chapter494

Lucinda went rigid, her whole body tense. Blake's words had knocked every thought out of her mind. He didn't let up, his voice firm but not unkind.

"Look, even if we take everything else out of it, Lydia is your Grandmaster. There's nothing embarrassing about showing her respect and serving her tea. Why can't you just accept what's actually happening?"

Lucinda didn't reply. She stared at the floor, her lips pressed tight. Blake let out a long, tired sigh.

"Mom and Dad are really worried about you. That's why they asked me to come check on you. But seeing you like this... How are any of us supposed to feel okay?"

Lucinda hadn't always been like this. She used to be bright, easygoing, open. But after Lydia came home, it was like she'd turned into someone else. Or maybe, Blake thought, maybe none of them had ever really understood who Lucinda was.

She gave a little smirk, her voice laced with sarcasm. "You're worried about me?"

Blake frowned, his tone sharp. Of course we're worried. Why wouldn't we be? If I wasn't, do you think I'd even be here right now?

"You're just afraid I'll blame Lydia for everything."

Lucinda." Blake's voice was serious, almost pleading. "I've told you this so many times. You are who you are. You don't have to compare yourself to anyone. Lydia has her strengths, sure, but so do you. Why are you so hung up on competing with her?"

Lucinda felt her heart twist, sadness welling up inside her. "But you're the ones who started treating us differently. Now you tell me not to compare myself to her? How does that make sense?"

Blake didn't know how to answer. Lucinda seemed weighed down by thoughts he couldn't see through.

They'd come this far, and she was done holding back. She was tired. So tired. Ever since Lydia came back, she felt like she was suffocating, like there was no air left for her in this house.

"I was happy when Lydia came home. I really was. But Mom, Dad, Garrett, and you... you all favor her. I'm just the adopted daughter you forgot about."

She swallowed hard, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks. "If you don't want me here anymore, just say so. I'll go. I really will...

Lucinda's voice cracked. She didn't want to leave the Norwood family. She couldn't even imagine it.

Blake was stunned. He hadn't realized just how much she'd been holding in. He spoke softly now, hoping to reach her.

"Why do you think that? Haven't we always treated you well?"

Lucinda lifted her head, tears in her eyes. "You have. But you treat Lydia better. Way better."

Blake was caught off guard. Did she really see it that way?

Lucinda started listing everything that had been bothering her. She talked about how, when Lydia first moved back, Kylie and Cameron threw that big welcome party. & She talked about all the custom clothes they'd ordered for Lydia, and how Lydia got the room that Blake and Arthur had picked out for themselves. Garrett had given Lydia fifty million, but only gave Lucinda twenty million Blake's gifts to Lydia. were three times more expensive than anything he'd gotten for Lucinda, and he'd secretly given Lydia a bank card loaded with one point eight billion. There were even all the LYLX stores across the country, which now belonged to Lydia.

Her complaints just kept coming, one after another.

Blake was honestly relieved he'd come to see her. At least now he knew what she was really feeling. If she'd kept all this bottled up, it would've ended a disaster.

"Lucinda, have you ever thought about everything you've had in the eighteen years you've been part of the Norwood family? You've had so much more than Lydia ever did."

Lucinda froze, surprised into silence.

Blake went on, his voice gentle but clear. "Ever since you were born, everyone in the family doted on you. You always had the best food, the nicest clothes, every comfort you

want Before you turned three, you had all our love and attention. You were like the little princess of the whole city. But Lydia? What did she have?"

Blake's eyes softened, his expression full of sympathy. "I heard her adoptive parents didn't even

met

she

want a daughter. As soon as the

was born, they sent her away countryside to live with her grandmother Mrs. Smith. She was sick all the time, so weak Mrs, Smith was so afraid for her that she went to the church and prayed for her to survive, begged for a charm to keep her safe.

Lucinda's defenses crumbled a little. Guilt crept in. Compared to that, she really had been lucky.

Blake pressed on, After you turned three, Grandpa and Mom and Dad found the

best mentors for you. They pulled every string, did everything they could to give you the best chance in life."