“Lessie, you really think this could work?<b>” </b>


    “Yeah, Mom’s got great skills in the kitchen. Setting up a food stall shouldn’t be a problem at all.”


    Karen set down her fork, a flicker of uncertainty passing over her face. “I mean, cooking at home is one thing, but selling food out there? I’d probably lose money. Besides, these are just regr family recipes–who’d actually buy them?”


    “I think it’s worth a shot,” Alessia replied. “If nothing else, you know how picky Zach is, right? But ever since you started cooking, he’s always the one who eats the most.”


    “That was then, this is now…”


    Despite her hesitation, it was clear Karen was wavering just a little. Alessia saw her chance and pressed on.


    “Even if we don’t make much at first, there’s no harm in trying. We can start simple, keep the costs low.”


    Alessia hadn’t spent thest seventeen years as some spoiled, idle rich girl. She had both time and resources–and with the sharp business minds of the Tate family’s eldest and Cole around, she’d picked up a thing or two herself. She already. had a whole n mapped out in her mind the moment the idea of a food stall


    came up.


    “Actually, with school starting soon, we could set up by the main gate and sell sandwiches or maybe some easy–to–carry wraps. If your home cooking really takes off, we could even look for construction sites nearby and talk to the foremen about delivering lunchboxes to the workers.”


    “Alright, then I’ll spend the next couple of days practicing and give it a try. Once school starts, I’ll set up the stall.” Karen was never one to hesitate once her mind was made up.


    Since moving here, Karen had been in low spirits, and with the youngest needing extra attention, the family had agreed she should stay home while the others took care of the finances. Still, Karen couldn’t shake the feeling that she was holding everyone back, so she threw herself into housework. The second she paused, guilt would sweep over her.


    Brendan had noticed the strain on Karen; it was only a matter of time before it took


    <b>15:36 </b>


    apter 2


    a toll. Alessia’s suggestion was the perfect solution.


    “But what about your health?”


    “I’ll be fine. Sandwiches and wraps aren’t hard to make, nothing I can’t handle,” Karen said, her voice firm and even tinged with hope for the future.


    Brendan pressed his lips together, deep in thought. Seeing this, Alessia decided it was time toy her real intentions on the table.


    “Just to be safe, Dad, why don’t you go with Mom? That way, you can split the work, and she’ll have someone to chat with when it’s not busy.”


    “But…” Brendan started to protest, worrying about leaving the house shorthanded.


    “I actually think Lessie’s got a point,” Karen cut in, her cheeks looking a little rosier. “It’ll be easier together. And if we don’t make much, you can always look for another job–no need to rush.”


    “Exactly. We’ll know how it goes after a week or so. Food stalls have been all the ragetely. It can’t hurt to give it a try.”


    Karen and Alessia took turns persuading Brendan.


    “Alright, let’s settle on that for now. We’ll talk it over again when Zach and the others get home tonight. Oh, Lessie, which school are you attending? I nearly forgot to transfer your tuition.”


    “I’m at the International Language Academy, but you don’t need to worry about tuition. I got a full schrship for being top of my year.” Alessia couldn’t hide her pride.


    Brendan and Karen exchanged surprised nces. Alessia, not wanting them to doubt her, pulled out her phone and opened the ss group folder. She didn’t even bother with the endless stream of messages–she could already guess they were


    just chatting away.


    She found the file and handed her phone over. Right at the top: Alessia’s name, followed by a string of high grades and, at the bottom, her ranking.


    ss: 1. Year: 1.


    <b>212 </b>


    15:36


    C