A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Chapter 465

People are remarkably adaptable. Before anyone realized it, the assistant teaching program was already coming to an end.

By now, they navigated the mountain paths with ease–so much so that in the crisp mornings, they even joined the children in a race to the hilltop just for fun.

Their youthful presence had breathed new life into the village. During the school term, they were always surrounded by kids; when school was out, they’d follow the adults into the fields to help with chores or tag along to the market for supplies.

A village that was once so quiet now pulsed with laughter and energy, all thanks to them.

But the more lively things grew, the harder it became to face the thought of leaving. Everyone tried to ignore the looming goodbyes.

“Miss, you’re going home in a week, aren’t you?”

One evening, after Alessia finished the nightly phone call with Cole and her family, she sat alone in the yard, lost in thought. At some point, Susannah Holt dragged over a chair and settled beside her.

“That’s right,” Alessia replied, gazing up at the sky, wondering when she’d

next see so many stars.

“Miss, I…” Susannah started, picking at her fingernails, searching for words.

“What is it?” Alessia looked at her gently.

head. “Will I ever see you

Alessia said with quiet certainty. “When you grow into an exceptional person, you’ll find me

the teachers

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Chapter 465

full of trophies—all of these were

she asked, thinking that maybe being exceptional always required some

toward their goals and never gives

of luck.”

“Luck?”

about that. Just focus on

but she knew

age of constant connection, kids from the mountains still had to walk to the market just to use a payphone–two

go,” Susannah whispered, gripping Alessia’s hand. Her voice trembled, thick with tears. She didn’t know when she’d see Alessia again–just like her parents, who hadn’t returned in

softly. “As long as we get

Susannah thought Alessia looked like she might cry too. There was a sadness in her eyes that

is there someone, you

someone incredibly important to me–people who helped me become who I am. But I’ll never see them

voice was so quiet, it sounded as if it floated in from far