Chapter 152


    Mandy’s expression softened a touch upon hearing her daughter’s reply. “Next time, give me at heads


    up, will you? Otherwise, I’ll start to worry.”


    “Sure,” Summer murmured, drifting into the living room and copsing into the plush embrace of the


    sofa with a distracted air.


    Mandy nced at Summer, finally registering her daughter’s troubled look, and asked with a frown,


    “What’s got into you? You look like you’ve lost your spirit.”


    Summer hugged a throw pillow to her chest, her legs curled up on the sofa. She didn’t look at her


    mother as she spoke in a faint voice. “It’s nothing.”


    “Is someone at work giving you a hard time?” Mandy probed, her brows knitting tighter.


    “No.” Summer shook her head., “Everyone’s been really nice to me.”


    Unustomed to such a forlorn expression on her daughter’s face, Mandy pressed further, “Then did


    something happen at school?”


    After a pause, as if a particr name came to mind, Mandy’s face darkened instantly. “Is it Mirabe?


    Has she been bullying you again?”


    Summer rested her head on the pillow without a word, her whole demeanor exuding a sense of deep


    grievance.


    Mandy mmed her water ss down on the marble coffee table with a loud smack, “That brat is


    nothing but trouble! First, she drove your grandma back to her hometown, and now she’s causing


    mischief at your school. I really don’t understand what kind of upbringing she had with the Davis


    family.”


    Aiden, who had just descended from the second floor, jumped at the sound of the ss hitting the


    table.


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    Startled, Summer finally looked up, a strained smile tugging at her lips. “Mom, don’t be angry. I’m really


    okay.”


    This only fueled Mandy’s ire, “You’re just too kind–hearted, letting people walk all over you!”


    Mandy reached for her phone, flipping through contacts with a scornfulugh. “My daughter won’t be


    bullied for nothing. I need to have a word with the Davis family today…”


    Summer panicked at the sight, quickly putting down the pillow and snatching the phone before Mandy


    could dial, “Mom, it’s really nothing. Don’t get worked up over someone that’s not worth it.”


    Mandy frowned, “Summer, give me the phone back this instant.”


    Not daring toply, Summer ced the phone out of reach, sat next to her mother, gently patting her


    back in a calming gesture, and whispered, “Mom, I’m serious. It’s nothing. Please


    Chapter 152


    don’t get the wrong idea.”


    After a brief pause. Summer changed the subject. “By the way, our monthly exam results came out


    today. I scored 670, ranked tenth in the grade.”


    Distracted by this new topic, Mandy’s anger dissipated slightly, “Your ranking has improved by a few


    spots since the end of thest semester. Not bad.”


    Relieved that her mother had dropped the Idea of calling the Davis family, Summer finally let out a sigh


    of relief.


    Aiden, who had been eavesdropping from the staircase, snorted at the mention of her score. “From


    someone who needs to cheat topete in a contest…well, who knows how genuine that 670 is.”


    Summer, noticing Aiden, replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, “Could you maybe try thinking


    before you speak?”


    “Sorry, I don’t know what thinking is,” Aiden said with a dismissive wave and a roguish grin.


    Summer shook her head in disbelief. “Aiden, you’re really a piece of work…”


    However, before she could finish, Mandy interrupted, “Enough. Your brother may be thoughtless, but


    shouldn’t you know better? Why bicker with him?”


    Upon hearing this, Summer’s heart sank.