Chapter 394
“You’d probably be better off just living in a dorm, you know?” Octavia said, not bothering to hide her skepticism.
Claire just grinned. “Actually, I bought this place p>
Octavia’s eyebrows shot up. “Buying? But homes in this neighborhood cost at least two million. If you keep spending like this, won’t you burn through your money before graduation p>
She crossed her arms and slipped naturally into her ‘concerned parent’ mode. “You’re not really part of our family anymore. You should learn to save your money. What if you end up needing it later on p>
Sophia looked like she was about to say something, but Claire caught her sleeve and quietly shook her head.
“It’s really OK,” Claire said, her smile easy. “I still have the old house, remember? That place is worth a lot more than people think, and I get rent from it every month p>
“I might not be living some wildly extravagant life, but I’m comfortable p>
For a second, Octavia looked almost flustered. She always seemed to forget that Claire still owned Hearth & Kettle. The rent from the front yard alone was a steady income every month.
“Well that’s something, I suppose,” Octavia muttered, barely able to get the words out.
Claire’s mood lifted even more. “Yep, it sure is,” she replied.
“So, where are you off to, Octavia?” Claire asked.
“I’m taking Cindy to the store. She comes by to nap sometimes, but there’s never anything to snack on here,” Octavia replied.
Claire remembered how, back when she lived with the James family, Octavia controlled her diet down to the last crumb-never any chips, candy, or even so much as a soda. She’d been determined to shape Claire into a flawless young lady, never once caring about whether she was actually happy.
It was true. Some things really did come down to blood. For her own daughter, Octavia never missed a detail.
“Claire, let’s go to the supermarket too. It’s early anyway,” Sophia cut in, upbeat.
It was just a boring trip to the grocery store-hardly anything for Octavia to brag about, and Sophia was already over her attitude.
Claire, meanwhile, didn’t really care either way. It wasn’t like money was an issue for her.
“Let’s drop our books off upstairs first, then we’ll go,” Claire said.
“We’ll head out, Octavia,” she added before turning away.
Octavia could only nod.
She nudged Cindy, who was busy staring off into space.
As they walked, Octavia leaned down and spoke quietly. “So, Sophia-she’s always hanging out with Claire. She isn’t messing with you at school, right p>
Octavia knew a bit about Sophia. The girl wasn’t just quick with comebacks-she knew how to throw a punch, too.
Cindy hesitated, then shook her head. “No, she doesn’t really talk to me. She just hangs out with Claire,” she said softly.
But in Octavia’s mind, that just meant Sophia was leaving Cindy out on purpose. Typical.
She frowned, thinking just how
separate the James family was from
Sophia’s world. Sophia’s mom
taught self defense her dad was a lawyer Not a bad home life but nowhere near “elite” by Octavia’s standards.
“You don’t have to care if she ignores you, but if she ever tries to bully you, don’t be
afraid to tell me,” Octavia said, gentle for once.
Cindy gave a little nod and slipped
her arm around her mother’s, snuggling close. She never got that kind of affection from her son or from Claire, and Octavia soaked up every second.
Meanwhile, Claire and Sophia had dropped their things off and were now meandering the aisles of the supermarket together. They both loved durian Claire picked out the biggest, pest one she could find and checked the price-just over a hundred bucks. Not bad.
Right then, Octavia and Cindy showed up in the produce section.
Cindy pinched her nose as soon as she caught a whiff of the durian. “Ugh, how does Claire even eat that stuff? It stinks p>
Octavia’s lips curled in the same way. She’d never let Claire bring durian home when she lived with them.
It struck Claire how alike they were mother and daughter, right down to the same look of disgust.