Chapter 536 The Gap Between People
Chapter 536 The Gap Between People
"Alright, I got it, Ed." Madeline looked at Martin and Rowan. "Go help him back."
Both of them nodded and helped Edmund to leave.
"Stop. You can't take him away!" Sophie shouted, charged with anger and a hint of madness. "Edmund is a member of the Foreman Family. Whether alive or dead, he should remain with us. No one has the right to take him away!"
She then commanded her bodyguards. "Stop them!"
Her bodyguards immediately surrounded Madeline and the others to block their way.
"Are you going to fight us?" Madison rolled up his sleeves. "When it comes to fighting, we, the members of Mansion, are experts!"
"Miss..." The middle-aged man standing behind Sophie leaned in and whispered a few words in her ear.
"I don't care!" Sophie snapped. "I don't care who he is. Edmund is a member of the Foreman Family. He belongs to us, and anyone attempting to snatch him is an adversary of our family!"
Casting a glance at Sophie, Madeline turned to the three. "Benedict, Rowan, Leigh, cover our retreat."
The three of them said in unison, "Understood!"
They lunged forward, clashing with the Foreman Family's bodyguards and effectively creating an escape route.
With the support of Martin and Rowan, Edmund was carefully led through the opening while Madeline and Leigh followed closely behind.
Emory, too, followed behind Madeline to ensure her safety in case of any unexpected situations.
On the other hand, Lucas chose to stay for he had to keep a watchful eye over Rowan and the others. Dusktown was the Harts' territory, and if anything happened to his sister-in-law's people in Dusktown, he wouldn't be able to explain it to his brother. NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
Sophie's personal bodyguards, along with the guards of the mansion, totaled more than ten people. However, despite their combined efforts, they couldn't stop Edmund from being driven away by Martin and Rowan, leaving Sophie in pain.
I can never let him go.
Last time, when Edmund escaped from the Foreman Family, he was gone for more than three years, and she couldn't find him no matter how hard she tried. If she allowed him to leave once more, who knew how much time would it take before she could find him again?
How many three-year periods did a lifetime offer?
As thoughts of the pain and longing endured during those three years crossed her mind, she couldn't hold back her tears. She cried out to Edmund's retreating figure, "Edmund Foreman, don't go! I forgive you. Stay!"
Edmund hesitated briefly but didn't turn around.
Worried that Sophie's words might sway him, not only did Martin and Rowan refuse to stop, but they even quickened their pace.
Watching Edmund walk toward the gate without glancing back, Sophie screamed in pain, "Edmund, have you lost all sense of humanity? I forgave you; doesn't that move you at all? You owe so much to our family. I said I forgive you. Why do you still want to leave?"
Madeline stopped and turned to look at her. "Because he did not commit any of the things you accused him of. He doesn't need your forgiveness!"
"You're talking nonsense!" Sophie shouted, "I saw it with my own eyes. I saw..."
"What you see with your eyes may not be true, but what you perceive with your heart is the truth." Madeline interrupted her while calmly saying, "I know Edmund well and I believe in his character. Even if I witnessed him do something wrong first-hand, I would still believe in him... Throughout history, there have been so many people that were wrongly accused. If the friends and family of those who have been wrongly accused, like you, give up on them when they see evidence, then will they ever find justice?"
"No... It's not like that. What do you know?" Sophie shouted, "Ashley has admitted it herself! She admitted that she had an affair with Edmund!"
"What does her admission mean?" Madeline asked, "Does her admission make it a fact? Then, why does Edmund's admission not mean anything to you? If you like to believe what others say, why don't
you believe Edmund and insist on believing Ashley?"
"Ashley is my cousin and our relationship has always been good, so she has no reason to lie to me!" Sophie said, "Besides, three years ago, she was only 20 years old and had never been in a relationship before. If there was no affair between her and Edmund, why would a 20-year-old young girl admit such a thing?"
"Indeed, Ashley is your cousin, but is Edmund an outsider?" Madeline queried. "The cornerstone of human interaction is trust. Not only did you not trust him, but you even hurt him. What right do you have to ask him to stay?"
"I..."
Sophie attempted to speak but was cut off by Madeline. "Forget it, you don't need to say anything. In the end, you just think too highly of yourself. You think that because your parents saved Edmund's life, his life belongs to you, and even if you treat him like a slave, a beast, or abuse him to death, he should serve you without any complaints. I have nothing to say to people like you."
"Shouldn't it be like this?" Sophie suddenly looked at Lucas. "He is also an adopted son, so shouldn't he be loyal to the Hart Family and never betray? Lucas!"
She questioned Lucas. "Would you betray the Hart Family?"
The middle-aged man standing behind him anxiously stopped her. "Miss Foreman, stop it!"
While their Foreman Family was wealthy in Dusktown, they couldn't rival the Harts. He had just told Sophie about Lucas' identity, hoping she'd realize the visitors were extraordinary and would not
provoke them. Yet, he hadn't anticipated that Sophie would question Lucas as if she had lost her sanity.
Meanwhile, Lucas hadn't anticipated that he'd suddenly be drawn into this conversation.
Just as he was about to respond, Madeline interjected, "Feelings between individuals are mutual. Emotions that merely take and don't give, regardless of their nature, won't last. While Lucas is indeed an adopted son of the Hart Family, my father regards him as his own, and my husband's affection for Lucas goes beyond that of a typical sibling. If what happened three years ago happened to Lucas, neither my father nor my husband would have the slightest doubt about him. Therefore, comparing Edmund and Lucas is unjust."
"Madeline is right," Lucas said. "Setting aside the wisdom of my father and brother, they would never wrongly accuse me. Even if they did, they treated me like a biological child and a younger brother, so I would unhesitatingly go through any challenge for them. Though accused, I'd hold no bitterness and no complaints, but you can't!"
He fixed a cold gaze on Sophie and continued, "You never viewed Edmund as a human being. You treated him like a servant and livestock, an item you possess. He only owes you a debt of gratitude; he has no real feelings for you. Gratitude can be repaid, whereas feelings are hard to relinquish over a lifetime."