A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“Is there anything Lessie doesn’t eat?”

“I’m not a big fan of tomatoes.” Alessia answered honestly, skipping any false politeness. The conversation flowed easily between them.

“You get that from your dad–he’s not fond of them either,” Karen replied with a gentle smile.

“Is there anything you do like? I’ll make it for you.”

With their arms linked, the two of them looked every bit like the other mothers and daughters passing by on the street. Alessia noticed it too; the corners of her lips lifted in a faint smile, and her eyes softened.

She’d been to supermarkets plenty of times, but this was her first time at an open–air market. Watching Karen greet the vendors, haggle with practiced ease, Alessia couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if Yvonne–her birth mother–were here instead.

Would she lower herself, chatting and bargaining back and forth just to save a few coins? Alessia shook her head. She could only picture Yvonne negotiating with a cool, detached expression, never wasting a word.

It was striking, really–the difference between someone who’d grown up with nothing, and someone who’d fallen from high places. One was gentle, the other forceful; Alessia found the contrast fascinating.

The market was crowded, voices rising and falling all around them. If you didn’t speak right into someone’s ear, you had to raise your voice just to be heard.

At first, Alessia found it all new and interesting. Then it became noisy, and finally, she stopped thinking about it at all and just trailed obediently after Karen, listening as she explained which stall had the best deals and which vendors sometimes shortchanged you.

When they stepped outside, all the clamor faded away. Alessia took a deep breath, feeling oddly like she’d stepped out of one world and into another.

at this time, she’d been sleeping in a

overseas.

you?” Karen caught on quickly to

much for crowds,” Alessia said with a small

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15.26

Chapter

you’d be bored staying home

time you can bring me along again.” To her

Karen looked puzzled.

liked it.” Most of the time, when she went shopping, she just waited in the VIP lounge while someone brought her whatever she wanted. This was the first time in her life she’d experienced

just being

latest. Some of the smaller ones open before dawn and shut down by eight in the morning. When I first moved here, I had no idea. If it hadn’t been for the neighbor across

light and cheerful as she told Alessia about the little helps she’d had since moving here, and her own tricks for getting the best deals. Alessia answered here and there, both of them sharing the weight of the shopping basket, winding through alleys on their way

trying to memorize the route. That’s when she caught sight of someone

when she saw

man…doesn’t he look a lot like

followed Alessia’s gaze. The moment she saw him, a shadow crossed her eyes, her smile faltering into