Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress by Vera Fiore

Chapter 172 Sebastian sighed and said. "You can't keep something like this under wraps forever, Victoria. They're bound to find out sooner or later." Victoria's eyelashes trembled, her voice lacking its usual vivacity, tinged with sadness. “Sebastian, I'm scared.... Maybe we should just call it quits." "Not a chance," Sebastian's voice carried an uncompromising determination. "Victoria, trust me, yeah? I'll sort this mess out properly." Victoria's expression was a mixture of sadness and resignation. "How exactly are you going to sort it? You expecting Mum and your dad to get divorced just so we can be together?" Sebastian frowned and fell silent.

Thalia listened, feeling a headache coming on.

She sighed, saying with resignation, "Look, I'll keep your secret, but this needs sorting out sharpish. It's one thingfinding out, but imagine if sgossip-hungry snoop spotted you, took a few sneaky photos and flogged them to the tabloids. You'd be splashed across The Sun by tomorrow morning." Thalia looked at Victoria, speaking earnestly, "Victoria, Sebastian's right. You can't keep this hidden forever. Your parents will find out eventually. Better they hear it from you than from someone else." Victoria kept her eyes downcast, staring at the floor, saying nothing.

Sebastian reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Victoria, I'm here. Don't be afraid." Leaving the restaurant, Thalia drove back to the Winters family home.

Tomorrow was Sunday, with no work commitments, so she wanted to spend twith Lucy.

While waiting at a traffic light, her phone screen lit up.

There was a new message.

Thalia opened it.

Rupert: [Made it hyet?] Thalia replied.

10.10 Your Gold Digger is Actually A True Heiress [Still on the road. Everything alright?] Rupert's response calmost instantly.

Just drive carefully. We can chat when you're home.] Thalia: [Will do.] Meanwhile.

Asher received a phone call.

His friend and Blackwood Group shareholder, Ares Hidalgo, asked gossipy on the phone: "Asher, what's the story with you and Thalia Winters? Haven't you two patched things up yet?" "What's this about?" Asher's features were stern, his voice utterly cold.

"Guess who I spotted tonight?" Ares teased.

Asher had little patience for games. "If there's nothing important, I'm hanging up." "Oh, coff it," Ares quickly continued. "I saw Thalia Winters!" Asher's fingers tightened around the phone. "When? Where?" Ares chuckled, teasing, "Well, well, someone's suddenly all ears! Just a moment ago you couldn't be bothered, and now look at you. I knew it-mention Thalia Winters and you're a different bloke entirely." Asher's tone was frigid. "Cut to the chase." "Alright, alright, keep your hair on," Ares adopted a more serious tone. "But brace yourself-this is bad news for you." Asher remained silent.

Ares dropped his playful manner, speaking rather seriously: "I was having dinner with clients at a restaurant tonight, and just as I stepped out of our private room, I spotted your Thalia leaving another room with Rupert Lysander." Asher's expression grew even colder.

Ares paused briefly, then continued, "I also saw Anthony Garret, the Garret family's eldest son, with his wife and kid, along with his in-laws. Oh, and by the way, Anthony's in-laws are Rupert's grandparents, did you know? Rupert's parents have been in Australia for years, so his only family in the country are his grandparents and his aunt Amanda, who is Anthony's wife." "You seem remarkably well-informed about Lysander's family," Asher commented.

Ares chuckled. "Well, I've been keeping tabs on him for your sake, haven't I? That bloke had the cheek to chase Thalia all the way to Cambridge back at uni and even confessed his feelings right under your nose. Thought I should keep an eye on him for you." After listening, Asher asked, "So? What are you getting at?" Ares replied sympathetically, “Look, Asher, from what I saw, it looked like she was meeting his family. Things are moving bloody fast, don't you think? Didn't you two only break up in January? It's barely been three months, and Thalia's already at the 'meeting the family' stage with Lysander..." Before Ares could finish, Asher had already hung up, unable to listen any further.

Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his villa, the man frowned deeply, his handsfeatures filled with desolation.

This couldn't continue.

He had to win Thalia back.

When Thalia arrived at the Winters home, the lights were on in the ground floor hall.

Randolph Winters was sitting on the sofa watching financial news.

Seeing her return, Randolph's gaze softened. "You're back." "Yes," Thalia walked over and sat on another sofa. “I cto see Lucy. Is she asleep?" "Just nodded off," Randolph said. "Did you manage to get sdinner?" Thalia nodded. "Yes, I did." "Has Lucy's condition improved recently?" Thalia asked.

"Much better." "That's good to hear," Thalia said. "I'm free tomorrow, so I'll stay and keep her company." Randolph looked at her with approval. "That would be lovely." "Thalia, you've been through so much," Randolph's eyes reflected concern. "In Russia..." Seeming to find it difficult to continue, Randolph paused before asking, "When you were kidnapped, did they... did they hurt you?" Thalia shook her head. "Nothing serious. Just a bit of rough handling. It's all behindnow." ie Actually A True Heiress 99.1% Chapter 172

Randolph's eyes showed deeper concern. "Thalia, I'm so sorry. I failed to protect you. I've hired a new team of highly skilled Bodyguards. Spaperwork is still being processed, but once they arrive in London in a couple of days, I'll assign several to you." Thalia replied, "Bodyguards can't protecteverywhere all the time."

"They can," Randolph said. "One of the new recruits is a female bodyguard who previously served as personal protection for a British royal princess. With her guarding you, I'll have peace of mind. Have her work at your law firm, and if possible, it would be best if she lived with you." Thalia didn't want to be used as a pawn against Asher by Tom Malfoy again.

Hearing that Randolph had arranged for a female bodyguard for her personal protection, Thalia nodded. “Alright, Dad. Please also assign more bodyguards to protect yourself, Victoria, and Lucy." "I've taken care of that. Don't worry." "Good." The topic concluded.

After a moment of silence.

Randolph asked with genuine interest, "How's the law firm going? Everything running smoothly?" Father and daughter hadn't sat down for a proper conversation in a long time. After everything they'd been through, Thalia and her father no longer bristled with tension whenever they spoke.

Thalia said, "It's going well." Randolph looked pleased, his gaze affectionate. "My little girl's all grown up." Thalia pressed her lips together without responding.

"Still dead set against getting involved with the family business?" Randolph asked gently "Your aunt and I thought we might transfer sshares to you. You wouldn't need to worry about operational risks or liabilities-just collect the dividends." "I'd like that." Randolph was slightly surprised, not expecting Thalia to agree so readily.

"Dad..." Thalia looked up at Randolph. "I was being childish before. Now I just want our family to live in harmony." "Yes, yes," Randolph's eyes actually glistened with tears as he murmured, "Our family, get along well." Heiress mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1