Alessia 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.

“It’s beautiful, Lessie. You’re so

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

they ignored the stares and boarded the city bus, one after

High hanging

Academy?”

1/2

13:50

Chapter 40

for love? That’s

with

getting me through the first

like a couple. Honestly, they

rich girl take the

admit, I’m jealous. Look at their first day–compare it to

unreal.”

Who stole

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