Chapter 154

“But Lance treats me really well. And I’m still young—I don’t know anything about the James family business p>

Cindy’s godmother’s voice turned sharp on the other end of the line. “Cindy, how can you say you can’t do it if you haven’t even tried? Of course Lance is good to you, that’s expected. But he already has a head start. Are you really willing to be left with nothing p>

“You grew up in the countryside. If you’re only the heiress of the James family by name, people are going to laugh at you. You need to live up to the title. Only then will anyone actually respect you p>

Cindy frowned, confused. “But I am the heiress. How do I live up to it p>

Her godmother’s tone softened, more patient now. “You need to control shares in the James Group. Shares are what give you real power in the family. Even if Lance isn’t on your side in the future, you’ll still have a place. You won’t have to depend on anyone else to survive p>

The idea made Cindy’s heart race. She couldn’t deny it—it was tempting. Having real influence in the James family, actually calling the shots, wasn’t something most people could achieve.

“So… what should I do?” she asked quietly.

“It’s not complicated. Didn’t you say the family wants to break off Claire’s engagement and have her ex-fiancé, York, get engaged to you instead p>

“Yeah Cindy’s cheeks turned pink just thinking about York’s handsome face. Was she really going to marry someone like him? But then another face flickered through her mind. Someone even more striking than York, with a cold, distant look that made him seem untouchable. He once spent twenty million, just to buy an elder a pillow to sleep on. And that pillow-she’d slept on it before.

If someone like him could be her fiancé, she’d have nothing to complain about.

“Cindy, are you listening?” Her godmother’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Cindy hurried to reply, “Yes, I’m listening p>

“I’m saying, you grew up in the

country. Sure, you’ve got status, but in other ways you can’t compare to Claire. If you just take Claire’s engagement and get engaged to York, the Byron family won’t accept it that easily p>

“Are you saying I’m not as good as Claire?” Cindy’s voice trembled. It was bad enough hearing other people say it. Why did even her.

godmother have to bring it net

up? Her eyes stung with tears. She wished she could beat Claire at everything but reality hurt Claire had spent eighteen years with the James family. How could Cindy ever catch up?

She hated whoever had switched her and Claire when they were babies. If she hadn’t been taken to the wrong family, how much more would she have had? She could have grown up pampered, but instead, she’d suffered in the countryside.

1.n

“To me, you’ll always be the best,” her godmother soothed. “But listen, other people will look down on you because of where you grew up. That’s why the James family needs to give you a solid wedding gift. If you have enough financial backing, the Byron family will have nothing to complain about p>

Cindy thought about it and realized her godmother was right.

“Shares. Ask your parents for them. But don’t bring it up directly. If you can, let the Byron family be the ones to mention it first. Cindy, be smart. Think about your own future. Don’t trust anyone completely p>

Cindy felt her chest tighten. Her godmother was right. She needed to look out for herself.