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.

He said his goodbyes and left–polite as

river road until he found a quiet spot and pulled over. Climbing onto the hood of his

through his coat, but he

hadn’t been a coincidence. He’d planned

world–where everyone looked down on you, yet you still had

once, he’d acted on impulse. He just

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

understood that if he ever took that first step toward her, he’d

1/2

12:38

Chapter

“Will you come with me?” would affect him so deeply.

end it all–he’d survived only because of that single, casual offer

and he wasn’t good enough for her. She had better options, someone like Cole–born lucky, loved by all. Eddie’s occasional barbs were nothing but

he–stuck in

he’d never tried to inherit Xander’s legacy, choosing instead to become a therapist. He knew that getting

to emulate her way of dealing with people, pushing himself to be better. He used what