Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 302

Lydia gave a small smile. “I never blamed him from the start.”

She glanced at the old man. “You should rest. I’m going to find Dr. Hady.”

As Lydia stepped out of the room, Mr. Norwood’s eyes grew wet with tears he tried to blink away.

“I’m an old man, and I don’t have half the generosity that young girl does.”

Kylie spoke up, her voice gentle. “Dad, I told you before. Lydia might look cold, but she’s kind-hearted. If you accept her, she’ll respect you right back.”

Mr. Norwood nodded again and again. “Lydia is a good kid. Really, she is.”

Garrett grinned. “Grandpa, did you know? Lydia got a perfect score on her exams. Before we came here, a bunch of top universities were fighting over her.”

Mr. Norwood’s eyes widened. “A perfect score?”

Garrett looked so proud he could burst. “Yep, top of her class. She’s incredible.”

“She really is a Norwood,” Mr. Norwood said, his voice full of pride. “Just as outstanding as the rest of you.”

No one noticed the storm brewing inside Lucinda.

She always thought her grandfather was her greatest protector. Lydia could win over her parents and brothers, but Grandpa was supposed to be hers—her one safe place. He was the first person to hate Lydia, just like she did.

But now, overnight, even Grandpa had changed sides. He’d actually asked Lydia for forgiveness.

Why? How did things end up like this?

Panic twisted inside her. It felt like everything she counted on was slipping away, bit by bit. She tried to hold on, but there was nothing there, nothing she could grab.

It was like she was watching from the outside, just a bystander, while her family welcomed Lydia with open arms. And she… she was left with nothing.

Meanwhile, Lydia left the room and headed off to find Dr. Hady. She wanted to ask about her grandfather’s recovery, and check how Luke was doing.

As Lydia tried to step around her, Milana rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck, then tried a softer approach. “Lydia, Luke’s been feeling awful these past two days. Can you please go check on him?”

She was willing to swallow her pride for her son.

Lydia finally looked at her, cool as ever. “He just had a transplant. His body’s getting used to the new organ. Feeling lousy is normal. Tell him to hang in there. He’ll feel better in a couple days.”

Milana’s frustration boiled over. “There’s got to be something you can do, right? You’re Miracle Hands’ protégé. Can’t you think of a solution?”

Lydia let out a low hiss. “Didn’t you say that if I managed to do Luke’s surgery, you’d kneel and apologize to me a thousand times?”

Milana’s heart skipped a beat.

She’d dreaded this moment. The last couple days, she’d been torn. Part of her was relieved Lydia hadn’t come to the hospital, but seeing her son suffer made her furious Lydia wasn’t there. It all came back to those thousand kowtows.

“You… you set me up! You already knew you were Miracle Hands’ student when you made that bet with me!”