Chapter 1497

What was that all about? Lucinda had no idea who that guy was. Why would he

hand her a note like that? When no one was looking, she hurried to unfold the slip of paper. The message was simple. [Go visit Grace.]

Lucinda froze. That note might as well have been burning her fingers. She ripped it into pieces right away and dropped them in the trash. Just hearing Grace’s name made her bristle. Sure, Grace used to be good to her when she was living with the Norwoods. But after Lydia came back, every single plan Grace came up with seemed to blow up in Lucinda’s face. She’d almost been kicked out of the family because of her. As far as Lucinda was concerned, Grace was useless now, and she had no plans to get involved with her again.

But now, someone wanted her to visit Grace? Seriously? Grace was in police custody. If Lucinda showed up at the station, there was no way the Norwoods wouldn’t find out. What was Grace up to? Was she trying to drag her down too? The more Lucinda thought about it, the more annoyed she got. Couldn’t Grace just wait until she was out? It didn’t matter anyway. There was no way Lucinda was going to visit her.

What Lucinda didn’t realize was that Grace was getting desperate. She was terrified Lydia would find the phone she’d tossed. If they uncovered what was on it, everything they’d been planning would fall apart. That’s why she’d asked someone to get a message to Lucinda. She needed to let her in on the truth about her real family before it was too late. If she didn’t, she was sure something bad would happen.

But Grace had no idea the phone had already landed in Lydia’s hands, and its secrets had already been unlocked.

The next morning, Mikey called. He wanted to talk about what Lydia had mentioned at the party. Lydia agreed without hesitation. “Okay. Let’s go to your Grandpa’s house, just to be safe.” She didn’t want anyone snapping photos of her with Mikey again and starting up more nonsense rumors. Plus, she kind of wanted to check in on Grandpa Samuel.

Mikey was fine with that. “Sounds good.”

At breakfast, Lydia was the first one done eating. She was obviously in a rush,

ready to head out. Lucinda couldn’t help herself. “Going out?”

Lydia shot her a look. “Do I have to report everywhere I go to you?”

Lucinda immediately put on her best hurt expression. “That’s not what I meant. I was just worried about you.”

Mr. Norwood jumped in, sounding annoyed. “Lydia, Lucinda was just asking there’s sho need to be so no defensive. People might think you’re hiding something.”

Lydia turned to him, her voice flat. “Wow, Grandpa, you really know how to make something out of nothing.”

Mr. Norwood’s face turned red. “What did you just say?”

Kylie jumped in before things could

get worse busy. She’s got her own

“Let’s just calm down.

Dad,

life Where she goes

is her

business.”

Ever since she’d learned the real Mr. Norwood had been replaced, Kylie could barely bring herself to call him Dad, but she had to keep up appearances. She just couldn’t understand why this fake M Norwood was so protective of Lucinda.

Mr. Norwood gave a frustrated snort. “Go ahead, keep spoiling her.”

Lydia just rolled her eyes. “If Lucinda really cared, she wouldn’t have spent the night at the party spreading rumors about me.”

Lucinda’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her innocent look. “Lydia, what are you talking about? I really don’t understand.”