chapter706

Frank ran a hand through his hair, looking sheepish. "My adopted daughter, you know, the one from the Smith family, she told me the Norwood family's daughter is the big boss at LYLX. Apparently, the whole Norwood family relies on her now. So I figured, since you're all technically family, it didn't really matter if I found her or you."

Lucinda clenched her fists, trying to keep her anger in check. "So let me get this straight. You went to LYLX, they wouldn't give you any money, and then they told you where to find me?"

Frank nodded. "Exactly. Come on, Lucinda, we're blood. We are a real family."

Lucinda felt her temper spike. Of course it was Lydia. She just knew Lydia couldn't stand the thought of her staying with the Norwood family, so she sent her biological father to chase her down. It was all about humiliating her, making sure her classmates saw everything, tearing her secrets out into the open. If Lydia thought she could drive her away that easily, she had another thing coming.

"Did they at least bother to tell you what's actually going on with the Norwoods right now?"

Frank chuckled. "Why would they need to? The Norwoods are just like the Whites, dirt-poor nobodies in the middle of nowhere. Still, I have to admit, you look like you're doing pretty well for yourself. Is the Norwood girl giving you money or something?"

Lucinda instantly grasped the situation. Sandy didn't know Lydia was the real heiress, and Lydia hadn't told Frank just how rich the Norwoods actually were. That was perfect. Lydia wanted to use her own father to push her out of the Norwood house? Not a chance.

"This is all money I earned myself, working part-time," Lucinda lied smoothly. "The Norwood girl would never give me a dime. If she would, you wouldn't be here right now, would you?"

Frank thought for a moment, then smirked at her. "But she's a big boss, right? She's got businesses all over, money everywhere. Why not ask her for some spending cash?"

Lucinda huffed. "She keeps her money close. If she doesn't want to share, what am I supposed to do?"

"Come on. If you really want it, I'm sure you could figure something out."

"Enough. I don't want to talk about her. Just don't come looking for me again, and do not tell anyone I'm your daughter."

Frank beamed at her, totally unfazed. "You're my daughter. If I run out of options, of course I'm coming to you for help."

Lucinda rolled her eyes. "Let's just cut to the chase. You're here for money, aren't you?"

Frank grinned. "At least you get it."

Lucinda pulled out her phone. "How much do you want?"

Frank quickly flashed two fingers. "Two... two hundred thousand. Give me two

hundred thousand and I'll stay out of your hair."

Lucinda stared him down, completely unimpressed. "Who do you think tam? Two hundred, thousand why don't you just go rob a bank I've only got fifty thousand right now, and that's more than enough for you to live on for years."

Frank heaved a dramatic sigh. "Fifty thousand doesn't go far these days, Lucinda. I don't even have a place to stay in the Capital. Rent alone for a year is..."

"One hundred thousand. And you go back to West City. Don't even think about

coming to my school again. And no gambling," she cut in, her patience running thin.

Frank realized he'd pushed his luck

enough. He nodded right away.

"Deal, Lucinda. I'll head back to West

City tomorrow, find a job, and won't

bother you at school anymore."

Lucinda exhaled slowly, then transferred one hundred thousand to him on the spot.

"Remember, don't come looking for me again."

Frank was so excited he could

barely contain himself, nodding like

crazy as he stared at his phone. Even after Lucinda walked away, he was still grimming, absolutely thaifed. Who would've thought his own daughter would turn out to be such a jackpot? Way better than that useless Sandy.

When Lucinda walked back to her friends, Mia and the others were waiting, staring

at her in shock, full of questions they couldn't wait to ask.