“She’s just a mute idiot–it’s not like I did anything to her. You think you can pin this on me just by running your mouth?”


    Alessia’s gaze turned even colder at Ileana’s protest.


    “You’d better hold tight to your precious spot as the Tate family’s darling, because if York so much as loses a hair on his head, I’ll make sure you lose ten. If he’s the least bit unwell, you won’t have it easy either. I mean what I say.”


    As she spoke, Alessia hooked a finger into lleana’s hair and gave it a sharp fug, her threat unmistakable.


    Her voice was a low, devilish whisper that made Ileana’s scalp prickle. she couldn’t name, a wave of panic washed over her.


    asons


    Ileana’s lips quivered. Alessia caught the motion, smirked, and finally let go.


    Straightening up, Alessia’s school uniform only amplified her elegance. With her chin lifted and her posture regal, she looked every inch a queen surveying her domain.


    “Well then, Miss Tate. Since you’re so eager to y, I’ll y along.”


    “I won’t lose, Alessia!” Ileana shot back, desperate and shrill. “The Tate family is mine, the wealth and the status–all of it belongs to me. I won’t lose!”


    The door swung open, Ileana’s voice slicing through the air–sharp and grating. Ste and Lucy both turned at the sound.


    “Finished?” Ste arched an eyebrow, releasing her grip on Lucy.


    Alessia nodded, closed the door, and blocked out the rest of Ileana’s rant. Her face


    was unreadable, but Ste could tell she was furious.


    “I swear, I’m going in there and knocking some sense into her.” Ste made a move for the door, but Alessia stopped her with a shake of her head.


    Ste halted, pouting in frustration, her anger with nowhere to go. She shot Lucy a re, lumping her in with Ileana as two peas in a rotten pod.


    “Let’s go.” Alessia didn’t spare Lucy a single nce. She slung an arm over Ste’s shoulder and steered her away. Lucy watched them disappear around the corner before she snapped out of her daze.


    Taking a steadying breath, Lucy hurried inside.


    13.17卷


    Chapter2O


    “Ileana, are you okay?” she asked, worry etched across her face.


    On the bed, Ileana looked ghostly pale, her heart racing with anxiety.


    “I’m… I’m fine.” Ileana forced a shaky smile when she saw Lucy.


    “What did Alessia say to you?”


    “Nothing much… just told me to keep my mouth shut. Probably worried I’ll tell my dad she’s been manipting York.”


    “I see. I can’t believe she’s still so arrogant, even after being kicked out of the family. Guess she still doesn’t realize who’s in charge now.”


    Lucy could tell Ileana was holding something back, but she didn’t drama was brewing between her and Alessia, she had no desire to ge


    Still, her words seemed tofort Ileana.


    pres


    hatever


    ved.


    “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve this from her,” Ileana murmured.


    The two of them exchanged half–hearted, empty reassurances, while Ste and Alessia were already headed out of the hospital.


    “So, what did she say? It’s rare to see you actually angry,” Ste asked.


    “She used me of putting York up to pushing her down the stairs-” Alessia began, but Ste interrupted with a burst of outrage.


    “What? The nerve of her! No way, I have to give her a piece of my mind!” Ste stopped in her tracks, loud enough to draw a few curious nces from people passing by.


    Alessia mped a hand over Ste’s mouth. “Calm down.”


    Ste, her lips squished into a duckbill, nodded emphatically and mimed zipping her lips. Only then did Alessia let go and continue what she’d been saying.


    “And then there’s Ivan. I tried feeling him out, and honestly, with how he is now, I’m sure Ileana had something to do with it.”


    “You mean… she abused your little brother?” Ste shuddered, rubbing at her arms as goosebumps prickled her skin, her face twisted in disgust.