A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Chapter 14

“And besides, once the semester starts, I can apply for a dorm room on campus. Rather than leaving this place empty, it makes more sense to use the space well.”

“So you were planning to move out to the campus all along?”

The conversation kept circling back and forth.

“I don’t have to live there,” Alessia shrugged, her tone impossible to read.

“If living at school makes things easier for you, I won’t stand in your way,” Brendan said.

“There’s no place like home, no matter how fancy the alternatives,” Alessia replied with a little smirk.

Everyone in the room chuckled at that.

“Alright, it’s getting late. We should all get some rest,” Brendan said, glancing at the clock.

“Yeah.” As soon as Alessia replied, Zachary’s face changed–he turned away suddenly and began to cough harshly.

His parents rushed to his side, worry etched on their faces.

“If you don’t mind, may I check your pulse?” Alessia waited until Zachary had recovered before she spoke.

“Of course,” Zachary replied without hesitation, extending his hand. “You know how to do that?”

“I picked up a few things from an old… well, let’s just say a family friend.” Alessia placed her fingers gently on Zachary’s wrist.

middle of summer, but his hand was icy cold, as if

made it this far,” she

looked a bit surprised, but didn’t seem

and Liam are twins,” Karen explained, her face clouded with worry. “When I was pregnant and went in for a scan, the doctor told me there was little chance Zachary would survive. I

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all kinds of weird medications,” Zachary added lightly, clearly trying to break the heavy

senior year?” Alessia

sick a lot as a kid, so I had to take a year off

it. What meds

astragalus, ginseng…” Zachary listed off the

furrowed even deeper. “That’s just the

coughed, cutting her

and Karen didn’t

should get some sleep, too. Don’t you have to get up

“But you-”

same old thing. The doctor didn’t say anything new today. Lessie, the prescription’s alright,

nothing wrong with it.” But

shepherded off to their bedroom. Once the door closed behind them, Zachary let out a sigh of relief.

Alessia said, meeting his eyes. “But tell me, did you

medicine since before I could walk. I know my own body. I figure, if I’ve got a year left, I’d rather not waste a bunch of

Alessia nodded thoughtfully.