Could they really measure up? Anyone could see the kind of businesses the Green Family owned. With all that official backing, why would they ever bother with a
small-time family like the Deans?
Percy had already pulled lieana aside and warned her not to waste her time on Dane.
lieana wasn't having any of it. "So Ophelia tattled to you, did she?"
"What's with your side of the family? Always siding with outsiders, is that some kind of family tradition?"
"Your daughter's head-over-heels for Dane. She won't settle for anyone else, what's wrong with that?"
"And Claire... she's just a kid from the countryside. Are you really telling me, after all these years raising Irma, she still can't compare to Claire?"
Percy hadn't expected lieana to dig in her heels like this. "It doesn't matter how you raised her. Sometimes other people just have that spark of luck you can't give. The Green Family and Churchill Family have had a marriage pact for ages. Their connection can't be broken."
"You think Irma can just squeeze her way in? And you... you actually want Ophelia to help you?"
lieana just waved her hand like it was nothing. "Alright, I get it. I won't go to Ophelia again. No need to put her in the middle like that." She sniffed. "But if Irma likes Dane, I can't tell her to stop. I'm not going to micromanage her life.”
Percy's face went cold. "Irma's future is already lined up. She's got her own path and you need to stop interfering."
"Who's interfering?" lieana shot back, clearly annoyed.
Irma, who had actually been eavesdropping the whole time, burst out of her hiding spot and glared at her dad. “Dad, I like Dane, okay? I've liked him for years."
"You make your plans, I'll make mine. When I graduate, I'm going to work at Vertex International."
Percy actually laughed, shaking his head. "So you just walk in because you want? You think Vertex International is just waiting for you?"
"Let me tell you, Dane's circle is so locked down, not even a female mosquito could get in."
"Even if you managed a spot at Vertex International, you'd never make it near Dane. You'd just be wasting your time."
While all of that drama played out, Claire was already back in Apex.
She could tell that Irma was into Dane. It was written all over her face. The ambition practically radiated off her.
But Claire couldn't care less. If he was so easily swept away, he was never hers to begin with.
After she finished visiting the Green Family, Dane personally drove her to the airport. When she landed in Apex, Edison was already waiting with his car.
It was late by the time Edison drove her back to the countryside. The sky outside the windows was pitch black.
"Claire, did everything go alright?” Edison asked, picking up on how worn out she looked.
"It was fine. We saved him. His vitals are stable at least." Claire's voice was quiet, tired.
She couldn't help but worry about Van. The psychological scars from the mission:.. Who knew how longe those would take to heal? All those people went out only he made back That kind of pain was going to last a long time. Physical wounds could heal, but the ones in your
mind... that was a different story.
"Pandora's been waiting for you. The memorial this year, everyone's holding off until you get home."
The James Village always took
memorial services seriously. Usually,
it happened on the first day of the
new year but since Claire had been away, they'd pushed it back to the third day.
"I understand," Claire said softly.
Suddenly, she remembered Jenny was staying in the village too.
"How's Jenny doing here?" Claire asked. She'd expected to see Jenny with Edison
at the airport.
"Oh, Jenny's settling in just fine. The
last couple of days, she's been hanging out with the elders, learning to make paper cutouts. Every family decorates their windows with them at New Year. She saw them and got hooked right away, started learning from the locals."
Claire blinked at Edison, a little mischievous. "So... what about you two? Anything going on?"