The Billionaire's True Heiress: From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 394

“You’d probably be better off just living in a dorm, you know?” Octavia said, not bothering to hide her skepticism.

Claire just grinned. “Actually, I bought this place.”

Octavia’s eyebrows shot up. “Buying? But homes in this neighborhood cost at least two million. If you keep spending like this, won’t you burn through your money before graduation?”

She crossed her arms and slipped naturally into her ‘concerned parent’ mode. “You’re not really part of our family anymore. You should learn to save your money. What if you end up needing it later on?”

Sophia looked like she was about to say something, but Claire caught her sleeve and quietly shook her head.

“It’s really OK,” Claire said, her smile easy. “I still have the old house, remember? That place is worth a lot more than people think, and I get rent from it every month.”

“I might not be living some wildly extravagant life, but I’m comfortable.”

For a second, Octavia looked almost flustered. She always seemed to forget that Claire still owned Hearth & Kettle. The rent from the front yard alone was a steady income every month.

“Well… that’s… something, I suppose,” Octavia muttered, barely able to get the words out.

Claire’s mood lifted even more. “Yep, it sure is,” she replied.

“So, where are you off to, Octavia?” Claire asked.

“I’m taking Cindy to the store. She comes by to nap sometimes, but there’s never anything to snack on here,” Octavia replied.

Claire remembered how, back when she lived with the James family, Octavia controlled her diet down to the last crumb—never any chips, candy, or even so much as a soda. She’d been determined to shape Claire into a flawless young lady, never once caring about whether she was actually happy.

It was true. Some things really did come down to blood. For her own daughter, Octavia never missed a detail.

“Claire, let’s go to the supermarket too. It’s early anyway,” Sophia cut in, upbeat.

It was just a boring trip to the grocery store—hardly anything for Octavia to brag about, and Sophia was already over her attitude.

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