Chapter 871

“A girl’s wedding gifts can’t be lacking, otherwise her future in-laws will look down on her.”

Back in the day, lieana had kept a close eye on Ophelia’s wedding gifts, hoping the Dean family would give her less.

Ophelia had always remembered that.

It was hard to tell if lieana had forgotten, or if she was intentionally ignoring the hidden meaning in Ophelia’s words.

Either way, she pretended not to hear, her tone full of exasperation. “Even if she is a daughter, she isn’t yours. She has nothing to do with you!”

“The Churchill Group’s shares have nothing to do with me either,” Ophelia said coolly. “My last name isn’t Churchill.”

If anyone was an outsider here, it was her.

At the very least, Claire had a blood connection to the family.

Besides, Melissa’s shares had been earmarked for Claire a long time ago.

It was the girl who had refused them.

However, the Churchill family had tacitly agreed the assets belonged to her, and no one else dared to covet them.

“Your sons’ last name is Churchill! You gave birth to twins, you’re a hero to the Churchill family!”

Ophelia looked at lieana in disbelief.

What era were they living in? Calling her a hero for having sons?

If anyone else heard that, they would laugh their heads off.

“lieana, you’re overthinking this.”

lieana thought Ophelia was the foolish one. If you didn’t fight for certain things now, you would never get a chance later.

“I’m only looking out for you. If you won’t listen to advice, fine.”

“But when your boys blame you later, don’t come crying to me.”

lieana spoke with self-righteous conviction, looking every bit the part of someone

whose good intentions were being ungratefully rejected.

Ophelia sighed in resignation.

“Capable children make their own way in the world. I trust my boys to build their own nest eggs.”

Padgett could give his shares to whoever he pleased.

Irma had heard Ophelia’s words as well. She looked at Claire, who was younger yet absolutely radiant, and a flash of jealousy darkened her gaze.

Bloodline really was everything. She had spent years trying to please Ophelia, only to be rewarded with some jewelry, clothes, and skincare products.

Meanwhile, this girl effortlessly received shares worth hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more.

It completely escaped Irma’s mind

that she wasn’t a member of the

Churchill family to begin with; there was no reason she should ever receive their shares.

Ophelia had already spent a considerable amount of money on her niece; Irma was simply too greedy.

“Mom, Ophelia makes a fair point. Just drop it,” Irma said, tugging on her mother’s dress.

She worried that if her mother kept going, the rest of the Churchill family would overhear and harbor ill feelings toward the Dean family.

Ophelia had already been acting much colder toward her and her mother since the scene they caused at the Churchill estate last time.

If her father hadn’t proactively reached out to Ophelia, they wouldn’t have even been invited tonight.

Irma was terrified her mother was going to completely ruin whatever affection Ophelia had left for them.

“What fair point? You’re just a kid, what do you know?”

lieana snapped, displeased that her daughter was siding with Ophelia.

Ophelia shot her a look, and lieana immediately clamped her mouth shut. She hadn’t forgotten Ophelia’s recent frostiness toward the Dean family. Their last visit to the Churchill estate had genuinely angered Ophelia.

If she ruined this hard-won opportunity to mend fences by causing another uproar,

there was no telling how furious her husband would be.

When Ophelia’s attention shifted, Irma leaned in close and whispered into her mother’s ear.

“You mean…? Absolutely not! How could a country bumpkin like her ever be good enough for…”

Irma shot her mother a frantic look, signaling her to keep her voice down.

lieana regained her composure and glanced at Claire. Standing beside Padgett, the girl did look somewhat presentable.

If her son really managed to hook up with her, wouldn’t that free up the catch from the Green family?

It would be a bit of a downgrade for her son to end up with a country girl, but the tangible shares of the Churchill Group were practically free money.