A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Chapter 8

“Eat up, have some more,” Brendan said warmly, piling another slice of roast onto her plate.

“If there’s anything you’re craving, just tell me,” his mother added. “I’ll make it for

you.”

Alessia nodded, quietly tucking into her meal. The easy back–and–forth around the table was a warmth she’d rarely known in her seventeen years. Maybe it was the inviting atmosphere, maybe she just couldn’t refuse their kindness, but even though her appetite usually vanished in front of such a feast, she managed to finish at whole bowl of rice–which was no small feat for her.

If the eldest Tate boy ever heard of it, another round of chefs would probably be packing their knives at the Tate estate.

By the end of the meal, the awkward tension had faded. Ethan headed back to campus, while Alessia excused herself upstairs to pack her things. She didn’t have much to her name, so it didn’t take long.

Lying on the bed, she breathed in the fresh scent of sun–dried sheets and laundry soap. The little desk fan creaked and spun, stirring the air–no air conditioning, but it didn’t feel stuffy at all.

Outside, she could hear the Mortons talking in hushed voices. Through the window drifted the muffled sounds of other families going about their lives. For someone used to the silence of gated communities, the vague commotion was oddly comforting. She remembered, vaguely, that when she was very young, she’d known

this kind of life too.

Neither the Mortons‘ good fortune nor Tate Holdings‘ success had always come easy. When Alessia was little, there had been hard times too. She’d just been lucky, those years of struggle ending quickly, and she’d grown up in comfort ever since.

didn’t know why, but those almost–forgotten

“Asleep?”

“Asleep.”

must be tired. Let her

stir–fried pork. I’ll

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15.35

How’s Zachary

of a sigh through the wall, then

and peaceful. By the time she woke, the house was quiet–just her, Karen, and

Did you sleep well?” Karen was mopping the floor, her smile gentle and kind, the very picture of a

sheets smell wonderful. I

boys are all out and won’t be home for lunch. If there’s something you want to

table hardly mattered; in a struggling one, even one less was a relief.

something myself. Is there anything

right now, but would you come with

Better to keep busy than sit

didn’t stop her, just smiled and showed her where everything went, explaining in her

was easy, unforced. Maybe it was Karen’s softness, or maybe Alessia just wanted to belong, but she found