A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 429

The very next day, Fortune texted Joyce the time and place for the event–along with a sleek, understated dress that matched Joyce’s artistic vibe perfectly.

A girl from the neighboring dorm delivered the package, teasing Joyce before she left. By the time Joyce made it downstairs, Fortune had already vanished.

“Why did you send a dress too?” Joyce messaged him.

“It just seemed like it would suit you.”

“I really can’t accept this. When are you free? I’ll bring it back to you.”

“But…I was hoping you’d wear it when you meet my friends,” Fortune replied, his voice slightly plaintive in the voice message.

Before Joyce could respond, another message came through.

“And honestly, you’re the only person I could give it to. I already cut the tags off, so I can’t return it.”

Joyce sighed, staring at the dress lying quietly in the box next to the elegant, minimalist invitation. She couldn’t help but feel she’d stumbled into a world she didn’t quite belong in.

“Oh, you’re here? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have spent half the day digging for my key.” Alessia pushed open the door, pausing when she saw Joyce. “You’re finished for the day?”

“Yeah.” Alessia dropped her bag and keys on the table before turning to Joyce.

“What’s all this? Where are Esme and Mia?”

“They went to their club meetings. The invitation–there are two copies. One’s for you, with your name on it.” Joyce handed Alessia one of the envelopes.

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Alessia glanced at the card: no host listed, just the purpose, venue, and start time for the gathering.

She closed it and nodded toward the dress in the box. “This from him?”

Joyce nodded.

“Nice taste. It’ll look great on you.”

“Is it…expensive?” Joyce slid the box toward Alessia.

Alessia simply smiled–a knowing, wordless answer.

“Clothes only have value when someone wears them. If you’re the one who owns it now, own it. Walk in there with your head held high, and let it show what you’re made of.”

Joyce envied Alessia’s easy confidence.

When it came to things, Alessia never seemed to care about their price. She always put herself first, giving everything she touched a certain flair,, making it uniquely hers.

Unlike me, Joyce thought. No matter how nice a thing was, it always seemed to lose its shine on me.

Maybe the real shame wasn’t about me at all, but about all these things that deserved a better owner.

“If it’s yours, it’s up to you to decide what it’s worth,” Alessia said, tapping her finger on the table, her meaning clear.

Before long, the day of the party arrived.

Since the venue was far from campus, Alessia arranged for a driver to

take them.

Mia and Esme, a little jealous but mostly amused, asked them to bring back some fancy desserts from the party–just to see if rich kids really ate treats that tasted any different.

Alessia just laughed and, with a quick phone call, had a box of premium pastries delivered to the dorm for them within half an hour.

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Mia and Esme waved goodbye, grinning with satisfaction.

In the car, the heat was set perfectly–cozy but not stifling. Joyce sat in the back, silent, nervously picking at her fingers.

Alessia, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease, lounging against the seat, her posture effortlessly elegant.

“Maybe…we shouldn’t do this,” Joyce said quietly, her palms damp with

nerves.