When Sophie and Reece got back to the house, everyone was huddled around the table, chatting away. Colby, usually the quiet type, wasn''t big on joining in, only chiming in every now and then. But as soon as Sophie walked in, you could see a soft warmth and a hint of a smile break through Colby''s typically cool demeanor.


    In the past, Sophie would''ve shed a smile right back and made a beeline for Colby. But today, her face was serious. She took a seat beside him, where he''d already peeled some shrimp for her. Sophie wasn''t a fan of shellfish, but Colby always made them just right. She picked up the shrimp and ate it like she usually did, while Colby was busy peeling the next one. "What''s up?" Colby asked, ncing up. "Something off with the chef''s special today?"


    "Colby, I got a call from James earlier."


    "I saw."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Aren''t you curious about what he said?"


    "Besides congratting you for getting out of the hospital? Can''t think of much else."


    Sophie caught a whiff of jealousy in Colby''s voice, the same way he''d sounded before when he got a bit green-eyed. Normally, she''dugh it off, assuring him he was the only one for her. But now, doubts swirled around in her mind.


    When Colby first started pursuing


    her, he was not the type to text often. He''d vanish for days, then suddenly pop back up. Back then, Sophie didn''t give much thought to where he went or what he did. But she did wonder sometimes Jenna and Adlerter mentioned Colby wasn''t big on tech, which eased her worries.


    Once they got together, Colby became more attentive, and Sophie could hear the love in his voice and see it in Kis actions. Yet, as Reece pointed out, once they were a couple, life threw so much at them that focusing on their rtionship became a challenge.


    Colby always had her back, loved her, and made her feel secure. They never fought, which allowed her to concentrate on dealing with Joseph, knowing Colby was her rock. Over thest month, Colby had been nothing but perfect. But that perfection felt... odd.


    People areplicated; even


    someone as calm as James has


    their breaking points. But Colby''s emotions seemed steady as a rock Sophie remembered something


    Gordon once told her: no mattone


    what Colby would be the best partner, never betraying her, always treating her right. At the time, it seemed strange, but she couldn''t put her finger on why. Just like now, why did Gordon''s words echo in her mind?


    "Sophie?"


    She snapped back to reality, noticing Colby cing another shrimp in her bowl. With a smile, she ate it. Across the table, Elodie, watching the two of them, put down her chopsticks and said, "Looks like it''s about time we head out."