Rise Towards Supremeacy From A Nobody

Chapter 5: Family secret.

"Let me open the door," Emily said.

After three knocks on the door, Emily finally stood up. She didn't know who was knocking, and whoever it was, they couldn't have come at a worse time during this chaotic and private moment for her family.

Emily reached out and opened the door, raising her gaze. But as soon as she saw who it was, her expression immediately turned cold and changed.

Her first words were not a greeting or an invitation into the house, as she had imagined in her head. Instead, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

It was Edward who had arrived, someone who was not welcomed in this house. And Emily's words also notified the other three people inside the house of his presence.

Edward glanced inside the house that had once been so familiar to him, where he had lived from birth until eight. It has changed significantly, with luxurious and eye-catching decorations, and even the people living within it have changed.

Yes, he carried the Sherwood name and was also one of the "members" of this house. The man, Mr. Sherwood, was his father, whom he believed had failed in his own life.

Edward had once had a happy family, or at least he thought so. But then the conflicts started to arise within his family, silent disputes that he was too young to understand at the time, or perhaps because of his mother's protection, he still believed that his family could be repaired, that it could continue as it had before.

But no, on a day like any other, when Edward returned home from school, he suddenly saw unfamiliar people in his house, a wealthy-looking woman adorned with expensive jewelry, a face carefully made up with a contemptuous expression.

She was accompanied by a girl about Edward's age, Emily. Kate, the woman who had left her husband, was now with them.

But perhaps because she was wealthier than his mother because she was younger and more alluring, his father had chosen her and kicked Edward and his mother out of the house, despite her pleading and tears.

Since then, his mother had worked tirelessly, doing whatever she could to support him to ensure proper meals and education. And now, she was bedridden, motionless on a cold bed, while Edward couldn't even afford the medical expenses for her.

Edward clenched his hands tightly, filled with self-hatred. The current thoughts running through Edward's mind could encompass all the painful days and months he had experienced, but for others, it might just be five fleeting seconds. Or for the people standing in front of him now, they might not even notice because... they were probably living blissfully after driving him and his mother out of their lives.

And his father, the despicable man who looked down on him, was Edward's last choice.

At that moment, Mrs. Sherwood suddenly stood up, glaring at Edward with intense hostility. It seemed as if she wished she could come forward and drive him away with her own hands.

"Hey, Emily, why are you still standing there? Quickly close the door. Our house doesn't welcome trash like him."

Mrs. Sherwood harbored animosity towards Edward and his mother, even though she had everything now. But deep within her soul, perhaps it was the soul of a true woman, a pure and untainted woman; she still feared that one day Edward and his mother would return and take everything away from her. Her family, husband, company, and everything she had built.

She was also afraid that Edward would come and devour the wealth of her son and daughter. She absolutely would not allow this to happen.

Upon hearing her mother's words, Emily immediately wanted to push the door and drive Edward away. But regardless, he was a grown man, and his strength was enough to overpower a girl like Emily. Edward pushed the door open and looked at Mr. Sherwood with a pleading gaze.

"Father, I have something to say."

But Mr. Sherwood didn't even spare a glance for Edward. He feared Edward would come to him for help, take his money, and seize his assets. That was the truth. And it couldn't be denied that Mr. Sherwood also had a dark side within him. He didn't dare to face Sherwood; one could even say he was scared and ashamed, but he didn't want to acknowledge those feelings. That's why he didn't want to see Edward dismissing him like a dirty demon.

"But I have nothing to say to you, and we've already ended it. Leave!"

Mr. Sherwood waved his hand as if shooing away a stray dog begging for food at a group of men's drinking tables.

At that moment, Jasper laughed scornfully.

"So you still dare to show up here? I thought by now you would be hiding inside because you no longer have a face to meet anyone. It's truly unbelievable that someone as perverted as you could exist. Are you peeping into the women's restroom, huh? You've become so pathetic that no girl wants to love you, so you've stooped to voyeurism, huh? Are you so desperate for a girl?"

Jasper's mention of the school incident weighed heavily on Edward's psyche, causing him to become even more frustrated. Indeed, it wasn't just Jasper but everyone else who knew about his situation. Edward's classmate, Emily, would share the news with others.

His pain was this family's delight.

"That's right, haha! What are you doing here? Don't infect us with your filth and perversions. Leave and never show your face here again. I fear others will spread rumors about you being part of this family. It's horrifying to even think about," Mrs. Sherwood laughed loudly, approaching Edward with a broom as if trying to chase him away.

At the same time, Emily added, "You'll probably get expelled soon. Your incident has spread all over the school forum. I bet your face must be as thick as three cutting boards for you to dare show up now."

Despite feeling the pain, Edward remained calm and didn't attempt to argue with them. He stared intently at his father. His gaze was complex, and to say he wasn't heartbroken would be a lie. But he thought of his mother more, the image of her lying in the hospital bed weighing heavily on his heart.

"Father, I truly didn't want to bother you and your family, but I have something important to say," Edward spoke, his attitude firm as he held the door tightly.

Seeing Edward's demeanor and determination to stay put, the others couldn't force him to leave. This was a wealthy neighborhood, and they valued civility. Mrs. Sherwood wanted to avoid becoming the subject of gossip among the neighbors. She sat down and exchanged a glance with her husband, who looked unsure as if seeking her approval. And at that moment, Mrs. Sherwood lifted her chin, signaling her husband to comply with her wishes.

"Babble; finish it so you can leave," she commanded.

"Father, my mother is sick. Right now, I need money. To have her undergo surgery, we require two hundred thousand USD. If not, she won't make it. I don't want to beg you, I want to borrow from you, and I will repay it. I won't take anything that belongs to you. But I hope you can have some compassion. She was your wife..." Edward explained, knowing that this matter seemed difficult. At times, he wondered if the possibility of success was on his way here. But now, he had no other choice. Even though it seemed fragile, he had to try it—any chance.

As Edward had predicted in his thoughts, before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Sherwood directly interrupted him, "What? Are you joking with me? Tell me, what will you do to repay the debt? Please, have a clearer understanding of yourself. 200,000 USD may not be significant to me, but it's beyond your control, and I doubt you can repay it. What are your plans? Will you sell yourself to pay off the debt? Or work as a janitor?"

At this moment, both Jasper and Emily burst into laughter.

"It's ridiculous. Leave quickly. We don't have that kind of relationship anymore. A clean break is better than a messy breakfast."

"That's right, leave quickly. Our family doesn't have extra money. We would rather do charity work than give it to you, you pervert. If you truly care about your mother, why didn't you go to work when you engaged in such deviant behavior? Instead of being here now, begging like this."

Edward kept his head down and remained silent, trying to endure the insults as they pierced his chest like endless knives, causing him unbearable pain.

"Father..." Edward wanted to express his feelings to his father, but he was interrupted without sympathy. Edward felt pushed to a dead end at this moment, and he knelt down.

Mr. Sherwood, Emily, and Jasper were startled, surprised, and panicked. They could never have imagined that Edward would do such a thing.

"Hey..."

"Father, I have never asked you for anything in the past ten years. When my mother and I left, we took nothing with us. I have never disturbed your life or demanded any obligations from you. But this is the first and last time I come here to beg you. I will definitely repay you twice, thrice the amount. But my mother is currently in critical condition, and this money is significant to me."

However, something strange happened. Mrs. Sherwood remained silent, her gaze fixed on an unfixed point as if contemplating something distant, unaffected by the noise around her. Her eyes wandered back and forth as if pondering something profound. And at that moment, she suddenly raised her head, then pulled Mr. Sherwood's sleeve, causing him to startle and transform from a growling tiger to a startled puppy. And at that moment, Mrs. Sherwood suddenly burst into a wide smile.

"We can discuss this matter further."

The sudden change in Mrs. Sherwood's attitude surprised everyone, including Mr. Sherwood, who didn't understand what was happening. But, of course, he obeyed his wife and didn't offer any resistance or questions. The two of them went inside and had a conversation.

Meanwhile, Edward stood outside, abandoning all his dignity and self-respect for the first time. But Edward didn't care; he wanted his mother to stay alive.

Just then, Jasper suddenly approached and kicked Edward's leg.

"You wretch, if my father and mother agree to help you, would you dare to accept it? Oh, indeed, there are all kinds of people in this world. Sister, quickly throw him out; he's truly irritating."

Emily also felt intense hatred.

"Perhaps he doesn't feel any shame because he has nothing left to lose. A person who lives at the bottom of society."

After a long while, the door opened, and Mr. Sherwood stepped out. A serious expression on his face made Edward worried. Edward's father and stepmother stood before him, and his father spoke with a sympathetic but firm tone, "Son, we have considered and discussed the situation. Although we don't fully agree with what happened, your mother needs medical help. We will provide some money to cover the surgical expenses."

Edward couldn't believe his ears when he heard this. His heart felt like it had been released from the burden of failure and despair.

"Is it... really?"