Chapter 371
“Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t need a partner.” Dane was the kind of guy who always liked to keep things to himself. Claire didn’t add anything. She never cared much about business anyway.
Meanwhile, in another private room, Frederic and Latham were deep in
conversation, bouncing around ideas about how to win Dane over. If Dane didn’t work out, there was always Edison, right? They figured it was possible to convince at least one of them.
“I don’t think Edison is an option either,” Latham said with a sigh. Frederic matched
it with one of his own. Latham was only being this honest because he was talking to family.
“Why not? I’ve done my homework. Edison basically runs the show at VIA Group. The actual owner barely ever puts in an appearance p>
“And what is that owner even thinking?” Frederic said, shaking his head. “Handing the keys to someone with a totally ordinary background… Edison grew up in the countryside. I don’t get it p>
Hearing Latham confirm what he’d dug up made Frederic even more convinced that Edison was just some nobody who’d won the lottery.
“No one really knows,” Latham replied. “I heard that the boss at VIA Group left the country ages ago. Maybe they’ve got a bigger empire overseas and just aren’t interested in the local business anymore p>
Latham couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy. Some people worked their whole lives for a piece of fortune and still walked away empty-handed, while others just had luck show up straight at their door, like Claire.
He wasn’t jealous of Claire, not really. It just seemed like everything fell into place for her. She started out in the countryside, grew up with The James Family because of a mix-up, and when the truth finally came out, she went back to The James Village. Pandora, feeling bad for her, gave her a whole house as a wedding gift.
But his real daughter, Cindy, didn’t have that luck at all. She was supposed to be the heiress of The James Family, but ended up raised in the countryside and never managed to win Pandora over. She couldn’t even keep hold of the family’s prized agarwood pillow.
Claire came back for a single day before she managed to sell that same pillow for twenty million. Some people had it, and some just didn’t.
Business people could be superstitious. Latham was set on bringing Claire back into the family. But it was clear she didn’t want any part of that. If anything, she seemed eager to keep her distance.
The thought made his head ache. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his son, Lance, looking out the window, his gaze fixed on something across the street.
“What’s got your attention?” Latham asked.
“Nothing,” Lance answered, snapping back to reality. He tried not to look too interested.
Earlier, he’d seen Claire and Dane
head into another private room
down at the end of the hallway. Just
the two of them, having dinner together. He couldn’t help
remembering how Claire praised
Dane back at the school gates. Dane
was definitely easy on the eyes
Was it possible Clare liked him?
Was she after The Green Family now, hoping to distance herself from The James Family once and for all?
When Claire and Dane had almost finished eating, Jennifer came in, looking like she
had something on her mind. She wanted to talk about Daniel.
“Daniel wants to come home for the holidays,” Jennifer said. “He keeps complaining that the hospital is so uncomfortable p>
“Claire, we honestly have you to
thank for how well he’s been doing p>
she gushed. “Barry told us
everything. If it weren’t for you
Daniel’s treatment never would have
moved along so fast p>
“Other patients with the same diagnosis… most of them didn’t make it. Daniel is the
only one getting better every day p>
Jennifer had even checked in on the families of other patients, just to be sure.
Claire smiled. “It’s luck, that’s all. Daniel’s just got good fortune p>
“Late-stage bone cancer is so brutal… For my father to meet you, honestly, you’re a blessing,” Jennifer told her, eyes shining. “After we finish eating
Go check on Daniel”
Claire said.
She knew Jennifer was flattering her for Daniel’s sake. “Thank you, Claire, really p>
Thank you,” Jennifer said, visibly relieved.