A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“Did you guys see that video?”

“Oh my god, yes! I always thought she seemed so sweet–turns out, when she starts swearing, she really goes for it.”

“And that ‘welcome dinner‘ her family threw? What a joke that turned out to be.

“Did you catch her parents‘ faces last night? I swear, they looked absolutely mortified.”

“Honestly, judging by how her family acted, she’s not nearly as spoiled as she lets

on.”

“You think she’s just been faking it this whole time?”

“Unbelievable! Is she really that shameless?”

“Hey, hey, that’s enough!”

“Why can’t we talk abou-” The words died in the air. Ileana was standing in the doorway, knuckles white on her backpack straps.

The two girls who’d been gossiping rubbed their noses awkwardly and drifted apart, while everyone else suddenly found something fascinating in their textbooks.

when Alessia strolled in from the hallway, her expression coolly indifferent. She walked right past Ileana without so much as a

“Happy now, Alessia?”

her, sharp and brittle, but Alessia couldn’t help finding it almost funny. She

anything that should make me

family dinner, you

let out a short laugh, though there wasn’t a

straight: instead of blaming the person who embarrassed you, you’re dragging me into

her hand to strike Alessia,

what’s your excuse now? Just picking someone at random to take your anger out on?” Alessia’s grip tightened for a moment before she let

the looks the others were giving her–some shocked, some scornful,

over.

two days. Biting back tears, she spun around and bolted from the classroom, leaving everyone else exchanging

with cold detachment. Only after Ileana had disappeared did she finally head for her seat. Dumping her backpack into the desk, she leaned back in her chair.

family dinner yesterday when that dog scared her,” Pierce

“And?”

yelling at the poor thing. Honestly, it was pretty disturbing. Plus, she’s always bragged about how much her family dotes on her, but now it seems like that’s all

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