Chapter 222
"Cindy… no, wait—Ms. L! So you're Ms. L! Why didn't you say so earlier? If you'd told us sooner, I would've doted on you ages ago!"
She reached out, trying to grab Lucinda's arm, her tone dripping with a deliberately manufactured warmth. "Look at this misunderstanding! It's all just a big misunderstanding. Since you're Ms. L, we're family! Everything in the past is behind us now. We can still be family from now on, right?"
Lucinda's steps paused.
She turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on that hand hovering in midair—wanting to touch but not daring to.
She lifted her eyes to Gemma's face, plastered with a smile, and felt nothing but disgust.
"Family?" The corner of her mouth curved slightly. "When you were about to slap me just now, why didn't you mention we were family?"
Gemma's smile froze on her face. Her hand hung suspended in the air—she couldn't pull it back, but she couldn't extend it either.
Preston hurried over as well, his expression even more complicated than Gemma's. "Cindy, we didn't know… We really didn't know you were Ms. L. If we'd known earlier, we never would have treated you that way. The Wipere family is where it is today entirely because you built it up. We… we know that."
As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, as if genuinely moved. "Come back. The Wipere family's doors are always open to you. Whatever you want—we'll give you everything."
Allegra stood a few steps away, nails digging into her palms, her entire arm trembling.
She watched her parents crowd around Lucinda, watched them grovel before that woman with a kind of humility she'd never seen before. It felt like something had crushed her chest.
But she knew she couldn't lose her temper.
For the sake of the Wipere family, she had to hold it in.
She took a deep breath, swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat, and forced a docile smile onto her face.
She stepped forward, reaching out to take Lucinda's hand, her tone gentle. "Lucinda, I had no idea you were this capable. I misjudged you before… I'll definitely learn from you from now on."
Lucinda's gaze swept over her face. Then she lifted her hand, gave her fingers a light twist, and slipped free from Allegra's grasp.
Allegra's hand froze in midair. Before she could say anything else, Lucinda had already turned away, pulling her phone from her coat pocket and dialing a number.
The call connected. Her voice remained calm. "Lawyer, I'm filing a lawsuit against Allegra for defamation and slander. I'll send you the evidence shortly. Follow standard procedure. File the suit."
Allegra's face went pale.
She lunged forward two steps. "What gives you the right to sue me? What did I say? Which of my words was slander? Show me the proof!"
Lucinda pocketed her phone and turned to look at her. "Every word you said in the exhibition hall just now is on surveillance. As for what else you've done behind the scenes—do I need to list it all out for you, one by one?"
Allegra's mouth opened and closed. Instinctively, she turned to Marshall, her voice breaking into a sob. "Marshall… say something for me… She's going to sue me! I'm your fiancée—you can't just stand there and let her bully me…"
Marshall's brow was furrowed tightly, his expression grim.
He took half a step forward, opening his mouth. "Lucinda, about this…"
Before he could finish, Lucinda's gaze landed on his face.
Just one look—light, but sharp as a blade, cutting cleanly through the words he hadn't yet spoken.
Marshall's Adam's apple bobbed. The words on the tip of his tongue were forcibly swallowed back.
He stood in place, his fingers curling and uncurling. In the end, he said nothing.
Allegra stared at him, the last trace of color draining from her face.
She whipped her head around, tears streaming down. "Marshall! Why won't you say anything? You're my fiancé! Are you just going to stand there and let her bully me like this?"
Marshall turned his face away, refusing to meet her eyes.
Gemma couldn't take it anymore. She reached out again, trying to grab Lucinda. "Cindy, for Allegra's sake—she's still young…"
Before she could finish, Eugene stepped forward, positioning himself between her and Lucinda. "Please leave."
Gemma froze. "What do you mean?"
Eugene didn't look at her. He turned to a nearby staff member. "Notify security. Escort these individuals out. Also, effective immediately, these four are to be added to the mall's blacklist. They are not permitted to enter any area of this mall again."
Gemma's eyes widened. "What gives you the right? We're customers! The customer is always right! What gives you the right to blacklist us?"
Eugene remained polite. "The mall reserves the right of final interpretation. Please cooperate."
Two uniformed security guards had already hurried over, positioning themselves on either side of the Wipere family members.
Preston's face turned ashen. He lowered his head, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Gemma still tried to resist, but the guards gripped her arms and dragged her toward the exit. She was still shouting. "Lucinda! You ungrateful wretch! You'll come to a bad end! You—"
Her voice grew fainter and fainter until it disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
Allegra was dragged along, tears streaming down her face. She turned back to look at Marshall, her voice trembling. "Marshall…"
Marshall stood in place. He didn't follow.
He looked at Lucinda, opening his mouth. "I need to talk to you…"
"Get lost."
Lucinda didn't even glance at him. Without turning her head, she spat out the word.
Marshall's face flushed red. His fingers clenched and unclenched. Finally, he turned around and strode toward the exit.
The antiques hall fell silent once more.
Lucinda didn't look back. She turned and walked deeper into the corridor.
Eugene followed behind her, lowering his voice. "Ms. L, my apologies. I should have handled that sooner."
"Not your fault." Lucinda's tone was light, her steps unhurried. "Where are the items?"
"In the back room. Everything's been sorted."
She pushed open the door to the inner room.
Soft lighting filled the space. Several items were arranged on display stands, each cushioned with soft cloth.
Her gaze swept over the first piece without pausing. The second as well. Then it landed on the third.
It was an antique carved gemstone pendant.
The pendant was fine-textured and lustrous. The carved pattern was vintage and refined—clean lines full of classical beauty. The surface was covered in a soft patina formed over many years.
Lucinda reached out and picked it up, her fingertips lightly brushing over the pendant's surface.
The touch was cool, carrying the steady weight of time.
She turned it over to examine the back, and the corner of her mouth curved slightly.
"I'll take this one."
Her voice was soft, tinged with satisfaction.
Eugene nodded. "I'll have it wrapped and sent to you."
Lucinda nodded, set the gemstone pendant back on the display stand, and turned to leave.