"I''ll handle it because I said I will!"


    Harold turned to leave, but Odie cut in sharply, "You''ll handle it? Is Summerfield your territory? How many connections do you have there? Do you really think just because you''re an Aldridge, you can throw your weight around like that? Get real, you''re not Gordon; you don''t have his chops."


    If Gordon were around, his reputation alone would make anyone in Summerfield tread carefully. But Harold... he was just the newest pup in the pack, riding on the Aldridge family''s coattails rather than leading them.


    "No need for anyone else to go, I''ll go."


    Suddenly, a voice interrupted them. Both turned to see James standing at the door, having appeared without a sound.


    Harold''s secretary, Howe, quickly approached. "Mr. Aldridge, Mr. James says he''s got a way to save Ms. Sophie, so I made the call to let him in..."


    Howe knew how much Sophie meant to Harold, so for the first time, he went against Harold''s orders and let an outsider in. "You? Just you?"


    "Just me."


    James wasn''t interested in wasting time on pleasantries. He tossed a seal onto the table and said, "While I''m away, the Burke family is in your hands. I''ve got one request: take good care of thepany. In a few days, I''ll bring Sophie back safe and sound." With that, James walked out of the Aldridge Estate.


    Harold nced at the seal in his hand, frowning. If he could avoid it, he really didn''t want to manage thepany for James.


    Meanwhile, in Summerfield''s prison...


    "Get in!"


    The guard was anything but polite as Sophie was shoved into the cell.


    The warden strolled in, putting on a show of concern. "How can you treat Ms. Sophie so roughly? She''s a tady; you should be gentler. What if something happens? Can you


    handle the fallout?"


    Seeing the warden''s feigned concern, the guards quickly nodded in agreement. "You''re absolutely right, sir. That was thoughtless of us."


    "Cut the act. Someone high up wanted me arrested, banking on no one in Summerfield daring to rescue me. You''re using me as bait, aren''t you?"


    "Ms. Sophie, you''re mistaken. This is just a routine investigation, a formality. No one would believe the rumor that you killed Elliott without cause."


    The warden continued, "Ms. Sophie,


    take a few days to rest here. Answer our questions, and if we find you have nothing to do with the murder, you''ll be free to go. We won''t harm you; rest assured."


    After those hollow assurances, the warden instructed the guards, "Take good care of Ms. Sophie, or you''ll have me to answer to!"


    "Yes, sir, we''ll take good care of Ms. Sophie!"


    Once the warden left, the guard''s


    demeanor shiftedpletely.


    "Sophie, don''t think just because theOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    warden''s got your back, you can


    cause trouble in my prison. This is


    my turf, and I''ll deal with you


    however I see fit!"


    The guard''s menacing look made it clear he intended to make things difficult for Sophie.