<b>Chapter </b><b>118 </b>


    “So, you snuck out just to skip etiquette ss?”


    York, caught red–handed, let out a disgruntled “Tch,” but didn’t bother denying it.


    “Eat. Once you’re done, I’ll have someone drive you back.”


    “No way! The minute you see me, you want me gone, but you’re happy to take him out for dinner, for fun!” York jabbed a finger at Ivan, his voice dripping with


    indignation.


    “I had legitimate business.” Alessia wasn’t even sure why she was exining herself. Right now, she felt like some cheating girlfriend caught in the act.


    “Don’t try to change the subject. If you’re not sending me back, what do you n to do? Stay out all night?”


    Alessia rubbed her temples, her tone weary. “I-”


    York huffed. “You’ve got a new brother now, right? Why would you care about me?”


    “New brother? He’s my actual brother.”


    York puffed his cheeks, stabbing at the ice in his soda with a straw, sulking.


    Eddie looked over at Alessia, silently asking if she needed help, but she shook her


    head.


    “Do you want toe back with me?” She couldn’t just leave York here. Kidnappings were still a thing these days, and with how wild York had gotten living abroad, letting him wander off alone was just asking for trouble.


    York hesitated, scowling. He didn’t say yes, but didn’t refuse either.


    Outside by the car, Alessia hit a snag.


    “I’ll sit up front. You two take the back.”


    “I don’t want to sit with him/Make him sit


    up


    front!”


    Alessia nced at Ivan. He clung to her hand, refusing to let go.


    “Want to sit up front yourself?”


    “No. Why does he get to sit in the back?” York shot a re at Ivan, who puffed his cheeks and tightened his grip on Alessia’s hand, as if to say, “She’s my sister!”


    Not to be outdone, York grabbed Alessia’s other hand. Left, right–she was tugged


    <b>14:48 </b>


    from both sides. Alessia closed her eyes and fought to keep her temper in check.


    In the end, all three of them squeezed into the backseat, with Rex the golden retriever sprawled at their feet.


    Alessia sighed, and from the driver’s seat, Eddie let out a quiet chuckle.


    “Maybe you should’ve been a therapist.”


    “Please, my temples are throbbing so hard I can practically hear my pulse.”


    “Never seen you like this before.”


    “And you won’t again, if I have anything to say about it.” Alessia shot him a wide–eyed re that only made Eddieugh harder.


    Suddenly, Rex nudged Ivan’s foot with his wet nose. Ivan startled, yanking his feet


    away.


    “Scaredy–cat,” York snickered without mercy.


    Ivan scowled, his chubby handing down on Rex’s head. He stared right at York–saying nothing, but somehow saying everything.


    Now York was the one feeling left out.


    “Rex!” he called, but the dog ignored him, licking Ivan’s palm instead.


    Ivan burst into giggles, the kind that made Alessia smile–she’d never seen himugh like that before.


    Ivan and Rex started ying together, while York stubbornly tried again to get Rex’s attention. Before he could say another word, Alessia pinched his cheeks with two fingers, giving his face a little shake.


    York’s head wobbled, but he didn’t push her hand away. He just red at her, sulking.


    When they got out of the car, Rex stuck close to Ivan, tail wagging like crazy.


    “Traitor,” York muttered, but with Alessia holding his hand, even if he was a little jealous, he didn’t pull away to grab Rex’s leash himself.