Chapter 37


    “Hey, Summer, check out this pic. Summer’s desk–mate and self–appointed sidekick, Madeline, thrust


    her phone into Summer’s line of sight. The girl on the screen was the talk of the town, Mirabe.


    “This is the new girl in The Advanced ss. Pretty hot, huh?” Madeline couldn’t help but add a bit of


    gossip to her


    observation.


    Summer’s gazended on the phone. Even though it was only a profile shot of Mirabe and the


    picture was a tad blurry, it was clear that she shone like a lone star in the sky of the ordinary.


    A shadow flickered across Summer’s eyes for a moment. From the first day sheid eyes on Mirabe,


    she knew that face would turn heads–it was just happening sooner than she’d expected.


    She couldn’t wrap her head around why Mirabe was nothing like she’d anticipated. She was


    supposed to be shy. insecure, and a bit of a drama queen!


    Summer let her eyes drop, tucking away her questions. Lifting her head, she kept any sign of


    unhappiness from her face and replied in her usual soft voice, “Yeah, she’s pretty.”


    Upon hearing this, Madeline suddenly realized her faux pas. How could she praise another girl in front


    of their own queen, Summer? Wasn’t that like an insult?


    With that thought, Madeline hastily pocketed her phone, face down on the desk, and chuckled, “I mean,


    come on, no one’s got anything on you, Summer. You’re the undisputed queen bee of this school Some


    country bumpkin transfer doesn’t stand a chance.”


    Summer’s eyes flickered down, and she gently chided, “Madeline, don’t talk like that. Even if Mirabe


    comes from some small town, she’s truly got the looks.”


    “Mirabe? You know the new girl?” Madeline perked up like she’d stumbled upon a major scoop.


    Summer covered her mouth, seeming annoyed at her slip of the tongue. After a moment, she


    murmured, “Sort of. She’s, uh, the foster daughter of the Gilbert family.”


    Madeline’s eyes widened. “So she’s the one who’s been living it up with your identity all these years?”


    The tale of the school’s beauty with a bizarre background was well–known around campus.


    “Shh, Madeline, keep it down. It wouldn’t be good if others overheard,” Summer said, irritated.


    Madeline pouted, “There’s nothing wrong with people knowing the truth. She’s been living the high life


    as a fake heiress for


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    years while you’ve been stuck in some poor household… I take back mypliment!”


    Summer’s gaze softened, her lips curving into a sardonic smile, but she quickly patted Madeline on the


    shoulder and said, “You absolutely can’t tell anyone about this. I mean, Mirabe is Innocent in this,


    too.”


    “Innocent? What about you?” Madeline scoffed, dismissing Summer’s earlier plea. “You’re just too


    kind–hearted, Summer. Just don’t let yourself get walked all over and not even realize it!”


    “That won’t happen. Mirabe’s not like that,” Summer continued to defend her.


    “Well if I catch her slipping up, I won’t let her off easy.” Madeline said icily.


    Summer just smiled and let the conversation drop.


    Before Mirabe left school in the afternoon, Ate called her into the office toplete her


    enrollment papers and handed her a temporary student ID. As she gave Mirabe the ID, Ate


    remembered Anthony’s notice.