chapter433

Mr. Norwood stared at Grace, his eyes dark and sharp. She dropped her head right away, not daring to make another sound.

Kylie grinned. "When Lydia comes back, I'm sure Blake's got something for Lucinda too."

Lucinda rolled her eyes to herself. Gifts? Sure, but it's not gonna be as extravagant as Lydia's?

On the other side, Blake was reading Kylie's message while Lydia was right next to him. Lydia leaned closer and smiled. "I love them. The gifts and the flowers from you are perfect."

She said it quickly, half worried Blake might go overboard and send her another mountain of presents if she hesitated for even a second.

Right then, Connor walked in, freshly changed and ready to go. He took one look at all the things Blake had prepared and instantly felt like he'd come up short again.

"I need to take some notes from you, Blake."

Blake shot him a look. If you can't figure it out, let someone else try.

Lydia couldn't help but chuckle. "Blake, don't mess with him."

"I'm not messing with him," Blake said, completely serious. In his mind, Connor was talented, sure, but hopeless when it came to romance. He wondered if someone so cold and distant really knew how to treat a girl right.

"Don't worry, Blake. I won't let anyone down," Connor promised.

"We'll see," Blake replied, a hint of challenge in his voice.

Lydia cut in, her stomach rumbling. So... breakfast? I'm starving."

All that activity yesterday had drained her, and she needed food.

Connor and Blake both turned to her. "What do you want to have?

"We can just get something simple at the restaurant on the second floor," Lydia suggested.

"No way," Blake said at once. "There's a famous spot nearby. We're going there." Lydia just smiled. Okay."

Meanwhile, the Norwood brothers' group chat was buzzing after Blake sent them a video.

Garrett: I suddenly feel like my gift for Lydia is nothing. I need to step it up when I get home.

Elliot: Seriously, Blake? Did you buy the whole mall for her?

Arthur: Now I have to really think about what to get her.

Soon, the brothers were deep in a wild debate about what to give Lydia when they saw her.

Blake scrolled through their

messages, a tiny grin tugging at his lips. He'd never that

he also gavemit to the

that

a black card-

loaded with 1.8 billion.

After breakfast at the fancy restaurant Blake had reserved, he had to head back to the office.

Before leaving, he looked at Connor and Lydia. "Go enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, just call me."

Thanks, Blake," Lydia replied.

As soon as Blake was gone, Connor finally took Lydia's hand, his grip warm and steady.

"Today, I'm going to make sure you have some real fun, he told her.

Connor honestly felt like Lydia was always busier than he was, especially when they

were back home. He barely ever got the chance to take her out.

Lydia smiled. Sounds good, but first, we need to..."

"What do we need to do?" Connor asked.

Ten minutes later, Lydia handed him a black baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mask.

"With these, no one will recognize us," she said.

The truth was, there was a bigger problem than Viper right now. The Azure Alliance was probably already in France, and she couldn't risk being found Keeping a low profile was the best move.

Meanwhile, back at Viper

headquarters, word finally came in. All thirty-six of the elite agents they

sent had been wiped out. Nota single one made it back.

"Damn L!"

A bald man covered in a tattoo of a two-headed snake slammed his fist down on the

carved wooden table in front of him.