A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Chapter 431

Even so, Joyce was still taken aback by the dazzling opulence as she stepped inside.

“Lessie, is all of this real gold?” she whispered.

Alessia smirked. “Yes, it is.”

Joyce swallowed hard, instinctively hunching her shoulders.

“Already intimidated?” Alessia teased, making Joyce realize she was once again falling into the habit of comparing herself to others.

“Not at all!” Joyce protested, though she could feel her nerves tightening.

“Come on. The party’s on the top floor–we’ll need to take another elevator.” As Alessia spoke, a server approached and offered to show them the way. Alessia

explained why they were there, and after checking their invitation, the server gave a polite nod and led them to the elevator.

Joyce kept close to Alessia, silent the whole way. She didn’t have Alessia’s easy confidence, but she listened to her friend’s advice, straightened her back, and did her best to hide the

inside her.

muttering

and clammy. Alessia glanced over and gave her arm a gentle squeeze–a small,

but let out a soft laugh, not even sure why she was laughing. Alessia’s lips curled into a faint smile as she

soft chime, the elevator doors slid

that stepping through those doors meant entering

Nothing to be scared of, right?”

10:03

Chapter 43

she was asking Alessia,

people,” Alessia

moment. Instead, she looked at Joyce, and Joyce, encouraged by Alessia’s reassuring gaze, let out a shaky breath, closed her eyes for a split second,

had already set, the top floor was

cheapness to the décor–thick red carpets rolled out beneath their feet, flanked by elegant pastries and a tower of sparkling champagne. As they walked down the corridor, the

untouched and perfectly

was in details like these that the differences between people

obvious.

a gift from Alessia and her friends. For these rich kids, though, pastries were nothing more than decorative props,

the village celebrated his eightieth birthday, the

casual party thrown by

he led them through a grand hallway to

sofas, tables strewn with cards and dice. Joyce’s sharp