CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: HE KNEELS, ONLY TO ATONE

Damien Lancaster is a proud man, and making him kneel at the gates is undoubtedly a huge humiliation.

Moreover, he is the CEO of the Lancaster Group, a man who has long held a high position, and now he is forced to be humble as mud.

Old Master Sterling is making things difficult for him.

Of course, Ivy Summers does not feel sorry for him.

He deserves it.

Ivy Summers believes that Damien Lancaster will not agree.

She and Sophie are naturally no match for his dignity.

However, before her thoughts could settle, she already heard a voice in her ear: "Alright."

Damien Lancaster lifted his head, his eyes deep and determined, "I’ve done it, can I bring my wife and daughter home?"

"No, it depends on whether they forgive you, whether they are willing to go with you."

Kneeling is your business, leaving is theirs.

"Alright."

Ivy Summers furrowed her eyebrows.

That Damien Lancaster would truly agree was indeed beyond her expectations.

Three days, at the gates, where everyone could see.

For a proud man like Damien Lancaster to be willing, it was completely unexpected.

Without saying much, Damien Lancaster glanced at Ivy Summers and Sophie, then turned and walked out.

Ivy Summers frowned tightly.

"Does your heart ache?"

Old Master Sterling looked at Ivy Summers and asked.

Ivy Summers pressed her lips, "No."

"Child, never feel sorry for a man who has hurt you. You must always and steadfastly love yourself."

Ivy Summers felt a sourness in her nose; no one had ever said such words to her before.

’You must always and steadfastly love yourself.’

No one is more important than yourself.

Ivy Summers lowered her head chokingly, "Thank you, Old Mr. Sterling."

Old Master Sterling shook his head, "I’m just speaking from experience, hoping you won’t follow my daughter’s old path."

"Your daughter before..."

"Miss Summers!" Tristan Sterling stepped forward, wanting to stop Ivy Summers from bringing it up.

But Old Master Sterling raised his hand, indicating it was fine.

"My daughter was hurt by a man back then, but she still loved him very much. When I didn’t allow her to be with that man, she broke ties with me and left with him..."

Speaking of the last few words, the old master’s voice became hoarse.

Ivy Summers’ heart trembled, never thinking that this was how the eldest daughter of the Sterling Family disappeared back then.

"And then what happened?"

"After that, she never came back. Until now, I don’t know if she’s alive or dead..."

Ivy Summers saw the old master, who was just stern moments ago, now with reddened eyes.

The surrounding Sinclair Family members looked at the old master in shock. Whenever Kyle Sterling brought up this topic, the old master would get angry.

Yet now, he was talking about it with a stranger.

What magic did this woman have?

Old Master Sterling himself didn’t know why he repeatedly brought up the pain buried in his heart for years to a stranger.

Ivy Summers said, "She must be alive. I believe your daughter will be as lucky as Sophie."

"Really?" The old master was in tears, "If she’s still alive, why hasn’t she come back all these years? Has she forgotten me, her father? Or is she unwilling to forgive me?"

Ivy Summers shook her head, "No, you love her so much, how could she bear to forget you. Maybe she’s just held back by something, and maybe one day she’ll come back."

The old master lowered his head, knowing the chances were slim, but if he could see his daughter once more in this lifetime, he would die without regret.

"Thank you for comforting me. You’re the first one to dare talk to me about her after so many years since she left." Old Master Sterling looked up at the young girl in front of him, "Actually, you somewhat resemble my daughter in looks."

"It’s my honor."

Ivy Summers looked at Sophie.

"Old Mr. Sterling, thank you again for saving Sophie. I want to take Sophie back today, is that okay?"

"No, you and Sophie have to stay here with me. When you’re willing to forgive Damien Lancaster, you can go back with him."

"Are you serious?"

Ivy Summers thought that Old Master Sterling did that just because he had a grudge against the Lancaster Family and wanted to use this to teach Damien Lancaster a lesson.

She didn’t expect that Old Master Sterling truly wanted them to stay.

"Of course I’m serious. Do you have something urgent to leave?"

"Not really."

"Then stay with Sophie and enjoy a few days here as a vacation."

Ivy Summers felt this wasn’t very appropriate.

They had taken care of Sophie for almost a month now, and now she’s staying too. What was that supposed to be?

"Old Mr. Sterling..."

"Just listen to him." Tristan Sterling stepped forward, standing beside Ivy Summers, "The old man is getting more stubborn with age. If he wants to keep you, and you don’t stay, he won’t be able to sleep at night."

"Yes, I can’t sleep, insomnia." Old Master Sterling nodded.

Ivy Summers was helpless. Sophie tugged at her hand, "Mommy, Sophie doesn’t want to leave..."

Kyle Sterling stepped forward and picked up Sophie, "Little mute, you haven’t wasted my affection for you."

Ivy Summers couldn’t refuse, "Alright, then we’ll impose."

"You’re not imposing. Our Sterling Family is lively, unlike their Lancaster Family, all gloomy; that old bastard Lancaster is still in the hospital, right?"

"Old bastard?" Ivy Summers’ mouth twitched slightly. It was clear that the relations between the Sterling Family and the Lancaster Family were really bad, "Grandfather is still in the hospital."

"He deserves it."

Ivy Summers, "..."

Outside.

Damien Lancaster knelt straight down at The Sterling Gates.

The guests hadn’t left yet, and upon seeing this scene, they were all dumbfounded.

No one knew what had happened.

They just saw the most unapproachable person in Aethelgard, his dark eyes lowered, back straight as he knelt there.

"Oh my god, what’s Young Master Lancaster doing?"

"I don’t know, what happened?"

"Has Young Master Lancaster offended the Sterling Family? Why is he kneeling?"

"Even if Young Master Lancaster did offend the Sterling Family, he’s not the type to be overpowered. How could he kneel? There must be something else going on."

"What could be so important that it’s worth Young Master Lancaster kneeling? Let’s not get too outrageous."

"It must be a big deal! A monumental affair!"

"I think so too. Could it be that Aethelgard is about to change?"

Everyone speculated for a while but couldn’t make any sense of it.

The conclusion they reached was that Aethelgard was about to change!

Ivy Summers stood by the window with Sophie, looking outside, though from this angle, she couldn’t see Damien Lancaster.

But Ivy saw everyone looking in the direction of the entrance, exclaiming in surprise.

So, Damien Lancaster really knelt!

That proud and noble man was really kneeling in full view.

Was it just to ask her and Sophie to come back?

Since when did she and Sophie become so important in his heart?

On second thought, it’s just guilt.

Sophie’s near-death experience was caused by him; he felt guilty towards Sophie.

Sophie tugged at Ivy Summers’ hand, looking up with a conflicted little face.

Ivy squatted down, "What’s wrong, Sophie?"

Sophie pointed outside, signaling her to look at Damien Lancaster.

Ivy gently stroked Sophie’s head, "Do you feel sorry for him?"

Sophie shook her head.

"Do you want to forgive him, Sophie?"

Sophie shook her head again.

Ivy looked at the usually silent Sophie, feeling sorry, and held her tightly in her arms.

"Sophie will get better, and Mommy will be with you to get better."

"She’s much better now," Tristan Sterling approached, speaking gently, "When she first woke up, she could only say five words. Can you guess what they were?"

Ivy lifted her eyes, "I want to find Mommy?"

"Damien Lancaster, Daddy!"

Ivy was surprised, "Sophie only remembers Damien Lancaster?"

"Yes."

Ivy smiled bitterly, "Then why didn’t Sophie recognize Damien Lancaster just now?"

"You’ll have to ask Sophie about that. Before we left, she was still clamoring to find Damien Lancaster."

Ivy realized something must have happened in between, let go of Sophie, and asked patiently, "Sophie, when Rachel Shaw took you out, what did she do?"

Sophie blinked, saying nothing.

"Sophie’s like this now; if she doesn’t want to talk, she just won’t speak," Tristan Sterling explained.

Ivy knew Rachel Shaw wouldn’t say anything good.

She didn’t force Sophie to speak, holding her and patting her back, "Sophie, that woman is bad. Next time you see her, stay far away, okay?"

Sophie nodded.

Tristan looked outside, "It’s the first time I’ve seen the famous Damien Lancaster willing to bend his knee. He cares about you two."

"It’s guilt, that’s all."

"I’m curious, will you forgive him?"

"Such a ploy doesn’t work on me," Ivy said, carrying Sophie away.

Tristan found the couple quite interesting.

...

The night deepened, and the guests gradually left.

Damien Lancaster’s posture didn’t change; he continued kneeling there like a statue.

And the guests, upon seeing him, didn’t dare stand in front of him, taking a long detour around him as they left.

Zachary Lancaster thought his brother had gone mad.

On the day of the funeral, Ivy Summers went mad, and after she was done, it was Damien Lancaster’s turn to go mad.

"Brother, why are you doing this?"

"Go away."

"To make Ivy Summers come back? Is it worth it for a woman?"

"It’s worth it."

Damien Lancaster had not a moment of hesitation.

After all, it was his fault to begin with.

He kneels, not to anyone, but in penance.

Zachary Lancaster had a headache.

He had once advised Damien to seek forgiveness with humility.

Damien told him to scram.

Now, it’s come to this.

He’s learned to bend and yield now.

A few daring reporters hid on the side, secretly taking photos.

Zachary gave them a cold glare, "What are you snapping for? Never seen a man seeking forgiveness in vain? Scram!"

The chill from the man was too intense, and under his shout, all the reporters ran off scared.

Zachary knew he couldn’t dissuade Damien, so he could only go back first.

It was unclear how long he had been kneeling when it began to rain.

Torrential rain poured down, soaking Damien completely.

However, Damien kept his head down, his face void of any expression.

He lifted his head, looking forward.

Across the distance, it seemed as if he was staring at someone.

Watching the downpour outside, Ivy Summers’ delicate eyelashes trembled gently. She could see the figure at the entrance still kneeling there, unmoved by the storm.

He wouldn’t leave now.

But Ivy didn’t believe he could withstand kneeling for three days.

Sophie, standing by Ivy’s side, suddenly ran to grab an umbrella, handing it to Ivy.

Ivy looked down, puzzled, "Sophie, do you want to take an umbrella to him?"