A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

It was strange–despite the whole field stretching between them, both could feel the other’s gaze resting on them, unmistakable and magnetic.

“Got it, thanks.” Alessia pulled a baseball cap over her hair–the same one she’d left. in the car earlier, retrieved by Larkin at her request.

Once his errand was done, Larkin didn’t linger. He made his way back to Cole, just as the race was about to begin.

Stella lined up in lane three, Lucy in lane five. The crack of the starter’s pistol echoed, and Stella launched forward with textbook form. Her explosive speed put her on par with the track team’s best, and in a heart–pounding finish, she snatched first place by a hair’s breadth.

But most eyes weren’t on the winner–they were fixed on Lucy, who had stumbled and fallen right at the starting line.

While Stella and the two other qualifiers waited for the cheers, they were met instead with a collective gasp.

“Great job, Stella!” Alessia’s voice rang out from the stands just as Stella, still catching her breath, glanced back at Lucy. Stella managed a triumphant grin and punched the air.

Up in the bleachers, Justin scrolled through his camera roll, but he wasn’t satisfied with any of his shots.

“Hey, want my number? I got a few good ones. I’ll send them to you later,” Liam offered. Justin didn’t hesitate.

He pulled out his phone and brought up his contact

him as

matter how prickly things got between them, she couldn’t just leave Lucy behind, especially in front of the other

can you

She managed a tiny shake of her

nurse?” someone

come here?” Stella didn’t wait for the school nurse;

12.03

to call for

The crowd parted on its own, giving her space as she knelt beside Lucy,

too crowded here. Can someone check if the nurse is

brought in extra

checked–they said there was a case of food poisoning over at the West Field. A whole class got sick, so all the doctors went to help. I barely got an answer before running back,” Pierce

who tried to talk Lucy out of running. Lucy, stubborn as ever, insisted on competing. No one could persuade

with dread creeping in, Pierce had rushed to find the nurse as soon as he