Chapter 0221

“Gotta go see an important man,” I reply, giving a little shrug.

“Which one?” he asks, genuinely curious.

“Nooooooo idea,” I say. Then, I cock my head. “Want to come with?”

Jerome hesitates, looking towards the kitchen, but I grab him by the arm. “Oh, come on,” I say, pushing him towards the garage.

I know Jerome has access to the car keys and I want to get out of here before Natalia can come call my bluff. “Kent will let me

take you.”

Jerome laughs at this, but he lets me push him. “What am I, some Ken doll you guys trade around for the day?”

“Precisely,” I confirm as we pass into the garage and he snags the keys to the Lexus from the key cage. I grin at him over the top

of the car as we open our doors. “Want to buy me breakfast, Ken? This...” I hold up my sad little semi-crushed croissant, “isn’t

cutting it anymore.”

“You got it, Barbie,” Jerome quips, winking at me and climbing into the car. I grin and do the same, closing my door behind me.

Once Jerome and I finish our breakfast — he takes me to a place downtown where they serve a full English breakfast, something

we'll never get in an Italian house — and we get back in the car totally stuffed, I know precisely where I want to go.

I'm not looking forward to it, but I know what I have to do. Jerome blanches a little bit when I direct him to our next stop, but he

doesn’t ask questions. Instead, he just drives me up to the front of the house and gets out to lean against the car and watch my

back as I climb up the steps and ring the bell.

About half a minute later, the door opens.

“Hey, Tristin,” I say, giving my step-mother a little smile in response to her deep and hateful glare. “Is my dad home?”

“He is not,” she snaps, hoisting baby Estrella higher on her hip. The baby, thankfully, greets me more graciously with a giggle

and a little flap of her hand in my direction. I can’t help but smile back at her.

“Um,” I say, looking back at Tristin. “Can I come in and wait for him, then?”

Tristin rolls her eyes at me and begins to close the door.

“Tristin!” I call, putting out a hand to stop her. “Please, I’m sorry — I know whenever I come over it always causes trouble —*

“Causes chaos, you mean,” she replies, still trying to shut the door — but she’s only got one free hand, and I’ve got two.

“Okay, I buy that,” I say, holding my

weight against the door until she

gives up, glaring at me. Please (1)

say, my eyes widerang I Rope,

choir my earnest desire to make

piece. “Just...let me come in for a

little bit. I'll help! I'll watch the baby!

I'Il...whatever you want! Just let me

wait for my dad for a little bit.” Please

read the original content at

.

Tristin clenches her teeth but then

steps away from the door. “Fine re

2 ora

snaps. “You can watah Korba

bi keep hii out of the electrician’s

hair. But one hint of drama,” she says,

pointing a finger up in my face, “and

you're out. All right?” Please read the

original content at .

“You got it,” I reply, holding up my

hands innocently. Tristin nods once

and steps out of my pate:sotat

can enter i@hdot Jerome a

thumbs-up over my shoulder and

head into the house, where I see

Romulus peeking over the stairs.

Please read the original content at

.

“Hil” he says, popping up and grinning widely at me when he sees me being welcomed into the house. Or at least, tolerated.

“Hi,” I reply brightly, going over to him. “So,” I continue, peering up at him, “word has it that I’m seeing a very important man

today,” I inform him. “I guess that’s you.”

“Makes sense,” Romulus says honestly, giving me a little shrug. “I’m very important.”

I laugh and hold out my hand to him, beckoning him to come play.