Chapter 475
So it really was true.
With that confirmation, Lisette Cavendish looked at Cynthia Carmen, joy flashing across her face. For a second, she even forgot to ask when Tobias Hastings had figured out Cynthia’s identity.
“So you came here specifically for me this time p>
“Yes p>
“So that’s how it is p>
Lisette got it now. She pursed her lips and said, “I was honestly pretty confused before. I had huge conflicts with both Chloe Carmen and Bessie Carmen, and neither of them ended well. You cared about them so much, so I figured you’d want to avenge them p>
“Even the royal elders knew, that’s why they invited you here p>
At that point, Lisette felt a faint sourness in her chest.
For more than twenty years, she had been separated from her biological mother by two shores of sea, while Chloe and Bessie, the two people who had repeatedly tried to hurt her, had instead received her mother’s love and protection.
Yeah… that stung. A lot more than she wanted to admit.
“Baby, it’s not what you think p>
Lisette’s eyes dimmed, and Cynthia quickly explained, “I treated Chloe well because she was born on the same day as you. Every time I saw her, I thought of you p>
“All these years, I only let her stay in Lumière for a while during your birth month. Usually, I never paid attention to her p>
“As for Bessie p>
In an instant, Cynthia’s gaze turned razor-sharp. “I raised her. I gave her the best resources, the best education, every chance to grow. Everything she had was given by me. And what did she do p>
“She clearly knew you were my daughter, yet not only did she hide it from me, she hurt you behind my back p>
“Ungrateful. Ambitious. Rotten to the core p>
“She deserved to die p>
So after learning the truth, Cynthia had sent Bessie straight to hell without a second thought.
Even though she had once valued her.
Even though Bessie was someone she had spent a great deal of effort grooming.
Even though the entire Carmen family had believed that one day she would hand the position of clan leader to Bessie.
None of that mattered.
None of it outweighed the one unforgivable thing she had done—hurting Lisette.
At that moment, Cynthia was all sharp edges and overwhelming authority. Only then did Lisette truly see the legendary head of the Carmen family—the ruthless, decisive woman people feared.
This was her real face.
That earlier warmth, that kindness, that softness… it was only because she had recognized Lisette as her daughter and chosen to treat her gently.
Otherwise—
Lisette had no doubt that without that blood connection, considering all the grudges between her and Chloe and Bessie, she probably would’ve died a hundred and eighty times over by now.
Afraid of scaring her daughter, Cynthia reined in her hostility. Holding Lisette’s hand, she turned back into that gentle, approachable mother again.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I’ve paid very little attention to what was happening outside all these years. I really didn’t know about you beforehand p>
“If I’d known earlier, I never would’ve let them hurt you p>
“Then you wouldn’t have been kidnapped, injured, or hospitalized. It’s all my fault p>
She had only heard bits and pieces about how serious the consequences were after Bessie hired assassins, and even that was enough to leave her shaken.
The hand gripping Lisette’s trembled slightly.
She had searched desperately for her daughter for twenty-two years. And when her daughter had finally been so close, she had almost lost her.
Feeling her emotions, Lisette held her hand back and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Mom, it’s all in the past. I’m fine now, aren’t I p>
Cynthia froze on the spot. “What did you call me p>
“Mom p>
“Y-you… don’t blame me?” Cynthia’s eyes suddenly reddened. “It was my carelessness that got you lost for so many years. And because of me, you ended up in danger again and again. It’s all because of me p>
Ever since meeting Lisette, she had never dared to clearly state their relationship. She had been terrified that once her precious daughter learned the truth, she would be angry with her.
She had been blaming herself the whole time.
Lisette comforted her softly. “It’s all over now p>
“And honestly, I lived really well with the Cavendish family all these years. Dad, Mom, and my brothers were all so good to me p>
“And there’s also Sisi, Junjun, and a lot of other good friends. They’re all the most important people in my life p>
“Mhm, I know p>
Cynthia said, “Before coming to Northaven, I already looked into everything p>
She held tightly onto her daughter’s hand and said, “When there’s a chance, I want to thank the Cavendish family in person. Thank them for giving my daughter a home, for raising you so well and taking such good care of you p>
“I miss them too p>
Lisette was starting to miss them now as well.
From childhood all the way until college, she had never really left the Cavendish family.
Not until she married Tobias Hastings.
Not until she started working.
Not until she began flying all over the country and seeing her family less and less.
Cynthia discussed it with her. “When everything here is done, come back to Lumière with me, okay? From now on, Mom will take good care of you and protect you. I won’t let you suffer even the slightest grievance again p>
“Go back to Lumière p>
Lisette glanced at Velton King.
The vibe between Dad and Mom had been weird from the moment they met. It was nothing like a couple reuniting after a long separation. It was stiff—way too stiff. So much so that she hadn’t even thought in that direction before.
And from what Mom had said, ever since she left Sion twenty-two years ago, she had never stepped back into it.
That meant they hadn’t seen each other in twenty-two years!
Unless they truly didn’t love each other, then there could only be one explanation—they had conflict, a knot in their hearts that had never been untied.
But—
She clearly remembered Steven Jennings once saying that he had seen Dad staring at a photo of a woman. The woman had pale skin and was very beautiful p>
Lisette’s eyes shifted, and she nodded. “Sure. After my variety show wraps up, Dad and I will go together p>
Velton King and Cynthia spoke almost at the exact same time—
“I’m not going p>
“What would he go for p>
After saying that, the two of them looked at each other, full of disdain, then quickly looked away.
Lisette: p>
Were these two seriously planning to never speak to each other till old age?
She pouted, a little annoyed. “If Dad’s not going, then I’m not going either p>
His daughter was taking his side. Velton King couldn’t help sighing inwardly: A daughter really is her dad’s little padded jacket. His heart instantly felt warm.
Cynthia’s expression, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.
She barely had time to sit in that mood for two seconds before Lisette turned to Wade and said, “Uncle Wade, could you have someone help me pack my things p>
Wade asked, “You’re leaving p>
Lisette nodded. “The shoot was already scheduled for the day after tomorrow anyway p>
Wade said, “Then isn’t packing today a bit early p>
Lisette replied, “Not really. After this competition, I’ve figured out that a lot of people in the royal family don’t like me. If I keep staying here shamelessly, it’s honestly just boring p>
She turned and said to Hannah Jameson, “After we leave, let’s find a hotel. Mengmeng, send the address to the production team later so they can get ready for the shoot the day after tomorrow p>
The atmosphere in the dining room was weird as hell. At the whole table, the only person seriously focused on eating, eating, and eating was Hannah Jameson.
She nodded while chewing. “Got it! I’ll make sure everything’s arranged nice and neat p>
Everyone else: p>
Velton King’s mood instantly went from joy to heartbreak. He tried to keep his daughter there. “The people pulling tricks behind the scenes—I’ll deal with them immediately. I won’t let them bother you again p>
Cynthia shot him a cold glance. “And what were you doing earlier? You knew they had bad intentions toward Nanzhi, yet you still let them run the competition. If I hadn’t been the one who came, our daughter would’ve been set up by them p>
Velton King frowned. “This was an accident p>