The Real Heiress Rules the World (Sloane Rivers) novel Chapter 149

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Chapter 149 A Ploy of Self–Pity?

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Lucas knew exactly how he felt about Sloane. What began as sympathy had quietly grown into admiration… and now, an all–consuming pull he could no longer ignore.

Tonight, he’d come to be sure of one thing–his own heart.

Now that he understood what he truly wanted, he would stop at nothing to have it.

Sloane woke up to the aroma of warm food.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she stepped out of her room–only to see Lucas in the kitchen, wearing an apron, focused on cooking.

The gentle clatter of pots and pans echoed softly in the quiet morning, creating an unexpectedly cozy scene.

“… You’re making breakfast?” Sloane asked, her voice still tinged with the soft, fuzzy texture of sleep.

Lucas turned around with a warm smile. “You’re up. Since you let me stay over last night, I figured breakfast was the least I could do.”

At the dining table, a blue–and–white porcelain bowl of steaming hot seafood congee awaited.

Sloane sat down and took a spoonful. The tender rice, succulent seafood, and rich, savory broth danced across her tongue in perfect harmony.

Her eyes lit up with surprise. “I didn’t know you could cook! This is incredible—the flavor’s just right!”

Lucas took the seat across from her, quietly hiding the tenderness in his eyes. He’d long since noticed her love of seafood.

And watching her eat contentedly now made his heart feel full.

Sloane could do anything–but cooking wasn’t on the list. Usually, she relied on takeout or school cafeteria meals. The kitchen utensils she owned had never even been used until today.

“You’re the great Mr. Hawthorne, and you can cook?” she teased casually,

Lucas’s fingers subtly tightened around his spoon. A flicker of shadow passed through his eyes, but his smile returned quickly.

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8:09 Thu, Sep 4 N

Chapter 149 A Ploy of Self–Pity?

74

+20 Free Coins

Looking down, he traced the rim of his bowl with his fingertip, as if carefully considering how

much to reveal.

“No one took care of me when I was little. I had to learn on my own. Starving wasn’t an option.” His voice was quiet–almost too light to carry the weight of what he was saying. “At first it was awful–too much salt, burnt stuff–but over time, you get the hang of it.”

Sloane’s brow furrowed as she listened. A tight ache formed in her chest.

“But aren’t you the heir of the Hawthorne family?” she asked, her voice low, confused–and pained.

Lucas let out a dry laugh, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, the Hawthorne heir. But what does that even mean? That family might look glamorous on the outside, but on the inside… it’s a mess.”

He didn’t go on.

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