Padgett knew she was right in theory, but people with their level of talent were targets wherever they went, highly vulnerable to espionage and attacks.
Before meeting his granddaughter, Padgett had given up all hope of his daughter's survival. He had braced himself for the absolute worst long ago.
But after seeing Claire, a tiny spark of hope had reignited. What if his daughter did come back one day? Just like Claire's sudden appearance, it would be a miraculous surprise for the Churchill family.
A crowd of village kids swarmed around Claire, eagerly eating the ceremonial pastries that were said to bless them with academic success. Claire was more than happy to play with them. However, Jim hesitated on the sidelines, refusing to approach.
Noticing his gloomy mood, Claire sidestepped the other kids and went straight to him.
"Jim, what's wrong?"
Jim looked a bit sheepish when he saw the Clan Successor approaching him.
"Clan Successor, I..."
Claire gently cut him off. "Just call me Claire."
Being called 'Clan Successor' felt like an unbearable weight on her shoulders.
"Claire, my dad didn't come back," Jim mumbled.
His father worked out of town, and Jim had assumed that since the whole village was attending her Ivy Gala, his dad would surely return for it, too.
"Oh? How about we give him a call then? My phone has video chat, so you can see your dad on the screen."
Jim's eyes lit up. His father hadn't been home in a long time, and he missed him terribly. Especially during the holidays last year, he hadn't known how to tell his mother how much he longed for his dad.
The residents of The James Village didn't actually have to work incredibly hard to live comfortably but Pandora refused to let her. people grow complacent and entitled. While she covered the educational expenses for every child in the village, the families had to earn everything else themselves.
Jim's father was part of the group that struggled a bit more. It wasn't a lack of work ethic; he simply wasn't the brightest man, so he had to rely on grueling physical labor to make a living.
Pandora had considered stepping in to help Jim's family, but Arthur was notoriously stubborn. He flat-out refused the Clam Leader Seharity claiming his son was a lost cause and that as long as his grandson's schooling was funded, that was enough.
Pandora had no choice but to back off. She didn't demand absolute obedience from
her clan, but dealing with someone that bullheaded was utterly exasperating. Still,
she knew exactly why Arthur was so stubborn.
It all traced back to a turbulent era from their past. Arthur firmly believed he was partially responsible for the death of the previous patriarch, and he was determined to atone for it.
The fact that The James Village hadn't banished him and severed all ties was an act of pure mercy. He was a textbook case of a loose cannon; if he hadn't run his mouth, the old patriarch might never have been targeted by the mob.
After all, the entire village had been fiercely protective of their old leader. However, neither the late patriarch nor Pandora ever blamed him. It was Arthur who couldn't forgive himself.
"But I don't have your dad's number. Why don't we go find your mom first?" Claire suggested, seamlessly pivoting the plan.
Jim's mother was from a
neighboring village and had been a stay-at-home mom since getting married. She had a slight disability in her lefthand, but Jim's family Kad never looked down on her fonit and hat even offered a generous e wedding gift to her family.
It took a few years of marriage before Jim was born, and the couple genuinely loved
each other. When Claire led Jim over to his mother, the woman looked incredibly flattered.
"Clan Successor!"