Chapter 657
“What’s going on? Has Latham run out of options and come begging for your help?” Shirley’s voice was full of concern and a hint of irony. “Don’t tell me they’re actually scheming to snatch away whatever savings you have left?”
She leaned in, lowering her voice. “By the way, rumor is, a bank manager’s wife has her sights set on you. She’s already talked to Octavia—apparently, she’s scouting you for her son. If that’s what this is about, you absolutely cannot agree, okay?”
Claire arched an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with her son?”
Shirley’s nod was so enthusiastic it was almost comical. “Oh, he’s got problems—all kinds of problems. Sure, he’s tall, but he weighs almost three hundred pounds. With how tiny you are, you’d be crushed before the honeymoon even started. I heard he was already pushing two hundred before studying abroad, and he only got bigger when he got there! Now he’s back, but none of the diets are working. Seriously, imagine getting married to a guy that size. My mom was practically celebrating when she found out they had their eye on you and not me. If it had been me, Latham and Octavia would be over at my house right now pressuring my parents to hand me over.” Shirley sighed, patting her chest for effect.
She was genuinely relieved the spotlight hadn’t landed on her—but when she heard Mrs. Clark had set her sights on Claire, her relief morphed instantly into worry. What if Latham and Octavia really tried to force Claire into marrying that guy?
But then, Shirley remembered the Claire of today wasn’t the timid, easily swayed girl who once lived under the James family roof. There was no way she’d say yes to this insanity.
That was why, the moment Shirley heard the news, she dropped everything and came running.
“I’m not that naïve, Shirley. There’s no way I’d agree to something so absurd,” Claire replied, her lips twisting into a sardonic smile. “But it’s amazing-some people really do take me for a fool.”
She thought back to how Octavia had merely described the guy as “decent-looking.” That was a bit of an understatement—she’d conveniently neglected to mention “decent-looking” meant “tipping the scales three-hundred pounds.”
To be fair, Octavia wasn’t entirely at fault; she’d met Marlin before things got out of hand. Back then, he was just average-neither striking nor hideous, and certainly not morbidly obese Somewhere along the ling ing though, he seemed to have ballooned overnight, like someone had put him on a diet of pure fast food.
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“As long as you haven’t agreed, that’s all I care about,” Shirley said in relief. “I just worried they’d sweet-talk or guilt you into it.”
She let out a long sigh, her tension visibly melting away.
“Want to go take a look at him, though? He’s really something. Honestly, I don’t think anyone we know is nearly that big.” In truth, Shirley’s curiosity was getting the better of her.
Claire shook her head with a wry chuckle. “I have better things to do. Weren’t we going out to eat?”
Mentioning food suddenly reminded Shirley how hungry she was. “Right, right! Let’s go. What do you want? Order anything you like—it’s on me,” she declared, puffing up her chest.
“Wow, feeling generous today?” Claire teased.
“Got to treat you while I still can. Who knows, if our fortunes turn, you might have to take me in one day. Shirley tried to joke, but her
expression faltered. “Honestly, el
have no idea. If our company goes under my dad’s out of a job too. Since were technically still tied to the James family, there probably won’t be much left for us. Dad’s already planning to sell the family house so he and Latham can scrape together some money. Look, I really don’t want you to sacrifice yourself for some hopeless cause, but, to be honest, I’m wishing someone would swoop in and save the James family-just long enough for us to get through this crisis.”
Otherwise, her dreams of taking over the family empire were dead in the water. If
the company was gone, who was she going to fight for control against?
“Honestly, if Latham would just cut
the
Get
his losses and walk away now, James family could still hang on,” Claire said quietly. “But if he keeps” clutching that demolition contract like it’s a winning lottery ticket, he’s doomed to drag everyone down with him. He actually wanted me t mortgage the house my grandmother left me-the one she got as a wedding present-just so he could squeeze another loan from the bank.”