Zane <b>scowled</b>. “Ivan already said It’s fine–why are you acting like It Isn’t<b>?</b>”


    “Because it’s not!” York snapped.


    “I don’t care what you say. Ivan says yes, so I’m going!”


    “You’re not going!”


    “I am!”


    “You’re not!”


    In the end, all three of them went anyway.


    York red at Ivan as they approached the car. “Why do you get to ride with me? Don’t you have your own driver?”


    “York, stop being so stingy!” Zane shot back, sandwiching Ivan between himself and York as they slid into the backseat.


    “Annoying tagalongs,” York muttered under his breath.


    Ivan simply sighed and shook his head at York, putting on a stern face but staying silent, just watching him.


    I


    “Whatever. If it weren’t for Alessia, I wouldn’t even be dealing with you.” York huffed, turning to stare stubbornly out the window, sulking.


    Zane blinked, then leaned in closer to Ivan, crowding him a bit. Ivan shifted. awkwardly, edging a little closer to York for space.


    “Ivan:


    Alessia?”


    “My sister.” Ivan finally answered, which made Zane perk up even more.


    “Your sister? Is she pretty? I’ve got a sister too and she’s always picking on me. I can’t stand her.”


    “My sister is pretty. Very pretty.” Ivan’s whole demeanor softened just mentioning Alessia; his eyes lit up as if she were his personal hero.


    “That’s my sister,<b>” </b>York grumbled, sounding even more put out.


    Ivan, sitting close enough to hear, caught his mumble. “Right, she’s York’s sister


    too.”


    <b>12:02 </b>


    <b>York </b>didn’t turn around<b>, </b><b>just </b>gave a small, smug anort, the corners of his mout curling up.


    Zane tilted his head, confused. “How can your sister be York’s sister<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    <b>“</b>None of your business. You ask too many questions,” York snapped, patience wearing thin.


    “I was talking to Ivan, not you…”


    The squabbling started again, voices rising and falling, until Ivan just sighed and pulled a picture book from his bag, flipping it open for some peace.


    “I’ll give you mine,” York offered, leaning in with interest.


    Ivan nodded quietly and turned the page.


    Zane crowded in on Ivan’s other side. York was about to snap at him again, but caught sight of Ivan’s longshes as he stared down, absorbed in the illustrations. Something about the way Ivan looked made York’s annoyance melt away, and he decided to let it go.


    Finally, the car fell into a peaceful silence. The driver, who’d been anxiously watching them in the rearview mirror, breathed a sigh of relief. These were the pampered sons of wealthy families; if any one of them got so much as a scratch, it’d be on his head. He was just a poor working man caught in the middle.


    Right now, he was genuinely grateful for Ivan–so calm and quietpared to other kids his age. It was a rare blessing.


    Meanwhile, across town, Alessia headed straight to an apartment building near the shops after school. Mae was already waiting for her outside, tworge bags at her side.


    “Mae, did I keep you waiting long?”


    “Oh–Lessie, no, not at all! Butler Dawson drove me over, and we just got here.”


    Back at the Tate house, Mae always wore her hair up in a tidy bun. But with her arm in a cast now, her long, thick ck hair spilled down her back, making her look even more slender byparison, as if all her nourishment had gone to her hair instead of her body.


    She offered a shy smile, rubbing her hands nervously against her clothes.


    “And this is…?” Mae nced toward the young man next to Alessia.


    “This is my second brother, Zachary.”


    <b>12.02 </b>


    “Hello, Mae. Please, just call me Zachary.” With his gentle features and warm smile, Zachary had the kind of face that instantly put people at ease–someone parents. would trust right away.