The Real Heiress Rules the World

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Chapter 149 A Ploy of Self–Pity?

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Lucas knew exactly how he felt about Sloane. What began as sympathy had quietly grown into admiration… and now, an all–consuming pull he could no longer ignore.

Tonight, he’d come to be sure of one thing–his own heart.

Now that he understood what he truly wanted, he would stop at nothing to have it.

Sloane woke up to the aroma of warm food.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she stepped out of her room–only to see Lucas in the kitchen, wearing an apron, focused on cooking.

The gentle clatter of pots and pans echoed softly in the quiet morning, creating an unexpectedly cozy scene.

“… You’re making breakfast?” Sloane asked, her voice still tinged with the soft, fuzzy texture of sleep.

Lucas turned around with a warm smile. “You’re up. Since you let me stay over last night, I figured breakfast was the least I could do.”

the dining table, a blue–and–white porcelain bowl of steaming hot seafood

took a spoonful. The tender rice, succulent seafood, and rich, savory broth

surprise. “I didn’t know you

hiding the tenderness in his eyes. He’d long

eat contentedly now made his heart

cooking wasn’t on the list. Usually, she relied on takeout or school cafeteria meals. The kitchen utensils

Hawthorne, and you can cook?”

flicker of shadow passed through his eyes, but his

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Thu, Sep

149 A Ploy

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the rim of his bowl with his

much to reveal.

care of me when I was little. I had to learn on my own. Starving wasn’t an option.” His voice was quiet–almost too light to carry the weight of what he was saying. “At first it was

listened. A tight

aren’t you the heir of the Hawthorne family?” she asked, her voice low, confused–and