chapter1183

Both of them froze, completely caught off guard.

Kylie's heart leapt into her throat as she shrieked, "Who are you?" Her voice echoed through the dark room.

Blake and Lydia hadn't turned on the lights. The only thing illuminating the space was the beam from Blake's phone. From where Kylie was standing at the doorway, with the two of them turned slightly away, it honestly looked like strangers had broken in.

The second Kylie screamed, Lydia's eyes darted to Mr. Norwood, still asleep on the bed. His brows twitched, like he was about to wake up. Panic flashed across Lydia's face. Without thinking, she struck his neck with the side of her hand. There was a soft thump, and he slumped deeper into unconsciousness.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Kylie shouted, her voice rising with each word.

Blake, seeing his grandfather was now completely out, rushed to reassure her. "Mom, it's us!"

Kylie just stared, stunned. It took her a moment to realize the figures in the room were actually Blake and Lydia.

She blinked, trying to make sense of it. Lydia? Blake? You... you two..."

Blake was supposed to be home tonight, sure, but Lydia? Wasn't she supposed to be at school? And what had she just seen?

"What did you do to your grandfather?" Kylie's voice shook a little.

Her sudden arrival had left both Blake and Lydia rattled.

"Mom, give me five minutes. I'll explain everything, I promise," Blake said, trying to calm her down.

Lydia quickly fixed the patch back onto Mr. Norwood's ankle. She checked his neck, relieved there weren't any bruises. The last thing she needed was questions about that in the morning.

Once the room looked normal again, Blake and Lydia led a still-confused Kylie out into the hallway.

Kylie had only gotten up for a glass of water. She thought she heard something coming from her father-in-law's room. Since their rooms were all close on the first floor she decided to check. She never imagined she'd walk in on something that would nearly stop her heart.

The noise woke Cameron too. He stepped out just as the three of them left Mr Norwood's room. When he saw Lydia, he blinked hard, then rubbed his eyes like he couldn't trust what he was seeing.

"Wait, Lydia? When did you get back? Weren't you supposed to be at school? What's going on?"

Kylie pulled Lydia and Blake into her

bedroom, her face serious. "What

were you two doing in your

the middle of

grandfather's room in

the night? And Lydia, why did you

knock him out?"

Kylie had always seen Lydia as the practical, reasonable one. That move just now,

quick and sharp, was so out of character it left her speechless.

Lydia could only sigh. She hadn't planned on telling them yet, but now that they'd been caught, there was no use keeping secrets.

"Mom, Dad... that man isn't our grandfather."

Both Kylie and Cameron just stared, completely floored. Their eyes went wide, like they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

What do you mean? Why wouldn't he be your grandfather? Cameron asked, almost whispering.

They spent every day with Mr. Norwood. How could he not be who they thought he was?

Blake didn't hesitate. "He's a clone."

The word landed like a bomb. Kylie and Cameron looked like they'd been struck by lightning, totally unable to process what they'd just heard.

"A... clone?" Kylie repeated, her voice barely audible.

They'd heard about clones before, sure. On TV, in movies. But real life? Was that even possible?

Lydia pulled out her phone and showed them a photo of a barcode. "This is his barcode. It has his serial number."