A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

In the darkness, York spoke in a low voice, but every word reached Ivan’s ears with crystal clarity. He threw off the covers, and the sudden glare from the bedside lamp made both of them squint.

“What are you doing…” York blinked, but before he could finish, Ivan grabbed his hand, cutting off his words in his throat.

Ivan didn’t say anything–he just shook his head. York understood: he meant for him not to go looking for Ileana.

“Alright, alright, I get it.” Mimicking Alessia’s habit of pinching his neek, York reached out and gave Ivan’s cheek a gentle squeeze. “Don’t be scared, okay? I’ll look out for you.”

York always thought he didn’t really need friends, but having someone to watch

over wasn’t so bad.

Inside, the mood grew lighter, but out in the living room, tension hung heavy in the air. Alessia quietly set down her spoon and fork, while Zachary had already

returned to his seat.

“Lessie, do you… do you know something you’re not telling us?” Brendan’s mouth twisted into a frown, his expression weary and defeated. He couldn’t understand where things had gone so wrong. How had it come to this?

wanted to believe this was all just a misunderstanding–but the possibility that it wasn’t terrified her. All these years, she had thought Ileana was just

forced a brittle smile,

do this? Seventeen years, I’ve never treated her unfairly. Even when our family started falling on hard times, I still did everything I could to give her what she

chest, her grief so raw it left Brendan and Zachary

the most. Even though Ivan and York’s accusations had forced him to decide to cut ties with her, seventeen years of memories didn’t

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Chapter 152

tried to deny it.

school, terrified of being bullied if they ended up in different grades. He’d protected her for years, only to find out the

it’s only speculation. There’s no hard evidence yet.” Alessia rubbed her nose, trying to mask her

matter how tangl relationship with Ileana was, it wasn’t really her concern. She cou their pain, but feeling it herself was

Mortons‘

understand

matters is–when did you first find out Ileana