Chapter 15
Dahlia emerged from the dining room, an obedient smile on her face. "Mommy, Dad, you haven't eaten yet. I had Uma heat up the food. Let's eat."
She walked over and naturally linked arms with Valencia, tone gentle and considerate. "Lucinda went out, but you still have me with you. If you let yourselves go hungry, Lucinda would worry too."
Valencia glanced at her and smiled faintly. "Lia is so thoughtful."
The three entered the dining room and sat down.
Dahlia attentively served Valencia food and ladled soup for Wesley, every bit the caring daughter.
Halfway through the meal, she suddenly set down her utensils and looked between Valencia and Wesley hesitantly.
"What is it?" Valencia asked.
Dahlia bit her lip, lowering her voice. "Mommy, Dad, there's something I don't know if I should say."
Wesley set down his utensils. "Go ahead."
"It's just..." Dahlia's gaze circled their faces, voice dropping lower. "Lucinda was lost for twenty years and suddenly came back. Of course I'm happy, but... have you considered that if someone knew our family was looking for our daughter, they might intentionally..."
She didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
The atmosphere at the table froze for a moment.
Valencia's expression shifted slightly. Wesley's brow furrowed.
Dahlia quickly waved her hands. "I'm not saying Lucinda is fake! I'm just worried you're both too kind-hearted and might be deceived. How many people have come over the years claiming to be related to us? Being careful can't hurt."
Wesley fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Don't worry. When Lucinda first appeared, I had someone take a sample of her hair and run a paternity test."
Dahlia's fingers tightened slightly under the table.
"The results came back long ago." Wesley's voice deepened. "Ninety-nine point nine nine percent. She's our Douglas family child."
Valencia's eyes reddened again. "Look how much Cindy suffered out there..."
"That's exactly why we need to treat her well." Wesley gripped his wife's hand, tone firm. "These twenty years we owe her—we'll make it up to her bit by bit."
He paused as if remembering something. "Oh, right, I had the lawyer draft a stock transfer agreement. Company shares—I'm planning to give Cindy ten percent."
Dahlia's smile completely froze on her face.
Ten percent.
She'd been in this family for twenty years, and Mom and Dad had never mentioned giving her shares.
Now Lucinda had been back just two days, and they were handing over ten percent?
Her lips moved, wanting to say something, but her throat felt strangled. Not a word would come out.
Valencia nodded, tone natural. "As it should be. Cindy is our biological daughter. However much we give her wouldn't be too much. Oh, right, I saw a jewelry set yesterday. I'll buy it for Cindy, too. A young lady needs some proper jewelry..."
Dahlia sat there, a smile plastered on like a mask, fingers gripping under the table until her knuckles turned white.
She lowered her head, pretending to drink soup, swallowing back the bitterness and rage rising in her throat.
The nursing home.
The car stopped before a white building.
The nursing home sat in the western suburbs of Starlight City, nestled against mountains and water, environment serene. Only the wealthy could afford to stay here.
Lucinda pushed open the car door and walked in alone.
She passed through the garden, around the fountain, and walked into the inpatient building as if she knew every step by heart.
The elevator stopped on the seventh floor. The corridor was quiet, only the nurses' station lights on.
Room 703.
Lucinda stood at the door for a moment before pushing it open.
The room was spacious. A wheelchair sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows. On the bed lay an elderly woman, her graying hair neatly combed, expression peaceful, eyes closed as if asleep.
Lucinda walked in and sat beside the bed.
She looked at the old woman's face, gaze softer than usual.
"Grandma." Her voice was gentle as she held the old woman's hand. "I came to see you."
No response.
That withered hand lay quietly in her palm, completely limp.
"The Wipere family sent me back to my real family." She paused, lips curving slightly. "But nothing they said was true. My biological parents... they're the Douglas family of Starlight City, not from the slums."
She continued, gaze settling on the old woman's closed eyes, voice softening further. "You wouldn't believe it, would you? I didn't either."
Only the sound of the monitor responded.
The door opened gently. A middle-aged doctor in a white coat walked in, medical chart in hand.
"Ms. Wipere." Seeing Lucinda, he froze momentarily before quickly approaching. "You're here? Why didn't you let us know in advance? I could have sent someone to pick you up."
"It's fine. I was passing by." Lucinda released her grandmother's hand and stood. "Dr. Green, how is my grandmother doing?"
Theo opened the chart, tone turning professional. "Mrs. Adams's vital signs are currently stable. From all indicators, while there are no signs of waking, there's also no continued deterioration."
Lucinda nodded.
Theo paused, then added, "Honestly, maintaining this condition already exceeds standard medical expectations. It's mainly due to Solsticex's restorative effects, plus our nursing team keeping up. However..."
He hesitated. "We're almost out of Solsticex. I tried contacting you last month but couldn't get through."
"I know." Lucinda's gaze fell outside the window. "I had some things going on recently. Don't worry about Solsticex—I'll send over a batch in a few days."
Theo visibly relaxed. "That's good. Honestly, without Solsticex, relying only on conventional treatment, Mrs. Adams's body probably couldn't hold out much longer. This drug's effectiveness is truly..."
He shook his head, seemingly unable to find the right words. "Anyway, in my twenty years of practice, I've never seen anything this miraculous."
Lucinda didn't respond.
Theo glanced at her again, opening his mouth hesitantly. "Ms. Wipere, there's something I've wanted to ask you. This drug, Solsticex... It's not available anywhere on the market. You always deliver it yourself. Where exactly does it come from?"
"I developed it." Lucinda's voice was flat.
Theo froze.
His mouth opened, wanting to say something, but Lucinda raised her hand to stop him. "Don't ask too much."
She turned, gaze returning to her grandmother's face. "You just need to know—this medicine won't run out."
Theo wisely closed his mouth and nodded. "I understand. You stay with Mrs. Adams. I'll make my rounds."
He turned toward the door. At the threshold, he couldn't help glancing back.
That young woman stood beside the bed, back to him, figure slender and somewhat delicate, yet spine held perfectly straight.
Who would imagine that this now somewhat renowned nursing home had been built entirely by her hands?