His heart pounded faster for a second, but he quickly came back to his senses, cheeks turning a bit red.
“Don’t get the wrong idea…
I just helped with your injuries.
The clothes and bandages, they were taken care of by a female colleague who lives nearby.”
Phew—
Lydia let out a quiet breath of relief after hearing that.
—Still, thank you, Mikey.
Michael chuckled.
“Alright, alright.
Just count it as you owing me one.
Treat me to a meal next time.”
Lydia’s eyes lit up and she nodded without hesitation.
“Deal!”
Seeing her smile, Michael relaxed too.
He sat down in front of her, gaze fixed on her eyes.
“Seven, back then when you got adopted from the orphanage, I was out painting.
By the time I got back, you were already taken away by your birth father.
But there’s something…
I’ve always wanted to ask you.
I’ve never stopped worrying about it, so I’ve been trying to find you.”
As he spoke, he took out a photo from the bedside drawer.
Just one glance, and Lydia recognized it—it was their group photo taken in the orphanage when they were kids.
“Do you still remember this?” he asked, pointing to the necklace tiny Lydia wore in the photo.
It was a simple yet delicately made chain, with a pendant shaped like an eye and inlaid with a gemstone.
“Of course, that’s mine,” she replied, her eyes dazed for a moment.
That necklace…
it really looked just like the one she saw with Clara the other day.
She clearly remembered she had one just like it.
Michael asked again, “Do you still have it?”
Lydia shook her head and pointed to the thin, dark-skinned little girl standing next to her in the photo.
“When I got adopted, Six’s dad came to pick her up too.
She was crying and didn’t want to part with me.
So we ended up swapping keepsakes.
Why do you ask, Mikey?”
Michael’s brows furrowed the moment he heard that.
He suddenly recalled a blurry scene from before he left…
something about it didn’t sit right with him.
But right now, it was just a hunch—he didn’t have anything solid to go on.
So instead of pressing, he asked, “Have you kept in touch with Six all these years?”
Lydia gently shook her head, looking a bit emotional.
“No.
After we both got adopted, we lost contact.
I still remember the moment we left—me sitting on the back of my dad’s bike as we went out from the left side of the orphanage.
Her dad apparently had some clout.
He drove a car, took her through the right side exit.”
Thinking about her late parents, Lydia looked a little down, but quickly perked up.
“Hope Six is doing well nowadays,” she murmured with a faint smile.
“No matter what, Mikey, I’m really happy to see you again.”
Michael smiled warmly.
“You’ve always been so sweet.”
Michael looked at her and couldn’t help but reach out and gently pat her head, just like he used to when they were kids.
“Michael, I’m not a little girl anymore.”
Lydia ducked away, cheeks flushed with slight embarrassment.
“Haha, yeah, you’re all grown up.” Michael chuckled warmly.
Lydia lowered her head awkwardly, but then suddenly thought of Henry.
Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly pulled out her phone.
Only to find—yeah, it was already trashed when she fell down the hill.
She stared blankly at the cracked screen for a moment.
This phone, though way outdated by now, meant a lot to her.
It was the first—and only—gift Henry had ever given her.
“It’s just a phone, Lydia.
I’ll get you a new one, no big deal.
What matters is that you’re okay,” Michael said gently, completely unaware of the emotions she was holding back.
Lydia forced a little smile, then tried to sit up.
“Michael, I should go back.”
“You’re seriously going back to him after all that?” Michael blurted out.
“No, it’s just…
Henry’s temper is a bit rough, but he’s a good person deep down.”
“Lydia, come on, wake up!” Michael’s voice had sharp edges now.
“To him, you’re just someone he hired to clean his house!”
“So what?” Lydia lifted her head, eyes shimmering as she countered, “But to me, he’s the only family I have.”
Michael’s chest tightened as he looked at the girl in front of him.
The Lydia who had once relied on him for everything now belonged to someone else emotionally—even if that “someone” barely gave her the time of day.
But he knew Lydia.
Once she made up her mind, that was it.
No changing course.
And just like that, he realized the little girl he once knew…
she was gone.
What stood before him now was someone new—still Lydia, but also not.
He didn’t feel let down—just heartbroken.
And deeply, deeply regretful.
Why hadn’t he found her sooner?
“If you insist, then at least let me drive you.”
In the end, he gave in.
“Thanks, Michael.”
Lydia finally relaxed, wiping away her tears before flashing him a thankful smile.
…
At the Lawson estate.
Upstairs, in Henry’s room, not a single light was on.
He sat in front of the massive window, unmoving, eyes locked onto the dark front yard outside.
Who knew how much time passed like this, until headlights suddenly flicked on at the gate.
A black Mercedes came to a stop out front.
Henry glanced at his watch.
4:50 a.m.
Then he looked back out—and saw Lydia had changed into a new outfit.
That realization alone made something twist in his gut.
And then, he saw her greet the guy who stepped out of the car—then the two of them hugged.
Really hugged.
Way too close.
Henry’s expression darkened instantly, like a storm rolling in.
He looked absolutely livid.