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.

just nodded back, not pressing further. He said his goodbyes and left–polite as always, neither too distant nor

He followed the river road until he found a quiet spot and

through his coat,

Alessia tonight hadn’t been a

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

he’d acted on impulse. He just

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

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

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12:38

Chapter

come with me?” would affect him so deeply. When everyone else had turned

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

for her. She had better options, someone like Cole–born lucky, loved by all. Eddie’s occasional barbs were nothing

bright, and he–stuck in the mud–would

he’d never tried to inherit Xander’s legacy, choosing instead to become a therapist. He knew that getting too close would only end badly, so he had

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