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!"