“I knew you’d show up.”


    “There really isn’t any other way?” Alessia stared at the scattered books on the


    table. She already knew the answer, but she still couldn’t help clinging to a shred of hope.


    Xander sighed and closed the book in his hands.


    “Lessie, I wish more than anyone that there were.”


    Alessia fell silent.


    The ancient medical texts here were as familiar to both of them as the backs of


    their hands. They could pinpoint any passage, any line, without hesitation. But now, with one of them asking questions and the other scouring the pages all night, it was obvious–they’d hit a dead end.


    Still, neither wanted to give up.


    What if–just maybe–they’d overlooked a chapter, missed something in their


    exhaustion?


    “How’s Cole doing?”


    Alessia shook her head.


    Xander looked older, the lines around his eyes deepening.


    “He’s tough, stubborn too. Never lets his feelings show. Lessie, you’ll have to keep a close eye on him, alright?”


    “I will.”


    She didn’t find the answer she’d hoped for, but Alessia refused to give in. She and Xander pored over the medical books together long into the evening, but nothing useful turned up.


    Monday arrived, and the breakfast café finally opened its doors. Zachary and the Mortons were up before dawn, bustling to prepare. After finishing her own breakfast, Alessia saw she had some time to spare, so she took a detour to the café.


    Business was booming. The Mortons barely touched the floor, whirling from customer to customer, while Zachary helped at the register and packed up orders.


    “Lessie? Did you have breakfast yet?” Karen called from the stairwell, catching


    14.43


    <b>Chapter </b>170


    sight of Alessia hovering at the entrance.


    “I did. I just wanted to stop by and see how things were going.”


    Karen checked the clock on the wall. “Time’s about up. Zachary, stop fussing and get to school–both of you! Senior year’s important. If you want <i>to </ie by after sses, you can, but now you need to go.”


    Alessia and Zachary were both a little stunned to be shooed away so quickly.


    “Take these to–go cups for the road,” Karen said, thrusting two steaming drinks into their hands. “Sorry, we’re swamped right now. Be careful on your way to school!”


    “Luckydy, having such good–looking kids,” one of the regrs teased. “And isn’t the other one from Aristocrat Academy?”


    “That’s right,” Karen replied with an easy smile. “Both of them are top of their ss, too.” Her cheeks glowed with pride–a stark contrast from the pale, frail woman Alessia had first met.


    “Both top of the ss, huh?” Other customers joined in, especially parents dropping off their own children. Soon, they were all asking Karen for her secret to raising such disciplined kids.


    Karen answered every question with effortless warmth, giving all the credit to her children’s self–discipline and hard work, her hands never pausing in their work. Brendan took over at the register for Zachary, waving the siblings toward the door, urging them to hurry.


    Alessia and Zachary exchanged a look–resigned amusement in both their eyes. One had barely helped for ten minutes, and the other hadn’t even stepped inside.


    “Let’s go,” Zachary said. He stuck a straw into Alessia’s drink and handed it to her, then took hers and did the same for himself.


    “I stopped by the clinic yesterday,” Alessia said, sipping her soy milk. It was sweet and rich, with a vor that didn’t taste watered down like the other ces in town.


    “Big brother and Liam were busy, so I asked my mentor for the day off toe help here. I promise, I wasn’t cking off. I remember everything my mentor taught me, and I review every day. I’d never take this for granted.”


    Zachary’s voice tumbled out in a rush, as if he was afraid Alessia might think he didn’t value the opportunity–or worse, that he’d let her down again.


    “That bruise on your face–Six did that, didn’t he?”


    272