Back in the day, Sophie was just trying to get by, using her smarts to navigate the tricky world of Devonport. But now, her gaze was steely and determined. She had built her own empire, and finally, she could be herself.


    And him? Well, he made the biggest choice of his life, partly because of her.


    James and Harold pulled up to the Aldridge Estate and parked their cars. They were ready to head upstairs and see Odie. But as soon as Harold cracked open the door, a vase came flying straight at Sophie. She stood there, momentarily stunned. Odie, lying on the bed, was just as shocked. Luckily, Harold kicked the vase away just in time, saving Sophie from a nasty hit.


    "What''s gotten into you?" Harold asked, his brow furrowing, eyes sharp as daggers.


    Odie''s face was stormy. "Blowing a million at a nightclub abroad, shacking up with a gigolo for the night, Sophie, you''ve really outdone yourself!"


    "Why are you bringing this up..." Sophie rubbed her temples, feeling a headacheing on.


    This time, Harold didn''t cut Odie off. Instead, he strolled in, poured himself a ss of red wine, and said, "I''m waiting for her side of the story too."


    James walked in and casually flopped onto a sofa. Sophie could feel Harold and Odie''s eyes locked on her. Even though James kept quiet, she knew him too well. His silence was the most intense pressure of all.


    Sophie finally gave in, "Alright, since you three are so united in this. I''ll spill, I''ll tell you everything!"


    Despite his injuries, Odie leaned back on the bed, radiating a CEO''s authority. "Go ahead, I''m listening."


    Sophie sighed, "It''s a tangled mess."


    Harold added, "Then cut to the chase."


    "It was the night Kiran invited Colby and me. I didn''t get why Kiran did it until we were leaving, and he casually mentioned Colby''s illness. That''s when it hit me-Kiran wanted to nt seeds of doubt in my mind."


    Seeing she had the room''s attention,


    Sophie went on, "That night, I


    wanted Colby to tell me about his illness himself, but he didn''t. The


    next day it was all over the news et


    think Kiran, or whoever is backing him, was gunning for Colby. Colby''s a powerful guy, but his only real Vulnerability is me. They probably wanted to make him lose it, using this as fuel to ignite our rtionship."


    Odie frowned, "So you knew all along? Why the attitude?"


    "I knew, but him keeping it from me is a whole different story!" Sophie snapped, ring at Odie. "When I firstThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    spinnithe news, my head was et


    spinning. I couldn''t tell what was real or fake. What I just exinedt took me all afternoon to piece it together."


    "So, did you two fight or not?"


    "Yeah, we fought," Sophie admitted. "I didn''t confront Colby right away because I thought the White family might have bugged or rigged the ce with cameras. I couldn''t talk it out with Colby there, so... I had to


    I


    wait for him to cool down. Maybe then he''d see where I wasing from."


    "What makes you think the White family has bugs?"