The Billionaire's True Heiress: From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 367

Both families felt the sting of reality, like a slap echoing right across their faces.

The only person who seemed completely unfazed was Claire. She still hadn’t even noticed their arrival.

When the owner confirmed it out loud, Valerie just froze. She’d assumed Claire would be miserable after falling from grace, but here she was, turning around and becoming the owner of a historic estate instead. Talk about luck.

“Claire, you’re having dinner here too?”

Now that Latham knew Hearth & Kettle was Claire’s, the way he looked at his adopted daughter changed completely.

Cindy had lived with Pandora for eighteen years and gotten nothing for it. Claire had barely returned and suddenly Pandora had handed her an estate as a wedding gift. The message was clear. Pandora adored Claire.

Claire just had that way of winning over the older generation. Latham’s own mother had practically raised Claire herself, out of all the grandchildren. It wasn’t just because Octavia hadn’t cared for her back then—Claire was just genuinely likable. Shirley, for example, had never gotten that sort of affection.

If this were just an ordinary house, Latham wouldn’t be concerned at all. But right now, his family wanted to win the development rights for this whole area, and the biggest obstacle was definitely Hearth & Kettle.

Would Claire agree to have it demolished? The spot was prime real estate. If they could get the surrounding land and turn it into a commercial hub or a luxury neighborhood, having Hearth & Kettle incorporated would be a huge win. The property itself took up a massive area, and as a private residence, getting the owner’s permission for demolition would be almost impossible.

It wasn’t just another old house. The courtyard was beautiful and classic, and the Hearth & Kettle restaurant was already famous. Why would the owner ever agree to tear it down?

But now that he’d learned Claire was the owner, Latham couldn’t help but feel hopeful. She was still his adopted daughter, after all. Maybe she’d go along with his plans.

Even if the place couldn’t be torn down, he wanted to own it. Turning it into a tourist landmark could bring in visitors and boost the whole area. In Latham’s mind, it was already as good as his.

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