The Billionaire's True Heiress: From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 410

The room went quiet after that. None of the girls said a word. The truth was, all their families needed to curry favor with The James Family if they wanted to get ahead. Building connections wasn’t just about the adults making deals. The kids’ friendships mattered too, especially if the families wanted to grow.

It wasn’t like their parents were throwing them at Cindy without thinking. Everyone had their own plans. Still, when someone pointed it out so bluntly, Cindy felt a little embarrassed.

“My family’s business isn’t really my concern,” Cindy said with a careful smile. “Rose and the others only started hanging out with me because I’d just come back to The James Family, and I didn’t know anyone at school.”

She tried to take the blame off the other girls, giving them a way out. It worked. The tension eased and a bit of color returned to their faces. In the past, they’d looked down on Cindy. The only reason they hung out with her was because their parents insisted. Deep down, none of them liked having to kiss up to her just because she was the real heiress.

But seeing Cindy speak up on their behalf, they felt maybe all the effort they’d put into getting close to her hadn’t been for nothing after all.

“Cindy’s right,” Rose said, eager to back her up. “Business is for the grown-ups. We’re still students. We should just focus on being friends.”

Shirley leaned back, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Well, you must all be really close, then. Otherwise, why would Cindy be showering you with gifts every other week?”

She may as well have called them freeloaders. For a second, Rose and the others glanced at Shirley, wondering if she was genuinely picking on Cindy or just poking fun.

Or maybe, was she trying to help Cindy in her own roundabout way?

“It’s not like that. I gave those things to them because I wanted to,” Cindy said, her tone sharper than before. She wasn’t a fan of Shirley’s attitude.

“Come on, Shirley, it’s normal for friends to exchange gifts, isn’t it? Didn’t you help out when Claire moved? I remember you went all out to celebrate.”

Shirley shrugged. “Sure, there’s nothing wrong with it. But what did they get you in return?”

***

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