A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“You little rascal!” Brendan pretended to be angry, but he couldn’t hold the act for more than a second before bursting into laughter.

Laughter echoed through the house, mixing with thoughtful advice and offhand jokes. The room buzzed with warmth and energy–everyone looking forward, hopeful for the future.

In the middle of it all, a ringtone chimed from the living room. Alessia recognized it as her own and excused herself from the table to answer.

It was York.

She glanced at the clock. Right on time for dinner.

“Hey, kid-”

“Alessia, sob… I don’t want to go abroad, please, take me with you, please…” York’s voice cracked through the phone, choked with tears, words tumbling out between hiccups about not wanting to leave the country.

“Where are you right now?” Alessia’s brow furrowed.

“I’m at the hos–Max-” York’s words broke off as Max snatched the phone away.

“Hello?” Alessia called out twice before the other end finally answered, slow and steady. “Yeah?”

“Max, what’s going on? And York–where are you both?”

“It’s nothing serious. I’ll call you back later.”

“Max!”

sharpened with worry, and she was about to call back when a hand tapped her

Ethan handing her

Tate Holdings, Scott, hospitalized; his condition

eyes widened in shock. She

hospital right now,” Ethan said without

a second. She was halfway out the

12

09:57

Chapter 314

grab

quickly explained the situation to the rest of

group.

Alessia there, stay put–see if there’s anything you can help with. And keep us posted if anything happens,”

at every instruction,

hospital they’d seen in the news. After checking in at the front desk, they hurried upstairs, only to find

Ethan shielded Alessia as they were swept along with the crowd. Only when they broke free did

Ethan said softly, ruffling her hair. “The room’s just down the hall, around the

walked off

or York. Instead,

paused, the memory of their last meeting–when

first, her