Sophie and Colby circled the old ancestral hall twice, only to find it empty, devoid of any useful information, let alone anything of value.
"Don't waste your energy. If there were anything valuable, it probably would have been taken by your uncle a long time ago."
In the end, Colby placed the memorial plaque back in its original spot. They had even inspected the memorial plaque, short of turning the entire place upside down, but found nothing.
"Could it be... the so-called secret hidden within the family is a hoax?"
Sophie fell silent. If there truly was a treasure within the Devonport estate, many would have sought it relentlessly after all these years.
"The treasure isn't a hoax. Our ancestors just hid it well." Colby looked at the array of plaques and said, "Let's head back for today. We have the key, so we can come back anytime we wish."
"Colby, I feel uneasy."
Sophie looked troubled, and Colby held her in his arms, his voice low and comforting. "Don't overthink it. I'm here for you and won't let you get hurt."
Sophie leaned into Colby's embrace, her gaze falling onto the crimson column behind him, sparking a thought, "Colby, do you think there might be something beneath the column?"
Colby released Sophie and turned to look at the crimson column.
Sophie continued, "I remember the Russell family ancestral hall. It has always been here, untouched for centuries. No one has ever renovated it. If there's nothing above, beneath, or behind the walls, could it be... something is hidden under this column?"
They had searched everywhere else in the ancestral hall, but no one had thought to look under the column.
Colby approached the column, crouched down, and inspected its base. The century-old structure had never been renovated, yet its foundation remained solid.
Colby tapped the ground and said, "It's hollow underneath."
Sophie also crouched down, adding, "If it's hollow, then there must be something inside. I'll call someone over."
"Wait." Colby stopped Sophie as she reached for her phone, frowning, "The fewer people know about this, the better. Let me handle it."
"You? Are you sure?"
"What? Don't you trust your man?"
"It's not that I don't trust you..."
Before Sophie could finish, Colby had already rolled up his sleeves and gently touched her head, saying, "Sweetheart, leave the heavy lifting to me."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)
why do you keep delaying updates:(...
please post new chapters.. why are they delayed...
Awaiting new chapters plzzz...
when will new chapters release??...
Enjoying the story, to much victimising Sophie, they could at least try to target others. Hope at some point Sophie comes clean and forgives James and explain her view of loving the boy James was. Just so they both learn and move on. Really needs to be some consequences for the instigators instead of being let go. Sandy needs to see Vanessa is using her as a cover, and Sandy needs to wake up to herself, or be held responsible by her father for alienating the people she was supposed to make contact with. Hope the reporter brother is keeping an eye on what Vanessa and Odie are up to, and that he has he’s own justice in store. Hope he becomes like Reese a good partner. Hope James lives and finds he’s HEA. Need to put Nicole in prison , no release and several lifetimes , with all the evidence on the crimes she’s committed just to get her out of the way guilt free. More about what’s up with Gordon....
Excellent novel!...
When will you upload the next chapter...