Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 135

Under the blazing summer sun, Parker and Rose drove straight to Riverside Villas, sweat soaking through their clothes before they even got out of the car. What they didn’t know was that Cameron had already called ahead, telling the butler to turn them away, no questions asked.

Rose was frantic. She collapsed onto the scorching steps in front of the entrance, tears streaming down her face. “Kylie, I’m begging you, please, just help me this one time. I just want my son back. Parker and I won’t go near the company again, I swear. You can give it to anyone you want. Please, is that so much to ask?”

The butler watched her for a second, then waved for security to come over and move her away. Rose wouldn’t budge. She clung to the steps, sobbing harder.

Parker was shouting now, his voice cracking. “Cameron, please, I’ve worked for you for so many years. Can’t you just help me this once? I know I haven’t done anything great, but I’ve always been loyal to you. If you want to replace me, fine, I won’t complain, but I’m begging you, let my son go.”

Lucinda pulled up just in time to see the whole mess. She stared, wide-eyed, not believing what she was seeing. “Wait… that’s Parker and Rose?”

Rose and Lucinda’s mom had been best friends since they were kids. The Norwood family had always looked out for Rose’s family, especially in the last few years. So what on earth was happening now?

Grace was in the passenger seat, listening to the desperate cries outside. She rolled her eyes. “I heard Lydia’s finally getting rid of them. Now they’re making a scene about their son?”

Earlier that afternoon, after leaving the hospital, Lucinda had dragged Grace to the Royal Hotel to do a little snooping. What she found out nearly made her see red. Connor had booked out the whole hotel, decked it out with flowers and rare food, and even invited Lucinda’s own piano teacher, Richie, to play for him and Lydia.

Richie wasn’t just any pianist. He was practically a legend, the star pupil of the world-famous “Melody Master.” It had taken Lucinda’s parents months just to convince Richie to take her as a student, and now Connor had managed to get him to perform for Lydia, just like that. It felt like a slap in the face.

Grace had spent the whole ride back calming her down, and now, just as they got home, this dramatic scene unfolded right in front of them.

Lucinda scoffed, leaning against the window. “So Lydia screwed up at the company and now everyone’s losing their minds. I knew it. She has no idea how to run a business, but my parents are obsessed with her anyway.”

“Lucinda! Thank God, you’re here,” Rose cried. “Can you please talk to your parents for me? Ask them not to be angry with us. If they want to give the company to Lydia, we won’t fight it, I promise.”

She broke down again, sobbing into her hands.

Lucinda crouched down beside her. “Hey, it’s okay. Just tell me what happened, okay?”

Everyone in the Norwood family adored Lucinda. If she was willing to help, maybe things wouldn’t be so hopeless after all.

Rose hiccuped through her tears, explaining everything that had happened. She made sure to leave out the most incriminating details, especially the part about Henry harassing Lydia. Instead, she spun the story, making Lydia sound completely unreasonable and herself the helpless victim.