A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Alessia stopped in her tracks and leaned casually against a marble column.

“Honestly, none of them can hold a candle to you. These people clearly have no taste–it’s just because she’s a little pretty, that’s all,” one of Sienna Winston’s friends whispered.

Sienna shot her friend a sharp glare, clearly unimpressed.

Realizing her attempt at flattery had backfired, the friend pressed her lips together and fell silent.

Another girl, eager to ease the tension, chimed in, “Can you believe she’s bold enough to host her own showcase? The nerve! Even the old drafts you tossed out, Sienna, look better than her so–called showstopper.”

As expected, a smug smile curled at Sienna’s lips, pride flickering in her eyes.

“I put in real work–perfection, every time. Not like some people who doodle a few sketches, and call it a collection. It’s just embarrassing,” she scoffed.

“Exactly! It’s all hype anyway. She gets a little praise and suddenly the world thinks she’s a genius. Look at this–her showcase isn’t even over and her name’s everywhere, trending with celebrities.”

“Our Sienna’s just too modest. If you played the PR game like she does, you’d be a household name by now,” another friend added.

The chorus of backhanded compliments sent Sienna floating, her confidence growing with each word.

only work with the best. As for her?

“Couldn’t agree more-”

shriek cut through the

most people barely glanced over before returning to

you?” Sienna snapped, staring at the sticky orange stain spreading across

startled, frozen in place

hand, the other covering her mouth in feigned surprise. Her apology,

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12:41

Chapter

might want to rinse your mouth out, since all that trash talk was starting to stink up the place. But, well, I guess even the orange juice would rather sacrifice itself than be anywhere near you. My

was hard to tell whether Alessia was apologizing to Sienna or the

ruined dress–Alessia snapped her fingers. Instantly, a waiter appeared, silently taking away the empty glass without so much

much this dress costs? This is an A&P limited edition–there are only five in the entire

replacement? Besides, it may be limited, but isn’t this from their collection two years

none daring to speak. Sienna was