CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: NO ONE WILL KNOW IF YOU DIE HERE, RIGHT?

The sudden voice startled Ivy Summers, who took a step back and saw an elderly man with graying hair but a spirited demeanor approaching.

"Looking at photos," Ivy replied honestly.

The old man picked up the photo frame and gently caressed the people in it with his wrinkled hands.

After forty or fifty years, people’s appearances change somewhat, but Ivy still recognized the old man in front of her as the person in the photo. "Is the person in the photo you and your daughter?"

Old Master Sterling nodded, "Yes."

Ivy pressed her lips together.

"You loved her very much."

Old Master Sterling’s expression changed slightly, looking somewhat sad. "Yes, I loved her very much, but she was disobedient and left me early. I regret it greatly. If only I hadn’t stopped her back then, she wouldn’t have broken with me and run away, and I wouldn’t have lost her."

Ivy bowed her head, "I’m sorry to bring up a painful memory for you."

Old Master Sterling put the photo away and looked deeply at Ivy for a moment. He wasn’t sure why he was speaking to a stranger about his daughter.

After a brief silence, Old Master Sterling asked, "I saw you earlier, and you don’t seem very happy either."

The old man’s experience was sharp, and he could tell that Ivy had something on her mind.

Ivy lowered her eyelids and took a long time to speak, "Because not long ago, I also lost my daughter."

The greatest pain in the world is the separation of loved ones, and Old Master Sterling could understand the pain of the young woman before him.

Old Master Sterling sighed, then noticed Damien Lancaster standing behind her, seemingly guarding Ivy.

Old Master Sterling withdrew his gaze and asked, "Who is Damien Lancaster to you?"

Ivy turned around and saw that Damien was indeed still there. After a moment, she said, "He is my ex-husband."

Old Master Sterling looked at Ivy again, understanding dawning on him, and smiled slightly, "Then you are much luckier than I am."

Ivy did not understand the meaning of Old Master Sterling’s words, but he had already left with his beloved photo, looking forlorn.

Ivy took a deep breath and turned around, "Damien, if you keep staring at me, am I going to run away?"

"There will be people coveting you." Damien stood at a distance, motionless, and serious.

The two spoke across a large living room, and Ivy had to raise her voice to be heard.

"Who’s coveting me? Are you out of your mind now?"

"Out of my mind."

Damien also felt a bit crazy at the moment.

The divorce left him feeling insecure.

Ivy was very beautiful.

And there was Noah Scott by her side, and tonight, Tristan Sterling had shown up as well.

There were too many men around her.

"What did you say?" Ivy couldn’t hear him clearly. "Why are you standing so far away to talk?"

"Isn’t it you who didn’t want me close?"

Standing close was unwelcome, and standing far seemed also unwelcome to her.

"Ha." At this moment, a chuckle came from the side.

Tristan Sterling was lazily leaning there, God knows how long he had been listening.

"He just said he’s out of his mind."

As soon as Tristan finished speaking, the man who had been a living room away from Ivy suddenly appeared by her side.

It seemed he didn’t want to give Tristan any chance, not even a tiny bit.

Ivy looked at Tristan, her expression indifferent, "Does First Young Master Sterling have the habit of eavesdropping?"

"Can’t help it, you two are too interesting, couldn’t resist."

Tristan looked at Damien, "It’s been a while, how did First Young Master Lancaster become so humble?"

"None of your business." Damien’s expression was not pleasant.

"You’re very annoying!" Ivy said.

Damien stared at Tristan, "Did you hear that?"

Ivy looked at Damien, "I was talking about you."

Ivy stepped away from Damien and walked out.

Damien watched the slender, indifferent figure of the woman and suddenly felt a blockage in his heart.

Tristan laughed mockingly.

But Damien didn’t care.

"First Young Master Lancaster owes our Sterling Family a big favor, remember to repay it later."

Damien coldly tugged at his lips, "When did I ever owe you a favor?"

"You’ll know later."

...

Outside, Sophie was surrounded by people, all complimenting her on how cute she was. Kyle Sterling stood nearby. Just after having a drink, when he turned his head, Sophie was gone.

Kyle frowned, "Where’s Sophie?"

Everyone pointed in a direction, "She said she saw her dad and went to find him."

Sophie had indeed seen her dad, or rather the tall and strong figure she remembered. She immediately started running after him on her little legs.

But there were too many people at the party today; in the blink of an eye, the familiar figure vanished again.

Sophie searched the crowd, seeing only men in suits and ties.

They all looked like her dad.

Then she spotted that familiar figure again, and Sophie rushed forward, hugging him, "Daddy."

The man turned to look at the little girl hugging him, gently kneeling down, "Did you lose your dad, little one?"

She was mistaken, he wasn’t her dad.

Sophie immediately let go, shook her head, and ran away.

"Sophie!" A voice called out to her.

Rachel Shaw walked over, squatting down with a gentle smile, "Sophie, are you looking for your dad?"

Sophie took a step back, pressing her lips tightly.

Seeing Sophie’s fear, Rachel moved a little closer, "I actually saw your dad just now. Shall I take you to find him, okay?"

Sophie hesitated.

"We met the other day, you know, I know your dad, but I didn’t recognize you that day. That was my mistake. Let me apologize and make amends by taking you to your dad. Can you forgive me, Sophie?"

Sophie was a bit hesitant.

Rachel stepped forward and took Sophie’s hand, "I’ll take you to find your dad, let’s go."

Sophie was half-skeptical, "Do you really know where Dad is?"

"I really do."

Sophie, with no memory of the past, didn’t know Rachel Shaw was a bad person. With the pure and simple mind of a five-year-old, it was hard not to believe Rachel’s coaxing.

Rachel Shaw held Sophie’s hand and walked outside.

She absolutely could not let Damien Lancaster and Ivy Summers see Sophie today.

...

All the guests had arrived, and Old Master Sterling was about to announce Sophie’s identity, when a servant came to report that Sophie couldn’t be found.

Old Master Sterling frowned, "Wasn’t Kyle with her?"

"Young Master Sterling is also frantic, she disappeared in the blink of an eye."

Old Master Sterling remained calm, "Don’t panic, first retrieve the surveillance footage."

"Yes, I’ll go right away."

Rachel Shaw was walking out with Sophie.

Sophie noticed something was off and forcefully shook off Rachel’s hand.

Rachel turned back, "What’s wrong?"

"No! You’re lying again!"

Sophie glared angrily at Rachel Shaw.

She clearly saw Dad inside.

But this woman was taking her outside, and if they kept going, they’d leave the Sterling Family.

Kyle and Grandpa Sterling had both said they couldn’t leave the Sterling Family.

Being inside the Sterling Family was definitely safe.

Going outside would be dangerous.

She didn’t want any danger.

Sophie turned around and started to run back.

Rachel Shaw stepped forward two paces, grabbing Sophie, "I really am taking you to your dad."

Not believing.

She didn’t believe it.

Anyone trying to take her out was a bad person.

Sophie exerted all her strength to run back.

Rachel Shaw held her tightly, and seeing Sophie’s realization, dropped the act, "You little brat, you’re not allowed to run."

She yanked Sophie back in front of her, "I’m not a bad person, but if you run again, I’ll be mad, and when I’m mad, I’ll sell you off. Do you believe it?"

Sophie looked at her with reddened eyes, still struggling fiercely like a little beast.

Rachel Shaw was a bit angry.

She was sure Sophie had lost her memory.

But if she lost her memory, why didn’t she forget everything? Why did she remember Damien Lancaster was her dad and want to go back to him?

"Do you know why you are with the Sterling Family? Because your dad doesn’t want you!"

Sophie’s little body that was still struggling suddenly froze.

Rachel Shaw smirked, "Your dad doesn’t want you anymore, don’t you remember?"

Sophie didn’t believe it and covered her ears.

This woman was just lying.

"Don’t believe it? Think about how long you’ve been at the Sterling Family, almost a month, right? You’ve been trying to find your dad, but has your dad looked for you?"

Sophie was taken aback.

"Don’t you understand? The reason he doesn’t come to find you is that he doesn’t want you anymore. And you still foolishly want to go back. If you go back, your dad will abandon you again."

Sophie widened her eyes, tears brimming in them.

No wonder she sent so many messages to Dad, and even though he replied, he didn’t come looking for her.

It turns out Dad didn’t want her anymore.

It turns out she was a child not wanted by her dad.

Sophie’s nose tingled, and tears started falling in big drops.

Rachel Shaw smirked, "Now do you understand? Ready to be good now? Come with me."

Sophie still wouldn’t obey.

Even if her dad didn’t want her, she wouldn’t go with this woman.

Sophie escaped from Rachel Shaw’s grasp like a slippery eel, and Rachel was furious, chasing after her and grabbing the back of her collar, "Where do you think you’re going?"

"Bad person!"

Rachel Shaw sneered, "I told you the truth, and I’m still the bad person? Your dad is the bad one. He’s the one who doesn’t want you."

Rachel Shaw kept reminding Sophie that Damien Lancaster didn’t want her anymore.

Sophie was both angry and annoyed.

"Help!"

"Help? Hah, do you think yelling for help will do any good? Do you think if you shout for help, someone will come rescue you? Everyone’s inside the banquet hall, come with me."

Rachel Shaw picked up Sophie.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

A chilling voice rang out.

Rachel Shaw’s heart sank, she looked up, and her face turned pale.

Someone was leaning against a car.

And this person made Rachel Shaw so scared her blood turned to ice.

It was Noah Scott!

Noah Scott seemed to be smoking, with a lit cigarette between his fingers, exuding a casual demeanor, but his expression was intimidating.

Rachel Shaw’s legs went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Sophie took the opportunity to break free and quickly escape.

Noah Scott stepped forward, approaching step by step.

Rachel Shaw retreated with every step, eventually falling to the ground, her lips twitching, but unable to utter a sound.

Noah Scott crouched down, raising an eyebrow, "There’s no one here, so if you die here, no one will know, right?"