“Oh, sweetheart, your brother said he doesn’t want anyone disturbing hirn right now. Please, don’t knock anymore–you’ve turned your hand red,” Mae coaxed gently. “I made your favorite vani cake. Why don’t we go downstairs and have a slice, hmm?”


    No matter how much Mae tried, little Alessia just stood there, her eyes welling with tears, stubbornly knocking on the door again and again.


    “Max!”


    She’d barely raised her fist when, suddenly, the door swung open. The momentum sent Alessia stumbling forward, but Max caught her and promptly nudged her back.


    out.


    He left the door open only a crack. The room behind him was dark, the curtains drawn tight, and only half his face was visible in the gloom.


    “Go away.” Max’s low growl was uncharacteristically harsh.


    “Why won’t youe?” Alessia’s lower lip trembled as she fought hard not to burst into tears, but the tears in her eyes kept gathering, threatening to spill over.


    “Did I ever say I would? Stop being so self–important.” Max’s exposed eye was ice–cold, utterly expressionless. They bickered often, but he had never spoken to her like this before.


    “Hic! Hic!” Alessia’s hups escaped, betraying her distress.


    Max instinctively reached out, as if to pat her back, but pulled his hand back almost immediately.


    He shot an exasperated re at Mae. “Take her downstairs. I told you–no one’s to bother me. Next time someone knocks, all of you can pack your things and leave.”


    Mae jumped, apologizing over and over. She scooped up the huping, tear–streaked Alessia and hurried her downstairs, not daring to look back.


    “I’ll never… hic… speak to you… hic… again…” Alessia sobbed between hups as Mae carried her away.


    Max gritted his teeth and mmed the door shut.


    Inside the dark, chaotic room, nearly everything breakable had been smashed. Th family photo that once sat on his desk had been torn to pieces. No one knew that justst night, because of his best friend’s jealousy, Max had almost died out on


    12:03


    Unapter 195


    the edge of town.


    The next day, Scott stepped in to handle things, and Max never saw his desk. partner again. After that, though Max and Alessia still traded the asional barb, Alessia never again invited anyone to join her for any school event.


    Max certainly never brought it up. He’d rather ask someone to livestrearn or sneak in disguise to watch. It was as if the whole thing was locked away, never to be mentioned again.


    At nine–thirty sharp, the sports day began. Cole and the other investors sat in their reserved section, while the principal and faculty stood on stage, droning through their opening remarks.


    Confetti cannons fired, sending shimmering ribbons floating down from above.


    “And now, please wee the seniors of ss Seven as they enter the field!” The announcer’s voice echoed across the stadium.


    Alessia strode onto the track, holding the ss <b>sign </b>with poise, circling the field behind the lead banner.


    “Liam, that’s Lessie at the front–take a few extra photos, will you?”


    “We always knew she’d stand out–if Lessie ever went into showbiz, she’d be a star.” There was no denying it: every Morton child inherited the best of both parents. If anyone could outshine a Morton, it’d have to be the next Morton sibling!


    Students filed in, voices mingling in a cheerful din. Some parents, swept up in the atmosphere, unfurled custom–made banners to cheer on their kids, but most kept theirposure, sitting elegantly in their seats and exchanging polite whispers with those nearby.


    “Lessie’s still the prettiest by a mile–our ss is unbeatable!”


    “Absolutely! Three years running, and Alessia still has no rival.”


    “Let mee back as Alessia in my next life,” someone sighed wistfully.