chapter342

What on earth was going on here?

"Grace!" Lucinda's voice was sharp with shock.

Grace hit the ground hard, landing flat on her back, arms and legs splayed out. Her head was spinning, her vision blurred with black spots, and everything hurt so much she almost couldn't tell what part of her body belonged to her anymore.

Lucinda forgot all about her own burned skin and aching foot. She turned to the nearby maids, who were frozen in place. "What are you waiting for? Help Grace up, now!"

Tina didn't move a muscle, and neither did the maids loyal to her. Only Grace's own maids snapped out of it and hurried over, trying to lift her gently.

"Ow, watch it! Easy!" Grace yelped, feeling like her bones might actually fall apart.

"Grace, are you alright?" Lucinda asked, still reeling. She hadn't expected things to go so wrong. The cup had landed on her foot, but it was Grace who had ended up on the floor.

"Ow... Lucinda, I-ouch!" Grace's face twisted in pain. For a second, she'd honestly thought she might die from that fall. "I'm okay. But are you? Did you get burned?"

Only then did Lucinda feel the burning sting on her stomach and thigh, the pain flaring up like she'd brushed against open flames.

"I'm fine," she said, forcing herself to sound calm. She couldn't admit in front of Lydia how much it hurt.

"Good," Lydia said from her seat, cool and unbothered, like she was just watching a show. "It's summer, after all. How hot could the water be? What a waste, though."

Tina spoke up, her tone full of righteous indignation. "Thank goodness Lydia moved so fast, or that water would've spilled all over her."

Anyone could see Lucinda had done it on purpose. If Lydia hadn't reacted so

quickly, she'd be the one in pain right now.

Serves her right. Karma, plain and simple.

Lucinda forced a smile, her voice sticky sweet. "It's all my fault. I wasn't careful. And you didn't even get your water."

Lydia looked at her, one eyebrow raised. "Did you put somthing in this water? It smells so fake."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Lydia was in a league of her own.

Lucinda's fake smile froze on her face, as if it might shatter at any second.

Grace rushed to smooth things over. "Lucinda, Lydia's just joking. Your clothes are soaked, you should probably go change."

Lucinda wanted nothing more than to vanish. She grabbed at the excuse and nodded quickly. "Right, I'll go change."

She didn't even bother pretending anymore and left without another word to Lydia, heading straight upstairs.

Grace hobbled after her, limping with every step. This morning was a disaster, and her whole body was screaming in pain.

All because of Lydia. That girl really was her and Lucinda's worst nightmare.

As soon as they were out of sight, Tina told the staff to clean up. She turned to Lycha with a bright smile. Your breakfast will be ready soon."

"Alright."

Lydia's rule was simple. She never started trouble, but if someone messed with her, she'd pay them back tenfold.

Lucinda was way out of her league trying to play these little games.

After breakfast, Lydia drove herself to the office.

The company had just hired a bunch of new people. The longtime employees.didn't want to risk their jobs, and were busy trying to up their game and prepare for the upcoming performance reviews. Everyone wanted to stay, since Greenward Power's benefits were honestly unbeatable.

"Let the design department know. We've got training in a bit," Lydia

said after glancing over Josef net

notes on the latest

staffing changes.