Chapter 496

Whenever Octavia tried to track Claire down, Claire always claimed she was too busy. With nowhere else to turn, Octavia had to show up at the school in person.

“Did you need something, Octavia?” Claire’s voice was calm, almost polite as she looked up at her.

Octavia glanced into the classroom, even though she wasn’t really standing near the door. She couldn’t see anything at all, but she still made a show of looking.

“I heard you gave away your guaranteed college spot.” Octavia’s words came out sharp, straight to the point.

If Claire had just let the spot expire, Octavia wouldn’t be this mad. But saying no to Cindy and then turning around and handing it to someone else? That felt like a slap in the face.

Claire didn’t even flinch. “And who told you that p>

“Doesn’t matter who told me. Did you or didn’t you?” Octavia’s voice was getting louder, anger creeping in. Raising Claire for all these years and this is what she got in return? An ungrateful brat.

“Who I give it to is my business. I don’t see how it’s any concern of yours.” Claire didn’t know where this rumor had started, but she wasn’t about to start explaining herself. Even if it was true, Octavia had no right to act so self-righteous. Claire wasn’t scared of her. Who was this little performance for, anyway?

“Not my concern? I told you to give the spot to Cindy. You wouldn’t do it for her, but you’d give it to someone else? Did they pay you off or something? Claire, do you have any idea how hurtful this is? I raised you for eighteen years. I might not be your birth mother, but did you ever go hungry or cold in our house? You had everything you could ever want living with the James family, while Cindy grew up struggling in the countryside. Don’t you feel the smallest bit of guilt p>

The words sounded rehearsed, like something Octavia had practiced in front of a mirror. She’d said stuff like this plenty of times before.

Claire just looked at her. She wasn’t stupid enough to crumble because of a few guilt trips. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask. Why didn’t you ever go after the hospital for switching us at birth? If you’re really so concerned about your daughter, wouldn’t you want her to get justice p>

“The hospital didn’t do it on purpose. They already paid us a settlement. Why keep dragging it up?” Octavia’s answer came quickly.

Claire almost laughed. “Then why do you keep dragging things up with me? Are you saying I have to take the blame for the hospital’s mistake p>

For a second, Octavia just stared at her in silence.

“You’re the one who owes Cindy, not the other way around,” Octavia finally said, her voice tight.

Claire watched her closely. “Isn’t it the other way around? Doesn’t she owe me p>

Octavia scoffed at that. “Claire, do you really not get it? Look at the life you had with the James family Look at how Cindy grew up. You don’t think there’s a difference p>

“Like I had a choice.” Claire smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “If you want someone to blame, find the

one to plant in the person who started all this in the

first place. Make her pay for it. Don’t

you think that’s fair, Octavia p>

“There’s no mystery culprit. The hospital staff from back then have already retired p>

Octavia frowned, clearly losing patience.

“We don’t need to go after the hospital staff. Maybe there were other people

involved.” Claire replied, her words careful.

Octavia’s face darkened. “What are you getting at p>

“I heard Latham got around when he was younger.” Claire watched as Octavia’s expression changed, and her own smile grew. If Octavia wanted to cause trouble for her, she could send a little chaos right back.

“He must have had a lot of ‘old friends,’ right p>

Octavia shot back, “It’s not your place to gossip about your elders’ past p>