BuzzNovelAlessia suddenly felt a strange tightness in her chest, but she kept her composure, merely pressing her lips
together. With a careless tilt of her mouth, she looked as if nothing in the world could faze her.
“We're family, after all,” she said lightly.
Brendan didn’t reply. He just gave her shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
With Ivan’s situation temporarily resolved, Zachary and Alessia finally stepped into their senior year of high
school. Their school uniforms couldn’t have been more different-Zachary’s was neat and proper, while Alessia’s
was splattered with bold streaks of paint, each brushstroke a testament to her vibrant personality.
“Lessie, aren't you going to wear your uniform?” Karen called from the kitchen, carrying a tray of breakfast,
while Brendan had already left early to run his morning
stall.
After a couple of days of trial runs, Brendan was handling things smoothly on his own. So he and Karen had
agreed: he'd manage the stall in the mornings, while she stayed home, joining him later in the afternoon to help
with the after-school rush. The new routine eased Karen's fatigue considerably.
“Mom, it’s a tradition at Lessie’s school,” Zachary explained, trailing behind Karen as he set the table.
Alessia grinned and spun around, proudly showing off her creation. “Yeah, the school gives us plain shirts to
design ourselves. On the first day, we all wear what we made. What do you think? Does it look good?”
Her white T-shirt was streaked with spontaneous, wild colors-vivid blues and yellows, the texture of each
brushstroke still visible. The whole shirt radiated a carefree, creative energy that made it impossible not to smile.
Karen beamed with pride. “It’s beautiful, Lessie. You're so talented.”
After breakfast, the two set off for school amid Karen's gentle reminders. Once they reached the main road,
students in uniforms matching Zachary’s glanced their way, whispering behind hands/curiosity and envy woven
into their voices.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
The street was noisy-too much so to catch every word-so they ignored the stares and boarded the city bus, one
after the other.
“Why is a student from Crestview High hanging out with someone from the
Academy?”
1/2
13:50
Chapter 40
“She rides the bus for love? That's real dedication.”
“Isn't that Zachary? Who's the girl with him? She's gorgeous. Is she his girlfriend?”
“No way! Zachary’s the only thing gettingthrough the first day back.”
“They don’t look like a couple. Honestly, they don’t even seem close.”
“Why would a rich girl take the bus to school?”
“I have to admit, I'm jealous. Look at their first day-compare it to ours. The gap is
unreal.”
“Seriously. Who stole my privileged life?”
The morning bus was packed mostly
with Crestview High students,
clustered in little gr pS) Sere Were
© iousy§Freer, others
ite envious. Their voices were
low, but in the hush of the bus,
Alessia couldn't help catching
snippets, The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
even if she tried to tune them out.
She didn’t care, but Zachary clearly felt uncomfortable.
“Maybe | should call you a cab from tomorrow,” he offered quietly.
“Huh? Why? Are you secretly loaded?” Alessia fired back, rapid-fire, leaving him momentarily flustered.
If Liam were here, he'd probably have
snapped right back, but Zachary was
gentle, almost Rain.) .CO
oBliR-MNaiding confrontation
whenever he could, and always
looking for a roundabout solution.
“It's just... you used to get driven to
school in a private gonzent
ety big chang. ought maybe
it'd be hard to get used to.” The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
Alessia understood. She swept her gaze around the bus, and the moment the other students felt her eyes on
them, they quickly looked away.
“How much longer till our stop, Zach?” Her voice was steady but carried just enough to reach every corner of the
bus.
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