Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress by Vera Fiore

Chapter 18

After taking photos, Asher handed back her phone, his expression carefully neutral. “You have a message”

“Ohp”

Thalia opened it, her face stiffening at Drake’s words. She knew message previews appeared automatically–Asher must have seen it.

She glanced back at him nervously, explaining, “My ex. We’ve broken up.”

“I see.” Asher’s expression remained impassive, his eyes unreadable.

“I’ve blocked him on everything else–forgot about his number.”

Thalia felt oddly flustered. She was twenty–five; having an ex–boyfriend was perfectly normal. Besides, she’d dated Drake before agreeing to the arrangement with Asher. She had nothing to feel guilty about.

Realizing this, she calmed herself. “I’ll block him now.”

She did so immediately, with Asher watching.

“Trust me,” she added, “once I agreed to our arrangement, any past relationships became exactly

that–past.”

Asher nodded, his dark eyes still inscrutable. But as Thalia turned away, the faintest smile played at his

lips.

After several days of exploring the city together, it was time to return to London.

She hadn’t told her family she was coming home, so no one from the Winters household was at the

airport.

Instead, Asher’s assistant met them with a black Rolls–Royce Cullinan.

“Shall I come in with you?” Asher asked as they pulled up to the Winters estate.

Thalia shook her head. “No need.”

“Alright.”

stood at the gates, hesitating. Sensing her reluctance,

Thalia ring the bell. Three years ago, she’d left without her keys. Now she needed to be buzzed into her own home–the irony wasn’t

years, opened the door and froze.

home?”

voice cracked

throat tightened as

I’ll call your father right

“He’s not here?”

He’s at the office. Your stepmother’s at Lucy’s

in relief.

before facing them all–her stepmother, half–sister, and the father she’d been at odds with for years. Each relationship was its

left it,

daily.

heard Mrs. Clarke’s knock. “Miss Thalia? What would you like for

dinner?”

with a slight smile.

Clarke

grow up, loving her like a daughter. She’d been the one to carry young Thalia in from the snow the night Rosalind

neglecting his daughter, Mrs. Clarke had stayed at Thalia’s hospital bedside through her fever.

Clarke who coaxed her to eat, who held her through

might not

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Gold Digger is Actually A True

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Chapter 18

spoken to her father in three years, she’d still

brought you something.” Thalia handed her a beautifully wrapped package. “The

some for you tonight-”

I’ve had plenty. I wanted you to

“I couldn’t possibly-”

everything you’ve done for me, it’s the

offer.”

eyes welled up. “Miss

voice rang out as a small girl ran forward, throwing her arms

missed you so much!” Eight–year–old Lucy Winters looked up at her half–sister, eyes shining with joy.

remained distant. She couldn’t help associating Lucy with Victoria,

couldn’t bring herself to be cruel to such a sweet child who only