chapter57

"What? Lucinda, why would you even think that?" Kylie asked, her concern obvious. Lucinda lowered her eyes, looking a little hurt. "She barely talks to me."

Cameron jumped in to reassure her. "Lucinda, she just got home. Everything about this place, including us, is still new to her. She just needs some time to settle in."

Kylie nodded. "Exactly, Lucinda. Your sister comes off as cold, but her heart's in the right place. Don't get the wrong idea about her."

Lucinda bit her lip. For every little thing she said, her parents seemed to have ten reasons to defend Lydia.

Dad, Mom, I get it. I got the wrong idea. Don't worry, I'll get along with her from now on and we'll take good care of you together."

Kylie and Cameron melted at her words.

Lucinda was just so thoughtful. They'd worried Lydia coming back would make her feel uneasy, but now it seemed all their worries were for nothing.

"Lucinda, you really are our sweet girl."

Lucinda smiled, hugging Kylie's arm and acting playful. "Okay, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, you should all get some rest. My best friend asked me out tonight, but I'll be back soon."

"All right, sweetheart. I've already made arrangements. The plane will be delivered first thing tomorrow morning," Cameron said, laughing warmly.

Lucinda's smile widened. She walked over and hugged Cameron's arm. "Thank you, Dad."

He patted her head the same way he always had. "Good girl."

Twenty minutes later, Lydia pulled up to Capital's No. 7 black market on her motorcycle.

She parked in the spot Juna had reserved for her and had barely killed the engine when she heard a cheerful voice call, "Lyds!"

Lydia glanced up. Juna was waving at her.

Juna was her best friend and business partner.

"Lyds, I just spotted Sandy and your so-called fianc Soren together, Juna said, making a face as she walked over.

Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Soren? Who's that? Never heard of him."

Juna burst out laughing. "Exactly. Soren's a nobody. Not even worth mentioning."

Back when Lydia was at the Smiths, Soren was supposed to be her fianc , but she'd barely seen him. Even when their paths crossed, she pretended not to know him.

They headed inside together, and an attendant led them straight up to the second floor, into VIP Box 1. Each box had its own private elevator, offering plenty of privacy and security, so you didn't have to worry about running into other guests.

The room was gorgeous, luxurious down to every detail. A wall of one-way glass let them watch everything happening on the auction floor, but no one could see in.

Meanwhile, in Box 3, Lucinda sat with her friend Paige.

Lucinda almost never came to places like this. She always thought they were beneath her. As the Norwood family's little princess, if she wanted something, she just had to say the word and people would fall over themselves to deliver it. Why bother coming to an auction full of strangers and chaos?

But tonight was different. Tonight, she was here to bid on a rare, priceless medicinal herb. The kind of thing people waited a hundred years to see. She wasn't leaving without it.

Paige, who was from a rich family too, had been surprised when Lucinda said she wanted to come. Now that they were sitting together, she finally got the chance to ask, Lucinda, what's so special that you had to come bid for it yourself?"

"Golden Antler," Lucinda replied.

Paige stared. "What is that even?"

"It's a super rare herb that's supposed to heal bones and muscles."

"A herb? Wait, why do you need something like that?" Paige looked totally confused. She'd never have guessed Lucinda's first auction would be for medicine.

Lucinda let out a quiet sigh, her eyes a little sad. "I'll tell you, but keep it to yourself, okay? Connor went to a worksite to check things out a couple days ago and messed up his leg. He's still in the hospital. I want to get this herb to help him recover."

Last night, after leaving the hospital, Grace had bribed a nurse to find out exactly what happened to Connor. The nurse said he hurt his leg. Grace and Lucinda both figured he'd fallen somewhere in the mountains. Grace even suggested finding some miracle cure, and after spending a fortune, Lucinda had managed to track this herb down to tonight's auction.