The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 878

If Dane had actually liked her, Zachary would have moved mountains to make the match happen.

But Dane didn't care for her, and the fact that she and her little entourage went around dragging Dane's name through the mud just made her look completely pathetic.

"Ah, well, I can't control what the kids do." It wasn't that he couldn't control it; he just didn't want to deal with it.

Zachary hastily changed the subject, steering the conversation away from Dane entirely.

Naturally, being avid fishermen, the grandfathers' conversation quickly pivoted back to fishing.

Claire and Dane only lingered for a few more minutes before slipping away.

She hated these kinds of social obligations.

She had despised them back when she lived with the James family, and she despised them just as much now as a Churchill.

Seeking refuge, she and Dane escaped into the expansive outdoor garden.

Dane brought her a small plate of pastries, and the two settled under a large patio umbrella to enjoy the cool evening breeze.

The Churchill family had placed zero pressure on Claire tonight. No one was forcing her to network, so slipping away to relax went completely unpunished.

However, Claire certainly hadn't expected front-row seats to a dramatic showdown.

Xavier Vance was attending the gala tonight—the same Xavier who had suffered a spectacular falling out with Owen.

And he hadn't come alone. He had brought a woman.

The three of them were currently locked in a tense standoff right in the middle of the garden.

Owen glared at Xavier with pure fury. "Where is my book? Did you bring it?"

"And who gave you permission to bring her here?"

"Do you think just anyone can waltz into a Churchill family event?"

Owen despised Jocelyn Thorne, and he especially despised the pathetic, innocent act she constantly put on.

Right on cue, before Xavier could even speak, Jocelyn's eyes welled with tears, looking utterly victimized. "I'm so sorry, Owen. What happened back then... it was my fault."

"I shouldn't have gone abroad without a word, but..."

Owen just stared at her, his expression ice-cold.

Why else would he rush to the airport the second he found out she was back, and then bring her to such an exclusive, high-society gala?

Wasn't this his way of proudly declaring to the world that she was still his girlfriend, the love of his life?

Years ago, she had taken immense pride in driving a wedge between two best friends.

Hearing Xavier flat-out say that a relationship between them was impossible left her reeling. She had absolutely no idea what was going on.

Owen was even more bewildered.

"What on earth are you talking about? You seriously think she and I can be friends?"

While Owen certainly harbored some bitter disappointment toward Seraphina for what she did, it didn't mean he was ready to forgive Jocelyn.

Compared to Seraphina, he despised Jocelyn far more—she was the one who had happily reaped all the benefits of the lie.

And he especially despised people who reaped those benefits while trying to take the moral high ground.

"Why can't we be friends? We've known each other since we were kids. It's been years. Whatever bad blood there is, it's time to wipe the slate clean."