After hearing what Carlos said, the Stones also spoke up. “Yes, Maddy, just return to the family. Carlos only spoke in anger previously. You two are father and daughter. There’s no feud that you can’t resolve!”

“That’s right! Maddy, quickly come back to the family. You carry the blood of the Stones, and no matter what, you’re one of us! Please forgive Carlos!”

“Maddy, the Stones need you, and you need the Stones too, don’t you? Just stay with us, and we can take it that nothing has happened. When you come back, you will be the next helmsman!”

…

The Stones persuaded her one after another.

But they had forgotten that Geoffrey, the former helmsman, had once wanted to hand over the position of helmsman to Maddy. Since she had turned it down then, she wouldn’t accept it now.

Besides, after seeing their shifting attitudes today, Maddy couldn’t stand their coldbloodedness and heartlessness, as well as how they only cared about pros and cons.

Maddy felt that she didn’t have the ability to return home and plan for the interests of these people so that they could lead a better life!

“You don’t have to say anymore!

“That’s not what you said earlier when you thought I brought disaster to the family! At the time, did it occur to any of you that I’m a family member of yours?

“In fact, before this, you even wanted to tie me up and hand me over to the Bransons or force me to marry Cody Williams!

“If I didn’t have anyone to help me and was just a woman with nothing, would you still let me return to the family? I’m afraid you would have asked me to apologize with my death, lest I implicate you.”

Maddy looked at her former family members contemptuously. “So, stop acting like you care about and not your own interests! From now on, I will have nothing to do with the Stones!”

With that, Maddy took Jordan’s hand and left the Stone residence with Lucas, not looking back at all.

The Stones were red with embarrassment.

But when they saw that Maddy had really left and had no intention of returning, they panicked again.

“No, Carlos, you can’t just let Maddy go! If she doesn’t return to the Stones, what will happen to us?”

“Yeah, Carlos, Maddy is your daughter. If you beg for mercy, she might relent and agree to come back!”

“Maddy has such powerful connections now. Not only is she the goddaughter of Florence, the helmsman of the Howards, one of the eight top families of DC, but her fiancé and Lucas Gray don’t have simple identities either. If Maddy comes home, the Stones might become one of the top families!”

“Carlos, no matter what, you have to get Maddy to return. Otherwise, the Stones will lose a rare opportunity to ascend to greater heights!”

…

The Stones surrounded Carlos and kept talking. They could only see the benefits that Maddy could bring to the Stones now. Many of them had even thought of how the Stones could become one of the eight top families in DC in the future.

Carlos shut his eyes tightly and suddenly shouted, “Shut up!”

Everyone was shocked and immediately shut their mouths.

Carlos looked at the people surrounding him and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of fatigue and misery.

No matter what, Maddy was Carlos’s daughter, who he had raised for nearly thirty years. He did feel some affection for her, but he had no choice but to kick her out in order to save the family.

But it was because he didn’t know that Maddy had such powerful connections.

If he had known, he wouldn’t have chosen to do this!

So now, Carlos could only bitterly accept the fact that Maddy hated him.

Furthermore, Carlos understood Maddy’s personality. She was as stubborn as her grandfather. He knew that she would never agree to return to the Stones even if he begged her.

At this moment, a member of the Stones suddenly thought of something and hurriedly said, “Carlos, Maddy has always been close to Geoffrey. If we can persuade him to come back and then convince him to persuade her, she’ll definitely give in!”

Seemingly enlightened, Carlos’s eyes immediately lit up. “Yes! Maddy has always been close to her grandfather since she was a child. If Father comes back, he’ll definitely be able to convince her!”

The other members nodded in agreement. “Yes, Uncle Geoffrey is most concerned about the development of the family. I’m sure if he knows that we have an opportunity to soar to glory now, he’ll definitely come back! As long as we can convince him, we can convince Maddy!”

“But… Geoffrey… where is he now?” a Stone suddenly asked.

After hearing this question, all the Stones fell into a deafening silence.

They all knew that Geoffrey had left the Stones, but none of them had bothered to find out where he went.

At this moment, immense guilt welled up in Carlos’s heart, and he wished he could slap himself.

His father, Geoffrey, was already 73 years old this year. Yet he had left his family in disappointment, while Carlos, his only son, showed no concern at all. He didn’t even send someone to escort Geoffrey. So now, he didn’t know where Geoffrey went!

He was a failure of a son!

“Send people to look for him immediately! No matter what, we must find his whereabouts!” Carlos roared with clenched fists.

With his order, all the Stones took action and began to search all over DC for Geoffrey’s whereabouts.

…

At this moment, in a small courtyard of a house on the outskirts of DC, far away from the bustling city…

Geoffrey, whom the Stones were searching high and low in the city for, was sitting in this small courtyard and focused on tending to a small vegetable garden.

There wasn’t the slightest tinge of sadness on his face, only a sense of relief, as if a huge burden had finally been lifted.

“Indeed, I should have come here a long time ago.”

After tidying up the small vegetable garden, Geoffrey wiped away the sweat on his forehead, feeling satisfied and relaxed.

This feeling was something he had never felt since he became the helmsman of the Stones decades ago.

“Grandpa, I’m here to see you!”

A clear voice suddenly came from outside the small courtyard, followed by a smiling face appearing in front of Geoffrey.