BuzzNovel“Are you halone? Did you hire any help?”
“Yeah, we have someone who comes in. Zachary and the others cback after school, too.”
“But Liam and | both work part-time.on weekends, so we're not around all that much.”
“Lessie, are you saying... that someone mistreated Ivan behind our backs? Is that why he’s so guarded now?”
Brendan finally caught on to what Alessia was getting
at.
“But we have security cameras in the house. Things weren't great back then, so we could only afford one lady to
ccook for us-she’d make our meals and leave right after. Besides, Ivan barely ever left his room at that
time. He wouldn't have even crossed paths with her.”
Zachary didn’t think Alessia’s guess was out of line. Instead, he answered her seriously, helping her piece
together how things were at hback then.
“But Illeana did spend quite a bit of twith Ivan when the rest of us weren’t home.” Karen's words slipped out
before she realized, and she quickly glanced at Alessia, a little anxious about her reaction.
Alessia, however, was lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to Karen’s unease.
Brendan and Zachary exchanged a look and shook their heads. They had no idea how Alessia felt about Ileana
these days, and they didn’t want her to think they were still taking lleana’s side. That would only make things
worse.
d headed
The conversation ended there. Alessia knew there was no point in going around in circles. She glanced at her
neatly bandaged arm, murmured something back to her room.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Inside, everything was as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened at all. Alessia paused by the curtains for a
moment, debating whether to pull them aside, but decided against it-she didn’t want to risk getting bitten on
her other hand.
She walked over to the bed. Her white T-shirt was still folded neatly on top, just as she’d left it. The only new
thing was a small collection of paint jars and a handful of brushes on the nightstand. It was obvious the owner
treasured these paints; though the jars had been opened, they were spotless.
Alessia absentmindedly bit her lip, her gaze lingering on the colorful jars.
13:50
Chapter 44.
Eventually, she turned and left the room.
“Dad, Mom.”
Her parents were in the kitchen, putting away what was left from their early-morning bakery shift. “What's up,
Lessie?”
Zachary cover, too, having just stepped out to get a glass of water. Ever since he'd started apprenticing,
any spare moment was spent studying-he was terrified of disappointing Xander, his mentor. The pressure was
intense, but he felt so much more alive than he used to, even physically lighter.
“Is it okay if | take Ivan out next week?”
“Take him out? Well, sure, but... do you think Ivan will even want to go?” Karen answered, looking a little
uncertain.
“Where are you planning to take him?” Zachary asked, more out of curiosity than anything.
“To meet someone.”
“To meet someone?” Karen frowned.
“Listen, Lessie, | don't mean tp)hee
COTE ERE i¥hdtherson will
ske Vou: just getting Ivan out the door
is going to be a challenge.” The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
“Yeah, what's this all about? Who do you want him to meet?” Brendan chimed in.
“It's not like you're introducing him to
sbig—shot in the industry again,
are you?” Zachary suddenly
remembered how Al gsi kadsprung
Xprernoin AYP quickly
dismissed the idea—how many
industry heavyweights could a
seventeen—year—old possibly know?
Sure, she'd met simpressive
people through the Tate family or
sheer luck, but no one could know
everyone. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
He shook his head and took a sip of water.
“Eddie Chase is coming back to the
States next week. | 37 to take Van
Not) CRY artist,
too—maybe he can help.” The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Zachary choked on his water, spraying it everywhere.
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