Chapter 342


    When the final bell rang at Parkside High School, it was Shawn behind the wheel of a shiny new car,


    waiting outside the school. The sleek vehicle was hard to miss, and it wasn’t long before it caught the


    envious nces of passing students.


    Inside the car, Shawn grew restless. Boredom got the better of him, so he stepped out to pace the


    sidewalk. His gaze frequently darted toward the school’s main entrance.


    Mirabe had been held up by ast–minute visit to her homeroom teacher’s office, so she was a little


    behind schedule.


    Meanwhile, Summer, with practice on her schedule, had been one of the first to leave the building. Her


    personal car was nowhere in sight, so she slipped on her sunsses and sauntered toward the curb.


    She had barely taken a few steps when she caught sight of Shawn not too far away. Her stride faltered


    momentarily.


    Ever since Mirabe came back, Summer hadn’t sought out her former foster parents. Their coldness


    during the airport reunion, when she had brought Mirabe home, left a sour taste in her mouth.


    She had half–expected the asional phone call from her foster parents, but silence reigned instead.


    To them, it seemed she had never existed.


    Inhaling deeply, Summer tried to quell the growing irritation within. Readjusting her sunsses as if


    nothing was amiss, she pretended not to notice Shawn and continued walking.


    Despite everything, a part of her still hoped her foster father would see her and approach. But that


    hope lingered and faded, until her assistant’s voice broke through her reverie.


    “Summer, ready to go?” The assistant had stepped out of the car to open the door for her.


    Summer’s grip on her designer handbag tightened, a clear sign of her agitation. She nced at her


    assistant and then back at Shawn, who seemed to be pacing obliviously. The spark of anger within her


    was hard to ignore.


    “Just a minute. I’m waiting for someone,” she told her assistant. Her tone was edged with impatience –


    a contrast to the gentle image she usually projected. Her assistant gave her a surprised look. Clearly,


    appearances could be deceiving.


    As the assistant waited patiently to one side, Summer stood her ground. Finally, she saw Mirabe


    emerge, even catching her eye.


    Summer sneered. Even this country bumpkin had noticed her. She refused to believe Shawn hadn’t


    seen her. The coldness of her foster parents seemed to surpass that of her own power–hungry


    biological parents.


    Mirabe had by now reached Shawn’s side and called out to him. “You’re a bitte today.” Shawn


    commented casually as he opened the passenger door for his daughter.


    “Just a few minutes teacher wanted a word,” Mirabe replied lightly before getting into the


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    car.


    Shawn walked around to the driver’s side, opened the door, and settled into his seat. As he started the


    engine and looked up, his eyes finallynded on Summer and her car, ie paIMAA for a moment, taken


    aback, but quickly averted his gaze, started the car, and drove aVAY:


    Summer watched Shawn’s car disappear into the distance. The sight of the vehicle’s emblem eroded


    herposure. The facade cracked, and the rawness of rejection she felt was


    Impossible to ignore any longer.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.