chapter477

Connor found himself thinking back to ten years ago. If Lydia had been recognized and brought home by the Norwood brothers back then, would he have met her much sooner?

"You were adorable when you were a kid," he said, the memory slipping out before he could catch it. Like a little porcelain doll, but with that stubborn look on your face.

Lydia arched an eyebrow. "And now I'm not adorable?"

Connor grinned, not missing a beat. "You're still adorable."

She studied him for a second. "What did you look like ten years ago?"

Connor hesitated, caught off guard. Was she hinting he wasn't good-looking now? I..... I was definitely better looking than Blake and Arthur back then.

Lydia laughed. "Oh really?"

He nodded with complete confidence. Absolutely. I just don't have any old pictures on my phone. Next time we're home, I'll find one and show you.

Lydia thought about it for a moment. Ten years ago, Connor would have been at the military academy. He must have been pretty impressive.

After dinner, Lydia's phone buzzed. Kylie was calling, asking if Lydia wanted to stay over at Blake's place that night.

Lydia glanced around, thinking it over. "All my things are at the hotel, so I'll just stay here tonight."

"Alright, Lydia. Lucinda's staying here at Blake's to practice piano for her competition tomorrow, so we'll keep her company tonight."

"Okay."

Kylie hesitated for a moment. "And... what about Connor?" Her voice was careful, tiptoeing around the question. The two of them seemed to be getting closer, and she wasn't sure how she felt about them spending the night under the same roof. Still, she didn't want to interfere. Lydia had always been independent.

"He's at the hotel too," Lydia replied, catching on to her mom's concern. "Don't worry, we know where the line is."

That seemed to settle it for Kylie. She let out a small sigh of relief. "I'm just being a mom. We'll see you tomorrow, Lydia."

"See you tomorrow."

After she hung up, Connor was watching her with a half-smile. "Your mom doesn't trust you with me?"

Lydia lifted an eyebrow, amused. She's just overthinking it. You are the definition of a gentleman."

Connor's lips twitched. A gentleman, huh? Since when?

Meanwhile, back at Blake's, Lucinda pounced on Kylie as soon as she put down the phone. "Mom, is Lydia not coming back tonight?"

Kylie smiled. No, all her stuff's at the hotel. She didn't want to make things complicated."

Lucinda's voice was loaded with meaning. "So Connor's at the hotel too?"

"That's right. But your sister and Connor both know how to behave. They wouldn't cross any lines."

Lucinda rolled her eyes when her

mother wasn't looking. Sure. Even if Lydia ended up in Connor's bed, how would Mom and Dad ever find out. unless she said something?

Lucinda practiced piano until nine-thirty, determined not to stay up late before her competition. Just as she finished getting ready for bed, Grace walked in, looking like she had something to say but couldn't quite get it out.

Grace, what is it? Lucinda asked, not in the mood for games.

Grace fidgeted. "Lucinda, I have to tell you something, but please don't get mad or upset, okay?"

Lucinda's stomach tightened. Something was definitely up. "Just say it."

Grace lowered her voice. "I overheard Blake talking to your parents earlier. He...

well..." She trailed off, letting the suspense hang in the air on purpose.

Lucinda lost patience. "What about Blake? Spit it out."

Grace sighed, acting like it pained her to continue. Blake said he gave Lydia a black card with 1.8 billion on it And all the storefronts LVLX uses that belong to Norwood Enterprises, all over the country... he gave them all to her. Every single one."