Mary's words made Octavia feel entirely exposed, as if she had nowhere left to hide. She didn't even know if Mary actually knew something concrete or if she was just testing the waters.
"Cindy is not a child of the James family, is she?" Mary looked straight at Octavia as she asked the question. Though phrased as an inquiry, Mary's tone carried absolute certainty.
Octavia was stunned. She didn't dare lie to the older woman. Mary's piercing eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through everything. But at the same time, Octavia was utterly shocked. How on earth did Mary know? Had Latham told her? No, that was impossible. Latham cared too much about his pride. Unless they had a completely unfixable falling out, he would never reveal such a shameful secret to his mother.
"I have known for a long time that Claire is not your real daughter either," Mary casually dropped another bombshell.
"You did?" Octavia gasped. Just how many massive secrets was this old woman hiding in her head? What else did she know? For a fleeting second, Octavia even wondered if the scandalous photos mailed to Latham had been arranged by Mary herself.
"A mother who genuinely loves her child would never neglect her daughter to such an extreme degree. You aren't particularly biased in favor of sons, yet your attitude toward Claire was always incredibly strange. You thought you hid it flawlessly, but I am a mother too. How could I possibly not notice the signs?" Mary continued speaking, completely unaware of the wild theories spinning in Octavia's mind.
Octavia was speechless. She desperately wanted to ask why Mary had never exposed her if she had known the truth all along.
"The two of you willingly chose to marry. It was a cycle of mutual hurt-one dealing it out, and the other taking it. You did things that betrayed my son, but I firmly believe he betrayed you first. I know exactly what kind of character my own son has. The two of you are perfectly matched in your flaws. If you can live together, do it. If you can't, then separate. I am old now. I have no energy left to micromanage your messy lives."
A painful lump formed in Octavia's throat as tears threatened to spill. It was true. If Latham hadn't wronged her first, breaking her heart time and time again, how could she have ever betrayed him?
Octavia had never expected Mary to be so remarkably open minded.
She had misunderstood her mother
in law so deeply in the past. Even though Mary often showed her displeasure, she had never actually gone out of her way to make, Octavia's life miserable Octavia truly should have been satisfied with what she had. It was such a pity.
Mary didn't say anything more to Octavia. She wasn't heading back to the
countryside tonight. Instead, she asked Shirley to drive her over to Claire's house.
"Why are you going to her place? It's
not like we don't have enough spare bedrooms at our house," Shirley grumbled, clearly annoyed. Even though her grandmother er had taken Her side at Latham's house, Shirley stiff felt like the old lady liked Claire. more than her. She was the actual blood related granddaughter, yet her grandmother somehow preferred an outsider!
"I have never stayed at Claire's place before. What's wrong with spending one night there? If you want to tag along, I won't stop you. Claire was the one who told you to come find me for help, wasn't she?" Mary glanced sideways at her young granddaughter The girl was incredibly transparent, wearing every emotion clearly on her sleeve. She lacked the cunning to pull off such a
move on her own.
"Yeah, she was," Shirley admitted. "Are you worried that Claire is actually going to mortgage her grandmother's estate?" Shirley guessed wildly.
Mary sighed. "Claire is much smarter than you are." Even if it meant selling Shirley out in the end, Claire would never hand over that precious estate.
Besides, that property originally belonged to Pandora. Why would Claire ever give it up to Latham? Her eldest son was completely delusional.
Meanwhile, Claire had absolutely no idea Mary was on her way. When she heard
the doorbell ring, she assumed the takeout she had ordered had finally arrived. But when she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Mary and Shirley standing on her front porch.