Chapter 5 Both of them were clearly flustered - almost as if their brains had short - circuited but they still hurried to invite Alessia inside . They set a glass of warm water in front of her ; though they were the hosts , they seemed oddly out of place in their own home . " Aren't you heading out ? " Alessia asked . " I called work and asked for the day off , " Zachary replied quietly , answering her question without hesitation . " You're not picking up your prescription today ? " " I can go tomorrow . It's not urgent ." Alessia nodded slightly , and the three of them fell silent . " Don't you have anything you want to ask ? " Noticing Karen fidgeting nervously with her hands , Alessia was the first to break the awkward quiet . " I spoke to Dad and the others . They're on their way back , " Karen said softly . " Um … have you eaten yet ? " Karen wiped her hands on her apron , her face a mixture of unease and embarrassment . " We don't have much in the fridge , but if you tell me what you like , I'll go out and get it . " " Just call me Lessie - it's fine , I'm not picky ," Alessia replied , picking up her glass and taking a sip of water . As she did , she glanced around the small house . It was a modest three - bedroom , one - living - room place - not particularly spacious . The paint on the walls was peeling and stained in places , but it was clear the owners took care of it ; everything was tidy and clean . A sound at the door pulled Alessia from her thoughts . She and the others all turned to look as the front door opened . The first to enter was a middle - aged man in a suit , his sharp features framed by a furrowed brow - he couldn't hide his worry . Next came a man about Zachary's height , his demeanor calm and reserved , dressed simply in jeans and a white t - shirt . Last was an older man with white hair , bearing a striking resemblance to Zachary , though his eyes were sharper and his expression impatient . A guitar case hung over his shoulder . The newcomers lined up by the door , making the already - cramped living room feel even smaller . At some point , Zachary had come out of the bedroom , trailed by a 1/2 15.25 I Chapter & boy of seven or eight . The boy kept his head down , lips pressed tightly together , one hand gripping Zachary's sleeve . " Hello , I'm … Alessia . I'm your biological daughter . If you don't believe me , we can do a DNA test . " Truthfully , there was no need ; anyone could tell at a glance that she belonged to this family - the resemblance was unmistakable . " I understand the situation . I'm your father , Brendan Morton , " the man in the suit said . It should have been a touching family reunion , but it felt more like a meeting between strangers , or maybe business partners meeting for the first time . " Hi , I'm the eldest , Ethan Morton , " the man in jeans said , studying Alessia with a slight frown , as if puzzling something out . " I'm your second brother , Zachary , and this is my twin - your third brother , Liam Morton . And that's the youngest , Ivan Morton . " Zachary Morton introduced everyone in turn , pointing to the little boy still clinging to his sleeve . Alessia nodded . Aside from Brendan and Karen , who found seats on the sofa , the other four - her brothers - simply sat cross - legged on the floor , tall figures looking somewhat forlorn in the cramped space . " Have we met before ? " Ethan asked , using the sort of clichéd line that nobody found funny . The Morton siblings knew each other well . They all realized Ethan wouldn't ask something like that without a reason . " I still owe you cab fare , don't I ? " Alessia said . " After that day , I couldn't reach you , and then I went abroad . Sorry about that . " " It's fine - you didn't need to pay me back anyway . " Truth be told , Ethan had never expected her to . " What's going on ? Ethan , you know Lessie ? " Karen asked in surprise . Alessia nodded . " Well , not really . I ran into him by chance . I was meeting friends that day , and my phone died . I figured I'd just walk home , but halfway there , I bumped into my eldest brother . He said someone was following me and told me to be careful , then helped me get a cab . " Her use of " eldest brother " sounded so natural that nobody even noticed the shift in how she addressed him . 2/2 15:35