The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 297

“She didn’t even grow up in the James family!”

Latham couldn’t help pointing that out.

“Is it really so hard to admit Claire is just better?”

He hadn’t wanted to be harsh with his daughter, but ever since she’d come back to the James family, she hadn’t helped out at all. In fact, all she’d done was stir up trouble at home.

That alone was enough to make Latham lose his patience.

Claire was a top student. She’d always been impressive, ever since she was a kid. He had lost track of how many times she’d made him look good in front of others.

Other business owners often came to him for parenting advice, asking how he managed to raise such an outstanding child.

That made Latham feel proud, no question about it.

Now, he couldn’t help regretting that he hadn’t kept Claire with them. The James family was wealthy enough that raising another kid wouldn’t have mattered at all. It wasn’t like one more child would drain their bank account.

Besides, Claire was already a senior in high school. Her tuition was already paid. All that was left was her college expenses, and how much could that really be?

He had always thought of Claire as a long-term investment. They’d already put eighteen years into raising her. Why get stingy at the finish line?

Now, just as he was about to see the payoff, it all got cut off. The thought made him restless.

He could have even used Claire to connect with the Green family.

But thanks to his wife and daughter’s antics, Claire probably didn’t feel much for the James family anymore.

“Latham, why are you always taking someone else’s side?” Octavia shot back, clearly upset.

In her mind, a husband was supposed to back up his wife no matter what.

“So this is my problem now?”

Latham almost never raised his voice at Octavia, but this time, things had gone too far and had even affected the business. He couldn’t just let it slide.

If Octavia kept messing around, she’d drag the whole company down with her.

“Mom, Dad, please don’t fight. It’s my fault.”

“I’ll go find Claire and apologize.”

Without another word, Cindy ran off.

Octavia was caught off guard and didn’t manage to stop her.

And just like that, they dropped the subject.

Octavia picked up her phone and called Lance.

Once he heard Cindy had run out, Lance, who had planned to look for Claire, had to change course and go after Cindy instead.

Cindy, meanwhile, regretted her decision almost right away.

She didn’t know anyone around the neighborhood, and honestly, she had no idea where to go.

So she just wandered through the rain, aimless and lost.

Lance tried calling her, but Octavia picked up. That’s when he realized Cindy hadn’t even brought her phone.

Left with no other choice, he called Claire.

Claire was at the hospital. She’d missed a few acupuncture treatments for Daniel because of a winter camp, and now that she was back, she was spending almost all her free time at the hospital, fitting it in between her tutoring.

“Sorry, I need to take this call.”

Claire gave Barry and the other doctors a quick nod before stepping out.