CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: RACHEL SHAW IS ACQUITTED, IVY SUMMERS CAN’T BRING HER DOWN?

When Ivy Summers finished speaking, Damien Lancaster’s heart twinged, and his deep-set eyes stared straight at Ivy Summers.

Seraphina Kennedy was dazed for a moment before she reacted, glaring at Ivy, "What nonsense are you spouting? Are you cursing the future children of the Lancaster Family? What are your intentions?"

Even saying something about their own children is not allowed, let alone causing harm.

They just didn’t feel the pain because the knife wasn’t cutting into their own flesh.

Ivy Summers let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

At this moment, she imagined what their expressions would be like if one day they discovered that the person they trusted the most had hurt the child they cherished the most.

It would surely be a sight to behold.

Ivy Summers said nothing more and turned to leave.

Seraphina Kennedy was still shouting behind her, "Why is she laughing? Is she mocking us?"

Damien Lancaster’s lips were tightly pressed, and there was an enigmatic emotion in his eyes.

Rachel Shaw had been caught, and Ivy Summers felt a bit better and told Sophie and the others about it.

It was then that Sophie remembered who the voice sounded like.

It sounded like Rachel Shaw.

"Mommy, the voice of the person talking to those people sounded like the bad auntie."

In fact, Ivy Summers had guessed it. When Sophie said she heard a familiar voice, Ivy had already guessed.

But guesses can’t be considered evidence, so she didn’t mention it in front of the police.

"Now that there’s solid evidence, Rachel Shaw is getting what she deserves," Ella Morgan said happily, "Ivy, once Sophie gets better, let’s pack up and return to Yrador. I think Noah Scott came over this time to take you back."

"Mm."

Returning is only natural.

"What’s wrong? You still look so preoccupied."

Ivy Summers couldn’t quite put her finger on it; she just felt things weren’t that simple.

Rachel Shaw is backed by the Shaw Family, and the Lancaster Family also considered Rachel as their future daughter-in-law, they wouldn’t just stand by.

If the Shaw and Lancaster families joined forces to protect Rachel Shaw, it’s possible they might find other evidence or a scapegoat to take all of Rachel Shaw’s charges.

If that happens, then Rachel Shaw would get off scot-free.

Ivy Summers lowered her head and rubbed her temples, "It just feels like it won’t be that easy."

"Don’t overthink it, both kidnappers pointed out Rachel Shaw themselves, there’s no escaping for her."

"Let’s hope so."

...

At this moment, Damien Lancaster sat alone in the car. It was quiet inside, and as he lowered his head, he saw a piece of candy on the seat.

It was candy he had bought for Sophie, likely fallen out of the bag.

Damien picked it up; the beautiful candy wrapper shimmered in the sunlight, and the candy inside was crystal clear.

He held the candy in his hand, lost in thought.

After a while, he leaned back and slowly closed his eyes, as if peacefully napping, but countless images flooded his mind.

Sophie’s urgent "Mommy."

Ivy Summers risking her life to save Sophie.

Seraphina Kennedy mentioning Ivy and Sophie’s similar birthmarks.

Lastly, a paternity test stating there was no blood relationship.

Damien Lancaster was deep in emotion, unconsciously frowning.

The window was tapped lightly, pulling Damien back to reality. He slowly opened his eyes and lowered the car window.

Julian Jacobs was outside, saying, "Sir, we found out that the man who rescued Miss Summers last night is named Noah Scott. He’s the big boss behind an auction house in Yrador, also Miss Summers’ boss, with no special relationship between them."

"Is that all?"

"That’s all."

No special relationship? Just an employer and employee?

How could that be?

As a fellow man, Damien could see Noah Scott’s feelings toward Ivy Summers.

Ivy Summers also trusted him deeply, their relationship couldn’t be just employer and employee.

"What about the other matter?"

"Also, the people who kidnapped Sophie were habitual traffickers, with numerous cases over the years, and the police have been hunting them."

Damien Lancaster squinted, "So the kidnapping of Sophie might not have been a specific target; she might have just been unlucky and caught their eye."

"Yes, I asked the police, these criminals’ methods are very similar; they would go to neighborhoods, schools, parks, playgrounds where children often appear, disguise themselves, wait for people to relax their guard, destroy surveillance when the time is right, and take the children away without a trace; by the time people realize, they’ve long escaped with the child."

Damien Lancaster frowned, deep suspicion in his dark eyes.

Setting aside other factors, how could Rachel Shaw, a lady from the Shaw Family, know people like this? It doesn’t make sense.

"Sir, Miss Shaw is still at the police station, do you intend to save her?"

"No, let the police continue investigating, and you keep on with your investigation too."

Julian Jacobs couldn’t quite grasp what Damien Lancaster intended, unsure whether Damien wanted to save Rachel Shaw.

...

At the Shaw Family residence.

Penelope Page paced anxiously in the living room.

Phillip Shaw, however, didn’t seem worried.

"Old Man Shaw, you must think of a way quickly, Rachel has been taken to the police station now."

"What are you afraid of? It’s just for a cooperation in the investigation."

Penelope Page came to his side and lowered her voice, "You and I both know that Rachel did this. Now that she’s been implicated by those people, how can I not be worried?"

"I have my own ways."

"You have a way to save Rachel? Then why aren’t you going right away?"

"Don’t worry, without physical evidence, they can’t convict Rachel."

"I want more than just avoiding a conviction. Rachel is going to marry Damien; she can’t have any stains on her reputation."

"I know, she’s my daughter, and naturally, I will think everything through for her."

Phillip Shaw wore an inscrutable expression.

At this moment, Rachel Shaw was in the police station, staring straight at the officer in front of her.

"I’ll say it again, I don’t know those people at all, and I haven’t done anything. As for why they were on our family’s boat, I don’t know either. After all, the boat is docked there, and I can’t be there watching all the time. There’s a captain on the boat; if you want to know what happened, go find the captain."

"We’ve already brought the captain in for questioning, and we’re investigating. But the kidnappers say you instructed them. How do you explain that?"

Rachel insisted, "My explanation is that I don’t know them. I don’t know why they would throw dirt on me. You can investigate; I have no grudge against that child. What motive would I have to harm her?"

The two interrogating officers exchanged a glance. A police officer outside walked in and whispered something in their ears.

They glanced at Rachel Shaw, and the three of them walked out together.

Rachel pressed her lips tightly, lowered her head in tension, took a deep breath, and maintained a façade of calm.

...

That evening, the police called Ivy Summers, asking her to come to the police station.

Ivy had a bad premonition but went with Ella Morgan anyway.

Just as they got out of the car, they saw someone walking elegantly out of the police station.

It was Rachel Shaw.

She looked like she had just gone to the station for a cup of tea, calm and composed, smiling as she walked out.

The Shaw Family made a grand spectacle, sending five luxury cars to pick her up, parked neatly at the station entrance, appearing particularly impressive, like welcoming a victorious general.

Just then, another Maybach pulled up beside them.

Ivy looked and instantly recognized Damien Lancaster’s car.

The car door opened, and Damien stepped out in a black shirt, accompanied by Seraphina Kennedy, who stepped forward to congratulate Rachel Shaw on her "victory."

Although Damien didn’t step forward, he leaned against the car, watching quietly.

Ivy could not see his expression.

But she could imagine that he must be the happiest person there.

Ivy clenched her fists; the situation had unfolded exactly as she had anticipated.

The collaboration of the Shaw Family and the Lancaster Family meant that Rachel Shaw was unscathed.

It seemed Damien noticed her; he suddenly turned back.

Separated by four or five meters, their gazes met unprepared.

In the dim light, Ivy saw the man’s well-shaped eyebrows furrow slightly, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Ivy sneered, "Blind and heartless."

"Damien," Rachel Shaw also saw Ivy, deliberately went to Damien’s side, hooked his arm, and looked up at him, "Thank you and your mother for coming to pick me up."

Rachel showed a sweet smile.

"Cleared of all charges," with parents and a lover by her side, she was exceedingly pleased.

"This bitch." Ella Morgan took a step forward, but Ivy held her back.

The Shaw Family came with people, and it was the police station entrance; going up to confront them wouldn’t do any good and they wouldn’t gain any advantage in a clash.

Ella looked back, unwilling, at Ivy, "You really nailed it; there’s not a single decent person in either the Shaw Family or the Lancaster Family."

Ivy murmured, "Power really is a wonderful thing."

Ivy and Ella entered the police station, and Ivy listened to the police explain a lot, finally summarizing four points:

One, those three people were originally human traffickers being hunted by the police; Sophie wasn’t the first child they took, so the possibility of them being instructed could be ruled out.

Two, the police didn’t find any other evidence proving Rachel Shaw was involved, and Rachel had no motive to harm the child.

Three, the Shaw family’s ship was docked there, and after investigation, the three kidnappers had commandeered the captain. The captain had no choice but to set sail, which the captured two admitted.

Four, finally, those two began to ramble, not only saying Rachel Shaw instructed them but also naming others. The police found their statements to be unreliable ramblings, and coupled with the above three points, the initial testimony against Rachel became untrustworthy.

Effectively, it was a retraction of their confession.

In summary, no physical evidence was found, no motive was apparent, and the perpetrator’s confession was retracted. Ultimately, there was no way to prove Rachel Shaw’s involvement.

As Ivy Summers walked out of the police station, she felt an icy chill all over, a breath caught in her throat, stuck halfway, making her extremely uncomfortable.

"I’m so furious, the enemy is right in front of us, yet we can’t do anything."

Ella Morgan ground her teeth in anger.

Rachel Shaw even threw a triumphant smile at them before leaving.

It was simply infuriating.

Ivy said nothing and walked away.

Ella returned home, and Ivy went to the hospital.

That night, Ivy sat next to the sleeping Sophie all night.

For a moment, Ivy wondered, if she told Damien the child’s secret, would Damien be able to protect these kids from harm?