The Billionaire's True Heiress: From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 69

After Lance came out, he went straight to help Cindy finish the last of her transfer paperwork.

Normally, there was no way Cindy’s grades would get her into Class One, but that didn’t matter. The James family had money, and everyone knew it. If a James kid didn’t make it into Class One, people would talk. Besides, Cindy was the real heiress who had finally come home. Now the family was determined to make it up to her, to treat her right. They couldn’t let her go through anything less than perfect, and they wanted the Byron family to see how serious they were about welcoming her back. No matter what Cindy had gone through before, from now on she was the James family’s precious daughter.

When the bell rang, Lance showed up outside Class One. Sophia spotted him right away and nudged Claire in the side.

“Claire, your brother’s back,” she whispered.

Claire didn’t look up from her book. “He’s not my brother. He’s Cindy’s brother.”

Lance waited at the door, and as soon as Cindy saw him, she hurried out.

“Lance?” she called, thinking he was looking for her.

He smiled and reached out, gently ruffling her hair. “Your transfer’s all sorted. You just focus on your classes, okay?”

“If anyone gives you trouble, just call me.”

“Look, the James family might not be one of the top three in Apex, but we’re not the kind of people anyone can just mess with.”

Cindy felt a rush of warmth, almost like being wrapped up in a soft blanket. She nodded. “Don’t worry, Lance. I won’t let anyone push me around.”

“And if Claire tries anything, don’t be scared of her either.”

Cindy hesitated. She didn’t really want Lance and Claire to talk too much. After all, they’d grown up together for eighteen years. Lance was on her side now, probably because he felt guilty about everything she’d been through in the countryside. But what about later? What if he started to feel sorry for Claire again? What if he thought Claire was the one being wronged someday?

“Lance, why do you need to talk to Claire?” Cindy asked softly.

Her careful tone made Lance’s heart ache a little. “It’s nothing. I just want to warn her not to mess with you.”

“Lance, don’t say that about Claire.” Cindy felt a little relief. If it was for her sake, she could handle it. “Claire hasn’t really bullied me. I can deal with it.”

Just then, Claire walked up to the doorway. “Can you move, please?”

Cindy froze. Had Claire just heard what they were saying?