The Billionaire's True Heiress: From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 361

Hearth & Kettle stayed closed during the holidays, but by the sixth day it was back in business. Even then, it wasn’t open to the public. Only a few regulars had booked out the private rooms ahead of time.

Claire brought Dane along, weaving through the busy lobby. Jennifer was running around like crazy, barely stopping for breath. Everyone coming in today seemed important, and Jennifer, as the owner, insisted on cooking herself. Thankfully, the manager knew exactly what was going on and had a real knack for recognizing faces. He remembered Claire and Dane, even though they’d only visited once before. More importantly, he knew Claire was family to Jennifer, not just some ordinary customer.

He greeted them at the door with a big smile. “Claire, you’re here. Jennifer’s in the kitchen. If you want, I can take you right to her.”

Claire smiled back, taken aback at how warm his welcome was. “Thanks, but if she’s busy, we don’t want to get in the way. We’ll just take a stroll for a bit.”

The manager hesitated, glancing out at the chilly courtyard. “It’s cold outside. If you’d like to eat, I can set up a private room for you… one that’s usually off-limits.”

“That’s all right. Hearth & Kettle looks beautiful this time of year. Spring’s almost here, so we’ll just enjoy the view. When things calm down later, could you have someone bring us a few dishes?”

The manager nodded, not about to argue. Claire clearly knew what she wanted. She didn’t seem like the type to go barging in on VIP guests either, so he relaxed. After she nodded goodbye, she took Dane down a different path, leaving the main area behind.

They crossed a little stone bridge over a stream and headed toward the other side of the courtyard. The manager didn’t think much of it. Lots of people wanted to explore that part of the grounds, but the entrance was always locked with a heavy iron padlock. Guests couldn’t get in at all; that area was completely off-limits. Usually, people would try the gate, realize it wouldn’t budge, and give up.

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