Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 513

Maxwell still didn’t really trust this so-called Madeline, but the Ballard family needed someone to come back and keep all the rumors in check. Shelly had been gone for years, and people were saying the family had fallen apart under a woman’s leadership, that there was no one left to inherit the legacy. Everyone outside was just waiting for the Ballards to crash and burn.

Now, with the young lady back, it didn’t really matter if she was the real deal or not. Her face alone was enough to shut people up, at least for now. Maxwell let out a heavy sigh. This would have to do for the time being.

“Alright, Miss, you must be exhausted,” he said. “Go get some rest. I’ll bring you to meet the rest of the family later.”

Claire nodded. “Okay.”

She brought Grandma Monroe and Drew with her to her room. Kate and Raine tried to follow them in, but Claire stopped them cold with a glare.

“We need to talk in private. You two can wait outside.”

Kate and Raine paused, but Drew spoke up too. “You heard her. Out.”

Kate clenched her jaw, clearly annoyed, but she dragged Raine out with her.

“Mom, why can’t we go in?” Raine complained, rolling her eyes as the door closed.

“Madeline has always been a pain for us. Can you believe her luck? She comes back and now she’s the Ballard heiress. Grandma’s going to be all about her now, and so will Dad. What are we supposed to do?”

Kate snorted. “You actually believe that’s the real Madeline?”

Raine’s eyes went wide. “Wait, she’s not? She’s a fake?”

Back in the room, Grandma Monroe studied Claire for a moment before she spoke. “Claire…”

Claire’s eyes turned icy, and Grandma Monroe quickly corrected herself. “I mean, Madeline…”

“Grandma, you have to remember, here I’m Madeline. Don’t mess that up,” Claire warned, her gaze sharp as a knife.

Grandma Monroe nodded quickly. “Of course, we’ll remember. So, Madeline, you’re in. What’s the next step? Are you sure the Ballard elders believe you?”

Claire let out a low, bitter laugh. “They don’t trust me. They just don’t have any proof that the other Madeline is real, or that I’m not. The Ballards are desperate for an heir right now, so having me here keeps up appearances and keeps outsiders quiet.”

She wandered over to the window, gazing out. From here, she could see the entire Ballard estate spread out below her, every inch of it laid out like a challenge she’d have to face.