James quickly changed course and handed Sophie over to Harold, saying, "Stop the bleeding; make sure she pulls through."


    Harold caught James''s eye for a moment, then looked down at Sophie cradled in his arms, trying to stay calm, "Got it."


    As Harold carried Sophie away, ire shot a nce at James, saying, "Mr. Burke, still can''t let go of Sophie, huh? Seems like you really care if you''re this eager to save her." James, catching ire''s sarcasm, shot back with a cold stare, "This isn''t the time for yourments. Keep your mouth shut, or I''ll shut it for you."


    "You..."


    ire was about to snap back, but a man next to her intervened, "Enough. Sophie can''t die just yet. We need to find out where the treasure is from her."


    "...Understood, boss."


    ire stepped aside.


    Meanwhile, Harold had already ced Sophie in the car and was rummaging through the first aid kit to stop her bleeding. With limited resources, he managed to give her a painkiller shot before cleaning and stitching her wound. Sophie, in a haze, noticed Harold by her side.


    Seeing her stir, Harold said nervously, "Don''t worry, I''ll get someone to take you home right away."


    Sophie, hearing Harold''s words, weakly held onto his hand, whispering, "I can''t leave... if I do, your cover''s blown. I can''t go yet."


    "Do you know what staying here means?"


    Harold held Sophie''s arm tightly, insisting, "I don''t care about that. I''m getting you out first."


    "Harold, don''t be reckless."


    Sophie, pale from the blood loss, said, "If I stay, I''ll survive, but if you''re exposed, you''re done for. They''ll use you against Mr. Gordon. You need to keep this act up so we all stay safe."


    "But you..."


    "I trust Colby, and I trust myself," Sophie reassured him. "We''ll be alright."


    With that, Sophie seemed to drift away, losing consciousness as shey back in the car.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Harold gently brushed her hair aside and finished stitching her wound. Outside the car, as Harold stepped out, he saw James standing there. He had no idea how long James had been there, staring at the car.


    Harold remarked, "Does Mr. Burke always have a habit of listening in?"


    "I didn''t catch anything," James replied, eyes fixed on Sophie''s sleeping face. "Just checking if she was still with us."


    "She''s hanging on, but barely,"


    Harold said, ncing back at


    Sophie. "It''s a serious wound. Once


    we''re back in town, she needs


    proper rest. She''s too weak for any rough treatment. We have to look after her."


    James remained silent for a moment, then said, "Whether she gets the care she needs isn''t up to me. Or you."


    Back in the city, at Burke Estate, Rick pushed open the door to Gordon''s room, saying, "Adler just called. Ms. Sophie... she''s been taken."


    Hearing that Sophie was captured,


    Gordon instinctively clenched his wheelchair''s armrest but quickly regained hisposure, asking, "Who took her?"