Chapter 19
As night deepened, the laughter and chatter in the Douglas Estate dining room had faded away.
Lucinda finished dinner with Valencia and Wesley, sat chatting with them for a while, then excused herself and returned to her room.
She closed the door, walked to her desk, and opened her laptop.
The screen lit up. Several unread emails sat in her inbox.
She went through them one by one, fingers gliding lightly across the trackpad.
Progress reports from the national research institute, procurement lists for Solsticex materials, a text from Tamsin...
Lucinda handled them systematically. Forty minutes later, her inbox was cleared.
She closed the laptop, rubbed her temples, and left the room.
The corridor was quiet, only the soft rustle of footsteps on carpet breaking the silence.
She headed downstairs to the dining room for water. Just as she picked up her glass, sounds came from the entrance hall.
Dahlia pushed through the door, a smile on her face, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. She practically glowed.
Valencia sat on the living room sofa scrolling through her phone. She looked up at the sound. "Dahlia, you're back? So late—where were you?"
Dahlia changed into house slippers, clutching her purse as she walked into the living room, voice sweet as honey. "Mommy, I had dinner with Reginald."
She paused, her peripheral vision catching that cool figure pouring water in the dining room. Her voice lifted a notch. "Reginald was so good to me. He specially reserved a restaurant and said he'd take me to a concert next time. He's so busy, yet he still made time for me. He's really thoughtful."
Valencia's face softened with an indulgent smile. "That's good. I've met the Lancaster heir a few times. He's a steady young man. Take your time getting to know each other—I'm not rushing you."
Dahlia responded sweetly, her gaze constantly drifting toward the dining room.
Lucinda walked out carrying her water glass. As she passed the living room, she didn't pause, didn't look their way. Her expression remained neutral, as if she'd heard nothing.
Watching Lucinda's unruffled demeanor, Dahlia felt even more smug.
She deliberately tilted her head and gave Lucinda a sweet smile. "Lucinda, still up? Right, you probably aren't used to going to bed this early yet. Rest well. Good night."
Lucinda's steps paused briefly. She said nothing, turned, and headed upstairs.
Her footsteps, unhurried and steady, faded at the top of the stairs.
Dahlia stood in place, watching that retreating figure disappear around the landing. The curve of her lips slowly flattened.
Playing it so cool.
Valencia remained focused on her phone, oblivious to the undercurrent between her two daughters.
Dahlia withdrew her gaze, said good night to her mother, and went upstairs.
Lucinda returned to her room, closed the door, and pulled out her phone to make a call.
It was answered after one ring.
"Lucinda." Tamsin's voice came through clearly. The background was quiet—she must be at home. "I saw your email."
Lucinda leaned against the window. "What's going on with Solsticex?"
Tamsin's tone immediately turned serious. "I was about to tell you about this. There's an auction in Starlight City in a few days. Guess what's up for sale?"
"Solsticex."
"Exactly!" Tamsin's voice rose several notches. "Six pills somehow leaked onto the market. They're already being hyped to astronomical prices. I asked around—lots of wealthy people will be there, including the Wipere family. They received an invitation."
Lucinda didn't respond. Her gaze rested on the darkness outside.
Tamsin continued. "Lucinda, what are you thinking? If these people keep speculating with this drug, it'll become even harder to get on the open market. The people who actually need it won't be able to afford it."
"I know." Lucinda's voice remained calm. "When is the auction?"
"Three days from now. At Regal Crest Hotel."
"I'll go take a look."
Tamsin hesitated. "You're going? Is it appropriate for you to show your face?"
"I'm not bidding. I just want to see who's selling it." Lucinda paused. "I developed Solsticex to help people. The raw materials are expensive, but if we can find substitutes and bring the cost down, we could mass-produce it and make it accessible to everyone who truly needs it. Now that someone's profiteering off it, I can't just ignore that."
Tamsin fell silent on the other end, then sighed. "I knew that's how you'd think. Fine. I'll come with you."
"Thanks." Lucinda's tone softened slightly. "What about the other matter?"
"The fire." Tamsin's voice dropped lower. "I looked into the records from back then. Twenty-one years ago, the official conclusion was that the airport fire was caused by aging electrical wiring—an accident. But I tracked down some eyewitnesses, and their accounts don't quite match up."
Lucinda's fingers tightened slightly.
"Some people said that before the fire started, they saw a figure moving around near the area where your family was waiting. The fire started in a trash can—not a spot where faulty wiring would typically cause a blaze."
"Arson?" Lucinda's voice went cold.
"It's possible, but we don't have enough evidence yet." Tamsin said. "Too much time has passed. Most of the surveillance footage is long gone, and witnesses are hard to find. I'll keep digging. I'll let you know what I find."
"Good." Lucinda's voice was heavy. "Keep investigating. No matter how long it takes, get to the bottom of it."
"Understood."
The call ended.
Lucinda stood by the window, staring out at the pitch-black night, distant city lights blurred in her eyes.
Twenty-one years ago. A fire in the terminal. She was taken.
Not an accident. Someone did it deliberately.
Her fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles turned white.
Who was that person? Why did they take her? Was there a connection to the Wipere family?
She would find the answers to these questions, one by one.
On the other side, Dahlia returned to her room and tossed her purse onto the bed. The smile finally slid off her face.
She sat on the edge of the bed for a while, staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Thinking of Reginald's attitude toward her today, resentment churned in her eyes.
Two light knocks sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Uma pushed the door open, carrying a cup of warm milk.
She walked to the bedside and set the cup on the nightstand with a smile. "Ms. Douglas, have some milk. It'll help you sleep."
Dahlia acknowledged her and picked up the cup, taking a sip. The temperature was just right.
Uma didn't leave immediately. She lingered for a moment, then suddenly lowered her voice. "Ms. Douglas, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you."
Dahlia looked up at her. "What is it?"
Uma glanced toward the door to make sure it was closed, then stepped closer. "I heard that Mr. Hayden Lancaster's illness can't be cured with conventional treatment alone. He needs a drug called 'Solsticex' for a complete recovery."
Dahlia's brow twitched slightly. "Solsticex? What's that?"
"A very rare drug. You can't buy it anywhere on the market." Uma's voice took on a mysterious tone. "I heard it has miraculous effects—it can treat all kinds of incurable diseases. Given Mr. Hayden Lancaster's current condition, if he could get Solsticex, his recovery would be much faster."
Dahlia's hand paused as she held the cup. A glint flashed in her eyes.
Uma read her expression and continued. "I also found out something else. There's an auction in Starlight City in a few days, and one of the items for sale is Solsticex. Lots of wealthy people will be there. Competition will definitely be fierce. If you could win the bid and present it to Mr. Hayden Lancaster..."
She didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Dahlia's eyes lit up.
Save Hayden's life.
This card was far more valuable than any engagement.
Reginald could deny the engagement, but surely he couldn't refuse someone who'd saved his father's life.