Chapter 650

Cindy had been out of the loop, so she had no idea what was happening on that side or who this mysterious fiancé even was.

The more she thought about it, the stranger Pandora seemed. When Cindy was living out in the countryside, Pandora never gave her anything, never told her anything. But as soon as Claire came home, suddenly Claire was the heiress, and Pandora handed her a mansion as a wedding present. Now, even her birth mother’s family had emerged, and they’d gone so far as to gift Claire a fiancé.

Was this what set people apart-some fundamental gap between them? Maybe they all only liked Claire. Maybe no one really cared for her at all. Otherwise, why had no one taken her to Cabinda, never let her in on the news about this fiancé?

Cindy’s curiosity burned. Was York really the top dog, or was Claire’s current fiancé more powerful? She’d never dare voice that competitive urge aloud, but deep inside, it gnawed away.

She wasn’t the only one harboring those thoughts. Octavia, too, couldn’t help it.

“So, who’s your fiancé? How old is he?” Octavia asked, her tone laced with forced

concern.

“He’s a few years older than me. Set to take over his family’s business.” Claire offered a vague, half-hearted reply.

That sounded a lot like York, too.

A little pang of dread hit Octavia. Someone inheriting a family business was usually pretty well off. Was Claire about to hit the jackpot?

“How does his family stack up against ours?” Octavia probed. “Just because someone has a business to inherit doesn’t mean it isn’t a sinking ship. Claire, you have to keep your wits about you—you can’t just go walking into a disaster.”

She stopped just shy of calling Claire’s fiancé a scammer, but the implication was clear enough.

“I know, don’t worry,” Claire said, unfazed. “I don’t really know the specifics of his family, but he’s a good guy. Probably better off than the James family, anyway.”

That last line cut deep.

Better off than the James family? Octavia and Cindy exchanged incredulous looks. Their first instinct-Claire had to be exaggerating, making herself look good.

Trying to keep her tone light, Octavia continued, “Well, if your fiancé’s so successful, maybe he could invest in our company-help give the family a little boost? We’re all family here right? We’re all family here, after all. If he invests, we’ll give him a share of the project. We work together, everyone profits. What do you think?”

When Claire didn’t respond, Octavia pressed on if you’re not sure how to ask him, let Latham do it. Just give him your fiancé’s number. We are your adoptive parents. Of course we’lftreat you well. Latham’s already said that when you get married, you’ll have a wedding gift waiting-just like the one Cindy gets. What’s hers will be yours too.”

Claire didn’t believe a word of it.

Cindy, on the other hand, decided to take it at face value. She glanced at Claire, surprised. After everything, maybe the family really did intend to give Claire the same wedding gift-even though they’d sent her packing.

But Pandora back at the old house hadn’t spared a thought for her. All of Pandora’s love and effort had gone straight to Claire. So why should Claire now walk away with wedding gifts from both families? Did she really think she deserved it all?

“There’s no need for a wedding gift,” Claire replied coolly. “I’m not really a James. Taking it would be unfair to Cindy. It’s not like Pandora could turn around and give Cindy something on the same scale, anyway.”

She knew exactly what she was doing and sure enough, Octavia was left speechless.

“What we give you is yours,” Octavia finally managed. “We aren’t expecting anything in return, and

nobody expects Pandora to give net

Cindy anything. And anyway, a wedding gift is just a gesture that’s all. What really matters now is helping Latham stabilize the company.”

Octavia was growing more anxious by the second.