chapter52

He could never go against his grandfather, so he just nodded. Got it, Grandpa."

"Alright then, Lydia, it's settled. I'll have to ask you to check on Connor for us the other day."

Lydia smiled and nodded. "No problem, Grandpa Samuel."

After a few more polite words, Mr. Jefferson told Chris to walk Lydia out himself. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator on the first floor, three familiar faces appeared right in front of them.

Lydia's expression darkened.

Before she could say anything, a lady done up in expensive clothes gasped, "Lydia! Didn't you go back to the countryside up north to find your birth parents?"

There they were her adoptive father Jenson, her adoptive mother Milana, and Sandy, the real daughter of the Smith family.

Jenson was dressed in a flawless charcoal suit. He was tall, strong, with sharp features and hair slicked back perfectly. His black shoes gleamed, and his gold- buckled belt made him look both dignified and put together.

He looked just as surprised to see Lydia. Lydia, what are you doing here? I thought you went north to find your real parents."

Jenson's feelings about Lydia were complicated. He'd raised her for eighteen years, and now it turned out she wasn't really his daughter. It felt like all that effort had been for nothing.

Sandy, though, shot a quick look at Chris beside Lydia. She couldn't believe Lydia was with such a good-looking, well-dressed guy. Her voice dripped with fake sweetness. "Yeah, weren't you supposed to be finding your birth parents? What are you doing hanging out with some guy? And dressed like that?"

Sandy's words made Jenson and Milana finally notice Lydia's outfit. Today, Lydia looked effortlessly cool, a little edgy, with a definite rebel vibe. The more they looked, the more it seemed like her clothes matched Chris's, almost like they were wearing couple's outfits.

Milana's eyes narrowed. "Lydia! You're not home looking for your real parents, and instead you're messing around with boys? Do you even know where you are? This is a military hospital. How did you get in here?"

This was the Capital's top military hospital, with security tighter than a vault. Getting in or out meant strict checks and paperwork. Without someone vouching for you, you couldn't even get through the door.

Sandy leaned in, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, Mom, maybe she used Grandma's name to get in and ask Dean for help?"

Dean was a deputy doctor at the hospital, the son of an old friend of Mrs. Smith.

Now that Jenson and Milana had found their real daughter, they were desperate to get their son a kidney transplant. Their own hospital couldn't handle it, so they'd begged Mrs. Smith to ask Dean to step in for the surgery.

Of course, they hadn't told Sandy about the transplant. They'd only just gotten her back, and didn't want to scare her by immediately asking her to give up a kidney. For now, they were keeping it quiet.

What Milana hated most was the idea of Lydia clinging to the Smith family, using them for money or connections.

"Lydia, listen to me. You're not part of the Smith family anymore. From now on, stay away from anything to do with us. Don't even think about using Grandma's name to ask anyone for favors."

Milana was convinced the Norwood family's old man was sick, and since they couldn't afford a good doctor, they'd sent Lydia to beg the Smith family for help.

Jenson piped up, "Yeah, Lydia. You're back in the countryside now, so why don't you start living like it? I've got two thousand in my wallet. Here, take it and go home."

He pulled out his wallet and held the cash out to Lydia, hoping she'd just take the money and leave.

Lydia's eyes flashed with a hint of sarcasm. Is that it? The richest man in Lakeview Town only carries two thousand?"