Chapter 77
At this, Richard let out a sigh of relief. The hard lines of his face gentled.
“Zina, sorry I have been swamped with work these days and neglected you,” he said gently. “Are you settling in alright at home?”
Zina nodded, looking quite demure.
At this moment, a piercing shriek erupted from upstairs.
Lydia thrashed and wailed desperately, but she couldn’t stop the butler from carrying her two large suitcases down the stairs.
Seeing Richard, the butler stopped, then quickly bowed. “I didn’t realize you were home today, sir. Do you have any instructions?”
“What’s going on here?”
Richard’s gaze shifted from Lydia, who came running frantically, barefoot, down the stairs, to the suitcases in the butler’s hands. His brows knitted together with clear irritation.
Lydia’s bloodshot eyes locked onto Richard–wide, desperate, glistening with tears. Like a woman dragged under by the tide, she surged forward, fingers clawing at his shirt as if he alone could pull her from the depths. Broken, gasping sobs tore from
her throat.
“Dad! Dad, you have to help me! Mom wants to kick me out. I was indeed wrong. I’m sorry, but I really can’t leave you both. I’ve never known any other home. Please, please don’t do this to me. Mom, Dad, I’ll do anything to make it right, just please don’t send me away, please.”
Richard frowned deeply and turned to Yvonne. “What’s going on?”
Yvonne merely cast Lydia a frosty glance before saying coolly, “Nothing. I think it’s time for Lydia to move out for a while.”
Richard had always deferred to his wife, yet he frowned slightly at this.
Seizing the opportunity, Lydia desperately clung to his hand in frantic pleading.
“Dad, I know I was wrong now. Please, please don’t send me away!”
But Richard said, “Lydia, be good and listen to your mom for now.”
He pried Lydia’s hands away and went straight to Yvonne, gently taking her trembling fingers in his. He murmured soothing words.
“Don’t be upset. I’m right here with you.
Yvonne squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to ignore Lydia’s pleading gaze.
ng in her heart relentlessly reminded her–Lydia’s mindset had already grown beyond her control.
Each pang
Taking a deep breath, she ordered, “Johnson, pack Miss Lydia’s belongings and escort her out.”
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田
미 X
Chapter 77
Amidst the deafening wails, she bit down hard on her lower lip to force herself to remain composed.
At last, the cries faded into silence. Yvonne snapped her eyes open.
Her slender frame swayed unsteadily, yet she clenched her fists and forced herself to remain upright.
The moment she looked up and met Richard’s gaze, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
She murmured. “I’m not sure if this is the right thing to do.”
“Whatever you do is right. I’ll always be here for you.”
Richard tightened his grip on her hand, his unwavering devotion and heartfelt sincerity shining through his resolute gaze.
Witnessing the entire scene unfold from the sidelines, Zina let out a quiet sigh. Her gaze drifted upward toward the second floor–where Lydia had just been taken from–and she paused thoughtfully.
“Mr. Lambert, I need to step out for a while.”
Her sudden voice snapped Richard out of his thoughts.
He gave a mechanical nod, then added just as Zina was about to leave
“There’s a dinner party tonight. I’d like you to come–it would be a good chance to introduce you to our social circle. Would you be interested?”
Zina paused and glanced back slightly. “Alright,” she said.
With that, she turned and strode away purposefully.
Standing in the living room, Yvonne gazed after Zina’s retreating figure, lost in thought.
“Did I do the right thing? Zina seems so disappointed in me.”
Her quiet murmur drifted into the air and quickly faded away.
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