A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“Mr. Whitley, are you making a swing?”

“I am! Once we move into the new house, I’ll put one in your room, and I’ll build a bigger one for the yard–you and Jade can sit on it together. What do you think?”

“Dad, where should I put this piece of wood?”

“Hey, hey, put that down! Will you please look at the plans I drew for you? Don’t just wing it and end up with a wobbly mess. If you make a shoddy swing and Lessie falls off, I won’t let you off the hook!”

“Lessie, don’t bother with those two. Come over and have some fruit–Mr. Whitley just finished slicing it for us.” In the little gazebo, Jade waved at Alessia with a bright smile.

“Coming!”

The laughter and cheerful commotion of yesterday still echoed in the garden, as vivid as a scene playing on a screen. But now…

Alessia clenched her jaw, gazing up at the night sky. It had rained all day, yet somehow the moon hung high and full, and even the stars seemed brighter than

usual.

“Have Justin and the others left?”

Cole’s voice came softly from beside her.

“Yeah, they went home.” Alessia tore her bread roll in half and handed a piece to

Cole.

haven’t

it felt as if speaking took all the

no appetite, but he accepted the bread anyway, chewing mechanically. Alessia, too, forced herself to eat–a small roll,

together, shoulders

glanced up at the sky. “Lessie, do you think Mom and Dad are

over us?”

so much… Maybe they’re disappointed in me. Maybe

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Chapter 240

dreams.” His voice trembled, and he struggled to keep his emotions in

same

finally have a long, peaceful dream,” she murmured, her voice gentle and steady–like a mother reading a bedtime story-“I know your parents

back to see us.”

clasped tightly without

concealer on her face to hide the dark circles, and checked

were in her backpack, which she’d