“Lindsay, never forget-you are a Wheeler. When the chips are down, it is your family who will be your steadfast anchor.”
After the exit of Leona and Betsey, Lucia, still simmering with frustration, muttered darkly, “That woman remains unchanged, forever cloaked in arrogance, sowing discord wherever she roams. She won’t win, not this time.”
As her anger ebbed, Lucia turned her gaze to Stella and Lindsay, comforting them. “Let her ominous words fall on deaf ears. She aims to unsettle us, yet she holds no real power to harm.”
Stella acknowledged this with a nod, a silent vow of understanding passing between them.
Lindsay, however, remained Lost in thought, Leona’s words echoing in her mind as she nodded absently.
Lucia, concern etching her features, leaned in closer to Stella.
“Stella, tell me everything about what transpired with Robin.”
Perked up by the mention of her brother, Lindsay leaned in, her focus sharpened, eager to catch every detail.
Stella responded with a hint of suspicion in her voice, “Lucia, during the launch, I felt something was amiss. I had my assistant investigate it, and it turns out the person pulling the strings was linked to Robin.”
As she spoke, Stella cast a sidelong glance at Lindsay, trying to read her. Whether Lindsay was masking her feelings expertly or genuinely uninvolved, her face betrayed no clues.
Stella pressed on. “Ever since Robin set foot in Seamarsh, he’s been a constant thorn in my side. It’s hardly shocking he’d stoop to such tactics.”
Lucia exhaled a sigh of relief, her voice softening. “As long as you’re out of harm’s way, that’s what truly counts.”
Turning her attention to Lindsay, she advised with a gentle firmness, “Lindsay, it might be wise to distance yourself from the Wheeler family. Ever since I brought you into the Clark fold, you’ve been well cared for. Focus on your recovery.”
Lindsay managed a strained smile and replied, “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
She then looked earnestly at Stella, her eyes brimming with a silent plea. “Stella, could you possibly forgive Robin for my sake? He’s young and still learning from his mistakes.”
Stella remained silent as she fixed a scrutinizing gaze on Lindsay.
“Lindsay,” Lucia exclaimed, visibly taken aback. “Why are you pleading for Robin now? He nearly killed someone. It’s only right that he be held accountable for his actions.”
“It’s not like that,” Lindsay rushed to explain. “Robin just got carried away by his anger when he saw I couldn’t stand up. He acted on impulse. He isn’t a bad person at all. Besides, my legs are useless as it is, and there aren’t many people left in the Wheeler family. If something happens to Robin, Leona will most certainly storm your home to disturb you. None of us will have a moment of peace.”
A few of Lindsay’s words stood out to Stella. The phrases, “my legs are useless” and “none of us will have a moment of peace” sounded odd for some reason.
Stella wasn’t convinced that Lindsay was actually trying to speak up for Robin. If anything, it seemed like Lindsay herself was involved in the chandelier incident.
Still, she said nothing, and chose to keep her thoughts to herself.
A look of guilt passed over Lucia’s face when she heard Lindsay mention the state of her legs. But the old lady also knew that if she relented, she would be letting Stella down.
So Lucia turned to Stella and asked, “Have you really found conclusive evidence that Robin did it?”