"What's she supposed to do with a degree? Coast through some cushy office job at the James Group, just biding her time?"
"You have no idea how those women mocked me today. I can't bear to show my face for days."
Frederic sat on the sofa, the news murmuring from the TV, his expression unmoved as his wife vented. "Didn't we send her there in the first place to shore up our partnership with the James family?"
"Don't forget, we're right in the middle of a major joint venture."
"An adopted girl will never get the same respect as a blood daughter, and you know
it."
“But let's be honest the real issue here is your son's lack of ambition."
"If he had any sense at all, he'd have kept Cindy happy and gone after Claire too. Had them both wrapped around his finger.”
He wasn't kidding; this had always been Frederic's endgame from the start.
That way, Claire's property would become part of the Byron estate, and there'd be no need to fall out with the James family. The Jameses cared deeply for both girls; even if they grumbled about fairness, business would go on.
But their boy had turned out too straight-laced to pull off something like that.
"Frederic, that's a terrible way to think."
Olga's frown deepened. "You're so focused on reeling in both girls, but did you even consider how the James family would react?"
"Forget about Latham-Octavia would never stand by and let someone hurt her precious daughter."
"And don't forget the family matriarch-word is, no one adores Claire more than she does."
"Pull something like that and you'll blow up both families' partnership for good."
Men were all the same, dreaming of getting two women to take care of them without a second thought.
As a woman, Olga had no intention of watching her son turn into some two-timing playboy.
“I was just musing. Seriously, why are you taking this so to heart?" Frederic thought
to himself, Well, now I see where our son gets his soft-headedness.
His silly wife knew nothing about how the world of business really worked.
"You aren't secretly entertaining that kind of idea yourself, are you?" Olga shot him a suspicious look.
Frederic quickly raised his hands in surrender. "No, absolutely not. How could I even think something like that? Marrying you was the best thing that ever happened to me."
Olga snorted and finally let the matter drop.
But as soon as York came home, Frederic beckoned him into the study.
"Claire just scored top in the whole city. What do you make of that?"
York looked startled. “What am I supposed to make of it? She's not part of our lives anymore."
"Dad, I've told you before—I can't go back to Claire now. That would mean betraying Cindy."
"Cindy's sensitive. She's fragile. If she finds out I'm still mixed up with Claire, it could destroy her."
Frederic looked at his son, barely hiding his disappointment. "She's got you on a leash, son."
“She's not as fragile as you think. If she were, she never would've made it to adulthood."
"And I did some digging. That family out at the James estate in the
countryside? They're actually
well-off, not some poor rural country folks. All those stories Cindy tells about growing up
disadvantaged from her, you can' take everything at face value."
“You really need to toughen up. Learn to weigh your options."
"This is a crucial time for us and the James family. Sure, you can't just toss Cindy aside. But what's the harm in staying close with, Claire keeping your options open content
"You two grew up together. She's always had a soft spot for you."
"If she didn't care about you at all, why didn't she ever object to the engagement all these years?"
"Clearly, she has feelings for you. How do you know unless you try?"
York shook his head. "Dad, you're
making it
Sound way too easy. If the
James family finds out I've been
stringing both of them along
they th
turn their backs on us, no question."
"Their daughters aren't some cheap flings you can just pick up and toss aside when
you're bored."