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.”

at the gates, hesitating. Sensing

bell. Three years ago, she’d left without her keys. Now she needed to

their housekeeper of fifteen years, opened the door and froze. “Miss…

home?”

voice cracked

as she

your father right

“He’s not here?”

stepmother’s at Lucy’s school for a parent event.”

exhaled in relief.

stepmother, half–sister, and the father she’d been at odds with for years. Each relationship was its own

as she’d left it, immaculately maintained. Someone

daily.

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

dinner?”

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

Clarke beamed,

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

neglecting his daughter, Mrs. Clarke had stayed at Thalia’s

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

not have survived that

15:55

Digger is Actually

17.6%

Chapter 18

hadn’t spoken to her father in three years, she’d still called Mrs. Clarke on holidays.

her a beautifully wrapped package.

some for you tonight-”

for you. I’ve had plenty. I wanted you to

“I couldn’t possibly-”

“Please. After everything you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can

offer.”

Clarke’s eyes welled up.

out as a small girl

much!” Eight–year–old Lucy Winters looked up

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

couldn’t bring herself to be