"It's only my suspicion—I don't have any proof, so it's not worth discussing," Claire said coolly.
"If you're tied up with family business today, I'll just come by another time." She had no intention of sticking around for the looming family showdown.
"I'm really sorry for dragging you here today and getting you caught up in all this,” Latham apologized.
Claire just shrugged. In her opinion, a front-row seat to this kind of live soap opera was too good to pass up. "No worries," she replied, turning to leave.
"I'll walk you out," Latham offered, taking it upon himself to escort her. Clearly, he thought the house wasn't the right place for a conversation; he'd rather talk out in the courtyard.
Once outside, Latham got straight to the point about his company's troubles.
"Claire, I don't want to put you in a bind. The whole situation with the baby mix-up was tinged with personal grudges, and frankly, after everything, I haven't got the face to ask you to feel grateful for how we raised you."
"If you resent us, I completely understand."
"The truth is, the company is backed into a corner and I've run out of people I can turn to—that's why I thought of you."
"What, you want me to go on a date with Mr. Clark's son, too?” Claire recalled the not-so-subtle suggestion Octavia had dropped earlier.
Latham hesitated, then shook his head. "The Clarks are well off and the son works at a bank, but—between us-he's nothing to write home about."
"Claire, you're smart and beautiful. A guy like that just doesn't measure up."
"You've got your whole college life ahead of you you'll meet plenty of people and find someone better."
"There's no reason to throw away your youth on a man like him. Unless, of course, you actually like him."
"If not, I'd never throw you into the fire like that."
"Getting married is a lifelong decision-you need to think it through."
Latham had a remarkable way with words. If Claire's heart hadn't already been tempered into steel from years in the James household, she might even have been moved.
But Claire knew the truth: after living with the Jameses for so many years, she'd seen through the couple long ago Latham cared about nothing but profit, and was even more
catculating than Octavia.
If he was suddenly backing off on the proposal with Clark's son, it only meant he'd
found another way to squeeze value out of her.
"So what else can I do? How could I possibly help you?" She put on a worried, dutiful expression.
Latham felt a wave of relief. A
moment ago, he'd been burning with anger at Octavia, feeling completely humiliated-tricked for years, and now exposed in front of their, children. At least claire was still willing to help. Maybe raising this girl hadn't been a waste afterall.
"You can help, absolutely. Right now, the company's biggest threat is running out of cash. If funds dry up, suppliers stop working and none of our redevelopment projects can move forward."
In other words, the company was out of money.
"So, I was hoping you could lend us a sum of money."
"As long as we can keep the business going and see the redevelopment through,
we'll be able to pay you back-it's just a matter of time."
"And you'll even get a share of the profits."
"We're family. I'd never let you take a loss.”
When Claire hesitated, Latham's anxiety cut through.
"If you're worried, you could always officially rejoin the James family. That way,
there's no 'us versus you'—you'd even get shares in the company."
"Rejoin the family? What do you mean?" Claire stared at him, baffled at what scheme he was plotting this time.
“Lance likes you. If the two of you got married, I can promise he'd treat you well for the rest of your life."
"And if you married Lance, we'd truly be family—there'd be no question of you losing any money you 'lent' us."