chapter705

Lucinda looked torn. He just seems so lost. He thought I was his daughter. I think something's really wrong. You guys wait here, okay? I'll go talk to him and see

what's up."

Mia, Evelyn, and Hannah stared at her like she'd lost her mind.

Lucinda, don't. He doesn't seem right. What if he freaks out or something? We should just call the police and let them deal with it."

Yeah, seriously, calling the cops is the safest thing."

"It's late already, and we still have to shop. If he keeps following us... I'm honestly scared just thinking about it."

Lucinda couldn't let them call the cops. That would ruin everything. She shook her head and tried to sound gentle. "I really think he just confused me for his daughter. Let me go talk to him, find out what's going on. If he does anything, we can call the police then. It's not too late."

"But Lucinda, it's not safe for you to go over there by yourself."

"It's fine. I don't think he's dangerous. Maybe he just misses his daughter too much. Please, just stay here and wait for me."

The girls wanted to argue, but Lucinda had already balled her hands into fists and was striding toward Frank.

As soon as he saw her coming, Frank's face lit up with this huge, hopeful smile. He was sure of it. His real daughter had finally recognized him.

"Sweetheart, it's me. Dad."

Lucinda stopped in front of him. Her eyes went cold, and her voice shook with anger. "Who sent you to come looking for me?"

Frank might not have amounted to much, but he could read people. Lucinda's icy stare told him she wanted nothing to do with him ine. He didn't care about being areal dad. He just wanted money.

"You're my real daughter. Of course I need to find you. The Smith girl went back to

the Norwoods, the White girl went to the Smiths. You're my real daughter.

"Shut up!" Lucinda snapped, keeping her voice tow. If the street wasn't so noisy, Mia and the others probably would've heard her. But her back was to them, so they couldnt see her face or read her lips.

Frank wasn't offended. He just grinned. "It's true. You look exactly like your mother. I knew you the second I saw you."

Lucinda could feel her blood rushing in her ears. She hissed again, Enough. I'm not going back to the White family. Just pretend I don't exist. Don't ever come looking for me again."

Frank's face fell. He tried to look as pathetic as possible. "But you're my only daughter. I'm old and all alone. Don't you think you should take care of me?"

Lucinda knew better. Frank was a gambler. She'd already noticed he was missing a finger on his left hand. No doubt it was because of his debts.

"You want money, right? she said, not bothering to hide her disgust.

Frank gave her a sheepish grin. "Can't live without it, you know?"

Lucinda nodded. "I'll give you money, but you have to tell me who sent you here. Who told you where to find me?"

Ever since she learned the truth about her family, Lucinda hadn't reached out to Frank once. How did he even know where she was? Did he know she'd become the daughter of the richest man in the country? She needed answers, and she needed them now.