A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 13

"Lessie, you're amazing." Karen smiled softly, her eyes shining with genuine pride.

Alessia tucked her phone away, lips curling in a quiet smirk.

"Instead of worrying about tuition, why don't you let me handle the paperwork to update my legal name and registration? No need for you both to make a special trip—just give me the family documents and I'll take care of it."

"Are you sure you can do it alone? Maybe I should go with you," Brendan said, his tone concerned but trusting.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Unable to change her mind, Karen fetched the folder with their family records and handed it over. To their surprise, Alessia had everything sorted by the end of the afternoon.

That evening, Zachary came home. The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead as Karen and Brendan recapped their lunchtime conversation for him.

"Every day at rush hour, there are food stalls lined up outside our school. Even the ones that aren't that great have crowds, and Mom, your cooking is incredible. I think this could really work."

Zachary had inherited Karen's gentle and thoughtful nature—a true gentleman, the kind you'd imagine stepping out of a classic novel.

"But we'll need a cart to set up a stall…"

"We don't need—"

"That's not a problem," Zachary interrupted, his voice soft but cut off by a sudden fit of coughing.

Everyone turned toward him. Alessia noticed the pallor in his face and frowned slightly, though no one else seemed to catch it.

"Take your time, no rush," Karen said, giving his back a reassuring rub, while Brendan handed him a glass of water.

She continued, "I think you and Dad should take my room. The other one, I could divide into two spaces—one for me and one for Ivan. He's always hunched over his desk lamp drawing, and his eyesight will suffer if he keeps it up. Zachary is hardly home anyway, and young guys can handle it. At least it won't be so cramped."

Her words were honest and practical. The lively mood faded, replaced by a quiet hush as the evening deepened.

"Lessie, before you came, Ileana used to stay in that room. There's no reason for you to move now," Karen said, looking away, her smile gone.

"I agree with your mom. When things were good, you never got to enjoy any of it, and now that we're struggling, we shouldn't let you be the one to make sacrifices. It may not be much, but we want to give you the best we can," Brendan added firmly.

Alessia hadn't expected this reaction. She glanced at Zachary, but he avoided her gaze—clearly siding with their parents.

She sighed, uncertain what she was feeling.

"In that case, at least let Ivan move in with me. I'll split the room in two. He's still young, and sunlight's important for growing up. I'll talk it over with him tomorrow—can the two of us decide?"