Chapter 531 Shocked
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 the law 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 not comfortable with me coming 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 young lady."
He sidestepped Madeline and her companions, placing a call.
After a short delay, he returned, relaying, "Our young lady 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 accompany 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 explain it to the Young Master."
Lucas contributed, "I'll accompany 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 of communication 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 occuponts 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 occur? 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 occept 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 occupants 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 occur? Are you afraid or not?"
Lucas fell silent.
Of course, he was afraid.
How could I not be afraid?
Setting aside potential blame 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-in-law suffered, his nephews would experience heartache, perhaps even tears. He could
not accept it after imagining that his oversight would cause their pain.
Furthermore, should their grandfather learn that Lucas failed to protect his sister-in-law 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, the landscape was adorned with rock formations, flowing water, pavilions, and towers, all enveloped by an array of flourishing flowers, plants, 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? NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
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.
Clad 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 Madeline coming 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?
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 our law office come in to treat him. Otherwise, even if Ed stops me, I will immediately call the police and involve them!"