" you know what, Max, just take your time oh, and enjoy the present, I went through a lot to get it your know." the guy said.

And Max replied " sure, now let me see you out".

Uh uh, I need to hide quick! I ran and hid behind a pillar. I waited for fifteen minutes, but they didn't show up , I waited for ten more minutes, still nothing, so I decided to check what was going on.

Getting to the door, I leaned closer, but I didn't hear anything. I slowly pushed the door and...  Huhhhh? No one's in there.

I slowly walked in, checking the environment, empty. But how? They were in there 25 minutes ago, and I'm sure they didn't use the door!

I kept looking around to find anything suspicious but nothing, only a glass of wine. Something in me made me move closer to the glass, hmmm, red wine. I picked it up and stared at it. " This must be the thickest wine I've come across. " I sniffed it and it smelled really bad! Wait, a minute.......

" It's rude to barge in to someone's room without permission"  I heard Max's voice from behind. I quickly dropped the glass and faced him. " I .... Ehhnm, I.."  I stammered trying to think of what to say, I couldn't even remember the reason I was here, yes I was here because of what happened earlier. " We need to talk," I said firmly, trying my best not to act suspicious. " And you couldn't wait for me to come? Instead, you started going through my stuff" he said, almost yelling.

" I'm sorry for coming in like that but, I just couldn't go back after coming all the way here," I said in an innocent tone.

"Alright, what is it," he said, buying my pretense.  " It's about what happened down stairs, I really don't appreciate the way you spoke to Kendra, I know she made a mistake, and she isn't sorry, but, I don't think you have the right to judge or punish her. It's our personal issue and you shouldn't have interfered."  I said. Yes, this wasn't the main reason that brought me here, but I can't tell him that, after everything I've heard and seen, I  have to know what's really going on here, I want to know what he's hiding, and if he's trying to hurt us. And for that to happen I need to be extra careful.

"So, you came all the way to my room just to tell me that?" He asked looking at me intently. I bet he's trying to see if I'm lying.

I fully composed myself and said  "yes, you have been here for less than 10 hours,  so please, don't put yourself in our trouble. We are fine, and you Know nothing about grandpa's gift Soo stop acting all worked up" I said this while staring at him, I felt like running my hands through his hair, but discarded the thought immediately. I noticed his reaction change when I said the last part. As though he was almost caught. I smiled and added "I'll be grateful if you go apologies to Kendra, she's going through a lot and I don't want her to end up doing something stupid." then I left his room.

" Woah! That was close"

My mind went back to what  I saw in his room. Was that really blood in the glass? If it is then what is he going to do with blood? I hope he's not going to drink it!!! Ewww who would drink blood, that sounds disgusting. Plus, how did his friend leave the room without being seen, I'm sure he didn't use the door, maybe he used a ladder down the balcony, tomorrow I'm going to ask the guards if they saw anything. Sincerely, anything that has to do with Max  is hot and creepy. I really like him and fear him at the same time. I can't believe I like a guy who's my cousin and also probably trying to kill us all.

I was losing my mind already, I have a lot of questions and I have a feeling that mom can answer few if not all.

I kept thinking until I got mom's room, I was about to Knock but Changed my mind and pushed the door slowly, I peeped and found mom sleeping on the bed. I slowly walked in and sat beside her. Her face looked worn out and her eyes were swollen from all the crying. I felt really bad. I covered her using the blanket and then stood up to Leave.

Suddenly, my eyes caught something, a bottle of wine, mom's favorite. She doesn't drink any other wine apart from this one and she doesn't let anyone drink it. Truthfully, I've never even held the bottle in my hands before. She's Soo protective of it, and this is the first time I'm actually wondering why.  One thing I've noticed about it though, is , it doesn't have a label and it's always delivered to her by a particular lady. Now that I'm thinking about it, it's making my nosy nature come to action. So I quickly walked to her mini fridge, opened it, and behold! The whole fridge was filled with it. I took a bottle and left.

I was on my way to my room. when I came across Kendra's room I stopped to check on her, I  am desperately in need of someone to talk to. I wish she hadn't changed, we would have been in this together and maybe things would be easier.

I slowly knocked hoping she would open the door and give me a hug, or at least listen to me. "Kendra, it's me, kara, can we talk?” I said hopefully.  But she didn't reply. she's  probably asleep.

I knocked again, still, no reply. So I slowly pushed the door and was surprised to see her on her bed, doing something on her phone.

"Kendra,  I've been at the door and you didn't reply, I really need to talk to you" I said, trying not to sound annoyed.

"I don't want to talk to you, just get out" she replied indifferently.

"Kendra," I started as I sat beside her, I know she doesn't want to talk to me or even look at me, but I'm not going to leave without trying to talk to her, I've missed my little sis, it's been 3 years since she started distancing herself from us, and I can't take it anymore, I miss her.

" My baby" I said as I hugged her and started crying. She didn't return the hug, but at least she didn't push me away either.

"Okay Kara, what do you want" she said sounding disgusted.   So, I let go of her and started " sis, I think something is up, something is wrong and it is somehow related to Max, he's up to something and I'm scared he'll hurt us." I said as fast as I could.

Kendra just stared at me, a little hint of boredom showed on her face , after a few seconds she finally spoke, " Kara, I know you want us to be close again, but I didn't think you'll  be this serious, I mean Max is trying to hurt us?  Why would he do that, they are obviously richer than we are and he has nothing to gain, " she said almost laughing at me. 

Then, I got angry and narrated everything that has happened from the moment he stepped in, I kept the part that I felt attracted to him out though.

This time she stared at me, wide eyed, 

It was as if she was trying to process something, she then finally said " look I need to sleep, so, just leave, please. And the whole stuff about how Max reacted down stairs, it was weird and annoying, and yes, I don't trust him but that doesn't mean I trust you either, so just please leave. We have school tomorrow".

"But Kendra... " I started but she pushed me out and locked the door.

I walked slowly to my room, as I processed everything. My sister's right, I should go to bed.

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up. I'm still going to find out the truth.

I entered my room and went straight to the closet, I changed into my nighties and walked  to the mirror and tied my brown hair into a bun. I stayed there and stared at myself, my brown hair and emerald green eyes, slightly brown skin..... I was nothing like my mom and sister, they had black hair and dark eyes, long lashes, and their skin is  really white, almost pale, but it compliments the dark hair Soo much, it makes them look pretty. They've always been the perfect pair, while I'm just the member of the family that looks like dad! Ughhhhhhh I hate that man.

I laid on my bed and my thoughts trailed to Max. But this time I had only positive thoughts about him, his good looks uhhhh....

I kept thinking  and didn't know when I fell asleep.