Chapter 284

Normally, if Lucinda got twenty million all at once, she’d be over the moon. Garrett almost never handed out that much pocket money. But after seeing Lydia get fifty million, Lucinda couldn’t bring herself to feel happy. Instead, her chest tightened with jealousy and resentment.
They were always saying she was like their own daughter, but was that really true? Both girls got spending money, but why did Lydia get fifty million while she only got twenty? That wasn’t just a little less, it was way less.
Garrett caught her staring at the card, lost in thought. He spoke up. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want it?”
Startled, Lucinda snapped back to the moment. She slipped her arm through Garrett’s and grabbed the card, forcing a bright, playful smile. “Of course I want it! It’s just, you surprised me with so much at once. Thank you, Garrett!”
Garrett patted her gently on the head. “Lucinda, I know it’s hard getting used to Lydia coming back. You were the only princess in the house before, and now there are two. It’s normal to feel a little out of place.”
Lucinda’s smile faded immediately. So Garrett had brought her out for a walk because of Lydia.
“But nothing’s changed with us. You’re still our little princess. There’s just one more now. Lydia never got any real love from her parents in the Smith family. Not like you. You got all the love in the world, and we did whatever we could to give you everything you wanted, just to make you happy. Lydia’s life was totally different. She grew up in the countryside, taking care of her elderly grandma and working hard just to get by. If she hadn’t gone through so much, she wouldn’t have made such a name for herself in medicine at such a young age. She had to rely on herself to change her fate. Now she’s finally come home, and all of us want to make it up to her. That doesn’t mean we’re ignoring you, okay?”
Hearing all this only made Lucinda feel worse. Her throat tightened as she spoke. “I get it, Garrett. Lydia is the Norwoods’ real daughter. Of course you want to be good to her.”
Garrett’s eyes filled with helplessness. “Lucinda, haven’t we treated you well for eighteen years?”
“That was because you didn’t know I wasn’t really Mom and Dad’s daughter,” Lucinda said quietly. Now that they did, things just weren’t the same.
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“Why are you so determined to compare yourself to Lydia?”
Garrett’s gaze was serious, almost searching. He could see Lucinda. was always trying to outshine Lydia, always hoping she’d come out on top if Lydia wasn’t so capable and talented, things would be so much worse. Even those rich heiresses in the capital would have a hard time going up against Lucinda, let alone a girl who grew up in the countryside.
Lucinda’s face stiffened at his words. Was she being that obvious?
“Honestly, Mom and Dad can see it too. They just don’t want to hurt your feelings, so they’ve never said anything. I’m only telling you this because I don’t want you to go down the wrong path in our eyes, you’re In already amazing. Everyone has their own strengths and passions. There’s no point comparing yourself to someone else. Just be yourself, okay?”
Lucinda pressed her lips together, her eyes growing hot and prickly He’s telling her not to compare? Then why did Lydia get fifty million and she only got twenty? And he hadn’t even brought her a gift.