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, Asher

the bell. Three years ago, she’d left without her keys. Now she needed to be buzzed into her own home–the

housekeeper of fifteen years, opened the door

home?”

voice cracked

throat tightened as she nodded.

I’ll call your father right away.”

“He’s not here?”

at the office. Your stepmother’s

in

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

remained exactly as she’d left it, immaculately maintained.

daily.

heard Mrs. Clarke’s knock. “Miss Thalia?

dinner?”

the door with a slight smile. “The usual, please.”

Clarke beamed, genuinely delighted.

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

into depression after Rosalind’s death, neglecting his daughter, Mrs. Clarke had stayed at Thalia’s

refused food in her grief, it was Mrs. Clarke who coaxed her to

Mrs. Clarke, Thalia might not have survived that period.

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Digger is Actually A

17.6%

Chapter 18

spoken to her father in three years, she’d still called Mrs. Clarke on holidays.

her a beautifully wrapped package. “The finest tea from New York’s best shop.”

make some for you tonight-”

for you. I’ve

“I couldn’t possibly-”

pressed the gift into her hands. “Please. After everything you’ve done for me,

offer.”

Clarke’s eyes welled up.

rang out as a small girl

Eight–year–old Lucy Winters looked up at her half–sister, eyes shining with

adored Thalia, though Thalia remained distant. She couldn’t help associating Lucy with Victoria, her stepmother–her mother’s former best

innocent. Despite her complicated feelings about Victoria, Thalia couldn’t bring herself to be cruel