Chapter 6 Where Are You?

• Sadie raced down Trash Peak, her tears flowing freely.
• After Marcus had taken Lily for treatment, he brought her to a military hospital.
• Despite searching several hospitals, Sadie couldn't find her and felt herself losing hope.
• In a moment of desperation, she thought of using her phone, guessing Marcus had it repaired by Lily to track her father down.
• She called the familiar number.
• As the phone rang, Sadie yelled, "Where have you been? Do you know how long Mom has been looking for you?"
• It wasn't Lily who responded but a nurse whose eyes shone with respect.
• The man who had brought Lily in was of significant importance, and she treated him with great care.
• "Ma'am, we're located at the premier military hospital in Netherwood," the nurse informed.
• Sadie was taken aback.
• Access to the military hospital in Netherwood wasn't just a matter of money.
• Without hesitating, she took a cab there straight away.
• Once there, Sadie embraced Lily tightly, overwhelmed with relief.
• Her arm was poised to strike, but she paused, seeing Lily's delicate state.
• "Do you enjoy making me mad? How many times have I said not to pick up trash! Do you understand? I almost didn't survive!"
• Lily shivered, clutching at Sadie's hand. "Mom, I didn't mean to upset you! I just wanted to reach out to Dad. It would help if you didn't go through this by yourself. And what's with the new bruise on your face?"
• Sadie's resolve softened, her heart aching for her child.
• She noticed the crude drawings.
• Lily was in bed, still attempting to shield her.
• In an angry tone, Sadie demanded, "Are you practising drawing just to sketch him? Are you lying to me?"
• In a calm voice, Lily replied, "Mom, please, don't be mad. I miss Dad! I wish he could help us overcome all of this!"
• Dad? Him? Sadie's head spun.
• He was the nightmare that pulled her into a living hell.
• She had been a bridesmaid at his wedding five years prior.
• "Never speak of him again!"
• At Trash Peak, Devon's screams echoed endlessly. In a distant, shabby room, an older man slowly opened the door, carrying a bowl of thin porridge.
• He approached Marcus, presenting the porridge. "You're Lily's father, aren't you?"
• A flicker passed through Marcus's eyes.
• The broth was nearly translucent, dotted with a few bits of vegetables. "How did you know that?" he questioned the elder.
• Taking a seat with care, the elderly man replied, "That young girl, Lily, she often scavenges, always saying her father will come back to keep her safe."
• The revelation pierced Marcus's heart.
• He had no idea how long Lily had been waiting. His return had been delayed; as a father, he felt he had failed her.
• Observing Marcus's turmoil, the elder offered a weak smile. "Is it too much for you?
• "Compared to what Sadie and her child have gone through, your current ordeal is nothing.
• "I have more to share with you. Are you prepared to listen? Or brave enough to?"
• Marcus, sovereign of Wintermere, harboured no fear. "Proceed."
• The man gave a light snort, amused by the younger's naivety.
• He laid an old newspaper before Marcus.
• Grabbing it eagerly, Marcus's anticipation quickly turned to dread.
• His hands shook as fear overtook him, his teeth clenching at the sight of the headlines.
• The headline in the newspaper read: 'At Netherwood, Ms. Sadie Sugarman, a Bridesmaid, Reportedly Ensnared the Groom.'
• For Marcus, each time the headline was mentioned, it struck a deeper chord of pain.
• He intended to marry Clara that day, with Sadie serving as a bridesmaid.
• However, it wasn't Sadie who initiated the scandal. Instead, Marcus had been overtaken by his indulgence in the Crawley medical texts, making Sadie the unfortunate scapegoat.
• However, the news painted Sadie as the villain, leading to severe backlash from Netherwood's inhabitants, who derided her with vicious slurs that were even more cutting than the newspaper's words.
• After the incident, Sadie faced severe repercussions, ultimately disowned by the Sugarmans and her spirit broken.
• Reading the newspaper, Marcus felt his heart tighten. The hardships a woman endured because of him were immense. Sadie was innocent.
• "Why didn't Clara look out for her own best friend?" Marcus exclaimed in anguish, hitting his chest.
• The elder only laughed softly, choosing not to respond directly. "Young man, are you truly oblivious to why Sadie suffered like this?"
• Clara had indeed been wise.
• Over five years, she climbed to the pinnacle of the Netherwood corporation, leveraging a recipe he had left behind.
• She tricked Marcus into travelling to Wintermere, thereby revealing her scheming nature.
• Marcus found himself unable to return until half a decade had elapsed.
• Marcus cried, overwhelmed by emotion.
• The subsequent details in the report caught him off guard.
• Merely two months later, Sadie found out she was expecting a child.
• Upon learning this, a mob, bribed by Clara, confronted her.
• They berated Sadie, accusing her, "The one who tempted the fiancé has no right to be a mother."
• "Shameless woman, still coming for a check-up? You should both die! You should be drowned in a pig cage!"
• Sadie was terrified, clutching her stomach, her path blocked. Begging for mercy resulted in punches and kicks. The group lifted Sadie, throwing her into a cage. She sank like a stone.
• Sadie struggled and begged, but it was futile.
• Marcus, overwhelmed with grief, collapsed to the ground.
• The old man sighed. "That day, I first met them. I happened to pass by while picking up trash and saved them. Her belly was covered in blood, and her nails were torn!"