The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 23

Cindy shook her head as the thought crossed her mind again. No way. Someone that classy would never be interested in Claire.

“Mom, if Cindy had grown up with you, she’d be just as amazing as Claire,” Lance said, trying to convince Octavia. “Cindy’s already gone through so much. We should really try to make it up to her.”

Octavia seemed to soften. “You’re right. When we get home, I’ll hire some tutors for Cindy. She should at least learn proper etiquette. And she needs a couple of talents she can show off, even if she doesn’t have to be good at everything.”

Cindy listened quietly as her mother made plans for her. Deep down, she promised herself, I’m going to beat Claire. I have to.

Meanwhile, Claire had no idea Cindy had just secretly declared her a rival. She was sitting by the fireplace, listening to Dane and Pandora chat. Mostly, Pandora was asking about Baldrick, and Dane just answered her questions.

“Is your grandfather’s rheumatism really bad?” Pandora asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

“Yeah, it is. Grandpa says it started when he worked on the dam one winter, back when he was young.”

Back then, Baldrick had been sent to the countryside for hard labor. The living conditions were rough, the work was brutal, and it left him with health problems that only got worse as he got older.

“He really worked himself to exhaustion,” Pandora said quietly. In truth, Baldrick had been doing the work of two people. His wife was too weak after childbirth to help, and he didn’t want her to overdo it. Their first child hadn’t survived. Their second only made it because Pandora had secretly brought them porridge.

Looking back, Pandora realized she’d always gotten along better with Baldrick’s wife.

“How’s your grandmother doing?” she asked.

“She passed away,” Dane said, his voice going soft. “It hit Grandpa really hard. He’s never been the same since.”

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