A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“Did I hear you took York out for some fun?”

It was nine in the evening when Max called. A quick mental calculation–he must be calling from his side of the world, where it was just nine in the morning.

At that very moment, Max stood next to a floor–to–ceiling window, gazing down at the traffic below. From up there, the cars looked no bigger than toy models. He held a mug of coffee in one hand, the phone in the other, sleeves casually rolled up to reveal a watch worth more than most people’s cars. Everything about him radiated a polished, refined elegance.

“Word travels fast, huh? You must have ears everywhere,” Alessia replied, unsurprised Max was already in the loop.

“Just making sure you’re not left in the dark. Thought I’d give you a call, little troublemaker.” A half–smile played on Max’s lips; his voice, especially the last word, carried a teasing fondness.

“Didn’t realize there was something I didn’t know.” Alessia tossed her towel onto the chair and leaned against the headboard.

“While you were out, Mae broke her wrist. She’s probably been discharged by now. Dawson gave her a month off and compensated her, but Mae said she had nowhere to go, so she asked the butler not to give her the time off.”

“A broken wrist? Was it Ileana again?” Alessia sat up, worry flickering across her

face.

updating her on a servant’s injury unless there was a reason. He wanted to see how she would handle it.

meticulous in her work, Mae was one of the rare souls in that house who truly looked out for her. Alessia couldn’t

that little animal he keeps. But the creature was smart enough to dash back inside, Mae stepped in to protect

scraped knee. In truth,

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were cold to the

Alessia’s expression darkened instantly.

have her thrown out of the house for you.

in his

fate depended on

“I’ll handle this myself.”

had expected

The front door’s still

twisted sense of humor. Some things never change.” Alessia knew that whatever she