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.”

another word. The butler Dawson followed at a respectful distance. Outwardly, he betrayed nothing, but inside, he couldn’t

scrambling for

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

bothered to respond. In truth, she wasn’t anxious or heartbroken–if anything, she’d almost kept traveling

black sedan waited with its door already open. Alessia didn’t break stride, slipped inside, and pulled on her

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Chapter 1

car glided away toward

by outside the window, her mood as calm as glass. When she’d first learned she wasn’t the Tates‘ biological daughter, she’d been

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

backup–a spare, in case the second wasn’t a boy. If the second

If you wanted something, you earned it with your grades. When the siblings reached the right age, they were shipped

academics.

luck was that she was a girl; she didn’t have to fight for what she wanted. The downside? Her parents never paid her the slightest attention. Even

tried everything–excelled in school, 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 her grades slip, but even that failed

could ever

the marriage alliance she’d be expected to forge once she

to her, Alessia’s plans for escape had moved up by a whole year. The details had changed, but that was fine. If life had taught her anything, it was to stay

Alessia, we’ve arrived,” Dawson