The Billionaire's True Heiress: From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 41

Abbott was one of the last friends Hale still kept in touch with.

He first met Claire when she was just nine. Back then, she’d be out in the yard, laying herbs out to dry while reciting remedies from memory. She even knew how to make her own poultice, gently wrapping it around the leg of a little injured rabbit. With her ponytail bouncing and her head bobbing as she worked, she was just too adorable for words.

Hale used to complain to Abbott about her. He’d finally found a promising little student, but then Claire started learning Western medicine from Pandora next door. He couldn’t even call himself her master. Pandora said everything had to be fair and by the rules, so Hale ended up just being her teacher, not her mentor.

“It’s a long story,” Claire said with a sigh.

“Then just give me the short version,” Abbott replied. He was worried about her. After all, she was the student of an old friend, and he felt responsible for looking out for her.

He remembered what happened at Hearth & Kettle earlier that day. The rich kids there hadn’t held back at all, their words cutting and cruel.

“Cindy and I were switched at birth. I’m not actually the James family’s daughter. The old lady at Hearth & Kettle today—she’s my real grandmother...” Claire kept it as brief as possible.

“I noticed that Cindy girl treats you horribly. You grew up in the James family. Don’t they care about you at all?” Abbott couldn’t wrap his head around it. Sending her back to the countryside the very same day… it was unthinkable.

He understood the shock of discovering the girls had been switched, but to just abandon Claire like that? He worried about how she was really handling all of it.

“Honestly, isn’t this better?” Claire gave a small smile. “If they don’t care about me, I finally get to be free from the James family.”

Abbott paused, watching her closely. He realized Claire’s resentment toward the James family wasn’t just about being abandoned. She truly wanted to break all ties with them. And who could blame her? They threw her out overnight. That kind of coldness couldn’t be forgiven.

“If you ever run into trouble, you know you can always come to me,” Abbott told her. “Your teacher might be gone, but I’m still around for a while yet.”

He’d always felt protective of his old friend’s favorite student.

Claire laughed. “You don’t look old at all, and I’m really fine.”

“They all think my grandmother’s just a poor, clueless country woman. They have no idea there’s always someone better out there.”

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