Chapter 552


    Zach’s phone buzzed to life, and he fished it out of his pocket to see Shawn’s name sh across the


    screen. Carefully stepping aside in his slippers, he pressed the answer buttch and moved to speak


    privately.


    Watching her brother, Mirabe let out a sigh and turned to James with a helpless expression. “Sorry


    about that.”


    James cleared his throat, a gentle understanding lighting up his radiant face. “You know, your brother


    Zach… he’s quite the character.”


    *It’s generous of you to speak up for him,” Mirabe nced at James before her gaze wandered


    around, asking casually, “Where’s your grandfather?”


    “He’s been taken home,” James replied softly.


    Mirabe nodded in acknowledgment.


    “Niki called me a couple of days ago and mentioned you treated a patient for him,” James said, his


    clear gaze seemingly touching on the topic by chance.


    Mirabe tumed back, leaning on the armrest of the sofa, her beautiful eyes revealing an indifferent


    glint. “It wasn’t a charity case.”


    Remembering Mirabe’s miserly nature, James raised an eyebrow. After a brief pause, he added,


    “Niki has organized a luncheon in your honor at Blossom’s Eden for tomorrow noon. Will you be


    attending?”


    At the mention of the luncheon, Mirabe’s eyebrows knitted slightly. She pondered for a moment and


    was about to respond when Zach, having finished his call, spun around. When he noticed his sister and


    that jerk were too close forfort, his eyes darkened, and he immediately strode over.


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    Zach pulled Mirabe to the side and stepped in front of her defensively. “It’s gettingte. We should


    head home.”


    Mirabe facepalmed, holding back her words.


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    James straightened up at this, and without further pressing Mirabe about the luncheon, he nodded


    politely to Zach. “Of course.”


    Zach, noting James‘ sudden return to gentlemanly behavior, internally scoffed, ‘What a fake!‘


    “You don’t need to see us out,” Zach gestured dismissively to James, then turned to his Mira, “Come


    on, sis. Let’s go.” With that, he took Mirabe by the arm and led her out of the vi, not even allowing


    for a goodbye.


    Once they were gone, Wyatt, who had been pretending to be a janitor sweeping the floors, stopped his


    charade and approached, muttering to himself, “Dealing with that brother–inw is no easy task.”


    James had been contemting Mirabe’s reaction to Niki’s luncheon. He half–squinted at Wyatt’s


    comment, “Brother-inw?”


    Wyatt coughed, “I mean, Ms. Mirabe’s brother, Zach.”


    James nced at him faintly without engaging further, simply instructing, “Look into the patient Niki


    had Ms. Mirabe treat.” Wyatt was momentarily surprised, but seeing the serious look on James‘ face,


    he didn’t ask any questions and simply nodded, getting to work on the task.


    Outside the neighboring vi, Zachunched into big brother mode. “Mira, I’m telling you, you should


    keep your distance from that James guy. He’s up to no good.”


    The mere thought of James feigning vulnerability and the idea of a pair of couple’s slippers for


    Mirabe made his teeth itch with Irritation.


    Mirabe just gave him a nonchnt nce, not bothering to respond, and continued walking home.


    Zach touched his nose, feeling somewhat cowed every time he received that look from his sister. All


    the things he wanted to say seemed to get stuck in his throat. So his attention shifted to the two books


    Mirabe was carrying in her arms, a silent change of topic.