"Are you nervous for tomorrow?"

"None of the end results will end well." I sighed, "If she's my half-sister, I don't even know how to continue our relationship. If she's Anton's daughter then I'll be the awkward middle person and Anton's life will drastically change. Then there's also a possibility where she's neither, and she'll have no one left."

"Whatever it is, you'll be there for her like the amazing person you are." Nicandro's soothing voice assured me. "That's one thing that I'm sure of."

I grinned at that. "Being very charming today, I see."

"I'm glad that my charm worked on at least someone today." I could hear the tiredness in his voice, can't imagine the pressure he has on his shoulders.

"Want to share about your day?"

He inhaled a deep breath. "The majority of the cabinet members dislike me. Whatever grudge they have against me, they're taking out on me like a ten year old. They're all ganging up on me and can't even show me basic respect." He scoffed.

"Well then you need to set them straight. Show them who is the one in charge." I waited a few seconds and he didn't counter back so I continued. "Right now, their impression of you is that you're just a kid who they can use as their puppet. They think you're too nice, which you are, and won't call them out."

"You're right. But I won't like doing it, we both know I like to settle things in a mature manner." I smiled at that. After everything that happened, I felt very assured that Nicandro would fit into the role perfectly as he was already doing what his grandfather wouldn't do, which is probably blackmail those who disagree with him into submission.

"I know you'll nail them. Also I should go now, it's late and I have an exam tomorrow." I didn't try to hide the sadness in my voice.

"Before you go, I wanted to tell you about the surprise I mentioned when I visited you, the one where my family still keeps their titles." I had almost forgotten about that with everything that had been happening but immediately got excited about what he was going to say. "My family is organising a cruise. We're inviting all the usual people in Spain, but also other influential people from other countries as well. And I wanted to invite you."

A cruise. With Nicandro. With ministers, nobles, government officials from all over the world.

"Wow..." I trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

"It'll be in three weeks, which by that time is your school break as I checked. It'll be ten days long and I'll talk to Breton if need be." He quickly added on, excitement clear in his voice.

I chucked, finding his excitement about this super cute. "Yeah, of course I'll be there. I'll never turn down spending time with you."

"Amazing." I could practically picture the grin on his face. "Oh and you're allowed to bring a plus one. As much as I want it to be all fun, I also need to use this opportunity to strengthen relations with others, and I didn't want you to be alone while I do that."

Disappointment flooded in but the excitement of seeing him again took over. "Sounds great, I can't wait to see you."

"And I'll be counting down the days."

"Why can't we just fast forward twelve days?" Walter groaned as he couldn't make sense of this chemistry question.

"You're actually counting down the days until winter break?" I looked up from my history assignment to face him.

He gave me an expression as if he saw an alien. "Who doesn't? School sucks and I want it to be over."

Though I may not enjoy having certain teachers and classmates, I do enjoy the learning portion. I was deprived of having education for ten years and I found everything taught in school fascinating.

"Learning new things is fun." I countered back.

He scoffed dramatically. "Whatever you say, nerd." I rolled my eyes at that and went back to do my work.

Walter and I made an arrangement that every Friday we will stay back in the school library or the coffee shop nearby school until we were done with our homework for the weekend then grab dinner together after that. It's almost five pm now and I'm almost done with my homework while Walter is struggling with his.

All of a sudden, we heard the door of the school library open and immediately perked up from what we were doing. Then later came chattering noises from at least three people. Walter and I looked at each other with the same question; who would come here in the late afternoon on a Friday?

Our question was answered when we saw who the noises were coming from. It was from the squat, what the group of popular people from our grade named their group name. The squat consists of seven people, but only four were present here. The four of them currently here are Denise, Yonna, Daniel and Emily. Walter and I gave each other the 'bloody hell' expression before turning to them and giving them a fake smile, hoping they would move along with whatever they were doing. Unfortunately to our demise, they started to walk toward us. They greeted us with a 'hi' and took their seats at our table.

"Wow both of you are actually doing homework?" Emily said in disbelief.

"Yeah, we just wanted to get it done with," Walter answered. "What business do you guys have in the library?"

Yonna took a piece of gum out and put it in her mouth. "We just got done with softball and football practice. We were going to head home then it started pouring rain so we decided to come in here and chill in the meantime. Want one?" She offered a piece of gum to Walter and didn't even look at me.

So much for my existence.

I then felt a pair of eyes on me. "Hey, you're the new girl right?" Daniel was looking at me like he was analysing me.

"Depends on your definition of new." And I immediately regretted saying that as now everyone was looking at me. I should've just nodded and be left alone with, now I got all attention on me.

"Well didn't you just join this school?" Yonna said with annoyance clear in her voice even though I wasn't even talking to her.

I chose my next words carefully now. I definitely didn't want to pick a fight with them but also didn't want to make my first impression to them that I was someone easy to pick on. "I've been at this school for one semester now and there was another student who just transferred here a few weeks ago so I'm just saying that I don't feel like I categorise as the 'new' student anymore."

"Oh, I just thought you're a new student because I don't know your name until now." She gave me a fake smile which reminded me of those where they used for dolls.

I gave her the same fake smile. "It's Tiana. Now you know."

Before she could fire back at me, Walter cut in. "It's been nice talking to you guys, but we need to focus. So maybe-"

"Aw come on man, why so dull? Let's do something fun instead of boring school work!" Daniel exclaimed and the other three girls gave their agreement.

"Let's play truth or dare?" Denise suggested.

God no. I don't understand people's thing about this game.

"Great idea Denise. Come on Walter, you have to!" Yonna once again ignored me.

Walter looked at me for help and I gave him the 'you want me to pick a fight with her' look before he reluctantly agreed.

"I'll go first unless anyone wants to." Daniel volunteered himself.

No one spoke up so of course, Yonna did. "Alright Daniel, you'll go first. Tiana will ask him."

For a minute there I thought she was going to leave me out of the game the same way she was ignoring me.

I gave her a nod. "Daniel, truth or dare?"

"Dare, obviously." He gave me a wink and it took a lot of self control not to roll my eyes.

"I dare you to show me the last text you received," I said, hoping it was a text from the squat group chat.

His expression quickly changed as he showed me the notification on his phone. I could feel all eyes on me as I read the text.

Squat gang gang
Albert: that's one hell of a way to get a date with your crush but smart

A date? Crush?

Daniel put away his phone and Yonna pointed to Walter. "Walter, you're next and I'll ask you. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

Yonna gave a sly smile. "I dare you to ask me out on a date." My eyes immediately widened at that.

A date. Crush.

Yonna has a crush on Walter.

Wonderful.

I spotted Leah sitting on the couch as the elevator doors opened.

Straight away, I could tell she hadn't been getting enough sleep the past few days. Finding out your recently passed on mom has been keeping things from you your entire life and that she stabbed your potential half-sister has that kind of toll on you.

She had agreed to take the DNA test quite immediately, and I was glad to be on the same page with her. Almost everything about my past has been kept from me so I would like to find out as much as possible. We also haven't spoken since that dinner, which was six days ago. It was a lot of information thrown onto her in one night and I understand the time she needed to straighten everything out.

The reason why the DNA test took four days to get the results is that we went to this clinic which wasn't very established. That would mean their recording system isn't that good so it would be harder for others to dig into this.

After all, a murderous drug lord is still free.

I greeted Leah and took a seat beside her, not knowing what else to say without the awkward. Thankfully, I got a notification from my phone so I won't be stressing out to initiate a conversation with her.

Breton: Got the results?

Me: Still waiting

Breton and I have barely exchanged ten sentences the past few days. With me having an exam week and him burying himself in work as his coping mechanism to deal with his heartbreak, there just wasn't an opportunity for us to sit down to talk. I know he needs time but I still worry about him.

"Ms Fletcher?" The woman from the counter called out. I went over and she passed me the envelope.

"This is it," Leah said as I held up the envelope to her.

I inhaled a sharp breath. "Are you nervous?"

"No outcome is better than the other." She stated as a matter of fact. That's what I said to Nicandro on the phone yesterday so it was nice to know we got no hopes before knowing the result.

I took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope, now the folded piece of paper in my hands. I took at her straight in the eye. "Whatever is the result, just know that I'll be here for you."

She gave me a small smile. "Likewise."

My hands were shaking a little as I unfolded the paper. There were a lot of words on the paper and my eyes went straight to the sentence in bold at the bottom.

DNA match: 24.87%

Holy shit, I have a half sibling.