A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Chapter 478

In an instant, the scene shifted. The four of them vanished, and Alessia felt an invisible force tug her backward, pulling her into another memory. She found herself in a nearly empty classroom bathed in the warm glow of a sunset. Only one girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen, lay asleep with her head cradled in her arms on a desk. Her cheeks and forearms were marked red from the pressure, and her hair–messy and

half–untied–covered most of her face. Dark circles smudged beneath her eyes; exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.

A teenage boy entered, still breathless from running, clutching a bottle of iced tea. Sweat clung to his brow, but as soon as he spotted the sleeping girl, his movements softened and slowed, as if afraid to wake her.

He quietly drew the curtain halfway shut, blocking the sunlight that spilled across her face.

“Did you finish your game?” the girl mumbled, her voice drowsy and unguarded, eyes still closed.

“Yeah. You can sleep a bit longer. I’ll go shower and be right back,” he replied, his voice rough with the cracks of adolescence.

“You really do smell,” she murmured, lips quirking before her brain could catch up with her teasing.

The boy, unbothered, leaned in and waved his sweaty shirt near her face. “That’s just for you. Special delivery.”

His childish retort made her laugh. She swatted at him with half–lidded eyes, but he didn’t dodge, just grinned and took the gentle smack.

“Get some more rest. I’ll be back soon,” he said, ruffling her hair and patting her head softly.

sleepily. The boy pulled a clean school sweater from her desk and tucked it beneath her head as a pillow, then set the drink within her reach before

12.22

Chapter 478

watched it all unfold. As

used to being

She

in a stark hospital corridor. They looked older–sixteen, maybe–but all the youthful energy was gone, replaced

the morgue, watching as a man’s body was covered with a

heart spasmed with pain. She tried to step forward,

away.

woman from the very beginning–only this time, the woman was pale

the one dying–appeared beside

her head gently,

a gentle soul,” Jade said softly. “Knowing you’re with Cole sets my mind

ease.”

teenage boy. “Lessie’s a good kid. Promise

eyes and slipped silently down her cheeks. She turned to the woman beside her, who said nothing–just