A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

In the back courtyard of the school, Ileana sat alone in the gazebo, mumbling to herself. Her backpack lay tossed on the ground, and every now and then, she gave it a frustrated kick. Lucy watched the whole scene from a distance, but didn’t rush over right away.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then–putting on a worried expression–called out, “Ileana! Are you out here?”

At the sound of Lucy’s voice, Ileana’s head snapped up. She scrambled to grab her backpack, dusted it off, and set it aside as she saw Lucy running her way.

Turning away, Ileana pinched her thigh hard, willing herself not to cry–but her eyes quickly reddened, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Ileana,” Lucy said softly as she approached, careful not to startle her.

Ileana flinched, wiping at her face with the back of her hand, but kept her back to Lucy.

“Are you okay?” Lucy edged closer, her voice gentle and tentative.

“I’m fine,” Ileana sniffled, her stubborn silhouette refusing to turn around.

“Don’t let it get to you. People are like that–they say something mean, and by the time a couple of classes go by, they’ll forget all about it.”

trembling. “But it just feels so unfair. I don’t even know what I did wrong. My own brother and cousin were willing to ruin our family dinner in front of everyone just to side with Alessia and turn me into a joke. And I don’t understand why everyone at school treats me like this… I thought coming home meant I’d finally have parents

and she

back of her hand.

then quietly

Ileana whispered,

her shoulder a gentle, reassuring

you have to put up with all of this on top of it–anyone would be upset. None of this is

it been swit

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you’d be the one surrounded by love right

voice was soft, soothing, like a mother calming

her cheeks streaked with tears. “Do you really

I come all the way out here to

first person at this school who’s actually been kind