Chapter 3


    “Since you’re here, there’s something I want to make clear today, and I hope you can take care of it.”


    Mandy dered with a return to her aristocratic demeanor. Though she spoke of hope, the


    undercurrent of her words suggested amand rather than a request.


    Mirabe chuckled, and before she could respond, her grandmother, Catherine who had raised her


    from childhood- made her presence known. Catherine gently patted Mandy’s arm, signaling her to tone


    it down before turning her softened gaze to Mirabe. “Mira, you’re back. How did thepetition


    go?“–


    With a nonchnt hum, Mirabe replied, “Not too bad, I guess.”


    “Did you win?” asked Catherine, the excitement clear in her voice.


    “Yeah, first ce,” Mirabe responded casually, without a hint of pride in her eyes, as if clinching the


    top spot was a


    walk in the park for her.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Upon hearing this, Catherine was so delighted that she wiped away a tear. “Good girl.”


    Mandy frowned, not understanding, and questioned Catherine, “First ce in whatpetition?”


    Catherine turned to her with a proud smile and began, “You might not know, but Mira is not only a


    ster student but


    also…”


    Losing interest as Catherine didn’t directly answer her question and instead started praising Mirabe’s


    academic achievements, Mandy interrupted with impatience. “Okay, I get it. You don’t need to prop her


    up in front of me. She didn’t even qualify for the county high school with her grades. If it weren’t for the


    Gilbert family footing the bill, she’d probably be stuck in some party school.”


    Pausing. Mandy cast a scornful nce at Mirabe. “A fake stone will never be mistaken for a


    diamond, no matter


    what.”


    Catherine looked worriedly at Mirabe, fearing the words might have hurt her. “You haven’t been


    involved in her life for years. You have no idea what Mira is like now…”


    Mandy sneered dismissively, cutting her off again. “Mom, she’s not my biological daughter nor your real


    granddaughter. Her name is Davis, and whether she does well or not is none of my concern, and I don’t


    want to hear


    it.”


    Catherine’s face tensed, harsh and dry words stuck in her throat. After a moment, she managed to


    mutter, “Mira is my granddaughter!”


    Mandy massaged her temples, perplexed by Catherine’s delusion. “She’s been living off the Gilbert


    family for seventeen years while my daughter suffered. Mom, get a grip. Don’t just recognize anyone as


    family! You see her as kin, but she might just be using you, trying to swindle some money to send back


    to her real parents…”


    “You stop!” Catherine trembled with rage. “I raised Mira myself. I know exactly what kind of person she


    is, so don’t you. dare cast your malicious suspicions on her.”


    Mandy’s face turned ashen with anger. “You can’t tell right from wrong. Mom, I think you’re really sick in


    the head.”


    Now in her sixties and with a heart condition, Catherine grew pale and clutched her chest tightly in


    response to Mandy’s harsh words. Seeing this, Mirabe ced what she was holding on the ground


    and quickly moved to Catherine’s side. She helped Catherine to a nearby wicker chair and took her


    wrist in her hand, checking her pulse.