A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“When you go to more upscale events with your boss in the future, are you going to get so nervous that you ask him to cancel and drive you home again?”

Alessia glanced over at Joyce, her eyes steady and calm, not a trace of mockery or disdain–just a quiet, genuine curiosity.

“That’s not the same…” Joyce muttered defensively.

“How is it not the same?” Alessia pressed gently.

“These people–they’re all trust fund babies, heirs and heiresses.” Joyce’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“But Joyce, have you ever thought about the fact that you’re going to meet more and more people like them? In this city, if there’s one thing we’re not short on, it’s wealthy people. You’re at a top university, and you landed an internship at Quantum Flux as a freshman on your own merit. All of these signs show that you’re already starting to move in these

circles.”

There was something reassuring in Alessia’s tone. The words seemed to settle the air inside the car, so even Joyce found herself following along.

“You always tell yourself you don’t belong, that you’re from a different world than these people. But then why did you work so hard to leave your small town, to get into university, to join clubs and compete in contests? Was it just so you could go back and be invisible, or settle for a nine–to–five job that barely pays the bills?”

her mouth, but

didn’t get a head start, but you get to choose where

twisted her fingers together in

a little longer ordering at the restaurant, the waitress rolled her eyes at you. You thought

09:08

Chapter 430

you decide, maybe even walk you through. the options, not make you feel small with an eye

keep tearing yourself down. If you don’t respect yourself, how can you expect

locked with hers. Joyce wanted to look away, but it was as if

them could be a part of your network. I’m part of that too! If you want

Under Alessia’s unwavering eyes,

to be so blunt, but somewhere deep inside, she felt a

heady, about being seen and believed in. Without realizing it,

even Joyce noticed that, in her eyes, there was now a glimmer of hope–a vision of a future where she’d