Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 495

“As your big brothers, we’ve always spoiled you. Whenever you got into trouble, we covered for you. Whatever you wanted to do, we made it happen. We gave you everything, Lucinda. Everyone in this family treated you like you were our little treasure.

“But what about Lydia?

“She had to grow up fast, taking care of Grandma when she was just a kid. If she wanted a better life, she had to work for it all by herself. She’s eighteen, just like you, but look how much more she knows. Do you think she was born that way? She wasn’t. Lydia’s been through more than you could ever imagine. She’s had to swallow every hardship, one after another.

“Now, after all this time, we finally found her. All we want is to give back some of the love she missed out on these last eighteen years. And you… you can’t stand it?”

Lucinda stared down at her hands, twisting her fingers together. Her voice was barely a whisper. “I’m not… I just…”

“You just can’t handle us caring for her,” Blake cut in, not missing a beat.

Lucinda’s face was full of guilt. Blake was right. She hated seeing everyone treat Lydia so well. She used to be the family’s princess. Now with Lydia around, it felt like everything that belonged to her was slipping away.

“But did you ever stop to think… maybe the life you’ve enjoyed all this time was supposed to be Lydia’s?”

Lucinda’s face went pale, like all the blood had drained out.

“If you two hadn’t been switched, where do you think you’d be living right now?”

Her nails dug into her palms, sharp and stinging, but she didn’t even care.

“We couldn’t let you suffer in the countryside, so we kept you here, even if it meant Lydia might feel unfair. And Lydia never once asked you to leave. She just let you keep sharing her life, her family, everything.”

Lucinda was frozen, her mind racing.

Blake let out a quiet, tired laugh. “And yet all this time, you’ve been thinking Lydia stole your life, when she’s never blamed you for anything. You’re the one who kept picking fights with her, making bets. You lost, but you didn’t want to keep your word. Instead, you blamed her for it. Lucinda, that’s not right.”

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