Ste tapped Sarah''s shoulder. "Can we talk in private?"


    Two of them went to the study room.


    Sarah sat on the sofa and Kittyid next to her, cing her head in Sarah''sp (expecting head scratches). Kitty almost doubled in size since they brought her, and she does not look like a harmless cub. Her legs are getting longer, and she is morphing into a young leopard by the day.


    Ste went straight to the point. "Do you know anything about a group of people who are calling themselves the army of Chaos?"


    "Why would you ask me such a question?"


    Ste narrowed her eyes at Sarah whose indifferent expression andck of curiosity told Ste that it''s not the first time she hears about them.


    "Because they are attacking resources of Lebedev family in Los Angeles."


    Sarah made a face indicating how that information does not mean anything to her.


    "The rumors are that the leader is a woman, with a ck leopard.", Ste added.


    "A leopard?", Sarah nced at Kitty. "I didn''t know that there is more than one leopard in the area."


    Internally, Sarah rolled her eyes. It was one time! Kitty was super clingy that evening, maybe due to growing pains… and she didn''t want to leave Sarah''s side. So, Sarah decided to bring Kitty along. Because of that one time it''s <em>''a woman with a leopard''</em>. Sarah is aware of the rumors, she even read (and edited) the reports that reached King.


    "How is your left arm?", Ste asked.


    "It''s healing."


    Ste took one decorative wooden sphere from the shelf and threw it at Sarah. Sarah reflexively caught it… with her left hand.


    "It''s healing nicely.", Ste observed.


    "What do you want?" Sarah decided to stop ying this game.


    "I want to know if the one provoking them is you."


    Sarah shrugged. "So, what if I am, and what if I''m not…?"


    "You are ying with fire."


    "They are the ones who started the fire. And I''m not sure if I will get burned, but I will make sure that they burn." Sarah''s gaze moved to the palm-sized wooden sphere in her hand.


    Ste could not hide her surprise when she saw Sarah crushing the sphere like it''s an eggshell which does not provide any resistance. Ste knows that JoAnna operated on Sarah''s hand, but this… just what did they do?


    Sarah patted her hands to dust them off. "If there is nothing else, we should go upstairs. There is a Christmas party."


    "You are putting yourself and your sisters into danger by attacking the Lebedevs.", Ste gave another warning to Sarah.


    "My sisters? I am confident that you have the information which confirms that JoAnna is busy with helping Jeff rted to White family business, and Sophia is with Felix, making sure nothing goes wrong with her pregnancy while juggling matters of Orion Enterprise. And also… I am technically disabled, taking care of my fiancé who is in aa. Do you think that any of us has the time or the energy or the opportunity to attack anyone? Or to lead an organization called… Chaos?" Sarah paused and observed Ste''s expression for some time before continuing. "And if you can''t connect Chaos to me or my sisters, what makes you think that anyone else can?"


    The truth is that JoAnna and Sophia don''t know about Chaos and everything that Sarah is doing. If they knew, they would want to help, and Sarah does not want to involve them. Her sisters are busy with their matters, and ording to the n which she follows, involvement of JoAnna and Sophia is not necessary. Sarah got it covered.


    Ste saw that Sarah does not want to talk anymore. She is walking away…


    "When do you n to challenge me to a duel?"


    Ste''s question made Sarah pause her steps.


    "That will not be necessary.", Sarah responded and walked out with Kitty by her side.


    Sarah wanted to beat Ste and prove that she is stronger… to prove that she is ready and to get her mother''s help. But she realized that Ste will not help her attack the maternal family, no matter how much she proves herself, because for Ste, Sarah will always be a child.


    There is no point in winning a duel and forcing her mother to help, because Sarah will never be confident that Ste is not keeping things from her. Sarah gave her more than one chance toe clean, tell them about their background and help, and Ste always managed to disappoint her. Now Sarah does not trust Ste (aka Milena), and she does not want to y games with people she does not trust, unless it''s necessary.


    Sarah knows that Ste, Edward, nor and Oscar are working in the background to keep them safe, how much they can. And maybe that would be enough if Sarah stays low and hides. But Sarah has no intention of avoiding a head-on collision with whoever is after them, not anymore.


    …


    In the hangout room…


    Charlie, Jeff and Jasper are chatting over a game of cards with Oscar and Edward while Steve and Felix are glued to the Gga arcade game. Felix can never get enough of that game, and somehow Steve got hooked up to it as well.


    nor was excitedly chatting with Sophia and Bridgette about Sophia''s pregnancy while not-so-secretly throwing nces toward JoAnna''s belly. JoAnna noticed and did her best to ignore it. If she shows any reaction, she will need to listen to the <em>''when is my grandchilding?''</em> mixed in with <em>''you are married for how long now?''</em>. JoAnna would usually pull Sarah into that talk but considering what happened… she does not want to put Sarah through that.


    Ellie sat next to Penny.


    "You look… ufortable.", Ellie observed.


    Penny looked at Ellie and reminded herself that this is the fiancée of Jasper Kiani, young CEO of K Industries. Penny remembers that information from the portfolio of top 100 heirs in the country that her parents made her memorize. And she knows that Ellie is a good friend with all three Hill sisters, she was the maid of honor on JoAnna''s wedding.


    "Yeah. This is my first time to have such a lively Christmas.", Penny vaguely exined.


    In the house of Morgans, everything was a show for others. Mr. Morgan would get staff to do an borate light setup in the front yard, so that from the street it looks festive… but the house didn''t have any decorations on the inside. Morgan family members attended parties which other''s hosted, and they didn''t receive guests during the holidays, so there was no need to make any effort inside.


    "If not for Hills being my neighbors, I would not celebrate Christmas." Ellie smiled bitterly while remembering: "My mom passed when I was young, and I''m not close to my father. Unless I''m somewhere out for business, I would spend the holidays in their home."


    Penny was not sure why Ellie shared this information with her. But it told her that Hills are weing people. That is… different from what she is used to.


    "I challenge you two to a game of darts!", Emma proimed while standing in front of Ellie and Penny.


    "Don''t start without me!", JoAnna eximed and rushed to join them next to the dartboard.


    Sarah was sitting next to Aiden while observing the people present. It was a good atmosphere, lots ofughter and giggles. She hoped that the next year people gather here as well… Sarah thought that maybe that is why her mother likes organizing parties at their family vi, to make peoplee together and be happy.


    ---


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