Chapter 370
Pampered By Power: The True Heiress Returns
Chapter 370 Aliceâs smile stretched wider. She knew for sure that Elysia didnât want Lucille to find out about her and Zane.
Even though they hadnât said anything. Alice was sharp. With her quick mind, it was easy for her to piece things together. They couldnât hide anything from her.
Lucille smiled, too. She had always thought her brother would end up alone. But now, it seemed like sheâd been overthinking it all.
âSis?â a deep male voice said. Elysia looked up, and Zane was standing right behind them.
Lucilleâs face lit up. âWell, since youâre here, I guess Alice and I can leave you two alone.â
She reached for Aliceâs hand, trying to pull her away. But Alice wasnât having it.
Alice glanced up at Lucille with a pleading look, her voice soft and sweet. âMom, youâre the best. Please, just let me talk to my future aunt for a little longer, okay?â
Hearing that, Zane raised an eyebrow, glancing at Alice. He couldnât help but think that her words seemed to make sense.
âAlice,â Lucille said, lifting an eyebrow. âYour uncle has some important stuff to talk about. We shouldnât interrupt him.â
Alice rolled her eyes. âImportant stuff?â she thought, âIs it some love talk?â
She wasnât a little kid anymore. That excuse didnât fool her.
Lucille saw that Alice wasnât going to back down. She raised an eyebrow, realizing that Aliceâs sharp mind wasnât always a blessing. The usual tricks she used on younger kids werenât working on her daughter.
âLucille, itâs fine,â Elysia said quickly, trying to smooth things over. âLet Alice stay. She wonât be bothering us.â
Lucille glanced at Elysia, then turned her gaze to Zane. Ignoring his expression, she nodded. âAlright, then. Let Alice stay and talk with you.â
âOkay, Iâve got it,â Elysia said with a smile.
After Lucille left, Alice linked her arm through Elysiaâs, looking frustrated. âElysia, my future aunt. Iâm not trying to bother you. Itâs just... thereâs something I have to say. If I donât say it now, I might never get the chance.â
Elysia blinked, surprised by Aliceâs serious tone. âAlice, is everything okay?â
âIâm going back to Morgania,â Alice said, her voice soft but firm.
Zane raised an eyebrow, his confusion clear. âWho told you that?â
âI overheard Mom and Dad talking about it. They said theyâre taking me back to Morgania, and in a few days, theyâre going to start the paperwork,â Alice replied.
Zane had no idea about this. No one had mentioned anything to him.
âIf you donât want to go back, I can talk to your mom. We can figure something out so you can stay here,â Zane said, his voice sincere.
Alice looked between Zane and Elysia, before shaking her head. âI want to go back. I mean itâs nice here, but Iâd rather be with Mom and Dad.â
Zane gently ruffled her hair. âItâs okay. If you miss me, Iâll come visit.â
1/3 +83 Chapter 370 Alice smiled a little. âJust donât forget to bring Elysia with you?
Seeing Alice upset, Zane chuckled, glancing at Elysia and nodding, âDonât worry, Iâll bring her He said it so casually like it was only natural, Elysia didnât react right away. Instead, she turned to Alice, her expression softening âWhen you leave, would you like me to come with you? Iâll see you off if you want.â
Alice lifted her gaze to Elysia, and the sadness on her face seemed to melt away. âOkayâ
Without another word, Alice threw her arms around Elysia in a tight hug. âYouâre the best?
Watching the sweet moment, Zane couldnât help but tease, âWhat about me?â
Alice pulled her head out of Elysiaâs arms and looked at him, trying to sound indifferent. I guess youâre okay mate!
It wasnât just a simple âokayâ-the way she said it, with a hint of challenge in her voice.
Zane grinned, but he let it slide. After all, Alice was leaving soon, and he wasnât about to pick a fight.
Vincent was surrounded by guests, but his eyes scanned through the crowd until they landed on Elysia and the others. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He thought Elysia and Zane really did look good together.
As the dinner was winding down, Lindsey approached Elysia with a smile on her face. âElysia, come with me. I have a gift for you.â
Her voice was soft and warm, totally different from how sheâd spoken to Jimâs family.
âA gift?â Elysia asked, sounding a bit confused.
Lindsey nodded, still smiling. âYep, come on.â
Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked ahead. Elysia hesitated, and as curiosity got the better of her, she followed.
They stepped out of the front hall and made their way outside. When they reached the driveway, Lindsey stopped in front of a Bentley, popped the trunk, and pulled out a beautifully wrapped gift box. She handed it to Elysia with a smile. âWelcome home.â
Elysia eyed the gift in the air for a moment, her hesitation clear. She couldnât figure out why Lindsey was being so nice to her.
Her relationship with Jim was far from perfect, and yet, here Lindsey was, offering her a gift.
Seeing Elysiaâs hesitation, Lindsey gently placed the box in her hands. âDonât worry. I wonât hurt you.â
Lindsey gave a soft smile and turned to walk away, but after a couple of steps, she stopped and glanced at Elysia.
âI know what youâre thinking,â she said, her voice softening. âDonât worry. I was raised by my grandmother. She cared for you. I wonât treat you badly.â
Elysia blinked, her eyes widening as a realization started to form. The kindness came from Oliveâs influence.
Lindsey turned fully to face her again, her gaze becoming gentler. âAnd... Evelyn helped me before. Sheâs not here anymore, but Iâll look out for you in her place.â
Chapter 370 When Lindsey was twelve and Evelyn was five, Jimâs family gathered at Edwardâs house for Eamonâs memorial Ashley, looking for any excuse to lash out, decided to pick on Lindsey. She claimed that Lindsey had said something wrong and started hitting herâpunching and kicking. Jim, Lindseyâs father, just stood there, pretending he didnât see anything With tears streaming down her face, Lindsey ran away. She ran until she found herself in a small yard.
There, she saw a girl sitting on a swing, a book in her hands. The girlâs pale face made her seem even weaker than she already was.
As soon as Ashley saw the girl, her anger softened. She straightened up, and her attitude changed for the better.
Lindsey knew the girl right away. It was Evelyn, Edwardâs daughter. She was Oliveâs favorite, always sickly and frail Evelyn never interacted with strangers.
At the time, Lindsey was shy and selfâconscious. She couldnât even lift her head when she saw Evelynâsomeone so beautiful like moonlight.
But Lindsey never expected that this delicate, beautiful girl would be the one to protect her from Ashleyâs blows.
Evelyn was only five years old at that time.
A fiveâyearâold child had stepped in to protect Lindsey, while her own father, Jim, had ignored all the pain she had been through for years.
Lindsey thought it was almost laughable.
Then there was her halfâsister, Esther. Even though Esther and Evelyn were the same age, she was just like her motherâno different from Ashley.
Lindsey had only gone abroad because of Evelyn. It was Evelyn who suggested it and even begged Olive to let her go. If not for Evelyn, Lindsey might have ended up dead from Ashleyâs abuse.
After moving abroad, Lindsey kept in touch with Evelyn. She would tell her about the outside world, sending postcards from the places she visited. Evelyn would read them, her eyes full of longing, dreaming of one day seeing the world outside her small, confined world.
Unfortunately, Evelyn never got the chance to live out that dream.
Three winters ago, Evelynâs life was cut short at just fifteen years old. At that time, Lindsey was twentyâtwo and already well-
established in her career in finance.
When Evelyn heard the news of Lindseyâs passing, she rushed back from overseas to attend the funeral.
That day, Lindsey sat alone at her grave, not moving for what felt like hours.
Lindsey never imagined that the next time she would see Evelyn, it would be in a place so far beyond reach.