chapter1168

Lincoln let out a quiet laugh. "She only goes after people she can push around."

He remembered his mom mentioning how Victoria used to make Krista's life miserable. Honestly, it was sad. The Bland family owed everything to Krista's family, the Rock family. Most of their wealth had come from them in the first place. But after Krista's parents passed away, the Blands took over the Rock family's assets and claimed them as their own. Krista's life had gone downhill ever since.

Lydia, Juna and Lincoln mumbled, heading over to Marilyn and Erik.

Marilyn had been standing there with her usual polite smile, but the moment she spotted Lydia, her expression froze. A flicker of annoyance flashed in her eyes.

Why was Lydia here? She hadn't even invited her. Did she have no shame at all? At Capital Med School, Lydia always managed to outshine her. Now, on her own grandmother's birthday, Marilyn definitely didn't want Lydia stealing the spotlight again.

"Mr. Bland, it's been a while," Juna said first, a soft smile on her lips.

The Bland and Davis families did business together, and Erik had always tried hard to get in the Davis family's good graces. That was why he sent them an invitation he'd hoped maybe the Davis patriarch would come and give the event some extra weight. He hadn't expected Juna to show up instead, but honestly, having anyone from the Davis family there was good enough. It meant they actually cared about the Blands.

"Miss Davis, we're so glad you showed up.

Juna smiled. I brought a couple of friends with me today. Hope that's alright, Erik.

Erik glanced over at Lincoln and Lydia. He didn't really know Lydia, but Lincoln he recognized right away. That's the only son of the Lowe family. Practically royalty.

"Of course you're welcome. We're just worried we might not host you all properly, Miss Davis, Lincoln, and-"

He watched Lydia, a bit uncertain, though she did seem familiar.

"I'm Lydia. Marilyn and I both go to Capital Med School," Lydia said, introducing herself.

Yet

Suddenly, it clicked for Erik. Wasn't this the Lydia who'd been all over the internet yesterday, the one who'd aced every exam? The one who was Mr. Moore's star student, close with Caper from the Shaw family the same Lydia who'd caused so much trouble for the Gibson family's daughter? He'd heard Miss Gibson had ended up in police custody, and even the Hydes family hadn't stepped in to help.

This girl was something else.

"So you're Lydia! So impressive at such a young age. Please relax and enjoy yourselves."

Erik had no idea how deep Lydia's connections really ran, but he could guess she wasn't someone to underestimate. He turned to Martyn. "You and Miss Norwood go to the same school. You should really try to learn from her, alright?"

Marilyn felt like she was about to explode. At school, her teachers told her to be more like Lydia. Now, at home, her dad was saying the exact same thing.

Lydia, Lydia! Why did it always have to be Lydia? Would she ever escape this endless comparison?

But with Erik standing right there, she just forced a nod. "Alright."

Gianna could tell her daughter was upset, so she quickly stepped in with a smile "Now that you're all here, please make yourselves at home Enjoy the party. If there's anything we haven't done right, please tell us."

Juna and her friends didn't even look at her. They just nodded at Erik and headed inside.

Gianna's smile dropped the second their backs were turned. How dare those brats ignore her?

Marilyn muttered under her breath, "Dad, Lydia's nothing but trouble. Rosie ended up in jail because of her. Who knows what kind of drama she's going to cause at Grandma's birthday?"