"Octavia felt really bad about it afterward, you know. She didn't mean for things to turn out that way."
"And didn't she sign you up for all kinds of activities later? You basically got to pick whatever you wanted. All that talent of yours... she helped you build that, at least a little," Latham said, still trying to take Octavia's side.
Claire looked at him, her voice steady. "She just wanted me to rack up
achievements so she could brag to everyone else. It wasn't about me. It was all so she could look good."
Latham shook his head. "That's pretty harsh, Claire. I think you're seeing the worst in her."
Claire studied his face for a moment, her eyes searching. "Or maybe you just see only the best in your wife. Ever consider that?"
She left it there, not interested in arguing any further.
Latham had given her a red envelope, and she'd accepted it without another word. Pandora had also given Cindy one for the New Year, so it didn't feel out of place.
Shirley was the extra guest who hadn't really been expected, but she'd ended up with a red envelope too. She clung to Claire's arm, grinning. "Your grandma gave me one! Can you believe it? I peeked. It's twelve hundred bucks."
"Didn't they always say people out here were poor? Is it okay for me to keep this? Should I give it back to you? You can return it to your grandma if you want."
Out of everyone in the James family, Claire was the only one Pandora had truly raised. Shirley and Pandora weren't close. Part of the reason Shirley didn't get along with Claire was because she always thought their grandma favored Claire.
And Lance? He was already grown up, never really needing much from Pandora at all.
"No, it's all right," Claire said. "If Pandora gave it to you, she means it. She wouldn't hand it over if she couldn't afford it."
She lowered her voice, like she was letting Shirley in on a secret. "Honestly, we just sold an agarwood pillow for twenty million."
Shirley's eyes went huge. "Are you serious?"
"Agarwood pillows are that expensive?"
Claire nodded. "That pillow used to be Cindy's. When she moved out Octavia wouldn't let her take
it was some worth lake
Said
ald thing k
don't think anyone expected it to go
for that kind of money."
Shirley tilted her head, suspicious. "Wait-so they got rid of it without even realizing what it was? Did they not know it was agarwood?"
"Cindy had no clue," Claire said. "She grew up in the countryside. No one ever told her stuff like that could be valuable."
"Octavia didn't know either. It's not that she's clueless; she just looks down on people from the country. She never thought Pandora would have anything that mattered."
Anyone could see from the old
house how well-off Pandora's family used to be. But in Octavia's mind, nothing could compare to their giant
villa in the city, She probably just Saw Pandora as some washed-up heiress-nothing special."
Claire snapped her fingers. "You guessed it."
Shirley touched her chin, grinning. "Man... twenty million. They just let that slip by
like it was nothing. I guess they really aren't short on cash, huh?"
"In theory," Claire replied, "but as far as I know, Latham's been scrambling for
investors for that city redevelopment project. The money situation's still a mess."
The James family and the Byron
family both wanted to work together,
but with no outside help, it was
tough to pull it off if they kept taking
yout of their companies, the
money
businesses wouldn't be able to run
properly.
FindNovel.net
So everybody was hustling—trying to find another investor to split the risk.
"Crazy, isn't it?"
Claire grinned. "But still, that twenty million ended up in my hands."
Shirley wrapped both arms around Claire's and squeezed. "Who would've thought you'd turn out to be a little rich girl? I better suck up now if I want to stick with you."