“You little rascal!” Brendan pretended to be angry, but he couldn’t hold the act for more than a second before bursting intoughter.

    Laughter echoed through the house, mixing with thoughtful advice and offhand jokes. The room buzzed with warmth and energy–everyone looking forward, hopeful for the future.

    In the middle of it all, a ringtone chimed from the living room. Alessia recognized it as her own and excused herself from the table to answer.

    It was York.

    She nced at the clock. Right on time for dinner.

    “Hey, kid-”

    “Alessia, sob… I don’t want to go abroad, please, take me with you, please…i” /iYork’s voice cracked through the phone, choked with tears, words tumbling out between hups about not wanting to leave the country.

    “Where are you right now?” Alessia’s brow furrowed.

    “I’m at the hos–Max-” York’s words broke off as Max snatched the phone away.

    “Hello?” Alessia called out twice before the other end finally answered, slow and steady. “Yeah?”

    “Max, what’s going on? And York–where are you both?”

    “It’s nothing serious. I’ll call you backter.”

    “Max!”

    Alessia’s voice sharpened with worry, and she was about to call back when a hand tapped her shoulder.

    She turned and saw Ethan handing her his phone.

    [CEO of Tate Holdings, Scott, hospitalized; his condition remains critical. Tate Holdings may be facing acquisition.]

    Alessia’s eyes widened in shock. She pointed toward the door.

    “I’ll drive. They’re probably at the hospital right now,” Ethan said without hesitation.

    “Okay.” Alessia didn’t waste a second. She was halfway out the door when she

    12

    09:57

    suddenly doubled back to grab something from her room.

    Downstairs, Ethan quickly exined the situation to the rest of the bewildered

    group.

    “Drive safe, don’t rush. Remember, safety first. Once you get Alessia there, stay put–see if there’s anything you can help with. And keep us posted if anything happens,” Karen said, her voice gentle but firm.

    Ethan nodded at every instruction, taking them to heart.

    Without further dy, the two sped toward the hospital they’d seen in ithe /inews. After checking in at the front desk, they hurried upstairs, only to find the corridor packed with reporters.

    Before they could even call out for someone, security swooped in and ushered them out. Ethan shielded Alessia as they were swept along with the crowd. Only when they broke free did she let out a breath.

    “Go on. I’ll wait for you here,” Ethan said softly, ruffling her hair. “The room’s just down the hall, around the corner.”

    Alessia nodded and walked off on her own.

    Turning the corner, she didn’t find Max or York. Instead, she locked eyes with Yvonne Sullivan.

    Both women paused, the memory of theirst meeting–when Alessia had left the Tate family–hanging between them.

    “Sit,” iYvonne /isaid first, her tone quiet.

    Alessia didn’t argue. She walked over and sat down on the bench, leaving an empty

    seat between them.

    “How’s Mr. Tate?” she asked,

    “He just got out of surgery. Drank too much, let anger get the best of him… Even if he wakes, he’ll spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.” Yvonne’s voice was calm, stripped of her usualmanding edge.

    Alessia was momentarily stunned.

    The Tates had never been especially warm to her, but they’d never treated her poorly, either. She’d always had the best of everything–food, clothes, a roof over her head. Even after she left, even with Ileana always making trouble for her, Alessia had never med the Tate family or anyone else for it.

    b213 /b

    09.57

    Now, seeing the family brought so low by Ileana’s schemes, she couldn’t help feeling a pang of sorrow.

    She pressed her lips together, then reached into her pocket and handed Yvonne a bank card.

    Yvonne nced at it. “What’s this for?”

    “There’s eight million, one hundred thousand in there.”