A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“Are you home alone? Did you hire any help?”

“Yeah, we have someone who comes in. Zachary and the others come back after school, too.”

“But Liam and I both work part–time.on weekends, so we’re not around all that much.”

“Lessie, are you saying… that someone mistreated Ivan behind our backs? Is that why he’s so guarded now?” Brendan finally caught on to what Alessia was getting

at.

“But we have security cameras in the house. Things weren’t great back then, so we could only afford one lady to come cook for us–she’d make our meals and leave right after. Besides, Ivan barely ever left his room at that time. He wouldn’t have even crossed paths with her.”

Zachary didn’t think Alessia’s guess was out of line. Instead, he answered her seriously, helping her piece together how things were at home back then.

“But Ileana did spend quite a bit of time with Ivan when the rest of us weren’t home.” Karen’s words slipped out before she realized, and she quickly glanced at Alessia, a little anxious about her reaction.

Alessia, however, was lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to Karen’s unease.

Ileana these days, and they didn’t want her to think they were still taking Ileana’s side. That would

d headed

Alessia knew there was no point in going around in circles. She glanced at her neatly bandaged

for a moment, debating whether to pull them aside, but decided against it–she didn’t want to risk getting bitten on her other

folded neatly on top, just as she’d left it. The only new thing was a small collection of paint jars and a handful of brushes on the nightstand. It was obvious the owner treasured these paints; though the jars had been opened,

bit her lip, her gaze lingering on the

13:50

Chapter 44.

and left the

“Dad, Mom.”

was left from their early–morning bakery shift.

spent studying–he was terrified of disappointing Xander, his

I

sure, but… do you think Ivan will even want to go?”