“How do you know all that? Don’t tell me you’ve got another friend tangled up this.” Despite his words, Ethan was already more than half convinced.


    in


    There was just something about Alessia–she could say the most offhand things, never bothering to sound serious, yet somehow, whatever she said always seemed so convincing.


    Alessia rubbed her nose. “You have a résumé, right?”


    “Of course I do…”


    “Send me the digital version, will you?”


    “The digital version? What for?”


    “nning ahead for your future.”


    Her childish tone made Ethanugh. “Alright, I’ll send it over in a bit.”


    “Don’t tell Mom and Dad about what happened tonight,” Ethan said, grabbing Alessia’s arm just as they reached the bottom of the stairs.


    “And you keep quiet about me getting hauled down to the station.”


    Ethan nodded. With that, the two siblings now shared their very first secret.


    “I heard Max ditched Ileana at the door to take you somewhere yesterday. Where’d you guys go?” No sooner had Alessia sat down than Ste sidled up, curiosity in her eyes.


    “What do you think? He probably thought my life was too peaceful and decided to stir things up for me.”


    Ste turned her head, just in time to catch Ileana sneaking a cutting re at Alessia as she walked in. The move was subtle–her head tilted, eyes


    downcast–but since Ste happened to be sitting right next to Alessia, with her perfect vision, she spotted it.


    “No kidding, Ileana probably wants to skin you alive right now.”


    “I’m heading out after lunch with you this afternoon,” Alessia said.


    “What? Where? I’ming too!”


    “And do what, make a mess?” Alessia teased, but still gave her the gist of what was going on with Quentin.


    <b>14:45 </b>


    “What? That fat pig actually had the nerve?” Ste shot up, startling Pierce, who was tossing a basketball behind them. The ball rolled over to Ileana’s feet.


    “What’s going on, Miss Laine?” Pierce asked as he jogged over to retrieve his ball.


    “Sorry about that,” he said, reaching for it, but Ileana got there first. She handed the ball to him with a polite smile, leaving him momentarily puzzled.


    “Here you go.”


    “Uh…thanks.” Pierce scratched his head, then tossed the ball back to his friends and returned to his seat.


    “Ileana’s not having a breakdown, is she? She’s acting all creepy.” Pierce whispered, lowering his voice.


    “Rx. You see her acting like nothing happened? No one’s going to dare bring up yesterday’s drama now.” Alessia’s words suddenly made everything clear to him.


    He nced over–sure enough, Ileana had already sat down, and the group that had been gossiping about yesterday’s incident quickly lost interest once they saw she was unfazed.


    “ssic Alessia.” Pierce shed a thumbs–up before turning back to Ste. “So, Miss Laine, what were you yelling about just now?”


    “Go y your game, Pierce,” Ste brushed him off, leaning closer to Alessia.


    “So, you’re going out this afternoon just for that? And Max only gave the guy a mild concussion? Guess he’s mellowed out.”


    Alessia remembered how ruthless Max had looked yesterday, but said nothing.


    “So you’re handling Quentin’s mess this afternoon?”


    “Nope.” Alessia didn’t borate, but Ste could already guess it was another Morton family matter.


    “Honestly, ever since you moved back in with the Mortons, you’ve been running around nonstop.”


    “Have I?” Alessia blinked, feigning innocence.


    “Haven’t you?”


    Whether she had or not, by two o’clock that afternoon, Alessia and Ethan were rxing at a café not far from Zenith Associates, quietly enjoying their tea and pastries.


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