chapter505

Blake got back to the villa while Cameron, Kylie, and Lucinda were waiting for him. As soon as he walked in, they hurried over to him.

"Blake, how's Connor? Is he okay?" Kylie asked, her voice full of worry.

Ever since Lydia and Blake had rushed out, Kylie and Cameron had been on edge. Blake had texted them later, letting them know that Connor had been attacked and seriously hurt.

"He's out of surgery now and in the ICU. With Lydia there, I think he'll pull through," Blake said.

Lucinda's heart twisted with worry. Connor was the one she'd secretly loved for as long as she could remember. Feelings like that didn't just disappear overnight. She wanted to go see him, but she was afraid her family would overthink it, so she kept quiet.

She tried to change the subject. Did they find out who was behind it?"

Blake shook his head. "Not yet."

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that whoever was behind this wasn't just a run-of- the-mill hitman. With Connor's skills, he should've been able to protect himself.

Lucinda hesitated, then asked, "Will Lydia be able to fly home with us tomorrow?"

Blake shook his head again. "I don't think so. Why don't you all head back first, and I'll stay behind to wait for Lydia and Connor?"

Lucinda didn't really want to leave, but she couldn't say that out loud. "I'll wait and see what Mom and Dad decide. If they go back, I'll go with them."

Kylie and Cameron exchanged a look, then turned to Blake. "Blake, maybe we should wait another day. None of us will feel right leaving now."

Blake nodded. "Alright."

Lucinda didn't go back to the hotel. She stayed at the villa with Kylie and Cameron.

Meanwhile, Grace was tossing and turning in her hotel bed, unable to

sleep. Without Lucinda nearby, she felt restless and uneasy. She

checked her phone. No new

messages from Lucinda. Tel

probably meant she wasn't coming back tonight. Grace finally gave in and sent her a message.]

[Lucinda, are you coming back to the hotel tonight?

Lucinda was lying in bed too, just staring at the ceiling. When she saw Grace's message, she answered right away.

[Not coming back tonight, Grace.]

Grace replied, [I'll pack our things so we don't miss the flight home tomorrow.]

Lucinda texted back, [We're not leaving tomorrow. You don't have to rush.]

Grace frowned at her phone. Why not? Was something wrong? Before she could ask, Lucinda sent another message.

[Connor was attacked tonight. He's badly hurt, so no one's leaving tomorrow.]

Grace sat up in bed, heart racing.

[How is he? Is it serious? Do they know who did it?]

Lucinda replied, [I don't know.]

it

Grace felt a wave of irritation. Lucinda was being even more secretive than usual. She blamed Blake, convinced he'd filled her. daughter's head with distrust. weren't for him, Lucinda wouldn't be shutting her out like this. The more she thought about it the angrer she got. She needed to find a way to make Lucinda see who truly cared about her.

Still fuming, Grace gave up on sleeping. She decided to step out onto the balcony for some air. But before she could even set foot outside, a cold voice drifted over from the next balcony.

"Was tonight your doing?"

Grace froze. That was Lydia's voice. Wasn't Lydia supposed to be at the hospital

with Connor? Why was she here instead? Grace held her breath and listened, heart pounding.