The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 271

"Isn't it obvious? Just look at the age difference." Latonia didn't hide her annoyance when Claire asked her grandfather so directly.

"Oh." Claire turned to Dane, her voice casual. "Maybe I should think this over. Everyone keeps saying you're too old for me. They say we've got a generation gap."

Dane's face was a mix of frustration and disbelief.

Latonia felt a little thrown off. She hadn't expected Claire to say something like that. After all, she was around Dane's age herself. If Claire was calling Dane old, wasn't she calling her old too? And just a moment ago, she and her grandfather had been making a fuss about the age gap. Now, there was nothing she could say that wouldn't sound contradictory. Latonia started to realize that Claire wasn’t just some naive, sweet girl. Did she even really like Dane?

"Claire, that’s not what I meant." Latonia pressed her lips together, trying to explain. "I just mean, you’re still young. You’re still figuring things out. Aren’t you still in school? What if you meet someone you actually like there? What happens to Dane then? Look at Ablett, he’s still single, and I don't think Baldrick wants Dane to end up the same way."

She brought up Ablett, knowing most people believed he was still single because Melissa had broken his heart. Latonia thought so too.

Baldrick felt the need to correct her. "Ablett’s being single doesn’t have much to do with Melissa. That’s a different situation."

Latonia was left speechless. She hadn’t expected Baldrick to call her out like that.

"But Latonia does have a point," Baldrick went on. "You both need to think this through. Luckily, we already agreed the engagement wouldn’t happen until Claire turns twenty. Until then, either of you can change your mind. But once you’re officially engaged, I want you to take it seriously."

He definitely didn’t want Dane to end up single forever because of Claire.

He’d heard that Baldrick had traveled out of town to see a doctor, and that his legs had gotten much better with the treatment. Now, Baldrick was looking for some herbal ingredients, clearly following traditional medicine methods. Achilles was familiar with that field too, though he was trained in modern medicine. He’d treated Baldrick before. He could help with the pain, but he’d never found a real cure. When Baldrick said he wanted to try traditional methods, Achilles hadn’t argued, but he didn’t believe they’d actually work.

"It’s gotten a bit better," Baldrick replied, glancing at Claire before turning to Achilles with a smile. "I actually met a young doctor who’s a real miracle worker."

"A miracle worker?" Achilles sounded skeptical. "Didn’t you say you went to see a specialist?"

Baldrick explained, "The doctor I was looking for had already passed away, but I met his last apprentice by chance. This young doctor is amazing. Before, I couldn’t get through winter without the heater. I had to stay home. I couldn’t go anywhere."