BuzzNovelOn weekends, York sometimes stayed over at their house. The couple had even prepared a guest room just for
him, but it had never really been used-York always ended up bunking with Ivan instead.
The bed was big enough, and the boys got along so well that the adults. saw no reason to object. Still, the guest
room remained, just in case.
“Don’t be fooled by how often York comes around. When something’s actually wrong, he keeps it to himself. The
better you treat him, the less. likely he is to trouble you,” Alessia commented, her fondness clear. Having
watched York grow up, she understood him even better than she realized.
“What trouble? He's still just a kid. His parents aren't here, and his
brother's always away on business trips...” Karen's brow furrowed tighter with concern.
York wasn't just the lively, sweet-talking little brother her daughter adored; he’d also helped Ivan countless
times. In Karen's heart, York was already family. Whenever she bought Ivan new clothes, she'd always pick out
something for York too. When she baked a new dessert, her first thought wasn’t to call Ivan over to try it-it was
to have Ivan invite York, so they could taste it together.
“If I'm being honest, York's probably spent more tat our house than at his own. So why, when he needs help,
does he keep away? | just can’t understand it.”
“| already asked Mom,” Ivan chimed in quietly. “He won't come. He doesn’t want to bother you. So | said I'd go
look after him. Is that okay?”
Karen knelt down, smoothing Ivan’s hair with a grateful smile.
“Ivan, I'm so glad you care about him. But you're still a child yourself-there’s a lot you just can’t do alone. Why
don’t we invite York here, so we can all take care of him together, okay?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
She praised Ivan, but gently pointed him toward a better solution.
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1101
“But he doesn’t want to come,” Ivan puffed out his cheeks, the disappointment plain on his face.
“Here's what we'll do,” Karen said, a playful glint in her eyes. “I'll call York. myself. And if he still refuses, we'll
just drive over and bring him back. Simple as that.”
The childish determination in her voice drew laughter from everyone in the room.
“I like that plan!” Brendan Morton added, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders and planting a kiss on her
cheek. “I'll go pick up spork knuckles at the market, make him something hearty when you bring him
home.”
The kids were long used to the couple’s affectionate ways.
Without further delay, Alessia dialed York's number and handed the phone to Karen.
“Alessia?”
“Hey, York, it’s Karen.”
“Karen?!” York's voice shrank to a nervous whisper.
“That's right. | heard from Ivan you hurt your foot. | bet it hurts a lot, huh?” Karen's voice was warm and gentle,
as if coaxing a little one.
York absentmindedly stroked Rex, the dog curled at his feet, suddenly feeling a bit shy.
“It doesn’t hurt. The doctor said it’s nothing serious.” His voice had a rare softness, as if he wasn’t quite sure
how to handle this kind of concern.
“We've kept your room ready, you know. And I've been working on snew recipes lately. Why don’t you stay
with us for a while and help me. taste-test them? Ivan just nods when he eats-he’s no help at all. But | love
hearing your feedback.”
York was mature for his age-he understood exactly what Karen meant.
He scrunched up his nose, a bittersweet feeling washing over him.
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hapter 406
On the other end of the line, there
was a long silence. Alessia lowered
her gaze, understanding YeIKs m
hesitatibn (A hid who's never been
given a treat before doesn't quite
know what to do when someone
finally hands them one. The content
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chapter there!
Can | accept it? Am | allowed to gat
it? How should Leabi {ar Mave it
TReombd is on novelenglish.net!
now?
So many questions—all he could do
was clutch the candy and. stdnd
there, fiozén in Slace The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
11:01
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