A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 181

“Nothing to see tonight. Off to bed, and don’t forget–you’ve got school in the morning.” Alessia ruffled his hair affectionately.

“You’re not coming back?” York’s disappointment was written all over his face.

Alessia pinched his cheek, grinning. “Goodnight, kiddo.”

“So when’s Ivan starting school?” York asked, pouting.

“Tomorrow.”

“That’s more like it.” York’s moods were as quick to pass as they were to flare up–a typical child.

“All right, off to bed with you.”

No sooner had Alessia finished speaking than Ileana’s shrill, banshee–like wailing echoed through the whole house. Alessia shot a look at Butler Dawson, who understood at once and headed straight for Ileana’s room.

“What did you do to her?” York’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Why does a little guy like you need to know all that?” Alessia flicked York’s

forehead.

It didn’t hurt–just left a faint red mark. York rubbed at his brow, grumbling.

“You’re the only one allowed to pull pranks.”

Every word of his muttering reached Alessia’s ears. The corners of her mouth twitched with a barely concealed smile, but she schooled her features into a stern expression.

if you don’t go to sleep right now, I’ll have Ivan transfer to another school.”

“Fine, fine, I get it.” York shot her one last look–maybe three–before finally closing the door under her watchful gaze.

Only after Alessia was sure York wouldn’t come back out did she leave. The rest, she trusted Butler Dawson to handle.

“All taken care of?” a voice called.

Alessia didn’t answer. Instead, she tossed a rubber snake across the room. Stella yelped and flung it away in reflex.

17-54

“Jesus, what was that? Only after she’d thrown it did Stella look.

“Rubber snake.” Alessia retrieved It from the floor and chucked it into the trash. pleased with her handiwork.

“From the younger Tate kid?”

Alessia nodded.

“Already such a little trickster. Impressive.”

If Stella meant that as a compliment, Alessia could only sigh in resignation.

“Let’s go.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Stella tossed her a helmet, her tone teasing.

“How long do you think she’ll stay quiet this time?”

“That depends on whether she’s learned her lesson.”

Stella gave a low whistle. She adored this mischievous side of Alessia.

Back inside the Tate family’s mansion, Butler Dawson’s arrival finally brought some peace to Ileana’s room.

“Call the police! Have Alessia arrested–she hit me!” Ileana’s hair was a wild mess, her voice shrill and furious as she pointed accusingly at Dawson, pure venom in

her eyes.

“Miss, where exactly are you hurt?” Butler Dawson’s face remained impassive, his voice calm and steady.

“My hand… my hand…” Terror flickered in Ileana’s eyes as she looked at her own hand–the one Alessia had twisted earlier. Miraculously, it was fine now. Not even a twinge of pain.

She replayed Alessia’s actions in her mind, and a chill ran through her.

“Give me your phone! I want to call my father. His precious daughter of seventeen years just tried to hurt his real daughter–she broke in here in the middle of the night… Yes! Trespassing! I’ll press charges! I want her arrested!”

“Miss, you have no evidence.”

“No evidence? How could there be no evidence? The surveillance cameras–are they just for show? What about all of you? Alessia’s been here for ages–are you all deaf or blind? If you’re so useless, just get out. What’s the point of keeping dead weight around?”

11:54

Mid–rant, Ileana suddenly went quiet.

“It was you! You let her in on purpose! Butler Dawson, you work for the Tate family not for Alessia. If you like her so much, why don’t you leave with her? This is my last warning–give me my father’s number, or when he gets back, you’ll regret ever crossing me!”