Chapter 644

Latham was trying to hold out just a little longer.

“That’s a real problem,” Odom admitted, thinking back on the handful of business owners he’d discreetly contacted over the past couple of days. Ambition wasn’t their issue-money was. None of them had pockets deep enough.

And just as Latham had warned, those opportunists took full advantage, driving a hard bargain and forcing the price as low as it could possibly go.

Even if they did manage to make a sale, both the James and Byron families would be left gutted-wounded for years to come.

But if they didn’t act, Odom feared both families might go under entirely. By then, there’d be nothing left at all.

“Latham, now’s not the time for pride,” Odom said suddenly. “You need to beg, you beg. Stop worrying about saving face.”

Latham stiffened in surprise. “I’ve already pleaded with everyone I can think of. Has it done any good?”

“Have you tried Claire?” Odom pressed. He knew that right now, most of their peers in the business world were keeping the two families at arm’s length.

So chasing after those people was pointless.

But that didn’t mean absolutely everyone would turn them down.

“Claire?” Latham couldn’t imagine how Claire could possibly help.

“Don’t underestimate her. Do you know whose name is on the deed to that mansion?”

Odom had only recently dug that detail up.

“Who?” Latham was bewildered. “Wouldn’t it be Pandora’s?”

“You even know who Pandora really is?” Odom shook his head, thinking Latham was being woefully naïve.

Kicking Claire out without so much as a background check on that little old lady from the country—they’d managed to offend someone for no good reason at all.

It could’ve been so simple: acknowledge Claire as their adopted daughter, keep the two families close, look out for each other when trouble hit. But no- shortsightedness ruled the day.

Not that Latham felt he should take the blame. It was Octavia who had gone behind his back.

“I thought her name really was just Pandora,” Latham said, frowning. Old ladies back in that era all seemed to have quaint names like that Infact, his own family

matriarchs name sounded just as refined.

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“Right, her name’s Pandora. But you missed the important part—she was once the heiress to a massive fortune. Her father, Damon, was a business titan.”

“That tycoon? Wasn’t he dispossessed years ago?” Latham had heard a bit about Damon, the legendary mogul.

But as far as he knew, Damon had disappeared during those turbulent times. The man had died, and all the wealth was seized by the state.

So Pandora was Damon’s daughter-that would explain the extraordinary wedding estate she’d received.

Come to think of it, even out in the countryside, she slept with her head on a pillow made from genuine sandalwood-no ordinary life, that.

Odom regarded Latham as astonishingly naïve.

“Back then, Damon was the richest man around, at the very top. He kept a low profile, sure, but he owned mansions all over, even places like Silvania.”

“Do you really think he only left his daughter a single house as parting gift? No hidden assets elsewhere?”

Latham realized the point had never even crossed his mind.

“A fallen titan still has more gold in its ruins than most families see in a lifetime Odon said, histone meaningful He was convinced Claire was their best ticket out of trouble.

The more Latham thought about it, the more sense Odom’s argument made.

And not just Claire—there was Edison, too.

Claire’s uncle wasn’t just the manager of VIA Metropolis; Latham had done his homework and discovered that Edison actually ran VIA Group as well.

Looking back, Latham admitted he’d seriously underestimated the James family, assuming Edison was nothing more than a small-time mall manager.

It was a shame things had soured so badly between the two sides. If only they’d kept their relationship cordial, they might’ve been able to build a partnership with VIA Group.

But now, Latham decided, it was time to swallow his pride. He took the initiative and dialed Claire’s number.

Claire had just left the lab at lunchtime, a boxed salad in hand when she saw Latham’s name pop up on her phone instinctively, she braced herself-nothing good ever followed a call from that family.