chapter575

"Lydia grew up in the countryside too. So, what, you think she's a bumpkin just like me?" Sandy shot back, her voice full of bitterness.

"You..."

"Enough!"

The heavy wooden door swung open. Mrs. Smith's voice rolled out, low and sharp, shutting everyone up in an instant.

The moment they saw her, relief flickered through the group.

"Mom, you finally agreed to see us," Jenson blurted out, his excitement obvious.

Milana stepped forward, swallowing her pride. Mom, we are so sorry. If Lydia ever wants to come back, we won't stop her. The house is hers, she can live however she likes..."

Leaning on her cane, Mrs. Smith let out a cold laugh. "Now you realize you made a mistake? Too late. You're not children anymore. You made this mess, so you clean it up."

Her words landed hard. Clark and Vivia couldn't even meet her eyes, both of them wishing they could disappear. After ten years without a single visit, now they showed up, only because they wanted something. It was shameless, and they all knew it.

Still, none of them could've guessed that Lydia quiet, unremarkable Lydia would end up befriending someone as powerful as Miss Davis.

Jenson's face crumpled. He dropped to his knees with a loud thud. "Mom, I know everything Lydia did for us now. It was me and Milana who were stupid. We never should've driven her out of the Smith family. We were wrong. Please, talk to her for us. Ask her to give the company another chance. Smith Corporation is your life's work. We can't just let it go under..."

The members of the Lane family exchanged confused glances.

Lydia, give Smith Corporation another chance? What was that supposed to mean?

Before anyone could ask, Milana jumped in. "Mom, she went behind our backs and built up a company

like LYLX, and we had no idea. Honestly, if you think about it it was the Smith family who gave her everything she has. She can't really be that ungrateful, can she?"

The Lane family stared, shocked, as if they hadn't heard right.

"You shut your mouth! How dare you?" Mrs. Smith's hand tightened on her cane, the veins standing out on her thin wrist.

"LYLX is something Lydia built from the ground up, all on her own. It has nothing to do with the Smith family or with me. If she hadn't been secretty helping you all these years Smith Corporation wouldve gone bankrupt ages ago. And now, instead of being grateful, you turn around and blame her? You're heartless! Get out. All of you. Don't you ever set foot in this house again."

She meant it. Jenson, Milana even Sandy. She was done with all of them. She didn't owe them anything.

The Lane family had come here hoping the old woman would talk Lydia into helping them. Instead, they'd just heard the kind of news that turned your world upside down.

Juna's words echoed in their ears. Lydia is my boss. They'd thought she was joking -right up until now.

Lydia, the founder of LYLX. It was unbelievable.

What kind of person had they gone up against last night?

There was no surprise when the Lane family left, their gifts forgotten and their hopes dashed. Jenson and Milana were tossed out by Connor's men, no gentler than before.

But Sandy stayed rooted to the spot, refusing to budge. She watched Mrs. Smith turn to go and called out, her voice shaking, "Grandma, do you really not care about me at all? I'm your real granddaughter.

At those words, Mrs. Smith stopped in her tracks.

Sandy pressed on, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I know you love Lydia, but I'm your granddaughter too. I was lost for eighteen years. My life was miserable, barely ever living. When they finally found me they took my kidney. What did ever do to deserve this?"

The old woman turned to face her, gaze sharp and unreadable, her words ice cold.

"What is it you want from me?"