Chapter 490


    Aimee snapped back to reality, shaking off the fleeting sense of familiarity. She shed a warm smile at


    Mirabe, whose coat had fallen open slightly to reveal the emblem of Parkside High School on her


    uniform. A flicker of surprise crossed Aimee’s eyes.


    ncing at her son Vincent, who was seated beside the girl, Aimee couldn’t help but ask, “Are you two


    schoolmates?”


    Vincent stood up from his chair, and after a brief pause, he replied, “Yeah, we’re in the same grade but


    in different sses.”


    Aimee was taken aback by this revtion. Her son had always been rather aloof, known for his


    straightforward nature and academic brilliance, which unfortunately resulted in a sparse circle of


    friends, let alone female ssmates.


    ‘The girl must be quite the schr, Aimee thought to herself.


    After exchanging a few more words with Mirabe, who seemed rather reserved, Aimee decided not to


    press further.


    Once dinner was finished, James and Mirabe didn’t linger at the Mendoza household. They bid Knox


    farewell and departed.


    With the guests gone, Aimee finally found a moment to sit down, massaging her sore shoulders and


    arms. She turned to her son, who also looked exhausted, and said with a hint of pride, “Vincent, you


    did really well today.”


    Vincent, leaning back with his head against the chair, managed only a feeble wave in response to his


    mother’s praise.


    Aimee took a sip of water from a ss nearby and casually inquired, “By the way, what’s the name of


    that girl you sat next to?” Although she had chatted with Mirabe, Aimee had not asked for her name.


    Vincent straightened up and looked at his mother, perplexed by the sudden question. “Why do you


    want to


    know?”


    “What’s wrong with being curious?” Aimee retorted with a raised eyebrow.


    Vincent touched his nose. “Her name’s Mirabe Davis.”


    “Mirabe?” Aimee echoed, then probed further, “Which Davis family is your ssmate from?”


    Vincent paused, taken aback.


    “I mean, what’s her family background?” Aimee rified.


    Guests invited to Knox’s birthday party were usually from well–known families or influential figures.


    Aimee assumed Mirabe was the child of one such family, as there were several prominent


    households with the Davis surname in Radiant Ridge.


    Vincent realized what his mother was asking and replied, “I haven’t paid much attention to that. Not


    sure.”


    “Oh,” Aimee responded, dropping the subject.


    After dropping Mirabe off at the Davis family’s gate, Mirabe remembered she had something for


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    10:07


    Chapter 490


    James and said, “Wait for me. I’ll get the incense for you.” James wanted to say there was no rush, but


    Mirabe had already walked away. He held his tongue.


    Minutester, Mirabe reemerged, holding a nondescript stic tube. She passed it through the car


    window. “Let me know if you need more.”


    James quietly looked at her for a moment before responding. “Will do.”


    “Bye, sweet dreams,” Mirabe said cheerfully, waving at James.


    Once Mirabe’s figure vanished from sight, James turned his gaze back to the stic tube on the seat


    adorned with a cookie brand’sbel, and his lips twitched. In the past, she might have used a wooden


    box, which, while not fancy, at least looked proper. Now… it seemed even the pretense was gone.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Shaking his head, James instructed Wyatt to drive next door.


    Donald hadn’t gone to bed yet. He was in the living room, engaged in a game of chess with Curtis.


    Curtis, who had been thoroughly trounced most of the evening, sprang to his feet as James entered. It


    was like a man seeing a lifeline.