Unmasking the Heiress

Lydia's thoughts turned to her estranged husband, and her expression darkened.

"Why waste your thoughts on that loser? He promised me the moon and the stars, but when push came to shove? The moment the Fosters got involved, it all fell apart. He dumped everything on me! Let him do whatever he wants. For all I care, he might as well be dead!" The feud between her parents had all started because of a woman named Yessica, who was Evangeline's mother.

"Mom, it's just us here. You can tell me the truth. How did Yessica really die?"

Lydia turned pale and dodged the question awkwardly. "Why bring her up out of the blue? She was nothing but trouble, and I'd rather not even speak of her!"Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

"But I have to know what happened, right?!" Minnie could not stand it anymore. "Yessica was the darling of the Foster family. There's no way they'll just let this slide. If her death has nothing to do with you, then we don't have to worry about the Fosters. However, if it does, I need to be ready!"

Lydia, seeing the sense in Minnie's words, finally spoke up, though she was not happy about it. "Look, Yessica's death... I had nothing to do with it.

"Remember when our Rearden family's company was the new hot thing in Avalon City? Your dad was on top of the world, and I was just the new girl at the office..."

"So you charmed Dad into leaving Yessica for you?" accused Minnie.

Lydia shot back immediately, "No way! Your dad never told me he was married. I was clueless! I was just a kid, and your dad was this suave, dashing guy who looked out for me, always there to warm me up on a cold day. We fell in love. By the time I found out about Yessica, you were already on the way." Lydia was seething as she said that.

"How could I be a homewrecker? I would have rather ended the pregnancy than be that."

"The Rearden family started over, firmly deciding to cut ties with your dad for good. However, who would've guessed, right when Yessica had just had Evangeline, your dad was all about having a son and he bet everything on me. He wouldn't leave me alone, insisting I keep you.

"He said Yessica was a wreck after having Evangeline, barely hanging on, and that once she was gone, I could waltz right into the Rearden family with you in tow. And he kept swearing up and down that I was never the 'other woman'. He claimed I was his one true love, from start to finish!"

Lydia's anger bubbled over as she spoke, pulling Minnie's hand into her own, pouring out years of bottled-up hurt.

"Think about it. I was head over heels for your dad, and you were on the way. How could I just cold-heartedly get rid of you? So, I just went with it... I went along with your dad's plan."

Minnie tried to piece it together.

"So, you're saying Yessica's death was just from being worn out after the birth, and you had nothing to do with it?"

Even Minnie was taken aback by her conclusion.

If it was just postpartum exhaustion, with the Fosters' reach and power, how could they not figure that

out?

"Mom, you're not messing with me, right?"

Doubt clouded Minnie's gaze as she looked at Lydia, her eyes a mix of hope and suspicion.

The Fosters were the kind of family who always had a reason for everything they did. Thus, if Lydia was telling the truth about being out of the loop on that one, why was Evangeline bending over backward to make sure Lydia got nabbed?