A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Chapter 1

At the airport’s arrival hall, a girl stepped out into the bustle, long hair loose around her shoulders, sunglasses and a mask half–concealing her striking features, wireless headphones resting around her neck. In one hand, she easily carried a small suitcase, her long, pale legs drawing more than a few lingering glances as she passed.

People stared, some whispering, half–convinced they’d just spotted a celebrity in the wild.

She halted, pushing her sunglasses up with a careless touch.

“Miss Alessia.” A middle–aged man in a tailored suit appeared before her, head respectfully lowered.

Alessia Tate slid off her sunglasses and tucked them into her collar. The small beauty mark beneath her eye only emphasized her allure.

“Are my parents home?”

“Yes, they’ve returned,” the man replied.

Alessia’s expression didn’t flicker with excitement or even the slightest hint of nerves. It was as if the people waiting for her were complete strangers.

“Butler, don’t forget the rest of my luggage,” she reminded, her tone languid.

“Of course, Miss. I’ll have it brought to your room shortly.”

word. The butler Dawson followed at a respectful distance. Outwardly, he betrayed

had been him–if he’d discovered, while traveling, that he’d been switched at birth–he’d have been a wreck, scrambling for the next flight home. It was one thing if the other family rivaled the

pity crept into Dawson’s gaze as he watched Alessia’s back. Poor girl, he thought. She probably had no idea what she was about to

the weight of his stare but couldn’t be bothered to respond. In truth, she wasn’t anxious or heartbroken–if anything, she’d almost

open. Alessia didn’t break stride, slipped inside, and pulled on her headphones the moment she settled

15-34

Chapter 1

away toward

she’d first learned she wasn’t the Tates‘ biological daughter, she’d been shocked, of course. But then–relief

the Tates had mistreated her. Far from it. They’d always provided for her–financially, she’d been better off than any of her peers, with a monthly allowance that dwarfed theirs. But that

to carry on the family name and produce the perfect heir. Three children meant a backup–a spare, in case the second wasn’t a boy. If the second

wanted something, you earned it with your grades. When the siblings reached the right age, they were shipped off to the most elite private academies in Europe–networking was just as important

academics.

fight for what she wanted. The downside? Her parents never paid her the slightest attention. Even birthday presents were left to their

hoping for a word of praise, anything to be seen. But she was never acknowledged, never celebrated like her brother and younger sibling. She let

she did could

she was nothing but a pawn, her only value lying in the marriage alliance she’d

moved up by a whole year. The

Dawson