Colby said casually, "My wife and I prefer our privacy. Please have everyone leave the estate for the next few days."


    "Of course, Mr. Colby."


    Sophie hadn''t realized Colby owned such a grand estate overseas until she got there.


    "This ce looks like it''s got some history. When did you buy it?" Sophie asked.


    "I didn''t buy it," Colby replied. "It used to belong to the White family."


    Hearing about the White family, Sophie immediately thought of Vanessa.


    "Shouldn''t this ce be Vanessa''s, then?"


    "Vanessa mortgaged it to Daniel ages ago. After the Pearl Hotel incident, ownership shifted to Odie," Colby exined, pulling out a set of keys. "Odie handed these over to me. He said he reced the staff with trustworthy people. We''ll be staying here for a while-maybe we can dig up something."


    "So... this is where you once lived," Sophie noted.


    "Yeah."


    Colby, being open with Sophie, saw her examining the architecture and added, "Mr. Elwood had quite a grip overseas. Even now, he''s got loyal followers. Though I''ve tried to clear them out, there''re still plenty who oppose me. Staying away from the Costello estate, this ce is rtively safer."


    "I noticed. As soon as we entered, I saw all the security systems. The White family sure knows how to secure a ce."


    Anyone who''s held power overseas for years must be pretty shrewd.


    With lots of friendse lots of enemies.


    To survive, you''ve got to protect yourself first.


    So, the White family was like a fortress overseas.


    "Where did you live before?" Sophie suddenly asked.


    Colby quickly speared a piece of steak and ced it on Sophie''s te. "Let''s eat first."


    "What''s the matter, don''t want me to see?" Sophie teased, resting her chin on her hand. "Afraid I''ll find something I shouldn''t? Like... love letters a young boy wrote to his crush?"


    Colby chuckled helplessly. "You know you''re the only one I''ve ever had eyes for."


    "So you''re not taking me to see it?"


    Faced with Sophie''s curiosity, Colby gave in quickly. "That ce is pretty humble, I..."


    "As long as it''s a part of your past, humble or not, it''s important to me."


    Colby affectionately pinched Sophie''s cheek. "Alright, I''ll take you." Sophie put down her cutlery and followed Colby towards the elevator.


    The White family''s guards were instructed to stay out of sight on the estate except during work hours,


    and they couldn''t wander more than a few steps away from Mr. Elwood.


    The elevator descended a floor.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    When the


    stepped into a dimly lit corridor with old, lights-a stark c


    to the estate''s opulence.


    flis opened, they


    Since Mr. Elwood passed away, no one had lived there.