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 gave her arm a gentle squeeze–a small, almost childish

why she was

soft chime, the elevator doors slid

through those doors meant entering a different

people. Nothing to be scared of, right?”

10:03

Chapter 43

she was asking Alessia, herself, or no one in

Just people,” Alessia

Alessia’s reassuring gaze, let out a shaky breath, closed her eyes for a

sun had already set, the top floor was bright

their feet, flanked by elegant pastries and a tower

glanced at the beautiful pastries, untouched and perfectly arranged, and pressed her lips

like these that

obvious.

first slice of cake she ever had was in college, a gift from Alessia and

home, even when the most respected elder in the village celebrated his eightieth birthday, the festivities

thrown by

them through a grand hallway

with cards and dice. Joyce’s