chapter587

Lucinda just stared at Grace without saying a word. Grace gave a nervous little laugh. Lucinda, I don't mean anything bad by it. I just think... everyone's going to die someday, right? It's better to make peace with that. Honestly, with everything going on with Lydia lately, the whole house has been so tense. No one's eating or sleeping."

As much as Lucinda didn't want to admit it, Grace had a point. The past few days, everyone had been tiptoeing around. The mood at home felt heavier than it did when their grandpa was in the hospital.

"Grace, don't you ever say something like that in front of anyone else," Lucinda warned quietly.

Grace quickly nodded. "I know, I know. But Lydia cares so much about that old lady from the Smith family. What if, when she gets discharged, Lydia brings her to live with us?"

Lucinda had worried about that too. If Lydia insisted, her parents would never say no. The house already felt cramped. If another old lady moved in... Lucinda didn't even want to picture it.

Seeing Lucinda start to frown, Grace tried to lighten the mood. "Well, the house is still big enough. If Lydia really wants to bring her here, what can we do about it?"

Lucinda dropped her eyes. It was true. These days, everything in the house seemed to revolve around Lydia's mood. The privileges that used to belong to Lucinda now felt like they'd been handed over. It stung more than she liked to admit.

Meanwhile, Lydia headed back to her room, filled the bathtub, and let herself sink into the water. The stress of the last few days finally started to melt away. After about twenty minutes, she opened her eyes, climbed out, and called Connor on her phone.

After a good night's sleep, Lydia looked a lot better. She was back to her usual calm, rational self. Over breakfast, Cameron and Kylie said they wanted to go to the hospital with her, but Lydia turned them down. Her grandma was in a coma. Whether they went or not didn't really matter.

When Lydia arrived at the hospital, she spotted a group of police officers outside her grandmother's room. Byron was leading them, with Jenson and Milana tagging along.

"Officer, my mother Louise is in

there. I just want to see her, but they won't let me in. How is that fair?"

Jenson looked like he'd aged tennet

years in a week. Even his hair had gone gray at the temples. The company was in crisis at his trusted people were gone, and now he was carrying everything on his own.

Byron cleared his throat, glancing inside the room. "Mr. Jefferson, is that true?"

He was already annoyed. Of all days, why did he have to be the one stuck with this case?

Connor didn't even look up. His voice

was cold. They abused her first. When she was on the operating table fighting for her fe, they didn't

care. But now they show up and act like nothing happened?"

Byron let out a long breath. Just as he thought, Mr. Jefferson wouldn't keep family members away for no reason.

Jenson couldn't even look anyone in

the eye, but Milana, as shameless as

ever, turned on Connor. We have our own reasons. What could you possibly understand? Officer, he

not even related to the Smith family. He has no business here."

"It's not up to you to decide who belongs here."

The voice was cool and sharp. Lydia walked up, her presence impossible to ignore.

As soon as Milana saw her, she spun toward Byron again.

"And her, too, Officer! My daughter's been missing for three days. I know she's involved. You have to help us. Please find my daughter."