Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 1302

When Lucinda walked back into the Norwood house, she found Blake in the living room, peeling an orange for Lydia. He placed each juicy segment onto a little porcelain plate, making it easy for her to eat. Elliot was kneeling beside Lydia, fiddling with her tablet and softly explaining the new audiobook app he had just downloaded. Juna was there too. The room was full of laughter and chatter, and for a moment, no one even noticed Lucinda had come home.

She tightened her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms. There was a time when her brothers only had eyes for her. Now, it felt like Lydia was the only one they could see.

“Blake, Elliot, when did you guys get back?” Lucinda said, forcing a bright, surprised tone.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Blake paused for a moment. “Just a couple days ago.”

Elliot nodded. “Hello, Lucinda.”

Lucinda kept her smile in place as she walked over. Her voice was half playful, half complaining. “Elliot, you came home and didn’t even tell me?”

Elliot grinned at her. “We didn’t want to interrupt your class, so we kept it quiet.”

Lucinda bit back a scoff. Lydia wasn’t even going to school anymore, but no one seemed to care if she was falling behind.

Just then, Cameron and Kylie came down from upstairs. Lately, they had been staying on the upper floor, just to be closer to Lydia.

“Lucinda, you’re home,” Cameron said when he saw her.

She nodded, trying her best to look sweet. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Mom.”

Kylie looked at Lucinda, then said, “Since everyone’s here, how about we go out for dinner tonight? Any ideas on what we should eat?”

Blake spoke up right away. “Ask Lydia.”

At a well-known fondue place in the Capital, steam covered the glass windows, and the rich aroma of simmering cheese filled the air. The pot bubbled in the middle of the table, making everyone’s mouths water.

Blake handed Lydia a warm towel for her hands, then carefully scooped her some soup.

Somehow, Lucinda ended up sitting next to Juna. What was even stranger, Juna, who usually ignored her, was suddenly being extra friendly.

“Lucinda, it’s been too long. Let’s have a drink together,” Juna said, pushing a glass of wine toward her.

Lucinda instinctively clutched her bag tighter on her lap and tried to smile. “My throat’s been acting up lately, so I probably shouldn’t drink.”

But Juna wasn’t taking no for an answer. She pressed the glass into Lucinda’s hand. “Just one. For old times’ sake.”