2


    “Damn it!” Max cursed under his breath. He scooped Alessia into his arms and bolted for the door, nearly knocking Mae over as she rushed in.


    When Alessia finally woke again, she was no longer at home. Oddly enough, her tiny hand was still clinging tightly to Max’s index finger.


    “Hey, little one, you okay?” Max’s voice was gentle but anxious.


    Alessia, hooked up to a respirator, tried to open her mouth to speak, but sleep pulled her back under. In that hazy space between dreams and waking, she thought she heard a distant whisper, an almost inaudible, “I’m sorry.”


    Bzzzz. Bzzzz.


    The vibration of her phone dragged Alessia out of sleep. She silenced the rm and sat up, rubbing her head, puzzled by the strange dream dredging up memories she’d rather forget.


    8:30 a.m. She still had an hour before she was supposed to meet Liam.


    “Lessie? It’s the weekend–why are you up so early?” Brendan nced up from his breakfast, coffee in hand.


    “I’ve got somewhere to be today,” Alessia replied as she took her seat at the table, still a little out of it.


    “You look exhausted. Didn’t sleep well?” Karen reached over to feel Alessia’s forehead, but everything seemed normal.


    “No, it’s nothing. Just some old memories–bad ones, honestly.” Suddenly, Alessia grabbed Karen’s hand with a seriousness that startled her mother.


    “Mom, there was a time you almost lost me. Did you know that?”


    “Oh, <i>honey</i>, what are you saying?” Karen ruffled her hair, shooting Brendan a nervous look.


    “Still half–asleep, huh? Eat your egg, get some protein,” Brendan said, dropping a peeled egg into her bowl. Alessia didn’t argue, just picked it up and ate.


    By the time Alessia arrived outside A&C Entertainment, Liam was already waiting in the lobby.


    “You’re early,” she said, ncing at the clock. They still had ten minutes before their meeting.


    11-16 20


    naptor Juz


    “Had nothing else going on, so I figured I’de by.”


    “Let’s go.”


    Everyone in thepany recognized Alessia–she and Liam made it to the 22nd. floor without anyone stopping them.


    “Lillian!” Alessia knocked twice before pushing open the door.


    “Well, look who decided to show up. It’s been months, Alessia!” Lillian, dressed in a crisp white suit, looked every bit the powerhouse–scarlet lipstick, immacte nails, and heels that gave hermanding height and


    presence.


    “I can take a break because I know you’ve got everything handled. And hey, did you like the present I brought you?” Alessia grinned.


    “I absolutely love it.” Lillian pinched Alessia’s cheek yfully. If Alessia had ever wanted to join show business, Lillian knew she could have made her a star to rival Tristan himself.


    “Let me introduce you–this is my brother, Liam. We’re here today about him.”


    “Nice to meet you, Lillian,” Liam said, voice cool as his silver hair.


    “Pleasure, Liam.”


    Their exchange was all business, stripped of the warmth Lillian reserved for


    Alessia.


    “I’ve read through everything. Good looks, stage presence, great voice–are you only interested in singing?” Lillian asked.


    “Yes,” Liam replied, as icy as ever.


    “Let’s get you into the studio for a test recording. Oh, by the way, Tristan’s in there working on his new single. Lessie, want to check it out?”


    “Of course!”


    “Hey, Liam, I wrote the song, and your idol is singing it. Not a bad first day, right?”


    Alessia teased.


    Liam, the most unppable member of the Morton family, had gotten used to his sister’s surprises. But nothing was more shocking than discovering his idol was


    recording in apany Alessia owned.


    Wait–she wrote the song?!