Still, she fully supported Owen's ambitions.
A product like the Experimental Scar Gel could genuinely change lives.
People who had suffered severe burns or disfiguring scars often lived in the shadows, their confidence shattered and their futures derailed.
With this gel, even if the treatment took a little longer, erasing those scars could completely restore their self-worth.
As long as her cousin never compromised on quality or deceived his customers, she was more than happy to keep their partnership going.
"Alright, alright, enough shop talk for one night," Victoria interrupted.
"Claire, come try this milk tea. I just perfected the recipe."
Victoria Ophelia came out of the kitchen with a tray.
She wasn't much of a chef, but she had a passion for making desserts and brewing artisanal teas.
The estate had a private chef, yet she loved sneaking into the kitchen whenever she had free time.
She wasn't aiming for perfection; she simply enjoyed the process as a relaxing hobby.
The rest of the family was always happy to play taste-tester.
Claire's eyes lit up, and she hurried over to help.
She distributed a cup to everyone in the room.
The aroma was rich and inviting, a clear sign that premium tea leaves had been used.
Claire took a delicate sip, letting the robust flavor of the tea blend perfectly with the creamy milk, leaving a comforting sweetness on her tongue.
"Well? What do you think?" Ophelia asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Claire flashed her a bright thumbs-up. "It's amazing. Honestly, you and Seb should open a boutique dessert shop together."
Ophelia let out a soft laugh. "With my amateur skills? I think I'll pass."
"But Seb... if that boy actually applied himself, he could easily become a master pastry chef."
Owen chuckled. "You might want to keep that to yourself, Aunt Victoria."
"If Tiffany hears you say that, she'll blame you for corrupting Seb. She'd throw a fit if
her son ditched the corporate world to bake cakes."
Ophelia sighed. "You're right. I definitely shouldn't say that out loud."
Thinking of Tiffany, Claire couldn't help but shake her head. "If Seb really does become a pastry chef, Tiffany will be marching over here to pick a fight with you first."
"It's not our fault that Seb genuinely loves baking."
Ophelia set her cup down. "Seb has always had a natural talent for it. But Tiffany is
the kind of woman who suffocates her children's passions."
"She's so obsessed with turning him into the perfect heir. If he doesn't meet her ridiculous standards, it's only a matter of time before they have a massive falling out."
The rest of the family silently agreed.
Padgett rarely interfered with the younger generation's parenting, which gave Tiffany free rein to be as overbearing as she pleased.
Her husband, Owen Churchill, couldn't control her—or rather, he simply didn't bother
to try.
As for Pike, he was too busy cycling through a never-ending string of young girlfriends.
Since his wife passed away, he had zero interest in remarrying and even less
interest in managing his son and daughter-in-law.
He was completely checked out as a parent.
It was a tragic situation for Yolande and Seb.
Both were brilliant kids, but they had been dealt a terrible hand when it came to their mother.
Claire spent the rest of the evening gossiping and lounging with the family before joining them for a walk around the estate gardens.
She finally headed up to bed around ten.
The next day was Zara Zeller's birthday. Claire spent her morning working out and reading, then headed into the city after lunch to pick up a gift before stopping by e high-end salon for a blowout.
By the time she finished, she headed back to the estate to change into a stunning
dress, timing her arrival at the Zeller residence perfectly.
Padgett was casually acquainted with Zara's grandfather, but since this was just a small gathering for a younger family member, the Zellers hadn't sent a formal invitation to the Churchill patriarch.
Padgett didn't even know the party was happening.