Chapter 175

Now, Hale’s heir wasn’t just carrying the Shen last name—he didn’t even share a drop of blood with them. Honestly, looking back, marrying Pandora would’ve made more sense. At least then, the family line would still be Carter blood.

Pandora and Claire caught each other’s eye and both burst out laughing, the kind of laughter that bubbles up when you both know exactly what the other is thinking. But as the car got closer to the James family house, the mood shifted. The closer they got, the quieter they became.

When they arrived, Claire parked outside and helped Pandora out of the car. Pandora didn’t actually need the help; she was in great shape and took excellent care of herself. Being a doctor had its perks. Even Octavia, who came out to greet them, had to admit that Pandora looked younger than most of her friends’ mothers- in-law.

But the real difference was how Pandora handled being a mother-in-law. She never picked on Octavia or tried to make her life difficult. Instead, she’d simply chosen a spot she liked and settled in, making it clear she wasn’t interested in getting involved with Octavia’s life. She respected her son’s choices, but she respected her own boundaries even more.

Octavia, though, was honestly a little scared of Pandora. She never said anything mean, but there was something about her eyes, like she could see straight through you. It was unsettling.

“Mom, didn’t Lance and Cindy go to pick you up? Why is it only you and Claire?” Octavia tried to keep her tone light, but there was an edge to her voice.

Pandora answered without much emotion, “I rode with Claire. Lance is coming behind us p>

Octavia’s smile faltered. It almost felt like Pandora was refusing to acknowledge her own daughter, and only saw Claire. Typical Pandora―never easy to deal with.

“Mom, Claire hasn’t driven since she got her license. Why would you let her drive you? What if something happened? What would Latham and I do p>

Pandora looked her straight in the eye. “What would you do? Start making funeral arrangements, I guess p>

Pandora never sugarcoated anything. She always said exactly what she thought, and it left Octavia stumbling for a response. “We’re just worried about you and Claire, that’s all p>

Pandora squeezed Claire’s hand. “There’s nothing to worry about. Claire’s a great driver p>

She didn’t bother to add that Claire had been driving tractors on the farm since she was eleven. Compared to that, handling a car was nothing.

Pandora just didn’t like Octavia, so there was really nothing more to say. Octavia was so intimidated that she didn’t dare say anything to Claire either. In a way, Pandora was like Claire’s lucky charm, always there to shield her.

Back when Pandora took Claire to the countryside, she’d made it clear: how she raised Claire was her own business, and no one else needed to interfere When they came back to the James family, Pandora let Octavia take charge, saying she was just a guest here, not the lady of the house.

Octavia might have been scared of Pandora, but she didn’t actually dislike her. If anything, she wished Pandora would show a little more kindness to her own daughter Wasn’t Claire thriving because Pandora favered her. Even in the future, as long as Pandora was on her side, her husband wouldn’t dare cross her.

Still, Cindy had a point. She was about to get engaged to York, but growing up in the countryside made her seem less confident If only her father could give her some shares in the family business, then when she married into the Byron family, no one would dare look down on her.

Pandora had no idea what Octavia was scheming. She just sat in the courtyard, chatting with Claire.

Soon, Lance and Cindy arrived, looking like they’d rolled in the dirt. Both were a

mess.

“What happened to you two?” Octavia’s face changed instantly.

Claire and Pandora were perfectly spotless, but her own kids looked like they’d been through a storm. Of course Octavia’s mind went wild.

Cindy jumped in before her mom could say more. “Mom, we’re fine. There was a car accident on the road and we stopped to help p>

She didn’t mention that it was actually Lance’s fault the other car flipped in the first place.