Hugh looked down at the wine in his glass. He was silent for quite a while. He didn't know what to say, because he felt guilty.

Suddenly, he said, "Sophia, should you ever face any problem, promise me that you will call me and I'll be with you immediately!"

Sophia was moved by his promise but wondered what had prompted it. "Sure, Hugh. But tell me, what's wrong?" she asked.

Hugh shook his head and answered, "Nothing. It's just that mom has decided to go to the temple and submit to the Buddhist discipline while still wearing her hair*."

*TN: In Buddhism, one can live a simple and meditative life and attain nirvana by staying in a temple without shaving one's hair.

Sophia was surprised. "What happened, Hugh?" she gently asked.

Though Sophia wished that Jonas would be punished for what he had done, she also really hoped that Hermosa and her children weren't affected.

"Well, my mother just found out what my father had done to your family..." Hugh slowly said looking up at Sophia. Sophia was a good woman and deserved to be protected by a good man.

He really wanted to be that man but his father had killed her mother! There was no evidence to suggest this but everyone knew that this was what had happened.

Sophia froze and wondered how Hermosa knew this. Hermosa was really nice to her and if she knew that her husband was a killer... Ah! No wonder she was planning to go the temple!

Suddenly Hugh's phone started ringing. The man at the other end of the line said something and Hugh looked at Sophia. "I get it," he said and disconnected the phone.

Sophia forced herself out of her reverie and quizzically looked at Hugh.

"Herring is in the Chess and Card Room on the seventh floor. They need a fourth player to play cards and they are calling us. Let's go there," he said.

... Herring and Hugh, they were always with... Colin.

Hugh and Sophia rose from their seats. Sophia didn't want to go. "Could you go upstairs alone?" She hesitantly asked.

Hugh looked at her and laughingly said, "Don't worry! All of them have a woman accompanying them. If I go upstairs alone, it'll be very embarrassing."

Sophia thought about Hugh's words, 'All of them have a woman accompanying them?'

Unable to say no, Sophia went with Hugh to the Chess and Card Room on the seventh floor. When they opened the door of Room 706, they saw a heavy layer of smoke surrounding the players.

Sophia frowned and coughed due to the smoke.

Hugh suddenly caught hold of her hand, which startled her. Before she had managed to pulled her hand back, all the people in the room had seen them.copy right hot novel pub