The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 365

“Mabel, Claire’s the young doctor who realized I was having a seizure at Hearth & Kettle last time,” Eaton said, eager to introduce her.

“Claire, our whole family’s honestly so grateful you helped Eaton. If you hadn’t acted so quickly, I don’t even want to think about what could’ve happened.” Mabel’s smile was full of warmth and she looked like she meant every word. “Would you join us for dinner, if you’re free?”

It was obvious Mabel and Eaton were pretty close as cousins, so her gratitude to Claire felt honest and heartfelt.

“Oh, that’s alright. You don’t have to trouble yourself with dinner,” Claire replied, polite but a little shy.

Mabel grinned. “Then… would you maybe let me see inside Hearth & Kettle? Please, could you ask your friend? We’ll pay for a tour, and I promise we won’t touch or damage anything—not even a leaf.”

“Hearth & Kettle isn’t mine,” Dane jumped in before Claire could say anything.

Mabel turned to Claire in surprise.

Claire laughed, looking a little embarrassed. “Actually, Hearth & Kettle was a gift from a family elder.”

Mabel’s eyes went wide, then, without warning, she grabbed Claire’s hand. “Claire, you have to let me in for a look. Just one look. I swear, no pictures if you say so. Later, I’ll treat you to the biggest meal right here—order whatever you want, it’s on me!”

Mabel’s family was in real estate and she was their precious only daughter. She basically grew up with every luxury, so developing a love for architecture was no surprise. When something caught her attention, she never let it go.

Mabel stepped between them, hands up. “Valerie, wait. Did something happen between you and Claire?” She’d picked up on Valerie’s negative energy long before. But Claire’s words made her rethink things. Was Valerie actually jealous? Was there more to her anger than she let on? And when Claire said being friends with Valerie might be dangerous, that really hit home for Mabel. Was she right?

“There’s no misunderstanding,” Valerie said coldly. “Mabel, seriously, there’s just no way Claire owns a place like Hearth & Kettle. Don’t let her fool you.”

Right then, Jennifer came out to the porch. She worried the group might be giving Claire a hard time, or worse, upsetting her enough that she might take back Hearth & Kettle’s front courtyard. Jennifer had seen how straightforward and stubborn Claire could be.

She called, “Claire,” softly, cutting through Valerie’s last words.

Valerie’s face brightened the moment she recognized Jennifer. If Claire was stretching the truth, now was her chance to be exposed. The warmth in Jennifer’s voice when she greeted Claire seemed to go right over Valerie’s head.