“Take me home?” Alessia repeated, as if she’d just heard the punchline <b>of </b><b>a </b><b>bad </b>joke. She strolled over to Zachary’s side, shooting him a look that told him <b>not </b><b>to </b>
worry.
Max caught the exchange, his smile fading.
“Of course. This ce is filthy, cramped, and falling apart–why would you want to stay here? Are you out of your mind?” York, though young, was far <i>too </i>precocious for his age. Thanks to the Tate family’s suffocating brand of upbringing, it was a wonder he wasn’t more twisted.
“I warned you before you left the country, York: if I ever hear you talk like that again, I’ll delete all your game ounts.”
“Alessia!”
“My name is Alessia!”
The two red at each other, eyes locked, neither willing to back down. Rex, the dog, circled between them, sensing a storm brewing. Just as the tension was about to boil over, both Alessia and <i>York </i>turned simultaneously to Max.
“Max! Control your brother!”
“Max! Control your sister!”
“I’m not his sister!” Alessia shot back instantly, never missing a beat in their bickering.
Max nced at Zachary, and for a split second, Zachary felt like prey under a predator’s gaze–cold and unblinking. He met Max’s look, but Max had already -shifted his attention back to Alessia.
“I bought you an estate overseas. You’reing with me to Yarrond the day after tomorrow,” Max said, leaving no room for argument.
“Yeah, that’s a no from me.” Alessia took a step back. Was he kidding? She’d barely escaped the wolf’s den of the Tate family–why would she jump back into the fire?
“Thene with me to Merovia.” York, not to be outdone, piped up indignantly.
Alessia crouched down so she was eye–level with York and gave him a yful grin. “Listen, kiddo, take your dog and get back in the car.”
York’s big eyes shed with outrage. Back overseas, he was fawned <b>over </b>daily by
<b>16:42 </b>
<b>Chapter </b><b>76 </b>
the staff at their mansion–only Alessia dared <b>treat </b>him <b>like </b><b>this</b>. <b>If </b><b>she </b><b>didn’t </b><b>have </b>the power to wipe his game progress, he’d have had Rex bite her <b>ages </b><b>ago</b>!
Alessia paid no mind to York’s inner grievances. Straightening up, she <b>fixed </b><b>Max </b>with a bright, clear gaze.
“It’s gettingte. You should both head back, gentlemen. After all, your sister <b>at </b><b>the </b>Tate estate is named Ileana. I’m Alessia.” She deliberately stressed the two different surnames, every word ringing with rity.
“Come on, Zach, let’s go home.”
“Yeah.” Alessia turned away, and Zachary fell into step beside her. He nced back at Max, but the fading light obscured his expression. All he could make out was the tall silhouette, with a small boy and a dog at his side.
“Quit staring. Let’s go.” Alessia picked up her pace, a prickle of unease creeping over her.
Zachary caught the hint and hurried after her, but the next moment, the alley erupted with barking. The faster Alessia walked, the louder the dog’s howling became, and soon every dog in the neighborhood joined in.
Windows mmed open as angry voices hurled curses into the alley. The residents here didn’t exactly have the best manners, and every swear word under the sun was unleashed.
“Max, you really are a total dog these days!” Alessia spat through clenched teeth.
“Lessie…”
Alessia ignored Zachary, stopping short to take three deep breaths before turning back around.
“Well, are youing or not?” Her tone was anything but friendly, but Max just smiled, as if he’d known she’d stop all along.
Miraculously, the barking ceased, and the alley fell silent once more.
“Wow, this ce is such a dump!”
“Jeez, why are the stairs so dark?”