Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 328

This couldn’t be real.

Were they seeing things?

Before they could take a closer look, Connor took Lydia’s hand and led her away. Lydia glanced back at Milana. “If you don’t make it to the church by tonight, God might start questioning your sincerity. Trust me.”

Milana’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could say another word, Connor and Lydia had already disappeared down the hall, hand in hand.

“Shameless. Always flirting with men,” Milana muttered, then snapped at Jenson, who still looked completely lost. “Why are you just standing there? Get online and figure out what’s going on!”

They had been dodging calls from reporters all day, so their phones were switched off. They had no idea what was happening.

Jenson sensed something was off. He fumbled for his phone, switched it on, and waited, both of them tense with worry. As soon as it booted up, they dove into the news.

The first thing they saw was headline after headline: Top Scorer Truly Deserves Her Title.

Genius Student Wins Every Major Award by Age Eight.

Perfect Score Prodigy Is a Born Genius.

And more, all praising Lydia.

“This… is this real?”

As her adoptive parents, nobody knew Lydia better than they did. She had never cared about school, never showed any interest in studying.

“She must have faked those. How can people online be so gullible? They actually believe this?” Milana’s eyes widened as she scrolled, her expression twisted in disbelief.

Jenson looked closely at the certificates and medals Lydia had posted. His heart felt like it was on a speeding roller coaster, never finding solid ground.

He was completely lost.

Mrs. Smith’s words echoed in his mind.

“You really shouldn’t spend all your time working. Lydia needs your attention.”

“Lydia is a remarkable kid. You should come home and see her more often.”

“Why did you kick Lydia out of the Smith family… you’ll regret it one day.”

“She never even wanted anything to do with you…”

They reached the hospital room just in time to hear Cameron’s frustrated shout. “The mastermind behind this jumped off a building and died.”

Lucinda had just finished pouring a glass of water for her grandpa. The words hit her so hard her hand shook, and the glass slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor.

She froze. What?

Grace jumped? She died?

“Lucinda, are you okay? Did you burn yourself?” Kylie rushed over, grabbing her hand and checking for burns.

“I’m fine, Mom.” Lucinda went pale. Her mind spun in a whirlwind of shock and fear.

Grace had been found out, and now she was dead?

Just half an hour ago, Grace had messaged her, saying things weren’t going well and to stay calm no matter what she heard.

She had watched Lydia, who was supposed to be ruined by a cheating scandal, turn things around in an instant. Then Ms. Santoro’s secret got dragged out into the open. Lucinda had tried to play it cool the entire time.

But now, hearing about Grace’s death, she couldn’t hold it together anymore.