A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“Are you heading straight back to the studio now?”

“Yeah. Oh–and i just realized, I never wished you a happy New Year. I actually had a gift for you, meant to give it in a few days, but I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

“Thank you.” Every year, Eddie gave Alessia a gift. It was never expensive, but the thought was what mattered. She always accepted it, planning to give him something in return later.

“Sorry, nothing for you,” Eddie added, turning to Cole, though he hardly sounded apologetic.

“That’s fine,” Cole replied, his tone flat.

Alessia couldn’t help but laugh, tugging gently at Cole’s sleeve.

The two of them looked so at ease together, hands linked without a second thought. Eddie’s gaze lingered on their entwined fingers before he quietly looked

away.

“I’ve got my car here. Want a ride?”

“No need, we drove too.” Alessia nodded toward the car parked ahead.

left–polite as always, neither too distant nor too familiar, just like any

aimlessly for a while, not wanting to go home, but not ready to return to the studio either. He followed the river road until he found a quiet spot and pulled over. Climbing

through his coat, but he barely noticed,

hadn’t been a coincidence. He’d

you, yet you

once, he’d acted on impulse. He just wanted to

his nerve, resorting instead to a roundabout way of meeting her, something that would look more

first step toward her,

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12:38

Chapter

expected that a simple “Will you come with me?” would affect him so deeply. When everyone else had turned their backs, she was the only

ready to end it all–he’d survived only because

options, someone like Cole–born lucky,

he–stuck in the

He knew that getting too close would only end badly,

her way of dealing with people, pushing himself to be better. He used what he’d learned to help children