A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

When Vera arrived, Zachary was still visibly uneasy.

“I’ll go with you,” he insisted.

“That’s not necessary,” Alessia replied. “It’s just that if I come home too late, I’ll disturb my parents‘ sleep. They’ve been exhausted lately with all the renovations. Don’t worry–there’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”

Zachary leaned on the car window, reluctant to let her go. “I know you’re capable, but don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

Alessia couldn’t help but smile wryly at his persistence, the corners of her mouth quirking up. She nodded. “Let me say goodnight in advance, then. I’ll see you

tomorrow.”

He reached out and ruffled her hair gently. “Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

As the car pulled away, Zachary stood at the bus stop, watching until it disappeared from sight, worry still etched on his face.

On the ride, Alessia scrolled through the latest trending topics on her phone. Fitch, at least, wasn’t a total fool–he’d chosen a time when most people were off work and even posted screenshots of his diagnosis. He painted himself as the victim, spinning the story so that the company looked like it was only protecting Tristan and trying to push a newcomer into the spotlight by forcing him out. According to Fitch, he’d stood up for himself and gotten punched for it; his words sounded so sincere that even random bystanders would feel sorry for him–let alone his fans.

But Tristan’s fans weren’t exactly pushovers, either. The two sides were at each other’s throats, flooding the company’s official social media with demands for a statement and the truth. Some were already starting to boycott the new artist’s

debut.

situation with the Tillman family?” Alessia

replied. “The contract meeting was canceled yesterday. They

soon enough.” Alessia’s voice was icy. “Everyone has to pay

phone aside and looked out at the

is already on the way,” Vera continued. “We’ve gathered

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of the victims are willing to go public, and

anyone on video,” Alessia said, her tone gentle but firm. “Make sure to blur faces and alter voices in anything already recorded. Some wounds are enough to endure once–we can’t let them be hurt

steering wheel tightened, but her professionalism kept her

only meant to dig up some dirt on him,

much scum in this world,”

her own

after all this time.

“It’s unbelievable

they pulled up in front of

elevator straight to the conference room,