie showed up too, it sent shivers down his spine just looking at Griffin. Earlier, when Griffin had carried Colby inside, he didn''t dare say a word. William, trying to boost his confidence, cleared his throat and shook out his arms as he walked in. With so many big shots gathered, it wasn''t just Adler who was feeling the pressure he was too.


    Julian and Booker stood off to the side. Julian asked, "Need any medical gear? I can get some brought over."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "No need, the Aldridge family is well-equipped!" William replied.


    William moved forward, carefully easing Colby''s arm, and after a bit of effort, managed to unclench Colby''s fist.


    Colby''s palm was bleeding. William caught his breath and said, "You really went hard on yourself."


    As he spoke, William took a blood-stained ring from Colby''s hand, examined it, furrowing his brow a bit, and said, "That''s quite the diamond ring! Must have cost a fortune." Everyone''s eyes shifted to the ring in William''s hand.


    "Isn''t that Sophie''s?" someone asked.


    At the door, Jenna left Adler''s side and hurried in, eximing, "Why... so much blood, could it be..."


    Odie stepped up, took the ring from William, inspected it, and said, "This ring, it''s Sophie''s."


    "The dried blood has been partly dissolved by Colby''s, but you can still see the marks. Could something really have happened?" Griffin wondered aloud.


    Hearing this, Adler rushed in from outside, took the ring for a closer look, and indeed saw fresh blood mixed with dried blood on it.


    "Come on, if Joseph wanted to kill Sophie, he''d have done it ages ago. Why bring her back? Sophie''s too smart for anything to happen to her!" Adler said, though he was secretly worried. Joseph was capable of anything. What was murder to him?


    Jenna, while worried about Sophie''s


    safety, quickly realized something She turned to Julian and Elodie asking, "Wait, how did you guys suddenly show up here?"


    Even Jenna and Adler didn''t know


    about Colby''s trip to the Burke family today, so how did Elodie and Julian,


    who were miles away, know Julian,


    Elodie answered, "Someone tipped me off, asked us toe and support. Griffin and I have been in Duskhaven recently, helping with training. We promised Ms. Sophie we would."


    "So Sophie had everything nned out..." Jenna murmured, surprised at Sophie''s foresight.


    Julian added, "I got a heads-upst night, so I rushed over with everyone."


    Adler asked, "Who was it? Any idea?"


    "No clue," Julian replied, shaking his head.


    Elodie chimed in, "Who told us doesn''t matter now. What''s important is figuring out how to rescue Sophie."


    Odie said, "Easier said than done. If it were that simple, we wouldn''t be stuck here brainstorming."


    "Guys! Big news!" Sandy burst in, utterly pale, and said, "Quick, check the news!"


    Everyone grabbed their phones at Sandy''s urging.


    The first notification was shocking: Sophie, the head of S Corporation, had died unexpectedly.


    There was even a photo of Sophie in repose, lying in a coffin, her face pale but serene.