hapter 13

“Lessie, you’re amazing Karen smiled softly, her eyes shining with genuine pride.

Alessia tucked her phone away, lips curling in a quiet smirk.

“Instead of worrying about tuition, why don’t you let me handle the paperwork to update my legal name and registration? No need for you both to make a special trip–just give me the family documents and I’ll take care of it.”

“Are you sure you can do it alone? Maybe I should go with you,” Brendan said, his tone concerned but trusting.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Unable to change her mind, Karen fetched the folder with their family records and handed it over. To their surprise, Alessia had everything sorted by the end of the

afternoon.

That evening, Zachary came home. The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead as Karen and Brendan recapped their lunchtime conversation for him.

“Every day at rush hour, there are food stalls lined up outside our school. Even the ones that aren’t that great have crowds, and Mom, your cooking is incredible. I think this could really work.”

inherited Karen’s gentle and thoughtful nature–a true gentleman, the kind you’d imagine stepping out of a classic

we’ll need a cart to set

“We don’t need-”

soft but cut off

noticed the pallor in his face and frowned slightly, though no one else seemed to catch

time, no rush,” Karen said, giving his back a reassuring rub, while Brendan handed him a glass

just sitting in the back. The owner bought it years ago, but they never use it anymore. I’ll message him

one in this family seemed to believe in waiting around. Once they

1/2

15:36

they moved fast–making plans and

he’d been planning to get rid of the cart anyway, and they could

high spirits, immediately launching into calculations about ingredients, supplies, and labor. The discussion carried on until midnight–much later than Karen and Brendan’s usual ten

awake, Alessia hesitated, then decided

thinking of reorganizing the bedrooms tomorrow.

three paused. “Are you not sleeping well?”

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