A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

“I just can’t shake the feeling that he’s trying to emphasize something, you know? It’s weird.” Joyce frowned as she recounted everything Fortune

had said to her, word for word.

Her memory was sharp–she could recall almost everything Fortune told her, practically verbatim.

“Joyce! Are you serious? He’s totally gaslighting you!” Esme couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Exactly! He keeps showering you with compliments on the surface, but underneath, he’s belittling your background, criticizing your choices, and even trying to drive a wedge between you and Lessie. No wonder you’ve been so obsessed with prices lately, always zoning out. What on earth has been going through your head?”

Mia frowned, feeling inexplicably annoyed at the sight of Joyce’s confusion.

“It’s just how it goes–when you’re in the middle of it, you can’t see it clearly. If you’re caught off guard in a conversation like that, it’s easy to get swept along. And honestly, does she look like the kind of person who’s on guard against anyone?”

Compared to Esme and Mia’s outrage, Alessia appeared much calmer.

Joyce rubbed her nose, sheepish. “I… Well, I snapped out of it in time, didn’t I? Sorry, Lessie. I’ll tell him I’m not going.”

She grabbed her phone, but Alessia snatched it from her hand.

“Lessie?”

“No, you have to go.”

“Huh?” All three of them looked puzzled.

to go? Have you lost

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10:28

Chapter 442

perfect opportunity. I’d be a fool not to take advantage of it,” Alessia

Joyce, this is

a chill down Joyce’s spine,

what? You can stop pretending. You drank it too–none of

eyes flashed with

Sorry, that stuff’s

snorted, her tone

you talking

“Exactly what I said.”

narrowed.

her chair, Cole’s hand resting protectively on her shoulder as he gave Fortune

Alessia and Joyce had picked up their glasses

it on

it out,”

sooner had she finished than

room.