Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 1073

Kylie and Cameron exchanged uneasy glances, both of them frowning in silent agreement. Ever since Mr. Norwood’s hospital stay, something about him just felt different. They couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but the change was there.

When Caspian showed up, arms full of gifts, hoping to check in on Mr. Norwood, the old man wasted no time grilling him, both openly and in those roundabout ways only elders seem to master. Lucinda was suddenly being praised to the skies, as if Caspian couldn’t possibly measure up to her.

Caspian could only nod and promise quietly, “Grandpa, don’t worry. I’ll work harder. I want to give Lucinda a better future.”

Mr. Norwood laughed. “That’s the spirit. Lucinda’s been the apple of this family’s eye since she was little. If you want to marry her, you’ll have to prove yourself, and it won’t be easy, you know.”

The message was obvious. Fail the tests, and marrying Lucinda was out of the question.

Caspian couldn’t help but feel confused. Things hadn’t always been like this. Back when Lucinda had that incident at the river, Caspian had visited her every day. Mr. Norwood had seemed happy to see how much he cared, even saying he hoped Caspian would always be good to her.

But now, things felt off.

Kylie finally spoke up. “Dad, don’t scare Caspian. What’s with all this testing? If they’re happy together, we shouldn’t get in their way.”

She couldn’t shake the feeling that her father was slipping back into his old, stubborn habits.

Lucinda, listening from the side, rolled her eyes in her mind. She felt like Kylie didn’t care about her at all. She didn’t even like Caspian, and yet Kylie still insisted on pushing them together.

Of course, Lucinda had completely forgotten that she was the one who told everyone she liked Caspian and wanted to be with him in the first place.

Mr. Norwood snorted at Kylie’s comment. “I’m just saying. If it’s what Lucinda wants, I’ll support her no matter what.”

Lucinda immediately beamed, her face lighting up with happiness.

“Grandpa’s the best!”

If Lucinda wanted to play the Norwood heiress for a while longer, that was fine by her.

Kylie couldn’t help but admire how levelheaded Lydia was about everything. At the same time, she started to think Lucinda was getting a little too greedy. They’d already promised she could stay with the Norwoods and keep living the life she was used to, but somehow, Lucinda always seemed to want more.

“Lydia, lunch is almost ready. Let’s go downstairs together.”

“Okay.”

By the afternoon, Lydia was so tired of Lucinda’s drama that she decided to head back to campus. As soon as she arrived, she overheard a group of classmates chatting about the international medical competition happening in Country D next month.

“I heard the school’s picking three people to go. Yara already signed up, but who knows if she’ll actually get picked.”

“I don’t really care if Yara goes or not, but Lydia has to be one of them. She’s amazing. If she goes, she’ll make the whole country and Capital Med School proud.”