Ivy fastened the seatbelt and studied Hayden, before muttering hesitantly, "Hayden, Aunt Lilith, and Mom all mean well. Don't be upset with them."

The tension on Hayden's face eased. "I won't."

"Good, then." Ivy was relieved. "I think the girl Aunt Lilith brought with her looks pretty. She has a sharp sense for beauty."

"We don't have any common interests." Hayden felt no problem expressing himself to his sister.

"Hayden, you didn't even try talking to her!" For some reason, Ivy was reminded of Lucas.

Lucas remained silent on the first day she had been assigned to him. Just like Hayden, Lucas was a lone wolf but had a kind heart.

"Hayden, I once knew someone who disliked strangers just as much as you do. I didn't have anything in common with him either, but we were put under circumstances where we had to communicate... Slowly but surely, we found a way to talk to each other." Ivy wanted Hayden to overcome his difficulties and try to communicate more with strangers.

"Ivy, do you