"Mrs. Costello, Mr. Odie said he recently broke off his engagement with the Pord family because of financial troubles, so we''ll have to settle for a simpler meal tonight." Sophie couldn''t help butugh when she saw the bowl of egg soup in front of her.


    Even if the Minton family was down to theirst penny, they wouldn''t just serve her a pot of boiling water.


    This had to be one of Odie''s ridiculous ideas.


    "Tell Odie I appreciate the gesture, but I''ll pass on the soup."


    Sophie stood up, took the bowl of egg soup, and the maid, caught off guard, asked, "Mrs. Costello, you..."


    Sophie walked out of the bedroom, headed downstairs.


    "Mrs. Costello! You shouldn''t be wandering off! Mrs. Costello!"


    The maid tried to follow, but Sophie was too quick.


    Odie, who was eating in the living room, saw Sophie walk past him and then heard her call out, "Lucky! Soup''s for you!"


    The big ck dog at the door sniffed the bowl of soup Sophie ced on the ground, then silently backed away.


    Odie stuffed a bite of doughnut into his mouth and saw Sophie walking back from the door.


    Odie asked, "Who let you out?"


    "Sorry, Mr. Odie! I''m sorry! I couldn''t stop her."


    Odie frowned, "Did I ask you?"


    The maid, taken aback, nced at Sophie and then at Odie before wisely stepping back.


    Sophie approached, eyeing the assortment of breakfast items in front of Odie.


    "Mr. Odie, I thought we were too poor to afford food?"


    "That''s the situation."


    "Where did all this breakfaste from then?"


    "Mrs. Costello, what are you talking about? It''s obviously made in the kitchen."


    Odie provocatively took a big sip of histte in front of Sophie.


    Sophieughed, hands on her hips, looking at Odie and then at his full-sugartte, "Hope diabetes doesn''t get you first!" Sophie was visibly annoyed, and Odie felt a strange satisfaction, "Thanks for the concern, but it''s not killing me just yet." "Mrs. Costello, your breakfast."


    Jonah came back with a bowl of oatmeal with lean cuts of ham and ced it in front of Sophie.


    Sophie nced down, then sat and started eating. She wouldn''t let her disappointment affect her appetite.


    "Good appetite."


    "It''s alright."


    "Not afraid I might have added something to it?"


    Sophie paused, remembering the drug Odie had once slipped into her coffee. Her appetite vanished momentarily, but she quickly resumed eating her oatmeal, saying, "Why should I worry? Would it even matter if you did now?"


    "Suppose you''re right." Odie


    continued eating his breakfast,


    casually mentioning, "Colby hasn''tAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    been looking for you these past few days, did you know?"


    "I did."


    "You knew?"


    Sophie leisurely replied, "He knows you''ve taken me; how could he possiblye looking for me?"


    "Oh? Is that so?"


    "We''re overseas now. Given your current rtionship with the Pord family, Colby couldn''te even if he wanted to."


    "The time you went to the Pord family''s dinner, Colby barged in directly with his men. The excuse you''re giving me doesn''t seem to hold up."


    "Fine, the truth is, I was in withdrawal, and he couldn''t help me, but being here with you, he doesn''t have to worry about that."


    Odie raised an eyebrow,menting, "Seems like Colby truly loves you, willing to hand you over to me to spare you the suffering."


    "Mr. Odie, isn''t that your ultimate goal? To use me to control Colby He''s practically delivered me to your doorstep. What''s there left for you to doubt?"