A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 435

Chapter 435

But before the game even began, Fortune–the host who’d been missing for ages–finally returned.

The timing was almost too perfect. Alessia glanced up, her eyes giving nothing away, though the faint smile tugging at her lips sent a chill down Joyce’s spine. It felt like something significant was about to happen.

In that moment, Joyce was suddenly, indescribably relieved.

“So, what’s everyone playing? Why’s the place so quiet?” Fortune’s voice snapped the group out of their daze.

He strolled over, clapped Owen on the shoulder, and, catching the hint, Owen immediately slid over to make room.

“Didn’t expect you to be into this kind of thing, Miss Morton,” Fortune said as he sát, resting his hands casually on his knees.

“Well, with the host gone, we had to find something to pass the time.” Alessia’s tone was breezy, but something in her gaze made the room.go

cold.

It doesn’t always take grand gestures to make people wary of you.

“That’s on me, then.” Fortune snapped his fingers, and a waiter appeared almost instantly.

“I’ll take three drinks as my penalty,” he declared, grabbing a wineglass and downing three in quick succession.

When he picked up a fourth, he didn’t drink it. Instead, he set it in front of Alessia. “Princess Louise, have a taste.” Then he placed another glass in front of Joyce.

Alessia didn’t move, and naturally, neither did Joyce.

“Not to your liking?“/Fortune asked.

“Good wine should be savored, not rushed.” Alessia gently swirled the

glass bottle, making it clear–at least to Fortune–that her words were a

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Chapter 435

subtle jab about his earlier, rather graceless chugging.

Fortune forced a smile, his lips tight.

Suddenly, chaos erupted. Someone in the crowd shouted, “Stop pushing!” The guests, who’d all been crowding in for the excitement, toppled into each other like dominoes.

With a crash, someone knocked into the waiter. The tray tipped, and every glass on it tumbled down, spilling wine all over Fortune.

The room fell instantly silent, everyone staring at Fortune in his drenched, mortified state.

Through it all, Alessia remained the picture of composure, swirling her wineglass as if nothing had happened.

“Fortune, are you okay?” Joyce gasped, hand over her mouth, feigning shock.

“I’m fine,” Fortune ground out, his face dark with suppressed anger. The words sounded like they’d been forced through clenched teeth.

Joyce quickly offered him a handful of napkins, and only then did Alessia set her glass down, entirely unhurried.

“Mr. Thorne, perhaps you should change. As the host, you can’t really mingle in wet clothes.”

“You’re right, Miss Morton. Sorry, everyone–I’ll have to step away again.” Fortune stood, his composure restored.

“Careful, or people will start to think you’re a superhero, always vanishing on us,” one of the guests joked, breaking the tension with a ripple of laughter.

Fortune gave his friend a playful shove, apologized to the group, reminded the staff to clean up, and finally left the room.

As he walked out, Alessia’s gaze followed him, and–almost as if by fate–their eyes met.

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Rather than looking guilty, Alessia nodded politely, as if greeting an old

friend.

Fortune smirked, returned the nod, and disappeared through the doors.

With the drama over, no one dared challenge Alessia again. The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving the room nearly empty.

In the blink of an eye, it was just Alessia and Joyce again.

“Shame. I was hoping to see you play a few rounds.”

Joyce shook her head quickly. “I watched for ages and still couldn’t figure it out. Besides, I’m not really interested in gambling anyway.”