Chapter 745

“There’s no need to be nervous. I just came over for a quick favor,” Claire said reassuringly.

“Jim misses his dad and wants to see him. Do you have his number? Do you guys talk often? Could we set up a video call?”

Hearing Claire’s words, Jim’s mother’s face drained of color. She immediately rounded on her son.

“Jim, what is wrong with you? Didn’t I tell you? Your father is working incredibly hard out there to make money!”

“How can you be so selfish?” she scolded loudly.

“Instead of obsessing over your father all day, you should be focusing on your studies! Someday you need to be a top scholar just like the Clan Successor!”

“Your dad would be so proud to hear that!”

Claire was completely caught off guard by the sudden outburst. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for a kid to miss his dad? Why was she reacting so aggressively?

“I don’t miss him anymore. I’ll study hard,” Jim choked out, his eyes red as his mother dragged him away.

Claire stood frozen in place, utterly bewildered by the awkward exchange. She had no idea what was going on with Jim’s parents. It wasn’t until Patti heard about the incident and pulled her aside that things became clear.

“Don’t be mad at Jim’s mom. She wasn’t lashing out at you. Jim’s dad had an accident at work, and… he didn’t make it,” Patti explained softly.

“When she got the news, she collapsed multiple times from the shock.”

“Jim’s family has been hiding it from him ever since.”

“He still has no idea his father passed away before the holidays.”

Realizing the full tragic context, Claire instantly let go of any frustration toward the woman’s harsh attitude. She hadn’t been attacking Claire; she had simply been overwhelmed by the agonizing reminder of her late husband.

“I had no idea… I shouldn’t have brought up calling him,” Claire murmured, guilt twisting in her chest.

If she hadn’t offered to help, Jim might not have fixated on finding his dad. He would have just been sad for a little while before bouncing back. Kids were easily distracted, after all.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it, Claire. Jim has to find out his dad is gone sooner or later. Honestly, a lot of us don’t agree with how his family is handling it,” Patti reassured her.

“Hiding it from him does no good.”

“The younger a child is, the less they understand the finality of death, which actually makes it easier for them to cope.”

“Plus, kids are resilient. They cry today, and by tomorrow, they’re okay again.”

“Keeping it a secret only makes him miss his dad more.”

Patti’s words made logical sense, but Claire still couldn’t shake her

remorse If she hadn’t intervened.

Jim’s mother wouldnt have been forced to relive the heartbreak of losing her husband today.

She considered sending a gift to apologize, but Patti seemed to read her mind.

“Claire, you don’t need to do anything. Your intentions were entirely pure.”

“The more you dwell on this and try to make amends, the more you’ll remind her of her husband’s death.”

“This is one of those things that can only be healed by time.”

Not every man who left the village for work came back alive. No one ever knew when tragedy might strike.

Even though Patti spent every day worrying about her own son, she had made her peace with the reality of it fe in the village was comfortable enough, but too many young people were hopelessty drawn to the outside world.

Pandora didn’t want the youth to settle for self-sufficiency in the village, either. She wanted them to go out and experience what the world had to offer. She paid for their, education so they could start without a handicap, but ultimately, every family’s future depended on their own grit and hustle.

Taking Patti’s advice to heart, Claire decided against seeking Jim out again. Later, when the banquet finally wrapped up, she spotted him and quietly slipped a piece of candy into his hand.