Chapter 8 Your Daughter
The troublemakers, seeing they could not win, ran away fast, completely losing the arrogance they had just shown when demanding protection money.
Neighbors and locals gathered around sevens and eights.
“When will this ever end?”
“I want to know too. We reported them to the police, they got locked up for a few days and then they’re back to their mischief. We can’t do anything about these hoodlums!”
“The demolition is coming soon; just bear with it. Once we leave here, it’ll be over.”
“Jefferson, you’re still bleeding from that wound; you should go to the hospital and get it checked out.”
Jefferson shook his head. “It’s fine. You guys go back first and see if there’s anything wrong at home.”
An elderly lady said, “Alright, we’ll go to the clinic and have a doctor come and bandage it for you.”
“Thanks so much for stepping in this time, Jefferson…”
Jefferson smiled. “Don’t mention it.”
Jefferson coldly but politely calmed down the group of neighbors; his indifferent demeanor strangely reminded Edie of herself.
Edie came forward and called out, “Mom.”
Madeline was stunned for a moment when she saw Edie, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “Edie… Hi, what brings you here?”
Edie answered, “Sorry, Mom. I’ve been busy lately; the hospital just approved my leave.”
This was actually the first time Madeline spoke to Edie. During their first meeting, Clay and Violet chased her away before they could even talk, and she only got a distant look at Edie and thought Edie looked quite cold and aloof.
After all, Edie had been a rich young lady for over twenty years. Madeline never thought she would care about her or this place.
Seeing her now, speaking politely and gently, Madeline felt somewhat at a loss. She said, “This is Jefferson, your brother.”
Edie showed a smile. “Let’s go back and bandage that wound first, Jefferson. It looks pretty serious.”
Jefferson hadn’t said a word; his face speckled wills blood, looking unusually stern and Successfully unlocked! quite intimidating with that expre
Edie added, “Do we have bandages and alcohol at home?”
Madeline nodded. “Yes, yes, I’ll go get them.”
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Chapter 8 Your Daughter
Jefferson refused. “No need; I can do it myself.”
Madeline brought the bandages and alcohol. “Your wound is on your back; how are you going to manage it yourself?”
Jefferson retorted, “I’m not worthy of the attention of such a fine lady. If she really cared about us, would she have come now?”
Madeline awkwardly smiled at Edie, afraid she might be upset, and slapped Jefferson’s arm. “What are you fussing about? Edie is a doctor; she’s been busy because of Eliza’s issues, she’s not just idle.”
Jefferson wanted to say something else, but seeing Edie’s white coat that she hadn’t had a chance to change out of yet, he swallowed his words and said nothing more.
Edie didn’t mind; she hadn’t expected the Lane family to treat her like family after not seeing each other for over twenty years.
While cleaning Jefferson’s wound, Edie said, “Mom, I have a three–bedroom apartment, just renovated. It’s close to where you work, too. How about you and Jefferson consider moving in with me?”
Madeline felt awkward. “I have lived in this place for over thirty years, and it’s not easy for me to move suddenly. Besides, there is still some time before the demolition.”
Edie added, “I just think it’s not convenient to live here at all. I asked around and found out that there’s construction going on all around, and you often have water and electricity cuts. Mom, I’m your daughter, so you don’t need to feel awkward about it.”
Madeline thought about the security issues here. “Well… let me think about it…”
After cleaning the wound, while Edie was in the middle of bandaging it, the neighbors led a clinic doctor over.
“Right here! His wound is long; it was cut by a knife.”
“It’s still bleeding. Sir, please hurry.”
The doctor, hurried along by the group, arrived at Edie’s house only to find that
Jefferson’s wound had already been bandaged. His face darkened. “Who bandaged it?
Wasn’t the wound pretty serious? Don’t they know it needs disinfecting?”
