The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 409

Rose’s face lost all its color as she turned to Cindy. “Cindy, don’t listen to Shirley. She’s just talking nonsense. I only tried to get on Claire’s good side before because I had no choice.”

Of course Cindy wasn’t clueless. She knew exactly how her current circle used to trip over themselves to please Claire. She just liked to pretend not to notice.

Being rich was weird sometimes. Even as the heiress of the James Family, Cindy still couldn’t shake off the way people looked down on her. All because she’d grown up in the countryside. In this world, the rich girls always thought any girl from the country was hopelessly rough, that there was no way she belonged with them.

So, the girls who thought they were better than everyone else? They didn’t want anything to do with Cindy. The only friends she could make were ones who wanted something from the James Family.

“I believe you,” Cindy reassured Rose with a gentle smile.

Then she faced Shirley, giving her a look that made it clear she wasn’t impressed. “Shirley, how can you say that about Rose and the others?”

“They’re my friends. They’re definitely not my followers or anything like that.”

“Okay, but if they’re my followers, what about the girls standing next to you?”

Cindy glanced at Shirley’s group, the girls all clustered around her.

It was obvious who was in charge of this crew.

Shirley flicked her hair back and lifted her chin. “My friends aren’t like yours. We grew up together, we have the same personalities, and like the same things.”

She wasn’t worried at all about her girls being swayed. Her crew had attitudes just like hers.

And the girl whose mom inherited a resort? Her dad’s affair had blown up into a huge scandal years ago. Her parents still hadn’t gotten a divorce, just because her dad didn’t want to let go of all the money her mom’s family had.

Of course, Cindy had no clue about any of this, not after just coming back to the James Family. All these family secrets were completely hidden from her.

“I think Rose’s family is in building materials, right? Now that the James Family is making a move into real estate, I guess you two can work together,” Flavia said from Shirley’s side. Flavia always got annoyed at girls who acted all sweet and fragile like Rose.

Her mom’s ex had left her for a woman just like that—someone who used her innocent act to get what she wanted. Flavia’s dad’s mistress had the same energy as Rose, always pretending to be harmless and getting under everyone’s skin.

Flavia’s mom had landed in the hospital twice from the stress, but no matter what, she held on to her family money and refused to give a penny to her ex. Not just that, she wanted Flavia to even change her last name to make a fresh start. Flavia was all for it.

Now, with her own family’s business exposed by Flavia, Rose looked like she was about to pass out. Being called out so bluntly about her real intentions was just too much for her to handle.