A Fake Heiress’s Guide to Love and Power novel Chapter 489

Chapter 489

Chapter 489

September 13th – Clear skies

Mood: Awful

The chubby kid next door tried to bribe me with a “snack mega–pack” if I’d hand over my little sister. I told him to get lost.

Max snapped his journal shut and glanced over at little Alessia, already fast asleep.

How could she sleep so soundly when he was this upset?

A strange itch prickled at his fingers. Unable to resist, he walked over to Alessia’s bed and gave her cheek a gentle pinch.

Her face was still full of baby fat–plump and soft, perfect for squishing.

Max couldn’t help himself, pinching again and again until, inevitably, he

disturbed her.

Their eyes met. Max quickly wiped the smile off his face and pulled his hand away.

At first, Alessia looked startled. But as soon as she recognized him, she relaxed, her eyes fluttering as if she might drift right back to sleep.

Seeing her dazed and drowsy, Max found himself slipping into old habits–patting her back, just like he used to when she was little and couldn’t fall asleep alone. Before long, she was snoozing again.

Max let out a silent breath of relief.

“You ungrateful little monster–call me ‘big brother‘ only when there’s candy in it for you,” he muttered, giving her cheek one last squeeze. He dug out a piece of candy from his pocket and placed it on her pillow.

Soon, the day came for Max to start elementary school. Yvonne and Scott’s business seemed to be thriving–they were already house–hunting for something bigger.

Yet before they even moved in, they sent their son off to boarding school. Rumor had it he was bound for Aristocrat Academy, where the annual tuition was through the roof.

Compared to their daughter, Yvonne and Scott seemed far more invested in their son’s future.

Max didn’t want to go to some fancy boarding school. He had only one little sister–if he wasn’t around, who would protect her from bullies?

But he was just a kid. He didn’t get a say.

Just as he’d feared, his sister started growing up while he was gone. When kids picked on her, she didn’t need her big brother to fight her battles anymore–she could take care of herself.

Even thunderstorms didn’t scare her like they used to; she no longer curled up at his side, clutching his shirt.

She was smart–picked things up after being shown only once. She could read picture books all by herself now.

He couldn’t help but feel proud. She really was his little sister.

But there was an ache in his chest, too.

Did she even need him anymore?

Eventually, they moved into a much larger house, and Max’s visits home became less frequent. As if desperate for attention, he found himself provoking her on purpose, just to get a reaction before heading back to school,

Then Cole showed up.

Now, when Max came home, there was no little kid running out to greet him, hands on hips, yelling, “Max, you’re in trouble!”

For the first time, he realized how cold a big house could feel.

He wondered, when he was away, did Alessia spend all her time alone in that enormous place? Eating alone, watching TV alone, reading alone…

sometimes, she didn’t even have anyone to talk to.

Even though he knew this, the knowledge didn’t make him feel any better. If anything, it just made him want to pester her more.

One day, after he’d gotten her all riled up again, she shoved a crumpled note into his hand.

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