Chapter 130


    Colton chuckled, with a twinkle in his eye as he teased, “Don’t let me down now. I’m counting on you to


    make me proud.”


    “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll bring home a top spot for you,” Summer replied. Her voice was bubbling with high


    spirits. With the Education Association’spetition materials in her grasp, she’d definitelye up


    short against that Mirabe! A fiery determination flickered in Summer’s


    eyes.


    “Alright, enough chit–chat. Scoot off to your room and hit the books,” Colton said with an impatient


    wave of his hand before his attention drifted back to the TV screen.


    “Okay.” Summer murmured, spinning on her heel and heading for the staircase.


    Once she was out of sight, Aiden, who had been slouched on the couch, propped himself up and


    frowned at Colton. “Dad, you’re not seriously sending Summer to get the test answers, are you?”


    The whole thing about “materials” just screamed fishy to him.


    Colton shot him a dismissive nce and said, “This is grown–up business.”


    “Dad, do you even realize what you’re doing? It’s called cheating!” Aiden tossed the balled–up throw


    pillow from the sofa in frustration. Cheating was not the right way!


    He remembered when Summer first came back, her grades were decent but nothing like they were


    now. Was his dad pulling strings all along?


    Colton’s brow furrowed slightly. “What are you talking about? Don’t you review before a test? Don’t you


    buy study guides?”


    “It’s not the same thing,” Aiden retorted, half amused, half annoyed.


    Pressing his temples, Colton replied with a hint of resignation. “Let’s drop it. You should head to bed.


    School’s waiting tomorrow.”


    Seeing the conversation go nowhere, Aiden shook his head in disappointment and stormed off to his


    room. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes, Aiden just couldn’t wrap his head around it.


    Why had his parents‘ principles be so unrecognizable since Summer’s return?


    The sister who was raised in the countryside never caused this much trouble, did she?


    As thoughts of Mirabe crossed his mind, Aiden recalled the embarrassment she had caused him at


    the hospital. With a huff, he sat up abruptly, grabbed his phone, and found her contact details that he


    had sneakily saved while visiting grandma.


    When he stared at the string of digits, his fingers hovered over the call button, moving back and forth


    several times before he ruffled his hair and decided to send a text instead.


    Chapter 130


    [Hey, scaredy–cat. you asleep yet?]


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    [Scaredy–cat, I haven’t settled the score forst time at the hospital. Just wait, I’m not going to let you


    off easy!]


    After sending two texts and waiting without a reply. Aiden tossed his phone onto the pillow in


    frustration, then buried himself under the covers, gruffly pulling the nket over his head.


    When Mirabe checked her messages the next morning, she couldn’t help but scoff at the pettiness of


    a little brat. After skimming through the texts, she shook her head, deleted them without a second


    thought, and got ready for her day.


    While she was getting dressed in her school uniform, Mirabe’s thoughts drifted back to James and


    his troubled expression. Despite his refusal of her offer for Incense of Calm, she felt. the need to repay


    the favor owed.


    Crafting the incense wasn’t the tricky part; sourcing quality herbs was the challenge. Usingmon


    substitutes would certainly halve the effectiveness. After pondering for a moment. Mirabe dressed


    and stepped out of her room.


    Over breakfast, she casually lifted her gaze to Shawn and inquired, “Dad, is there a ce around here


    where I can find a good herbal market?”