Continuing the subject that was being discussed at the moment, Lincoln continued with a neutral expression.

"Do you want to know how I discovered this secret?"

Lincoln asked, not giving that much importance to the subject, as if it wasn't even something serious.

"Yes, that's exactly what I want to know."

Lori answered hastily but, for some unknown reason, embarrassed.

Lori might have said those words out of pure impulse, because of the pressure her brother had somehow managed to put on her. But what she really wanted to ask about was that kiss that kept popping into her head.

"I always had my suspicions, but since I had no concrete proof, there was nothing I could do. But the evidence gradually came to light, and it was at that moment that I discovered how different I was from you. Not only did I not have Mom and Dad's blood type, but you were born with some kind of talent, and if you compared us, it would be unfair..."

Said Lincoln, as he paused briefly in what he was saying, so that Lori could understand and follow the flow of the conversation without getting lost.

"I think you're being too hard on yourself, Lincoln."

Lori replied, trying to calm her brother's insecurities.

Lincoln, still with a calm, indifferent expression on his face, ran his hand through his white hair, which was still damp, indicating that he had just stepped out of the shower.

"For God's sake, Lori. No one needs to be a genius to add up 1 + 1 and end up with the following logic: I'm the only person in the entire family tree of this 'family' who has white hair."

(And before anyone ends up asking me how I discovered this secret, since the more intelligent of us won't fall for the family tree thing. I only found out because Grandpa told me in the future, before he died).

Lincoln thought, still with that serene expression on his face, as he looked at his sister, who apparently wasn't going to say anything more. After seeing that she wasn't going to say anything, Lincoln decided to go upstairs. However, before doing so, he turned to Lori again.

"If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about these things. After all, you're my family and nothing will change that, period. If my biological parents abandoned me because they didn't want me, too bad for them, because here was someone who did."

Stolen story; please report.

After saying those words, Lincoln was about to go upstairs again. However, just as he was about to do so, he realized that Lori was about to cry. But before he could do anything, she took him by surprise when she suddenly ran towards him and gave him a hug. Soon afterwards, however, she burst into an outraged cry that the whole house almost heard.

"LINCOOOOOLNNN."

Lori shouted, sobbing, as a few intrusive tears ran freely down her face, but at no point was she separated from her brother.

"Lori, don't tell me you drank the punch too?"

Lincoln asked, looking at his sister with a calm gaze.

Lori, still crying, lifted her face and, with tear-filled eyes, answered her brother's question, but still screaming.

"SIIIIIIIMMM, I'M SORRY!"

She said, still hugging him.

"Man, even though you're the big sister, you just give me a hard time."

Lincoln whispered as he let out a small sigh. But not because he was angry with her, but because he was seeing that side of his sister that hardly anyone else saw. Since to everyone, she showed a more responsible and mature side. But sometimes she didn't act as usual and instead behaved like her other younger sisters, just as she is doing now.

"No need to apologize, Lori. It's all right."

Lincoln said, as he lightly stroked her back, trying to calm her crying.

TWO HOURS LATER...

8 hours before the chaos...

Two hours had passed, and after a lot of effort and patience, Lincoln had finally managed to calm his sister down, who, after all that, ended up getting so tired that she even fell asleep.

As he went downstairs again, Lincoln came across his mother standing in the hallway, with a slightly crestfallen expression. Genuinely concerned, he approached her and, with a hitherto sincere smile, asked.

"Good evening, Mom. Has something happened? You seem a bit down to me."

Lincoln asked, as he approached the mother figure, who until that moment had been so disconnected in her own world that she hadn't even noticed her son's presence. It was only when he touched her shoulder that she came back to reality.

"Hi, son. "

She greeted Rita with a forced smile on her face, but she was still a little disconnected. After Lincoln realized this, he decided to ask again.

"Is something bothering you, ma'am?"

Lincoln insisted once again, only this time with an innocent but still false smile on his face, as if he didn't know what the matter was.

"And that I learned from Mrs. Santiago, that someone ended up naming the punch. And so that no one would drink anymore and end up doing something stupid, I kept hold of her the whole time..."

My mother commented, still with that downcast expression on her face, probably because of the drink she had taken. As soon as she'd said that, she paused for a moment, still feeling tired, and then continued softly.

"But after I saw how chaotic the house had become, I decided to drink a little to pass the time and maybe even pass out. But as soon as I took the first sip... My goodness, everything started to spin and become colorful, and before I knew it, I'd already had a few more, and it's only now that the effect is starting to kick in."

My mother added, giving a small, half-hearted smile. After all, she wasn't much of a drinker and, to get into that state, she was certainly tired both physically from the alcohol and mentally.

> WARNING: From chapter 26 onwards... this story will be written in the first person.