Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)

Jonah, standing off to the side, didn't quite catch what Odie said and furrowed his brow in confusion. "Boss, something about a pretty boy?" he asked.

"It's 'pretty boy," Reece chimed in smoothly from nearby.

Realizing his boss had been bad-mouthing someone, Jonah quickly zipped his lips. Odie shot him a stern look, adding coldly, "If you can't say something smart, say nothing at all!"

"... Yes, Mr. Odie," Jonah replied, dropping his gaze to focus on the files in front of him.

Outside, Sophie turned to Julian and said, "We've got your brother under wraps. If you want to see him, go ahead."

With that, she handed Julian a key with an address dangling from it. Julian stared at the address, lost in thought.

Should he feel anger? Ever since he was a kid, his mom dreamed that their dad would bring them back to Duskhaven. She named him Julian, full of envy for Ricardo, who was poised to become the sole heir and head of the Cloude family.

Julian had grown up with his mom's belief that he was a Cloude family young master, destined to inherit his father's fortune, with high society's blood coursing through his veins.

No matter the cost, even if she had to sell her blood and rack up debt, she sent him to elite schools to refine his manners and poise. Before Sophie came into the picture, Julian thought he'd spend his life drowning in debt, never imagining he'd actually take the reins of the Cloude family.

When he looked at the key in his hand, Julian returned it to Sophie, saying, "Some folks just aren't worth revisiting."

From the moment Ricardo tried to sabotage him, Julian had lost all faith in family ties with another blood relative. Plus, he wasn't about to call someone he'd never met his brother.

"I figured you'd say that, but I wanted

to check with you anyway," Sophie said, pocketing the key. "Ricardo might've been a major villain, greedy and unscrupulous, but he never really hurt anyone. Now that he's got nothing, I'm planning to... let him be, let him find his own way

"Aren't you worried his creditors might come after him?"

Sophie chuckled, "You reap what you sow. Ricardo's greed brought this on himself; he's got to face the music for his debts. But since I'm the one he owes, I'm letting it slide, partly because of the past games I played. Plus, consider the money spent on dealing with Ricardo as my investment in your rise to power, which you'll owe me back someday."

"I get it," Julian nodded, smiling at Sophie. "The Cloude family will always have your back. If you

need help, don't hesitate to come to Duskhaven."

"Deal."

"Looks like S Corporation's buzzing today," came Elodie's voice from across the way.

Sophie turned, spotting Elodie and Griffin heading their way.

"Ms. Elodie," she greeted.

Elodie, with a playful grin, said, "Sophie, with the whole gang here tonight, shouldn't you treat us to a reunion dinner?" "Absolutely, if Ms. Elodie graces us with her presence, how about eight tonight..."

"Eight won't work," Elodie interrupted.