The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 636

“Kids these days can be a handful, but with some gentle guidance, they’ll come around,” Mrs. Clark mused.

“My boy may not be a classic heartthrob, but he’s got talents of his own.”

“And with us behind them, they’ll want for nothing. Life could be so much easier.”

“Just lay the cards on the table. Claire’s a bright girl; she knows a golden opportunity when she sees one.”

“She might be her school’s valedictorian, but even the brightest still have to claw their way up after college. Joining our family would save her decades of struggle.”

“I know you’ll be able to bring her around.”

Octavia understood perfectly well what was happening: Mrs. Clark wouldn’t be so blatant if she didn’t think the James family was in desperate straits. They were hardly in a position to turn down such a “generous” offer.

She felt wildly uncertain inside, but kept her composure and said, “It’s true, kids today just don’t appreciate how much their parents go through for them.”

“I’ll have a frank conversation with Claire. I’m sure, deep down, she knows we want what’s best.”

Mrs. Clark gave a faint but satisfied smile.

Her own relatives had always mocked her son, calling him a simpleton and pointing out that he’d only gotten to study abroad because she and her husband had greased the right palms. But if she managed to marry him off to a brilliant wife—someone who’d give her a clever grandchild—well, then she’d finally put all her high-and-mighty nieces and nephews to shame.

The only uncertainty was whether Claire would actually listen to Octavia.

As Octavia headed home, she replayed the entire conversation in her mind. How was she supposed to even broach this subject with Claire? Could she trick her into meeting the Clark boy?

But Claire wasn’t some puppet she could just pull strings on anymore. She was her own person now—a young woman with a mind of her own. If Claire put her foot down, there was nothing Octavia could do.

Meanwhile, Claire had no idea that the James family’s troubles had suddenly turned her into their ticket to salvation.

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