Chapter 20


    Mirabe breezed back into the living room, not waiting for Delh and Shawn to speak up before


    asking, “Mom, what’s our full address? A friend of mine wants to send me something.”


    As she spoke, her fingers were already poised over her phone, ready to take down the details.


    Delh rattled off the address, and after she finished, she paused, then asked in a hushed tone, “A


    friend of yours? Someone you met while staying at Summer’s grandma’s ce?”


    Mirabe was busy texting and briefly hesitated upon hearing Delh’s question. She nced up,


    nonchntly grunted an “Mhm,” and continued with her texting.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Sensing Delh’s eagerness to probe further, Shawn gently tugged at her arm and shook his head,


    silently advising restraint. Their daughter had just returned home. It was perhaps best not to pry too


    much so soon.


    After sending off her message, Mirabe pocketed her phone and turned her full attention back to


    Delh. “Did you have a question for me?” she inquired.


    Delh hesitated, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She shook her head and said, “No, it’s nothing.”


    Then her eyes caught sight of the Parkside High School transfer eptance letter, and after a few


    seconds of contemtion, she spoke up. “I almost forgot. Summer goes to Parkside High, too. I’ll call


    her and ask her to look out for you a bit. You two might have been mixed up at birth, but she’s got a


    gentle nature. I’m sure you’ll get along.” Despite Summer’s somewhat unpleasant demeanor the


    previous night, she had studied in Parkside for a while and would be a good ally for Mirabe in


    unfamiliar territory.


    Remembering her first encounter with Summer, Mirabe’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she


    simply responded with a nomittal “Oh.”


    “Right, Summer’s on that reality show now… What’s it called?” Delh pped her forehead, trying to


    jog her memory.


    “Superstar Camp,” Shawn chimed in helpfully.


    “That’s it, Superstar Camp. Have you seen it, Mira? It’s all the rage with the young folks,” Delh said,


    presuming it would be right up her daughter’s alley.


    Mirabe, disinterested, shook her head. “Never watched it.”


    Delh, who had been about to suggest voting for Summer on the show, instead changed tack. “Oh,


    you don’t watch. that stuff, huh?”


    “Nope, it’s a waste of time.” Mirabe repliednguidly, adding after a beat, “Gets in the way of


    studying.”


    Delh’s smile faltered, and she found herself momentarily at a loss for words..


    Changing the subject, Mirabe inquired. “So, do my brothers not live here anymore?”


    Delh nodded. “They’ve all got their own lives and moved out some time ago.”


    After a brief pause, perhaps sensing potential confusion, Delh added, “Your return was quite sudden.


    Only Emmitt is here. Zach, Nick and Leo are out of town. They’lle visit once they’re less busy.”


    At the mention of them having their own lives, Mirabe’s eyebrows arched in curiosity. She


    deliberately asked. “They all have jobs?”


    Delh blinked, not quite understanding the intent behind her daughter’s pointed question, but she


    nodded affirmatively nheless.


    Satisfied with the response, Mirabe didn’t press further. Instead, she said sweetly. “I’m heading back


    to my room.”


    Once in her room, Mirabe’s eyesnded on the brand–newptop resting atop her desk. She


    pondered for a few seconds before walking over and booting it up. The desktop was pristine, devoid of


    any clutter or additional software.


    Chapter 20


    She opened a web browser and quickly typed out a string of words on the keyboard, hitting the ‘Enter‘


    key with


    purpose.