New posts kept popping up in rapid session. Alessia sat quietly in the cafeteria with her three friends, eyes fixed on her phone as she scrolled through live updates, while the others chatted animatedly beside her.

    She wasn’t the least bit surprised that stories of Ileana’s bullying at school had finallye to light. People always leave traces behind–it was only a matter of time. What did catch her off guard was just how eventful Ileana’s life abroad had been.

    If Ileana herself had leaked the information at first, who was behind the rest?

    A memory shed through Alessia’s mind: that day she’d seen Ileana and Fortune Thorne arguing in the middle of the street. Fortune was a wild card–sometimes charming, sometimes vtile, but always impossible to figure out.

    Alessia unconsciously tapped her fingers on the table, a habit she slipped into when deep in thought.

    “Lessie, do you think this whole ‘real daughter‘ thing is legit?” Esme leaned over, lowering her voice.

    “It’s probably true,” Alessia replied, snapping out of her thoughts and setting her phone down.

    “Wow. That’s insane.” Esme gaped, at a loss for words.

    “My imom /ijust texted me–she wants me home this weekend. I’ll head back after sses this afternoon, and I’ll bring you guys something to eat when I return. She’s an amazing icook/i,i” /iAlessia said, a hint of pride in her tone. But instead ofing off as smug, her words made her friends envious in a familiar, bittersweet way–like that childhood feeling of being the only one picked up from school by your parents on a rainy day, while everyone else had to wait for the storm to pass.

    i“/iYou’re lucky,” someone sighed. “Getting to go home for the weekend.”

    “We were just talking about going shopping for our first weekend here,” Mia said, finally putting down her phone.

    “Why don’t we hit the library instead?” Joyce piped up, her eyes hopeful.

    “Girl, if you want to bury yourself in books, go ahead. It’s only the start of freshman year–let me bezy a little longer,” Esme groaned, hands pressed together in mock prayer. Mia quickly sided with her.

    09:56

    Chapter

    Joyce’s shoulders drooped a little.

    Alessia noticed. “It’s probably because of all the drama today. How about we push it to next week? My boyfriend’s new amusement park opens then. If you want, I can get us in before the grand opening. We’ll have the ce to ourselves.”

    “An amusement park?” Esme’s voice shot up, but the cafeteria was noisy enough that no one paid attention.

    “Wait–which one? Don’t tell me it’s that massiveplex downtown?” Mia joked, only to choke when Alessia nodded.

    “I mean, I knew you guys were wealthy, but I didn’t know you were that wealthy!”

    Alessia just smirked and turned to Joyce. “You work hard, but maybe you should treat yourself once in a while.”

    Joyce, who’d never visited an amusement park before, nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation.

    The group excitedly began nning what to bring for their day out,pletely unaware that Scott Tate was still in the dark about everything.

    Lately, Scott had taken to drinking. After his shouting match with Ileana the night before, he’d kept at it well past midnight.

    He was finally jolted awake by his phone ring. Groggy, he fumbled for it, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.

    “Yeah?”

    “Scott! Is this a joke to you? You really thought you could fob me off with some junkie? iAre /iyou trying to lose that money or what?”

    Raleigh’s furious voice crackled down the line.

    “What… what junkie?” Scott sat up, still half–asleep. “What happened?”

    “Unbelievable! The whole Tate family can go under for all I care!” Raleigh snapped, clearly thinking Scott was ying dumb, and hung up on him.

    Scott stared at the phone in a daze, waiting for his brain to catch up.

    “What the hell is she on about this early in the morning?” he muttered, tossing the phone onto his nightstand.

    He rubbed his face and pressed the button for his bedside rm. Almost immediately, the butler appeared in the doorway.

    i212 /i

    09:56

    bChapter /bb305 /b