Chapter 153


    Summer knew all too well her ce in the Gilbert household. To the casual observer, Mr. and Mrs.


    Gilbert doted on her, but their affection was merely the result of her newfound fame from the reality


    show Superstar Camp, which had brought a gleam of pride to their eyes and bragging rights at the


    country club.


    But whenpared to her younger brother Aiden, it seemed she could do no right. His presence alone


    was enough to cast her as the perpetual viin, no matter the circumstance.


    Regret had gnawed at her more than once, wondering why she ever returned to the Gilberts‘ posh


    suburban home when life with the Davises had been free of such indignities.


    However, when she thought of her foster parents, the Davises, her emotions tangled into a knot of


    resentment. Despite their wealth, they chose to masquerade as a hard–up family, their fa?ade far more


    repugnant than the Gilberts‘ tant callousness.


    Taking a deep breath, Summer tried to suppress the surge of unpleasant memories wing at her


    mind.


    Sensing her own bias, Mandy reached out and gently patted Summer’s hand, her voice softening.


    “Your brother’s got a sharp tongue and a short fuse, but he means no harm. Try to cut him some ck,


    will you?”


    A small forced smile flickered across Summer’s lips as she murmured an indifferent agreement.


    Aiden sauntered over and perched himself nonchntly on the arm of the sofa, feigning boredom. “So,


    how did that little scaredy–cat do on her exams this time?”


    Summer gave him a nk look, not catching on to whom he was referring.


    “Scaredy–cat?” echoed Mandy, equally.puzzled.


    Aiden snorted dismissively. “You know, Mirabe, the one who grew up at Grandma’s.”


    Mentioning Mirabe sent a fresh chill through Summer’s gaze.


    “Why bring her up all of a sudden?” Mandy inquired.


    Aiden’s eyes driftedzily. “Just curious. You always say how bad she is at school. I just want to see if


    it’s true.”


    Though Mandy had little interest in the academic woes of their foster daughter, Aiden’sment made


    her turn to Summer for confirmation.


    Summer was already irked by Mirabe’s top grades that day, and her patience thinned at her brother’s


    probing. “How would I know her scores? We’re not even in the same ss,” she retorted, her tone


    edged with irritation.


    Sensing her annoyance, Aiden narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Really? Then why did youe


    Chapter 153


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    home looking like the victim of some sort of injustice? It’s as if she’d bullied you.”


    Summer instinctively nced at Mandy, whose expression was once again clouding over. Internally,


    Summer cursed Aiden to high heaven. She had just managed to divert Mandy from the idea of


    confronting the Davises, and now the idiot was dragging the conversation back. What a world–ss


    little brother, indeed!


    Taking a breath to calm herself, Summer softened her voice. “I really don’t know, and why would I


    care? We’re hardly friends.”


    After a pause, she turned the tables, her eyes fixing on Aiden. “But you seem quite interested in her,


    don’t you?”


    “Me? Interested? Don’t make stuff up.” Aiden blurted out, worried Summer would spill the beans about


    the time he’d been beaten up at Parkside High School while looking for Mirabe. With that, he stood


    up and bolted away as fast as he could.


    Summer watched him go with a mocking glint in her eye. Mandy missed the undercurrents between


    them. The mention of grades reminded her of something else, and she turned back to Summer. “Oh,


    that reminds me, I forgot to ask youst time–did Mirabe get knocked out of the citypetition?”


    Aiden, halfway up the stairs, paused at her words, turning his head back to listen.