Ready to Rule The Real Heiress Strikes Back (Lydia and Connor) novel Chapter 1209

He pulled out his phone and pulled up the file about the clone investigation, holding it out for Nina to see. “Take a look at this.”

As soon as Nina saw what was on the screen, she froze. Her fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles went white. The words “Clone Search Protocol” seemed to blur and spin, turning into a net that tangled up her thoughts and threatened to suffocate her.

“No way. This can’t be real. It’s impossible!” She tossed the phone onto the table like it might explode. “How could my parents be clones? You must have made a mistake.”

Lydia reached across the table and gently held Nina’s shaking hand, her touch warm and steady. “Miss Powell, think about it. People don’t just change overnight for no reason. There must be something behind it, right?”

Carter saw how pale Nina looked, and he felt bad for her. Still, he knew he had to be honest. “Nina, I know this is a lot to take in. But this isn’t just about your family. It’s bigger than any of us. Lydia wouldn’t have said anything unless she was sure.”

Nina slumped back in her chair. Images of her parents flashed through her mind—the way they’d changed lately, how cold and distant they’d become, almost like she was a stranger to them. She had thought maybe they were just stressed out from fighting, that it would pass, but now…

A cold shiver crept up her spine, spreading through her whole body.

“Where are my real parents? Where did they take them?” Nina grabbed Lydia’s wrist, her nails digging in as she clung to hope. “If you know about the clones, then you must know how to find them. You have to.”

Lydia’s voice was gentle. “We’re doing everything we can to track them down. But we need your help to make it work.”

Nina pressed her hands to her face, feeling like she might break apart. This was too much. It was like she’d woken up in a nightmare she couldn’t escape.

Carter answered, “We’re working on a serum that can control the clones. When it’s ready, we’ll need your help to get it into them. Once everything’s set, we’ll be able to take down the whole operation.”

Nina felt her mind go blank. She had no idea how she was supposed to go home and act normal around the people who looked like her parents but suddenly felt like strangers.

Lydia watched her, worry creasing her brow. She knew this news was overwhelming, almost too much for anyone to handle. She glanced at Carter.

“Maybe Miss Powell should stay with you for a few days, just until she’s ready. If she goes home like this, she might give something away, and we can’t risk that.”