A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Alessia arched an eyebrow, a sly smile curving her lips. “You’re blending into your new identity pretty fast.”

“Word’s gotten out, you know. Are you really okay?” Justin’s playful expression faded, concern flickering in his eyes.

“This? Barely worth my attention. She needs the Tate family name for appearances. Do 1?”

Her eyes sparkled, brimming with confidence.

Justin let out a short laugh. “True. There isn’t a place you can’t walk into and own.”

He glanced around the room, lips pulling into a dissatisfied line. “But isn’t this place a bit cramped? Didn’t Cole gift you an entire house? Worst case, you can have my spare place.” He shook his head, looking genuinely perplexed. “Can you really stand living here?”

“I’ve got my own plans.”

Justin shrugged, used to Alessia’s stubborn independence, and decided not to argue further.

The workers moved quickly. After a brief discussion with Alessia, they had the room transformed in less than an hour. She and Justin also took the opportunity to rearrange Zachary’s room, optimizing the space.

With Justin’s input, every inch was put to its best use. He’d have gladly renovated the rest of the house too, but Alessia declined, her mind already drifting elsewhere. Meanwhile, Alessia sent Ivan to move his things in.

“Yours is inside; this part out here’s mine,” she explained, pointing to the bed tucked at the back as she walked Ivan through their new room.

farthest corner, separated with both a curtain and a pair of bookcases. Two desks sat by the window; Ivan’s side had a small cabinet packed with paints and

private little cocoon for sleep–even if someone came or

our boundaries, mind our own business. You paint, I do

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coexistence. Consider this

fixed on the cabinet overflowing with

go unpack,” Alessia said, ruffling his hair.

smirked. “Kids are so

the boys‘ room was finished

With Justin handling things, she never worried–he had a knack

of work was made for

for all

the word,” said the lead worker, hefting his toolbox with a

Morton now,”

her head, focusing on rolling sushi to hide her trembling hands. Brendan, too, looked unsettled. He wiped his hands, walked over, and gave Karen’s shoulder a comforting

who had worked with Alessia before, caught on