A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

As Ileana drifted deeper into her daydream, the door suddenly burst open. Both women jumped, startled, their eyes darting toward the doorway.

“Alessia? Stella?” Lucy stood up, her voice uncertain as she glanced between the

two.

“Alessia! What are you doing here?” Ileana’s posture was tense, suspicion etched across her face.

Alessia said nothing, but Stella strode right in. She raised her hand, and Ileana instinctively shrank back, bracing herself. Stella smirked, then slipped an arm casually around Lucy’s shoulders.

“What are you trying to do? This is a hospital, you know,” Lucy stammu, swallowing hard.

“Relax. Let’s have a word outside, shall we?” It sounded like a question, but Stella didn’t wait for Lucy’s answer. With her arm still draped around her, she steered Lucy out the door.

Lucy shot a helpless glance at Ileana. Ileana opened her mouth to protest, but Stella silenced her with a cold, warning look. Ileana pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Stella’s lips curled into a sneer, her eyes full of disdain. Lucy had no choice but to follow her out.

As the door closed behind them, the spacious hospital room grew unnaturally quiet. Now only Ileana and Alessia remained. Alessia didn’t speak right away; she simply took Lucy’s recently vacated chair, crossed her legs, and lounged back. Her casual air somehow made the tension in the room tighten.

her warily, jaw clenched, her fists twisting the blanket

do you want?”

fall by yourself?”

to snap Ileana out of her panic. She straightened, her fear evaporating, replaced by a chilly

expose you for telling York to push me down the stairs, aren’t you? Alessia, how could you be so cruel? Manipulating a seven–year–old

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Chapter 147

if trying to

blame.

Ileana’s angle, but her expression didn’t waver; she

push you down the stairs? And how do you know I was the one to put the idea in his

left Ileana

hadn’t pushed her, Ileana couldn’t prove Alessia had put him up to it. Alessia’s way was always to

I’m curious–when did you learn you were the Tate family’s lost child? You timed your return perfectly, right as the Mortons declared bankruptcy and you could land back with the Tates.” Alessia’s eyebrow arched, her lips curled

ironic smile.

chance. Now, with the Tates, you’re also