Chapter 31
Octavia was fuming.
“If Pandora had told Cindy it was the Agarwood pillow, do you think I’d have stopped her p>
“She did it on purpose. She just couldn’t give up that pillow to Cindy, her own granddaughter by adoption p>
“She even took back the birthday present she gave Cindy p>
Latham’s brow tightened. “You got it wrong this time. If we had that pillow, we wouldn’t be at Dane’s mercy p>
“I know. Claire still has the other Agarwood pillow. We can just talk to her, ask her to bring it over p>
“Even if Dane isn’t interested, someone else will be. There’s got to be more than one person who wants this thing, right p>
Octavia honestly hadn’t known how valuable the Agarwood pillow was until Dane mentioned its health benefits. If it was really that good, there’d be plenty of people lining up for it. With something like that in their hands, finding a business partner should be a piece of cake.
“You think I haven’t thought about that?” Latham remembered the way Claire had looked at him earlier, like she could see straight through him. His face still felt hot with embarrassment. Trying to scheme something out of a kid was already humiliating, but Claire’s cold reaction stung even more.
“The second Claire found out she wasn’t our biological daughter, she couldn’t wait to cut ties with us p>
“After all these years, we raised an ungrateful brat p>
Octavia’s heart twisted with resentment, all of it directed at Claire. She used to think
Claire was sweet and obedient. Turns out, she’d been completely fooled.
“You didn’t handle things any better. Who told Lance to send her off to the countryside that very night p>
“Of course it looks like we didn’t want her around p>
“She was just a kid. The mix-up at the hospital wasn’t her fault. You should’ve been kinder to her p>
“The James family raised her all these years. If you’d just treated her a little better, maybe she would’ve shown some gratitude p>
Latham could see how much Octavia disliked Claire now.
“So what if I favor my own daughter? Pandora favors Claire, doesn’t she p>
“How do you expect me to be nice to her p>
“Every time I think about how she lived in comfort with us for eighteen years while Cindy suffered out in the sticks, it just kills me p>
Octavia’s voice cracked and she started wiping away tears.
Latham sighed, completely at a loss. “Alright, that’s enough, why are you crying now p>
He pulled her into a hug just as Wade and Claire came out and caught them.
Octavia quickly pushed Latham away. “Wade, are you done with the samples p>
Wade adjusted his glasses and smiled. “Claire’s done p>
Then he nodded. “Come on, it’s your turn p>
Cindy had already given her sample. Only the two of them were left.
Latham
lean arm around
get this paternity test et
go. Don’t overthink it. Let’s just
with
shovels
“No need to give Wade a reason to laugh at us p>
“He wouldn’t dare laugh at me,” Octavia blurted out.
Latham shot her a look.
Wade
neverned. “Of course not. I’d in college. Octavia was famouel bet
You didn’t know her for
being a crybaby
belongs to
“All the guys in our class were scared of her. Even the professors thought she
wasn’t cut out for medicine p>
And sure enough, she never became a doctor.
Latham’s face softened. “Octavia’s just too kind and gentle. Being a doctor really wasn’t for her p>
He knew that better than anyone.
Wade just smiled, not saying anything else.
Claire listened, sneaking a glance at Latham. She wondered just how much he idolized his wife.
The couple followed Wade for their samples. Claire watched the three of them walk away a thoughtful look on her face.
“What are you looking at, Claire?” Cindy asked, surprising her.