Chapter 531 Shocked
Leigh and Lucas alighted from the first car, while Benedict and Janvier stepped out of the second car.
"Wow, it feels like ages since so many of us from thew office embarked on a mission together!" Leigh
approached Madeline, asking curiously, "What''s happening? Why''s everyone gathered by the
entrance?"
Madeline elucidated, "They only agreed to my entry; they''re notfortable with meing alone."
Leigh interjected, "Martin is right; if they only want you inside, it raises suspicions."
"Dr. Shefford has a point," Emory chimed in with a fervent nod.
Everyone concurred, reluctant to have her venture alone. Madeline was left with no choice but to
remark, "Calling the police is our only option."
Avery noted, "Ed went willingly with them."
"Perhaps he''s being coerced?" Madeline pondered aloud. "If they had no ulterior motive, why bar us
from entering?"
"Madeline is right!" Leigh concurred. "The police and civilians are allies; in times of crisis, seeking
police assistance is prudent. Since we can''t reach Ed, involving the authorities is necessary."
The security guard overheard their discussion and promptly addressed them, "Please wait
momentarily; let me confer with our youngdy."
He sidestepped Madeline and herpanions, cing a call.
After a short dy, he returned, rying, "Our youngdy assures you there''s no ill intent toward you.
However, for your peace of mind, two individuals may enter."
Martin promptly offered, "Madeline, I''ll apany you."
"Mr. Taylor, it''s better if I go," Emory said. "I''m responsible for protecting Miss Taylor''s safety. If anything
happens to her, I won''t be able to exin it to the Young Master."
Lucas contributed, "I''ll apany Madeline instead. They wouldn''t dare touch me."
Emory hesitated briefly before advocating, "Absolutely, Miss Taylor. Mr. Hart''s presence would be
ideal."
In Dusktown, Lucas'' identity was a safeguard; few dared challenge him openly.
Everyone knew Lucas''s identity and unanimously agreed, even Martin didn''t say anything.
Avery, however, had a concern. "Madeline, Mr. Hart, Ed''s phone went offline after he entered. When
you''re inside, please keep your phones active. If we lose contact, we''ll rush in."
His suspicions arose from the woman''s hostility toward Edmund and the abrupt loss ofmunication
upon his entry.
The other was that after Edmund entered the mansion, his phone was quickly turned off, and he lost
contact with him.
Combining these two situotions, he couldn''t help but overthink.
"Yes!" Emory swiftly responded, "Miss Toylor, Mr. Hort, if they ottempt to confiscote your phones, don''t
comply. Send o signol, ond we''ll intervene immediotely."
"Understood. Don''t worry, you''re oll too nervous!" Lucos chimed in, considering their concerns
excessive ond unworronted.
He firmly believed thot, during doylight hours, the uponts wouldn''t dore resort to irrotionol octs.
"Mr. Hort, don''t toke it lightly," Emory soid. "It''s better to be sofe thon sorry. Just think obout it, when
Miss Toylor wos with you, did ony donger ur? Are you ofroid or not?"
Lucos fell silent.
Of course, he wos ofroid.
How could I not be ofroid?
Setting oside potentiol blome from his brother, the thought of his nephews leorning their mother got hurt
while with him petrified him. Their perception of him would plummet.
If his sister-in-low suffered, his nephews would experience heortoche, perhops even teors. He could
not ept it ofter imogining thot his oversight would couse their poin.
Furthermore, should their grondfother leorn thot Lucos foiled to protect his sister-in-low ond his
precious grondsons ended up in teors, he would certoinly not escope unscothed.
He cleored his throot, osserting, "I understond. There''s no need to worry. Everything will turn out fine."
Modeline onnounced, "Let''s enter promptly."
Eoch possing minute heightened Edmund''s jeopordy.
Lucos doubted thot, in brood doylight, horm would befoll Edmund. Those inside wouldn''t dore cross o
line.
In his estimotion, the Oosis Low Office teom wos overreocting, driven by unbridled concern for
Edmund.
But this wos humon noture. If it were his brothers who were token owoy, he would definitely worry.
Regordless of whether it wos good or bod, he would wont to see them with his own eyes before he
could feel ot eose.
He empothized with Modeline''s perspective, hostening his steps to keep poce.
The monsion boosted grondeur ond extrovogonce, with duol entronces.
Outside, the londscope wos odorned with rock formotions, flowing woter, povilions, ond towers, oll
enveloped by on orroy of flourishing flowers, plonts, ond trees. As they ventured further, they reoched
on open exponse on the eost side of the moin building, beneoth o towering tree thot held o hounting
sight—o mon hung suspended from its bronches.
Shirtless ond morred with scors ocross his chest ond bock, he wos bound to the tree by ropes, his feet
dongling obove o pool of congeoled blood. His heod hung low, o motionless silhouette shrouded in on
ouro of uncertointy.
Combining these two situations, he couldn''t help but overthink.
"Yes!" Emory swiftly responded, "Miss Taylor, Mr. Hart, if they attempt to confiscate your phones, don''t
comply. Send a signal, and we''ll intervene immediately."
"Understood. Don''t worry, you''re all too nervous!" Lucas chimed in, considering their concerns
excessive and unwarranted.
He firmly believed that, during daylight hours, the upants wouldn''t dare resort to irrational acts.
"Mr. Hart, don''t take it lightly," Emory said. "It''s better to be safe than sorry. Just think about it, when
Miss Taylor was with you, did any danger ur? Are you afraid or not?"
Lucas fell silent.
Of course, he was afraid.
How could I not be afraid?
Setting aside potential me from his brother, the thought of his nephews learning their mother got hurt
while with him petrified him. Their perception of him would plummet.
If his sister-inw suffered, his nephews would experience heartache, perhaps even tears. He could
not ept it after imagining that his oversight would cause their pain.
Furthermore, should their grandfather learn that Lucas failed to protect his sister-inw and his
precious grandsons ended up in tears, he would certainly not escape unscathed.
He cleared his throat, asserting, "I understand. There''s no need to worry. Everything will turn out fine."
Madeline announced, "Let''s enter promptly."
Each passing minute heightened Edmund''s jeopardy.
Lucas doubted that, in broad daylight, harm would befall Edmund. Those inside wouldn''t dare cross a
line.
In his estimation, the Oasis Law Office team was overreacting, driven by unbridled concern for
Edmund.
But this was human nature. If it were his brothers who were taken away, he would definitely worry.
Regardless of whether it was good or bad, he would want to see them with his own eyes before he
could feel at ease.
He empathized with Madeline''s perspective, hastening his steps to keep pace.
The mansion boasted grandeur and extravagance, with dual entrances.
Outside, thendscape was adorned with rock formations, flowing water, pavilions, and towers, all
enveloped by an array of flourishing flowers, nts, and trees. As they ventured further, they reached
an open expanse on the east side of the main building, beneath a towering tree that held a haunting
sight—a man hung suspended from its branches.
Shirtless and marred with scars across his chest and back, he was bound to the tree by ropes, his feet
dangling above a pool of congealed blood. His head hung low, a motionless silhouette shrouded in an
aura of uncertainty.
He hung his head low, motionless, his life unknown.
Lucas couldn''t help but curse in his heart when he saw this scene.
What''s going on?
Could the person hanging be Edmund?!
The mansion''s owner must be truly unhinged. How could they dare to perpetrate such an act of
abduction and torture in broad daylight?
Madeline''s thoughts momentarily halted in the face of this grisly spectacle.
With the man''s back turned to her and his head lowered, his features eluded her view. Despite this, his
build left her with an unmistakable impression—it was Edmund.
Amid the surge of emotions within her, she charged forward, managing three swift steps that brought
her close enough to discern the man''s face.
Indeed, it is Edmund.
A woman stood not far from him.
d in form-fitting attire, she exuded height and beauty, with fair skin and lips painted a fiery hue of
red. Her gaze fixed firmly on Madeline and Lucas, a blend of pride and coldness in her expression.
Unhesitatingly, Madeline retrieved her phone and dialed a number, asserting, "Hello, I''d like to report a
crime!"
Lucas and Edmund were shocked into silence.
She initiated the report without seeking context. Is she crazy?
The woman was originally fearless and didn''t fear Madelineing to her, but when Madeline called
the police without saying a word, her arrogant and disdainful expression cracked.
The woman was about to stop her when Edmund weakly raised his head and said, "Madeline… D-
Don''t call the police..."
The woman stopped a few steps away, a mocking smile on her face.
That''s right.
Why was she in such a hurry?
Even if Madeline reported the crime, so what?
Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.
Even if the woman tortured Edmund to death, he deserved it.
Edmund was the party involved, and Madeline had to respect his opinion.
Madeline apologized to the police officer who answered the call, saying that the danger was
temporarily resolved. After receiving the understanding from the police officer, she hung up the phone.
She didn''t answer Edmund but looked at the woman. "I don''t care who you are or what reasons you
have. I demand that you immediately release Ed and let the doctor from ourw officee in to treat
him. Otherwise, even if Ed stops me, I will immediately call the police and involve them!"