Chapter 110
The Rolls-Royce pulled through the estate gates and came to a smooth stop before the entrance.
Lucinda pushed open the car door and had barely taken a step when Valencia caught up from behind, adjusting the trench coat on her shoulders. "Cindy, don't rush upstairs just yet." Valencia's voice carried a mysterious excitement. "We have a gift for you. It's in the study."
Lucinda glanced at her. "What gift?"
"You'll see when we get there." Valencia looped her arm through Lucinda's and pulled her toward the main building without waiting for an answer.
Wesley followed behind, his steps quicker than usual.
Dahlia trailed at the back.
She carried the first-place trophy, but her heart held none of the joy of winning.
The sharp edges of the trophy dug into her palm, the pain shooting up her entire arm until it went numb.
The study was brightly lit.
Wesley walked to the desk and pulled out a deep black velvet box from the drawer.
He placed the box in front of Lucinda, his tone solemn. "Cindy, open it."
Lucinda looked down at the box.
She recognized it. Elysian Auction's signature packaging—only used for the world's most elite jewelry displays.
Her fingers rested on the lid. She lifted it gently.
Inside lay a diamond, teardrop-cut, its entire body a nearly otherworldly deep blue—like a piece of frozen ocean.
"Heart of the Ocean."
Wesley's voice was low, tinged with emotion. "We bought it at auction in Avalonia five years ago. We thought—when our daughter comes home, we'll give it to her ourselves."
Valencia nodded beside him, her eyes reddening again. "This diamond has been in the safe for five years, waiting for this day. Cindy, you're Amy, the top master in the design world. In your hands, this diamond can become true art. In ours, it's just a pretty rock."
Lucinda's gaze fell on the diamond.
Four hundred thirty million dollars.
In her twenty years with the Wipere family, Preston's most expensive car was barely five million. That limited-edition Cartier necklace around Gemma's neck? A few hundred thousand at most.
And now, her biological parents didn't even blink before placing a diamond worth over four hundred million in front of her.
Her fingers lightly traced the diamond's surface.
The touch was cold, but that shade of blue shimmered under the light as if alive.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad." Her voice was soft, but her lips curved slightly—clearly, she'd accepted it.
Valencia's eyes instantly filled with tears. She pulled Lucinda into a tight embrace, her voice trembling. "Silly girl, what are you thanking us for? This is yours. It's always been yours."
Wesley stood to the side, watching his wife and daughter embrace. His smile deepened.
In the corner by the door, Dahlia stood gripping the gold-embossed trophy so hard her knuckles turned white.
Her gaze fell on that deep blue diamond. It felt like a knife was carving out her heart, piece by piece.
Heart of the Ocean.
Five years ago at that auction, she'd accompanied her parents on vacation to Avalonia. She'd been there in person.
She'd watched her father raise his paddle. Watched the price skyrocket from one hundred million to four hundred thirty million dollars. Watched that diamond get locked away in the safe.
She'd asked her father then—who was the diamond for?
He'd only said it was a secret.
She'd thought it was for her.
After all, she was the only daughter of the Douglas family. She'd been their treasured princess since childhood. She was the one who deserved a four-hundred-thirty-million-dollar diamond.
But now, that diamond rested in Lucinda's palm, personally given by her parents, who hadn't even glanced her way.
Her nails dug into the metal edge of the trophy, leaving a crescent-shaped mark.
Why?
Lucinda just happened to have Douglas blood. Just happened to be lucky enough to be found. Why did she get to take everything?
Her lips pressed into a thin line. The jealousy in her eyes was so thick it threatened to spill over.
She stood there quietly, watching that warm family scene, a smile on her lips but ruthlessness hidden in her eyes.
One day.
She repeated it fiercely in her mind.
One day, she would take it all back.
The next morning, Lucinda was woken by her phone ringing.
She opened her eyes. Outside the window, the sky was still gray. The digital clock on the nightstand read 6:15 AM.
She reached for her phone. The screen displayed "Research Institute."
"Ms. Wipere!" Elowen's voice came through urgently. "The centrifuge array in the central lab is malfunctioning again—three units reporting errors simultaneously, all data interrupted. The director says... only you can fix it."
Lucinda sat up, rubbing her temples. "What error codes?"
"E-047, E-053, and one unit showing total system core collapse."
"I'll be right there." She hung up and threw off the covers.
She moved quickly, pulling a white blouse and black slacks from the closet. Washed up, changed, tied her hair back.
When she came downstairs, Valencia was already waiting in the dining room, holding a cup of hot milk. Seeing her descend, she hurried over. "Cindy, so early? Eat something before you go..."
"No time." Lucinda took the milk, drank it in one gulp, and handed the cup back. "Emergency at the institute. I'll be back tonight."
Valencia wanted to say more, but Lucinda was already at the door, her silhouette disappearing into the morning light.
The Research Institute.
Lucinda walked through the corridor. At the central lab's airtight door, Elowen was pacing anxiously. Seeing her arrive, her eyes lit up instantly. "Ms. Wipere! Finally!"
Lucinda nodded, pulled the black access card from her pocket, and swiped it across the security panel.
The red light turned green.
She pushed the door open. Her gaze swept over the three centrifuges all flashing red lights. Her brow furrowed slightly. "Did you back up the data?"
"Yes, but we couldn't save the last three minutes before the interruption."
"That's enough."
She walked to the main console, fingers landing on the keyboard.
Lines of code appeared on the screen one after another. Her gaze was focused and calm. Her fingers moved so fast they were nearly a blur.
Elowen stood beside her, barely daring to breathe.
Ten minutes later, the first machine's green light came on.
Twenty minutes later, the second.
Thirty-five minutes in, all three machines were running normally, their screens displaying steady data curves.
Lucinda straightened, rolled her stiff neck, her voice flat. "The core version's too old. Upgrade it. Next time there's a problem, restart first. Don't call me right away."
Elowen nodded repeatedly, her eyes brimming with admiration.
Lucinda turned and walked out. The moment she stepped through the lab door, she pulled out her phone.
The screen lit up. Her steps froze.
Missed calls: Forty-seven.
Unread messages: One hundred sixty-three.
All from the same number.
Preston.