NovelBookKaren had no idea what had just transpired. Since no one had responded to her, she assumed York was simply
being stubborn, so she kept
coaxing him, her tone deliberately upbeat.
“York, didn’t you say you loved my cooking? You weren't just saying that to makehappy, were you?”
“Of course not!” York shot back instantly. “Your food is the best I've ever tasted! No fancy chef from anywhere-
hor abroad-can make anything as delicious as you do!”
Karen chuckled. “Well, it’s settled then. Be good, all right? I'll bring Ivan and your sister Lessie to pick you up,
and tonight, Brendan is making us a proper feast!”
York opened his mouth to protest, but Karen didn’t give him the chance. She hung up before he could get
another word in.
When she handed the phone back to Alessia, the girl gave her a big thumbs-up. Karen winked playfully, her eyes
sparkling with mischief.
“Con, let's go get him,” she said, ruffling lvan’s hair.
“Yeah!” Ivan’s eyes shone with excitement, his voice unwavering. A beaming smile lit up his face-a kind of
happiness Karen had never seen from him before.
Meanwhile, York was still staring at the phone in a daze, sitting in his wheelchair and absentmindedly stroking
Rex's fur.
“Headed to the Mortons’ place?” Max asked, as if he'd seen this coming. He rolled a small suitcase over to York.
“I packed your clothes and medicine, plus Rex’s food and toys. If you run out, call the housekeeper and he'll
bring you more.”
Max's face was unreadable, his voice flat and mechanical, as if he were just checking something off a list.
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11:01
Chapter 407
“Oh.” York pulled the suitcase over with a forced air of indifference, trying to act like the detached grown-up, but
his deliberately lowered voice only made him sound more ridiculous.
Not long ago, a scene like this would have been unthinkable.
Back when they’d just returned to the country, it was only because of Alessia that York and Max had teamed up,
but somewhere along the way, the dynamic between them had started to shift. Neither of them had
noticed it yet.
The Tates weren't the sort to wear their hearts on their sleeves-except, perhaps, for Ileana Tate. Most of the
time, they kept their feelings to themselves and rarely got too close to anyone, even family.
So the two boys didn’t say much. It wasn’t until the housekeeper announced that Alessia and the others had
arrived that Max finally wheeled York out, the housekeeper trailing behind with their luggage.
“York!” Ivan waved as soon as York appeared.
“Ivan!” York was just as thrilled. If his legs worked, he'd have run over in
an instant.
It had only been a short while since they last saw each other, but their excitement made it feel like weeks.
“Thank you for looking after my brother,” Max said politely to Karen, far more composed than York.
Maybe it was because of Alessia, but
Karen had always been fond of Max,
this quiet, polite, thalidbtfuboy, Once
shel leNired about his childhood,
she'd felt even more protective of
him. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Sometimes, when Alessia wasn't
around, Karen would call Max, m
mieten to dinner
ordi him to dress warmly when
the weather turned cold. The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“It's no trouble at all,” Karen replied
warmly. “It's always livelier with York
at home.” She handddbima Sper
bg ade ssnacks and
pastries this morning. You mentioned
you don't like sweets, so | made a
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Chapter 407
batch without sugar. Give them a try-if you like them, I'll bring more next
time.”
Max glanced down at the bag, the corners of his mouth twitching just slightly-so subtle you'd miss it if you
weren't looking closely.
“Thank you. That's very kind of you,” he said softly.
Chapter 408
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