Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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“How did it go?” Richard ignored Lydia Lambert and headed straight for the attendant.
The attendant kept silent, eyes flickering with something unsaid, and then, he handed the DNA test report to Richard. Seeing the confirmation, Richard’s eyes welled up.
“Our daughter is back!” He cheered. “She is our real daughter!”
Hearing that, Lydia, who had been lying on the floor on purpose, suddenly jumped up. Her face still showed pain as she rushed toward Richard.
“Dad, what are you talking about?” she demanded. “What do you mean ‘the real daughter‘? I’m your real daughter, not her!”
The shock hit Lydia like a ton of bricks. Her pale face went ghostly as she stared helplessly at Richard–who was now completely focused on Zina.
“Lydia, be good. I’ll explain everything later,” Richard said soothingly, then walked straight over to Zina. He gently took her hand and placed the test report in her palm. “See? You’re really a Lambert.”
Yvonne nodded, tears welling in her eyes. She glanced at Zina, wanting to step forward but unsure how, so she stayed awkwardly to the side.
Zina took a deep breath and accepted the report, her heart tangled with confusion, unsure how to respond to them.
Family ties were a distant concept for her–something she had no expectations for anymore. Yet now, she felt different, as if someone had finally shielded her under their wings, offering some kind of protection. She looked up and met the tearful eyes of Yvonne.
“May I hold you?” Yvonne’s voice trembled with hesitation and fear. Her gaze pierced Zina’s heart, making it impossible to
say no.
“A mother’s embrace is the warmest place in the world,” Zina thought, feeling the truth of those words for the first time. But just as this tender moment blossomed, a sharp scream shattered the quiet.
Lydia’s face darkened as she pointed at Zina, who had suddenly appeared in their home.
“Dad! Mom! Who is this person?” she yelled. “Aren’t you supposed to care the most about me? You didn’t even notice when I fell because of Dad just now!”
Lydia’s accusations finally snapped Richard back to reality. He rushed to her side, slipping back into his usual gentle, caring father role, his heart heavy with regret.
“Lydia, I’m sorry,” he soothed. “I didn’t pay attention to you just now. Can you please forgive me?”
“Dad, you didn’t care about me just now!” Lydia pouted and burst into tears. “I thought you didn’t love me anymore.”
“That’s impossible,” Richard gently stroked her hair, “I could never stop loving you.”
Zina stood quietly off to the side, watching the scene unfold. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,‘ she thought. ‘That’s always.
so true.
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22:41 Mon, Aug 4
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Chapter 6
“Darling.” Yvonne said, stepping up beside Zina and following her gaze to Richard comforting Lydia. She sighed softly, gently took Zina’s hand, and asked quietly, “Where are you living now? Do you have foster parents? If so, I can reach out to them and have you stay with us.”
Zina’s heart clenched sharply. Almost instinctively, she replied. “I don’t have foster parents.”
“Oh, God,” Yvonne sobbed. “My poor child.”
Richard caught the movement, tensed up, and let out a deep sigh before turning to face Zina.
“How aboout living here from now on. I’ll have a room on the second floor prepared for you,” he suggested.
“But Dad!” Lydia screamed, her face twisting with anger. Catching Richard’s displeased glance, she forced a tight smile but her voice was still stiff. “Wasn’t the first room on the second floor saved especially? She’s just a stranger.”
Yvonne frowned. “Lydia, she’s not a stranger–she’s your sister.”
Realizing her tone had been too sharp, she quickly softened it, but her words still stirred up a commotion. “Let me introduce you–this is your sister, the child we thought we’d lost.”
When Yvonne first sensed something was off, they ran a paternity test and discovered Lydia wasn’t her biological daughter. Still, she’d raised Lydia as her own all these years.
Now that her real daughter had returned, she wouldn’t treat Lydia any differently. But everything a real daughter deserves, Zina would receive just the same.
Lydia didn’t understand any of this. Hearing Yvonne’s words, she almost collapsed. “But wasn’t that so–called sister dead…?”
บ
Halfway through, seeing Richard’s face darken, she held back the rest but snapped, “Fine. You’ve always loved me best. I can’t just accept someone new suddenly showing up. Can she stay somewhere else for now?”
“Lydia, take your time.” Yvonne frowned at Richard’s worried look and said firmly, “If it’s too much, the downtown apartment’s ready–you can stay there a few days.”
With that, she said nothing more, only turned away guiltily, avoiding Lydia’s gaze. Lydia’s eyes went wide, not expecting that outcome. Just as someone was about to start packing her stuff, Lydia hurriedly stopped them.
“Wait!” she cried out, throwing herself into Yvonne’s arms. “Mom, I’m sorry. She can stay here, but please don’t make me
leave.”
Yvonne’s eyes softened. “That’s my good girl. You two will get along well, alright?”
“I know, Mom. I promise I’ll be good to her.” Trying to prove herself, Lydia spoke up, “I’ll take her to see her room.”
Yvonne looked toward Zina, who nodded silently and followed Lydia upstairs.
Zina didn’t exactly accept this sudden family bond. She was still confused, knowing the real priority was to get the Emberrose.
She followed Lydia into the room. But once in the room, Lydia immediately locked the door, putting on superior look.
“This house has always been mine,” she sneered. “Don’t think you can just show up and take what’s mine. Just wait–I’ll make sure you’re gone!”
