chapter1128

Lydia arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And what secret do you have for me?"

Frank let out a cold laugh. "Do you think I'm an idiot? I'm stuck in here, completely powerless. If I tell you and you don't pay, then what?"

"How much do you want?" Lydia asked, her tone cool and steady.

Frank hesitated, then held up a single finger.

Lydia smirked. "One million?"

He snorted. "One hundred million."

She didn't even blink. "Keep dreaming."

Lydia got up and started toward the door.

Frank was stunned. He'd thought that since Lydia was the founder of LYLX and the real Norwood family heiress, a hundred million was nothing to her. He never imagined she'd be this stingy.

He called after her quickly. "Fine then, fifty million!

Lydia didn't even slow down.

Frank's anxiety spiked. It wasn't every day you got the chance to trade a little information for that kind of money. Besides, with Lydia's skills, she'd probably uncover the truth sooner or later anyway.

He tried to bargain. "Alright, then how much will you offer?"

Lydia finally stopped, turned around, and looked him over. Final price. Twenty million. And only if what you tell me is actually useful."

Frank's face twisted with frustration. Twenty million? That was way lower than what he wanted.

She went on, her voice casual. Lucinda is your biological daughter, right? You've bent over backward to protect her, but has she ever handed you twenty million?"

Frank flushed with embarrassment. Lydia had a point. Lucinda had never given him anything close to that.

Now he had twenty million right in front of him. He'd be a fool to say no.

He clenched his teeth and after a long moment, nodded. "Fine. Twenty million."

He knew Lydia wouldn't budge. If he held out any longer, he might lose the deal altogether.

When he agreed, Lydia came back to the table and sat down, a look of quiet confidence on her face.

"Tell me everything you know, she said.

Frank hesitated. "And my money?"

"When you get out, go to LYLX and collect it. You'll get every cent."

He nodded. "Alright. I'll trust you this once."

"Go ahead."

Frank lowered his voice. "It was Grace. She told me to drug Mr. Norwood."

He leaned forward, voice barely above a whisper. "She promised that if I pulled it off, I'd be in the Norwood family's good graces. Trust from everyone After that, anything wanted would be mine."

Lydia studied him. "That's it?"

Frank forced a laugh. "Come on, I wouldn't risk my payday."

His expression turned serious. "There's more. Grace has a hidden phone. She keeps it locked up in her cabinet and won't let anyone touch it. We ought about twice. She said was for work, but I have no idea what shady stuff she's mixed up in."

He remembered what Lydia had said earlier about Grace and her young lovers. The thought bothered him more than he cared to admit. Was that phone for her secret rendezvous?

Lydia's gaze sharpened. Another phone? That was news she could use.

"Keep going."

Frank swallowed hard. Every day, when no one was paying attention, she'd slip away to make calls on that phone. Always so secretive. I'm sure whatever you're after, it's on that phone."

Lydia's lips curled into a subtle smile. "You'd better not be lying to me."

Frank gave a nervous laugh. "At this point, do you really think I'd do that?"

Once Lydia left the detention center, she met up with Byron, and together they headed back to Grace's apartment.

The night Grace was arrested, the police had only done a quick sweep of her place. No one had thought to search deeper. Back then, no one realized how many secrets the apartment might still be hiding.