Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 573

Without the Norwood family name, Lucinda felt like a moon with no light of her own, dull and almost invisible.

She couldn’t stop turning things over in her mind. Was she really supposed to just keep going like this? Was any of it even worth it? Would her efforts ever pay off the way she hoped? The uncertainty left her feeling completely lost.

“Grace, I’m all over the place right now. What am I supposed to do?” Lucinda looked at Grace, her eyes full of worry.

Grace stepped closer and gently brushed Lucinda’s hair back, her own heart aching with empathy. “Lucinda, you’re the most talented person I know. Just listen to your heart, okay? Don’t push yourself too hard. Remember, you’re amazing at music, art, literature, everything. You’re just as good as Lydia. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Absolutely.”

Lucinda fell quiet, thinking it over.

Then Grace asked, her voice soft but serious, “Lucinda, are you really going to keep trying to win Lydia over from now on?”

The word “win over” made Lucinda’s heart sink. Was that what it had come to? Was she only able to survive in this house by trying to please Lydia? The thought left her more conflicted than ever.

Meanwhile, Lydia didn’t get back to the Norwood house until almost eleven.

Cameron and Kylie were waiting for her. As soon as Lydia walked in, they handed her a painting.

“Lydia, this is for you.”

Lydia felt a wave of warmth. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom.”

Kylie smiled. “It’s not often we see you really like something. Lydia, do you know how to paint?”

She was already pretty sure her daughter was talented, but she wanted to hear it from her.

Lydia added, “The Lane family embarrassed themselves so badly tonight. Even if we don’t do anything, a lot of their business partners will cut ties with them.”

Basically, the Lane family was done for.

Lydia was right. Over at the hospital, Clark and Vivia were still sitting by Soren’s bed when Clark’s phone started buzzing nonstop. One call after another, all from business partners canceling contracts. It was a disaster.

Vivia was so furious she looked like she might faint. She lashed out, blaming everything on Lydia. “Our mother must have been out of her mind when she agreed to that engagement with the Smiths! If it weren’t for that jinx Lydia, would our family be in this mess?”

Clark let out a heavy sigh. “It’s Soren’s own fault for picking a fight with her at the banquet. If he’d just left her alone, none of this would have happened.”

Clark felt nothing but regret.

Vivia was speechless for a moment, then turned her anger on the Smiths. “The Smiths got there before we did. They knew Lydia was under the Davis family’s protection. Why didn’t they say anything? They just let us walk right into trouble. Their company’s about to go under, and now they want to drag us down with them. Unbelievable.”