He was trying to emte the real Max, to spoil me, but he didn''t know me very well.


    I stopped drinking milk after my rebirth, a fact Max knew better than anyone.


    "Helen."


    I called for Helen, who was mingling with other guests. She hurried over when she heard me. "Where''s Mr. Hilton?" she asked.


    I gripped her hand, my brow furrowed. "He''s not—"


    "ire, here''s your milk." Just as I was about to say he wasn''t Max, Garrett arrived. His expression soured the moment he saw me holding Helen''s hand.


    I pulled myself together and smiled at Helen. "I was just about to ask you to get my cogen broth. I haven''t had it today."


    Understanding dawned on Helen''s face. She turned to Garrett. "Mr. Hilton, you forgot to remind me today. You''re usually the one who reminds me every day."


    Garrett looked a bit flustered but quickly regained hisposure. "The engagement party has been hectic. Uncle Babur arrived, and I got busy."


    Uncle Babur. Max would never call him uncle.


    Helen and I exchanged a knowing nce. I reached out and took the ss of milk. "This milk is delicious," I said.


    Helen smiled and walked away.


    She knew I didn''t drink milk and that I was being sarcastic. She was sharp enough to pick up on it.


    But as soon as Helen left, a smirk yed on Garrett''s lips. He pulled an allergy pill from his pocket and swallowed it right in front of me.


    "Why are you taking medicine?" I asked, feigning ignorance.


    "The price for petting cats."


    I lowered my head, not offering much of a response, but kept my arm linked with his.


    I listened as he introduced me to family members in anguage I didn''t understand, shaking their hands with practiced fluency.


    Max had gone to live in Crestview Metropolis as a teenager; there was no way he would be this familiar with all these people.


    "They say you''re very beautiful and that they like you a lot," Garrett suddenly exined. It was true; I couldn''t understand a word of the localnguage.


    "Thank you."


    After a simple thank you, I cast a cold nce over the family members present. Could none of them see that the man before them wasn''t Max, but Garrett?


    After introducing me to a crowd of people, Garrett led me to the central seat. I just sat there, holding the cat and saying nothing.


    "Are you unhappy?" he suddenly asked.


    I nodded honestly. "I can''t understand yournguage, so I can''t really fit in. Why don''t you let


    be the king? We could go back


    Crestview Metropolis couldn''t?!..


    miss the people at the orphanage and the Evergreen Health Center."


    I was testing him, again and again.


    "Alright," he replied with a simple affirmation before turning to greet more guests.


    I finally understood what Garrett was after.


    He was after Max. He wanted Max to see that I was blind, that I couldn''t tell them apart. He wanted to prove, to Max that my love for him wasn''t as deep as he thought.


    Once Max saw that, Garrett could have him all to himself.


    I almostughed at the absurdity of his n.


    He wanted Max to stay here with him, not to be left alone.


    He must really idolize his brother.


    I noticed more and more guards appearing. Garrett must have brought in


    reinforcements to stop his brother from storming the party.


    "Is Garrett always this childish?"


    I looked down, stroking Lucky as I asked.


    Lucky''s response was a series of insistent meows.


    When I looked up again, my eyes, met Garrett''s. He looked away guiltily and I noticed the ring on his hand was gone. He looked like a kid, caught trying on his dad''s O shoes-totally rattled.