Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)

"Sophie, you know..." Jenna started, but Harold cut in before she could finish, "My brother's gone."

Sophie was momentarily taken aback by Harold's words. "He's been in charge of Aldridge Global long enough," Harold said with a hint of detachment. "This time, he decided to leave." Jenna and Adler remained quiet.

After a pause, Sophie asked, "Did he... mention where he's headed?"

"No," Harold replied. "Maybe he'll go abroad, or perhaps to some quaint little town away from the city. He might just want to live that quiet country life he always talked about..."

"So, he's not coming back to Devonport, is he?"

"That's right."

With Harold's confirmation, Sophie felt a pang of realization. It was all over. Gordon didn't want to stay in this city anymore. But why did he leave without a word? Not even a proper goodbye.

"I still have so many questions for him..." Sophie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She vividly remembered everything from her dream. It was so perfect, those memories felt almost real. She longed to see Gordon, ask him about their past, and find out what really happened.

She glanced at the Aldridge Global family crest she held, her eyes clouding with emotion.

Harold, seeing her distress, swallowed the comforting words he was about to offer. Instead, he tried to sound nonchalant, "It's not like we'll never see him again. He just needs some time alone. Who knows... maybe he'll be back sooner than we think."

Sophie found a bit of solace in Harold's words. He was right. The world is vast, but if you really want to see someone, you'll find a way.

Just then, Colby stood up and said to Harold, "Come with me."

Harold nodded silently. He knew this conversation was inevitable, so he followed Colby out into the hallway.

The corridor was silent, just the two of them.

"I know what you're thinking," Harold said, breaking the silence. "I didn't kill him."

He handed Colby a set of keys. "But... Lennon did leave. Before he went, he asked me to give this to you. He said he wasn't one for sappy words, but he wanted you to have his most treasured possession."

Colby accepted the keys quietly and asked, "How did he go?"

"Seven days after that shooting," Harold confessed, regret tinging his voice. "Lennon approached my brother. He told him that he'd been diagnosed with liver cancer

didn't have much time. He wanted to accomplish one last thing for the his own funeral. That would make him feel his life was worthwhile."

younger generation and

Harold looked up earnestly, "I never meant to keep this from you."

"I get it," Colby replied simply.

As he turned to go back into the room, he added, "Don't tell Sophie. I don't want her to go through more pain." "Alright," Harold agreed.

When Colby re-entered the room, he found Sophie and Jenna chatting lightly. Watching Sophie clutch the Aldridge family crest, he stood in silence for a long moment