CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 171: BEGGING MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TO COME HOME

Although her memory only included her father, there were no photos with her father in the family photos with her mom and brother.

What does this mean?

It means her father was not good to them.

This also confirms what the deceitful woman said.

It was her father who didn’t want her.

Sophie reached out to embrace Ivy Summers, "Mommy..."

It was like a ray of light shining into the dark abyss of Ivy’s heart, as she hugged Sophie tightly, once again crying like rain.

"Sophie, how wonderful, Sophie is back, Mommy’s Sophie has returned..."

Damien Lancaster was still crouching nearby, watching the tightly embraced mother and daughter. Although Sophie didn’t recognize him, Damien was incredibly happy inside.

Sophie wasn’t dead, she came back, more important than anything.

Nearby, Kyle Sterling shed a tear ungracefully.

Sophie survived a great ordeal and has now found her family again; she is sure to have a happy future.

"One more thing, Sophie, what just happened?" Tristan Sterling asked.

Sophie’s sudden disappearance was certainly suspicious.

Moreover, when she returned, she didn’t recognize Damien Lancaster.

This was also very strange.

Ivy Summers and Damien Lancaster didn’t know, but since they took care of Sophie, they knew she longed to return to her father’s side.

"Go, bring Rachel Shaw here!" a commanding voice rang out.

Old Master Sterling arrived imposingly with his men.

The surveillance showed that it was Rachel Shaw who had taken Sophie.

"No need to grab her; she’s here."

As the words fell, Rachel Shaw was tossed over like a rag.

Her hands and feet were bound as she looked around nervously, utterly disheveled.

The people already gathered around were instantly surprised.

"Miss Shaw?"

"How could it be Miss Shaw? Why is she tied up like this, could it be that she took the child?"

Ivy Summers looked up and saw Noah Scott standing nearby.

It was Noah Scott who had brought her back.

"It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!" Rachel Shaw, with disheveled hair and tear-streaked makeup, was curled up and terrified in the center, "I didn’t do anything, nothing at all..."

"Hah," Old Master Sterling sneered, "Do you think the people of the Sterling Family are blind? Did you forget there’s such a thing as surveillance when you took Sophie? You have quite the nerve."

Kyle Sterling said, "Daring to cause trouble in our Sterling Family, Grandpa, she truly doesn’t respect us."

"It’s not like that, I just know Sophie, I just wanted to take her to find her dad... I didn’t have any other intentions..."

Rachel Shaw continued to defend herself.

Suddenly, she saw Ivy Summers and Damien Lancaster standing there, and guilt surged in her heart. But recalling Damien’s tenderness that night, and now being Young Madam Lancaster, her disgrace would also mean Damien’s disgrace.

Damien wouldn’t ignore her.

Besides, he had forgiven her for the incident that almost killed Sophie before.

She believed it would be the same this time.

Rachel Shaw crawled over, pulling on Damien Lancaster’s pants, pleading, "Damien, I really didn’t do anything; I just wanted to take Sophie to find you. I had no ill intentions, really..."

Damien Lancaster looked at Rachel Shaw with a tear-streaked face. When Noah Scott had thrown her over, he was already clear on what this woman had done.

Rachel Shaw seemed like the kind of person who would only settle down if she were dead.

"Do you think I would believe you?"

Rachel Shaw shuddered, unable to meet Damien’s eyes.

The words were so cold, it felt like they could cut deep into one’s heart.

"Liar!" Sophie, her little face filled with anger, squeezed out two words.

Damien Lancaster looked down, "Even the child knows you’re a liar, what else is there to say?"

"I didn’t, I really didn’t! If I really wanted to do something to Sophie, how could she be perfectly safe here? I truly just wanted to take Sophie to find you, Damien, won’t you believe me?"

"Are you worthy of being believed?"

Damien Lancaster squatted down, his fingers gripping Rachel Shaw’s chin, "Rachel Shaw, how many times now?"

Rachel Shaw widened her eyes, scarcely breathing, "What?"

"How many times have you done bad things, I’ve kept track for you. This is your debt, and one day you’ll have to repay it."

Tears of fear rolled down Rachel Shaw’s cheeks one after another; she didn’t understand what Damien meant by this.

If he wanted to settle scores with her, then why let her stay at Imperial Bay Villa, why agree to marry her, why stay with her?

Didn’t all of these prove that he loved her, that she had a place in his heart?

Furthermore, given their childhood friendship and bond, she couldn’t believe she didn’t matter in his heart, nor that he would really be so ruthless to her.

Damien Lancaster was only saying these things because he was angry.

It didn’t matter, just like last time, after his anger subsided, he would find that the person he loved was still her and he would forgive her.

Rachel Shaw still hoped to gain sympathy with her tears.

"First Young Master Lancaster, may I ask what you plan to do when your fiancée attempts to take your child with ill intent?" Tristan Sterling deliberately looked at Damien Lancaster and asked.

"Damien, you won’t ignore me, right? You won’t abandon me..."

Rachel Shaw still hoped Damien would save her.

But this man was inherently indifferent, especially when the one he cared about the least tried to harm the one he cared about the most; how could he soften?

Damien Lancaster lifted his gaze, his thin lips slightly parting, "Since she is at the Sterling Family, naturally it’s up to you."

Tristan Sterling chuckled, "Miss Shaw cries so pitifully, doesn’t First Young Master Lancaster plan to be the hero saving the damsel? Especially since she’s your fiancée. It’s often heard that First Young Master Lancaster is deeply in love with Eldest Miss Shaw; what’s this, are the rumors wrong?"

"You said yourself, it’s often heard."

Tristan Sterling smirked, "Since Miss Shaw intends to target people of the Sterling Family in the Sterling Family, I hereby declare on behalf of the Sterling Family, Miss Shaw is now blacklisted; from now on, anyone who dares to help Miss Shaw is against the Sterling Family."

Rachel Shaw widened her eyes.

This punishment seemed nonchalant, but undoubtedly it warned everyone that anyone close to her was against the Sterling Family, and henceforth who would dare associate with her.

It’s like being the isolated one in a class.

"Wait."

Damien Lancaster spoke.

Hope reignited in Rachel Shaw’s eyes; was Damien finally changing his mind to help her?

Rachel Shaw forced a smile, "Damien, Damien, I know you can’t bear to let them treat me like this, right? Damien..."

"Naturally, I can’t bear it," Damien Lancaster said, lowering his eyelids and looking down at Rachel Shaw, whose face held a glimmer of hope.

"I can’t bear to let you be forgetful."

Rachel Shaw’s face froze in hope.

"Julian Jacobs, take a couple of people and drag her away, let everyone take a good look, in case anyone invites her again, losing a child would be a problem."

Damien Lancaster’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was cold enough to almost freeze the surrounding air.

"Damien, what are you saying? No, it’s not like that. If I lose face, don’t you lose face too? Why are you doing this, why aren’t you protecting me?"

Rachel Shaw was being dragged back by two people, her voice trailing off.

As she was dragged away, she saw Ivy Summers holding Sophie calmly standing there. Even though Ivy showed no expression, Rachel still felt that Ivy was mocking her.

There were waves of ridicule around.

"It’s hilarious, for someone who used to be so high and mighty, just look how miserable she is now."

"Wasn’t she always bragging that the First Young Master Lancaster loved her to death? But now, even after the engagement, he can’t be bothered with her."

"Serves her right, being so malicious, wanting to harm a child, wonder what she was thinking. In the future, no one would want to invite her to their parties, what if she loses someone else’s child again."

Each accusation was more painful than if Rachel Shaw had been killed.

Ivy Summers hugged Sophie tightly, and looked at Noah Scott, "Sophie, say thank you to Uncle Scott."

Sophie blinked and ran to Noah Scott.

Noah Scott squatted down, looking at the little girl.

Sophie said softly, "Thank you."

Noah Scott smiled mischievously, patting Sophie’s head, "Don’t you remember who I am?"

Sophie widened her eyes in confusion.

Apparently, she didn’t remember.

Noah Scott beckoned with his finger, gesturing for Sophie to come closer.

Sophie leaned her ear towards him.

Neither Ivy Summers nor Damien Lancaster knew what Noah Scott said to Sophie, but her expression was of utter shock.

Noah Scott grinned wickedly, "Understand now?"

Sophie shook her head, then nodded.

Is it really possible to have so many fathers?

Sophie ran back to Ivy Summers, Ivy asked, "What’s wrong? What did Uncle say to you?"

"Secret."

Sophie wouldn’t say.

Ivy Summers gently pursed her lips, looking at the living Sophie, hugging her even tighter.

Such an unreal feeling.

The most painful thing in the world, if it was the separation from one’s flesh and blood.

Then the happiest thing should be the recovery of the lost.

"First Young Master Lancaster, Miss Summers, our Old Master invites you to bring Sophie over, he’s waiting for you in the living room," said the Sterling Family’s butler.

"Alright, we will come right away." Ivy Summers picked up Sophie, reluctant to let her go.

Damien Lancaster reached out wanting to take Sophie from Ivy Summers, but both Ivy and Sophie avoided him simultaneously.

Damien looked at their synchronized actions, helplessly, "Your leg is still injured, Sophie is grown now, heavy, let me carry her."

What a hateful dad, abandoning her and now saying she’s heavy.

What girl likes being told she’s heavy?

Sophie got down from Ivy Summers and took her hand to walk inside.

Mother and daughter left Damien Lancaster behind.

Tristan Sterling chuckled, "Young Master Lancaster, please, whether you can take them back will depend on our Old Master."

Damien Lancaster pressed his lips tightly and walked inside with large strides.

Old Master Sterling had already prepared tea, waiting for them.

But Ivy Summers did not sit down, instead stood solemnly in front of Old Master Sterling, her eyes still red, and bowed deeply to Old Master Sterling, "Old Mr. Sterling, thank you, thank you to the Sterling Family, for saving Sophie."

Old Master Sterling, "Help her up."

Ivy Summers didn’t move; the gratitude for saving a life, even if she nodded three times to Old Master Sterling, would be insufficient.

Damien Lancaster came in and also bowed to the old master, "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet, I haven’t agreed to let you take Sophie back." The old master said sternly, "Sophie was saved by our family, I think I have a few words that carry weight."

Ivy Summers, "Of course, please speak."

"Can either of you tell me how such a small child like Sophie ended up on such a remote mountain and fell off a cliff?"

Ivy Summers pursed her lips, "Old Mr. Sterling, there’s a long story behind it."

The old master glanced at Damien Lancaster, noticing his tense face, and seemed to sense something, asking, "Is it related to you, was it your fault?"

"Yes." Damien Lancaster didn’t defend himself.

This matter was indeed his fault.

"Then isn’t it even more reason Sophie shouldn’t go back with you? What if something else happens, to tell you the truth, I really like Sophie, I just happen to be missing a daughter, I intend to adopt Sophie as my daughter."

Ivy Summers was shocked and looked up.

So the daughter Old Master Sterling wanted to adopt was Sophie?

Was Sophie the little princess of the Sterling Family?

Ivy Summers was a bit astonished.

Also didn’t expect Old Master Sterling to cherish Sophie so much.

"No way." Damien Lancaster frowned, "Sophie is my daughter."

The old master snorted, "You call Sophie’s name and see if she responds to you?"

Damien Lancaster looked at Sophie.

Sophie turned her small head, full of resolve, showing Damien Lancaster only the back of her head.

Old Master Sterling, "You ask Sophie if she’s willing to go back with you."

Sophie ran to Old Master Sterling’s side.

The meaning was clear.

No! Willing! To!

"Ask your wife if she’s willing to go back with you." The old master looked at Ivy Summers, signalizing to Damien.

Evidently, Ivy Summers was not willing either.

The scene was quite awkward.

Tristan Sterling laughed out loud from behind.

Damien Lancaster was now like a loner abandoned by wife and daughter.

Every part of him emanated one word:

Pitiful!

"What will it take for you to let me take them home?"

Old Master Sterling took a sip of tea, "That, you need to ask if they are willing to forgive you. Clearly, right now, they don’t."

Damien Lancaster pressed his lips tightly and bowed his head.

"I’ll give you a chance to atone for your mistakes, go kneel at our Sterling Gates now, kneel for three days and see if they soften up to return with you. During these three days, they’ll stay here, are you willing?"