BuzzNovel“Mom, you really don’t have to go to all that trouble. Ill just grab my things and head out-there’s still a lot | need
to take care of.”
Seeing how flustered Karen was, Alessia managed a small smile and gently pressed her hand down to calm her.
“How's everything at hlately?”
“Everything's fine, really,” Karen reassured her, rubbing Alessia’s arm like she used to when Alessia was little.
“Your brothers have both been busy, and Ivan’s definitely been much more cheerful these days. Zachary
mentioned the clinic’s closed for now, but he still goes by every day to see if he can help. He just wants to keep
busy.”
“Mom, could you pass on a message to Mason for me? Ask him to keep an eye on my mentor. | really can’t make
it over there myself right now.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I'll text him right away, and I'll remind him again when he comes htonight.”
“If there's anything you're craving, just letknow. I'll make it for you and bring it over. You stay by that child's
side, okay? Get through this rough patch, and things will get better, | promise.”
Alessia nodded. As she turned to leave, lvan must have sensed something-he crushing out, nearly tripping
over himself in his hurry.
“Sis... Sister,” he stammered.
She realized it was the first tIvan had ever called her that.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAlessia stopped, ruffled his hair, and crouched down in front of him so they were eye-level.
“Have you been behaving yourself lately?”
Ivan nodded, clutching her hand as if afraid she’d vanish again.
“Since you've been gone,-" Ivan blurted, but Alessia hadn't even finished her sentence before he cut her off,
panic in his eyes.
“How long... before you cback?” he asked, voice trembling with hurt.
Alessia pinched his cheek gently, trying to coax a smile out of him. “When the first snow falls, | should be back
home.”
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Chapter 241
It was strange-this place she’d only ever thought of as a pit stop had somehow becher anchor without her
even realizing it.
“I won't be able to take you to Eddie’s on weekends for a while, but I've asked him to pick you up every Sunday.
Just make sure you listen to him, okay? And if you don’t feel like going alone, you can ask York to cwith you.
I've already put his number in your watch-just call him if you need him.”
“I... If I miss you, can | call you?” lvan’s voice wavered, his eyes glistening. He didn’t know when the snow would
come, but he knew his only sister was leaving.
“Of course you can. Anytyou miss me, just call. I'll always pick up.”
“All right, Ivan, say goodbye to your sister. She’ll be back before you know it,” Karen said, trying to sound
cheerful even as she held Ivan back when he tried to follow
Alessia.
“Take care of yourself, okay? We're all here. Your room will always be waiting for you,” Karen added gently.
Alessia’s nose stung as she tried not to tear up, her thoughts drifting to Jade again. She nodded, waved goodbye,
but didn’t dare look back.
She just wanted to get back to Cole as quickly as possible. She had a new hnow, new people to love. But no
matter how many houses Cole had, no matter how new or big, none of them would ever have his parents in
them again.
She pushed open the door, only to be swept up in a fierce hug that nearly knocked
the wind out of her.
She didn't struggle—instead, she
wrapped her free a ground cole
opIREH rey dv to soothe
his anxiety. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“I'm right here, Cole.”
“| thought you'd left,” he whispered
into her shoulder, pig Vole trembling.
Reon is on novelenglish.net!
“I just ran hto grab a few things. I'm not going anywhere.”
He let out a muffled “okay,” and after
a moment lished fe) (1)
I
aptqmaticaly reaching for her bag.
“Didn’t Dailey tell you I stepped out?”
“I think she went out to get groceries. | didn’t see anyone when | woke up.”
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12:36
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