hapter 13 " Lessie , you're amazing Karen smiled softly , her eyes shining with genuine pride . Alessia tucked her phone away , lips curling in a quiet smirk . " Instead of worrying about tuition , why don't you let me handle the paperwork to update my legal name and registration ? No need for you both to make a special trip - just give me the family documents and I'll take care of it . " " Are you sure you can do it alone ? Maybe I should go with you ," Brendan said , his tone concerned but trusting . " I'll be fine . Don't worry . " Unable to change her mind , Karen fetched the folder with their family records and handed it over . To their surprise , Alessia had everything sorted by the end of the afternoon . That evening , Zachary came home . The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead as Karen and Brendan recapped their lunchtime conversation for him . " Every day at rush hour , there are food stalls lined up outside our school . Even the ones that aren't that great have crowds , and Mom , your cooking is incredible . I think this could really work ." Zachary had inherited Karen's gentle and thoughtful nature - a true gentleman , the kind you'd imagine stepping out of a classic novel . " But we'll need a cart to set up a stall … " " We don't need- " " That's not a problem ," Zachary interrupted , his voice soft but cut off by a sudden fit of coughing . Everyone turned toward him . Alessia noticed the pallor in his face and frowned slightly , though no one else seemed to catch it . " Take your time , no rush , " Karen said , giving his back a reassuring rub , while Brendan handed him a glass of water . " The restaurant where I work part - time has an old food cart just sitting in the back . The owner bought it years ago , but they never use it anymore . I'll message him now and see if he's willing to let us have it . " No one in this family seemed to believe in waiting around . Once they set their 1/2 15:36 sights on something , they moved fast - making plans and putting them into action without delay . Zachary's boss apparently liked him , because within minutes he replied : he'd been planning to get rid of the cart anyway , and they could take it off his hands if they wanted . Everyone was in high spirits , immediately launching into calculations about ingredients , supplies , and labor . The discussion carried on until midnight - much later than Karen and Brendan's usual ten o'clock bedtime . Seeing everyone still wide awake , Alessia hesitated , then decided to share her own thoughts . " I was thinking of reorganizing the bedrooms tomorrow . Is that okay ? " All three paused . " Are you not sleeping well ? " Brendan asked . Alessia shook her head . " I looked at all three rooms this afternoon . Mine gets the most sunlight , then yours , and Zachary's room is the smallest and barely gets any light . " She continued , " I think you and Dad should take my room . The other one , I could divide into two spaces - one for me and one for Ivan . He's always hunched over his desk lamp drawing , and his eyesight will suffer if he keeps it up . Zachary is hardly home anyway , and young guys can handle it . At least it won't be so cramped . " Her words were honest and practical . The lively mood faded , replaced by a quiet hush as the evening deepened . " Lessie , before you came , Ileana used to stay in that room . There's no reason for you to move now , " Karen said , looking away , her smile gone . " I agree with your mom . When things were good , you never got to enjoy any of it , and now that we're struggling , we shouldn't let you be the one to make sacrifices . It may not be much , but we want to give you the best we can ," Brendan added firmly . Alessia hadn't expected this reaction . She glanced at Zachary , but he avoided her gaze - clearly siding with their parents . She sighed , uncertain what she was feeling . " In that case , at least let Ivan move in with me . I'll split the room in two . He's still young , and sunlight's important for growing up . I'll talk it over with him tomorrow - can the two of us decide ? "