A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

13:32

Chapter 225

Cole’s voice was cracked and fragile, like a child lost in the dark. His eyes were clouded with confusion and fear, searching for something–anything–to hold onto, Alessia felt her heart shatter at the sound of his words.

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Xander clenched his jaw, turned on. his heel, and strode out of the room.

“Lessie… what am I supposed to do now? Lessie, where are my mom and dad?”

Alessia didn’t know what to say. She didn’t have any answers either.

Words felt empty, useless. All she could do was pull Cole into her arms, hold him tight against her chest. He clung to her, arms wrapped around her waist as if she might vanish too if he let go.

“Cole, sweetheart, let’s let your aunt get some sleep now, okay?”

He didn’t reply–just nodded, silent. Alessia glanced away as she felt his tears soak through her shirt, her hand gently rubbing his back.

It was just like two years ago in the hospital. The two of them, holding onto each other, watched as the sheet was pulled over Parrish, before he’d even had the chance to say goodbye.

Now, two years later, it was still just the two of them. This time, fate had taken Cole’s mother.

At least, this time, there were still words left to say.

in. Larkin drove Xander home, and the house–always

rain kept falling,

on the bed, his head resting on Alessia’s lap, tears slipping down his face. as he drifted in and out of a restless

against the headboard, her eyes soft and aching with

slow and gentle, the way you would

lightning lit up the room,

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over Cole’s ears, blocking out

her on stormy nights like this, Alessia

she met the Cole family,

five years old.

their way up in the world. Wanting to break into the right circles,

barely lived there for three months before new neighbors moved in next door. Alessia wasn’t interested–she had

you digging

a

sound of an unfamiliar voice, she glanced up, barely sparing him a look before returning to her

a row of flowers along the wall, carefully tended by gardeners, so finding a

“What for?”