Chapter 767

Wade’s advice was actually quite grounded, and he deliberately left the final decision in Cindy’s hands.

It was a stark contrast to Octavia’s dictatorial parenting style.

Feeling a rare sense of respect, Cindy felt a tiny sliver of warmth toward the man.

But only a sliver.

She had never been particularly decisive, and right now, her mind was a mess.

She chose her words carefully. “I’d like to try retaking the exams, but right now, Lance needs me at the hospital constantly, and Mom…”

“Wade, I really don’t have the mental energy to study.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to; she simply couldn’t.

Wade considered her situation and agreed that it was an incredibly heavy burden for a young girl.

“Tell you what, just crack open a book when you can and think it over. I’ll discreetly ask around for news about your mother.”

“As for Lance, as long as he’s recovering, there’s no need to stress yourself to death.”

Cindy nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Wade.”

Her rigid politeness left a bittersweet taste in his mouth.

He handed her the menu. “Order whatever you’d like, Cindy. You don’t need to stand on ceremony with your da-with me.”

Knowing she wasn’t ready to acknowledge him as her father, Wade didn’t push the issue.

His laid-back approach actually made Cindy a bit more comfortable.

“Alright. Thank you, Wade.”

Sitting across from him, she still felt incredibly stiff.

She ordered a simple entrée and a side salad, stopping there.

Wade was thoroughly impressed by her restraint.

He added one more dish to the order and handed the menu back to the server.

“You’re a lot like me. You eat what you need without being wasteful.”

A wave of pride washed over him. He was relieved his daughter hadn’t developed

the obnoxious, spoiled habits of the elite class.

It seemed the James family hadn’t completely corrupted her after all.

Cindy, however, saw things very differently.

She just thought he was painfully cheap.

Taking his biological daughter oute for the first time, and he was thrilled that she

.netw

she skimped on the t

She offered a polite, hollow smile.

Wade was completely oblivious to her disdain.

Across town, Claire and Dane

stepped onto the elevator. She

you didn’t notice Cindy prol

nudged him teasingly. “Don’t tell me

drooling over you back there

“Her eyes were practically glued to you.”

“I didn’t notice,” Dane replied with absolute honesty.

“Yeah, right. Are you going blind in your old age?” Claire didn’t buy it for a second.

“I wasn’t looking at her.” He shot the girl a helpless look.

He knew she wasn’t jealous; she just loved giving him a hard time.

Claire remained skeptical but dropped it.

A girl like Cindy with her transparent little schemes was no match for a man like Dane.

He had navigated far more treacherous waters than a teenager’s crush.

There was no point dwelling on it.

Cindy’s ulterior motives were painfully obvious anyway.

Compared to York, Dane was undeniably the ultimate catch.

But so what?

Dane wasn’t York. He would never fall for such pathetic manipulation.

It was getting late. The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Claire scanned the hall for Karla.

Beside Karla stood the director of the film.

But the real shock was the trio

standing opposite them; a shabbet

dressed middle-aged couple and bleach-blonde teenager.

The woman was screeching at the top of her lungs, spewing nasty insults in a thick,

rural drawl.

Claire could barely decipher half of what she was saying.

“Karla,” Claire called out, walking briskly toward her.

Dane followed close behind, holding a stack of takeout containers.

Karla’s icy expression finally thawed a fraction when she saw her niece.

“You made it. It’s a madhouse here today. I shouldn’t have asked you to drop off dinner.”