“Come on, there’s no need to thank us. We were devastated when we heard about your death. But now, you’re back, and you’ve finally claimed your real identity! This naturally calls for a celebration!”
Champagne was poured all around, they had a good time chatting and laughing as they reminisced the old times.
Sally and Uma sat on either side of Lucinda, clinging to her as younger sisters would to their beloved older sibling.
Lucinda thought back to what Conor had said on the plane and turned to Uma.
‘s
“I heard that the eldest grandson of the Payne family has taken over the reins now. He hasn’t made things difficult for you and your parents, has he?”
“Not at all. My father has never really been interested in power dynamics and whatnot. The only person to ever challenge Nathan is my second uncle. He actually treats my parents quite well.”
Lucinda ruffled the other woman’s hair and smiled.
“That’s good, then.”
“But his circumstances are quite pitiful as well. He came back about half a year ago from a mission in the military. He was badly hurt.
I saw him myself, all covered in his own blood, as he dragged himself back to the manor. The servants say that he would even cough up blood every single day. Grandpa is so worried. But Nathan is a tough man. He even put my second uncle in his rightful place, despite his terrible state. I do admire him a lot.”
Lucinda had no response to that.
It hadn’t even been that long since she stepped back into Stastle, yet she had already heard multiple people sing praises of this Nathan person. She didn’t want to admit it openly, but she was rather curious about the man.
As she mulled over this, she failed to notice Sally quietly switch seats with Brinleigh.
By the time Lucinda looked up, he was already grinning at her, a glass of wine in his hand.
He was still as handsome and suave as ever. He slowly raised his glass to her in a toast.
“It’s been a long time since we last saw each other, Lucinda, yet your beauty never wanes.”
She smiled and clinked glasses with him.
Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…
“When did you even get back from abroad? How did the Hernandez family manage to find you?”
Brinleigh’s face stiffened.
He noticed how Lucinda seemed to be acting distant toward him.
It didn’t help that she asked about the matter he was most sensitive about.
Just the mention of it had his blood boiling. That damn bastard, Nathaniel, had some audacity to play tricks on him! Nathaniel had, in fact, thrown Brinleigh into a random ship and sent the latter to the desolate country, Lirqan. It had taken a lot of time, effort, and indeed, money, for the Hernandez family to hunt him down and bring him home.
But Nathaniel was dead now. This time around, Brinleigh had better chances of winning Lucinda’s heart.
He took comfort in the thought and soon regained his composure.