The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 547

“Claire, I don’t care where you got your information from. Just keep your mouth shut.” Octavia’s voice was sharp, a warning sounded more like a threat than a request. She could tell Claire was convinced that Cindy wasn’t Latham’s daughter. Maybe she even had proof.

If Octavia thought Claire would be intimidated, she had another thing coming.

“Octavia, did I hit the nail on the head? So Cindy really isn’t Latham’s daughter, right?” Claire teased, her tone light but her words cutting.

Octavia shot back without thinking, “That’s ridiculous. Where did you even get that idea?” Then, suspicion crept in. “Wait. Did you send those photos to Latham?” She knew Claire was probably messing with her, but she had to ask, just in case.

Claire didn’t miss a beat. “Photos? I didn’t send anything. What photos? If you’re so sure, why don’t you send one to me, let me take a look?”

Of course Octavia wouldn’t send her anything. When she saw how genuinely confused Claire seemed, she relaxed a little, the knot of worry in her stomach loosening.

“If it wasn’t you, fine. Claire, no matter how things were between us before, I always made sure you had everything you needed. For old times’ sake, can you just forget this ever happened? Cindy was a complete accident. I never did anything else to betray Latham. Honestly, this secret has haunted me for years. I’ve suffered enough. Just pretend you know nothing. If you need something… say it. Anything.”

Octavia had expected this day to come, had braced herself for whatever outrageous demand Claire might make. Claire wasn’t someone you crossed lightly. If she didn’t keep her quiet, who knew what trouble she’d start. Octavia was out of moves, and she knew it.

Claire, for her part, was honestly surprised to see the mighty Octavia asking her for anything.

She looked at Octavia, her expression unreadable.

“You, on the other hand, knew I’d been swapped, but still brought me back to the James family. Then you spent years ignoring me, hoping I’d just fade away. Pretending like it was just some sad mistake. That’s pretty close to murder, don’t you think?”

“I never wanted that…” Octavia tried to defend herself. She wasn’t a killer, how could she be? The worst she’d done was hope that this child who wasn’t hers would quietly disappear.

But Claire had survived, no matter how much Octavia had wanted otherwise. And now, there was nothing left of Octavia’s power over her.