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I took in all the air I could and thought about answering her. The problem was that I would never be able to enjoy Chamberlain.

KENDRA:Yes, I'm here! I'll try to enjoy it, but it's more likely to kill myself over the next few hours, such is the torture of being here LOL. Excited to be back to Belinda on Monday.

I sent the message and ended up not waiting for a text back. I blocked the screen and waited until we arrived at the event location, which would be in the exhibition center where my mother's family maintained the hospital foundation.

The Foundation basically served to make the rich people of the city feel good about themselves and provide money that would pay for health care for the less privileged. I didn't want to be a petty shrew and say that it was all for the elite to interact, but the truth was that the event was just that, the result was good, it brought benefit to some of them, but even so, it was painful to go through these things.

Dad stopped the car in front of the entrance and gave the key to the attendant. Then he turned the vehicle around to look for my mother on the other side. They might have been at each other's jugulars before we left the house, and for a reason I didn't know exactly what it was, but in front of everyone they would pose as the most successful college sweethearts in the whole town.

They led the way as I took a few deep breaths before starting to climb the steps to the lounge. There was a lot of press there, especially local ones, after all, there were many big names from the city there that night, including the mayor, but it was hell to go through all those cameras.

I entered the room and it didn't take long for my eyes to find Colleen in a corner, smiling graciously while holding a glass of champagne in her hands.

I tried to reach her, but my mother's hands stopped me. Only then did I notice the panel she was in front of.

“We need a family photo, Kenny.”

I looked around and took a deep breath, just nodding. I stood next to Mackenzie and smiled in the nicest way I could. We took some pictures and only after that did she let me go on my way to Colleen.

My cousin looked the way my mother expected me to look: wearing a princess dress, which would show off my waist and have a loose, flowing skirt. My mind wanted to play a trick on me, make cruel comparisons and I decided to shut it up with a glass of champagne.

I drank it all in one gulp and took another.

“Hey, cousin!” I greeted her.

“Hey, Ken... Have you seen any miracles happen today? Because I saw one when I got home.” She joked. “My dad is serious and gave me a whole lecture about change coming from within and that we should all try to reach our full potential and blah... blah.. blah.”

I laughed.

“Wow, who's the internet guru he's following now?”

“I haven't figured it out yet.” My cousin looked at her father talking animatedly with some doctors at the hospital and then her eyes went to her mother who, by a miracle, was at the party too. “But it's a real miracle that she came.”

“This annual event always manages to surprise us.”

“That's true, a shame it's not always in a positive way.”

“Huh, did your parents talk to you about the house in New York?”

An expression of complete confusion came over me.

“What house in New York?”

Colleen shrugged.

“Well, they should talk soon, don't worry.”

I wanted to interrogate her further, but Ivy Bryant came to us with a kind smile on her lips.

“Oh, Kendra, honey, I almost didn't recognize you.”

I felt a bad shiver come over me. I wasn't a fan of my cousin's mother, she always had a strange energy, but she was my aunt, so I owed her some respect.

“Auntie Ivy, how are you?”

“I'm fine, honey. And you? How are you feeling after the divorce news?”

“Mom!” Colleen shouted with her eyes wide at the woman.