chapter995

Lucy's eyes involuntarily shifted toward Bruce, who appeared visibly distressed. His face was contorted

in a grimace, and he seemed to have lost his appetite entirely.

"I'm not implying there's something going on between him and you," Lucy clarified. "My suspicion is that

he's been cozying up with some other woman and you're just covering for him."

She went on, adamant that her suspicions were valid. Despite her doubts about Bruce, she would

never believe he'd stoop so low as to lay a hand on his own flesh and blood.

"No, we spent all last night discussing Susan's situation," Thalassa said, her gaze shifting away from

Bruce and towards Susan.

Susan was puzzled. "Discussing me? Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? You've been dying to be Lysander's girl, haven't you? We were brainstorming ways to

make that happen for you, to fast-track your way into Lysander's world," Thalassa explained, her face

an emotionless mask.

She hadn't succeeded in deleting the video from Bruce's possession. To maintain appearances, she

had to play along with this family charade, earn their trust, and catch them off guard.

If Bruce began to suspect her, he would surely relocate the video to a more secure location.

Susan scoffed with a light laugh. "You're kidding, right? You and Dad stayed up all night just to figure

out how I could be Lysander's girl?"

"What else do you think it was? I’ve been losing sleep over you. Are you really doubting my

intentions?" Bruce cut in before Thalassa could reply, his voice strained with suppressed anger.

Susan choked on his words, taking a sip of her juice to hide her embarrassment. For all of Bruce’s

faults and dalliances, he genuinely cherished his daughter. Throughout her life, whenever she desired

something, he'd move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Even her lofty goal of winning Lysander's heart was a scheme Bruce was determined to fulfill.

"So, that's the deal? Did you guys come up with any good plans last night?" Lucy perked up; her

interest piqued as they talked about benefiting Susan.

Bruce glanced at Thalassa, tossing the conversational ball into her court, silently urging her to take the

lead.

He wasn't familiar with Lysander's world. How could he possibly comment?

"We thought up a bunch of strategies, but we scrapped them all," Thalassa admitted. "Lysander is a cut

above the rest, a shrewd man. You can't snag someone like him with just any trick. Provoke him, and

your life could be in jeopardy."

That wasn't an exaggeration. Susan had attempted to seduce Lysander once, and he hadn't given her

so much as a glance; instead, he'd sent her sprawling with a dismissive shove.

The memory of that humiliating failure still stung Susan.

"And how exactly did you manage to get him?" Lucy asked, hitting right where Susan's pride hurt the

most. She had wanted to ask the question herself but was too proud to voice it.

"Well, let's just say he fell from grace, and I happened to be there to catch him. It was a fluke, and just

like that, I became his woman," Thalassa said nonchalantly. It wasn't a secret, so sharing it with them

made no difference.

Besides, this way, they would understand that unless Lysander himself was interested, all their

schemes were pointless.

"So, what you're saying is, he came to you?" Lucy asked, her tone dripping with disdain. "Lysander is

the king of Starhaven, untouchable and proud. Why would he ever fall for a country bumpkin like you?"

"That’s right; he took a tumble from his ivory tower, and I just happened to be there to catch the prize,"

Thalassa parried smoothly.

"You..." Lucy spluttered, at a loss for words.