RedNovelChapter 27
“I should probably let Mom and Dad know when | get back.”
Zachary was still muttering to himself when Alessia stopped in her tracks.
“I need to go somewhere, so | won't be heading hwith you. Don’t worry about dinner fortonight.”
“Alright. Just textwhen you're on your way back so | can cdown and meet you. It's not safe around here
at night.” Zachary didn’t push for details-he just gave a gentle reminder.
Alessia wasn’t concerned about her safety, but if she refused, Zachary would only insist, and she'd rather avoid
the back-and-forth. So she nodded and agreed.
At the fork in the road, Alessia turned the corner, disappearing from view as Zachary watched. He clutched the
bag in his hand, let out a quiet sigh, and a complicated expression flickered across his face-half a smile, half
worry.
If it had been Ileana, he probably would've asked a thousand questions. But when it cto Alessia, his concern
was tangled with the fear of coming across as overbearing. He was still trying to figure out how to make her feel
comfortable
around him.
Back at the townhouse, Xander was already sprawled in the armchair, happily sampling the pastries Alessia had
brought over.
“Boss, what's Zachary’s story? Other than Cole and Lessie, no one else has passed that scent test, right? You
don’t think Lessie gave him the answers ahead of time, do you?”
Xander beckoned Six over with a smirk. Six crouched in front of him, only to be met with a sharp flick to the
forehead. Six winced, rubbing the sore spot.
“You know what kind of person Lessie is. She wouldn't bring someone here who didn’t have what it takes. How
long have you been withnow? Five, six years at least, and you still can’t answer half as many questions as
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtshe can!”
“Lessie’s brain is like something out of a sci-fi movie. How am | supposed to compete with that? All these years,
only Cole's even cclose to matching her.” Six sounded thoroughly aggrieved.
“Do you really think you measure up to her? I'm talking about Zachary.”
“What? The guy didn’t say a word the whole time!” Six’s voice shot up in disbelief.
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15:38
Chapter 27
Xander stuffed a pastry in his mouth and slipped a note into his hand.
“Alright, get to the front yard and help out. Quit hanging around and getting on my nerves.” With that, Xander
sank back in the chair, but his mind lingered on the memory of Zachary quietly answering questions, his fingers
rhythmically drumming along his jeans. At first, Xander thought it was just coincidence, but after a string of
correct answers, he realized Zachary’s attention to detail was no accident.
“Yeah, yeah, | know-no one but your precious Lessie is allowed to hang around you.” Six mumbled, spraying
crumbs everywhere and making Xander lunge at him in mock annoyance.
Luckily, Six darted away before Xander could catch him, grabbing another pastry as he ran, leaving Xander
somewhere between exasperation and amusement.
Out in the front yard, Six finally unfolded the note. The list of ingredients and their precise amounts-it was a
basic formula, but... to get it right just from reading, without any formal training...
Six tucked the note away, nodding to himself in grudging approval.
Meanwhile, Zachary unlocked the front door, his heart a tangle of emotions. From the kitchen cthe sounds
of Brendan preparing dinner. Karen, who'd been building blocks with Ivan in the living room, poked her head out
at the noise.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Where's Lessie? Didn't she cback with you?” Karen glanced behind him, expecting to see his sister.
“She had something to do, so she’s not coming hfor dinner tonight.”
« . Q
Alright, well, when she gets in, make
sure you go down and meet Rerhis
neighbarhiood gets Skérdhy after
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del Lessie's a young woman, after
” :
all...” The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“I know.” Zachary’s tone was gentle.
« . . q
By the way, did you buy anything this
"
afternoon?” Karen egihesenin
y ZC.
Zep EGS dming it was
ssibling loot from their outing.
“Actually, there’s something I need to talk to you about.” A small, lighthearted smile played at Zachary’s lips.
Karen immediately picked up on his
mood, her own smile PI m
u« , : 5
What SWE rehire uh?
Youle learned how to keep secrets
a0 ” q
now-is it good news?” The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Zachary didn’t answer. He set the bag down on the table. At his gesture, Karen
15:38
opened it-and her smile immediately faded.
15:38 love and power 2
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