"Oh, really? I haven't noticed." He struggled to maintain a calm facade.

Violet retorted with a touch of annoyance, "Of course, you haven't!"

"When was the last time you dug out those childhood photos I took of you and looked at them?

"I bet you don't even remember what you looked like as a child."

This was actually true.

Violet remembered something else and asked, "Oh, by the way, is Lari coming over later?"

"She probably won't. How about you give her a call?" He lowered his head in thought before looking up with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Violet knew exactly what her son was thinking, having carried him for nine months.

Since she had been missing seeing Larissa around, she might as well play along with his plan.

"Let's wait until tonight. She's probably working right now," she suggested.

…

However, Violet's guess was incorrect.

Once the driver had dropped off Larissa and Lewis at the hotel, he left them with some parting words, "Mr. Ackley mentioned that the two