《The Double ( or More ?) Life of The Fake Heiress》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1¡°Mira, back from the race already?¡± Mrs. Thompson called out as she stood in the doorway of her quaint corner store.As the olddy¡¯s voice caught her attention, Mirabe, decked out in sleek ck cycling gear, smoothly applied the brakes to her bike. With a practiced toe-touch to the ground, she removed her helmet, and her long ponytail cascaded down, giving her an air of effortless grace and cool beauty.Mrs. Thompson couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally as she watched Mirabe. She really was something special. Even riding a bike, she exuded an aura that set her apart from the rest.¡°Oh, by the way, it looked like you had visitors at home ¨C they arrived in a car so fancy, it¡¯d make your head spin! My son said it¡¯s worth a fortune, probably more than any car in our whole town¡­¡± Mrs. Thompson exaggerated with her hands as she spoke.Mirabe listened thoughtfully, her delicate features betraying no particr emotion.Noticing Mirabe¡¯s silence, Mrs. Thompson cautiously looked around before leaning in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, ¡°Mira, tell me the truth. How did your familye to know such wealthy folks? Or did you¡­ perhaps offend someone?¡±Mrs. Thompson remembered that there was also amotion involving a fancy car at Mirabe¡¯s housest year.Mirabe¡¯s eyelids twitched slightly, and she couldn¡¯t help but give a wry smile at Mrs. Thompson¡¯s wild spection. To avoid any misunderstanding, she replied softly, ¡°Maybe they¡¯re like, distant cousins or something.¡±As soon as she said this, confusion spread across Mrs. Thompson¡¯s face, but before she could probe further, Mirabe had already put her helmet back on and waved goodbye. ¡°I better get going, Mrs. Thompson.¡±Mrs. Thompson watched Mirabe ride away, murmuring to herself, ¡°Wasn¡¯t her family known for being hard up?¡±Where did these wealthy distant cousinse from?***As Mirabe approached her house, she could already see the fancy ck sedan parked in the alley outside the gate. It bore the majestic emblem of an eagle in flight, with a stately and dynamic body. It¡¯s a Bentley, no less, worth a pretty penny. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. A mysterious smile yed at the corners of Mirabe¡¯s lips as she dismounted her bike and deftly pressed a few clips. In the blink of an eye, the bike folded down into a size that was even more compact than an 11-inchptop.With the gate ajar, she easily picked up the folded bike and stepped onto the property. She hadn¡¯t even reached the main house when a series of sharp voices cut through the air.¡°Mom, why are you so stubborn? What¡¯s so precious about this old ce that you insist on staying?¡±¡°I¡¯ve told you, I bought you a big, beautiful house in the city,plete with a caretaker to look after you. It¡¯s far better than here in every way.¡±¡°Just look at this dingy floor, the faded walls, and the leaking roof whenever it rains. Does any of that scream fort¡¯ to you?¡±¡°Your health isn¡¯t the best, yet you choose to live in this damp, moldy old house. Others might think we¡¯re poor, or worse, that your children are neglecting you¡­¡±Still in the yard, Mirabe paused thoughtfully as the words reached her. But then, she lifted her chin with resolve.Truth be told, since she¡¯d body hopped into this body, she hadn¡¯t really taken a good look at the ce she was living in.The house was a quaint two-story cottage with a yard, the kind you¡¯d find out in the countryside. It had red brick walls topped with ck shingles, and the walls were untouched by paint or tiles. In some areas, due to the passage of time, dark, moldy streaks had etched their presence into the surface. All in all, it was the epitome of 1980s architecture¡ª undeniably old and tattered.Mirabe touched the tip of her nose and mused that she had lived in these rough conditions for over a year with rtive ease.Just then, the shrill voice inside the house ceased. Mandy emerged, dressed in a ckce gown and a violet silk scarf tied around her neck. Her makeup was impable, her hair pinned up with a diamond clip, exuding an aura of a high-societydy. She paused upon seeing Mirabe standing in the yard, taken aback.But quickly, Mandy gathered her wits, concealing theplex emotions in her eyes, and asked with indifference, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±Mirabe regarded Mandy calmly, her eyes a serene pool, her mind drifting.A year ago, she¡¯d jumped in this body for reasons unknown. Back then, the original body wasn¡¯t called Mirbe but Mirabelle, a pampered daughter of a newly wealthy family in Ashford.A few months ago, she was abruptly informed that this body was not a true Gilbert family child but was switched at birth by a nurse. Her biological parents were just an ordinary working couple, not onlycking in wealth and influence but also burdened with four seemingly unmotivated sons to support¡ªa heavy load by any measure.Mandy, her foster mother standing before her, discovered that her biological daughter lived in poverty while she raised a poor family¡¯s child in luxury. Perhaps Mandy felt her dormant maternal instincts stir due to this stark contrast. She saw her biological daughter appear gracious and sweet-spoken, so she quickly brought her back home, renaming her and inviting her to the family with haste as if topensate for any past neglect.As for the faux heiress Mirabe, though born into wealth, she was never truly cherished by the Gilbert family. She spent her childhood in a small town, raised by Mandy¡¯s mother, and was rarely visited, even once a year.With the real daughter reimed, the counterfeit had to step aside. So, before the Davis family came to reim Mirabe, Mandy told her she didn¡¯t deserve the Gilbert name nor to stay there¡ªa sentiment as clear then as Mandy¡¯s cold demeanor now.Mirabe collected her thoughts and nonchntly withdrew her gaze from Mandy.Mandy, noticing the shift, furrowed her brows, her anger ring. ¡°What kind of attitude is that?¡± she snapped.Hearing the rage in the question, Mirabe raised an eyebrow yfully and replied with a sly smile, ¡°And what, may I ask, is your current title?¡±At that, Mandy¡¯s well-maintained face darkened instantly. Clearly, no matter how long you raised someone else¡¯s child, they remained wild and without a shred of manners or propriety.At that moment, Mandy¡¯s thoughts turned to her biological daughter, Summer. Raised in a modest household, she exuded elegance and grace, excelled in her studies, and possessed diverse talents. Now scouted to be a star, Summer was seemingly born to bring pride to the Gilbert family. In contrast, Mirabe, the foster daughter, was no match for Summer in any way, save for her looks.Mandy took a deep breath, recalling the purpose of her visit. Her eyes hardened as she pondered for a few seconds, then she reined in her anger.¡±Since you¡¯re here, there¡¯s something I want to make clear today, and I hope you can take care of it,¡± Mandy dered with a return to her aristocratic demeanor. Though she spoke of hope, the undercurrent of her words suggested amand rather than a request.Mirabe chuckled, and before she could respond, her grandmother, Catherine ¨C who had raised her from childhood ¨C made her presence known. Catherine gently patted Mandy¡¯s arm, signaling her to tone it down before turning her softened gaze to Mirabe. ¡°Mira, you¡¯re back. How did thepetition go?¡±With a nonchnt hum, Mirabe replied, ¡°Not too bad, I guess.¡±¡°Did you win?¡± asked Catherine, the excitement clear in her voice.¡°Yeah, first ce,¡± Mirabe responded casually, without a hint of pride in her eyes, as if clinching the top spot was a walk in the park for her.Upon hearing this, Catherine was so delighted that she wiped away a tear. ¡°Good girl.¡± Mandy frowned, not understanding, and questioned Catherine, ¡°First ce in what competition?¡±Catherine turned to her with a proud smile and began, ¡°You might not know, but Mira is not only a ster student but also¡­¡±Losing interest as Catherine didn¡¯t directly answer her question and instead started praising Mirabe¡¯s academic achievements, Mandy interrupted with impatience. ¡°Okay, I get it. You don¡¯t need to prop her up in front of me. She didn¡¯t even qualify for the county high school with her grades. If it weren¡¯t for the Gilbert family footing the bill, she¡¯d probably be stuck in some party school.¡±Pausing, Mandy cast a scornful nce at Mirabe. ¡°A fake stone will never be mistaken for a diamond, no matter what.¡±Catherine looked worriedly at Mirabe, fearing the words might have hurt her. ¡°You haven¡¯t been involved in her life for years. You have no idea what Mira is like now¡­¡±Mandy sneered dismissively, cutting her off again. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not my biological daughter nor your real granddaughter. Her name is Davis, and whether she does well or not is none of my concern, and I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡±Catherine¡¯s face tensed, harsh and dry words stuck in her throat. After a moment, she managed to mutter, ¡°Mira is my granddaughter!¡±Mandy massaged her temples, perplexed by Catherine¡¯s delusion. ¡°She¡¯s been living off the Gilbert family for seventeen years while my daughter suffered. Mom, get a grip. Don¡¯t just recognize anyone as family! You see her as kin, but she might just be using you, trying to swindle some money to send back to her real parents¡­¡±¡°You stop!¡± Catherine trembled with rage. ¡°I raised Mira myself. I know exactly what kind of person she is, so don¡¯t you dare cast your malicious suspicions on her.¡±Mandy¡¯s face turned ashen with anger. ¡°You can¡¯t tell right from wrong. Mom, I think you¡¯re really sick in the head.¡±Now in her sixties and with a heart condition, Catherine grew pale and clutched her chest tightly in response to Mandy¡¯s harsh words. Seeing this, Mirabe ced what she was holding on the ground and quickly moved to Catherine¡¯s side. She helped Catherine to a nearby wicker chair and took her wrist in her hand, checking her pulse. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Truth be told, since she¡¯d body hopped into this body, she hadn¡¯t really taken a good look at the ce she was living in. The house was a quaint two¨Cstory cottage with a yard, the kind you¡¯d find out in the countryside. It had red brick walls topped with ck shingles, and the walls were untouched by paint or tiles. In some areas, due to the passage of time. dark, moldy streaks had etched their presence into the surface. All in all, it was the epitome of 1980s architecture¨Cundeniably old and tattered. Mirabe touched the tip of her nose and mused that she had lived in these rough conditions for over a year with rtive ease. Just then, the shrill voice inside the house ceased. Mandy emerged, dressed in a ckce gown and a violet silk scarf tied around her neck. Her makeup was impable, her hair pinned up with a diamond clip, exuding an aura of a high¨Csocietydy. She paused upon seeing Mirabe standing in the yard, taken aback. But quickly, Mandy gathered her wits, concealing theplex emotions in her eyes, and asked with indifference, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mirabe regarded Mandy calmly, her eyes a serene pool, her mind drifting. A year ago, she¡¯d jumped in this body for reasons unknown. Back then, the original body wasn¡¯t called Mirbe but Mirabelle, a pampered daughter of a newly wealthy family in Ashford. A few months ago, she was abruptly informed that this body was not a true Gilbert family child but was switched at birth by a nurse. Her biological parents were just an ordinary working couple, not only Mandy, her foster mother standing before her, discovered that her biological daughter lived in poverty while she raised a poor family¡¯s child in luxury. Perhaps Mandy felt her dormant maternal instincts stir due to this stark contrast. She saw her biological daughter appear gracious and sweet¨Cspoken, so she quickly brought her back home, renaming her and inviting her to the family with haste as if to compensate for any past neglect. As for the faux heiress Mirabe, though born into wealth, she was never truly cherished by the Gilbert family. She spent her childhood in a small town, raised by Mandy¡¯s mother, and was rarely visited, even once a year. With the real daughter reimed, the counterfeit had to step aside. So, before the Davis family came to reim Mirabe, Mandy told her she didn¡¯t deserve the Gilbert name nor to stay there¨Ca sentiment as clear then as Mandy¡¯s cold demeanor now. Mirabe collected her thoughts and nonchntly withdrew her gaze from Mandy. Mandy, noticing the shift, furrowed her brows, her anger ring. ¡°What kind of attitude is that?¡± she snapped. Hearing the rage in the question, Mirabe raised an eyebrow yfully and replied with a sly smile, ¡°And what, may I ask, is your current title?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. At that, Mandy¡¯s well¨Cmaintained face darkened instantly. Clearly, no matter how long you raised someone else¡¯s child, they remained wild and without a shred of manners or propriety. At that moment, Mandy¡¯s thoughts turned to her biological daughter, Summer. Raised in a modest household, she exuded elegance and grace, excelled in her studies, and possessed diverse talents. Now scouted to be a star, Summer was seemingly born to bring pride to the Gilbert family. In contrast, Mirabe, the foster daughter, was no match for Summer in any way, save for her looks. Mandy took a deep breath, recalling the purpose of her visit. Her eyes hardened as she pondered for a few seconds, then she reined in her anger. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡°Since you¡¯re here, there¡¯s something I want to make clear today, and I hope you can take care of it.¡± Mandy dered with a return to her aristocratic demeanor. Though she spoke of hope, the undercurrent of her words suggested amand rather than a request. Mirabe chuckled, and before she could respond, her grandmother, Catherine who had raised her from childhood- made her presence known. Catherine gently patted Mandy¡¯s arm, signaling her to tone it down before turning her softened gaze to Mirabe. ¡°Mira, you¡¯re back. How did thepetition go?¡°¨C With a nonchnt hum, Mirabe replied, ¡°Not too bad, I guess.¡± ¡°Did you win?¡± asked Catherine, the excitement clear in her voice. ¡°Yeah, first ce,¡± Mirabe responded casually, without a hint of pride in her eyes, as if clinching the top spot was a walk in the park for her. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Upon hearing this, Catherine was so delighted that she wiped away a tear. ¡°Good girl.¡± Mandy frowned, not understanding, and questioned Catherine, ¡°First ce in whatpetition?¡± Catherine turned to her with a proud smile and began, ¡°You might not know, but Mira is not only a ster student but also¡­¡± Losing interest as Catherine didn¡¯t directly answer her question and instead started praising Mirabe¡¯s academic achievements, Mandy interrupted with impatience. ¡°Okay, I get it. You don¡¯t need to prop her up in front of me. She didn¡¯t even qualify for the county high school with her grades. If it weren¡¯t for the Gilbert family footing the bill, she¡¯d probably be stuck in some party school.¡± Pausing. Mandy cast a scornful nce at Mirabe. ¡°A fake stone will never be mistaken for a diamond, no matter what.¡± Catherine looked worriedly at Mirabe, fearing the words might have hurt her. ¡°You haven¡¯t been involved in her life for years. You have no idea what Mira is like now¡­¡± Mandy sneered dismissively, cutting her off again. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not my biological daughter nor your real granddaughter. Her name is Davis, and whether she does well or not is none of my concern, and I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± Catherine¡¯s face tensed, harsh and dry words stuck in her throat. After a moment, she managed to mutter, ¡°Mira is my granddaughter!¡± Mandy massaged her temples, perplexed by Catherine¡¯s delusion. ¡°She¡¯s been living off the Gilbert family for seventeen years while my daughter suffered. Mom, get a grip. Don¡¯t just recognize anyone as family! You see her as kin, but she might just be using you, trying to swindle some money to send back to her real parents¡­¡± ¡°You stop!¡± Catherine trembled with rage. ¡°I raised Mira myself. I know exactly what kind of person she is, so don¡¯t you. dare cast your malicious suspicions on her.¡± Mandy¡¯s face turned ashen with anger. ¡°You can¡¯t tell right from wrong. Mom, I think you¡¯re really sick in the head.¡± Now in her sixties and with a heart condition, Catherine grew pale and clutched her chest tightly in response to Mandy¡¯s harsh words. Seeing this, Mirabe ced what she was holding on the ground and quickly moved to Catherine¡¯s side. She helped Catherine to a nearby wicker chair and took her wrist in her hand, checking her pulse. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Mirabe¡¯s eyes were tinged with concern, and after a few seconds, her grip loosened as she asked in a slightly grav tone. ¡°Is your chest troubling you again?¡± Catherine managed a strained smile as she sped Mirabe¡¯s hand reassuringly, shaking her head gently. ¡°Granny¡¯s fine, dear. It¡¯s just the same old issue. Don¡¯t you worry about me.¡± Mandy, standing nearby, was taken aback by Catherine¡¯s sudden distress. Regaining herposure, she instinctively pushed Mirabe aside. ¡°Mom, are you having another one of your episodes? Are you in pain? Should we go to the hospital?¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe¡¯s brow furrowed at being pushed away. She cast a nce at Mandy before turning and walking back into the house. As Mandy fumbled for her phone to call an ambnce, she couldn¡¯t help but sneer at Mirabe¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Mom, can you believe this? This is the thanks you get for raising her. You¡¯re in agony, and she just walks away¡­. Shaking her head, Mandy started dialing 911. Not long after. Mirabe emerged from the house, carrying a mug in her hands. Mandy hung up the call and turned around to see Mirabe helping Catherine drink something. Her brow furrowed, and she snatched the mug. only to find it wasn¡¯t just water. She demanded with a sharp tone, ¡°What are you giving my mother to drink?¡± The gaze Mirabe leveled at the snatched mug was suddenly fraught with an icy, foreboding intensity. Her normally pleasant features were wiped clean of any expression. Confronted with this unfamiliar side of Mirabe, Mandy recoiled, her heels clicking backward in retreat. ¡°What¡­ what kind of look is that?¡± Her voice had lost its earlier assertiveness. ¡°Mandy, give me the mug. That¡¯s the medicine Mira got especially for me,¡± Catherine, now regaining someposure. said as she patted her chest and reached out a hand. Mandy¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Instead of handing back the mug, she flung the remaining contents onto the ground, ¡°Medicine? What can some small¨Ctown girl possibly know about medicine? This is just reckless!¡± As Catherine watched the spilled medicine on the floor, she hurried to exin, ¡°Mira¡¯s medicine¡­¡± But Mandy cut her off without giving her a chance to speak, ¡°Enough! Calm down. The ambnce will be here shortly. We¡¯ll get you checked out properly at the hospital. You can¡¯t just take any old remedy, you know you could make things worse.¡± Shaking her head in exasperation, Mandy turned her attention back to Mirabe, ¡°And you carelessly medicating my mother. If anything were to happen, you wouldn¡¯t be able to fix it. I¡¯ll give you this one pass because we were once family, but you need to leave. Don¡¯t stick around here any longer.¡± ¡°Mandy, stop it!¡± Catherine sald, both anxious and angry. She looked at Mirabe, ¡°Mira, this is your home. Don¡¯t listen to her. Please stay¡­¡± Mirabe nced at the medicine on the floor. Fortunately, Catherine had already consumed ¡®most of the medicine. Too weary to argue with her former foster mother, Mirabe slowly knelt in front of Catherine. Her eyes, clear and calm. gazed into hers as she spoke deliberately, ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s about time you had some peace andfort.¡± Catherine stared at her, a sudden and indescribable panic welling up inside her. Her pale lips trembled, and after a moment, she asked hoarsely, ¡°Mira, did you¡­ did you overhear what we were discussing inside earlier?¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Mirabe¡¯sugh was a rare bloom of gentleness on her usually frosty face. She tenderly smoothed the wisps of silver hair at her grandmother¡¯s temples, her voice softening like one might use to coax a child to sleep. ¡°I¡¯ve sorted out all the transfer paperwork. It¡¯s time for me to head out. You¡¯ve got to take good care of yourself. Remember to take your meds on time, okay? Once I¡¯m settled back in the city, I¡¯ll come by for a visit. Deal?¡± Catherine felt the soothing touch on her cheek and struggled to swallow, her throat parched. After a moment, she grasped Mirabe¡¯s hand in her own. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say, my dear,¡± ¡°Good,¡± Mirabe said, nodding in satisfaction. Mandy, who had been standing by, felt a pang of jealousy. She had talked herself hoarse, trying to persuade her mother toe back to the city with her without sess. Yet here was this brat, uttering just a few words, and her grandmother acquiesced? She had clearly underestimated Mirabe¡¯s ability to charm and cajole! Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Just then, the wail of an ambnce siren announced its arrival outside. Soon after, thanks to Mandy¡¯s insistent demands, the paramedics carried Catherine to the ambnce. Before leaving for the hospital, Mandy did not forget to give Mirabe a few parting shots, warning her to make herself scarce. Once Mandy had departed, Mirabe ascended the stairs to her room and pulled out a suitcase from under the bed, already packed and ready. Even without today¡¯s drama courtesy of Mandy, Mirabe would have left soon anyway. In the months since she had transformed from Mirabelle to Mirabe, she had stayed not only because she was concerned about Catherine¡¯s health but also because she was in the middle of her junior year of high school. So, she had made a deal with her biological parents. Once the semester ended, she would transfer schools for her senior year. Mirabe drew a letter from an old desk drawer, dusted off the edges with her slender fingers, and slipped it into her backpack. Dragging her suitcase, Mirabe had just closed the gate when a car honked nearby. She looked up, squinting at the sleek ck sedan that was making the noise. Despite its modest Volkswagen badge, the car¡¯s lines were cool and slick¨Ca subtle mboyance under its low¨Cprofile exterior. A figure emerged from the car, a ck baseball cap on his head. He leaned casually against the door, watching. Mirabe approach. Mirabe arched an eyebrow, a hint of nonchnce on her elegant face. As she drew near, her lips curled into a half¨Csmile. ¡°Have you been waiting for me?¡± The man crossed his arms, his chiseled chin tilting upward as he gave Mirabe a once¨Cover. His gaze finally rested on her suitcase with a teasing tone. ¡°What¡¯s this? Did you get kicked to the curb?¡± Mirabe shot him a nce. ¡°Eavesdropping isn¡¯t very gentlemanly, you know.¡± James chuckled lightly. ¡°Did you forget our houses are only separated by a half¨Cwall? ¡°So what¡¯s your point, neighbor boy? You¡¯re loitering here just to mock your lifesaver?¡± Mirabe quipped, her arms folded, a yful smirk on her lips. After nearly a year of knowing her, James had transitioned from grinding his teeth in annoyance to eptance of Mirabe¡¯s refusal to call him by his name, insisting on ¡®neighbor boy¡® instead. Of course, he was also privy to some of the melodrama of Mirabe¡¯s life. ¡°What¡¯s your n now?¡± James asked, his eyebrows lifting. Under the brim of his cap, his features were striking. especially those dark eyes. They were like a night sky full of stars. He paused, then added, ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re out of options, my door¡¯s open for you¡­ temporarily.¡± Mirabe gave him a sidelong look and a silent ¡®tsk¡® in her heart before cing her suitcase squarely in front of him. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll give you a chance to repay your debt.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 James¡® gaze dropped to the deliberately ced suitcase before him, and he could almost hear her unspoken request. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, ¡°So, where do you need me to drop you off?¡± Mirabe¡¯s delicate brows arched yfully as she snapped her fingers with a swagger that carried a hint of roguish charm. ¡°The train station.¡± The small town might not have been much to look at, but it was decently located with its quaint little train station, However, the biological parents of the body she now inhabited lived in Ashford, and there was no direct train. A transfer would be necessary. At her words, James gave her a quizzical look. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the favor,¡± Mirabe confirmed with a nod. Noticing theplexity in his expression, she pondered for a moment before adding, ¡°But if you feel like driving me to the train station is too easy a way for you to repay your debt, I¡¯m cool with you dropping me off at the city airport instead. After all, we¡¯re practically neighbors, and it¡¯s not likely we¡¯ll cross paths again.¡± The train station was a mere twenty¨Cminute drive, whereas the city airport was a good three to four hours away. Beneath the brim of his baseball cap, James¡® expression grew even more intricate, and a rare crack appeared on his usuallyposed face. He contemted whether to share a bit of his background with this naive girl, lest she remain oblivious to the golden opportunity she was about to miss. Four hourster, at the city airport. from the Mirabe stepped out of the car and retrieved her luggage trunk. After a moment¡¯s thought, she approached the driver¡¯s side and tapped on the window. The ss slid down smoothly as James looked over at Mirabe, one eyebrow raised in quiet inquiry. Mirabe fished out a small, unbranded bottle from her bag. ¡°This is for you. Farewell until we meet again.¡± Without waiting for a response, she tossed the bottle into the car and, spinning on her heel hauled her suitcase away. James picked up the bottle that hadnded precisely in the car¡¯s sidepartment. A yful glint shone in his eyes. He watched the retreating figure of Mirabe, his long fingers tracing the edge of the bottle cap, his lips curving into a faint smile. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. So, until we meet again, huh? In the hospital, inside the doctor¡¯s office. Mandy stared at the doctor in disbelief. ¡°Doctor, are you telling me that my mom¡¯s heart condition has improved significantly?¡± Holding a stack of test results, the doctor nodded again. ¡°Yes, the data indicates that she¡¯s in good health. As long as she avoids any major stressors, the chances of her experiencing angina are quite low now.¡± Mandy was still dazed. She found it hard to trust the doctor¡¯s words, because her mother had been suffering from angina for decades, and specialists at major hospitals had only offered grim prognoses. ¡°By the way, Ms. Mandy, has your mother sought treatment at another facility or taken any new medications recently?¡± the doctor inquired. He had been Catherine¡¯s primary physician for years, attending to her each time she fell ill However, she had barely visited the hospital in the past year, and today¡¯s checkup results were certainly a surprise. Mandy shook her head in confusion. ¡°No, she¡¯s been at home. I¡¯ve tried to take her to the hospital multiple times, but she refused. She hasn¡¯t undergone any treatments, and as for medication¡­¡± Her voice trailed off as the image of Mirabe giving her mother a cup of brown liquid surfaced in her mind. As Mandy fell silent mid¨Csentence, the doctor pressed with a note of concern, ¡°Ms. Mandy?¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Mandy snapped back to reality, vigorously shaking her head. ¡°No, my mom hasn¡¯t been taking any other medications.¡± She thought she was going out of her mind. If the doctors were at their wits end, where on earth did that brat get her hands on a cure? The doctor, hearing this, quipped with a chuckle, ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite the miracle, isn¡¯t it?¡± Mandy managed a weak smile, her mind already set on getting a full check¨Cup for Catherine once they got her back to Ashford. By the time Mirabe reached Ashford, it was 10 p.m. She stepped off the ne, and her phone immediately flooded with a barrage of texts and Messenger alerts. Before she could even nce at them, her phone started to ring. It¡¯s an unknown number. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Her finger hesitated for a moment before she pressed the answer button, and a young, unfamiliar male voice came through. The caller was none other than Emmitt, her blood brother. Although Mirabe was a bit surprised that Emmitt would be at the airport, she quickly remembered sending a message to her grandmother, Catherine, before boarding. Without much inquiry, she replied casually. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in five minutes.¡± After hanging up, Mirabe slid her phone into her pocket nonchntly and followed the airport signs towards baggage im. She breezed through the exit with her luggage in tow. Her gaze scanned the crowd waiting at the arrivals hall. Her eyes finally locked onto a tall, young man who was busy on the phone. Adjusting the strap of her backpack, Mirabe made her way toward him, pulling her suitcase behind her. A few months back, when her biological parents hade to im her, they had shown her photos of her four brothers. With her strong memory and the Davis family¡¯s distinct gics, she recognized him almost instantly. Emmitt ended his call wondering if his never¨Cbefore¨Cmet sister should have appeared by now, and scrolled through his phone to find a picture of her he¡¯d saved on Messenger. Just as he lifted his head, ready to match the face to the photo, he saw a young girl already standing in front of him. She was dressed in a crisp white tracksuit, with a ck backpack slung over her left shoulder and a modestly sized suitcase in her right hand. Her face was bare and radiant, her features strikingly beautiful, and at that moment, her clear, bright eyes were fixed on him without a hint of shyness. Emmitt paused, nced down at the photo on his phone, and could vaguely make out the resemnce in their features, but he still asked uncertainly. ¡°Mira?¡± Mirabe nodded, her responseing out in a drawn¨Cout, ¡°Yeah.¡± Scratching his head, Emmitt¡¯s handsome face wore an expression of disbelief. ¡°You look¡­ kinda different from your picture.¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly. Being quite tall, she easily caught a glimpse of the photo on Emmitt¡¯s phone. The girl in the photo had braids dangling over her chest, and cheeks blushed to an exaggerated bloom,plete with a clich¨¦ peace sign pose ¨C a quintessential country bumpkin look. Mirabe felt a twitch at her temple, remembering the old selfie she had carelessly picked out from the phone when Emmitt added her on Messenger and asked for a photo. No wonder Emmitt looked so taken aback by theparison. Clearing her throat, Mirabe replied without batting an eye, ¡°Guess I¡¯m just not photogenic?¡± Emmitt¡¯s gaze fell once again upon her overly pretty face, grimacing involuntarily. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 With a face like that she could totally y Hollywood¡¯s A¨Clisters, couldn¡¯t she? If she was not camera¨C ready, what about those celebs who lived off their good looks? Emmitt suddenly felt that his sister, whom he was meeting for the first time¡­ was a bit weird. What was up with that? As he was internally rolling his eyes, Mirabe¡¯s voice came through once more. ¡°But you, you¡¯re different too.¡± Mirabe said with a teasing edge, giving Emmitt a meaningful look. Dressed to the nines in a designer suit, his every move exuded an aristocratic charm that shed with the rumors of ackadaisical¡® and ¡®poor boy¡® upbringing. A yful glint crossed Mirabe¡¯s eyes. Interesting. Emmitt was about to ask Mirabe what she meant by ¡®different when something¨Cor someone¨Ccaught his eye. His lips curved into an indulgent smile, and he waved through the air, ¡°Summer.¡± Mirabe tilted her head, following his gaze, and spotted a tall woman in a white sundress approaching at a swift pace. She was wearing sunsses, making it impossible to discern her features at first nce. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte, Emmitt. Traffic was a nightmare,¡± panted Summer, her voice still catching her breath. ¡°No worries,¡± Emmitt shook his head, noting the beads of sweat forming on her forehead. He pulled out a pack of tissues from his pocket and handed it to her. Taking the tissues, Summer gracefully removed her sunsses, hooking them onto her dress¡® neckline, and shed a sweet smile at Emmitt. ¡°Thanks, Emmitt.¡± With a gentle pat on her head, Emmitt¡¯s gesture was nothing but affectionate. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Mirabe watched their interaction with a slowly forming smirk. There was no need to ask outright¨Cshe already figured that Summer was the girl she was switched at birth with at the hospital. Summer had since been taken in by the Gilbert family and adopted their surname. She wasn¡¯t strikingly beautiful, but she did exude the refined, gentle demeanor that Mandy, her adoptive mother, had boasted about. The white dress added an graceful touch to her presence. Feeling Mirabe¡¯s unabashed scrutiny, Summer finally turned her attention to her as if just realizing she was there. Summer was visibly taken aback. Mirabe was stunning, with sparkling eyes like the shimmer of ake and a casually hooked smile that suggested a mix of mischief and cool detachment. She was the epitome of effortless charisma. ¡°Right, this is my sister, Mira.¡± Emmitt chimed in, nodding towards Mirabe. Summer¡¯s grip tightened on her purse at the words ¡®my sister¡® from Emmitt¡¯s lips, feeling as though something had been taken from her. The smile on her face lost its earlier ease. Emmitt, oblivious to Summer¡¯s expression, turned back to Mirabe. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± Mirabe interruptedzily, ncing at her watch. ¡°Shall we grab some grub?¡± With that, Emmitt didn¡¯t bother introducing Summer further. Instead, he took Mirabe¡¯s suitcase. ¡°Look at me, all talk. Let¡¯s head to the car. Mom and Dad were worried you might be hungry. They just called to check in.¡± Mirabe hummed in acknowledgment, not bothering with pleasantries, and adjusted her backpack strap before following Emmitt out. Summer watched them leave, one following the other, feeling ignored in a way she¡¯d never experienced before. Mirabe¡¯s return not only captured Emmitt¡¯s attention but also managed to diminish Summer¡¯s presence without a fuss. She had expected a country bumpkin, but clearly, Mirabe was anything but simple. As Summer pondered, her moment of solitude was shattered by a chorus of excited squeals, and in the blink of an eye, she found herself encircled by a group of eager girls. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡°Is that Summer?¡± ¡°OMG, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m bumping into my idol at the airport in the middle of the night. This is like, the best moment. ever!¡± ¡°Summer is so gorgeous in real life, and she seems super sweet too.¡± ¡°Could we get an autograph, please, Summer?¡± The gaggle of teenage girls surrounding Summer were anything but discreet with their booming voices, quickly drawing the attention of other travelers in the airport. Many paused to look in their direction, and both Mirabe and Emmitt turned to watch the scene unfold. Summer seemed taken aback at first as if she hadn¡¯t expected to encounter fans here, but then she composed herself, her lips curving into a shy smile as she greeted them softly, not refusing their requests for photos. However, her gaze kept flickering, almost imperceptibly, towards Mirabe. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Summer¡¯s been a natural at dancing and singing since she was a kid,¡± Emmitt began to exin to Mirabe, his eyes on Summer amid the crowd. ¡°She recently joined a girl group, and her agency has high hopes for her. They got her onto one of those talent shows that¡¯s pretty hot online. Those girls are probably her fans.¡± Mirabe didn¡¯t seem envious in the slightest, simply responding with a nonchnt ¡°Hmm¡± before feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket. She withdrew it to check the message. Y: [Boss, I need help ASAP!! Mirabe massaged her temples, visibly annoyed, and shot back a single word. [Scram.] Y: [You can¡¯t just leave me hanging, boss.] A trace oficy amusement tugged at Mirabe¡¯s lips as her slender fingers tapped a curt reply on the screen: [Sort it out yourself.] After sending the message, she promptly dumped the contact into her block list. After typing out a lengthy plea and hitting send, ¡®Y¡® was greeted with a cold: [Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.] Meanwhile, as Mirabe had been engrossed in her messaging. Summer finished posing with the group of girls and approached. The girls, reluctant to part ways with their idol, trailed behind her, two of them still recording with their phones. Mirabe pocketed her phone and looked up just in time to catch the two girls still filming. She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly and smoothly pulled out a ck face mask to slip on. Seeing Mirabe suddenly donning the mask, Summer seemed puzzled but then appeared to sigh of relief, perhaps remembering something. The Davis family was known for their striking good looks. She didn¡¯t really want her fans capturing Mirabe¡¯s face on camera. After a brief pause, Summer spoke softly, ¡°Sorry about that. I didn¡¯t expect to run into fans at the airport and hold things up.¡± Her tone suggested an apology, but the tilt of her chin betrayed a hint of showing off in front of Mirabe. Mirabe¡¯s eyes were cool and detached as she nced at Summer before looking away, her demeanor nonchnt. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s go.¡± Emmitt said. Emmitt¡¯s car was rather modest, a sedan in the mid¨Crange price bracket, not a luxury model, but not a beater either. It was clear he wasn¡¯t the sort to idle his days away with nothing to do as rumors suggested. After loading the luggage into the trunk, Emmitt nced at his watch, then turned to Summer, who was standing nearby, and asked, ¡°How did you get here. Summer?¡± Summer looked at Mirabe, her eyes flicking back and forth, before she replied, ¡°The family driver dropped me off.¡± Chaptery Emmitt was about to say something when Summer stepped forward and looped her arm through his. Her voice tinged with a yful whine. ¡°Emmitt, can I talk to you about something?¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Emmitt¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he felt his arm being tugged, but he didn¡¯t pull away. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Summer¡¯s eyes sparkled with a yful cuteness on her meticulously made¨Cup face. ¡°I¡¯ve been filming a show for a while now and haven¡¯t visited Mom and Dad in ages. I feel kinda bad about it. Plus, Mira just got back from the countryside, and she¡¯s probably feeling a bit out of her element. I was thinking of staying at home for a few days. spend some time with the folks, and help Mira get settled in.¡± Emmitt mulled over her words for a few seconds before nodding. ¡°Sounds good. We¡¯ll all feel better knowing you¡¯re there to show Mira the ropes.¡± Summer let out a chirpy ¡°yeah¡± and tilted her head slightly towards Mirabe with a yful jerk of her chin. Then she let go of Emmitt and hopped into the passenger seat, assuming the air of someone quite at home. Mirabe raised an eyebrow, a wry smile hidden beneath her mask, but said nothing. She calmly opened the back door of the car and slipped in. During the drive home, Summer chattered away to Emmitt about all the behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes action from her time on a reality TV show, ncing in the rearview mirror at Mirabe, who had now removed her mask, seemingly trying to catch a glimpse of envy on her face. But Mirabe seemed to be in her own world, absorbed in her phone, indifferent to the conversation. It was a monumental blow to Summer¡¯s sense of superiority. She consoled herself with the thought that maybe this country girl, unfamiliar with the world of showbiz, simply couldn¡¯t grasp the significance of her stories, hence her nonchnt demeanor. Switching gears, Summer turned her attention back to Mirabe and asked, ¡°By the way, Mira, we¡¯re the same age, so you must be starting your senior year of high school, right?¡± Mirabe¡¯s slender fingers paused on her phone screen before she slowly lifted her head. Her face was bathed in the soft glow of the car¡¯s interior lights, softening the sharpness of her features. She responded with a soft ¡°mm¨Chmm.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes flickered with intrigue, finding Mirabe¡¯s husky voice andid¨Cback demeanor oddly captivating. Gathering herposure, Summer forced a smile and said. ¡°I heard from my Mom that you¡¯d sorted out your transfer when you left Grandma¡¯s.¡± She emphasized the words ¡®Mom¡® and ¡®Grandma¡® just a tad, though it would take a keen ear to notice. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Mirabe¡¯s lips curled into a half¨Csmile as she nced at Summer. Her breath hitched, and she averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact and losing the casual tone of her voice. ¡°Have you picked out a school yet? Do you need my dad¡¯s help? I remember Mom mentioning your grades weren¡¯t exactly¡­¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already chosen a school¡± Mirabe interjected casually, cutting her off.* Summer was taken aback, the word ¡°okay¡± sticking in her throat. After a moment, she forced¨Ca stiff smile and asked, ¡°Really? Which school?¡± Emmitt, who was driving, nced at the rearview mirror, surprised by the exchange. He wasn¡¯t home often due to work but was aware that his parents had been fretting over which high school to transfer their mistakenly switched daughter to, as she had been raised in a small town. They were concerned about her poor academic performance and were reluctant to send her to an average public school. Yet, if they pulled strings to get her into a prestigious high school, they feared she might struggle to keep up and feel inferior. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Anyway, they hadn¡¯t settled on a school yet. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Emmitt¡¯s eyes danced with curiosity as he observed his sister¡¯s calm demeanor. Was she serious about having chosen a school? Mirabe shiftedzily in her seat, crossing her legs as she spoke with an indifferent tone, ¡°Parkside High School.¡± At her words, a bemused expression quickly surfaced on Summer¡¯s face. She turned her head to Mirabe, ¡°Parkside High School? Like, the Parkside High School downtown?¡± Mirabe just hummed an affirmation, still nonchnt. Summer couldn¡¯t help but feel like she¡¯d just heard the world¡¯s biggest joke. Auburn High School would have been believable, but Parkside High School? That was a stretch. Known as the city¡¯s top¨Ctier high school, nationally ranked in the top five, it was a breeding ground for the cream of the academic crop. The idea seemed ludicrous, considering Mirabe¡¯s past performance required a generous donation to even get her into a decent local school. A snicker flickered in Summer¡¯s eyes as she thought of her sister¡¯s grand delusions. ¡°The bar at Parkside High isn¡¯t exactly low,¡± Summer said with a smirk. Emmitt, sensing his sister might be getting in over her head and wanting to save her from embarrassment in front of Summer, cleared his throat and interjected, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the school situation with Mom and Dad back home before making any decisions.¡± Knowing that Emmitt was trying to give Mirabe an out, Summer dropped her gaze and decided not to pursue the topic any further. ¡°If you need help, just say the word. My dad knows several principals around town. A quick call and you¡¯re all set.¡± Emmitt reached out to tune the car stereo, casually acknowledging her offer with a nonmittal ¡°yeah.¡± Mirabe¡¯s fingers tapped rhythmically on her thigh as she gazed out of the car window, tooid¨Cback to engage any further. Her eyes took in the cityscape outside¨Cthe hustle and bustle, the dazzling neon lights, and the colorful nightlife that underscored the city¡¯s vibrancy, a far cry from some quaint backwater town. Before long, the car pulled into an older residentialplex. It was clear from the surroundings that it had seen better days. The Davis family owned a top¨Cfloor duplex in the building, an advantage of the older, low¨Crise architecture. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were already waiting at the door, exchanging nervous nces as they heard the elevator ding. Their eyes fixed eagerly on the elevator doors. Emmitt and Summer emerged first, followed by Mirabe. ¡°Mom, Dad, we¡¯ve got Mira back.¡± Summer announced sweetly. Delh barely nced at her before focusing all her attention on Mirabe, walking towards her with a mix of excitement and awkwardness. Summer¡¯s smile stiffened momentarily as she realized she¡¯d been tantly overlooked. Davis family wasn¡¯t wealthy. but Summer was the cherished youngest daughter, a position now seemingly threatened by Mirabe¡¯s return. Despite her disdain for such favoritism, Summer suppressed her irritation as something else crossed her mind. Delh approached Mirabe, her expression bing distant as she surveyed the girl who bore such a striking resemnce to herself. Her gaze shifted between Mirabe and Summer, emotions flooding her heart. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 From a young age, Delh always found herself at the center of her friends¡® yful jests whenever she brought her daughter around her besties. They would tease her incessantly, scrutinizing her and her daughter¡¯s faces, joking suggesting that maybe there had been a mix¨Cup at the hospital because the child bore no resemnce to her. It wasn¡¯t as though her daughter wasn¡¯t attractive. Quite the contrary. All of Delh¡¯s children had been cherubic in their youth. Yet Summer, whenpared with her older brothers, seemed remarkably in, compounded by the fact that both Delh and her husband were exceptionally good¨Clooking. This only fueled further teasing from her friends. As Delh reminisced, there was a painful truth to those yful words. Shaking off her wandering thoughts, she softly called out. ¡°Mira.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Mirabe¡¯s expression remained as impassive as ever,cking the excitement one might expect upon seeing one¡¯s birth parents. She merely nodded a polite greeting. Seeing Mirabe¡¯s frosty demeanor, Summer quickly jumped in to exin, ¡°Mom, Mira just got back from the countryside. She might need some time to get used to everything again.¡± Delh had encountered Mirabe a few months prior and had sensed her withdrawn nature. So, while she felt a twinge of disappointment that Mirabe didn¡¯t call her ¡®mom,¡® she wasn¡¯t particrly surprised. After all being mistakenly switched at birth and raised by the Gilbert family in a quaint town before returning to her biological family was bound to require an adjustment period. Patience was key. Delh couldn¡¯t help but cast aplicated nce at Summer, with a fleeting shadow crossing her face. She quickly masked it with an indifferent smile. ¡°Summer, you¡¯ve been such a dear, going to the airport to fetch Mira. It¡¯s gettingte, and your biological parents must be wondering about you. They¡¯ll be upset if they know you¡¯re here.¡± She paused, then turned to her eldest son. ¡°Emmitt, would you mind taking Ms. Summer home?¡± The shift from ¡®Summer¡® to ¡®Ms. Summer¡® flushed Summer¡¯s cheeks with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to protest. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Delh looked at Summer with a hidden ache but didn¡¯t let it show. Collecting her thoughts, Delh¡¯s smile seemed to grow more distant. She cut Summer off before she could say anything. ¡°From now on, it might be best if you address me as Ms. Delh.¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. Delh carried herself with an air of grace andposure. Although she was in her fifties, she looked no more than in her thirties, with barely a wrinkle to betray her age. Despite her smile, there was an undeniable strength in her demeanor- amanding presence rarely seen in ordinary women. Mirabe watched thoughtfully, her gaze introspective. Feeling a deep sense of humiliation, Summer bit her lip as her eyes misted over. Her face seemed,to bear the weight of a great injustice. She couldn¡¯t understand how the woman who had once doted on her could suddenly be so cutting, all because her biological daughter had returned. If that was the case, it seemed a cruel hypocrisy. Summer felt deceived. The atmosphere grew tense and awkward. ¡°Cough, cough,¡± Shawn, who had been silent, cleared his throat and spoke up. ¡°Emmitt, please take Summer home.¡± His words, meant to break the ice, only seemed to heighten the difort. Emmitt nodded in agreement, though he didn¡¯t understand why his parents wouldn¡¯t let Summer stay. He didn¡¯t ask any questions- after all, she was now considered the heiress to the illustrious Gilbert family, a status not to be taken lightly, and the Gilberts were known to be a tough crowd. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 As Emmitt and Summer stepped into the elevator, Delh¡¯s fa?ade of polite unfamiliarity instantly gave way to a tender watchfulness. She turned to Mirabe with a voice softer than a southern breeze, cooing. ¡°Sweetheart, let¡¯s get you inside¡­ Before the elevator doors slid shut, Summer caught a glimpse of her foster mother¡¯s abrupt switch in demeanor. Summer¡¯s face turned a shade of unpleasant darkness in the blink of an eye. The Davis residence wasn¡¯t exactly a mansion, but their two¨Cstory duplex boasted afortable size. The d¨¦cor was a refined blend of ssical elegance with furniture that gave the impression of heirloom quality. You could tell the homeowners had a discerning eye. Mirabe took her time surveying the ce until her gazended on a framed piece of painting on the wall A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but it was quickly dismissed as she mentally rejected the possibility of it being an original masterpiece. Even though the Davis family didn¡¯t seem to be living hand¨Cto¨Cmouth, they were hardly in the league of owning priceless art. The painting was likely a replica. Shawn, who had been ruminating on how to break the ice with his daughter, caught the brief moment of her attention on the artwork. He saw an opportunity and spun it. ¡°Mira, do you have an appreciation for painting?¡± he asked, his face blooming with an easy smile. Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly as shezily replied, ¡°Nope, not interested.¡± Shawn was momentarily taken aback, and his throat clogged with a barrage of artsy topics that never saw the light of day. After a moment, he managed to utter. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not, huh¡­¡± Seeing him look a bit deted, Mirabe added after a thoughtful pause. ¡°Different strokes for different folks.¡± That seemed to restore Shawn¡¯s paternal pride, and he eagerly followed up. ¡°So, what are your interests then?¡± Mirabe, recalling her life before this body hop, fell into silence. Then, lifting her head to face Shawn with earnest eyes, she confessed. ¡°Studying.¡± The response almost broke Shawn¡¯sposure, his eyebrow twitching violently. How was a girl notorious for skipping sses now iming her passion was studying? Shawn observed his seemingly serious daughter and began to wonder if he had been misled during his previous inquiries at the small¨Ctown school. ¡°Shawn, are you showing off that old scribble again?¡± Delh¡¯s voice cut through the air as she carried dishes from the kitchen, her eyes casting a yful yet scathing nce at him. With amanding shout, she added, ¡°Come and set the table already!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not showing off.¡± Shawn protested, touching his nose before reluctantly heading toward the kitchen, muttering under his breath, ¡°Why does everything look like junk to you? That plece is actually¡­¡± His words trailed off into an unintelligible mumble, so Mirabe didn¡¯t quite catch the rest. However, the term ¡®old scribble¡® used by Delh was loud and clear. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. After dinner, Delh led Mirabe upstairs. The second floor housed four rooms. The one prepared for Mirabe was at the far end of the hallway on the right. As Delh pushed open the door, she exined, ¡°This room used to belong to Leo. He¡¯s got ants in his pants and hardly ever shows up at home, so I decided to give the ce a makeover. Take a look, do you like it?¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 The lights flicked on to reveal a room awash in a sea of pink: wallpaper, wardrobe, queen¨Csized bed, curtains, and even the writing desk. It was as if everything, barring the floor, had surrendered to the hue. Mirabe blinked. Her eyes felt assaulted by the color. Delh stood proudly amidst her creation, the princess room she had meticulously arranged. ¡°This design masterminded by a renowned interior designer. What do you think? Isn¡¯t it girly, dreamy, and cozy?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Mirabe¡¯s lips twitched subtly. She scanned the room once more, finding little topliment in the style that seemed devoid of aesthetic appeal. A well¨Cknown designer surely wouldn¡¯t tarnish their reputation, she mused. Therefore, it was highly likely that her mother had been duped. After all many shady decorators were notorious for exploiting the designerbel to fleece unsuspecting clients. Pondering for a few seconds and determined not to crush her mother¡¯s spirit, Mirabe finally responded with a measured. ¡°If you¡¯re happy with it, that¡¯s what matters.¡± As her yawned, her stunning features softened in the warm light, a veil of fatigue barely concealing her weariness. Delh touched her nose, sensing an ambiguous undertone to her daughter¡¯s words. But with Mirabe¡¯s drowsiness. she decided not to probe further and simply advised her to rest well before leaving the room. Once the door shut, Mirabe pressed her fingers against her temples, surrounded by an unrelenting sea of pink. She unpacked her suitcase, retrieved her pajamas, and headed straight for the bathroom. She was, indeed, exhausted. Afterpeting in the city, she rushed back to the county early in the morning and then traveled non¨Cstop to Ashford. Even the most resilient would feel the toll of such a day. Meanwhile, back at the Gilbert family home. Summer couldn¡¯t sleep. Tossing and turning, she thought about Mirabe. about the way her foster parents had treated her that evening. Frustrated, she grabbed her phone and started scrolling through Twitter. Since joining Superstar Camp, Summer¡¯s sweet voice and cute image had garnered countless fans. With her agency pushing her image through various channels, she became a fixture in the public eye. Thus, hertest airport photos with a few fans naturally made their way onto Twitter¡¯s trending topics. The photos were ttering. Her fans had polished them up. Within just a couple of hours, thements had surged to nearly ten thousand¨Ca testament to her skyrocketing poprity despite not having officially debuted. The only w was that two of the photos captured Mirabe¡¯s silhouette in the background. While her face was obscured, and the fans had blurred the backdrop, Mirabe¡¯s tall, slender figure and her distinctive aura somehow added a mysterious beauty to the images. It was indistinct yet intriguing. Summer frowned, finding the two photos irksome. After a few seconds of contemtion, she began reading thements. Although some fans were curious about the masked person, their inquiries went largely unnoticed, swallowed up by the sea ofments. Summer exhaled a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been holding and continued scrolling through the adtions, which gradually soothed her sour mood. She chided herself for the ridiculous sense of threat she had felt earlier. So what if Mirabe, that country bumpkin, is easy on the eyes? She¡¯s still a coarse, vulgar person with no redeeming qualities, just a pretty face. And even if she goes back to the Davis family, what difference does it make? Could she ever outshine Summer? With a scoff, Summer turned off her phone. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 The next morning. Mirabe woke up bright and early. Her internal clock was as reliable as the Big Ben, sounding off at six a.m., rain or shine. However, due to the change of scenery, she lounged in bed for a few extra minutes before slowly crawling out and shuffling to the bathroom for a leisurely wash¨C up. After emerging, she plopped down on the floor, legs crossed, and started to sort through her suitcase. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She hadn¡¯t packed many clothes, just two outfits. The remaining space was taken up by an assortment of ubeled bottles and jars, along with two iron boxes that whispered tales of antiquity. Mirabe only took out the clothes, pondered for a moment, picked two bottles from the collection, and then zipped up the suitcase without bothering to reset thebination lock. Scanning the room, her gaze finally settled on the wardrobe door. She stood, grabbed her suitcase, and walked over. Swinging open the door, she was surprised to see it filled with brand new clothing that, whilecking tags, seemed of decent quality. As for the style¨CMirabe had no qualms, finding it a vast improvement over the room¡¯s overly girly decor. After stuffing her suitcase in a corner, Mirabe changed into activewear and twisted her long hair into a bun before heading out of the room. She had always been one for morning runs and wasn¡¯t about to let a change of location disrupt her routine. By 8 a.m.. Delh had breakfast ready and waiting on the table. She nced towards the staircase, then at her husband Shawn, who was engrossed in the newspaper in the living room. ¡°Shawn, should we wake our daughter for breakfast?¡± Shawn adjusted his sses on the bridge of his nose and replied, ¡°Let the kid sleep in. She was exhaustedst night and went to bedte. No need to disturb her dreams.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Delh nodded, about to add something when the doorbell rang. She looked puzzled, ¡°Who could that be this early in the morning?¡± Shawn put down the paper, thoughtful. ¡°Could it be the ountant?¡± Delh shot him a look. ¡°Emmitt, it¡¯s only the 20th. Payday is still a few days away.¡± Shawn had an ¡®aha¡® moment, then added, ¡°Let the ountant know not toe by the house this month. Our daughter just got back, and I don¡¯t want to startle her.¡± Delh thought it over and agreed. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll tell them. Let me check who¡¯s at the door.¡± Soon after, Delh opened the inner door to find Mirabe standing outside, leaving her stunned for a few seconds. Snapping out of it, she quickly unlocked the door with a surprised tone, ¡°Mira, what are you doing outside?¡± Fresh from her run, Mirabe¡¯s face was flushed with the exhration of exercise, a few strands of hair sticking to her cheeks, and a bead of sweat tracing a path down her face, which she wiped away with a hand. ¡°I like to get in a workout in the morning.¡± Delh was pleasantly surprised, nodding her head, ¡°A morning run is great, a very good habit.¡± But after a brief pause, she hurriedly added, ¡°It¡¯s also fine for a girl to sleep in once in a while, you know. It¡¯s good for the skin.¡± ¡°Breakfast is ready. Why don¡¯t you take a quick shower ande down?¡± Delh said as she walked back inside. continuing the conversation. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ve put some new clothes in your closet. I just bought them. See if you like them. If not, we can get more.¡± Get more? Mirabe stopped in her tracks, her expressionplex. ¡°Mom, are we rich or something?¡± 1/2 12:37 Chapter 15 Delh turned around, her face a picture of astonishment, the words ¡°Or I could have a designere over and tailor¨Cmake them for you¡± suddenly frozen on her lips. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 In a heartbeat, Mirabe found hersell wrapped in Delh¡¯s arms. Mirabe blinked, caught off guard by Delh¡¯s embrace. ¡°Oh, my sweet girl, you finally called me Mom!¡± Delh¡¯s voice quivered with excitement, almost on the verge of tears. Mirabe sighed. It was as if they were on different wavelengths. Ten minutester, after a brisk shower, Mirabe descended the stairs in aid¨Cback, oversized tee paired with distressed jeans. Despite the casual clean look, she exuded a cool vibe. ¡°My daughter¡¯s just so gorgeous,¡± Delh mused, resting her chin in her hand as she admired Mirabe walking towards her. Even though she wasn¡¯t wearing the clothes she had bought for her, it didn¡¯t stop her from cheering on her daughter¡¯s beauty. Shawn chimed in with a proud nod. ¡°She¡¯s definitely got my good genes.¡± Delh gave him a yful roll of her eyes. ¡°Get real, she obviously takes after me.¡± ¡°Whatever you say, dear.¡± Shawn quickly conceded, the picture of a doting husband. As Mirabe drew closer, she overheard their banter, and felt bombarded by their public disy of affection. Soon, Mirabe took her seat at the dining table. She had always been a girl of few words, often maintaining her silence during the meal responding to Shawn and Delh¡¯s asional conversation starters with monosybic ¡®yeahs¡® and ¡®uh¨Chuhs.¡® Shawn and Delh didn¡¯t interpret their daughter¡¯s reticence as arrogance. Instead, they felt a twinge of guilt. This poor child must¡¯ve been so lonesome, so starved of affection, to develop such a solitary nature. Unaware of their thoughts, Mirabe finished her breakfast. Noticing Delh asionally press her temples, she seemed to remember something and quickly went upstairs. She returned in a couple of minutes, holding two small bottles she had retrieved from her suitcase, and handed one to each of her parents. ¡°Here, I got these for you.¡± Mirabe said softly, her exquisite face wearing a casual expression. Delh examined the small bottle with curiosity as she unscrewed the cap. ¡°What¡¯s this? It¡¯s quite a fancy little thing¨C As soon as the lid was off, a rich herbal scent wafted out. The aroma instantly made Delh feel refreshed as if her spirit had been cleansed. She suffered from chronic migraines that red up now and then. With no cure in sight, she relied on painkillers for relief. This morning, her head had started to hurt, but she didn¡¯t want to show her pain in front of her daughter. This scent miraculously seemed to soothe her migraine in an instant. ¡°Mira, what is this?¡± Delh asked, surprised and delighted, inhaling the scent, feeling the urge to bask in it forever. Mirabe saw Delh visibly rx and nonchntly replied, ¡°They¡¯re just herbal fragrance pills¡­ kind of like incense. They help with focus, rxation, and pain relief.¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. She paused, then added, ¡°Keep one by your bedside each night. It should help with your migraines.¡± Delh was astounded, ¡°How did you know I suffer from migraines!¡± Not just Delh, even Shawn looked surprised. ¡°I noticed you pressing your temples at breakfast,¡± Mirabe said with clear eyes, offering no further exnation. Delh was taken aback, not expecting such attentiveness. But to deduce she had migraines just from that seemed almost magical. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Delh was daydreaming about some fantastical scenarios when Mirabe¡¯s voice reached her ears once again. ¡°These fragrance pills are just a supplement, not for long¨Cterm use. If you want aplete cure Mirabe paused, then casually added, ¡°I¡¯ll have to get a friend to send over some more targeted medication when I get the chance.¡± Delh¡¯s eyes snapped open in surprise. ¡°Are you saying there¡¯s a cure for my headaches?¡± With a cocky raise of her eyebrow, Mirabe said, ¡°Of course.¡± Others might fail, but her? Please, this was child¡¯s y to her. Delh touched her nose, not quite buying her daughter¡¯s words. After all, even the doctors had imed it was incurable. Her gaze shifted and rested on her husband¡¯s hand. ¡°Is your dad¡¯s bottle also filled with these fragrance pills?¡± The very idea of using herbal medicine and storing it in a ceramic jar gave off an vintage vibe that seemed out of ce in the modern world. Delh thought with an inward chuckle. Mirabe shook her head, her tone indifferent. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in my bottle then?¡± Shawn was genuinely curious. His attention had been on his wife earlier, and he hadn¡¯t opened the little ceramic jar. A stray lock of hair fell beside Mirabe¡¯s cheek, which shezily tucked behind her ear before replying in a drawl ¡°Well it¡¯s not exactly medicine, but you can think of it as a sort of ¡®Super Tonic Pill. Take one a month for vitality and good health.¡± Shawn¡¯s lips twitched as his face flushed a deep red, almost dropping the jar in his embarrassment. It was as if his masculine pride had been dealt a heavy blow. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Delh couldn¡¯t hold back herughter upon seeing her husband¡¯s expression. Their daughter was too cute. sending her dad a jar of supplements for libido. After a deep internal sigh, Shawn found an exquisitely carved mahogany box and carefully ced the little jar inside. Even if he didn¡¯t need it this was the first gift from his daughter. It had to be treasured. Delh rolled her eyes at the scene. As Mirabe pondered over Delh¡¯s migraines, she headed upstairs. Suddenly remembering something important, Delh quickly called out to her, ¡°Oh, look at me forgetting the big stuff. Almost slipped my mind.¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, her piercing eyes quietly waiting. ¡°It¡¯s about transferring schools,¡± Delh exined. With the school year starting in a few days, they needed to decide on a school within the next day or two. ¡°Your father and I have shortlisted a few. I¡¯ll show you the brochures, and you can pick one.¡± Saying this, Delh bent down, opened a drawer in the coffee table, and took out a stack of booklets. ¡°Take a a look at Anderson Public School. It¡¯s got decent teachers and close enough for you to walk from home. ¡°There¡¯s Auburn High School. It may not have the best college eptance rates, but it¡¯s top¨Cnotch for students aiming for art schools.¡± ¡°And then there¡¯s Maple Academy, a bit on the pricey side, but it¡¯s the next best thing after Parkside High School. Your dad and I are leaning towards this one.¡± Delh pulled out the brochure for Maple Academy and flipped through it, handing it to Mirabe, ¡°Normally, the school requires an entrance exam, but your dad and I pulled some strings. You can get in without having to take the test.¡± Mirabe, who had been waiting to get a word in, nced at the brochure with aplicated look in her eyes. She wasn¡¯t so much reading as she was pondering a question. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Maple Academy was one of those institutions that Mirabe had heard about, one that was undeniably founded on the almighty dor¨Ca private, elite school if there ever was one. With a staff of seasoned professionals and a rigorous academic hierarchy, only two types of students walked its hallowed halls; genuine geniuses and the filthy rich. In short, if your pockets were deep enough, you were in. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. 50- ¡°Have you already greased the school¡¯s palm?¡± Mirabe asked, breaking the silence with a stern look that seemed to pin her parents to their seats. Caught off guard by their daughter¡¯s seriousness, the couple exchanged a nce. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°No.¡± The first was a firm affirmation from Delh; the second was a denial from Shawn. Their failure to present a united Tront led to another silent exchange, this one tinged with mutual disapproval. Mirabe watched them with a half¨Csmile that somehow made Delh squirm. Feeling guilty under her daughter¡¯s gaze, Delh nudged her husband with her foot, signaling him toe up with an exnation. Taking his wife¡¯s cue. Shawn cleared his throat, straightened up, and with an earnest look on his still¨C handsome face. said. ¡°If you end up choosing this school your mother and I do indeed have ns to¡­ facilitate your eptance.¡± Hearing this, the seriousness on Mirabe¡¯s face softened. ¡°Good that you haven¡¯t paid yet. I¡¯ve already picked my school.¡± Though they were far from destitute, Mirabe saw no need for backdoor dealings. ¡°You¡¯ve chosen a school already? Which one?¡± Delh asked eagerly. Mirabe¡¯s gaze lowered slightly, her reply concise. ¡°Parkside High School.¡± Delh and Shawn were taken aback. Parkside High School? Had they misheard? Delh coughed, seeking rification. ¡°Sweetie, did you just say¡­ Auburn High School?¡± Mirabe set down the school brochure, her head tilting slightly, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°No, Parkside High School¡± ¡°But, honey, you¡¯re joking, right? Could you repeat that for me? Which school did you pick?¡± Despite being charmed by her daughter¡¯s nonchnt demeanor, Delh still suspected she was hearing things. Mirabe¡¯s eyes sparkled with earnestness. ¡°It¡¯s not a joke. Only Parkside High School meets my selection criteria.¡± Delh¡¯s expression shifted at her daughter¡¯s words. ¡°I know Parkside is the best, but it¡¯s beyond our reach, sweetie.¡± She was well aware of her daughter¡¯s freshman year grades. They were far from ster. ¡°Parkside is full of top students from all over. With your grades¡­ even if you get in, it might not be a good thing for you,¡± Shawn added, his expression turning grave at his daughter¡¯s ambition. Delh nodded in agreement. ¡°Exactly, your father¡¯s right. We don¡¯t expect you to be a top student; we just want you to be happy, even if it means going to an average university.¡± After all, they didn¡¯t need a fancy diploma for show. Emmitt, Zach, Nick, and Leo made up a quartet of prestigious university alumni, and that was disy enough. So Delh picked up several other school brochures and Intended to hand them to Mirabe. ¡°Take another look at these, Mira. If not, I¡¯ll call Maple Academy right now, and we¡¯ll settle on that one!¡± ¡°Maple is fine, darling. Daddy supports you.¡± Chapter 18 Watching her parents¡® discouraging response at the mention of Parkside High School, Mirabe pressed her temples with a hint of exasperation. ¡°Just give me a moment,¡± she said, standing up to ascend the staircase. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Before long. Mirabe descended the stairs, a letter in hand. Approaching Delh, she extended the envelope. Delh¡¯s eyes fixed on the letter passed from her daughter¡¯s hand. A flicker of confusion crossed her face before she epted it. ¡°What¡¯s this¡­?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°It¡¯s an eptance letter for a transfer to Parkside High School¡± Mirabe replied casually. As her words settled in the air, Delh, still in a state of disbelief, was struck dumb when she saw the Parkside High School emblem emzoned on the front of the envelope. She stood frozen, the letter unopened in her hands. Watching from the side, his expression hardening. Shawn snatched the eptance letter from his wife and quickly scanned it. When he looked up at Mirabe again, his face was a mix of shock and bewilderment. It turned out that when Mirabe had insisted she had chosen her school, she hadn¡¯t meant from the selection they had offered her. She had made her choice on her own. The date on the eptance letter was from the previous month. But¡­ weren¡¯t Mirabe¡¯s grades a mess? How could Parkside High School ept her? Snapping back to reality. Delh scrutinized the eptance letter thoroughly. Once convinced it was legitimate, she, like her husband, was filled with questions. She turned to Mirabe, about to speak. But Mirabe¡¯s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her eyes darkening at the sight of the unknown number before she raised her head and said to Delh and Shawn, ¡°I¡¯m gonna take this call¡± She then stepped out to the balcony, sliding the door closed behind her. Delh watched her daughter¡¯s retreating figure and murmured, ¡°Shawn, why would our girl have an eptance letter from Parkside High School? The seal seems legit, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Shawn narrowed his eyes, pondering for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°I doubt it¡¯s a fake.¡± ¡°But the standards at Parkside High School¡­ can Mira¡¯s grades even get her through the door? Didn¡¯t Summer mention her previous middle school was the kind you had to pay to get in?¡± Knowing her daughter¡¯s poor academic performance was precisely why Delh doubted the Parkside High School eptance letter. Shawn, thoughtful, simply said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. You gotta have faith in your daughter.¡± Delh sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust her. I¡¯m just afraid she¡¯s been duped!¡± Shawn looked at her curiously. Delh couldn¡¯t help but express her worry, ¡°Our daughter was raised in a small town, unfamiliar with the harshness of the world. Think about it. Where did this Parkside High School transfer eptancee from?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it from the school? Where else could it be from?¡± Shawn grew even more confused by his wife¡¯s anxiety. Delh scratched her head. ¡°What I mean is, could our daughter have gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd? Remember when we visited her old town and asked her teacher about her? Do you remember the things he said?¡± At that Shawn¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and he nced toward his daughter, who was now standing on the balcony. talking on the phone. She was casually resting her arm on the railing, fingertips tapping rhythmically. The sliding door muffled her voice, making it impossible to discern her conversation. However, she soon hung up and turned around. Her deep eyes met Shawn¡¯s gaze, and she nonchntly raised an eyebrow as if she knew someone had been watching her. A chill ran down Shawn¡¯s spine. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Mirabe breezed back into the living room, not waiting for Delh and Shawn to speak up before asking, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s our full address? A friend of mine wants to send me something.¡± As she spoke, her fingers were already poised over her phone, ready to take down the details. Delh rattled off the address, and after she finished, she paused, then asked in a hushed tone, ¡°A friend of yours? Someone you met while staying at Summer¡¯s grandma¡¯s ce?¡± Mirabe was busy texting and briefly hesitated upon hearing Delh¡¯s question. She nced up, nonchntly grunted an ¡°Mhm,¡± and continued with her texting. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Sensing Delh¡¯s eagerness to probe further, Shawn gently tugged at her arm and shook his head, silently advising restraint. Their daughter had just returned home. It was perhaps best not to pry too much so soon. After sending off her message, Mirabe pocketed her phone and turned her full attention back to Delh. ¡°Did you have a question for me?¡± she inquired. Delh hesitated, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She shook her head and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Then her eyes caught sight of the Parkside High School transfer eptance letter, and after a few seconds of contemtion, she spoke up. ¡°I almost forgot. Summer goes to Parkside High, too. I¡¯ll call her and ask her to look out for you a bit. You two might have been mixed up at birth, but she¡¯s got a gentle nature. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get along.¡± Despite Summer¡¯s somewhat unpleasant demeanor the previous night, she had studied in Parkside for a while and would be a good ally for Mirabe in unfamiliar territory. Remembering her first encounter with Summer, Mirabe¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile as she simply responded with a nomittal ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Right, Summer¡¯s on that reality show now¡­ What¡¯s it called?¡± Delh pped her forehead, trying to jog her memory. ¡°Superstar Camp,¡± Shawn chimed in helpfully. ¡°That¡¯s it, Superstar Camp. Have you seen it, Mira? It¡¯s all the rage with the young folks,¡± Delh said, presuming it would be right up her daughter¡¯s alley. Mirabe, disinterested, shook her head. ¡°Never watched it.¡± Delh, who had been about to suggest voting for Summer on the show, instead changed tack. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t watch. that stuff, huh?¡± ¡°Nope, it¡¯s a waste of time.¡± Mirabe repliednguidly, adding after a beat, ¡°Gets in the way of studying.¡± Delh¡¯s smile faltered, and she found herself momentarily at a loss for words.. Changing the subject, Mirabe inquired. ¡°So, do my brothers not live here anymore?¡± Delh nodded. ¡°They¡¯ve all got their own lives and moved out some time ago.¡± After a brief pause, perhaps sensing potential confusion, Delh added, ¡°Your return was quite sudden. Only Emmitt is here. Zach, Nick and Leo are out of town. They¡¯lle visit once they¡¯re less busy.¡± At the mention of them having their own lives, Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched in curiosity. She deliberately asked. ¡°They all have jobs?¡± Delh blinked, not quite understanding the intent behind her daughter¡¯s pointed question, but she nodded affirmatively nheless. Satisfied with the response, Mirabe didn¡¯t press further. Instead, she said sweetly. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to my room.¡± Once in her room, Mirabe¡¯s eyesnded on the brand¨Cnewptop resting atop her desk. She pondered for a few seconds before walking over and booting it up. The desktop was pristine, devoid of any clutter or additional software. Chapter 20 She opened a web browser and quickly typed out a string of words on the keyboard, hitting the ¡®Enter¡® key with purpose. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 In no time at all, theputer¡¯s main screen popped up with a verification box. Mirabe deftly entered a few words and cleared the verification, and only then did she gain ess to the website¡¯s homepage. But before she could even make out the details of the page, the screen dimmed once more. A user login dialog appeared. Mirabe watched the screen expressionlessly, typing in her username and password while shaking her head in N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. disbelief. What a piece of work this site was, always with the dramatics. It was going to crash and burn one of these days. A chime sounded swiftly, and she logged in sessfully, greeted by a bright, bold line of text at the top of the homepage, [The Mirror. If you can dream it, we can sell it.) Mirabe¡¯s lips twitched violently at the slogan. She casually scrolled through, finding nothing particrly fresh or challenging, and was about to close the site in boredom. Just then, her ount avatar started shing. Someone was looking for her. Raising an eyebrow, Mirabe clicked on the avatar, and a message popped up. A little green dot beneath the sender¡¯s icon indicated they were online. CoolAutumnBreeze: Holy smokes, kiddo, you¡¯ve finally shown up! CoolAutumnBreeze: Where in the world have you been all year? Why haven¡¯t you been online? CoolAutumnBreeze: Kiddo, you there? Why the silence? Mirabe stared at theputer for a long while before sluggishly typing a symbol BaldyBabe The nickname was a random choice she made when registering, and since she couldn¡¯t be bothered to come up with something else, she never changed it. To her annoyance, the site didn¡¯t offer a rename option, so she was stuck with this ridiculous moniker. CoolAutumnBreeze: Dude, where have you been? It¡¯s been a year without a trace of you. Mirabe¡¯s fingertips paused, weighing her response, and after a moment- BaldyBabe: Ever had a time¨Ctravel experience, darling? Across theputer, Riley was sipping water when he read the message on the screen and nearly spat it out. CoolAutumnBreeze: Oh man, you haven¡¯t been hacked, have you? You¡¯re asking such a daft question! BaldyBabe: ¡­Scram! The familiar irate response, the same old Mirabe. CoolAutumnBreeze: Ha, just kidding. BaldyBabe: Logging off. CoolAutumnBreeze: Wait up, buddy, don¡¯t go. I need to ask about someone. BaldyBabe: Who? CoolAutumnBreeze: Cian, Mirabe¡¯s expression twisted oddly at the name, and she stayed silent, not responding right away. After a long wait, Riley sent another message: Dude, are you still there? ht away 1/2 19-14 Chapter 21 Mirabe¡¯s gaze lowered slightly, her fingers moved, and she replied: Don¡¯t know him. But why are you asking about this guy? CoolAutumnBreeze: Just helping a friend. They¡¯re looking to buy some meds from him. Heard he¡¯s quite the enigma. At first. I thought you might know him. BaldyBabe: I don¡¯t know him. I¡¯m out. CoolAutumnBreeze: Alright then. If it¡¯s cool with you, bro, can you leave me a contact? We¡¯ve known each other for nearly three years. BaldyBabe: Not cool. Bye. Mirabe promptly shut down herputer. Baldu Riley watched his friend BaldyBabe¡¯s¡® avatar go dark and scratched his head in frustration. The bald monk was still as aloof and heartless as ever! He closed the website and pondered for a few seconds before grabbing his phone from the table and sending out a text message. Since Mirabe returned to the Davis household, aside from her daily morning jogs, she spent most of her time indoors. Delh had tried to coax her out several times, only to be turned down with the excuse that she had to study. This was really making Delh quite vexed. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 On Sunday, Mirabe¡¯s package arrived. It wasn¡¯t particrlyrge, yet it was surprisingly heavy. Shawn, who had mustered the strength of Hercules and enlisted his wife¡¯s help, finally managed to heave the box from the doorstep into the living room. Delh eyed her husband, puffing and panting, and teased, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take that supplement Mira sent you, hon.¡± Shawn¡¯s forehead was a symphony of throbbing veins. Exhausted, he had no desire to speak. Mirabe descended the staircase just in time to witness the scene. She headed to the kitchen for a ss of water. ¡°Honey, your package is here.¡± Delh called out to her. With a nonchnt hum, Mirabe set down her ss and approached. ¡°What on earth did your friend send you? It¡¯s so heavy,¡± Delh said, her curiosity piqued. Mirabe¡¯s eyes lowered slightly as she rolled up her sleeves, answering casually, ¡°Oh, just a bunch of knick¨Cknacks.¡± As she spoke, she bent down and effortlessly lifted the box, her slender frame seeming to harbor boundless strength. ¡°I¡¯m heading upstairs,¡± she dered, her voice betraying no sign of strain. Beside her, Shawn, who had struggled so mightily, was bbergasted. Was his daughter a strongwoman? The box must have weighed at least fifty pounds. How could she lift it with such ease? Delh, too, was taken aback. In that instant, her mental image of a delicate and dainty daughter began to crumble. Mirabe had always been strong and was unaware of the psychological shadows she cast on her parents by merely lifting a box. After a year in her current body, which had initially felt feeble, she had undergone extensive conditioning and training that had left her in the best shape so far. To her, a box weighing forty or fifty pounds was a trifle. After hauling the box to her room, Mirabe spent the entire afternoon tinkering with its contents, scarcely leaving her sanctuary. Meanwhile, Delh made several trips to her daughter¡¯s door, contemting a knock but ultimately deciding against it. It wasn¡¯t until dinner time that Mirabe emerged, a trace of fatigue gracing her delicate features. Emmitt was present at dinner as well, which surprised Mirabe. Since picking her up from the airport, he had not once returned home. Whether he was simply too busy or reluctant to ept her as his sister, she didn¡¯t know. And frankly. it didn¡¯t matter to her. At the dinner table, Emmitt¡¯s expression was a mix of emotions. ¡°Mirabe, Mom told me you¡¯re transferring to Parkside High School?¡± he asked. She mentioned choosing Parkside High a few days ago, but he thought she was just boasting. Deep down, he had little respect for her, which was why he didn¡¯t bother toe by after dropping Summer off at the Gilbert family. Had it not been for several calls from his mother, he might not have returned even today. You could only imagine his shock upon seeing the eptance letter from Parkside High School that his mother had shown him. Mirabe was focused on her meal, and only after a considerable dy did she lift her head to meet Emmitt¡¯s gaze with her own clear eyes, replying. ¡°Yeah¡­ I am. I¡¯m going to register tomorrow.¡± Meeting his sister¡¯s pure gaze, Emmitt felt as if something was lodged in his throat, and it took him a moment to murmur. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll take you to school tomorrow.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need. I can take the bus. You¡¯ve got your things to do.¡± Mirabe responded, thinking she was being considerate and helpful. Hearing this, Emmitt¡¯s difort intensified. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Emmitt felt a pang of shame for his earlier presumptions, so he was all the more insistent on driving her to school. Mirabe had finished her meal and was about to agree to his offer when he added, ¡°Summer¡¯s at Parkside High School too. I promised her I¡¯d drive her on the first day of school. You¡¯re not familiar with Parkside, and with Summer there, you¡¯d have¡­¡± Before he could finish, Mirabe cut him off with a cool, ¡°No need, I can manage on my own,¡± the corner of her mouth twisting in self¨Cmockery. With that she stood up, nced at Delh and Shawn, and said, ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m heading upstairs.¡± Without waiting for a response, she walked away. Soon after, Mirabe¡¯s figure vanished at the stairwell. Snapping back to reality, Emmitt frowned slightly, wondering if she was throwing a temper tantrum because he mentioned driving Summer, too. He looked at his parents and said with a heavy voice, ¡°Has she been like this since she got back?¡± And here he was, feeling a bit guilty just moments ago. Understanding the implication of his question, Delh instinctively defended her daughter, ¡°Mira¡¯s actually got a great personality. But you know she¡¯s just returned, and you haven¡¯te to see her for days. That might be the reason she¡¯s a bit upset.¡± Despite feeling somewhat at fault, Emmitt couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°Even if she¡¯s upset, that¡¯s no excuse for her attitude. Mom. I know she¡¯s just returned, but don¡¯t spoil her too much.¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Delh didn¡¯t take kindly to her son¡¯s words, pping the table with a bit of ferocity, ¡°Hey, why are you so hard on your sister? What did she ever do to you?¡± Emmitt quickly stood up, raising his hands in a cating gesture. ¡°Okay, my bad. I shouldn¡¯t havee tonight. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± The sound of the front door closing echoed momentster. Delh nced at the barely touched dinner, feeling overwhelmed. ¡°Emmitt seemed to get along fine with Mira when he picked her up. Why is he acting up today?¡± Shawn reached out, gently patting her shoulder, soothingly saying. ¡°Take it slow. Our daughter just got back. They need time to readjust.¡± ¡°I always thought Emmitt was the most level¨Cheaded. He should¡¯ve gotten along best with Mira, but now¡­¡± Delh rubbed her temples, feeling the onset of a headache. The other Davis kids, Zach, Nick and Leo, were wild cards and hadn¡¯te home yet. Who knew what kind of conflicts they¡¯d spark next? After leaving the neighborhood, Emmitt¡¯s mind was racing as he drove. Eventually, he decided to call Summer and arranged to meet her at a nearby diner. Half an hourter. ¡°Emmitt, why¡¯re you calling me out thiste? Is something up?¡± Summer asked as she sat down across from him. After gaining a following from Superstar Camp, she became somewhat of a celebrity and had taken to wearing sunsses and a mask in public. Now, in the privacy of the booth, she had removed them. Emmitt poured her a ss of water. ¡°No rush, let¡¯s order some food first.¡± He handed her the menu. Summer casually ordered a steak, sipped her water, and tentatively asked, ¡°Emmitt, are you here because of Mira¡¯s school situation?¡± She had mentioned helping Mirabe with school on the drive home but hadn¡¯t heard a peep from the Davis family since. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Emmitt rested his hands on the tabletop, peering at Summer as the corners of her lips curved into a bittersweet smile. ¡°I guess you could say that.¡± Spotting his expression, Summer¡¯s face softened with concern. ¡°Haven¡¯t settled on a school yet? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll just give my dad a call right now¡­¡± She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. ¡°No need for calls,¡± Emmitt interjected, ¡°it¡¯s not that we haven¡¯t chosen a school.¡± Summer¡¯s hand, poised to dial paused mid¨Cair as she looked at him, puzzled. After a slight tug at the corner of his lips and a two¨Csecond silence, Emmitt revealed, ¡°She¡¯s already picked her school. It¡¯s Parkside High School,¡± Summer blinked in disbelief as if she hadn¡¯t quite heard him right. It took a moment for it to sink in, then with a voice tinged with incredulity and something else, sheughed, ¡°Emmitt, are you talking about Parkside High School? That¡¯s my school isn¡¯t it?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Seeing Summer¡¯s astonished look, Emmitt knew she was as skeptical as he¡¯d expected. After a pause, he spoke up. *She¡¯ll be registering at the school tomorrow. Actually, the reason I asked you out sote is to see if you could keep an eye on her for us.¡± He paused before adding. ¡°Mira¡¯s been raised in a small, out¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cway town and hasn¡¯t seen much of the world. We¡¯re not exactly clear on how her grades are, but they¡¯re definitely not Parkside High material. I have no clue how she got her hands on that transfer eptance letter from Parkside High, but she¡¯s adamant about going. So, Summer, I¡¯m really counting on you.¡± Though Emmitt had reservations about Mirabe, she was family, and he intended to help where he could. Summer listened intently, her gaze dropping momentarily as she suppressed certain emotions within. It took only a second before she looked back at Emmitt with a sweet smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Emmitt. You didn¡¯t have to ask¨CI¡¯ll take good care of Mira.¡± Emmitt had always known Summer to be a sweet girl, and looking at her now, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of regret. If only there hadn¡¯t been that baby mix¨Cup. ¡°But Emmitt, you just mentioned you¡¯re unsure where Mira¡¯s transfer letter came from?¡± Summer quickly resumed her questioning with a feigned puzzled look. Emmitt nodded, ¡°Yeah, Mom and Dad are clueless too.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Summer fiddled with her phone¡¯s edge, then put on an uncertain expression. ¡°You know, I vaguely rememberst month. I think I overheard my dad on the phone with the principal of Parkside High.¡± At this, Emmitt visibly stiffened. Last month? Wasn¡¯t that around the same time as the date on his sister¡¯s admission letter? But then it struck him¨CMirabe hadn¡¯t been raised in the Gilbert family. She¡¯d been left to grow up in a distant town with her grandmother. Considering her rather unprivileged upbringing, would the Gilberts really pull strings to get her into such a prestigious school? He found it hard to believe. Keenly observing Emmitt¡¯s shifting expressions, Summer saw his brow furrow and quickly added, ¡°But you know, a school as demanding as Parkside High might be tough to get into, even with my dad¡¯s influence. Maybe I misheard.¡± With an innocent shrug and a yful stick of her tongue, she looked every bit the harmless girl next door. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, Emmitt. As long as the transfer letter is legit, it doesn¡¯t matter who helped her. We¡¯re all just looking out for Mira.¡± Emmitt¡¯s frown deepened at her words. Summer nced at Emmitt¡¯s silent brooding, a sly smile tugging at her lips, but she said no more. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Emmitt was in a foul mood, all thanks to the drama with Mirabe. Even chatting with Summer became a half¨Chearted. affair. After polishing off a hearty dinner, Emmitt drove Summer back home without much conversation. As they pulled up to the grand entrance of the Gilbert family estate, Summer unfastened her seatbelt and turned to Emmitt. ¡°Hey, Emmitt why don¡¯t youe in for a bit? My dad¡¯s been asking for you and told me to invite you over several times.¡± Emmitt¡¯s hand rested on the steering wheel as he cast a nonchnt nce toward the impressive mansion just beyond the car window. He shook his head. ¡°Nah, it¡¯ste, and it doesn¡¯t feel right. Maybe some other time.¡± A sh of disappointment flickered in Summer¡¯s eyes, but she maintained a genteel smile. ¡°Alright then, Emmitt. Drive safe. I¡¯ll see myself in.¡± She paused as it a thought had just struck her and yfully winked at him. ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t you forget about our date tomorrow, Emmitt.¡± Emmitt blinked, momentarily thrown off. ¡°You promised to personally take me to school on the first day, remember? Or did you forget?¡± Summer sped her chest, feigning heartbreak. Regaining hisposure, Emmitt chuckled and shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± Relieved. Summer beamed. ¡°Good, then. You better head home. I¡¯ll hop out now. See you tomorrow!¡± With a soft ¡°hm,¡± Emmitt watched Summer push the car door open to step out. But just as she was about to leave. Mirabe crossed his mind, and he called out almost instinctively, ¡°Summer.¡± She turned back, her expression one of confusion, ¡°Yeah?¡± Her clear eyes shone with Innocence, and her beautiful face had a soft understanding look to it. Emmitt smiled wryly, shaking his head again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just forgot to ask what time we should head to school. tomorrow.¡± you were about to Summer let out a relieved sigh, half¨Cjoking, ¡°You scared me for a second there. Emmitt. I thought you bail on me for tomorrow.¡± His eyes flickered, denying any such intention. ¡°No, not at all.¡± subject. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s make it eight o¡¯clock tomorrow,¡± Summer swiftly changed the subled ¡°Sure,¡± Emmitt replied. She waved goodbye and bounded out of the car, heading towards the mansion. Emmitt¡¯s gaze lingered on Summer¡¯s retreating figure until she was out of sight. He then slowly retracted. Il Mirabe didn¡¯t need him to take her to school, there was no reason for him to decline Summer¡¯s request, especially since she was like a sister to him. With that thought, any lingering guilt in Emmitt¡¯s heart faded away. Soon after, he started the car¡¯s engine and turned, leaving the Gilbert family behind. As Summer stepped through the door, her mother, Mandy, lounging on the living room sofa, looked up and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s keeping you out sote, honey?¡± Her tone was gentle, devoid of any usation. Summer strolled over and began to massage Mandy¡¯s shoulders with practiced ease, ¡°Oh, it was just Emmitt. He needed to talk.¡± ¡°Emmitt?¡± Mandy¡¯s brows furrowed at the mention of the name. ¡°That boy from your foster family again?¡± Summer knew Mandy looked down on the Davis family and simply hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°I ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep your distance from the Davis folks?¡± Mandy spoke earnestly, ¡°I know you¡¯ve got a big heart, 1/2 12:38 Chapter 25 you get to them. but those people, especially those so¨Ccalled brothers of yours, are not the bestpany. The closer y the more they might try to take advantage of you someday.¡± Summer¡¯s gaze fell slightly, thinking it was Mandy¡¯s prejudice and short¨Csightedness speaking. Mandy would never understand the true potential of the Davis family. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve got it under control, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all good,¡± Summer said softly, pausing for a brief moment before continuing. ¡°There¡¯s something kinda bizarre though. Mom, didn¡¯t you tell me that Mirabe¡¯s grades were a total mess?¡± Mandy¡¯s eyes were closed in the bliss of her daughter¡¯s massage. She took her time before responding in a faint voice, ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± Summer¡¯s hands didn¡¯t cease their gentle motions as she prodded cautiously. ¡°It looks like she¡¯s about to enroll at Parkside High School.¡± At that, Mandy¡¯s eyelids snapped open, her body turning slightly to cast an incredulous nce at Summer standing behind her. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Summer watched the astonishment wash over her mother¡¯s face, a hint of skepticism shing in her eyes. ¡°Emmitt came to me tonight. He mentioned that Mirabe¡¯s going to Parkside High School and asked me to keep an eye on her, you know, on the down¨Clow.¡± With a flicker of curiosity, Summer asked, ¡°Mom, did you and Dad pull some strings or something? How else could she get into Parkside High School?¡± ¡°How could we? With her grades, she¡¯d be lucky to get into any regr high school, let alone Parkside. If your father and I had intervened, wouldn¡¯t that be hurting the Gilbert family¡¯s reputation?¡± Mandy scoffed lightly. ¡°So you didn¡¯t help her? How did she get into Parkside High School then¡­?¡± Summer¡¯s face was tinged with curiosity. Mandy¡¯s expression darkened, her tone matching her mood, ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Summer nodded confidently. ¡°I¡¯m certain. Emmitt told me himself. He wouldn¡¯t lie to me.¡± Mandy sat up straight, silent for a moment, then reached for the smartphone on the coffee table. Mirabe was tinkering with a collection of antiquated¨Clooking gadgets when her phone, lying on the bed, began to ring. She paused, nced at it, then continued working on her nearly finished project, ignoring the call. However, the caller was persistent, and the ringing continued without respite. Focused on her task, Mirabe remained undisturbed. Soon after, she had carefully bottled the substance extracted from the apparatus and finally removed her gloves at a leisurely pace. The phone was still ringing. This time, Mirabe didn¡¯t ignore it. She walked over to the bed, picked up the phone, and, seeing the caller ID, she hesitated for a moment. With a quick swipe, she answered the call, only to be greeted by Mandy¡¯s frantic voice. ¡°I¡¯ve called you countless times. Why haven¡¯t you picked up?¡± Mirabe held the phone away from her ear, countering her foster mother¡¯s interrogation with a cool query. ¡°Something up?¡± On the other end, Mandy grew more irate ¡°what is that. Rubbing her temples, Mirabe had no patience for the nagging. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing important. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Aware that her foster daughter had grown increasingly rebellious and unrecognizable over the past year, Mandy cut to the chase. ¡°I have no idea what you pulled to get a spot at Parkside High School, but I¡¯m telling you now, I don¡¯t want you there. Your presence would be the joke of Parkside, a stain on the Gilbert family¡¯s name. ¡°Pick any other school in the city, and the Gilbert family can pull some strings to get you in. We¡¯ll even cover the tuition. But on one condition¨Cyou never tell anyone you were once a Gilbert.¡± At these words, Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched with amusement, and she remarked rather earnestly. ¡°Is the Gilbert family the richest in the world or something?¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Mandy¡¯s face turned a shade of red. ¡°Mirabe, have you lost your marbles?¡± With azy smirk tugging at her lips, Mirabe stretched out on her bed like a cat in a sunbeam, her striking eyes fixed on the ceiling. Her feathery, light voice floated through the air, ¡°If you¡¯re not the queen of Wall Street, then what gives you the gall to make such a racket here?¡± With a sigh, Mirabe ended the call. At the sound of the disconnected line, Mandy shook with rage, hurling her smartphone onto the coffee table with a tter. It bounced and skidded onto the floor. Summer, who stood nearby, flinched, a testament to the chilling atmosphere. She quickly bent down to retrieve the fallen device, observing the shattered screen before silently cing it back on the table. Then, taking a seat next to the fuming Mandy, Summer reached out and gently patted her back. ¡°Mom, simmer down, okay? No need to stoop to Mirabe¡¯s level. She was raised by Grandma and turned out a bit wild, so her words can be¡­ well rough around the edges. Don¡¯t take it to heart. It¡¯s not worth your health.¡± Summer had heard every word since Mandy had put the call on speakerphone. To be honest, even Summer was a bit taken aback by Mirabe¡¯s audacious tone. Her voice sounded perfectly normal, but it carried an undercurrent of arrogance that was hard to ignore. Mandy always cared deeply about appearances, and being confronted in such a manner was bound to get under her skin. After Summer murmured some soothing words, Mandy¡¯s expression finally softened. She looked at her obedient and sensible daughter and, with a touch of relief, stroked her hair. ¡°You¡¯re the considerate one.¡± Mandy was grateful once more, that the mix¨Cup at the hospital had been corrected. If she¡¯d been stuck with a daughter like Mirabe, it would¡¯ve been the death of her. Taking a deep breath, Mandy recalled the real reason for waiting up that evening. She reached for a petite purse on the table, pulled out a credit card, and handed it to Summer. ¡°School¡¯s about to start, and there¡¯s half a million on this card. Take it for now. If it¡¯s not enough, just tell me.¡± Summer tried to hand the card back. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve got enough money. I haven¡¯t even spent what you gave mest time.¡± Mandy insisted, pushing the card back into her hands. ¡°The Gilberts can¡¯t look less than anybody else. And with your training and online poprity soaring, you¡¯ve got to keep up appearances.¡± Summer nced at the card in her hand, then looked up with a smile. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Meanwhile, after ending the call, Mirabe was preparing to shower and get some sleep. She had just grabbed her pajamas from the dresser when a knock sounded at her door. ¡°Mira, are you up?¡± came Delh¡¯s voice from the hallway. Mirabe ced her sleepwear down thoughtfully and walked to the door, opening it to find her mother. Spotting her daughter¡¯sposed but passive attitude, and keeping in mind Emmitt¡¯s actions from earlier that evening. Delly gently queried, ¡°Are you cross with Emmitt?¡± Mirabe looked puzzled. ¡°Huh?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Delh¡¯s concern seemed to fade as she realized Mirabe apparently hadn¡¯t taken the evening¡¯s events to heart. She breathed a sigh of relief but felt a twinge of difort as she said, ¡°Sometimes, Emmitt can be a bit oblivious and not consider your feelings. Don¡¯t take it personally, okay?¡± Now understanding her mother¡¯s concern, Mirabe responded with sinct reassurance, ¡°I know, Mom. I¡¯m not upset.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Her gaze was so sincere that it was impossible to mistake her words for anything but the truth. Such a sensible daughter she had. Delh couldn¡¯t help but silently chew her eldest son out. The boy must¡¯ve been blind to use his sister of having a bad temper ¡°Ahem, d you¡¯re not upset. Your dad said he¡¯ll drive you to school tomorrow. You can sleep in a bit, Delh said hastily. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Then get some rest early. Don¡¯t stay up toote. I¡¯m heading out.¡± Delh advised, then turned to leave. ¡°Mom, wait a sec.¡± Mirabe suddenly called her back, then turned and walked into her room. In just a moment, Mirabe returned to the doorway, handing Delh a porcin jar. ¡°Take one every three days, and within a month, your migraines should clear up.¡± Delh, somewhat stunned, took the jar. ¡°This¡­did thise from a friend of yours?¡± She remembered her daughter mentioning something simr a few days ago, along with a package that had arrived today. Mirabe gave a nomittal hum in response. Holding the jar for some time. Delh finally smiled and said. ¡°Thank your friend for me. That¡¯s very thoughtful.¡± Although thest remedy Mirabe had given her did work wonders, Delh didn¡¯t quite believe in a complete cure for her migraines. Nheless, it was the thought that counted, and she appreciated her daughter¡¯s concern. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mirabe could see the skepticism in Delh¡¯s eyes but just smiled without further exnation. The next morning dawned crisp and clear. Mirabe descended the stairs dressed casually, her long ponytail swishing and a modest canvas backpack slung her shoulder. Though her look was simple, her striking, sculpted features lent her an effortlessly cool air. Delh watched her daughter with a sense of pride, thinking that while some people needed clothes to look good. Mirabe made the clothes look good. Whatever Mirabe wore, she wore with style. But then- ¡°Mira, why aren¡¯t y you wearing any of the clothes I bought you? Don¡¯t you like them?¡± Delh asked. Her hands were crossed over her chest, suddenly feeling that the skirts and dresses she¡¯d chosen might not be quite right for her daughter. Hearing this, Mirabe quickly exined to prevent another ¡®we can rece them if you don¡¯t like them¡® kind of extravagant offer. ¡°I¡¯m just morefortable in pants, and I¡¯ll be wearing a uniform at school anyway.¡± Delh considered this and then conceded, ¡°Alright, my bad. I¡¯ll pick out some pants for you next time.¡± over A daughter who could pull off sweet, cool, and everything in between? Absolutely needed the right wardrobe! Shawn, who had been reading the newspaper, also set it aside and picked up a card he had prepared earlier, walking over to her. ¡°Sweetheart, I didn¡¯t know what to get you, and I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re into. This card is my back¨Cto¨Cschool gift to you¨Cno limits, use it for whatever you need.¡± Mirabe¡¯s smile twitched as her eyesnded on the offered ck card. Weren¡¯t they supposed to be a struggling household? A ck card with no spending limit? This felt bizarrely like the luxury of a hidden, wealthy family. Seeing her stunned expression, Shawn remembered she had grown up in a small town. After a few seconds of thought. he insisted on putting the card in her hand, adding. ¡°Keep the card for now. The pin is your birthday. If you¡¯re notfortable using it, no worries¨CI¡¯ll go to the bankter and withdraw some cash for you.¡± Chapter 28 Mirabe was forcibly handed the card and felt like she was about to be bombarded with cash. What was going on? Chapter 29 Chapter 29 After breakfast, with a ck credit card snug in her pocket, Mirabe followed Shawn down the stairs. As they rode the elevator, she casually dropped a question, ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t we supposed to be pretty broke?¡± Shawn, caught off guard by his daughter¡¯s question and unsure where she might have heard such a thing, sighed as memories of tough times surfaced. ¡°We may not be rolling in dough, sweetheart, but don¡¯t you worry, I won¡¯t let you suffer,¡± he assured her. Mirabe tilted her head slightly, skepticism written all over her face. She couldn¡¯t reconcile the ck card and the easy talk of spending with being poor. That look made Shawn feel oddly guilty, but luckily, the elevator dinged, the doors slid open, and he coughed to cover his difort as he quickly exited. Mirabe¡¯s lips curved into a half¨Csmile, following him out with an amused glint in her eyes. The Davis residence wasn¡¯t far from Parkside High School just a twenty¨Cminute drive, so Mirabe didn¡¯t need to board. Shawn had wanted to walk his daughter into the school¡¯s administration office to check in, but the scramble for parking spaces on the first day of school forced a change of ns. After Mirabe reassured him that she would be fine on her own, he reluctantly drove off. Once Shawn¡¯s car was out of sight, Mirabe strolled towards the school gate at her own pace. Entry was by card swipe, and as a transfer student without an ID yet, she was stopped by the security guard. Mirabe pulled out her transfer notice from her backpack and handed it over. ¡°Will this work?¡± The guard took a look, and his expression changed. He called over a colleague before telling her, ¡°You¡¯ll need to wait here while I check this with the administration office.¡± With that, he didn¡¯t wait for a response and walked off with her transfer notice. Mirabe watched his retreating back, narrowing her eyes slightly. Was getting into a high school always such a hassle? Annoying as it was, she waited patiently. But ten minutes dragged on, and the guard hadn¡¯t returned. Mirabe massaged her temples, resisting the urge to criticize the school¡¯s efficiency. ¡°Could you chase up your colleague for me?¡± she asked the other guard politely. Good looks often made things smoother, and the guard nodded quickly, pulling out his phone to make a call, but there was no answer. After several attempts, he looked apologetically at Mirabe, ¡°My colleague must¡¯ve left his phone somewhere. No one¡¯s picking up.¡± The thought of waiting indefinitely irked Mirabe, and she nced at her watch before asking. ¡°Is there a contact number for the administration office or the principal?¡± Scratching his head, the guard looked even more embarrassed. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m new here and don¡¯t really know these details. Maybe you could wait a bit longer. My colleague might be back soon.¡± Deciding it was pointless to keep asking, Mirabe chose to wait. Just then, a ck sedan pulled up at the gate, and the guard hurried over, leaving Mirabe behind. The car window rolled down, and whatever was shown to the guard instantly brought a respectful look to his face. Mirabe, head bowed, didn¡¯t pay any attention until the sedan honked sharply. She looked up at the sound. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 The unassuming ck sedan glided smoothly along, its ordinariness almost a cloak of invisibility under the scrutiny of passersby. As the vehicle neared, its rear window slid down halfway, revealing a familiar half¨Cface. Mirabe paused mid¨Cstride, catching sight of the partial visage, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. James¡® eyebrows quirked in amusement, his mischievous eyes sparkling with mirth as he caught her gaze. ¡°Locked out?¡± he teased, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half¨Csmile. Mirabe¡¯s initial surprise quickly dissipated, reced by a resigned shrug that seemed to say, ¡®Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± A soft chuckle escaped James¡® lips before he offered, ¡°Hop in. I¡¯ll get you past the gate.¡± Wyatt, who had been dutifully driving without a word, nearly did a double¨Ctake at the sound of his boss¡® words. Was this really the same man who usually exuded an aura of detached frostiness? With an arched brow, Mirabe nced at the security guard standing nearby, noting his passive stance. After a brief moment of contemtion, she didn¡¯t decline the unexpected offer. She strode over, pulled open the car door, and slid into the backseat with a graceful ease. Meanwhile, Summer, approaching from a distance, caught the interaction and pointed toward the entrance, her voice tinged with surprise. ¡°Emmitt, isn¡¯t that Mira over there?¡± Emmitt, somewhat preupied as he escorted Summer to school, snapped to attention at her words. Following her pointed finger, all he saw was the ck sedan making its way into the school grounds, with no sign of Mirabe amidst the crowd. ¡°No, I don¡¯t see her, Summer. Are you sure?¡± he asked, his brow furrowed with confusion. Though it was a fleeting glimpse, Summer was quite certain that she had seen Mirabe enter the ck car. Emmitt. however, seemed to have missed it. Summer pondered briefly. She withdrew her gaze and murmured, ¡°Maybe I was mistaken. It couldn¡¯t have been Mira getting into a stranger¡¯s car.¡± She spoke thest part almost under her breath, too softly for Emmitt to catch properly. ¡°What stranger¡¯s car?¡± he inquired, seeking rity. Summer hesitated, then shook her head dismissively. ¡°Never mind.¡± After a brief pause, she added, ¡®Emmitt, I should head in. Thanks for going out of your way to bring me to school today.¡± Emmitt responded with a simple wave and a smile, which gradually faded as Summer¡¯s figure disappeared through the school gates. Was his sister in a stranger¡¯s car? Inside the car, Mirabe turned her head to look at James with a yful tilt of her head, resting her cheek on her hand. ¡°What a coincidence, neighbor boy.¡± The term ¡®neighbor boy¡® made James¡® lips twitch involuntarily, a wry sense of resignation washing over his handsome features. His voice, low and steady, corrected her gently, ¡°James. That¡¯s my name.¡± As his words settled, the car experienced a brief jolt. James raised an eyebrow, casting a casual nce at Wyatt, who sat ramrod straight in the driver¡¯s seat, avoiding any and all eye contact with the rearview mirror. Unperturbed by the subtle tension in the car, Mirabe maintained her nonchnt demeanor, murmuring. ¡°James¡­ It¡¯s a nice name.¡± James shifted in his seat, crossing his legsfortably. His tone was light as he probed, ¡°And the person attached to the name? Am I not appealing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a few days, and yet your skin seems to have thickened considerably,¡± Mirabe shot back with a sideways. nce. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. A softugh escaped James as his expression turned more serious. ¡°What was going on at the school gate?¡± he inquired. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Mirabe had to admit that her knowledge of James was rather thin, even after nearly a year of acquaintance. Their interactions were sparse, and she¡¯d only just learned his name when he offered it up in conversation. James cocked his head to the side, his eyebrow arching yfully at Mirabe. ¡°Do I look the part to you?¡± She gave him a once¨Cover, a frank shake of her head her only reply. ¡°Not really.¡± No school would dare hire a teacher who gave off such a creepy vibe. It¡¯d be like they didn¡¯t want their students to focus on their studies at all. A faint smile yed at the corners of James¡® lips as he admitted, ¡°I¡¯m definitely not a teacher.¡± Figures. Mirabe arched an eyebrow and nced out the car window, her interest in prying further evidently waning. ¡°Please, Just drop me off here. I can make it the rest of the way on my own.¡± Wyatt, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, slowed the car down at her request but didn¡¯te to a stop until he caught James¡® nod in the rearview mirror. ¡°Sure thing.¡± James murmured. Only then did Wyatt gently press the brake pedal. Mirabe swept a thoughtful gaze forward, muttered a brief thanks, and stepped out of the car. It was a few moments before Wyatt quietly started up the car again, stealing another nce at Mirabe¡¯s retreating figure through the window. He leaned in, his voice low with curiosity. ¡°James, is that Mirabe, the same girl you had us look into?¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mhm,¡± James replied, his voice detached. His usual cool demeanor returned as he casually tapped his long fingers against his knee. Wyatt appeared puzzled as he mused. ¡°She¡¯s pretty, sure, but I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so special about her.¡± He couldn¡¯t understand why his boss was so interested in an average high school girl. If the family got wind of it, it¡¯d surely cause a stir. e was intense. He spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°Being attractive is a specialty in its own James¡® gaze right.¡± Wyatt couldn¡¯t help but mutter. ¡°There are plenty of beauties in Riverdale. High societydies, no less, and I haven¡¯t seen you giving them a second nce.¡± ¡°Superficial¡± James scoffed softly, his handsome face etched with disdain.. Wyatt sighed internally. Such double standards¡­ Shaking his head, Wyatt decided to steer the conversation away from Mirabe, his expression turning serious. ¡°By the way, James, our contacts in the shadows say they can¡¯t find any trace of n. Could it be¡­ that this person doesn¡¯t actually exist?¡± After all, even their global informationwork, The Mirror, hade up empty. James¡® lips pursed slightly. ¡°Do you think those drugs concocted from ancient secrets are also fake?¡± A look of frustration crossed Wyatt¡¯s face. ¡°But we¡¯ve been searching for over a year.. ¡°Then we¡¯ll search for another year,¡± James replied, his tone light but unmistakably impatient. Wyatt nced at the rearview mirror before giving a quiet acknowledgment, dropping the subject. After her ride. Mirabe quickly found someone to point her to the guidance counselor¡¯s office. It didn¡¯t take her long to arrive at the doorway. She knocked and waited for a response before casually strolling in. The office housed a solitary figure, a teacher In his forties hunched over some paperwork at his desk. Mirabe approached and sinctly exined her presence. Chapter 31 Morgan, the guidance counselor, set down his pen, a look of surprise on his face. ¡°You¡¯re the Mirabe from Elm Creek who aced the online exam?¡± Mirabe adjusted her backpack strap with a nonchnt lift of her brows. ¡°Unless someone¡¯s been taking exams in my name, that¡¯s me.¡± Morgan appraised the confident girl before him, thinking how kids from small towns were always so full of themselves. never knowing when to dial it back. He shook his head and said, ¡°Hand over your eptance letter, then.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Arab¡¯s eyes fickered with a hint of amusement as she replied, ¡°The security guard just took my eptance letter he front gate. He said he was bringing it to the guidance counselor¡¯s office to check the details. Didn¡¯t you get it, Morgan furrowed his brow. ¡°No, I¡¯ve been in the office all morning and haven¡¯t seen any guarde by. But why on earth would you hand over something as important as your transfer notice to a security guard?¡± Mob¡¯s Matures darkened slightly, recalling how the guard by the gates had a strange look in his eyes when he w her letter. She hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time, but now it seemed like he had been walling for her, poised to snatch her nothication away. be I Aber a brief pause, Mirabe asked point¨Cnk, ¡°What happens if I don¡¯t have the eptance letter?¡± ¡°Wout that letter, you can¡¯t enroll at Parkside High School. If you don¡¯t have It, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to look for another school Morgan replied, stating the school¡¯s policy. Not even if the school has a record of it?¡± Morgan shook his head Aright then, I get it¡± Mirabe said, and without another word, she turned on her heel and left. Morgan watched her quick departure, momentarily stunned. By the time he gathered his thoughts, she was already out the door. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no words came out. ¡®Students too proud for their own good,¡± he thought. The school is better off without them.¡± Minutester. Anthony burst into the room, ¡°Morgan, did a girl named Mirabee in to report today?¡± He paused, men added. ¡°She¡¯s a senior transfer student.¡± Seeing the urgency in the principal¡¯s demeanor, Morgan didn¡¯t conceal the truth. ¡°She dide, but she just left.¡± Anthony rxed slightly, assuming she had already been directed to her ssroom. ¡°As long as she¡¯s reported in, thats fine. Ive got other things to handle, so I¡¯ll be off.¡± Confused by Anthony¡¯s hasty entrance and exit. Morgan caught the tail end of his assumption and quickly corrected him. ¡°No. Sir, Mirabe dide but left because she didn¡¯t have her eptance letter.¡± At this. Anthony wheeled around. ¡°What did you say? She left? How could you let her go?¡± Morgan, unsure why Anthony was so concerned about a transfer student, hesitated but recounted the earlier conversation, including the incident with the security guard. Anthony stamped his foot, frustrated, ¡°Morgan, sometimes you¡¯re too by¨Cthe¨Cbook. Do you have any idea who she is to the principal¡­ Never mind. I need to go find her.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. As Morgan watched Anthony rush off again, the unfinished sentence echoed in his ears. What rtion did she have to the principal? Was she a rtive, perhaps? Was this so¨Ccalled transfer student, not a top scorer but rather the principal¡¯s kin? The more Morgan thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was right¨Cno wonder the girl was so haughty and Anthony so anxious. Morgan¡¯s opinion of Mirabe plummeted. He despised these backdoor enrollees! Leaving the guidance counselor¡¯s office, Mirabe didn¡¯t bother heading to the school entrance to confront the security guard. He had deliberately taken her transfer letter. Even if she had found him now, the document might¡¯ve already been destroyed, and he could have denied everything, leaving her with no recourse. Hence, Mirabe decided to head straight to the principal¡¯s office. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. When Mirabe arrived at the principal¡¯s office, she found the door closed, and knocking yielded no response. It seemed no one was inside. With a sigh of frustration, Mirabe muttered to herself, ¡°High school sure is a hassle.¡± The nostalgia of her carefree days before school suddenly hit her. As she turned to leave, a bit downcast, she was intercepted by a female teacher whose face darkened at the sight of her. The teacher¡¯s voice was sharp as she asked, ¡°Youngdy, sses are about to start. Why are you still wandering around here?¡± Mirabe stopped in her tracks, batting her eyes innocently. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m new here. I just transferred. I¡¯m not sure which ss I¡¯m in, so I thought I¡¯d ask.¡± The teacher¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°You should head to the guidance counselor¡¯s office, not here. The principal is very busy and doesn¡¯t handle these matters.¡± With that, the teacher hurried into the principal¡¯s office without even knocking, just swiping her ID badge to get in. A momentter, she emerged, clutching a man folder, and looked surprised to see Mirabe still there. ¡°Why are your still standing around? Didn¡¯t I tell you to go to the guidance counselor¡¯s office?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Mirabe began. ¡°Never mind, follow me. I¡¯ll take you there on my way,¡± the teacher said with a shake of her head, striding ahead. And so, Mirabe was escorted back to the guidance counselor¡¯s office. ¡°Morgan, look up which ss this transfer student is assigned to. She needs to get to ss soon. Don¡¯t keep her waiting.¡± the teacher told the counselor before rushing off without waiting for a response. Morgan and Mirabe remained in the office, staring wide¨Ceyed at one another. Morgan was not thrilled to see this student who seemingly had an inside track, but recalling Anthony¡¯s attitude earlier, he managed to suppress his annoyance. He picked up the phone with a stony face and dialed a number. Mirabe Did Parkside High School teachers specialize in quick attitude changes? After Morgan hung up the phone, he sat down and said icily, ¡°Just stand over there and wait.¡± He didn¡¯t even nce at Mirabe. It wasn¡¯t long before Anthony hurried back, his gazending firmly on Mirabe as if he had finally exhaled in relief. ¡°Wee to Parkside High School Mirabe,¡± Anthony greeted her warmly. Mirabe nodded politely, the picture of good manners, but after a brief pause, she appeared troubled. ¡°A security officer took my eptance letter. Can I still enroll?¡± Anthony quickly reassured her, ¡°No problem at all. The eptance letter is just a formality. It won¡¯t affect your enrollment. I¡¯ll have someone inquire with security about it.¡± Catching Morgan¡¯s eye. Mirabe sighed and responded obediently, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Feeling as if Mirabe¡¯s nce had metaphorically pped him, Morgan didn¡¯t know what to say. Anthony, oblivious to the tension between Morgan and Mirabe, turned to Morgan and said, ¡°I¡¯m cing Mirabe in your ss. Make sure you take good care of her for me, okay?¡± Morgan¡¯s face went through a series of expressions! Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Anthony was at his wit¡¯s end. To think that he had to shoehom this haughty new student into Morgan¡¯s Prodigy ss Was he out of his mind? The Prodigy ss was the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of Parkside High School and the senior year was the most critical # word got out that someone had pulled strings to get in, there would be an uproar among the pareres Faced with this dilemma, Morgan didn¡¯t care about sparing Anthony¡¯s feelings. He fan¨Cout refused on the spot. ¡°Look why don¡¯t you ce Mirabe in another ss? The Prodigy ss is at full capacity, we can¡¯t squeeze in another without affecting the current students.¡± Morgan said with a tone of finality. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Anthony nced at Mirabe, feeling the awkwardness of the situation. This transfer student was someone the principal had personally persuaded toe over. Clearing his throat, Anthony asked Mirabe, ¡°Could you please wait here for a moment?¡± He then shot Morgan a meaningful look and stepped outside the office. Morgan, frowning, followed him out. ¡°Morgan, you-¡± Before Anthony could finish his plea, Morgan cut him off. ¡°Sir, I get what you¡¯re trying to say. The Prodigy ss is tull of top¨Ctier students, the pride and joy of our school. We don¡¯t need someone else dragging us down.¡± Anthony paused, taken aback. ¡°No, Morgan, you don¡¯t understand-¡± ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t bother. I won¡¯t ept the transfer student.¡± Anthony¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°For thest time, are you sure you won¡¯t take her?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Anthony chuckled out of frustration. ¡°Well, don¡¯te crying to meter!¡± Morgan¡¯s brow twitched at the remark, but he scoffed in return, ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± ¡°Fine then.¡± Anthony took a deep breath, resigning himself to the situation. At that moment, Ate, the teacher who had escorted Mirabe to the office, noticed the tension and asked with a hint of suspicion, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± With his irritation peaking. Anthony turned to Ate. ¡°How about it? I¡¯ve got a transfer student for you. Interested?¡± Ate, caught off¨Cguard by Anthony¡¯s sudden offer, blinked in confusion before collecting her thoughts. ¡°A transter student? Could it be the one you mentioned at the meeting the other day, the one who aced the online exam?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the one!¡± Anthony¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination. Without waiting for Ate¡¯s opinion, he made the decision. ¡°That settles it. Mirabe is now part of your experimental ss. She¡¯s in the office right now. Miss Ate. please take her to your ss.¡± Parkside High, like other prestigious schools, had a hierarchy of sses. The Prodigy ss was the elite of the elite, followed by The Advanced ss, and finally, the regr sses, which still boasted above¨Caverage gradespared to other schools¡® top sses. The principal had initially intended for Mirabe to join the Prodigy ss. However, with Morgan¡¯s staunch refusal Anthony had no choice but to ce her in The Advanced ss. It wasn¡¯t the best ss but was still better than the regr ones. Ate, now saddled with the unexpected responsibility of a new student, was still a bit dazed. She felt a twinge of apprehension when she saw Morgan visibly rx next to her. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Was there something off about the new kid? Ate mulled over this as she opened her mouth to say, ¡°Sir, Ills.. Anthony raised his hand with a flicker of impatience, ¡°I have VIP guests inday, I need to head over there With that Anthony was gone. Ate watched Anthony¡¯s retreating figure before turning back to Morgan. ¡°Morgan, was the director nning of putting the new kid in your Prodigy ss?¡± There was a bit of a rivalry between Morgan and Ate, with one running the Prodigy ss and the other overseeing The Advanced ss. Although there was a clear gap in their performance, Morgan still worried about a dark horse from the experimental group outshining his Prodigy ss, Clearing his throat, Morgan replied, ¡°Yes, but I refused. After all, the Prodigy ss Isn¡¯t just for anyone, Ate detected a hint of mockery in Morgan¡¯s victorious tone but kept her cool, smiling as she asked, ¡°What do you mean by that, Morgan? Didn¡¯t the new kid ace her entrance exams with perfect scores?¡± Morgan merely shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t know, don¡¯t ask me. Whether she had full marks or is top notch, she¡¯s in your ss now.¡± Ate¡¯s expression shifted as she caught on to the subtext. This ¡®perfect scoring¡® new kid might not be so perfect after all. The perfect scores were likely just a smokescreen. No wonder Morgan looked like he was enjoying someo else¡¯s misfortune. There was no turning back now. Taking a deep breath, Ate turned and entered the office. Seeing Mirabe, Ate paused. The new kid was the same one she had brought here after collecting some documents from the principal¡¯s office. She had been so preupied at the time that she didn¡¯t realize¡­ the new student would end up in her ss. Mixed emotions swirled within Ate. She coughed lightly and said, ¡°Mirabe, you¡¯re in ss 3 now. I¡¯m your homeroom teacher, Ate. Come with me. Let¡¯s get to the ss.¡± Her tone was neither bad nor particrly friendly. Unfortunately, Mirabe, who had been waiting In the office, had overheard the entire conversation outside. Anyone being forced into a ss as the ¡®problematic¡® new kid would feel unwee. Mirabe understood Ate¡¯s lukewarm attitude and simply responded obediently, ¡°Okay.¡± Ate couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Mirabe. The girl was pretty, humble, and docile. Humans are visual creatures. Even in a bad mood, beauty could lift the spirits. Ate was no exception. She remembered that Mirabe hailed from a small, somewhat remote town. They say kids from the countryside mature faster and are more sensible, which exined Mirabe¡¯s docility. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Well, for the sake of her obdience, Ate was willing to overlook even the worst grades. Before long. Ate led Mirabe Into the ssroom. The normally buzzing room fell silent at Ate¡¯s entrance. Ate was strict and often wore a stern expression, earning her the nickname ¡°The Iron Lady¡± among the students. many of whom feared her. Pleased with the discipline of her students, Ate cleared her throat and gestured to Mirabe, announcing. ¡°This is a new student who has transferred from another school. Let¡¯s all make sure to help her settle in.¡± She tactfully omitted the fact that Mirabe was from a small town. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Then, Ate asked Mirabe to introduce hersell to the ss. Standing before dozens of pairs of eyes, Mirabe was the picture of coolposure, not a hint of panic in her stance, She turned around, grabbed a marker from the tray, and began to scribe her name ¡®Mirabe¡® on the whiteboard in swift, confident strokes, Her handwriting was beautiful, a rarity of the perfect script that seemed to carry an air of elegance, reflecting the cool aura that surrounded her, ¡°Wow, the new girl is drop¨Cdead gorgeous and has stunning penmanship. Talk about a double whammy.¡± ¡°My heart¡¯s racing all of a sudden.¡± ¡°With those looks and that vibe, I¡¯ve made up my mind¨Cshe¡¯s my new crush!¡± Ate heard the students¡® murmurs and her face darkened in an instant. She let out a pointed cough, and just like that the buzzing ssroom fell silent, Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Quickly, she directed Mirabe to take a seat by the window on the far right, at thest empty desk. After a few words about the importance of diligence in studies, she let the students start on some quiet reading before leaving the ssroom. As soon as Ate exited, the room, once silent as church mice, erupted once again with chatter, mostly centered around the neer, Mirabe. ¡°Hey, new kid. I¡¯m Jenna. We¡¯re desk buddies now. If you¡¯ve got any questions, Just shoot!¡± Jenna sald with a friendly smile, her cute face and delicate features making her look like a kind¨Chearted pixle. Mirabe turned her head to look at Jenna and coolly raised an eyebrow. ¡°Mind if I take a look at your chemistry textbook, cutie?¡± Jenna stared at Mirabe, her cheeks blushing a deep crimson at that pet name ¡®cutie.¡® Realizing her own fluster, she quickly covered her face with her hands, thinking. ¡°Oh my gosh, the new girl is such a flirt¨Cmy poor little heart can¡¯t handle it.¡± Mirabe, who just wanted to borrow a textbook, was puzzled. Finally calming her racing heart, Jenna remembered Mirabe had asked for her book and hurriedly handed over her chemistry textbook. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Mirabe responded with a light smile. Once again, Jenna felt her heartstrings tugged, and after a moment, she managed to stammer out a shy. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Mirabe offered Jenna another semi¨Csmile and then returned to the textbook in her hands. Jenna swallowed hard, thinking how lucky she was to share a desk with someone so beautiful and cool. Yet, seeing how studious the new girl appeared made Jenna feel ashamed of her casual approach to learning. With that thought. Jenna subconsciously reached for a book of her own. Rumors traveled fast, and by the end of the morning, nearly the entire senior ss knew about the stunningly attractive girl who had transferred into The Advanced ss Three. Curiosity had led many students to sneak peeks at Mirabe during their breaks. Afterying eyes on her, students returned to their ssrooms, buzzing with talk about the beautiful transfer student. So, before long, word reached Summer in the Prodigy ss. Summer, with her above¨Caverage grades and upper¨Cmiddle ranking in the Prodigy ss, was unsettled by the stir Mirabe had caused in just one morning across the senior year. Before Mirabe¡¯s arrival, Summer had enjoyed the status of the undisputed campus queen, especially after her surge in poprity from the Superstar Camp. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡°Hey, Summer, check out this pic. Summer¡¯s desk¨Cmate and self¨Cappointed sidekick, Madeline, thrust her phone into Summer¡¯s line of sight. The girl on the screen was the talk of the town, Mirabe. ¡°This is the new girl in The Advanced ss. Pretty hot, huh?¡± Madeline couldn¡¯t help but add a bit of gossip to her observation. Summer¡¯s gazended on the phone. Even though it was only a profile shot of Mirabe and the picture was a tad blurry, it was clear that she shone like a lone star in the sky of the ordinary. A shadow flickered across Summer¡¯s eyes for a moment. From the first day sheid eyes on Mirabe, she knew that face would turn heads¨Cit was just happening sooner than she¡¯d expected. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around why Mirabe was nothing like she¡¯d anticipated. She was supposed to be shy. insecure, and a bit of a drama queen! Summer let her eyes drop, tucking away her questions. Lifting her head, she kept any sign of unhappiness from her face and replied in her usual soft voice, ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s pretty.¡± Upon hearing this, Madeline suddenly realized her faux pas. How could she praise another girl in front of their own queen, Summer? Wasn¡¯t that like an insult? With that thought, Madeline hastily pocketed her phone, face down on the desk, and chuckled, ¡°I mean, come on, no one¡¯s got anything on you, Summer. You¡¯re the undisputed queen bee of this school Some country bumpkin transfer doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes flickered down, and she gently chided, ¡°Madeline, don¡¯t talk like that. Even if Mirabe comes from some small town, she¡¯s truly got the looks.¡± ¡°Mirabe? You know the new girl?¡± Madeline perked up like she¡¯d stumbled upon a major scoop. Summer covered her mouth, seeming annoyed at her slip of the tongue. After a moment, she murmured, ¡°Sort of. She¡¯s, uh, the foster daughter of the Gilbert family.¡± Madeline¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So she¡¯s the one who¡¯s been living it up with your identity all these years?¡± The tale of the school¡¯s beauty with a bizarre background was well¨Cknown around campus. ¡°Shh, Madeline, keep it down. It wouldn¡¯t be good if others overheard,¡± Summer said, irritated. Madeline pouted, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with people knowing the truth. She¡¯s been living the high life as a fake heiress for Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. years while you¡¯ve been stuck in some poor household¡­ I take back mypliment!¡± Summer¡¯s gaze softened, her lips curving into a sardonic smile, but she quickly patted Madeline on the shoulder and said, ¡°You absolutely can¡¯t tell anyone about this. I mean, Mirabe is Innocent in this, too.¡± ¡°Innocent? What about you?¡± Madeline scoffed, dismissing Summer¡¯s earlier plea. ¡°You¡¯re just too kind¨Chearted, Summer. Just don¡¯t let yourself get walked all over and not even realize it!¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Mirabe¡¯s not like that,¡± Summer continued to defend her. ¡°Well if I catch her slipping up, I won¡¯t let her off easy.¡± Madeline said icily. Summer just smiled and let the conversation drop. Before Mirabe left school in the afternoon, Ate called her into the office toplete her enrollment papers and handed her a temporary student ID. As she gave Mirabe the ID, Ate remembered Anthony¡¯s notice. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¡°Hey, Mirabe, the director asked me to let you know that they¡¯ve retrieved your eptance letter from the security guard. Poor guy had a stomach upset and left his phone behind, so that¡¯s why the morning was such a mess. Don¡¯t sweat it okay?¡± Ate ryed Anthony¡¯s message straight to the point. Mirabe pondered for a moment before responding softly, ¡°Got It, Ms. Ate.¡± Noticing how well¨Cbehaved Mirabe was, Ate couldn¡¯t help but give her some advice, ¡°I know you¡¯re new around here, and Parkside High School¡¯s teaching methods might be different from what you¡¯re used to back in your hometown. Senior year is crucial so if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, you must ask your teachers. Alright?¡± Mirabe, facing Ate¡¯s ¡°1¨Cknow¨Cyou¡¯re¨Cstruggling¨Cbut¨Cl¨Cwant¨Cto¨Chelp¡® expression, just curled her lips into a confident smile and gave a yful wink. ¡°Ms. Ate, you could stand to have a little more faith in me.¡± Ate was momentarily bemused by Mirabe¡¯s smile, and by the time she snapped back to reality, Mirabe had already walked away. This student¡­ maybe she isn¡¯t as hopeless as Morgan made her out to be. As soon as Mirabe stepped out of the school gates, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see an unknown number calling. At that moment, a series of car horns sounded nearby. She looked up to see a familiar ck sedan. Raising an eyebrow. Mirabe chose not to answer the call. Instead, she walked slowly toward the car. The car window rolled down to reveal the face she had seen that morning. ¡°Need a lift?¡± ¡°Are you offering to buy me dinner?¡± Mirabe teased, not moving an inch or asking if he had been waiting for her. James satinside the car, a soft smile ying across his lips, softening his usually stem features. ¡°I don¡¯t see why not.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Mirabe opened the rear door and said, ¡°Sure, but I have to head home after. Don¡¯t want to worry the folks.¡± Once settled in the car, she quickly texted Delh. ¡°ying the good girl now?¡± James started the engine and nced at Mirabe with disbelief, as if the rebellious girl¨Cnext¨Cdoor he remembered was just an illusion. Turning to face him, Mirabe¡¯s response was coy, ¡°When have I ever been anything but?¡± James chuckled and shook his head, deciding against mentioning her past midnight escapades. Bringing that up might just earn him an usation of snooping. Before long, they pulled up in front of a quaint bistro in the city. The ce had a certain charm to it. They entered the private dining room. Mirabells tossed her backpack onto a chair and, without ceremony, grabbed the menu. She quickly picked out a few of her favorites before remembering her host was also waiting to order. James added a couple of dishes and then dismissed the waiter, leaving them alone in the room. Mirabe fiddled with her phone, casually asking. ¡°How¡¯d you get my number, anyway?¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. She was sure she hadn¡¯t given it to him. Pouring himself a cup of coffee with deliberate slowness, James watched the steam rise and vanish into the air before answering, ¡°Your grandma asked me to look out for you.¡± At this, Mirabe looked up, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity, clearly not expecting such a revtion from him. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 James cradled the coffee mug in his hands, taking a sip with a refined air. ¡°After you left, your grandmother had quite a bit to share with me.¡± Mirabe thought of Catherine, who rose at the crack of dawn to cook breakfast and silently waited at the doorstep each evening with a warm smile ying at the edges of her lips. ¡°How Is Granny doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s managing, I guess. Though she¡¯s not quite as spirited as she used to be. Probably misses you and needs someone to brighten her mood.¡± James spoke gently. Mirabe¡¯s eyes tell slightly, a momentary silence enveloping her. On the day Mirabe left Elm Creek, she hadn¡¯t aited for her grandmother¡¯s return from the hospital because she feared the parting would be too sorrowful. Catching her expression, James added. ¡°But your foster mother brought her over here. If you want to see her, you can do so anytime.¡± With a soft hum, Mirabe acknowledged the information. She was aware that Mandy had brought her granny over, so it wasn¡¯t a surprise. However, Mirabe looked at James with aplicated gaze and asked, ¡°Howe you know so much?¡± Back in Elm Creek, when James lived next door, he rarely mingled with them, and Mirabe didn¡¯t recall her granny mentioning him. James arched an eyebrow and deflected, ¡°I also know where your grandmother is staying now.¡± At his words, Mirabe¡¯s response was tinged with mock amusement, ¡°With all this knowledge, you wouldn¡¯t happen to be a bodyguard my foster mother hired, would you?¡± The smirk on James lips twitched at the idea. A bodyguard? Him? It took him a moment to coolly reply. ¡°You certainly have an active imagination.¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment,¡± Mirabe replied airily, pausing before adding with a hint of disdain, ¡°But honestly, I can¡¯t imagine my foster mother being generous enough to hire a bodyguard.¡± James snorted softly. Just then, the waiter arrived with their meals. Once the dishes were served and they were alone again, James seemed to recall something and inquired. ¡°Were you stopped outside Parkside High School this morning because the security took your eptance letter?¡± ¡°You know about that too?¡± Mirabe shot him another nce. James smiled. ¡°Overheard by chance.¡± Mirabe rolled her eyes and speared a piece of steak, murmuring. ¡°You¡¯ve got some sharp ears then.¡± Languidly leaning back in his seat, James forwent his utensils and remarked cryptically. ¡°Seems like your school switch isn¡¯t going as smoothly as you¡¯d hoped.¡± Her hand paused, and the memory of Mandy¡¯s call the previous evening caused a scoff to skim across her lips, ¡°Just a bit of skullduggery.¡± ¡°Need a hand?¡± James offered with a hint of mischief. Without looking up. Mirabe mumbled through a mouthful ¡°No, thanks.¡± After dinner, with the bill settled, James asked. ¡°Want me to drop you off to see your grandmother?¡± Mirabe considered it briefly before shaking her head. ¡°Not tonight, it¡¯ste. Maybe some other time.¡± James didn¡¯t press, simply saying. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the addresster.¡± Chapter 39 When Mirabe returned to the Davis household around eight, she immediately sensed an odd tension in the air. Shawn and Delh were sitting in the living room in solemn silence, the TV off, their expressions unusually grave. Mirabe was puzzled for a moment, then called out, ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m home.¡± Delh rose from the couch, approaching Mirabe. There was a strained smile on her face, betraying an underlying concern, ¡°How was your first day back at school? Is everything okay? Will you have any issues getting used to it?¡± ¡°It was fine,¡± Mirabe responded casually, pausing before she probed further, ¡°Is there something on your mind your Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. wanted to talk about?¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Delh cleared her throat, a hint of awkwardness in her voice. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing much, honey. I was just curious about who you had dinner with tonight. Was it a ssmate of yours?¡± So that was it. Mirabe shook her head. ¡°Nope, not a ssmate.¡± ¡°Boy or girl?¡± Delh prodded gently, her curiosity getting the better of her. Looking straight into her mother¡¯s eyes with disarming rity, Mirabe responded calmly and patiently. ¡°A guy. He used to be my neighbor. I helped him out a while back, and we bumped into each other today, so he treated me to dinner.¡± Meeting her daughter¡¯s honest gaze, Delh felt a twinge of shame for the unsavory suspicions that had flitted through her mind. She touched the tip of her nose self¨Cconsciously, and decided not to pry further, her tone softening as she spoke, 1 see, sweetheart. I¡¯m sorry for being a nag. I just worry about you being outte, you know. It¡¯s not always safe for a young woman.¡± Mirabe wasn¡¯t entirely sure what Delh meant, but she had an inkling and replied obediently, ¡°I understand.¡± Hearing the obedient tone, Delh felt a new wave of guilt and quickly changed the subject. ¡°You must be tired after a long day of sses. Go on up to your room, take a nice shower, and get some rest.¡± ¡°Oh, and I warmed up some milk for you. Be sure to take it up and drink it before bed.¡± Saying this, Delh hurried into the kitchen, fetched the warm milk from the stove, and handed it to Mirabe. ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± Mirabe said, taking the milk and heading upstairs. Delh let out a heavy sigh only after her daughter¡¯s silhouette had disappeared at the top of the stairs. Upon returning to the living room and settling beside her husband, Delh confessed with guilt, ¡°I¡¯m just not cut out for this mothering thing, am I? How could I doubt my own daughter¡¯s character?¡± Shawn patted her hand reassuringly. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before that we need to trust our girl more and not jump to conclusions at the drop of a hat.¡± Delh shot him an irritated nce. ¡°It¡¯s all Emmitt¡¯s fault! He called today, stirring the pot about Mira¡¯s friends. It got me all worked up¡­ Never mind, I¡¯m going to give Emmitt a piece of my mind and ask why he¡¯s being so critical of his sister!* Seeing his wife fired up. Shawn shook his head in resignation and gently stopped her before she could dial the number. ¡°Emmitt and Mira have had a rocky rtionship since they¡¯ve met. Do you really want to make things worse with an usatory call?¡± Delh paused, reconsidering, and tossed her phone aside, her frustration evident. ¡°This is a tough nut to crack.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that serious. Mira¡¯s only been back a few days. They need time to get to know each other. Let¡¯s just take it slow,¡± Shawn offered, the voice of reason contrasting Delh¡¯s anxious musings. Delh sighed deeply and slumped back on the couch. After a moment of silence, she perked up again, ¡°I almost forgot! Summer gets along well with Emmitt. Maybe she can help bridge the gap between them.¡± Shawn nced at her skeptically. ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting that Summer is the very reason Emmitt and Mira had that misunderstanding in the first ce?¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Of course, I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± Delh shot back, ¡°but Summer¡¯s got a sweet disposition, and she¡¯s studying at Parkside High, too. If she spends more time with Mira, wouldn¡¯t that naturally smooth things over?¡± As a seasoned mother, Delh felt her heart was in a constant state of worry.¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41 ¡°I think you should let go of that thought. Remember when Mirabe came home the other day? You spoke to Summer, sounding so distant and formal, and asked her to call you Ms. Delih from now on¡­ Do you really think she didn¡¯t pick up on that?¡± Shawn started to dissect the situation with a level head. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Delh couldn¡¯t help but let out a wry smile at his words. ¡°The truth is, I was ticked off by the way she w was talking, too. She knew Mira had juste back from the countryside, and she made a point of emphasizing that in front of her. If anyone else had heard her, they¡¯d probably look down on Mira. How could I not be a bit harsh? How would Mira feel hearing those words?¡± She paused, then continued, ¡°Summer¡¯s been with us since she was a baby, and even though this mix¨Cup happened, I¡¯ve always seen her as my own child. It hurts to see her upset. Do you think I don¡¯t feel it, too?¡± Despite her love for both, Delh couldn¡¯t deny that when it came to her biological daughter and the girl she¡¯d mistakenly raised, her blood ties made her more sensitive to her own flesh and blood. Delh had raised Summer for seventeen years, and Summer had never suffered a moment¡¯s slight in the Davis family. On the other hand, Delh¡¯s biological daughter had ostensibly grown up in an affluent household, but in reality. she¡¯d been left in a remote town by the callous Gilberts. The olddy who had raised Mirabe from infancy truly cherished her. Still, the tough environment and the loneliness of being a left¨Cbehind child must have weighed heavily on Mirabe¡¯s childhood. Every time Delh thought about these things, her heart ached. Now that her daughter was back, she only wanted to make up for the seventeen years they had lost. Shawn saw his wife slipping into guilt again and couldn¡¯t help but wrap his arms around her shoulders, offeringfort, ¡°Mira¡¯s a sweet girl. Nobody could dislike her. Emmitt feels the same.¡± That Saturday, Mirabe decided to visit Catherine with some goodies in tow. Catherine lived in a senior residence in the city, set amidst a tranquil neighborhood without schools or large shopping centers nearby ¨C ideal for the elderly. Mandy could be quite harsh and petty and loved putting on airs, but she was decent to her own mother. Before heading over, Mirabe had called Catherine, so when she rang the doorbell, it didn¡¯t take long before the door swung open. Catherine¡¯s eyes reddened at the sight of her granddaughter, and she quickly ushered Mirabe inside. The house was spacious and well¨Cdecorated, with all sorts of furniture and appliances. Despite this, there was a palpable sense of emptiness. Mirabe nced around briefly and then turned her attention back to her grandmother, who was fumbling with fruit and sses of water in a fluster, much like a child. ¡°Grandma,e on. Let¡¯s just sit down and have a proper chat,¡± she said, guiding Catherine to the couch. Catherine¡¯s gaze stayed on Mirabe¡¯s face for a long while before she finally said. ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯ve lost weight. Seems like your birth parents are treating you well.¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯ve been good. They wanted to visit you, actually, but I thought it might be an imposition, so I suggested another time,¡± Mirabe replied with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s do that soon. But today, it¡¯ll just be us having a proper catch¨Cup.¡± Catherine¡¯s wrinkled face lit up with joy, though the dark circles under her eyes betrayed her exhaustion. Mirabe reached out to hold her grandmother¡¯s hand, casually checking her pulse under the guise of a gentle touch. ¡°Haven¡¯t been sleeping well?¡± she inquired casually. ¡°No, I¡¯ve been resting just fine,¡± Catherine replied hastily, not wanting to cause any worry. But the truth was, ever since she¡¯d moved to this ce, insomnia had gued her night after night. Mirabe raised an eyebrow but simply asked, ¡°Have you been taking your medication on schedule?¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Catherine was nockling tervently like a student being scolded by a teacher, ¡®Yes, dent. I¡¯ve been taking my medication on time. I haven¡¯t missed a single dose.¡± Mirabe withdrew her hand. ¡°Do you still have that incense I gave you?¡± ¡°I do¡­ I light it every evening.¡± Catherine¡¯s voice faltered slightly as she spoke, Mirabe looked at her with a sly smile. ¡°If you lit it every night, you wouldn¡¯t be gued with insomnia and palpitations.¡± to pack it when I moved.¡± At this, Catherine quiltity bowed her head. After a pause, she admitted, ¡°Truth is, I forg A shadow flickered in Mirabe¡¯s eyes, but her voice remained airy. ¡°Is that so?¡± Whenever Catherine saw this expression on her granddaughter, her heart would thump uncontrobly, yet she brazenly responded, ¡°Really, I¡¯m not lying to you.¡± Mirabe¡¯s lips curled into a half¨Csmile. She didn¡¯t call out Catherine¡¯s obvious evasion, Instead, she stood and moved behind her, her slender tingers resting atop Catherine¡¯s head. ¡°Rx, let me give you a little massage,¡± Catherine wanted to refuse, but looking into Mirabe¡¯s calm and indifferent face, she instinctively mped her mouth shut. For some reason, she had grown to fear Mirabe¡¯s earnest demeanor, always feeling like nothing could be hidden from her, It was odd. Catherine was the elder, yet she felt like a kid. Half an hourter, Mirabe withdrew her hands and asked softly, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Catherine opened her eyes, slightly embarrassed. ¡°Wonderful, I nearly fell asleep.¡± Her gaze fell upon Mirabe¡¯s hands. ¡°You¡¯ve been at it for a while; aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Mirabe sipped water from a ss on the side table. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ll bring you some morevender Incenseter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Catherine beamed. To her, the incense didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that her granddaughter woulde again. Feeling invigorated, Catherine stood up and headed for the kitchen. ¡°I picked up your favorite pork ribs and some trout at the market today. These dishes take a while to cook, so just rx in the living room. Dinner will be ready soon¡­¡± Mirabe watched Catherine chatter with a distant gaze, reminiscent of their time in the small town. With nothing much to do, Mirabe wandered around the house before leaningzily against the kitchen doorway to watch Catherine cook. Soon, the doorbell rang. Busy with the pots, Catherine asked Mirabe to answer the door, suggesting it might be the water delivery. However, when Mirabe opened the door, she was not surprised to see who was standing outside. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. The visitors were none other than Mandy and Summer, with the Gilbert family¡¯s butler in tow, carrying several boxes of gourmet treats. Mandy¡¯s face darkened the moment she saw Mirabe. Mirabe simply nced at her and walked back inside, not even bothering to offer a perfunctory greeting. ¡°So rude!¡± Mandy sneered coldly. Summer hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Mirabe here either. She looked at Mandy¡¯s annoyed expression and said softly. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be upset. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± Catherine turned down the stove and stepped out of the kitchen. ¡°Mira, is it the water deliv-¡± Her words trailed off as she caught sight of Mandy stepping into the house, her smile instantly freezing. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 ¡°Why¡¯d you show up today?¡± Catherine grumbled discontentedly, pausing before seemingly noticing Mandy¡¯spanion for the first time. ¡°Oh, Summer¡¯s here too, huh?¡± Her lone wasced with a hint of dismissiveness. Summer¡¯s expression stiffened momentarily, but she managed a smile and greeted, ¡°Hey, Grandma,¡± ¡°Howe I can¡¯te over? Are Summer and I strangers now and not supposed to be here or something?¡± Mandy was almost amused by her own mother¡¯s Irritation. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you at least give me a call before dropping by?¡± Catherine muttered under her breath. She wouldn¡¯t have invited Mira over today if she¡¯d known Mandy was bringing Summer. *Summer went out of her way to pick up some nice things for you, and you¡¯re acting like you don¡¯t even want to see her. Mom, can we not y favorites so tantly?¡± Mandy felt like Mirabe utterly bewitched her mother, who showed such coldness to her own flesh and blood. It was like she was beyond saving. ¡°You never showed much affection for Mira either!¡± Catherine snapped back with a hint of sarcasm. Mandy pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Let¡¯s not argue about it. I just hope you can treat us equally, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Who wants to argue with you? You came in here all usatory, ruining a perfectly good mood,¡± Catherine huffed, disying her stubborn streak. Mandy¡¯s face darkened instantly, and Summer, noticing the tension, quickly interjected with a smile, ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you buy Grandma a beautiful emerald jewelry set? Why don¡¯t you show it to her?¡± As she spoke, Summer instructed the butler to bring the box over and looped her arm through Catherine¡¯s, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, Grandma. Let¡¯s sit down and see if you like the jewelry, okay?¡± With Su Summer mediating. Catherine¡¯s mood softened enough to allow herself to be led to the sofa. However, upon seeing the emerald bracelet Summer presented, Catherine didn¡¯t reach for it, tly rejecting the offer. ¡°At my age, I¡¯m not keen on such trinkets. You girls keep it.¡± Summer paused awkwardly as Catherine firmly declined. With no choice but to respect her wishes, Summer reluctantly ced the jewelry back in the box. Soon after, Catherine¡¯s gaze fell on Mirabe, who was lounging in an armchair nearby, idly fiddling with her phone. Catherine¡¯s eyes softened unconsciously as she said, ¡°Mira, why don¡¯t you take a look at this jewelry? Do you like it?¡± Caught off guard, Mirabe looked up, blinking in confusion. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mandy¡¯s temples throbbed as she approached Catherine, exasperated, ¡°Mom, she¡¯s a student. What¡¯s she going to do with emerald jewelry?¡± Catherine pursed her lips and retorted. ¡°If she won¡¯t wear it, I could give it to Mira¡¯s birth mother. Mandy¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Mom, have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea how much this emerald is worth?¡± Catherine looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°Aren¡¯t you giving these to me?¡± The implication was clear. It was a gift for Catherine, so it was normal for her to give it to whoever she wanted. ¡°The gift is for you, but it¡¯s not meant to be passed on!¡± Mandy inhaled deeply, struggling to suppress her frustration. Catherine opened her mouth to respond, but Summer swiftly interjected, ncing at Mirabe. ¡°Grandma, Mom personally chose this jewelry set for you, and it¡¯s quite valuable. It might not be suitable to give away. How about this? I¡¯ll go to the mall right now and pick out a new gift for Mira to take home to her mom, okay?¡± Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Although Mandy knew Summer was trying to provide her an out, the thought of dropping more cash on a present for that unsophisticated woman from the Davis family just didn¡¯t sit right with her. So, with a snort of derision, Mandy¡¯s gazended squarely on Mirabe. ¡°Conning an old woman out of her money under the guise of kindness¨Cis that your game?¡± she sneered. Mirabe lifted her eyes, her delicate features marked with an air of Indifference. She looked at Mandy, her expression neither angry nor upsel. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Mandy¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight, and she pressed on. ¡°If you¡¯re after money, you could¡¯ve juste to me. Why keep bothering an old woman? Do you find that amusing?¡± Catherine nced at Mirabe, worried she might take offense, and quickly Interjected, ¡°Mandy, how can you say such things?¡± Mandy¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Mom, please, this is between us.¡± She then strode over to Mirabe, looking down on her with a mix of contempt and superiority. ¡°Alright then, how much do you want? A hundred grand? Two hundred? Three hundred thousand should keep your familyfortable for years, right?¡± Mirabe arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly smile. Though she loungedzily in her chair, Mandy¡¯s aggressive stance didn¡¯t faze her. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, Mirabe slowly stood up. ¡°Only three hundred thousand? After all that talk, I thought you would offer me thirty million. It seems you¡¯re not that concerned about an old woman being swindled after all.¡± Her voice was light, dripping with disappointment. Mandy could onlyugh in disbelief. ¡°Ha, thirty million? You¡¯ve got quite the imagination.¡± Mirabe stared at her as if she were a simpleton. ¡°So you don¡¯t have even thirty million to your name. I¡¯d be embarrassed to have said all that earlier if I were you. How awkward.¡± Mandy nearly choked on her own outrage. Was this bumpkin suddenly possessed by some sort of defiant spirit? Mirabe couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage with Mandy any further, turning her attention to Catherine with a note of regret in her soft voice, ¡°It seems I won¡¯t be able to spend time with you this weekend after all.¡± Catherine understood that Mirabe was about to leave. She wanted to ask her to stay, but after witnessing Mandy¡¯s behavior, how could she have the courage to ask Mirabe to stay? Catherine sighed, mustering a weak smile. ¡°Don¡¯t take what Mandy said to heart.¡± Mirabe nodded, murmured a nonchnt ¡®hmm,¡® and headed for the door. When Mirabe left, Mandy fumed, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t let her in again. Did you see how arrogant she was? She doesn¡¯t respect her elders at all!¡± a pot Exhausted by her daughter¡¯s rant, Catherine rose silently and retreated to the kitchen. She turned off the simmering of ribs and stared nkly at the prepared vegetables. After a moment, she wiped her eyes and exited the kitchen. Without a word to Mandy or Summer, she went to her room and mmed the door shut. Startled by the loud bang. Mandy¡¯s face darkened even further. ¡°What¡¯s Grandma¡¯s problem now? Throwing a tantrum?!¡± Summer nced at the closed bedroom door and whispered, ¡°Maybe Grandma just really likes Mirabe.¡± Hearing this only soured Mandy¡¯s mood further. ¡°Mistaking trash for treasure is the epitome of ignorance!¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 A stepping out of Catherine¡¯s apartment, Mirabe halled a cab straightaway and made her way back to the Davis N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. udence. Upon her arrival, she noticed several pairs of shiny men¡¯s dress shoes lined up at the front door. A flicker of curiosity crossed her eyes¨Cwere they having aquests? After pondering for a few seconds, she said her freshly drawn keys back into her purse, turned on her heels, and strode kward th Nevator, Lucky for her, the elevator remained on her floor, doors ready to wee her in. Descending back to the ground floor, Mirabe settled herself on a public bench. Her striking beauty drew nces passersby, including children who couldn¡¯t help but steal a few extra looks. Dressed in a hoodie today and tired of the attention, she pulled up the hood over her head and dug out her phone to immerse herself in the digital world. Before long, she no longer felt the weight of onlookers¡® stares. She Estlessly yed a few rounds of apetitive game she had downloaded recently¨Ca game that soon proved to back challenge. Closing the app, she seemed to be struck by a thought and swiftly opened her Messenger. Her list of friends on Messenger wasn¡¯t extensive. Her fingertips scrolled through, dragging the contact nicknamed ¡°Y out of the cklist, And with that, she sent a message. The Pit (Be careful these next few days. Don¡¯t go out causing a stir it It¡¯s not necessary.) ¡°Y¡± must have been glued to their phone because they replied almost instantaneously with a barrage of messages. Y: [Oh, my dear lord, you finally remember me.] Y: [You have no idea what kind of devastating torture I¡¯ve been through recently.] Y: [Hungry and cold, kneeling at the chapel every day, feelingpletely drained.] I Y: [Ancestor, can you find a way to spring me out? I miss the fresh air on the outside.] The Pilt: [¨CIf you¡¯ve got the energy toin this much, you¡¯re clearly not that drained.] Y: [Please, show me some mercy.l The Pilt [Logging off.] Y: [Wait, what do you mean by ¡°be careful? Can you be more specific?] However, Y¡¯sst message was met with a ring red exmation mark, and the notification (Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.) Y: [????] [Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.] Y: [Wait!] [Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.] Mirabe exited Messenger and looked up just in time to see a group of burly men in matching ck suits exiting the lobby. The leader held a silver briefcase that gleamed under the light. They looked like they meant business as if they had just finished a debt collection¨Cintimidating enough to make any nearby resident take a wide berth. Narrowing her eyes, Mirabe¡¯s gaze casually swept over the men¡¯s shiny shoes, and her expression turned thoughtful for a split second. The men didn¡¯t notice Mirabe as they left the building, heading towards the parking garage with a familiarity that suggested they were regrs. Frowning slightly as their figures disappeared, she rose and stepped back into the lobby. She pressed the elevator button and ascended once more. When she exited the elevator, the array of ck, shiny shoes that had been at her doorstep were now gone. Chapter 45 With a contained gaze, Mirabe produced her keys and unlocked the door. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Mirabe had barely stepped into the living room when Delh, who was busy organizing boxes, looked up and almost jumped out of her skin. The ledger she was holding ttered onto the floor. ¡°Mira¡­ what brings you back so soon? Weren¡¯t you supposed to visit Mrs. Catherine?¡± Delh asked, her face a picture of surprise. Quickly, she bent down to retrieve the ledger and tossed it back into the box without a second thought. Beside her. Shawn, calctor in one hand and spectacles perched on his nose, set down his device. He nced at his wristwatch before asking with mild confusion, ¡°Honey, you haven¡¯t been gone for more than a few hours. Did you forget something?¡± Mirabe cast a nonchnt nce at the box by Delh¡¯s feet and replied casually, ¡°She hadpany, so I came back.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± Delh said, the matter seemingly settled in her mind. After a brief pause, she continued without much thought, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? Your dad and I thought you wouldn¡¯t be back for lunch, so we haven¡¯t prepared anything. Just give me a moment to put these away, and I¡¯ll start on some food.¡± As she spoke, Delh quickly tossed a few more ledgers onto the coffee table into the box, and Shawn¡¯s calctor followed suit. ¡°Shawn, can you take this stuff back to the room? I¡¯ll get started on lunch,¡± she instructed. ¡°Sure thing.¡± Shawn replied, sliding off his sses and hoisting the box as he headed upstairs. Mirabe¡¯s gaze lingered on his retreating figure, her thoughts a mystery. She followed Delh into the kitchen, lending a hand with the vegetables. She then asked, as if it were an afterthought. ¡°Did we haveAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. any visitors today?¡± Delh shook her head. ¡°Nope, why do you ask all of a sudden?¡± she replied, wondering if Mirabe had sensed something amiss. ¡°When I came in, I noticed a couple of extra clean pairs of shoes by the shoe cab,¡± Mirabe said, her downcast, her voice betraying nothing unusual. Delh paused for a moment beforeughing it off, ¡°I was tidying up the shoe cab this morning and got distracted by your dad. Must¡¯ve forgotten to put them away.¡± Mirabe simply hummed in acknowledgment, then seemed to remember something else. ¡°Oh, and Mom, I ran into a group of men in ck suits while waiting for the elevator downstairs.¡± Delh paused again, about to respond, when her daughter continued. ¡°They looked quite intimidating. Kind of like those debt collectors you hear about, you know? We don¡¯t have any debts, do we?¡± Mirabe¡¯s gaze was serious as she looked at Delh. Feeling a strange sense of guilt under her daughter¡¯s scrutiny, Delh quickly shook her head. ¡°No, we don¡¯t owe anyone anything!¡± But after a few seconds, she probed, ¡°Were those men you saw really that¨Cfrightening?¡± ¡°Yeah, they didn¡¯t seem like good news,¡± Mirabe stated inly. Upon hearing this, Delh¡¯s throat tightened around the words. ¡®They¡¯re just from thepany¡¯s finance department, not debt collectors. She swallowed them back down. Shawn was right to worry. Thepany¡¯s staff had a daunting image, and even if she told Mirabe those were just finance guys, it might scare her. Worse, her daughter might start suspecting her parents of being involved in uwful business dealings. No, she couldn¡¯t let Mirabe know the truth. Regaining herposure, Delh said with a steady voice. ¡°It could be that someone in the building took out a loan with steep interest rates. If you run into these types of people again, make sure to steer clear, alright?¡± Mirabe turned to look at Delh, her gaze intensifying slightly as a faint shadow cast by her long eyshes fell upon her face. She didn¡¯t press further, simply cing thest of the prepped vegetables into the basket. 1/1 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Ate dinner, Arabe retreated to her room, leaving Delh and Shawn alone in the living room. Delh lingered at the bh, not in any rush to clear the tes and silverware. Instead, she recounted her kitchen conversation with thesa kwahy to Shawn. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. tok Awa¡¯s under the impression that we¡¯re up to our eyeballs in debt,¡± Delh sald, propping her elbows on the tabs and furrowing her brow in thought. Though their daughter hadn¡¯t pressed the issue further, Delh¡¯s intuition told ber that Mira bait certainly gotten the wrong end of the stick. Shawn nced at her. ¡°Surely it¡¯s not that bad. She just happened to run into the ountant downstairs.¡± Delh shook her head. ¡°No, the first thing out of her mouth was whether we had visitors today.¡± ¡°You might be reading too much into it. She was probably just making conversation. Besides, Mira Isn¡¯t the type to get worked up over such things¡± Shawn said nonchntly. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± Delh sighed, then her eyes lit up as an idea struck her. ¡°What If we gave her another credit card? That way, she wouldn¡¯t think we¡¯re drowning in debt, right?¡± At this sugestion, Shawn actually found the idea quite reasonable, but added, ¡°Thest ck card I gave her, she hasn¡¯t touched it once.¡± Delh raised an eyebrow. ¡°Simple. I¡¯ll just withdraw some cash and hand it to her.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work. When I drove her to school on the first day of school, I nned to stop by the ATM for her, but she Shawn immediately dismissed the idea with said kids these days all use mobile payments. Cash is too a shake of his head. ¡°Uh¡­ how about a transfer? Oh, right, how could I forget about Messenger!¡± Delh pped her forehead, stood up, and fetched her phone from the living room. They had added each other¡¯s contact on Messenger ages ago, and Delh quickly located her daughter. While opening the payment panel she asked, ¡°Shawn, how much do you think I should transfer to Mira? Half a million? Or a full million?¡± Shawn¡¯s mouth twitched at the corners, ¡°Let¡¯s keep it low¨Ckey. You¡¯ll give her a shock like that.¡± After all their family had always upheld the principle of modesty and not unting wealth. Even their foster daughter was unaware of their real financial status, believing they were just an average family. Of course, anyone paying close attention would realize that everything in their home was far from average. Delh rolled her eyes at her husband¡¯sment. ¡°And were you this concerned about being low¨Ckey when you handed her the ck card the other day?¡± Shawn cleared his throat, pretending not to hear his wife¡¯s pointed question. Delh pondered for a moment and then suggested, ¡°How about I just transfer ter thousand? That¡¯s modest enough, right?¡± Shawn agreed. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Delh quickly typed in the transfer amount of ten thousand and hit confirm, only to be greeted by a bank limit notification. ¡°Oh,e on, my card can¡¯t even transfer that much at once?¡± Delh¡¯s face darkened with frustration. What kind of ridiculous restriction was this. thwarting her efforts to clear up her daughter¡¯s misunderstanding? Shawn¡¯s eyebrow quirked. ¡°Why not transfer a thousand each day? That way, she¡¯ll get a little spending money daily. Wouldn¡¯t that make her even happier?¡± ¡°True, that¡¯s a great idea. And it¡¯s also a chance to strengthen the bond between her and me,¡± Delh nodded. confirming the transfer. Upon hearing his wife¡¯s remark about ¡®strengthening the bond¡± with their daughter, Shawn paused for a few seconds Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Back in her room, Mirabe hefted her suitcase from the closet, fresh from her trip to the county town, when her phone chirped with the tone of a new message. She paid it no mind, leisurely unzipping her luggage to rummage inside for a long box. It was filled with incense sticks, each about the length of a finger. The supply was dwindling, but it was enough tost a month or two. Mirabe nced at it, snapped the lid shut, and casually set it atop her desk. Her phone pinged again with another message. Only after she stowed her sultcase away did Mirabe reach for her phone, het brow furrowing at the sight of two bank transfer notifications on the screen. She unlocked her phone and opened the Messenger app. Both transfers were from her folks downstairs, and neither amount was small¨Ccach had sent a neat sum of ten thousand dors. Rubbing her temple, Mirabe was puzzled by her parents¡® sudden and synchronized financial ir. After pondering for a moment she didn¡¯t ept the transfers. Instead, she sent a question mark emoji to both. Atmost immediately, her mother replied: [Sweetie, it¡¯s for next week¡¯s allowance. Grab it quick. ¡°Heart emoji* Mom loves you) Staring at her mom¡¯s message, Mirabe paused for a few seconds before responding. [I¡¯ve still got money on me.] Delh: (Oh, honey, just take it. A girl can never have too much spending money.] Delh: (And if you don¡¯t take it, I might just have to spend this money on some new clothes for you!]Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mirabe nced at her closet, packed with unworn clothes, and her lip twitched. She decisively hit the ept button. Meanwhile, her dad¡¯s message popped up. Shawny: [Pumpkin, you said cash was inconvenientst time, so your old man went all the way to the bank to get set up with online banking. I just linked it to Messenger. Go ahead and ept it.] Mirabe¡¯s expression was a mix of amusement and exasperation as if to say, ¡°Nice try on the modern dad act.¡® She quickly typed out her response. The Pilt if I don¡¯t ept, are you just going to find another way to give it to me?] Shawny: [Heh, you¡¯re so sharp, kiddo!] The Pilt [Fine then.] Just like that. Mirabe found herself the unexpected recipient of a substantial windfall. Even more bizarre was that she waspelled to ept the so¨Ccalled ¡®allowance¡® from her parents every subsequent day. They werepletely unavoidable. After ending the Messenger exchange with Delh and Shawny, her gaze drifted back to the incense box on her desk. After a moment¡¯s contemtion, she scrolled through her contacts list, found a number, and dialed. The call connected quickly, and a cool, deep male voice drifted through. ¡°Kiddo, what¡¯s got you calling out of the blue?¡± The word ¡°kiddo¡® made Mirabe¡¯s lips twitch involuntarily, but she had a favor to ask, so she let the nickname slide. ¡°Are you free? I need a favor.¡± On the other side of the line, James stopped his subordinate¡¯s report with a wave of his hand, leaning back in his chair with azy air. ¡°Shoot what do you need?¡± ¡°I need you to deliver something to my grandma,¡± Mirabe said, cutting straight to the chase. James had braced himself for something serious, so he was taken aback by the simplicity of the request. When Mirabe heard no immediate reply, she figured he wasn¡¯t keen on the errand. ¡°If you¡¯re busy, forget it.¡± Then she nned to hang up when. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¡°You know, kiddo, your patience could use a bit of work,¡± James sald with a hint of an exasperated sigh, like a light breeze whispering through the leaves, faint and fleeting. Mirabe¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, her finger hovering over the end call button before she shifted it away, asking again with a bit of grit, ¡°So, are you going to help or what?¡± The corner of James¡® mouth lifted in a half¨Csmile. ¡°In a hurry, are we?¡± ¡°Not particrly, but it¡¯d be great if you were free today.¡± Mirabe replied after a brief moment of thought. ¡°Alright, shoot me your address and I¡¯ll send someone to ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll drop you a pin. Thanks.¡± Pick it up.¡± With that, Mirabe hung up and quickly opened her Messenger. Without hesitation, she found James¡® new chat and sent him the location of her apartmentplex. James received the pin on Messenger and shot back a quick [OK] Then, he looked up at his crew standing a short distance away, each with a look of shock in their eyes. His eyes narrowed as his mild manner on the phone vanished, ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Dismissed,¡± he said, his voice cold and detached. The team jolted to attention, hastily averting their eyes and scurrying out without a word. Wyatt was thest to leave, and he was the one who got called back. ¡°Wyatt, I need you to pick something up.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Wyatt halted, turned around, and looked at his boss. After a few seconds of silence, he asked softly. ¡°For Mirabe?¡± James absently twirled his phone in his hand and hummed in affirmation. Wyatt¡¯s expression grewplicated. Despite his intense curiosity, he knew better than to pry. He nodded in understanding and made his way out. Just as he was about to step out, James, who¡¯d been loungingzily in his chair, stood up. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± Wyatt, taken aback, could only think, ¡°Is this really the boss I know? I Twenty minutester, the car pulled up outside Mirabe¡¯s apartment building. James sent a quick message to Mirabe via Messenger. Soon after, a slender young woman emerged from the weathered iron gate. As the car window slid down James turned to look at Mirabe, his cool demeanor tinged with a touch of curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend. Why aren¡¯t you dropping this off at your grandma¡¯s yourself?¡± Mirabe handed him a wooden box, her beautiful face showing no particr emotion. She simply said, ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient for me.¡± James nced at the wooden box before looking back at Mirabe, his lips quirking. ¡°Is it that stepmother of yours giving you trouble again?¡± Mirabe gave him a side nce filled withplex emotions. After a moment, she joked, ¡°Anyone would think bugged me with all you know.¡± nk you¡¯ve James chuckled and shook his head. ¡°The issues with your stepmother¡¯s family aren¡¯t hard to guess.¡± Mirabe gave a mock salute. ¡°Then I entrust my package to you. I¡¯ll treat you to dinner another day.¡± James raised an eyebrow, half in jest. ¡°You trust me just like that?¡± Mirabe had already turned to leave, but at his question, she paused and turned back halfway. The breeze caught her hair, brushing it against her cheek. She casually tucked a strand behind her ear, her gaze casuallynding on James¡® face, her smile ambiguous, ¡°It¡¯s nothing of value anyway.¡± Chapter 49 With those words, she walked away, her posture proud and unbothered. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 James watched Mirabe¡¯s retreating figure, a proud little spitfire if he ever saw one. It took a moment before a chuckle escaped him, and he shook his head in bemusement. Piloting the car up front, Wyatt nced in the rearview mirror at his boss, who seemed totally unfazed by the apparent snub. He questioned himself yet again. Was this really James? It felt like a switcheroo. ¡°Drive,¡± James said, his tonenguid and ice¨Ccold, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor. Wyatt was stunned. No, his boss was still the same. As Wyatt revved the engine, he couldn¡¯t help but sneak a peek at the old wooden box in James¡® grasp, his curiosity piqued. ¡°That box looks ancient. What¡¯s in it?¡± James lowered his gaze to the box, which seemed to be crafted from mahogany with ornate carvings that suggested its age. Theers were worn smooth, and the color deepened, which indeed made it look quite vintage, like a relic from another time. A particr symbol etched on the box seemed vaguely familiar to James as if he had seen it somewhere before. He pondered for a moment and toyed with thetch but ultimately didn¡¯t open the box. Instead, he ced it beside him and turned to look out the window before saying offhandedly. ¡°Curiosity killed the cat, you know.¡± Wyatt remained silent. Could Mirabe be someone with extraordinary talents? Around half an hourter, they pulled up to Catherine¡¯s apartmentplex. ¡°I can take it up for you.¡± Wyatt offered as he killed the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt. James nced at the wooden box. ¡°No, I¡¯ll go. Wait for me here.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Wyatt looked surprised but nodded. ¡°Be careful.¡± James arched an eyebrow. ¡°You worry too much.¡± With the box in hand, he exited the car, leaving Wyatt to rub his nose. Old habits die hard, after all. Riding the elevator up. James soon rang Catherine¡¯s doorbell. A couple of minutester, the inner door swung open, and as Catherine recognized who stood outside, she hurriedly unlocked the security door. ¡°James, dear, you¡¯vee!¡± James greeted her with a cordial smile. ¡°Hello, Granny. How are you?¡± ¡°Come in,e in,¡± she urged, finding him a clean pair of slippers from the shoe cab. ¡°What brings you by today? No sses?¡± Slipping into the slippers, James followed behind her, his volce genteel. ¡°I had the afternoon off and thought I¡¯d swing by to check on you.¡± Once in the living room, James looked around before handing over the wooden box. ¡°Granny, this is something Mirabe asked me to bring you.¡± Catherine was about to offer James a ss of water when she heard his words. Her hand trembled, the ss slipped and crashed to the floor, shards and water scattering everywhere. ¡°Careful, Granny,¡± James quickly sald, putting the box on a side table. As he reached out to aid her to the sofa and was about to tend to the broken ss, Catherine¡¯s hand shot out, gripping his arm. Her face had turned pale, and her lips quivered. It took her a moment to stammer out aplete sentence. ¡°Mira does she not wish to visit me anymore?¡± James, taken aback by Catherine¡¯s distress, paused. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Grandma Catherine watched as James remained silent, with a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. She spoke again, and her voice trailed off into the quiet room. ¡°Mira brought over a bunch of groceries to see me first thing this morning. Only, she didn¡¯t expect to run into her foster mother¡­ My daughter¡¯s always been harsh, never had a soft spot for Mira. She said some really hurtful things, so the poor child didn¡¯t even stay for a full hour before my daughter drove her away.¡± ¡°She must¡¯ve been angry, and that¡¯s why she didn¡¯te herself.¡± Tears welled up in Grandma Catherine¡¯s eyes as she clung to James¡® arm, refusing to let go as if releasing him would mean losing the only listener she had left. James observed Catherine, who was sinking into a pit of guilt, and pieced together the events. No wonder Mira had asked him to deliver the package. However, Mira, who was wise beyond her years, didn¡¯t seem like someone easily upset. When Grandma Catherine¡¯s emotions had settled a bit, James said gently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Mira probably just didn¡¯t want to bump into your daughter again. That¡¯s likely why she asked me to bring these things to you.¡± Grandma Catherine paused, ¡°Really?¡± James nodded. His inherently cool demeanor and deep eyes exuded a persuasive sincerity. The uneasy and pained feelings that had clouded Grandma Catherine¡¯s heart began to dissipate. Her gaze fell upon the wooden box James had ced on the coffee table. She stood up and walked over, picking up the box without much regard for James¡® presence. She pressed thetch on the side, opening it to reveal the contents. A warm smile spread across her face almost instinctively. Her granddaughter hadn¡¯t abandoned her; Mira still cared deeply for her wellbeing. Noticing her sleep had been troubled, Mira had sent over soothing incense, even after today¡¯s unpleasant encounter. Grandma Catherine dabbed at her eyes, then closed the box and turned back to James, with a hint of embarrassment In her eyes. ¡°I apologize for my earlier state. You must think it unseemly.¡± James¡± gaze lingered on the wooden box for a second longer before he met her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine, completely understandable.¡± ¡°Mira is indeed a good girl, worrying about my sleep and even going out of her way to buy me soothing incense¡­ s, my daughter isn¡¯t fortunate enough to be her mother.¡± With a heavy sigh, Grandma Catherine shuffled to a nearby cab, pulling open a drawer to carefully ce the wooden box inside. James listened quietly to her ramblings, and his dark eyes were thoughtful. Half an hourter, James left Catherine¡¯s house. Wyatt, seeing the pensive look on his face as he got into the car. couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Something happened?¡± James regained hisposure and nced at Wyatt indifferently. ¡°Nothing important.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Sensing James wasn¡¯t up for talking, Wyatt dropped the subject. James¡® gaze was introspective. His fingers were tapping rhythmically on his knee. He took out his phone and texted Mirabe that the delivery was sessful. It took a good ten minutes before he received a terse ¡°Thank you¡± reply from her. The reply was absent of any superfluous small talk. A slight smile danced on James¡® lips. Anyway, he was ustomed to her aloofness. His slender fingers tapped out a message on his phone screen, [Where did you buy the soothing incense for your grandma? My grandparents back home have been having trouble sleeping too.] Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Mirabe was lost in her book, at least until she replied to James¡® message. After that, she just couldn¡¯t get back into it. She gazed at the new message from him on her phone, pondering for a brief moment before tapping out a response: [Oh, just snagged it online. I can shoot you the link to the store if you want.] After a second thought. Mirabe opened up eBay, sifted through her favorites, and found the store she was looking for. She copied the link, flipped back to her Messenger app, and pasted it in for James. When James received her reply, he dove into the online store she¡¯d mentioned. The shop had a solid five¨Cstar rating, a mishmash of products, not a dedicated Incense retailer by any means. But the sandalwood and agarwood Incense boxes looked strikingly simr to the wooden box that olddy had. The prices were low, just over twenty bucks. No exact matches were seen, but it was pretty clear that the calming incense the olddy had likely originated from this online vendor. However, if it was the legendary secret blend everyone whispered about, it wouldn¡¯t be peddled on some random website, nor would it be that cheap. James closed the app, and felt a little displeased. In his dark eyes. It was hard to discern if it was disappointment or something else that dimmed their sparkle. In the blink of an eye, half a month had whisked by since Mirabe had started at Parkside High School. She was a bit of a free spirit, didn¡¯t really mingle with the other students, and didn¡¯t bother with extracurricrs. Her quiet demeanor had teachersbeling her as a paragon of obedience, while her peers saw her as the quintessential ice queen ¨C a total enigma. Her academic prowess was a mystery, but her looks? They were beyond reproach. Lately, though, rumors had started to swirl that she must¡¯ve pulled some strings to get into Parkside. In her own world, oblivious to the petty high school chatter, Mirabe didn¡¯t pay any of it any mind. But Jenna, her desk mate, was fuming when she heard the whispers. She almost went to set things straight before she turned to see Mirabe, who was always with her nose in a book whether in ss or out. ¡°I think they¡¯ve got your whole vibe all wrong.¡± Jenna said seriously, propping her chin on her hands as she studied Mirabe. Mirabezily closed her textbook and turned her gaze on Jenna. Her eyebrows arched slightly. ¡°Oh?¡± That casual look from Mirabe sent a little thrill through Jenna. She swallowed hard, then retorted, ¡°You¡¯re not an ice queen. You¡¯re a total bookworm!¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Flicking the corner of her book with a finger, Mirabe replied cryptically, ¡°The path to wisdom is singr, and it¡¯s paved with study.¡± ying with her fingers, Jenna sighed, ¡°I feel like you¡¯re hinting that I¡¯m dumb, but I don¡¯t have proof.¡± Mirabe just smiled and didn¡¯t respond. Her phone on the desk buzzed, lighting up with two notifications for substantial money transfers. A quick nce was all it took for Mirabe to massage her temples in frustration. Again. It had been nearly half a month of daily transfers from that couple, as if they had money to burn. Jenna, who had been watching her, caught sight of those two ringlyrge transfer notifications and couldn¡¯t help but quip. ¡°Another day, another blinding glimpse of wealth.¡± Mirabe was speechless. That was right. Jenna had discovered a few days ago that her desk mate was getting these big¨Cmoney transfers daily. and she had gone from initial shock to a numb eptance. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 ¡°Mirabe, spill the beans, girl Does your family own an oil field or something?¡± Jenna¡¯s words dripped with jealousy. With a sly arch of her brow, Mirabe casually picked up her phone, unlocked it with a quick swipe of her thumb, and with Jenna watching, she nonchntly epted a tidy sum of ten grand from Delh and Shawn via Messenger. The sheer audacity of her movements was enough to leave anyone agape. Jenna¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Oh my God!¡± Oh, how she wanted to murder her desk¨Cmate not only swipe every penny from her Messenger, but also hog her billionaire parents all to herself! ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s downright maddening topare yourself to others.¡± Jenna sighed dramatically, feigning sorrow. ¡°Why can¡¯t I have a pair of filthy¨Crich parents doting on their princess, huh?¡± Mirabe turned her head, flicking her bangs away from her forehead with a nonchnt grace. Her eyes sparkled with an enticing glint as she quipped, ¡°You may not have tycoon parents, but there¡¯s still a chance for you to be a tycoon mommy to some spoiled child.¡± Jenna choked on her ownughter and threw her a thumbs¨Cup. Whoever said her desk¨Cmate was just a pretty face must not have heard her razor¨Csharp wit. Mulling over the recent rumors, Jenna shifted closer to Mirabe. Her yful expression from moments before was reced by one of genuine concern. ¡°Speaking of which, there¡¯s some gossip going around about you. Have you heard?¡± Mirabe raised an inquisitive eyebrow. ¡°What gossip?¡± After pondering for a brief moment, Jenna said, ¡°Rumor has it that your grades are nothing to brag about, that you can¡¯t even match up to the average Joe in ss, and that you got into this school through some backdoor shenanigans.¡± Parkside High School wasn¡¯t like the neighboring Maple Academy; it was a ce for the true academic cream of the crop. The school¡¯s rules were strict, and its principal was famously unbending and iron¨C fisted. The idea of someone sneaking in through the backdoor was practically unheard of at Parkside. However, the rumor about Mirabe¡¯s using such means was now the scandalous exception, challenging the integrity of Parkside¡¯s reputation. Rumors are often harmless, but when they attack the honor of an institution, they be a serious matter. Considering how Mirabe¡¯s parents seemed to be showering her with money transfers daily, Jenna couldn¡¯t help but suspect that there might be a kernel of truth to the whispers of nepotism. Of course, she¡¯d rather not believe such gossip, especially since her desk¨Cmate¡¯s studious dedication was in for all to see. Mirabe, catching Jenna¡¯s conflicted gaze, offered a sly smile and countered, ¡°Do you believe it?¡± ¡°Me? Of course not,¡± Jenna shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re always buried in books. You¡¯re the quintessential bookworm. Anyone could be used of sneaking in, but you¡¯re the least likely suspect.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Hearing Jenna¡¯s assessment, Mirabe could only chuckle and shake her head at the girl¡¯s Innocence. While Mirabe remained utterly unfazed and unconcerned, Jenna voiced her frustration, ¡°How can you be so calm? Wouldn¡¯t any normal person be upset about being bad¨Cmouthed?¡± Mirabe gave her a contemtive look before replying in aid¨Cback tone, ¡°Rumors are squashed by the wise.¡± Jenna¡¯s mouth twitched with annoyance. ¡°That¡¯s easy to say, but if this rumor keeps spreading, it could be a real headache. If those idiots take it to the principal, that would be a disaster.¡± After a pause, Jenna suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up as she faced Mirabe. ¡°Actually, I might just have the perfect way to squash this rumor.¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyebrow quirked in interest. ¡°Oh?¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 ¡°Last week, the school¡¯s official forum announced a big deal the BrainSpark Nationals. It¡¯s like a whole tieredpetition, starting with city¨Clevel prelims, then moving up to state, and finally the national showdown. The top three contenders get to wave the g at the International stage.¡± Jenna sald while pulling out her phone, quickly logging onto the school¡¯s forum and finding the post. ¡°Here, look at this.¡± ¡°The deadline to sign up online is in a couple of days. I think you should throw your hat into the ring. With it being a national event, the cream of the crop will be there. We¡¯re not gonna get ahead of ourselves and talk about taking home the gold or anything, but making it through the city prelims alone would be a serious feather in your cap.¡± Mirabe nced at the phone Jenna handed her, gave It a cursory look, and flopped back onto her desk with anguid air. ¡°Well, not interested.¡± Jenna¡¯s mouth twitched, and she nudged Mirabe¡¯s arm. ¡°Come on Mira, this could be your ticket to a clean te, a real game¨Cchanger. It¡¯d be a shame to miss out.¡± Mirabe yawned and closed her eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll miss out.¡± She didn¡¯t need a clean te anyway. Jenna sighed silently, looking at Mira, who seemed to care about nothing. ¡ª During the second period that afternoon, Mirabe was summoned to the office. Ate, usually stern, softened her expression as she looked at the seemingly well¨Cbehaved Mirabe. ¡°So, you¡¯re interested in the BrainSpark Nationals?¡± Mirabe looked puzzled, with a question mark practically floating above her head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t normally rmend that someone who¡¯s just transferred schools jump into apetition like this. But since you¡¯ve signed up, I won¡¯t try to stop you. Just make sure you carve out extra time for your studies, okay? This is your senior year, pivotal for your future.¡± Ate said with earnestness. Mirabe¡¯s mouth opened to say she hadn¡¯t signed up, but then she remembered Jenna¡¯s persuasive tactics from earlier that morning. After a few seconds of silence, she gave a nomittal ¡°hmm.¡± Then, in a quieter tone, she asked, ¡°Ms. Ate, what¡¯s the prize for first ce in thispetition?¡± Ate was taken aback as if she¡¯d misheard. Seeing Ate¡¯s confused expression, Mirabe understood the situation and her enthusiasm deted. Her voice. became listless, ¡°I should head back to ss.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Ate regained herposure just as Mirabe was about to step out. ¡°There¡¯s no cash prize, but the winner gets a guaranteed spot at Prestige College one of the top three universities in the country. A spot that many would break their backs for, given the limited admission spots each year. A guaranteed admission is worth way more than any cash prize.¡± Prestige College, a dream institution for many, represented a future that was beyond measure. But Mirabe, upon hearing her teacher¡¯s words, didn¡¯t seem thrilled. In fact, her shoulders slumped even more. Without looking back, she replied with a dull ¡°got it¡± and left the office. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Ate watched Mirabe¡¯s retreating figure with a frown. She had a nagging feeling that this new student wasn¡¯t in it for the guaranteed college spot but the cash prize instead. But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, sheughed at herself. Was she crazy? Entertaining such a preposterous Idea for a student who had essentially back¨Cdoored her way into the school? Shouldn¡¯t the focus be on advising her to know her limits? Chapter 55 Chapter 55 As the registration deadline for the BrainSpark Nationals approached. Ate gathered the signup sheets from The Advanced ss and handed them over to the vice principal. The vice principal, after scanning the list, looked up with a puzzled frown. ¡°Huh, is this it? Only a few kids from your ss are participating?¡± Out of the forty students in The Advanced ss, a mere three had signed up. Ate chuckled awkwardly and exined. ¡°I guess the kids prefer to focus on their studies rather than spend time on thepetition.¡± The vice principal¡¯s gaze lingered on a few names before pausing at Mirabe¡¯s. He seemed surprised. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mirabe the new girl? Why¡¯s she signed up for this? Shouldn¡¯t she be buckling down to catch up with the coursework at Parkside High School?¡± Feeling the sting of difort. Ate replied, ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s just looking for a challenge.¡± The vice principal seemed aware that Mirabe was a special admission by the principal himself, but he wasn¡¯t privy to her academic performance. However, he had heard a snippet from Morgan a few days prior, who painted her as someone with an egorger than life. With a frown, he grumbled, ¡°Nonsense!¡± ¡°The Education Association is taking this BrainSpark Nationals very seriously. If this transfer student excels and makes it to the city preliminaries, it¡¯s good. But if she doesn¡¯t, and other schools get wind that Parkside High School fielded a transfer just to make up the numbers, where¡¯s our pride then?¡± Ate, seeing the vice principal¡¯s stern expression, agreed internally but still protested, ¡°Isn¡¯t the competition open to everyone? It doesn¡¯t seem fair to exclude a transfer student.¡± The vice principal choked on his retort, ¡°Regardless, her name has to be removed.¡± Ate fell silent for a few seconds before hesitantly saying. ¡°That¡­ doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± Running out of patience, the vice principal snapped. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with it.¡± Ate dropped her gaze. She knew Mirabe had been brought in through connections, and judging by the vice principal¡¯s attitude, he wasn¡¯t the one who had done it. That left one possibility¡­ the principal himself. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. If Mirabe found out her name had been removed without reason, would she go straight to the principal? And would Ate, as the advisor, end up being scolded first thing? With this in mind, Ate quickly suggested, ¡°How about we consult the principal before deciding?¡± At that, the vice principal flung the signup sheet onto the desk in frustration. ¡°Are you saying I can¡¯t even handle this simple matter as the vice principal?¡± Caught between respecting the principal and not offending the vice principal was a tricky business indeed! Feeling downhearted yet maintaining a cating smile, Ate said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way, vice principal. It just seems unfair to cancel Mirabe¡¯s participation without cause¡­¡± The vice principal huffed dismissively and cut her off, ¡°Enough, you don¡¯t need to bother the principal. The name stays. Let¡¯s leave it at that.¡± Ate opened her mouth to protest, but the vice principal cut her off again, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you can go. I have matters to attend to.¡± With a cold expression, he picked up the discarded signup sheet, strode to his desk, opened the drawer, and tossed it inside. There was nothing more she could say, so Ate left the office, feeling awkward and disheartened. The vice principal sank into his chair with a sour face. After a moment¡¯s reflection, a sneer curled at the edge of his lips as if he hade to some cunning realization. He was curious to see how this student from some backwater town would embarrass the principal in the end! Chapter 56 Chapter 56 abe was cluelest that she had been cklisted as a troublemaker by the vice principal because mpetition ramai, and with whispers flying around that she had used her connections toe here, her reputation was taking a hit. The students from both the Prodigy ss and the regr sses were giving her looks that dripped with sdment and disbelief. Being a problem student and used of pulling strings was the talk of the town, the stain on the school¡¯s good name. the epitome of embarassmentt So, when the Gist of students selected to participate in the BrainSpark Nationals was posted on the school bulletin board and Mirabe¡¯s name popped up, it turned into the juiciest gossip of the semester. ¡°Good Lord, where does the new girl get the guts to sign up for BrainSpark Nationals? Isn¡¯t she embarrassed?¡± ¡°Does she think she can just charm her way into BrainSpark Nationals too?¡± Te bet a nickel she won¡¯t even pass the prelims.¡± ¡°My stars, looks like Parkside High is gonna be theughing stock of the nation this time!¡± ¡°Seriously, wouldn¡¯t it be better to just sit pretty and not stir the All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. e pot?¡± Jenna was dumbfounded when she saw Mirabe¡¯s name on the list. ¡°Queen Mira, I thought you said you weren¡¯t interested in BrainSpark Nationals? You even turned me down when I asked you to sign up.¡± Jenna puffed her cheeks out in frustration. Her usually round face looked even rounder, like a petnt hamster. Ever since Jenna found out about the hefty sums being transferred into Mirabe¡¯s ount every day, she¡¯d taken to calling her ¡°Queen Mira¡± as a nickname, and it had stuck. Mirab looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who signed me up?¡± Jenna blinked in confusion. ¡°Nope, not me. I mean, I wanted you topete, but I didn¡¯t put your name there.¡± Mirabe frowned. ¡°Then who did?¡± Had she known it wasn¡¯t Jenna who signed her up, she would have t¨Cout refused when Ate called her to the office. Scratching her head. Jenna reiterated with an innocent look. ¡°Queen Mira, I swear I didn¡¯t sign you up. You gotta believe me.¡± Mirabe nced at her and said coolly, ¡°I know.¡± Hearing this. Jenna stuck her tongue out slightly, worried about a misunderstanding, since BrainSpark Nationals was no child¡¯s y. She tilted her head in thought, and Jenna¡¯s inner detective kicked in, ¡°Could it be someone wants to see you make a fool of yourself and did this on purpose?¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyes lowered slightly, but she remained silent. ¡°The BrainSpark Nationals is for super intelligent students, the real braics. If someone signed you up knowing your grades were dismal it¡¯s a surefire way to humiliate you at Parkside High School, and maybe even cut you off at the knees.¡± ¡°Queen Mira, think, have you ticked anyone offtely?¡± Jenna folded her arms, getting straight to the point. Mirabe¡¯s expression was serene, and her voice was quite serious. ¡°Does being envied for my looks count?¡± Jenna¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Can you please be serious? I can¡¯t help you sort this out if you¡¯re gonna be like this.¡± With a light ¡°oh¡°, Mirabe then sprawled back onto her desk and closed her eyes. Jenna was speechless. Queen Mira was uniquely nonchnt even in the gravest of times. With a sigh, Jenna said helplessly. ¡°Maybe you should talk to the She¨CDevil about this? The She¨CDevil was the students¡® secret nickname for Ate, their head teacher. Chapter St without evening an eveld, Mirabe responded, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Jenna was taken aback, then finally asked. ¡°So you¡¯re actually considering going through with the competition? Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Uh huh Mirabe replied nonchntly, making it eat the had erased to wonder who had signed her up for the Jenna Bimbed, skeptical. She didn¡¯t doubt Murales had gotten into Parkside High School on her own merits, but she wasn¡¯t quite convinced her friend was top of the ss material The tst of students participating in the BrainSpark Tationals was a wher¡¯s who of academic titans, the too ten from each made Mabe¡¯s name on that list was likesndstils in the midst of a pristine forest, no thatter how shiny her Bades, were they would be eclipsed by the brines of these schrly gards. Unless, ofise, she could snag a state ranking. ¡°Are you up for this, Queen Mira? Thispetition is no joke, and you know how many people are just waiting to make you the butt of their jokes, Huh?¡± Jenna tried to talk her out of it. It was, after all, better to bow out now than to face the humiliation of flunking the prelims Perhaps tired of Jenna¡¯s nagging, Mirabe opened her eyes, propped herself up on the edge of the desk with a hand. and leaned in augressively. Her eyes, dark and sparkling with a mischievous glint, met Jenna¡¯s. Her voice was husky. ¡°Don¡¯t ask if someone¡¯s up for it. Just don¡¯t.¡± Jenna, faced with Mirabe¡¯s alluring daze at such close quarters, felt her heart racing uncontrobly. Theid¨Cback, almost wicked charm in that usually androgynous voice was unfairly seductive. ¡°Holy smokes,¡± she thought, ¡°my heart¡¯s about to burst out of my chest.¡± Under Mirabe¡¯s intense gaze, Jenna embarrassingly covered her face with her hands, and then slumped back into her seat. ¡°Oh my gosh, Queen Mira, don¡¯t look at me with those beguiling eyes again. I¡¯m afraid I will fall in love with you!¡± With a light chuckle, Mirabe found reprieve from Jenna¡¯s chatter and sprawled out on the desk once more, even going so far as to cover her head with her chemistry textbook. Jenna was bbergasted, ¡°You¡¯re gonna scare off all your friends like that, Queen Mira!¡± Elsewhere. ¡°Summer, 1. can you belleve how delusional Mirabe is?¡± Madeline gossiped excitedly to Summer, who was quietly working on homework. Summer paused, with a pen in the hand, and finally set it down to look at Madeline with curious eyes. ¡°Hmm? N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°She actually signed up for the BrainSpark Nationals. Madeline said. Her voice was filled with thrill and mockery. ¡°I don¡¯t know where she gets her confidence from. Everyone¡¯sughing at her.¡± Summer¡¯s delicate eyebrows raised slightly. She tilted her head and said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s an open competition. What¡¯s there tough about?¡± Madeline scoffed lightly. ¡°Oh, you haven¡¯t heard? The rumor is she got into Parkside High School through the back door. With her barely passing grades, It¡¯s hrious that she¡¯d even consider competing.¡± After a brief silence, Summer looked up again, with a probing tone in her voice. ¡°Madeline, you didn¡¯t start the rumor about Mirabe¡¯s getting into Parkside High School through the back door, did you?¡± Madeline¡¯s eyes flickered guiltily, but she replied firmly. ¡°Of course not. I would never say that.¡± Summer smiled softly. ¡°Good to hear. Mirabe is my friend, after all. Even if she¡¯s not the best student, I don¡¯t want people talking orughing about her.¡± Madeline¡¯s eyes betrayed a sense of ¡°I knew it,¡± and she quickly added, ¡°You¡¯re also in thepetition, Summer. Make sure you do well and aim for a state ranking!¡± 1/1 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Summer brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek. Her eyshes cast a delicate shadow over her serene expression. With a gentle smile, she murmured, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°With your grades, you¡¯ve got this in the bag!¡± Madeline chimed in, never missing an opportunity to sing her praises. Summer¡¯s face remained impassive. ¡°Thepetition¡¯s fierce this time. We¡¯re talking about national whiz kids from all corners of the country.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve got nothing to worry about,¡± Madeline reassured her, ¡°Parkside High School is top¨Cliur nationally, and it we¡¯re talking about academic gods, you¡¯re the real deal.¡± Madeline winked and paused for dramatic effect before adding with a grin. ¡°And look at you, the darling of Superstar Camp. If you snag a state or national ranking now, Just imagine the followers you¡¯ll rake in!¡± Summer¡¯s double life as a Parkside High School schr and a budding talent had been well¨Cmarketed by her agency, Half her fanbase were students who idolized her. Imagine someone who¡¯s not only gorgeous and kind¨Chearted but can also sing, dance, and ace the BrainSpark Nationals. She was the epitome of a perfect girl in the eyes of many! She radiated the youthful positivity, that made her a surefire blueprint for a school¡¯s poster child. ¡°Mirabe, thatme girl, she¡¯s going to embarrass hersell without any doubt,¡± Madeline scoffed, already envisioning the scene. Summer just smiled at thement, choosing not to add anything more, The final bell rang. Mirabe and Jenna hadn¡¯t even left the school grounds when they spotted Summer, d in Sunsses, seemingly waiting for someone nearby. Jenna¡¯s gossip radar went oll. As they walked, she whispered to Mirabe, ¡°See the girl at the gate with sunsses?¡± Mirabe nced over. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Summer, our school¡¯s celebrity sweetheart from Superstar Camp. You must¡¯ve seen the show, right? She¡¯s the fan favorite.¡± Mirabe turned to Jenna with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Are you one of her fans?¡± Jenna shrugged and shook her head, ¡°Not at all. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s a bit too¡­ fake? Like she¡¯s trying too hard to be something she¡¯s not. You know what I mean?¡± Mirabe hummed nomittally but then added after a pause, ¡°I don¡¯t watch TV shows.¡± Jenna¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Holy cow, where have you been living, in the countryside? How can you not watch TV shows?¡± A sly smile yed on Mirabe¡¯s lips as she asked, ¡°Does watching TV shows boost your grades?¡± Jenna was stumped by the question, unable to muster a response. ¡°And don¡¯t knock the countryside. It might just produce a lionhearted champion,¡± Mirabe added with an enigmatic tone. Jenna touched her nose, feeling suddenly out of sync in the conversation. Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. As they passed Summer, Mirabe barely nced her way. She was tall and had a backpack casually slung over one shoulder. Her cool detached demeanor radiated a boldness that could outshine any boy¡¯s bravado. From behind her sunsses. Summer¡¯s gaze darkened for just a moment before she called out, ¡°Mirabe, Emmitt¡¯s picking me up today. Let¡¯s walk out together,¡± At Summer¡¯s invitation. Jenna¡¯s eyes sparkled with intrigue. The school¡¯s star was talking to Mirabe, and mentioning 11/2 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Mirabe paused mid¨Cstride before turning to look at Summer. There was a cool detachment in her eyes, and her voice was chilly as she declined. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ll take the bus.¡± Without waiting for Summer to respond, she withdrew her gaze and walked towards the bus stop with a pace that was neither hurried nor slow. Jenna, who had been watching the exchange with the enthusiasm of a spectator at a sports game, Instinctively followed Mirabe. ¡°Queen Mira, wait up for me!¡± Summer¡¯s expression stiffened slightly, but her sunsses concealed any sign of difort. She watched as Mirabe¡¯s silhouette grew smaller in the distance, and her grip on her bag tightened ever so slightly. ¡°Queen Mira, you know Summer, right?¡± Jenna asked with a certainty that belled her casual demeanor. As Mirabe reached the bus stop and waited for the bus, she turned to face an eagerly gossiping Jenna and replied nomittally, ¡°Sort of.¡± ¡°Are you guys¡­ rted?¡± Jenna blinked, guessing boldly. But before Mirabe could respond. Jenna¡¯s face fell. ¡°Oh no, oh no, Queen Mira, please tell me you won¡¯t rat me out to Summer for thements I made?¡± In that moment, Jenna felt as if her heart was in a vise. After all, Summer had plenty of die¨C hard fans at Parkside High School who could drown her in their spitfire words if she crossed them. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Mirabe gave her a half¨Csmiling nce. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself.¡± Mirabe added as she stepped onto her usual bus, pulling out her transit card. ¡°Are you sure you want to keep following me to discuss my sense of humor¡­ or theck thereof?¡± Realizing her mistake, Jenna smacked her forehead, which had been clouded by gossip. ¡°Holy cow, how did I end up following you to the bus? My dad¡¯s waiting for me at the school gates.¡± After casting a look of mock resentment at Mirabe, she turned and sprinted back the way she came. A soft chuckle escaped Mirabe. Summer got into Emmitt¡¯s car and after a brief chat, she mentioned. ¡°Emmitt, I¡¯ve signed up for BrainSpark Nationals. The Education Association is really focusing on it this year. If I can make it into the top three nationwide. I¡¯ll get a direct admission offer from Prestige College.¡± Emmitt, surprised, turned to her. ¡°Sounds like an interestingpetition. Do your best and aim for a top spot.¡± Summer¡¯s gaze lowered as she fiddled with the fluffy keychain on her bag, murmuring an agreement before adding, ¡°I saw that Mira signed up too.¡± Emmitt¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened briefly as he frowned. ¡°With her grades, why bother with thispetition? Isn¡¯t that just a waste of time?¡± ¡°She might just want a challenge. It¡¯s all good. Just think of it as an extracurricr activity, broadening her horizons.¡± Summer said with a softugh. Emmitt, slightly exasperated, just shook his head. It seemed his little sister really wasn¡¯t the type to make things easy for anyone. After dinner with Summer, Emmitt dropped her back to the Gilbert family home. It was still early when he left, so he decided to drive back to the Davis household. Delh, with a face mask on, was surprised to see her eldest son at the door. ¡°Emmitt, what brings you home sote? Everything okay?¡± Stepping inside. Emmitt nced around before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve just finished up with some stuff and thought I¡¯d stay at Chapter 59 home for a few days.¡± He paused before asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Mirabe?¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Delh eyed her eldest son with a curious blend of suspicion and warning in her voice. ¡°You are just back home and already looking for your sister. What kind of mischief are you plotting now?¡± Ever since theirst falling¨Cout, this brat had done nothing but phone her to keep an eye on her daughter. She hadn¡¯t seen him this eager to return in ages. Emmitt¡¯s lips twitched into a half¨Csmile. ¡°Are you under some kind of misunderstanding? I was just casually asking about my little sis.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Delh peeled off her facial mask, revealing a damp face tinged with distaste. ¡°Misunderstanding? Don¡¯t you know in your own heart?¡± Emmit was speechless. ¡°Enough, I¡¯m done talking. I need to pamper my skin. Do whatever you please.¡± After saying that, Delh turned and headed for the bedroom. After only a couple of steps, she paused, turned back with a stern expression, and added. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare disturb your sister. She¡¯s been working her tall off studying every day.¡± After leaving those words hanging in the air, she disappeared into her room, so suddenly, only Emmitt and Shawn, who was engrossed in the TV, remained in the living room. Emmitt nced at Shawn, about to speak when Shawn stood up, switched off the TV with the remote, and yawned loudly. His words showed his fatigue, ¡°Woke up way too early this morning. I¡¯m beat. You should hit the hay early, too, Emmitt. Goodnight.¡± Without waiting for a response. Shawn quickly retreated to his room as well. Emmitt was stunned. Had he really be not weed for his parents after just a few days away? Climbing the stairs with a sigh, he nced at Mirabe¡¯s room and lingered for a few seconds before pulling back and heading into his own. The next day was Saturday, and with no sses, but Mirabe kept up her routine of an early morning jog. After her run, as she ascended the stairs and passed by Emmitt¡¯s door, it swung open. She hesitated for a split second. Emmitt, d in pajamas, looked like he had just woken up. His eyes were still half¨C closed. He opened the door to find a sweaty Mirabe, which snapped him to alertness. ¡°You¡¯re¡­?¡± Mirabe¡¯s initial surprise faded, and her voice was calm as she volunteered, ¡°Just got back from my morning run.¡± At her words, Emmitt paused, seemingly taken aback since most people would choose to sleep in on weekends. ¡°I¡¯m heading to my room,¡± said Mirabe, nodding politely to Emmitt in a manner that was both courteous and well¨Cmannered. Emmitt watched her retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought. Twenty minutester, Mirabe sat quietly and obediently at the breakfast table, eating at a leisurely pace. Emmitt sat across from her. His gaze drifted to her now and then. He wanted to speak but unsure what to say, and his expression was awkward. Feeling the weight of his stare, Mirabe set down her spoon and lifted her head. Her clear, inquisitive eyes fixed on him. ¡°Do you have something you want to say?¡± Emmitt cleared his throat and, recalling the previous night¡¯s conversation with Summer, broached, ¡°I heard you signed up for the BrainSpark Nationals?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Mirabe asked, with a hint of surprise in her voice. 1/2 11:38 ¡°Summer mentioned it yesterday.¡± Emmitt didn¡¯t see any reason to hide it and spoke frankly. Mirabe raised an eyebrow and let out an ¡°oh.¡± Well, she had more or less quessed as much, ¡°Why do you want to join thatpetition?¡± Emmitt was about to chide her for wasting time in her criticalst year but held back. Mirabe¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile as she simply retorted, ¡°Did you ask Summer that? What did she tell you?¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Emmitt frowned. ¡°Why bring up Summer again? Are you two even on the same level?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mirabe tapped her fingers lightly on the table. Her gaze was drifting. ¡°Are you sure you weren¡¯t the one who mentioned her first?¡± Emmitt choked, feeling aplete inability tomunicate effectively with her. With patience, he exined. ¡°Summer¡¯s shooting for a chance at Prestige College. And you? Participating in this competition with your grades seems¡­ somewhat pointless.¡± He paused for a second, and then added in a lower tone, ¡°With the time you¡¯re spending on this, you might as well enroll in a tutoring ss. That would be far more beneficial for you right now.¡± Despite his disappointment in his sister, he still hoped she would focus her efforts on more realistic goals instead of chasing some impossible dreams. Mirabe looked at him with an indifferent smile. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying, Emmitt, is that I don¡¯t qualify for thepetition, right?¡± Her smile momentarily disarmed Emmitt, and he replied without thinking. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. It¡¯s just that one shouldn¡¯t bite off more than they can chew.¡± ¡°Okay, I get it.¡± Mirabe nodded, turning her gaze away and resuming her meal of thest bits of oatmeal in her bowl Emmitt watched his sister, who was seemingly obedient and quiet, but in reality, deliberately cold and distant. His feelings were a tangled mess. If he was talking to Summer, there¡¯d be no such awkwardness. She would, at least. understand his intentions behind every word. The atmosphere at the breakfast table grew heavy. After a moment, Emmitt, finding no taste in his bagel set it down and looked back at Mirabe. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a tutor.¡± Mirabe looked up. puzzled. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re set on thepetition, I won¡¯t dissuade you. It just so happens I have a friend working at the Education Association. Maybe they can provide some guidance,¡± Emmitt said slowly. Those in the Education Association, aside from having advanced teaching credentials from top universities, included schrs who had made significant contributions to the country. Guidance from someone within the Association could Save Mirabe a lot of detours. ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t need it.¡± Mirabe politely declined. She was somewhat baffled. Why was Emmitt so convinced she was struggling to the point where she needed preemptive tutoring from someone in the Education Association? Emmitt didn¡¯t expect her to refuse. He thought his thoughtful offer would surely move her, but she was neither touched nor did she hesitate for even a second before declining. Emmitt¡¯s expression soured, and he couldn¡¯t help but raise his voice, ¡°Do you realize how much help it would be to have guidance from someone within the Education Association?¡± Mirabe met his gaze with an unaffected look and remained silent. Emmitt massaged his forehead. His voice grew stern, ¡°You know¡­¡± Suddenly, he remembered that she had always lived in a small town and probably hadn¡¯t even heard of the Education Association. His voice trailed off, and he ended up shaking his head. ¡°Never mind, I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m telling you all this. Standing up. Emmitt added onest thing to Mirabe, ¡°Since you¡¯ve refused, let¡¯s pretend I never said anything.¡± He was done worrying about his sister. As Mirabe watched Emmitt¡¯s retreating figure, she took out her phone after a while and typed out a text message. [Is the Education Association really that big of a deal?] Chapter 62 Chapter 61 Emmitt frowned. ¡°Why bring up Summer again? Are you two even on the same level?¡± Mirabe tapped her fingers lightly on the table. Her gaze was drifting. ¡°Are you sure you weren¡¯t the one who mentioned her first?¡± Emmitt choked, feeling aplete inability tomunicate effectively with her. With patience, he exined. ¡°Summer¡¯s shooting for a chance at Prestige College. And you? Participating in thispetition with your grades seems¡­ somewhat pointless.¡± He paused for a second, and then added in a lower tone, ¡°With the time you¡¯re spending on this, you might as well enroll in a tutoring ss. That would be far more beneficial for you right now.¡± Despite his disappointment in his sister, he still hoped she would focus her efforts on more realistic goals instead of chasing some impossible dreams. Mirabe looked at him with an indifferent smile. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying, Emmitt, is that I don¡¯t qualify for thepetition, right?¡± Her smile momentarily disarmed Emmitt, and he replied without thinking. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. It¡¯s just that one shouldn¡¯t bite off more than they can chew.¡± ¡°Okay, I get it.¡± Mirabe nodded, turning her gaze away and resuming her meal of thest bits of oatmeal in her bowl Emmitt watched his sister, who was seemingly obedient and quiet, but in reality, deliberately cold and distant. His feelings were a tangled mess. If he was talking to Summer, there¡¯d be no such awkwardness. She would, at least. understand his intentions behind every word. The atmosphere at the breakfast table grew heavy. After a moment, Emmitt, finding no taste in his bagel set it down and looked back at Mirabe. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a tutor.¡± Mirabe looked up. puzzled. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re set on thepetition, I won¡¯t dissuade you. It just so happens I have a friend working at the Education Association. Maybe they can provide some guidance,¡± Emmitt said slowly. Those in the Education Association, aside from having advanced teaching credentials from top universities, included schrs who had made significant contributions to the country. Guidance from someone within the Association could Save Mirabe a lot of detours. ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t need it.¡± Mirabe politely declined. She was somewhat baffled. Why was Emmitt so convinced she was struggling to the point where she needed preemptive tutoring from someone in the Education Association? Emmitt didn¡¯t expect her to refuse. He thought his thoughtful offer would surely move her, but she was neither touched nor did she hesitate for even a second before declining. Emmitt¡¯s expression soured, and heBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. couldn¡¯t help but raise his voice, ¡°Do you realize how much help it would be to have guidance from someone within the Education Association?¡± Mirabe met his gaze with an unaffected look and remained silent. Emmitt massaged his forehead. His voice grew stern, ¡°You know¡­¡± Suddenly, he remembered that she had always lived in a small town and probably hadn¡¯t even heard of the Education Association. His voice trailed off, and he ended up shaking his head. ¡°Never mind, I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m telling you all this. Standing up. Emmitt added onest thing to Mirabe, ¡°Since you¡¯ve refused, let¡¯s pretend I never said anything.¡± He was done worrying about his sister. As Mirabe watched Emmitt¡¯s retreating figure, she took out her phone after a while and typed out a text message. [Is the Education Association really that big of a deal?] Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Mirabe had no inkling of what was tumbling through Delh¡¯s mind. Once Delh settled into her seat, Mirabe gracefully rolled up her sleeves, revealing slender fingers that found their way to Delh¡¯s temples, kneading them with an expertise that was neither too gentle nor too firm. Mirabe¡¯s touch was practiced, and any connoisseur in the room would have noticed that she targeted major pressure points on Delh¡¯s head with pinpoint uracy. She even dared to manipte a few spots that many seasoned practitioners of alternative medicine would hesitate to approach. Delh was initially just indulging her daughter, not wanting to hurt Mirabe¡¯s feelings by refusing the massage, but she hadn¡¯t expected to feel such relief in just a short while. It was more soothing than her regr sessions at the alternative medicine spa she¡¯d been visiting for over a decade. ¡°Mira, have you been taking lessons or something? My headache¡¯s almost gone with just your touch,¡± Delh murmured with closed eyes, with a look of pure bliss on her face. Mirabe¡¯s hands continued their dance, her voice even, ¡°I used to do this for Grandma quite often.¡± That exined it. Delh didn¡¯t question further, a proud smile ying on her lips. ¡°My daughter¡¯s just amazing. I think you¡¯re even better than those professionals down at the massage parlor.¡± Mirabe¡¯s gaze dropped, her longshes casting a veil over her eyes, ¡°Have you been keeping up with the remedies! gave youst time?¡± ¡°Absolutely, especially those fragrance pills. They smell so good, not at all overpowering. I feel like my sleep quality¡¯s improved a lot these past nights. Even your dad mentioned his insomnia¡¯s been better,¡± Delh recounted cheerfully. ¡°And that tincture gave you for internal use, you haven¡¯t touched it, have you?¡± Mirabe¡¯s voice was very calm, and although it was a question, her tone conveyed a sense of certainty. Had Delh taken it, today¡¯s headache might have been averted. Guiltily, Delh fidgeted with her dress before confessing in a small voice. ¡°That medicine¡­ it¡¯s just so bitter, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to take it again after the first time.¡± Mirabe sighed lightly, ¡°Bitter potions often offer the best healing. You must take it.¡± Feeling a pang in her heart at her daughter¡¯s gentle chide, Delh hastened to reassure her, ¡°I promise I¡¯ll take it regrly from now on, no matter how bitter.¡± Mirabe withdrew her hands, ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Delh opened her eyes, rotating her neck almost instinctively, ¡°It¡¯s like magic ¨C the pain¡¯s gone, and I feel refreshed.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mirabe raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that no one should be surprised by the efficacy of her touch. Turning to face her daughter, Delh¡¯s curiosity piqued, ¡°By the way, I overheard you talking to Emmitt about somepetition this morning. Did you sign up for something?¡± Mirabe gave a nod, her expression neutral ¡°Just a dull prizeless event called the BrainSpark Nationals.¡± Delh, assuming it was just a trivial extracurricr contest, waved it off, ¡°Well, just give it a go for the experience.¡± As Delh spoke, a flicker of irritation crossed her eyes ¨C that Emmitt, making such a fuss over a small contest with his sister this morning. After a moment¡¯s pause, Delh looked up again, ¡°Can I find thispetition online?¡± Despite Mirabe¡¯s nonchnce about the event, Delh, as her mother, couldn¡¯t help but show some interest. Even though Mirabe didn¡¯t understand why Delh was asking this, after some thought, she replied, ¡°I guess so. Just search for ¡®BrainSpark Nationals.¡°¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Delh said, already pulling out her phone. With a nce at her mother, Mirabe excused herself. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to my room then.¡± Chapter 63 ¡°Sure, go ahead,¡± Delh responded absently, her attention fixed on her phone as she rapidly typed in ¡®Brainpark Nationals¡®. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 The screen of Delh¡¯s smartphone was soon flooded with information about the BrainSpark Nationals. With a chuckle, Delh thought to herself that her daughter¡¯spetition seemed quite the buzz, popping up with so many exnations at just one search. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. But her smile slowly solidified into a frown. Hadn¡¯t her daughter described it as a dullpetition with no cash prizet What was all this about city¨Clevel preliminaries, provincialpetitions, national and even international tiers? And with Riverdale¡¯s top high schools coborating with the Education Association no less? How could this be called a dullpetition? A guaranteed admission spot to the prestigious Prestige College? It might not be a cash prize, but it certainly held more clout, didn¡¯t it? Delh was bewildered, beginning to suspect that thepetition she found online was not the same one her daughter had been talking about. So, she reopened the browser and searched again. The BrainSpark Nationals were divided into several tiers, starting with city¨Clevel preliminaries, moving on to province. then national, and finally the top five students nationally would represent the country in the international contest. Thispetition wasn¡¯t confined to a single subject, making the difficulty quite substantial. After all, students who specialized in sciences tended to be weaker in the humanities, and vice versa. Before the city preliminaries, there was a preliminary exam set by the provincial Education Association. Only those who passed could enter the officialpetition. The prelim was scheduled for Wednesday, and all senior students who had registered would be brought to the examination hall by the school. With ten sses in the senior year, and aside from the three students from Mirabe¡¯s Advanced ss, nearly every other ss from the Prodigy ss to the regr ss had five to eight candidates each. That was why the vice principal had been so surprised when Ate had submitted the application. Wednesday came around quickly. The exam was set for the morning, and Mirabe, holding the test number given to her by her homeroom teacher, Ate, headed to the venue. Parkside High School had a substantial number of participants, so they were split into two different rooms, with Mirabe assigned to the second. Her two male ssmates from the experimental ss were also in the same room. The boys, less prone to envy than the girls, shyly wished her luck before taking their own seats. Unfortunately, Summer was also in the second room. She¡¯s the campus queen, a straight¨CA student and a budding pop star, so naturally drew the gaze of many boys as she entered. Most of the participants who signed up for thepetition were boys, with the proportion of girls being less than one¨Cthird. Coincidentally, in the second examination room, there were only two girls, Mirabe and Summer. Mirabe leaned backzily in her seat, Idly spinning a pencil in her hand. When Summer walked in, Mirabe didn¡¯t even nce up, as if lost in her own tranquil world. Summer, on the other hand, maintained the warm, gentle smile that made her the quintessential girl¨C next¨Cdoor in the eyes of her male peers ¨C polsed, graceful, and a stark contrast to Mirabe¡¯s persona. ¡°Who do you think is prettier, the campus queen or the new girl?¡± one student whispered to another. *Tthe campus queen for sure. She¡¯s the epitome of Innocence and kindness, plus she¡¯s so smart,¡± came a reply. ¡°I dunno, I find the new girl more striking. Although she appeared aloof, her presencepletely overwhelmed both male and female students,¡± another chimed in. ¡°Yeah, now that you mention it, it kinda makes sense.¡± Chapter 64 Summer, seated in the first row, could hear the murmurs from behind her. Her eyes lowered slightly, seemingly unaffected by the chatter. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 The proctor strode into the room, clutching the stack of exam papers. With a brief splel about the rules, the proctor began distributing them among the students. Mirabe scanned her test. a frown creasing her brow. She had expected more of a challenge from this supposed crucible of intellect. With a sigh, she began to write, her pen moving at a leisurely pace. The test was a sixty¨Cminute sprint, but Mirabe breezed through it in thirty, then slumped onto her desk, bored. If only they allowed early exits uponpletion, she¡¯d have been out the door in a heartbeat. Morgan, today¡¯s vignt proctor, had already pegged Mirabe as a peculiar case¨Ca disappointing one at that. He spotted her snoozing mid¨Cexam, a stark contrast to her Industrious peers, and shook his head in disdain. ¡°Good grades or not, at least take a solid work ethic,¡± he thought. ¡°Even If you slipped in through pulling strings, you gotta weigh your worth. BrainSpark Nationals is no child¡¯s y.¡± hey were He couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved that he had resisted taking on such students. nothing but trouble. Time ticked away, and soon the sixty minutes were up. Though Mirabe had been the first to finish, she was thest to hand in her paper. Morgan didn¡¯t even nce at her or her test. He simply sealed it in an envelope and exited the room. After the exam, Mirabe freshened up in the restroom before heading back to the ssroom. As soon as she sat down. Jenna leaned in and asked. ¡°So, how¡¯d it go, Mirabe? I heard the others saying the prelims were tough this time.¡± Mirabe lifted hereyeszily and lightly replied. ¡°Tough, you say?¡± Jenna was taken aback. ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Those two who also participated were usually top twenty in the grade. If they found it hard, surely it was a beast of a test. Mirabe just hummed nomittally. ¡°Then it must be tough.¡± Jenna was stunned. That casual arrogance was pure Mirabe. But was it just bravado? Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Jenna prodded further. ¡°What score are you expecting? Think you¡¯ll pass the prelims?¡± With a yful arch of her brow, Mirabe teased, ¡°Doubting me, sweetle?¡± Jenna blushed, sensing that Mirabe¡¯s bad¨Cgirl vibe was only intensifying. ¡°Just remember, you¡¯re the talk of the school¨Cthe one who got in through pulling strings.¡± Mirabe waved off the concern with a flick of her wrist, unfazed. Jenna shook her head and dropped the subject. Perhaps Mirabe was a secret genius, after all. Prelim results were due the next morning, but before they could be released, Mirabe was summoned to the guidance. counselor¡¯s office. In the office of the guidance counselor, several teachers were present at the moment, including Ate, Morgan. Anthony, and the vice principal. The expressions of all of them were serious and solemn, especially the vice principal and Anthony. The vice principal addressed her with frost in his voice. ¡°Miss Mirabe, you¡¯re aware of the rumors swirling around school concerning you?¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, her demeanor unfazed by his severity. ¡°You mean the buzz about me getting in through pulling strings?¡± The vice principal¡¯s frown deepened, clearly taken aback by the new student¡¯s audacious retort. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ecause of this whole mess, the school¡¯s century¨Cold reputation is under scrutiny from all corners of society. and I¡¯ve been inundated withints from parents,¡± the vice¨Cprincipal stated with grave concern, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. Originally, out of respect for the principal, he had turned a blind eye. However, he had not anticipated the issue to spread like wildfire across campus. Now, covering it up was no longer an option. 4 me myself, too¡± Morgan sighed heavily, his face etched with guilt and frustration. ¡°I had a bad feeling when we started enrollment. If I¡¯d known it would blow up like this. I would have never¡­. Ahl Ate nced at Mirabe, The girl stood alone among them, seemingly defenseless. Although Mirabe¡¯s method of gaining admission was questionable, after days of observation, Ate could see the girl¡¯s true nature and dedication to her studies weremendable. And speaking of being under scrutiny, it was Mirabe who was caught in the eye of the rumor storm, facing daily jabs from her peers. After a brief silence, Ate spoke up, ¡°What¡¯s done is done. ming anyone is pointless. We need to focus on how to quell these rumors.¡± The vice¨Cprincipal snorted dismissively. ¡°Quell the rumors? Other than having her parents take her away and penning an apology letter, there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Anthony, upon hearing this, interjected anxiously, ¡°No, as I¡¯ve already exined, Mirabe didn¡¯t get in through pulling strings. Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± Since the meeting started to address the rumors around Mirabe, Anthony had been trying to clear the air for her, but to his dismay, the vice¨Cprincipal hadn¡¯t given him the floor and had instead summoned the girl. ¡°If Mirabe truly didn¡¯t get in through pulling strings, then why is the rumor mill working overtime? With things havinge this far, are you really going to keep protecting the principal?¡± the vice¨Cprincipal asked, his expression one of deep disappointment directed at Anthony. Furrowing his brows, Anthony replied, ¡°Protecting the principal? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always thought the principal was a man of integrity.¡± the vice¨Cprincipal nced at Mirabe with a sneer, ¡°but it seems even he can have his moments of folly.¡± Although the vice¨Cprincipal didn¡¯t explicitly say that Mirabe got in with the help of principal, every single person present could hear the implication. Anthony seemed to have finally figured something out, and he almostughed in exasperation, ¡°It¡¯s true the principal isn¡¯t here at Ashford, but slinging mud at him is hardly fair, don¡¯t you think?¡± The vice¨Cprincipal¡¯s face stiffened. He had always been irked by the principal¡¯s air of superiority and was eager to take this chance to knock him down a peg. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Anthony to be so blunt. ¡°I¡¯m slinging mud? Do you think I¡¯m so bored that I¡¯d joke about the school¡¯s reputation? You think I don¡¯t have to take responsibility as vice¨Cprincipal?¡± the vice¨Cprincipal retorted, clearly agitated. The mood had turned awkward. At that moment, Morgan, after pondering for a few seconds, decided to chime in. ¡°Anthony, didn¡¯t you yourself mention on the first day that Mirabe was some rtive of the principal?¡± Caught off guard. Anthony looked at Morgan in bewilderment, ¡°When did I ever say Mirabe was the principal¡¯s rtive? Morgan, you can¡¯t just make things up.¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 It wasn¡¯t long before Anthony pieced out the whole thing. On the first day of school, he had said a few things to Morgan, mentioning that Mirabe was a special recruit by the principal. Later, when he learned that Mirabe had left in a hurry, he was so anxious that he left the conversation unfinished. What he had meant to say was, ¡°Mirabe was recruited by the principal after a lot of effort.¡± Could Morgan have misunderstood him because of that? Anthony rubbed his temples, a frown creasing his forehead. Seeing Anthony¡¯s gesture, Morgan knew Anthony must¡¯ve recalled the incident and couldn¡¯t help but snort dismissively. ¡°With so many people present, how could I possibly lie?¡± The vice principal, interpreting Anthony¡¯s silence as guilt, curled his lips into a mocking smile. ¡°Let¡¯s not start using me of slinging mud at the principal I can¡¯t bear this me.¡± Anthony opened his mouth to rify, but before he could get a word out, Delh and Shawn burst into the office, their faces etched with urgency, and cut him off. ¡°What¡¯s happened to my daughter?¡± Delh¡¯s voice was tinged with panic. Upon seeing Mirabe standing there unharmed. Delh rushed over to squeeze Mirabe¡¯s arm and pat her shoulder, a wave of relief washing over Delh when she confirmed her daughter was alright. She had been terrified by the stern tone of the school¡¯s call, fearing the worst. The vice principal cleared his throat and addressed Delh and Shawn with a modicum of politeness. ¡°The situation is such that we at Parkside High School can no longer continue to enroll your child. These admissions through pulling strings cast a long shadow, and we thought it best to discuss this in person before you take your child home.¡± Delh and Shawn exchanged bewildered nces as he finished. ¡°What do you mean? Could you please be clearer? What¡¯s this pulling strings?¡± Delh was genuinely confused. ¡°My daughter was formally epted by Parkside High, wasn¡¯t she? She even received an eptance letter,¡± Shawn¡¯s frown deepened, his usually friendly demeanor now reced by an imposing sternness. Even someone consistently proud like the vice principal was slightly taken aback by Shawn¡¯s demeanor, but what did this husband and wife meant? Were they refusing to admit pulling strings, and putting on an act? Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Wasn¡¯t that a bit too revolting? All because they were rted to the principal? The vice principalughed bitterly. ¡°Are you seriously suggesting you don¡¯t know how she got in? Do we need the principal toe back and confront you about it?¡± Delh grew more confused by the second. ¡°Hold on, that¡¯s too harsh. We haven¡¯t done anything underhanded. Why should we confront anyone?¡± After a pause, Delh shot back, her voice rising with indignation, ¡°Isn¡¯t Parkside High known for its rigorous standards? Surely you don¡¯t engage in these dirty practices behind closed doors?¡± The vice principal at a loss for words after Delh¡¯s blunt retort, nearly keeled over in frustration. Supported by the principal these two were bold to the point of disrespect. ¡°This is utterly preposterous!¡± A sudden thought struck Delh as she watched the vice principal¡¯s expression darken. She remembered her daughter¡¯s past grades in their hometown and the mysterious eptance letter that had arrived out of the blue. A sinking feeling hit Delh. The confidence with which she had been ready to challenge the school was rapidly deting, like a balloon pricked by a needle. Was her daughter about to face a scandal? Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Although Delh¡¯s heart was racing like a freight train, she managed to keep a poker face. She nced at her husband beside her, signaling him to step up and say something and fast. Shawn, unlike his wife, wasn¡¯t one to get lost in a maze of wild thoughts. From the moment his daughter presented them with the transfer notice from Parkside High School, he never suspected anything fishy about how she got it. After all, Parkside High School was a top¨Clive national Institution. They wouldn¡¯t just enroll anyone with dismal grades. Even If there was some string¨Cpulling, the school¡¯s reputation would surely be taken into ount. Shawn¡¯s expression was icy as he addressed the room, ¡°Let me make this crystal clear: we haven¡¯t pulled any strings. and we don¡¯t rub shoulders with your principal. If you want to push my daughter out, you bettere up with some hard evidence.¡± He cast a protective nce at his daughter, standing silently and obediently, then swept his gaze across Vice Principal Morgan and the others, his demeanor growing even more frosty. ¡°And if you can¡¯t produce any proof,¡± he warned. ¡°I¡¯ll take this story of Parkside High School bullying students to the press.¡± The thought of his vulnerable little girl facing these intimidating people and their barrage of questions before he arrived was enough to make his blood boll. Vice Principal, faced with Shawn¡¯s unwavering stance, suddenly felt a seed of doubt sprouting within him. Had he made some sort of mistake? Hearing her husband¡¯s stern words, Delh couldn¡¯t help but cough sharply. ¡°Shawn, cool your jets. Maybe there¡¯s been some kind of misunderstanding?¡± Thest thing she wanted was to make a spectacle if it turned out their daughter had actually pulled strings. It wasn¡¯t her own embarrassment she feared, but the potential bruise to her child¡¯s self¨C esteem. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Meanwhile, Anthony, who had been busily exchanging messages with the principal during the lull, piped up, eager to smooth things over with a nervous chuckle. ¡°Exactly, Mr. and Mrs. Davis. This is all just one big misunderstanding. My colleague and I must have mimunicated¨Cled you astray¨Cwhich is why this whole mess has erupted.¡± Shawn narrowed his eyes at Anthony, saying nothing, letting the silence hang heavy. Anthony, unnerved by that piercing gaze, hurriedly continued, ¡°You see, Mirabe was specially recruited by the principal. It was my mistake in not making that clear from the start, which led to this whole confusion.¡± Morgan, however, frowned at this. A special recruitment? Was this just another excuse to cover for the principal? Not wanting to take the me, Morgan cut Anthony off before he could say more. ¡°All right, you say Mirabe was specially recruited. Then what about her academic performance?¡± Anthony, irked by Morgan¡¯s interjection, retorted, ¡°What about her academic performance? Haven¡¯t we said time and again that she was admitted with perfect scores?¡± Anthony couldn¡¯t fathom why this old stick¨Cin¨Cthe¨Cmud was still arguing when the girl¡¯s parents were demanding answers and even the vice principal had mmed up. Morgan seemed utterly blind to the fact that he was making things more difficult for everyone. Morgan nced at Mirabe and let out a scoff, ¡°Are you certain she was admitted with perfect scores? Because if that were true, she wouldn¡¯t have fallen asleep on her desk in the middle of yesterday¡¯s competition preliminaries.¡± He paused for effect, then added with a tone of righteous indignation, ¡°Was there any other student who acted like her in that examination hall? Every one took this test seriously.¡± The implication was clear: unless she couldn¡¯t answer the questions, there would be no reason for her to be sleeping through the exam with such a dismissive attitude. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Anthony¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief as Morgan¡¯s words sunk In. ¡°Morgan, seriously? You think Mirabe¡¯s grades suck just because you saw her dozing off during the exam?¡± He¡¯d never thought Morgan could be so¡­ stupid. Morgan stood by his opinion, unfazed. ¡°Come on, you saw the test. It was brutal. Even Vincent, the top student every year, didn¡¯t finish that quickly. And you think a girl who transferred from a small town can outdo Vincent?¡± Anthony rubbed his temples, feeling Morgan¡¯s stubbornness was reaching new levels of absurdity. Mirabe, who had been quietly standing by, never uttering a word in her own defense, suddenly looked up. Her delicate features showed no sign of the distress one might expect. Instead, she said in a matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone. ¡°The preliminary results should be out by now, right?¡± At her words, Anthony nced at his watch. It was precisely ten o¡¯clock. Without another word, he sidestepped the group and headed to the desk. Firing up theputer, he quickly logged Into the ¡°BrainSpark Nationals¡± results portal and navigated to the Parkside High School section. Out of sixty¨Ceight students from Parkside who took the prelims, only twenty¨Cthree passed. And there at the top of the board, to everyone¡¯s shock, was Mirabe¡¯s name. Anthony stared at the screen, his eyes not even blinking. Morgan and the Vice Principal, growing impatient with his silence, moved closer to theputer. The sight of the rankings and the scores made them freeze. Morgan, regaining hisposure with a grim look, snatched the mouse from Anthony, muttering, ¡°No way. How could she score higher than Vincent. She wasn¡¯t even trying¡­¡± But no matter how many times Morgan refreshed the page, the name at the top, with a perfect score of 150, remained Mirabe. Morgan¡¯s hand shook, and the mouse ttered onto the desk. The Vice Principal, whose face was as gloomy as Morgan¡¯s, gave Mirabe aplex look. The Vice Principal had assumed she was a favor admitted by the principal and had been certain her grades were subpar. He was eager to see her embarrass the head of the school in thepetition. Ate, Mirabe¡¯s homeroom teacher, noticed the strange expressions all around and hurried over. the score disyed on theputer, she was dumbstruck. A perfect score?! She hadn¡¯t misread, had she? Wasn¡¯t Mirabe supposed to be struggling? This score was anything but struggling. When she saw Ate knew the test¡¯s difficulty level was higher than the end¨Cof¨Csemester exams, mixing both humanities and sciences. A perfect score meant this student excelled in both areas. Mirabe was in the humanities ss, but she had aced the science questions too. Ate was astounded. There had been well¨Crounded students before, but none quite as exceptional as Mirabe. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Morgan, got anything else to say now?¡± Anthony snapped back to reality, his toneced with sarcasm. Upon hearing Anthony¡¯s words, Morgan suddenly remembered the first day of school when Anthony had initially intended to ce Mirabe into his Prodigy ss. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Morgan¡¯s lips curled into a bitter smile, the first time in his life he tasted the vor of regret. If only he hadn¡¯t misunderstood, and rebuffed the director¡¯s kindness, perhaps such a versatile student would have been the crowning achievement of his teaching career. But then, Morgan¡¯s gaze lifted once again to Mirabe. She had been quiet from the start, never arguing oring forth to exin hersell, her eyes filled with indifference, as if she was just waiting for this moment, to watch everyone¡¯s embarrassment as they squabbled over her. Morgan withdrew his mocking gaze, thinking that even with good grades, he didn¡¯t care for students like her whocked any sense of manner. Soon, Morgan approached Mirabe, his voiceced with sarcasm, ¡°Miss Mirabe, you¡¯re quite the character, aren¡¯t you? Silent as the grave. I must say I¡¯m quite impressed.¡± Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he left the office with an expressionless face. iving her Anthony frowned. This Morgan really was something. ¡°What¡¯s this ¡®silent as the grave¡®? The moment she arrived, you all started grilling her, never even giving to exin,¡± Ate muttered under her breath, unable to watch any longer. a chance When they thought she had poor grades, they suspected her of nepotism, and now, with the grades laid out for all to see, they mocked her for supposedly hiding the truth. Hadn¡¯t they considered that if the preliminary exam scores hadn¡¯te out, Mirabe would still be mired in their loud usations? ¡°What¡¯s with that teacher¡¯s attitude? So condescending. Anyone would think my daughter had done something wrong.¡± Shawn said, his face clouded with anger and his tone far from pleasant. He had also gone to check his daughter¡¯s results ¨C first ce, with full marks. Although he wasn¡¯t sure what the exam was about, the point was his daughter¡¯s performance was completely unrted to pulling strings or poor grades. So, the misunderstanding was on the teachers, their attitude was poor, and now that the results were out, instead of self¨Creflection, it seemed they thought his daughter was intentionally being maniptive?! Anthony nced at the vice principal, whose pride was clearly wounded, and sighed inwardly before stepping forward to y the peacemaker and apologize. Twenty minutester, Anthony finally saw Shawn and Delh off, and Mirabe returned to her ssroom. The office was left with only Anthony and the vice principal. ¡°Anthony, I don¡¯t mean to nitpick, but with such an outstanding transfer student, why didn¡¯t you rify the situation beforehand? This whole thing could¡¯ve been avoided,¡± the vice principal said, still feeling the sting on his pride from the revtion of Mirabe¡¯s scores. Anthony¡¯s expression soured, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it? How many times did I have to repeat myself, and did any of you listen?¡± The vice principal looked ufortable, raising his hand to his forehead, ¡°But you didn¡¯t make it clear, and I was listening to Morgan¡­ Never mind, there¡¯s no use talking about it now.¡± Then, as if remembering something, the vice principal added offhandedly, ¡°Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, let¡¯s not bother the principal with this. He has his hands full with issues back in Riverdale.¡± A mocking smile flickered across Anthony¡¯s lips. Now they were thinking of not telling the principal, but what about earlier? Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Even if I don¡¯t say anything now, the principal will find out when he returns.¡± The vice principal waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Then we¡¯ll talk about it when he¡¯s back. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding. not the end of the world.¡± Chapter 71 Chapter 71 The results of the preliminary exams had just been released, and students, even those who hadn¡¯t participated, were whipping out their phones in a frenzy to check the scores. Everyone was curious about Mirabe, the new girl rumored to have pulled strings to get into Parkside High School. They wondered if her score would be an abysmal twenty or 50, However, at the moment when they saw the ranking of the urades, everyone¡¯s eyes almost popped out. ¡°Holy smokes, is the new uit some kind of genius? She nailed a perfect score!¡± ¡°My eyes must be deceiving me. Wasn¡¯t she the one they said got in through pulling strings?¡± ¡°In this day and age, pulling strings gets you perfect scores? What was the point of my honest effort to get in?¡± ¡°Could it be cheating? Think about it, someone who got into Parkside High School through connections could easily snag a copy of the exam answers. Plus, she¡¯s an arts student and she aced the science questions too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s downright spooky.¡± The chatter was nonstop, and the consensus was split between shock and skepticism over Mirabe¡¯s score. When Mirabe returned to the ssroom, she was met with a barrage ofplicated stares. ¡°Hey, Mirabe. When the teacher asked you to go to the office, was it about the results of the preliminary exams?¡± Jenna asked, her face a blend of excitement and gossip. Mirabe just arched an eyebrow and hummed nomittally. ¡°You¡¯re so secretive, scoring top marks on the prelims.¡± Jenna smacked her lips and added, ¡°For an arts student to ace the science questions, that¡¯s seriously impressive.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. I Mirabe offered a smile. ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to hit the books.¡± Jenna was momentarily speechless, feeling mocked. But then something clicked in Jenna¡¯s mind, and she leaned over Mirabe¡¯s desk to pull out several books that she often saw Mirabe reading. Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Jenna blinked. ¡°You read these every break?¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow. ¡°What else? Billionaire CEOs in love stories?¡± Jenna burst intoughter, feeling truly deted. Jenna had always assumed that Mirabe, being the artsy type, was buried in literature or history during her free time. But who would¡¯ve guessed? No wonder on the first day of school, Mirabe had asked to borrow a chemistry textbook¨Cshe¡¯d been double¨Cdipping in arts and sciences all along. Jenna shook her head. ¡°Mirabe, you¡¯re a freak of nature.¡± Mirabe just chuckled. ¡°But now, let¡¯s see who would say you got in through pulling strings.¡± Jenna hummed proudly, basking in reflected glory. Take that, you jealous bitches! Summer hadn¡¯t been at school today because she was recording a TV show and had taken the day off. She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to check her prelim scores. However, her agent, aware that Summer had participated in the ¡°BrainSpark Nationals,¡± had kept an eye on the results for her. As soon as the backstage rehearsal was over, the agent handed her his phone with her scores and ranking. ¡°Summer, solid performance in the prelims¨C138. As expected of a top student, you¡¯re amazing,¡± the agent said with a beaming smile. 11:40 Chapter 71 In his mind, he was already strategizing how to leverage ¡°BrainSpark Nationals¡± to boost Summer¡¯s poprity. It was rare to find someone in the industry with Summer¡¯s background¨Cgood looks and genuine academic prowess. If they yed their cards right to highlight her strengths, she was bound to be a star. Summer smiled as she took her agent¡¯s phone. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Summer was brimming with confidence about her test scores. Since stepping out of the examination hall the day before, she felt certain that, despite a few vague answers in the humanities section, everything else was spot on. Passing the preliminary round was, in her mind, a foregone conclusion. Scoring one hundred and thirty¨Ceight and ranking sixth was well within her expectations. A smug smile yed on Summer¡¯s lips. She had barely nced at the results on her phone before she almost handed it back to her agent. But then, a thought struck her, and she smoothly withdrew her hand, her fingers delicately swiping up the screen. Summer scrolled down to the bottom of the ranking page, but still did not see Mirabe¡¯s name. A frown creased Summer¡¯s brow. Hadn¡¯t Mirabe taken the test? Why wasn¡¯t her name listed? Could it be that Mirabe didn¡¯t pass the preliminaries? That thought deepened the smile on Summer¡¯s face. She knew It. With Mirabe¡¯s ability, how could she make the cut? With a soft chuckle, Summer¡¯s fingertip inadvertently tapped the ¡®back to top¡® arrow. As she was about to close the ebpage, the name Mirabe suddenly jumped out at her. First ce, one hundred and filty points, Mirabe. The smile on Summer¡¯s lips froze, and her grip on the phone tightened Involuntarily. How was this possible? How could Mirabe have gotten a perfect score? How could Mirabe be at the top of the list? ¡°Summer, you look a bit pale. Are you worn out from the rehearsal?¡± her agent asked with concern upon noticing his client¡¯s unusual demeanor. Summer¡¯s eyes flickered, and she casually handed the phone back to her agent, her voice gentle. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Maybe I just got too wrapped up in the performance. I¡¯m stilling down from that.¡± Her agent patted her shoulder reassuringly, ¡°Take a breather here, and once it¡¯s time for the live recording. I¡¯lle to get you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Summer replied graciously. As her agent took the phone and started to leave, he paused and turned back to Summer, ¡°Summer, there will be a Q&A segment. I¡¯ll mention yourpetition to the producers. Just y it by ear when you answer, alright?¡± Summer blinked, then nodded in agreement. Mirabe had sailed through the preliminaries with a perfect score, a feat unmatched in the dozens of schools across Ashford. Her name sat confidently at the top of the official BrainSpark Nationals citywide rankings. Even the student in second ce trailed by nine points¨Ca testament to her solid grasp of both the arts and sciences. At the city Education Association headquarters, the buzz was about the extraordinary student from Parkside High School who had aced the test, even cracking John¡¯s notoriously tricky physics problem. ¡°This student is quite remarkable,¡± the secretary¨Cgeneralmented, holding up the test paper with admiration before passing it to the chairman. The chairman, adLeog his sses, took the paper and cast his eyes downward. Before he even examined the answers, the neat handwriting caught his attention. It was pleasing to the eye. ¡°Nice penmanship,¡± the chairman remarked generously. ¡°The handwriting reflects the person. This student must be quite cultivated.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Humanities students tend to have a bit more finesse than those in the sciences, I suppose,¡± the secretary¨Cgeneral replied with a chuckle. The chairman raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Really? A humanities student solved John¡¯s physics conundrum?¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 ¡°The person¡¯s got something special about them, that¡¯s what I was saying,¡± the Secretary¨CGeneral mused, his gaze drifting to some distant thought. The Chairman took a moment to ponder thement before turning his attention to the stack of exam papers on his desk. He was particrly interested in thest question¨Cthe one John had crafted, a complex physics problem. After a while, a look of admiration spread across the Chairman¡¯s face. Leaning back in his chair, he let out an impressed sigh. ¡°Indeed, this student¡¯s not ordinary at all. Look at how elegantly he set up these equations, not a single superfluous step, and the method used is quite original¨Csimpler than the solution John sent us.¡± Although the Secretary¨CGeneral wasn¡¯t well¨Cversed in physics, he could tell from the Chairman¡¯s reaction that whoever had solved the problem had an incredible mind. The Secretary¨CGeneral¡¯s expression became slightly restrained and said, ¡°John has been searching for a prot¨¦g¨¦ with an exceptional gift in physics. Should we rmend this Parkside High School student who aced the test?¡± The Chairman removed his sses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, giving himself a few seconds before replying. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush things. An initial test like this doesn¡¯t show us much. After all this top scorer is a humanities student. For all we know, this student might have just lucked out on John¡¯s question.¡± The Secretary¨CGeneral found it to be reasonable. ¡°Alright then, we¡¯ll wait and see how the student does in the city preliminaries.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± the Chairman said with a nod, cing the paper back on the table. The Secretary¨CGeneral¡¯s gaze lingered on the exam for a moment longer before he suggested, ¡°Should we take a photo of this physics solution and send it to John? I bet he¡¯d be¡­ But the Chairman raised his hand to interrupt. ¡°John taking the time to contribute a problem to our competition was already a huge honor for the Education Association. For him, this type of question is not worth mentioning at all. It¡¯s just another approach. There¡¯s really no need to make a fuss and present it before him as if it¡¯s something extraordinary.¡± The Secretary¨CGeneral touched his nose in acknowledgment, ¡°Alright, I get it. I¡¯ll archive the test paper then.¡± With that, he picked up the papers. ¡°Go on,¡± the Chairman dismissed him. However, just as the Secretary¨CGeneral had taken a couple of steps, the Chairman seemed to recall something and called out to his retreating figure. ¡°By the way, how did a student named Summer from Parkside High School do on the test?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The Secretary¨CGeneral stopped in his tracks. He remembered Summer because his own daughter was a fan of hers. Turning back, he reported. ¡°One hundred thirty¨Ceight points, sixth ce. Not bad at all He paused before adding. ¡°She¡¯s somewhat of a campus celebrity, a science student, and quite talented to score like this.¡± The Chairman tapped his fingers lightly on the desktop. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m aware. You can go.¡± The Secretary¨CGeneral nced at the Chairman, wondering why he had suddenly inquired about Summer, but he didn¡¯t ask further and simply left. Saturday. After finishing breakfast, Mirabe was practically dragged to the local supermarket by Delh. They loaded up on groceries and an assortment of snacks. Delh turned to her daughter, who wasden with bags and looking utterly defeated, and couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. Trying to help carry some bags, she teased. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be such a homebody, sweetie. It¡¯s good to get out and about instead of bing a bookworm.¡± 11: Charter 73 Mirabe tly refused her mother¡¯s help and deadpanned. ¡°You just need someone to carry your shopping.¡± Delh coughed sheepishly, realizing her daughter was strong enough to handle the load, and the dream of having a danly and delicate daughter was just that¨Ca dream. ¡°Are we expectingpany today?¡± Mirabe asked, ncing at the bag of groceries in her right hand. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Delh spoke with a hint of mystery in her voice, ¡°Well, they¡¯re not exactly guests.¡± Mirabe arched an eyebrow, ¡°Summer?¡± Even though Summer had returned to the Gilberts, as far as the Davises were concerned, she probably wouldn¡¯t be considered a guest. ¡°Not her.¡± Delh shook her head, a smile ying on her lips, ¡°Why would you jump to Summer all of a sudden?¡± Mirabe looked casual, ¡°Just a wild guess.¡± With the grocery store bustling with peopleing and going, Mirabe wasn¡¯t too keen to press on with questions, so she simply said. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± With that, she was already walking out, arms laden with two hefty bags of groceries. Watching her daughter¡¯s slender figure exhibit surprising strength, Delh couldn¡¯t help but muse internally once more: A delicate and frail daughter was simply out of the question. Once home. Delh immediately dove Into the kitchen to get busy. Mirabe, lost in thought, nced at her mother and then retreated to her room. It wasn¡¯t until past six in the evening that the Davis family doorbell chimed. ¡°Mira, would you mind getting the door?¡± Delh called out from the midst of her culinary endeavors. Mirabe hummed a response, pocketed her phone, and got up to answer the door. ¡°Ah¡­ did I get the wrong house?¡± The man outside, about to greet Delh, caught sight of Mirabe and paused for a second before quickly swallowing the word. Mirabe frowned slightly. ¡°Hmm?¡± The man was holding an armful of items, stepped back to double¨Ccheck the house number against the door frame, ¡°No mistake there.¡± He then looked back at Mirabe, internally admiring her striking beauty, cleared his throat, and asked uncertainly. ¡°This is the Davis residence, right?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Mirabe answered with a cool and detached voice, her exquisite face showing little emotion. Even her voice was a delight. However, although the girl looked unfamiliar, he couldn¡¯t help but notice a resemnce to his client in her features. His eyes narrowed, and he suddenly remembered something, eximing. ¡°Are you Leo¡¯s biological sister, the one who was switched at birth?¡± He knew Summer, so guessing the identity of the girl before him wasn¡¯t difficult. Mirabe stared at him with indifferent eyes and remained silent. Pretty, with a lovely voice and a cool demeanor ¨C she didn¡¯t look like someone who had grown up in the countryside. Collins¡¯s surprise flickered briefly before he hurriedly introduced himself, ¡°Hello. I¡¯m your brother Leo¡¯s agent, Collins.¡± At the mention of this, a flicker of surprise crossed Mirabe¡¯s eyes. So, her mother had been bustling about all day. stubbornly keeping the identity of their visitor a secret- it was Leo? Mirabe¡¯s gaze shifted, sizing up Collins. This man who imed to be an agent, so her estranged brother was a performer? Feeling scrutinized by Mirabe, Collins reflexively straightened his posture. Although she was just a young girl, she somehow imposed an inexplicable pressure. How odd! After she gathered her thoughts, Mirabe¡¯s lips formed a slight smile, and she politely nodded at the person, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Then, she swung the door wide open, inviting him in. Collins, snapping out of it, chose not to enter. Instead, he set down the several elegantly wrapped bags at the entrance, smiling. ¡°I won¡¯t intrude. I¡¯m just here to deliver some things on behalf of Leo. I¡¯ll be on my way shortly.¡± Chapter 74 Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe¡¯s expression cooled upon hearing this, and with a half¨Csmile, she asked, ¡°He¡¯s noting home tonight?¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Collins had been hustling in the entertainment industry for well over a decade, wing his way to the top until he became one of the most sought¨Cafter agents around. His knack for reading a room and picking up on subtle cues was second to none. At the moment, Leo¡¯s sister was smiling, but to Collins, it felt like there was a chill behind that smile. He was about to nod and say yes, but for some reason, he diverted, ¡°No, something came up at the office. That movie he shot abroad needs some final touches, so he headed straight to thepany after landing.¡± He paused before adding, ¡°Leo knew you wereing home. He made a point of asking me to drop off this gift and said he¡¯d swing by as soon as he¡¯s wrapped up at work.¡± Mirabe¡¯s smile twitched slightly as she replied in a cool tone, ¡°Gol it, thanks.¡± Scratching his head, Collins couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the office soon. Is there anything you want me to pass on to Leo?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe was already turning to enter the house when his question reached her. She nced at the kitchen, then turned her gaze back to him, ¡°Well if it¡¯s not too much trouble, let him know Mom picked up a bunch of his favorite groceries this morning.¡± Collins stood dumbfounded for a moment. By the time he found his words. Mirabe had already closed the door behind her. After a moment, the smile faded from his face, reced by a look of worry. He let out a sigh and walked back toward the elevator. Delh stepped out of the kitchen, with spat in hand, her cheerful expression faltering when she saw only her daughter, ¡°Who was that ringing the doorbell just now, honey? Wasn¡¯t that your brother?¡± ¡°It was his agent,¡± Mirabe replied, cing the paper bags on the side cab. Delh¡¯s face fell slightly. ¡°So. Leo¡¯s noting today?¡± Mirabe nced at her, ¡°His agent said he had somepany matters to deal with.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Delh sighed, heading back to the kitchen, muttering with a hint of irritation, ¡°I should have objected when he wanted to get into showbiz. He never gets a break. His sisteres home after so long, and work still keeps him away.¡± Mirabe just offered a mysterious smile in response. Meanwhile, Collins didn¡¯t head back to the office after leaving the Davis residence. Instead, he drove to an upscale vimunity in the city center. After swiping his card at the gate and entering the vi, he ced his keys on the console table, switched into clean shoes, and went upstairs with a ss of water.¡± ¡°I saw your sister at your ce today. She¡¯s quite a looker, very much like you,¡± Collins began as he entered the master bedroom, speaking to the person lying in bed. The figure in the bed didn¡¯t stir, lying as still as if asleep. With a sigh, Collins approached the bedside, flicked on themp, and said, ¡°Your sister seemed like she really hoped you¡¯de to see her. She even had me pass on a message before I left.¡± At that, the person who had been motionless in the bed suddenly threw back the covers, revealing a face that bore a striking resemnce to Mirabe¡¯s. Leo¡¯s hair was a mess, and his handsome face bore the unkempt despondency of neglect. He red at Collins with a dark and fierce gaze, his voice sharp and bitter, ¡°Can you not? Why are you telling me all this? You know exactly what I¡¯m going through right now¡­¡± Leo stopped mid¨Csentence, his lips curling into a mocking sneer, his voice deting, ¡°Just get out, and don¡¯t bothering back.¡± 1/1 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Seeing that Leo finally had some reaction, Collins, as if ustomed to his erratic way of speaking, handed over the water in his hand, and said with a somewhat solemn tone. ¡°Leo, when are you gonna stop throwing yourself this pity party?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Leo stared nkly at the celling, his brooding gaze quickly reced by the stillness of a stagnant pond. After an agonizing silence, he spoke with a bitter edge, ¡°Not being able to get back on stage is like a death sentence to me. I¡¯m practically useless, man. Do you get that?¡± Collins opened his mouth, then closed it, unsure of what to say next. He understood all too well the turrnoil eating away at Leo. Leo was his discovery, a prodigy in music production, singing, and dancing¨Ca natural¨Cborn superstar destined for the spotlight. But a single ident had shattered his foundation, and for someone as fiercely proud as Leo, it was a devastating blow. ¡°Don¡¯t give up, Leo. Medicine¡¯s advanced so much, someone out there¡¯s gotta have the fix you need,¡± Collins said, his throat dry, repeating the same hopeful lines, even though he felt utterly helpless. A hollowugh escaped Leo as he closed his eyes, turning his head away from Collins, shutting down any further conversation. Collins let out a wry chuckle, setting the ss down on the nightstand with a soft clink. He straightened up, schooling his emotions into neutrality, and headed for the door. Then he paused, recalling something Mirabe from the Davis family had mentioned as he was leaving. Turning slightly, his voice softened, ¡°Your sister wanted me to tell you that your mom hit the supermarket early today, and stocked up on all your favorite grub.¡± A few silent seconds passed before Collins seemed to reach a decision. ¡°Leo, I don¡¯t want to cover for you with your folks anymore. I didn¡¯t tell your sister that you weren¡¯ting home tonight either. Whether you go back or not, that¡¯s on you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m out.¡± The sound of the door closing echoed from the entrance. The bedroom, at this moment, became very quiet, in a way that was eerily unsettling. Leo on the bed opened his eyes, with aplex expression in his eyes. He clenched his fists, frustration boiling over as he pulled the covers over his head. Ten minutester, he threw the covers off with a curse, sitting up abruptly, and after a moment of indecision, he got out of bed. Around eight in the evening. Delh sat on the couch, ncing between the clock on the wall and the front door, her face betraying her anxious wait. Mirabe lounged beside her, idly scrolling through her phone, seemingly detached from the tension in the air. ¡°Mira, you hungry? Go ahead and eat,¡± Delh suggested, her voice tinged with motherly concern. Mirabe put her phone away, feigning nonchnce. ¡°Maybe Leo¡¯s tied up with something. He might not make it back tonight.¡± But Delh shook her head, her smile unwavering. ¡°Your brother might be busy, but he doesn¡¯t break his word. If his agent said he¡¯sing, he¡¯ll be here.¡± In truth, if her son were reallying, they wouldn¡¯t need an agent to drop off gifts in his stead. Mirabe¡¯s expression remained neutral, tempted to speak her mind, yet choosing to hold her tongue upon seeing the hopeful look stered across Delh¡¯s face. 12:33 Chapter 76 A short whileter, the doorbell rang. ¡°That¡¯s gotta be your brother,¡± Delh said confidently, rising to her feet and heading toward the entrance. Mirabe raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flickering in her clear eyes. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 As Leo stepped into the living room, Delh, his mother, pointed towards Mirabe, who had just risen from the couch, and said, ¡°Leo, this is your little sister, Mira.¡± Leo followed his mother¡¯s gaze. The girl was totally gorgeous, with a cute yet striking look about her, her pale cheeks shimmering with a luminescent glow under the lights. She was dressed down in an oversized tee paired withly shorts, perfect for lounging at home. Her legs were long, slender, and perfectly straight¨Csurpassing the beauty of any model or celebrity he had ever encountered. Aside from her looks, there was an air about her that seemed casual, yet inexplicably, she exuded a cool, edgy vibe. She wasn¡¯t coy, nor did she exhibit any sign of timidity, and she certainly didn¡¯t possess the fragility often associated with other girls, Initially, Leo felt indifferent about the sister he had never met. Even when Collins had spoken highly of her, Leo remained unimpressed. After all, they had grown up in different worlds, and he had little patience for overly delicate girls. However, the girl in front of him was unexpectedly intriguing, and the first impression was far from objectionable. The aloofness that usually guarded Leo¡¯s expression eased somewhat. 4 While he appraised Mirabe, she boldly returned his scrutiny. Frankly, Leo didn¡¯t quite match the image she had conjured in her mind, His appearance was unmistakably a testament to the Davis family¡¯s renowned good looks, but judging by the way his agent had delivered gifts that afternoon, she had pegged him as exceedingly arrogant. Now, observing him, she recognized the arrogance, but it seemed innate rather than directed at anyone in particr. Someone with such a demeanor, she mused, must be genuinely strong, with no need to curry favor with anyone. Mirabe found herself surprised, questioning her own earlier assessments. With such an imposing presence and being in showbiz, why hadn¡¯t she seen him featured inmercials before? Could it be that he wasn¡¯t actually that famous? As she pondered this, Mirabe withdrew her inquisitive gaze and calmly, yet politely, greeted, ¡°Hi, Leo.¡± ¡°Yeah, good to have you back,¡± Leo said, nodding slightly. His tone was casual. He paused for a moment as if realizing something, then added with a hint of regret. ¡°Sorry, things were rushed, and I forgot to bring you a present.¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyes wandered to a cab not far away, where items from Collins¡¯s delivery rested. Before she could respond, Delh chimed in from beside her, ¡°Didn¡¯t your agent bring over a bunch of gifts this afternoon?¡± Delh had already moved to the cab and began to sift through the items. At this, Leo¡¯s gaze flickered briefly, and he replied. ¡°Those were Collins¡¯s choices. When I get the chance, I¡¯ll personally pick out something for my little sis.¡± Delh was visibly surprised. Leo¡¯s personality was quite peculiar, arrogant, aloof, and seemingly indifferent. Even with Summer, who had grown up with him since childhood, he tended to ignore her. Emmitt had harbored biases against Mira earlier, which made Delh worry about how her other sons, especially Leo, would handle it. However, from the looks of it now, Leo seemed to have had a favorable impression of Mira.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to go out of your way to get me anything.¡± Mirabe said with a sweetly polite tone. Leo¡¯s brow furrowed, seemingly unwilling to ept the refusal. After pondering for a few seconds, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you like. How about this¨C you take some money and buy something you want.¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Leo had added Mirabe on Messenger quite a while ago, but back then, learning that his sister had been raised in the countryside ¨C no offense intended ¨C he worried she might be a bit of a pest. So, even after connecting, he never struck up a conversation with her. With a nickname clearly noted, it didn¡¯t take Leo long to find the chat with Mirabe. His fingers tapped several times on the screen as he entered an amount in the money transfer panel. ¡°I can only send two hundred grand a day. Take this for now, and I¡¯ll send more tomorrow. Just buy whatever you like, and if it¡¯s not enough, let me know,¡± Leo sald with nonchnt ease. The notification sound from her phone signalled another hefty transfer. Was this some kind of family gene? It must be, right?! Rubbing her temples, Mirabe didn¡¯t even pull out her phone. She was about to decline when Leo¡¯s voice came through once more. ¡°If you don¡¯t take it, I¡¯ll think you¡¯re still mad, and you don¡¯t like your new brother.¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Mirabe fell silent. Listen to that this family all had the same methodical way of forcefully giving money. 23 Still reeling from the forced windfall, Mirabe felt a bit spaced out even while sitting down to dinner. The facade of a poor family life had been skewed, and now, with Leo¡¯s shy moves upon their first meeting, the situation was well beyond the definition of poverty. ¡°Mira, what¡¯s on your mind? You seem distracted,¡± Delh asked with concern next to her. It was the first time Delh saw the kid so out of it ever since she sat down at the table. Mirabe snapped back to reality and shook her head with aplex expression, ¡°Nothing.¡± Leo nced over at her, the young girl¡¯s face still a bit dazed. Perhaps due to their blood rtion, he suddenly found this expression, which would seem silly on someone else, quite endearing on his sister. ¡°By the way, Leo, why don¡¯t you stay at home a bit longer this time? Work¡¯s important, but so is your health,¡± Shawn chimed in. At these words, Leo¡¯s grip on his fork tightened slightly, and his eyes narrowed. His handsome features showed no sign of disturbance, and he responded in an indifferent tone, ¡°Probably not. My schedule¡¯s packed for the year. I have to fly out to Lakewood tomorrow afternoon to shoot a music video. It¡¯s tight.¡± Finishing his exnation, he lowered his head and resumed eating. ¡°You insisted on going into music, working yourself to exhaustion. Look how thin you¡¯ve gotten since you¡¯ve been back,¡± Delh said with heartfelt worry. Leo swallowed a mouthful of somewhat dry rice and after a few seconds, he looked up with a forced smile, ¡°Losing a bit of weight is good. It¡¯s needed for the showbiz.¡± Delh shook her head helplessly, ¡°You¡¯re so young. Your health shoulde first.¡± A bitter smile touched Leo¡¯s lips as he hummed in acknowledgment, more to appease her than anything else. Mirabe looked up just in time to catch his strained expression. Though he seemed natural, it was clear that the ease was somewhat feigned. She pondered for a moment, but she didn¡¯t ask further. Everyone has their secrets. After dinner, Leo only lingered in the living room for half an hour before concocting an excuse that he absolutely had to leave. ¡°I can¡¯t shake the feeling that there¡¯s something off about Leo,¡± Delh mused, frowning once Leo had left. Chapter 78 Men just aren¡¯t as detail¨Coriented as women. Shawn patted his wife¡¯s hand. ¡°He¡¯s probably just exhausted. Didn¡¯t you hear him? He just got back from an international flight today.¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 ¡°But I still feel something¡¯s off,¡± Delh said with a furrowed brow. ¡°In the past, no matter what, he would stay with us for a while when he came back. But did you see earlier? He seemed like he couldn¡¯t wait to get out of this house,¡± Mirabe had already returned to her room, which was why Delh continued, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he didn¡¯t seem to reject Mira, I would¡¯ve thought he was avoiding staying here because of her.¡± But clearly, that wasn¡¯t the case. Shawn pondered for a few seconds before suggesting. ¡°How about we give his agent a call tomorrow?¡± Delh nodded in agreement. ¡°That might be a good idea. Otherwise, I¡¯ll just keep worrying,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± ** After Mirabe took a shower, she settled in front of herputer, opened a web browser, and typed in the name Leo. Pages of results popped up instantly, but none seemed to be linked to the Leo that was her brother. Mirabe stroked her chin, puzzled. Could it be that this Leo had no real fame to speak of? After a moment of thought, her fingers flew across the keyboard, entering a string of web addresses. Soon enough, the page redirected, and after a two¨Cstep verification, she sessfully logged onto The Mirror¡¯s website. She opened her personal friends list and messaged someone with the nickname ¡°Oracle.¡± Bald Baby: [You there? Need you to look someone up for me.] The Oracle¡¯s status showed online, but there was no immediate reply, possibly busy with something else. Mirabe wasn¡¯t in a hurry. She leaned back in her chair, the flickering light from theputer screen reflecting on her face, giving her an air of nonchnce. About five or six minutester, Oracle finally replied. Oracle: [Sorry about that, got held up. Who do you need info on? Please let me know.] Mirabe¡¯s eyes lowered as her fingertips rested on the keyboard, ready to type, when her phone suddenly rang. James? Confusion crossed Mirabe¡¯s face. What was he calling about at this hour? After a brief hesitation, she picked up the phone and pressed the answer button. A minuteter, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± She ended the call, her expression turning grave. She stared at the chat box waiting for her reply on theputer screen, her fingers moving swiftly as she typed: [Gotta go, emergency. Talkter.] Without waiting for a response, she closed the webpage, stood up, grabbed a jacket from the closet, and hurried out. Downstairs, Shawn and Delh had already retired to their rooms. Without disturbing them, Mirabe grabbed her keys This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. and left the house. Twenty minutester, at the hospital. As soon as Mirabe stepped out of the cab, she saw James waiting at the entrance. She approached him, her voice low with concern, ¡°How¡¯s my grandmother?¡± James led her toward the ward as he spoke, ¡°She¡¯s just out of critical condition.¡± Relief washed over Mirabe, her tense expression softened as she nced at him, ¡°Thanks, I owe you one. Lucky you were there.¡± The corners of James¡¯s lips twitched into a faint smile, his chiseled features softly illuminated by the light, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± They soon arrived at the ward. Chapter 79 Catherine had been moved from the emergency room to a regr one, where a duty doctor was monitoring her vital signs. Mirabe stood outside, not immediately entering, but quietly watching through the ss window, her gaze intense and contemtive. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 James nced at Mirabe, whose expression had clouded over as if she had be someone else entirely. After a long moment, he spoke up gently, ¡°Your grandma¡¯s going to be just fine.¡± Mirabe murmured a soft acknowledgment. Her eyelids drooped slightly, casting faint shadows beneath her longshes. She sat quietly, showing no outward signs of distress. Soon, the door to the hospital room swung open from the inside. Mirabe lifted her head and walked over with calm steps. The doctor removed his mask, eyeing both Mirabe and James with a mix of seriousness and reproach. ¡°The patient is stable for now, but can¡¯t you youngsters keep your tempers in check? Don¡¯t you know she has a weak heart and can¡¯t handle the stress?¡± A flicker of emotion passed through Mirabe¡¯s eyes before she responded with utmost civility and a willingness to learn from her mistake, ¡°We understand. We¡¯ll be more careful in the future.¡± Perhaps persuaded by her polite demeanor and receptiveness, the doctor seemed to lose the urge to lecture further. Instead, he advised, ¡°Go in and keep herpany, but make sure not to upset her again.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Mirabe nodded slightly. Once the doctor and nurses had left, she stepped into the room. Catherine had not yet awakened, an oxygen mask covering her face as shey quietly, the monitors beside her showing a steady rhythm of vital signs. Mirabe¡¯s gaze briefly touched the medical equipment before she casually pulled a chair over and sat by the bed. After watching Catherine in silence for a moment, Mirabe reached out, tucking the nket around her with a gentle touch before nonchntly taking grandma¡¯s hand that rested beside her. James took a seat in another chair, his eyes catching only Mirabe¡¯s profile, missing the tender gestures she made. His phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling his attention away. He withdrew it, nced briefly at the message on the screen, and then slid the phone back into his pocket. But within a couple of minutes, the phone buzzed again¨Cthis time, a call. James frowned, gave Mirabe a quick look, and then stood up to walk out of the room. His footsteps were almost silent, barely audible until the door clicked shut behind him. It was only then that Mirabe turned her head toward the door, a thoughtful expression crossing her face for a second before she looked away again. Soon after, James returned to the room. Mirabe slowly ced Catherine¡¯s hand back under the covers and looked up at James. ¡°Thanks for tonight. It¡¯s gettingte. You should head back and get some rest. I¡¯ll stay here with her.¡± James raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re being awfully polite.¡± Mirabe leaned back in her chair, her face no longer as tense as when they had first arrived at the hospital but seeming more rxed. ¡°Not really, you¡¯ve got things to do, right?¡± Her eyes flicked briefly to the phone he hadn¡¯t yet put away. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. James was somewhat surprised by Mirabe¡¯s perceptiveness but he did have matters to attend to. After a brief pause, he exined, ¡°I might be out of Ashford for a few days. If somethinges up, give me a call.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Mirabe waved him off easily, clearly not too concerned. Seeing her reaction, James just smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m off then.¡± Soon, the room was left with only Mirabe and her grandma. After the night nurse made onest check, Mirabe settled down to rest beside the bed. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 After grandma woke up. Mirabe made a return trip to the Davis family. It was a little past eight in the morning, and even though she finished her usual morning jogter than usual, her mother, Delh, suspected nothing. She assumed Mirabe had simply taken a few extraps. Without revealing the truth about her overnight absence, Mirabe quickly showered and changed into fresh clothes. She then rummaged through a box she pulled from her wardrobe, selecting a sky¨Cblue porcin bottle from among a dozen jars and vials. She tucked the porcin bottle into her bag and didn¡¯t linger. Skipping breakfast, she briefly mentioned Granny¡¯s condition to Delh, who offered to visit Catherine, but Mirabe refused and promptly left the house. Twenty minutester, Mirabe was back at the hospital. However, as she approached the door of the hospital room and spotted Mandy, Summer and a boy who looked to be around fifteen inside, her steps faltered. ¡°Mom, you fall sick and don¡¯t even tell me. If the nanny hadn¡¯t called today. I¡¯d still be in the dark.¡± Mandy said, pressing on her temples, though she was careful not to speak too harshly considering Catherine¡¯s condition. Catherine was propped up in bed, pale and seemingly unweing of the room¡¯s upants. Her demeanor was chilly and detached. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. There are doctors and nurses here; you don¡¯t need to take care of me. You should leave,¡± Catherine stated, her thoughts drifting to Mirabe. She worried that if Mira returned and crossed paths with them, her granddaughter would be bullied once again. Mandy, hearing Catherine¡¯s words, could barely contain her frustration. ¡°You¡¯re unwell, and the kids came specially to see you. Why must you be so cold?¡± Catherine simply gazed out the window, silent. Seeing this, Mandy was truly vexed. She couldn¡¯tprehend why Catherine was being so stubborn. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Mom, tone it down. Granny can¡¯t handle the stress,¡± Summer interjected, stepping forward and shaking her head at her mother. Then, turning to her grandmother, Summer¡¯s eyes softened. She moved a chair closer, sat down by the bed, and gently took Catherine¡¯s hand. ¡°Granny, please don¡¯t be mad at Mom. She¡¯s just really worried about you.¡± Catherine¡¯s icy facade thawed slightly under Summer¡¯s loving gaze. ¡°My health is fine. You take your mother and brother and go back home,¡± Catherine said, subtly withdrawing her hand. Summer¡¯s fingers curled slightly, her smile remaining tender. ¡°Doctors and nurses can¡¯t rece the care of family.¡± At the mention of family, Catherine¡¯s heart stirred with emotion. ¡°But I don¡¯t need them¡­ I have Mir¡­¡± She caught herself mid¨Csentence, realizing she was about to slip up. Mandy, however, had picked up on something. ¡°Are you waiting for Mirabe again?¡± Catherine looked away. ¡°She¡¯s not gonnae here. You were so mean to herst time!¡± Mandy¡¯sughter was edged with irritation. ¡°I was being mean to her? Why do you think I sent her away? Don¡¯t you have any idea?¡± Shaking her head in disbelief, Mandy continued, ¡°Alright, you defend her so much, but now that you¡¯re sick, does she know? Is she here taking care of you?¡± She pointed at Summer. ¡°No, she¡¯s not. So please, see clearly: it¡¯s Summer who is taking care of you, and it¡¯s Summer who came to visit. Summer¡¯s your real granddaughter.¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Catherine¡¯s face was ashen, her lips bitten as she struggled to find words. But Summer stood up decisively, giving Mandy¡¯s arm a gentle tug. ¡°Mom, ease up a bit, will ya? If Grandma wants Mirabe here to look after her, let¡¯s just give Mirabe a ring. Mirabe might not be her flesh and blood, but the bond they¡¯ve built over the years is the real deal. You don¡¯t need to squabble with Grandma over me. Her health is what¡¯s paramount.¡± Summer¡¯s smile had a hint of bitterness, and then she took out her phone from her bag. Upon hearing this. Mandy¡¯s anger red even more. Seeing Summer about to make a call to Mirabe, Mandy couldn¡¯t help but snatch the phone away from her. ¡°What¡¯s the point of calling her? Why are you so pigheaded, kid? You¡¯ve put yourpany¡¯s big shindig on hold toe take care of your grandmother, and now you want to bring that girl into this? I can¡¯t decide if you¡¯re naive or just in foolish.¡± Mandy scolded, her tone a mix of exasperation and disappointment. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s alright.¡± Summer reached out to retrieve her phone, but as she looked up, she suddenly froze upon seeing Mirabe standing at the doorway. Mandy followed Summer¡¯s gaze to the door and stiffened at the sight of Mirabe, her face quickly darkening. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mirabe¡¯s presence seemed to catch Catherine off guard as well, her face flushing with anxiety. ¡°Actually, Mira stayed with me through the night,¡± Catherine hurried to exin, hoping to clear any misunderstandings. ¡°All night?¡± Mandy snorted with disbelief and cast a doubtful nce at Catherine. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re covering for her again? If she was here all night, why didn¡¯t you mention it earlier?¡± Catherine muttered defensively, ¡°Would you have believed me? Would you not have sent Mira away?¡± Catherine had hoped to persuade them to leave before Mirabe returned, but she hadn¡¯t expected her toe back so soon. Mandy scoffed at Catherine¡¯s words. ¡°So, in your eyes, I¡¯m that unworthy as a daughter?¡± Catherine looked away, unwilling to engage further. ¡°Mom.¡± Summer¡¯s timely interjection broke the tension. She shook her head at Mandy, then quickly moved toward the door to wee Mirabe. ¡°Mira,e on in. Grandma¡¯s been waiting for you.¡± Mirabe cast a cool nce at Summer. Before Summer¡¯s hand could even graze her, Mirabe sidestepped and made her way into the room without giving Mandy a second look, heading straight to the grandmother¡¯s bedside with an even tone. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to get worked up? Not listening again, are we?¡± Catherine looked up at Mirabe¡¯s impassive face, her own expression shrinking. ¡°I¡¯m not upset. I¡¯m fine.¡± Mirabe¡¯s smile didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°If you were fine, you wouldn¡¯t have had an episodest night.¡± Catherine fell silent, looking every bit the chastened child. She wasn¡¯t intimidated by anyone¡¯s anger, except for Mira¡¯s. Summer watched the scene unfold, her gaze dropping and fingers tightening. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t seem to earn more than a cursory nce from her grandmother. She really hated Mirabe. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Aiden, who had been absorbed in his phone the whole time, finally looked up. His eyes held a hint of confusion as he observed Mirabe. Was this the same sister he remembered as being foolish, clumsy, and timid? Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Aiden was the apple of Mandy¡¯s eye, a bright spark from the get¨Cgo. In the Gilbert household, he was practically raised on a pedestal, which unfortunately meant his temperament was spoiled rotten, leaving him with an air of indifference and the kind of arrogance you¡¯d expect from a trust fund brat. His interactions with Mirabe were few and far between. They hadn¡¯t grown up together, only really seeing each other when Mandy would bring Mirabe home to the Gilbert estate for the holidays. Alden, spoiled as he was, took every opportunity to torment Mirabe, setting her up for trouble. It¡¯s fair to say that a fair share of the Gilbert n¡¯s disdain for Mirabe could beid at Aiden¡¯s feet. ¡°Hey, scaredy¨Ccat, can¡¯t even say hi when you see me?¡± Aiden pocketed his phone, his tone dripping with conceit as he addressed Mirabe. Mirabe didn¡¯t even bother to nce up. She turned her back to him, leisurely picking up a clean ss from the side table and pouring some water. From an angle no one could see, she discreetly dropped a pill she got from the Davis family into the cup. Aiden, circling around like a hawk, came up beside her. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. Are you deaf or what?¡± Summer, off to the side, watched with a slight sneer, seemingly eager for the drama to unfold. Mirabe swirled the cup in her hand, acting as if Aiden was invisible, then turned around and offered the cup to her grandma, ¡°Here, have some water.¡± Just as Catherine reached for the cup, Aiden, feeling repeatedly ignored and none too pleased about it, reached out to grab it. ¡°Mirabelle, you¡¯ve gotten pretty bold, have you-¡± His words were cut short as a sharp pain shot through his wrist, and a sudden force made him stagger. When he looked up into Mirabe¡¯s cold, unfeeling eyes, Aiden involuntarily shivered. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mom teach you any manners?¡± Mirabe towered over him, her eyes glinting with a frosty edge. Her voice was soft, yet it carried a dangerous undertone. Aiden felt a primal fear, as if he were prey cornered by a predator. The pain in his wrist was nothing compared to the chill from Mirabe¡¯s gaze. He stammered, ¡°I¡­ let me go.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mirabe sneered at his cowardice, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen. You¡¯re embarrassing yourself.¡± With that, she released him. Aiden¡¯s face turned ashen as he clutched his throbbing wrist, wanting to retaliate but too scared to do so. Regaining herposure, Sumrner stepped forward to shield him, ¡°Mirabe, how can you be so rough with a kid? Aiden used to be your brother after all.¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched yfully as her gaze settled on Summer¡¯s face, a taunting smile on her lips, ¡°Putting on a show of sibling love, are we?¡± Summer frowned, ¡°You¡­¡± Before she could finish, Aiden pushed her aside. Having already been embarrassed in front of Mirabe, Summer¡¯s intervention was like salt in his wounds. Shooting Mirabe a venomous look, he stormed off. Summer was left standing there, her dignity in tatters. Half a minuteter, Aiden, who had stormed out of the room, doubled back to the doorway, ¡°Mom, why are you still here? If someone wants to stick around and take care of grandma, you don¡¯t need to waste your time.¡± With that, he really did leave without looking back. Mandy, ever the doting mother, didn¡¯t bother with a reprimand for Mirabe and hurried after her son. Summer was left there, herplexion a mix of anger and embarrassment. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 As Mandy and Aiden left, Summer found herself without any reason to stick around. With a forced smile and a mumbled excuse, she made her awkward exit. Once they had all gone, Catherine turned to Mirabe, rushing to rify, ¡°Mira, the reason I didn¡¯t tell them about you taking care of me in the hospital is because¡­¡± Mirabe handed her the water and interrupted with a calm voice, ¡°I know. Don¡¯t worry about it. You don¡¯t need to stress.¡± Relief washed over Catherine as she took a small sip of her drink. It was her usual tonic. Her eyebrows rose in surprise, ¡°Did you just go get my medicine?¡± Mirabe nodded slightly, hooking a nearby chair with her foot and slouching down onto it with a casual air. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been taking the medicine I prepared for you these past days?¡± Catherine gripped the cup tighter, her gaze shifting away from Mirabe. ¡°I have been taking it.¡± Mirabe¡¯s half¨Csmile didn¡¯t reach her eyes as she watched Grandma. She didn¡¯t say a word. The silence stretched. Catherine always found it unnerving when her granddaughter wore that smile. All the excuses she had thought up seemed to stick in her throat. Finally, Catherine caved in, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s not that I intentionally didn¡¯t take your medicine. It¡¯s just that¡­ it disappeared.¡± Mirabe tapped her fingers on the armrest, maintaining hernguid demeanor. ¡°The Gilbert family took it, didn¡¯t they?¡± It took Catherine a moment to nod, confirming what Mirabe already suspected. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s put the medicine issue aside for now. Let¡¯s talk about what caused your sudden illness last night,¡± Mirabe said gently, as if discussing something mundane. But Grandma knew better. That tone was a sign of Mirabe¡¯s growing irritation. After a pause, Grandma managed a wry smile, ¡°It¡¯s actually because the medicine was gone. Besides me, the only other person at home on a regr basis is my caregiver. So, I called Mandy.¡± Mirabe rubbed her temples, sighing with a hint of exasperation, ¡°You could have just called me directly if the medicine was gone.¡± Catherine looked down, the bitterness in her eyes hidden. Mirabe switched topics, ¡°And what¡¯s the deal with James? Howe he was the one who brought you to the hospitalst night?¡± Catherine was momentarily taken aback by Mirabe¡¯s choice of address, then exined, ¡°Maybe I identally dialed his number during the episodest night. Mr. James is a kind man. You must thank him for me.¡± Catherine didn¡¯t mention that, in this new city, she felt almost like a stranger. Her daughter was unreliable, and her most beloved granddaughter now had her own family. In this city, James was the only acquaintance she had. Other than him, Catherine couldn¡¯t think of anyone else to call. ¡°Mr. James?¡± Mirabe cocked her head, her expression one of confusion as she looked at her grandmother. ¡°Isn¡¯t he your tutor?¡± Grandma asked, a bit puzzled. Mirabe blinked, not quite sure where the misunderstandingy, but it would do. It would save a lot of exnations, so she simply agreed, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s my tutor.¡± Upon hearing this, Grandma didn¡¯t question it further. She simply sighed in appreciation, ¡°Your tutor has done well, turning your grades from rock bottom to top of the ss. Mira, you must invite him overBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. for dinner sometime. We really should extend our thanks.¡± Mirabe could only nod silently, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Far away in Riverdale, James suddenly sneezed. At this moment, his usually handsome features seemed a bit paler, but those eyes remained mysterious. ¡°Sir, are you feeling unwell again?¡± Wyatt asked, concern etched in his gaze. James lifted a hand in dismissal. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°The auction doesn¡¯t start until six this evening. Perhaps you should rest at the manor first?¡± Wyatt suggested with care. ¡°No need. We¡¯ll head straight to the venueter,¡± James replied, his voice crisp. After a brief pause, he turned his head, ¡°Make sure to keep an eye on every individual who enters tonight.¡± Wyatt nodded in understanding. ¡°Understood. Should that person appear, we¡¯ll make sure they don¡¯t slip away,¡± James nonchntly flicked his cuff, and after a moment¡¯s silence, he murmured, ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± ¡°If they need that medicine, they will definitely show up,¡± Wyatt whispered, his expression unreadable in the dim light. Meanwhile, Mirabe watched as Catherine finished her medicine and engaged in light conversation with her. Age and frailty soon took their toll, and Catherine drifted off to sleep not long after. After tucking the nkets around Catherine, Mirabe quietly exited the room. As she reached the lobby via the elevator, she encountered Mandy, who, it seemed, had been waiting for her deliberately: ¡°Come with me. We need to talk,¡± Mandy said. The lobby was bustling, so Mandy¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t sharp, but her face was still painted with its customary haughtiness. Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched in interest at Mandy¡¯s retreating figure, heading toward the outdoor garden. After a few seconds of thought, Mirabe followed. ¡°What exactly did you give Catherine? What kind of medicine was it?¡± Mandy demanded, her eyes cold as she looked at Mirabe as if she were a viin of the worst order. With her hands casually in her pockets, Mirabe¡¯s demeanor was nonchnt. ¡°Is there a problem with my medicine?¡± Mandy almostughed in irritation at Mirabe¡¯s attitude. ¡°No packaging, no manufacturer¡¯s name, ¡®mystery medicine,¡® really? You¡¯re bold to give such a thing to a woman in her seventies. Are you trying to kill her, Mirabe?¡± ¡°Mystery medicine?¡± Mirabe let out a light chuckle,zily raising her eyelids, her eyes a deep shade of intrigue as they met Mandy¡¯s usatory stare. ¡°Do you have any idea how much my medicine is worth?¡± Her speech was slow and deliberate, bordering on mockery. Mandy was momentarily taken aback by her tone, and after regathering herposure, replied with a scoff, ¡°No matter how expensive your medicine is, it¡¯s still unverified.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. How much could a rural folk remedy be worth? What a joke. Pausing, Mandy added, ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve consulted a doctor, and they also advised against such untested rural remedies. They said it could exacerbate cardiac stress, practically amounting to a slow poison. Catherine¡¯s health was stabilizing until your medicine came into the picture. Her sudden illnessst night, how do you exin that, Mirabe? If anything happens to her, you¡¯ll be the one to me.¡± A smirk yed on Mirabe¡¯s lips, but she wasn¡¯t angered by the usation. Instead, she posed a wry question, ¡°The doctor you consulted, was he perhaps severely myopic and practicing without a license?¡± Mandy was at a loss for words. With a soft chuckle, Mirabe shook her head, no longer interested in wasting her time on such nonsense. Without another word, she turned and walked away. Chapter 85 Mandy snapped back to reality, watching Mirabe walk away into the distance, her face turning ashen. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Mirabe gave a quick report to the nurse on duty at the station and left the hospital in a hurry. Despite her grandmother¡¯s sudden illness, there was a sigh of relief knowing that her grandma was admitted to the hospital in time and had her medication on hand. There was little worry aboutplications. However, as Mirabe stepped out of the hospital, her eyes inadvertently caught a somewhat familiar figure. She paused mid¨Cstride, her mind quickly cing the person. Wasn¡¯t that Collins, Leo¡¯s agent? She had just seen him yesterday and his image was fairly fresh in her mind. She squinted, scanning the crowd once more, but there was no sign of Leo. Seeing an agent at the hospital didn¡¯t necessarily mean that Leo would be there as well, especially since Leo had mentioned flying out to a neighboring state to shoot a music video that day. Leo was likely airborne at the moment. With a shake of her head, Mirabe let go of her curiosity and continued on her way out. No sooner had she left, a man emerged from a side door near the restrooms, his face half¨Chidden by a ck mask and a baseball cap pulled down low. Collins approached him with a document in hand. ¡°Leo, the hospital director and the others are waiting,¡± he said. Leo¡¯s gaze fell on the sheet Collins was holding. He nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Collins knew how much courage it took for Leo toe to the hospital and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°You never know, miracles can happen, right?¡± Leo just offered a wry smile in response. Soon, they entered the director¡¯s office, where they were met by the director and a top neurologist. With a polite nod, Collins handed over the medical report to them. After a brief examination, the director removed his sses, his expression tinged with regret. ¡°The spinal damage is severe. It will take years to recover, if at all¨Cand that¡¯s secondary. The main concern is the damage to the spinal cord nerves. Thatplicates things significantly.¡± The neurologist added, ¡°The nerves connect to the entire body. If the spinal nerves are damaged, it could lead to sensory abnormalities or even paralysis. ording to Mr. Davis¡® report, the damage is moderate. Conservative treatment is the only option, and there¡¯s no guarantee of full recovery. Even if there¡¯s a one in a thousand chance of healing, strenuous physical activity will be out of the question.¡± Leo¡¯s fists clenched at his sides. Despite having heard simr verdicts before, each one felt like a knife twisting in his gut. ¡°Isn¡¯t there any more effective treatment?¡± Collins asked, his eyes reddening. Collins had secured this meeting because the hospital was renowned for its neurology department, and he had hoped for more than the same disappointing answers they¡¯d received elsewhere. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± was the simple, disheartening reply. Before Collins could say another word, Leo ced a hand on his arm, nodded to the director and the specialist, and said, ¡°I understand. Thank you.¡± Without waiting for a response, Leo turned and walked away, his solitary figure a portrait of despair. The neurologist, ustomed to such cases yet still touched by the sight, let out a sigh. His eyes inadvertently fell on a magazine lying nearby, sparking a thought. ¡°Wait a second,¡± he called out to Leo. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 The expert picked up the magazine and flipped through it quickly, ¡°Look, our hospital might not have the means, but there could be someone overseas who can handle your neurological Leo had reached the doorway when he heard this and spun around abruptly, ¡°Who?¡± The neurology expert held up the magazine, pointing at a photo, ¡°This person here, a genius oktor, LIN.¡± Leo¡¯s pazended on the magazine¡¯s photo, and in that moment, he froze. ¡°This LIN, they won a bunch of medical awards Internationally by the age of neen. Any research paper they put out sends shockwaves through the medicalmunity. They are especially skilled at treating neurological conditions. If they take your case, a full recovery might just be on the cards.¡± The reverence on the expert¡¯s face as he spoke was a clear indication of his high regard for LIN. Collins lit up with a manic joy, ¡°Could I take this magazine with me?¡± The expert wasn¡¯t stingy, handing over the magazine. ¡°However, I¡¯ve heard LIN is notoriously reclusive and doesn¡¯t just see anyone. But you could give it a shot.¡± Collins, clutching the magazine like a prized possession, nodded his thanks. At this moment, he couldn¡¯t care less about how temperamental LIN was. The important thing was the potential. for his star¡¯s health to be restored. Even if LIN was difficult to persuade, he would find a way to get them to treat Leo. Exiting the hospital and sliding into the car, Collins still cradled the magazine, his usual anxiety and tension finally easing. ¡°Leo, you don¡¯t have to worry about your health anymore. We¡¯ve got hope now. If we can get to this LIN, you¡¯ll be back on stage in no time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look this LIN up online, see if there¡¯s any information,¡± Collins said, reaching for his phone. Leo was still stunned from seeing the photo in the magazine and didn¡¯t quite catch what Collins was saying. After a while, Collins, Initially buoyed by hope, looked grave again, ¡°This LIN¡­ his temperament really does seem tricky. Rumor has it, unless it¡¯s a world¨Css medical puzzle, getting him to act is unlikely.¡± Collins turned to his client with a raspy voice, ¡°Leo, we¡­¡± Leo finally snapped back to the present, cutting Collins off. ¡°He¡¯ll take my case.¡± Collins looked puzzled, not understanding where Leo¡¯s sudden confidence came from, ¡°What do 1/2 12:24 Chapter 8/ you mean by that?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Leo took the magazine, flipped to LIN¡¯s photo, and casually pulled off his ck face mask, holding up the magazine, ¡°Compare the two, see any resemnce?¡± Collins was more confused by the action, but still nced back and forth before speaking uncertainly, ¡°You two are both good¨Clooking? Hang on, Leo, this isn¡¯t the time for a beauty contest with some genius doctor.¡± Leo¡¯s expression darkened, and he rubbed his forehead in frustration, ¡°Don¡¯t you think he looks. a bit like me?¡± Upon hearing this, Collins took a closer look, ¡°Now that you mention it, there is a resemnce.¡± His words trailed off as his face registered shock, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be¡­¡± Seeing that Collins seemed to be grasping the truth, Leo put the magazine down and put his mask back on, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hit the road.¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Mirabe had just returned home from the hospital when Emmitt walked through the door. Days had passed since theirst falling out, and although the anger had subsided in Emmitt¡¯s heart, a certain unease lingered, casting a cool shade over his gaze whenever itnded on his sister. ¡°Did Leo note home yesterday?¡± Emmitt¡¯s eyes swept the living room, then turned towards Delh, who was bustling in the kitchen. ¡°Yeah, he did, but he left right after dinner. Said he had a flight to Lakewood today to shoot a music video or something. Why the sudden interest? You looking for him?¡± Delh eyed him curiously. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. At that, Emmitt hummed nomittally, ¡°No big deal, really. Just haven¡¯t seen him in a while and thought he¡¯d stick around the house to rest up.¡± ¡°I called you yesterday, but you were busy with work.¡± Delh replied, her voice tinged with annoyance. Clearing his throat, Emmitt made no reply. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Lunch will be ready soon. Go and chat with your sister in the living room.¡± Delh instructed, pausing before adding, ¡°And rein in that temper of yours. Mira is your flesh and blood. Don¡¯t always be looking at her through those judgmental sses.¡± Emmitt was about to decline the meal, but Delh¡¯s words left him swallowing his protests. Mirabe sat curled up on the couch with a book, her focus undisturbed even as Emmitt took a seat beside her. He watched her, his expression dimming, assuming she was intentionally ignoring him. He didn¡¯t initiate conversation, choosing instead to pick up the remote and flick on the TV. The quiet atmosphere was broken by the sounds of the television. Mirabe nced up briefly before returning her attention to the pages before her, seemingly unaffected by the intrusion. Emmitt wasn¡¯t truly interested in watching TV. It was more about upholding Delh¡¯s request without losing dignity by speaking first. So, he flipped through channels aimlessly, paying no real attention to what was on. But soon, a variety show caught his attention, halting his restless channel surfing. Summer, a dynamic pop singer known for her stage presence and central role in her group, was gracing the screen. Even Emmitt, who seldom watched such programs, couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by his foster sister¡¯s natural charisma. He settled in to watch. After the performance, the hosts began interviewing the artists. As the center of her group, Summer was a focal point of their attention. ¡°So, our lovely Summer, aside from rehearsals, what do you usually do with your free time?¡± the host inquired. On the screen, Summer, with her wless makeup and sweet smile, answered gracefully, ¡°Besides training, I spend most of my time with my nose in a book. After all, as everyone. knows, I¡¯m still a senior in high school.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve seen how hardworking and dedicated Summer is. Has she won over any more. fans out there?¡± The host yfully joked to the camera. The audienceughed affectionately at the host¡¯s teasing. After a brief pause, the host continued with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ve heard you participated in the ¡®BrainSpark Nationals¡® and achieved an impressive sixth ce in the preliminarles. Summer, how do you feel about that. and do you have any inspiring words to share with us?¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Emmitt¡¯s eyebrows shot up, a look of utter surprise and astonishment painting his features. He was well¨Caware that his foster sister¡¯s grades were nothing short of ster, but to rank sixth in the nation on the preliminary exams? That was something beyond merely ¡®good.¡± Prodigy, genius ¨C she truly deserved every academic de. On the TV, Summer maintained herposure, answering the host¡¯s questions with a calm and modest demeanor. ¡°Preliminary scores don¡¯t really mean much,¡± she said coolly. ¡°I¡¯m just going to keep pushing forward, aiming to do well in the uing rounds and live up to everyone¡¯s expectations.¡± The host, all smiles, smoothly transitioned to interviewing the other team members. Emmitt¡¯s attention drifted from the TV, and he fished out his phone to shoot a message to Summer on Messenger. [Congrats on snagging the sixth spot in the nation on those prelims.] At that moment, Summer, phone in hand, saw the sudden message from Emmitt and paused briefly before responding: [Thanks, Emmitt. How¡¯d you find out about my score, though?) Emmitt chuckled, typing back, [Just saw your interview on TV.] Summer¡¯s fingers hesitated on the screen for a moment. [Lol, you actually watch that kind of This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. website to check out my score or something.] stuff? I thought you went on thepetition Finding that a bit surprising, Emmitt asked, [There¡¯s a website for yourpetition?] Summer¡¯s gaze narrowed slightly as she replied, [Yeah, but to check personal scores, you need the entry number. Otherwise, just checking the rankings is a pain, considering how many high schools and students are involved nationwide.] Emmitt: [Makes sense. When¡¯s your next exam? Don¡¯t forget to let me know your results.] Another cute emoji popped up from Summer, [Sure thing! After next week¡¯s round, I¡¯ll text you as soon as I get my scores.] Emmitt: [Good luck!] By then, Delh was calling for lunch, so Emmitt pocketed his phone, standing up with a cursory nce at the book Mirabe had just closed. The cover was littered with French, not a hint of English trantion, and it looked incredibly dense. Even with his decent grasp of French, Emmitt couldn¡¯t decipher the book¡¯s theme or content. She had been so engrossed in this French read, without any English glossary, that she hadn¡¯t even been distracted by the television. Wasn¡¯t that a bit too much of a show? If she were diving into a regr French textbook, he wouldn¡¯t have thought twice, but this¡­ Well, it certainly screamed sophistication. 12:24 Chapter 83 Shaking his head, Emmitt couldn¡¯t help but feel disapproved, then he headed to the study to call Shawn for lunch. At the table. Delh didn¡¯t fuss over her eldest son, instead, she busied herself with serving her daughter. ¡°Mira, eat up. You¡¯ve been holed up with your books so much; you¡¯re looking too thin,¡± Delh said with concern. Other kids were out shopping with friends during the holidays, but her daughter was buried in books round the clock. At this rate, Delh feared her child would turn into a real nerd. When Emmitt heard Delh¡¯sment about the strain of reading books, he shot her a peculiar nce. Everyone read books rted to high school courses. But what was his sister into? This unconditional favoritism Delh showed her daughter wasn¡¯t something he was keen to praise. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Emmitt, weary of the exaggerated tales that seemed to flow endlessly from his mother¡¯s lips. casually shifted the conversation. ¡°Didn¡¯t Mirabe join the BrainSpark Nationals? How did the prelims go?¡± He paused briefly, ncing at Mirabe, but before she could respond, he continued, ¡°Summer¡¯s been in thatpetition too. Scored pretty well, got a high ranking.¡± He deliberately omitted that Summer had ced sixth, out of consideration for Mirabe¡¯s pride. Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly, but she remained silent. Delh and Shawn, standing nearby, didn¡¯t seem the slightest bit surprised. Instead- ¡°Oh. Summer¡¯s score is decent enough,¡± Delh said nonchntly with a nod. Shawn, equallyposed, added, ¡°Summer¡¯s always been a strong student. Her being near the top isn¡¯t surprising.¡± But no matter how good Summer was, she wasn¡¯t a match for their daughter. After all, their girl had aced it, clinching the top spot with a perfect score. Noticing their tepid reactions, Emmitt looked up. puzzled. Summer had been their cherished foster daughter for over a decade. Even if they weren¡¯t thrilled for her, their response seemed off. Could it be because Mirabe had done poorly, and they were being considerate of her feelings? Emmitt chuckled at the thought, but before he could dwell on it, Shawn¡¯s voice filled the air again. ¡°Our Mira¡¯s a different story. Fresh from a small¨Ctown high school and hardly settled into the big city¡¯s teaching methods, she went straight for the jackpot¨Ca perfect score. She¡¯s really done the Davis family proud!¡± Shawn finished speaking with a smugness so exaggerated, it was as if he wanted to tattoo ¡®World¡¯s Smartest Daughter¡® across his forehead. ¡°And rightly so. She¡¯s the national number one.¡± Delh chimed in, her tone shifting to one of unbridled pride, her chin lifted high. Emmitt¡¯s face registered shock as he turned to them. ¡°Perfect score? First ce?¡± Sensing Emmitt¡¯s disbelief, Delh blinked innocently. ¡°Huh, didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± ¡°You might¡¯ve forgotten.¡± Shawn chimed in, feigning seriousness. ¡°How could she¡­¡± Emmitt blurted out impulsively, ¡°Her grades were not great, were they?¡± Delh¡¯s eyebrows arched as she nced at her eldest son. ¡°Who told you that?¡± She seemed to have erased from her memory the fact that she too had once believed her daughter¡¯s academic performance wascking. Emmitt was taken aback. Chapter 90 ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, go check the rankings online for yourself,¡± Delh huffed, clearly disappointed by Emmitt¡¯s distrust. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Emmitt¡¯s expression stiffened, his grip on his fork faltering. He didn¡¯t reach for his phone to check the rankings. He knew his parents wouldn¡¯t joke about such matters. Mixed emotions churned within Emmitt as he turned to look at Mirabe, who sat quietly enjoying her meal. For so long, he had always thought that his sister had poor academic performance, and he even believed that the eptance letter to Parkside High School was obtained through improper means. After learning she had entered the BrainSpark Nationals, he prejudged her actions as frivolous. Ironically, he had thought himself kind, even offering to hire her a tutor¨Can offer she had declined, leading him to believe she was reaching beyond her grasp. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Emmitt¡¯s lips twisted into a sardonic smile, finding humor in the misunderstandings of the past weeks, while simultaneously feeling exasperated by his sister¡¯s silence despite her academic prowess. ¡°If she had just talked to me more,¡± he thought, ¡°none of this unpleasantness would¡¯ve happened.¡± The food tasted nd, partly from wounded pride, partly from not knowing how to face Mirabe. So, when Emmitt¡¯s phone buzzed in his pocket, he seized the excuse of urgent business and left the half¨C eaten meal behind. Delh, puzzled, watched him leave. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the weekend?¡± she mused. Shawn raised an eyebrow, his tone cryptic. ¡°He¡¯s Just being stubborn.¡± Delh looked at her husband, not quite grasping his meaning. Shawn just smiled and kept his thoughts to himself. Once downstairs, Emmitt didn¡¯t start his car immediately but instead pulled out his phone and looked up the BrainSpark Nationals. He found the official website with ease and navigated to the scores section. He didn¡¯t have to search long before Mirabe¡¯s name leaped out at him, sitting at the top of the board, with a full hundred and fifty points. His gaze lingered on the screen, fingers hesitant, then scrolled down to see Summer¡¯s name as well. He realized that had he not casually mentioned thepetition, and had his parents not spoken of his sister¡¯s aplishments, he might have continued to undervalue his biological sister over his adopted one¨Ca thought that made him ruffle his hair in frustration before tossing the phone aside and starting the car. Well, it was just a preliminary score, nothing to fuss over. Monday. Mirabe had barely arrived at school when she was summoned to the principal¡¯s office. ¡°Mirabe, long time no see,¡± the principal, Mr. Hammond, greeted her with a beaming smile. his demeanor both gentle and polite. She nodded politely, ¡°Good morning. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been so swampedtely, even had to travel. I¡¯m afraid that during my absence, some unfounded rumors about you taking shortcuts have been circting around the school,¡± he said, his face darkening with concern before he continued with a hint of regret, ¡°It¡¯s my oversight, really. I failed to rify things with the faculty, leading to this misunderstanding. Rest assured, I will clear your name, Mirabe.¡± Mirabe looked surprised but shook her head, ¡°No need. Wise people know better than to Chapter 91 listen to gossip. Exining too much only breeds more suspicion.¡± Mr. Hammond paused, not expecting her indifference, but then realized that for someone of her intellect, dismissing public opinion was natural. ¡°Isn¡¯t proving them wrong with skills more satisfying?¡± Mirabe added with a half¨Csmile. ¡°You just¡­¡± he chuckled, shaking his head. He moved to the water cooler, poured her a ss of water, and changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, about the uing BrainSpark Nationals, I have high hopes for you.¡±Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe epted the ss, thoughtful for a moment before raising an eyebrow, ¡°I didn¡¯t sign up to compete.¡± Mr. Hammond coughed awkwardly, gesturing for her to sit as he exined, ¡°I took the liberty of entering you into thepetition online.¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 ¡°I personally think thispetition should be a piece of cake for you,¡± Mr. Hammond remarked with a hint of emotion in his voice. Meeting Mirabe was a stroke of serendipity. At just 17, she made an online ssh by cracking the complex conundrums posed by several prestigious Riverdale institutions. Problems that stumped other students for weeks seemed like child¡¯s y to her. With barely any effort, she¡¯d unraveled them and then some, her insights leaving onlookers in awe. She almost caused an educational meltdown at these elite schools, and yet nobody had a clue who was behind it all. It was only when Parkside High School¡¯s online admission quiz blew her cover that he learned the mastermind giving the big institutions a run for their money was a high school student. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Pure luck yed its part in bringing her to Parkside High School. Had she not been looking to study in Ashford, with Parkside being the top high school around, she might not have given it a second nce. Of course, Mr. Hammond never expected this youngdy to actually choose Parkside. When confronted with Mr. Hammond¡¯s unexpected confidence, Mirabe could only respond. ¡°I just want to focus on my studies.¡± Mr. Hammond chuckled. ¡°Studying andpeting? They actually go hand in hand.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your reason for putting me in thispetition?¡± asked Mirabeting to the chase. Mr. Hammond adjusted his sses. ¡°Although Parkside¡¯s college cement rate has been consistent, there¡¯s been a troubling downward trend¡­¡± He paused, his smile tinged with bitterness. ¡°I just don¡¯t want the school¡¯s century¨Cold reputation to falter on my watch.¡± Mirabe gave Mr. Hammond an OK sign. ¡°I get it.¡± Conversations with the bright were refreshingly straightforward. Mr. Hammond studied Mirabe for a moment before adding, ¡°Thispetition isn¡¯t a walk in the park either. If you stand out, you might even catch the eye of an association or two from Riverdale. It could be great for your future.¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback. Mr. Hammond smiled. ¡°With your capabilities, you¡¯re underselling yourself at our school. There¡¯s not much else I can help you with.¡± Mirabe waved a casual hand, ¡°No need, I¡¯m good as is.¡± She then stood up, ¡°ss is about to start. I should head back to the ssroom.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Mr. Hammond said nothing more, but as Mirabe reached the door, he added, ¡°I haven¡¯t told a soul about that online incident.¡± Mirabe paused, smiled over her shoulder, and left. Mr. Hammond¡¯s gaze lingered until she was out of sight. Then, the warmth on his face faded. He walked to his desk and picked up the phone, dialing. Although the girl had expressed no need for rification, that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d tolerate underhanded schemes during his absence. In the blink of an eye, the day for the BrainSpark Nationals city preliminaries arrived. The tests. weren¡¯t held at the schools but were centralized in the city¡¯s Education Center. Mirabe didn¡¯t go to school that day but headed straight to the test site. Her parents, Delh and Shawn, were up early, fussing over breakfast, making it heartier and more varied than usual. After breakfast, they descended in the elevator and peppered Mirabe with reminders to make sure she had everything she needed. Watching her parents, who seemed as if they were sending her off to battle, Mirabe couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. ¡°Mom, Dad, it¡¯s just a simple little contest, nothing as serious as you¡¯re making it out to be.¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Delh¡¯s eyelids slightly at the mention of ¡°little contest from her daughter¡¯s mouth. It echoed in her mind, contrasting with the nonchnt way Mirabe had described the event just days before as ¡°just some boring contest with no prize money, It was a contest that could secure a quaranteed spot at one of the nation¡¯s most prestigious universities, and she called it little?! With aplex expression, Delh pondered over her daughter¡¯s flippant attitude. What was she to do with such a cheeky girl? Soon enough, Shawn fired up his vintage Santana and took his wife and daughter toward the city¡¯s Education Center. Upon arrival, they were greeted by a sea of parents milling around the entrance. To their surprise, there was even a TV crew filming on site. ¡°Hey, is yourpetition going to be on TV?¡± Shawn asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice. Mirabe nced at the cameras by the door and frowned slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stress about it. Just do your thing.¡± Delh chimed in reassuringly. ¡°Sure,¡± Mirabe responded, her voice calm and her demeanor unruffled. At that moment, the Gilbert family¡¯s chauffeur dropped off Summer. As soon as she stepped out, the cameraman, immediately swiveled his lens towards her, and a reporter hurried over for an interview. Shawn and Delh noticed Summer, too, but weren¡¯t surprised. They knew she was also in the competition. Seeing her surrounded by the TV crew, they refrained from approaching. especially with Mandy by her side. They harbored no fondness for anyone from the Gilbert n. Delh couldn¡¯t help but bristle at the thought of Mandy¡¯s past attitude and the fact that she¡¯d abandoned Mirabe in a small town, a clear sign of her archaic preference for sons over daughters. With a dark look, Delh turned away, not wanting Mandy to catch a glimpse of Mirabe. She quickly shifted her attention to her daughter, ¡°Honey, you should head inside and find your seat.¡± Mirabe could sense Delh¡¯s mood but didn¡¯t ask any questions. ¡°I¡¯m going in,¡± she said. ¡°Go get ¡®em, sweetie. We¡¯ll be right here waiting for you,¡± Delh encouraged, patting her on the shoulder. With a soft acknowledgment, Mirabe hung her student ID around her neck, approached the entrance, and showed her ID to the staff for verification. Chapter 93 After the TV crew finished their special segment on Summer, they moved on to film other students and parents. Still sporting a polite smile though the cameras had turned away, Mandy caught sight of Delh and Shawn. Her brow furrowed as she leaned in and asked in a low voice, ¡°What are your former foster parents doing here?¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Knowing Mandy¡¯s disdain for the Davis family, Summer kept her gaze down and replied softly. ¡°Mirabe is alsopeting.¡± Mandy snorted in disbelief. ¡°Her grades are so mediocre, and she¡¯s got the nerve to show up? Is this some kind of joke?¡± Reflecting on Mirabe¡¯s preliminary scores, Summer looked ufortable but simply said, ¡°Mom, maybe you haven¡¯t really paid attention to Mirabe before, but she¡¯s¡­ pretty formidable now.¡± ¡°Formidable? More so than my daughter?¡± Mandy dismissed Summer¡¯s words outright, not bothering to inquire further about Mirabe. ncing at her watch impatiently, she said, ¡°Enough of this. Go inside and make us proud. Don¡¯t embarrass us.¡± With a forced smile, Summer responded half¨Cheartedly and made her way to the entrance. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 The BrainSpark Nationals¡® city¨Clevel preliminarles weren¡¯t a simple affair of filling out a test and waiting for a score. In addition to the written exam, there was a theoretical test and a live divergent thinking challenge, which cranked up the difficulty by several notches. The written examsted an hour. After wrapping that up, contestants were ushered next door for the live question¨Cand¨Canswer session under the watchful eye of the clock. Mirabe nced over her test paper with a hint of boredom and shook her head. The questions were somewhat tougher than the preliminary round, but.. 4 theycked any real zest for a challenge. With a tinge of disappointment, she picked up her pen and began to answer the questions at a leisurely pace. Last time, her rapid¨Cfire responses had drawn criticism for seeming flippant about the exam process, so this time, she was determined to embody the serious diligence expected of a student. Forty minutester, Mirabe, who had been deliberately slow, was ironically still the first to submit her paper, surprising even the proctor with her speed. As she handed in her test, the proctor took a moment to note her name. Mirabe? Wasn¡¯t she the one who scored perfect marks in the preliminarypetition? The proctor held onto the test paper, momentarily lost in thought. Mirabe headed straight to the adjacent room for the live Q&A session. The rules were straightforward: three proctors would each draw a random question for the contestant to answer on the spot, all within a ten¨Cminute time limit. It felt almost like a job interview. Mirabe internally scoffed at the format, likening it to a dull, uninspired setup born out of some pyramid scheme. Soon enough, three questions were drawn: one on history and the other two on science. designed to test cognitive acumen. Unfazed by the challenge, Mirabe tackled the questions in about two minutes, her expression unchanging as if the task was child¡¯s y thanks to her voracious reading habits. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The proctors were the ones left astonished. After she left, they couldn¡¯t help but express their awe. ¡°This student might just be the most impressive one I¡¯ve ever encountered,¡± one whispered. ¡°She answered in two minutes and drew the toughest questions. This is some monstrous logical reasoning¡­ I think we¡¯re witnessing the birth of a genius.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s more than that. This year¡¯s internationalpetitions will surely have our country¡¯s name shining because of her.¡± The entire examination process was being recorded by a TV crew, which had anticipated that 1/2 12:25 Chapter 94 the school¡¯s celebrity, Summer, would be the first to emerge from the test center. The crew was all set to interview her, banking on her fame for a ratings spike. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, it was Mirabe who appeared first. The host paused for a moment, then quickly recovered and approached with her microphone to ask about the exam. Mirabe might not have been Summer, but she had high¨Ccaliber beauty and a cool, effortless charisma that was camera¨Cfriendly. Casting a nce at the approaching camera, Mirabe lightly massaged her temples, regretting not having lingered inside a little longer. ¡°How do you feel about the test questions today? Are you confident about advancing to the next round of the city finals?¡± the host asked, her voice cheerful and warm. Mirabe looked at her impassively and answered tersely, ¡°Pretty easy.¡± The host, microphone in hand, felt at a loss for words for the first time after such a dismissive yet self¨C assured response. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 In any typical scenario, a student being interviewed on a television program would exude modesty, answering the host¡¯s queries with a tempered humility. So why was this particr student so audaciously blunt, her impatience almost palpable? This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The surprising part was, the host doesn¡¯t seem to be bothered by it. Indeed, beauty does seem to wield its own form of Justice. Snapping back to the moment, the host offered a sheepish grin and chuckled, ¡°Ha¨Cha, I suppose you¡¯re quite confident about your performance, then. Well, we¡¯re wishing you all the best and hope you can advance to the next round.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Mirabe breezed past them and headed out. Watching her leave, the host muttered, ¡°I wonder which school she¡¯s from. Such a looker ¨C she¡¯d have legions of fans if she ever decided to join showbiz.¡± As soon as Mirabe stepped outside, Delh and Shawn, who had been waiting eagerly. spotted her instantly. ¡°Sweetheart, all done already? That was quick.¡± Delh remarked, her eyes darting to the entrance to check if other students were exiting too. ¡°Yep.¡± came Mirabe¡¯s sinct reply. She knew she could have finished even sooner had she not been trying to maintain the appearance of a studious demeanor. ¡°How did it go?¡± Delh asked, her maternal curiosity kicking in despite her confidence in her daughter¡¯s abilities. Mirabe arched an eyebrow yfully. ¡°Piece of cake.¡± ¡°When do we find out the results?¡± Shawn interjected. ¡°Tomorrow morning at ten.¡± Shawn nodded,mitting the time to memory. ¡°Let¡¯s head off then. Your mom and I are taking you out for a feast to celebrate.¡± That was the n they¡¯d hatched while waiting outside. Mirabe nced at her parents. ¡°But don¡¯t the resultse out tomorrow?¡± Delh beamed with pride. ¡°My girl¡¯s a genius. We don¡¯t need the results to know she¡¯s aced it.¡± Shawn shook his head with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s continue this in the car, shall we?¡± Soon, the family was on their way. Not far off, Mandy, who had been sitting in her car the whole time, had witnessed everything 17:251 Chapter 95 from Mirabe¡¯s exit to the family¡¯s departure. The sight of Shawn¡¯s old, beat¨Cup Santana only deepened the sneer on her lips. Just as she expected the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. ¨C Checking her watch, Mandy¡¯s face, meticulously made up, betrayed a flicker of impatience. She instructed her chauffeur, ¡°Go see why Summer is taking so long.¡± ¡°Right away, ma¡¯am.¡± About ten minutester, Summer finally emerged and got into the car. Mandy¡¯s voice, edged with reproach, hit her immediately, ¡°What took you so long?¡± Summer flinched slightly, picking up on Mandy¡¯s impatience. With a soothing voice, she replied, ¡°The questions were quite challenging this time, took me a bit longer. And then there was the TV crew interviewing, which held me up a little.¡± At that, the sharpness in Mandy¡¯s face softened, and a scornful smile crept onto her lips. Right, Mirabe only finished so quickly because she couldn¡¯t understand those difficult questions. ¡°How do you think you did?¡± Mandy then asked. ¡°It was alright. Making it to the city finals shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Summer said nonchntly, though her confidence in her results was crystal clear. ¡°Good, that¡¯s what I expect. A daughter of the Gilbert family must outshine the rest, especially Mirabe!¡± Mandy huffed. Summer¡¯s gaze lingered outside the window, her eyes cool and detached, unnoticed by Mandy. She loathed beingpared to Mirabe ¨C it made her feel second¨Crate. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 In the bustling heart of the city, Shawn arrived at a renowned seafood bistro with his wife and daughter in tow. As they stepped out of the car, Mirabe took in the opulent decor of the establishment, her gaze lingering on the details that screamed expensive taste. Shawn went off to park the car, and Delh, after taking a few steps, noticed her daughter hadn¡¯t followed. She turned, a puzzled look on her face. ¡°Mira, what¡¯s holding you back?¡± Mirabe blinked, her tone earnest. ¡°I was just wondering how much a meal here costs. We¡¯re not exactly rolling in dough.¡± Delh couldn¡¯t help butugh at her daughter¡¯s remark. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about it. Even if we dined here every single night, I could still afford it,¡± she reassured. After all, they owned the ce. Still, their daughter had always been under the impression they were strapped for cash, which both Delh and her husband found rather amusing, so they hadn¡¯t bothered to set the record straight. Half¨Cjoking, Mirabe replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got this sneaky suspicion you¡¯re keeping things from me.¡± Like, how come they were supposedly poor, but it looked like they were anything but? Clearing her throat, Delh deflected, ¡°Nonsense, darling.¡± Mirabe gave a drawn¨Cout ¡°Hmm,¡± clearly not convinced. The bistro manager, who had been tipped off by the bosses, was waiting at the entrance. He hurried over to greet Delh with the utmost respect, ¡°Madam, wee.¡± At the sound of ¡°madam,¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Her nce at her mother was heavy with implication as if to say. ¡°Is this what you meant by ¡®nonsense?¡°¡± Delh touched her forehead, realizing the charade was up too soon. She cleared her throat and steadied herself, then nodded at the manager before turning to her daughter, ¡°See, isn¡¯t the service here exceptional?¡± The manager stood awkwardly to the side. Was the boss¡® wifemending him? Mirabe¡¯s lips twitched as she observed the ever¨Cbowing manager and the grandeur behind him, sensing her experiences of a modest life slipping away. After a moment, she nodded. ¡°Quite good.¡± ¡°Carry on with your work. We¡¯ll head up to our booth,¡± Delh instructed the manager, sending him a discreet signal to leave them be. Although the manager didn¡¯t quite grasp the underlying dynamics, he was adept at reading the room. He quickly excused himself and made sure the staff knew not to disturb the family¡¯s meal. Satisfied with the manager¡¯s response, Delh led her daughter upstairs to their private booth. 12:25 Chapter Up The booth was spacious, its interior asvish as the rest of the ce, dripping with extravagance. ¡°Sweetheart, take a look and order whatever you¡¯d like,¡± Delh said, presenting the menu to Mirabe. Mirabe opened the menu, and upon seeing the prices on the first page, she fell silent once again. It felt like she¡¯d stumbled Into the wrong script. Just then, Shawn, who had parked the car, returned. Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he mentioned, ¡°Zach just called. He¡¯s going to join us for dinner.¡± Delh was surprised, ¡°He¡¯s back in town?¡± ¡°Yep, got in yesterday,¡± Shawn confirmed, then turned to his daughter. ¡°Mira, you¡¯ll get to see your brother Zach soon.¡± As Mirabe handed him the menu, she casually asked, ¡°What does Zach do for a living?¡±Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 97 Chapter 96 In the bustling heart of the city, Shawn arrived at a renowned seafood bistro with his wife and daughter in tow. As they stepped out of the car, Mirabe took in the opulent decor of the establishment, her gaze lingering on the details that screamed expensive taste. Shawn went off to park the car, and Delh, after taking a few steps, noticed her daughter hadn¡¯t followed. She turned, a puzzled look on her face. ¡°Mira, what¡¯s holding you back?¡± Mirabe blinked, her tone earnest. ¡°I was just wondering how much a meal here costs. We¡¯re not exactly rolling in dough.¡± Delh couldn¡¯t help butugh at her daughter¡¯s remark. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about it. Even if we dined here every single night, I could still afford it,¡± she reassured. After all, they owned the ce. Still, their daughter had always been under the impression they were strapped for cash, which both Delh and her husband found rather amusing, so they hadn¡¯t bothered to set the record straight. Half¨Cjoking, Mirabe replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got this sneaky suspicion you¡¯re keeping things from me.¡± Like, howe they were supposedly poor, but it looked like they were anything but? Clearing her throat, Delh deflected, ¡°Nonsense, darling.¡± Mirabe gave a drawn¨Cout ¡°Hmm,¡± clearly not convinced. The bistro manager, who had been tipped off by the bosses, was waiting at the entrance. He hurried over to greet Delh with the utmost respect, ¡°Madam, wee.¡± At the sound of ¡°madam,¡± Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Her nce at her mother was heavy with implication as if to say. ¡°Is this what you meant by ¡®nonsense?¡°¡± Delh touched her forehead, realizing the charade was up too soon. She cleared her throat and steadied herself, then nodded at the manager before turning to her daughter, ¡°See, isn¡¯t the service here exceptional?¡± The manager stood awkwardly to the side. Was the boss¡® wifemending him? Mirabe¡¯s lips twitched as she observed the ever¨Cbowing manager and the grandeur behind him, sensing her experiences of a modest life slipping away. After a moment, she nodded. ¡°Quite good.¡± ¡°Carry on with your work. We¡¯ll head up to our booth,¡± Delh instructed the manager, sending him a discreet signal to leave them be. Although the manager didn¡¯t quite grasp the underlying dynamics, he was adept at reading the room. He quickly excused himself and made sure the staff knew not to disturb the family¡¯s meal. Satisfied with the manager¡¯s response, Delh led her daughter upstairs to their private booth. 12:25 Chapter Up The booth was spacious, its interior asvish as the rest of the ce, dripping with extravagance.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sweetheart, take a look and order whatever you¡¯d like,¡± Delh said, presenting the menu to Mirabe. Mirabe opened the menu, and upon seeing the prices on the first page, she fell silent once again. It felt like she¡¯d stumbled Into the wrong script. Just then, Shawn, who had parked the car, returned. Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he mentioned, ¡°Zach just called. He¡¯s going to join us for dinner.¡± Delh was surprised, ¡°He¡¯s back in town?¡± ¡°Yep, got in yesterday,¡± Shawn confirmed, then turned to his daughter. ¡°Mira, you¡¯ll get to see your brother Zach soon.¡± As Mirabe handed him the menu, she casually asked, ¡°What does Zach do for a living?¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Zach was all chivalry at dinner, meticulously de¨Cshelling seafood for Mirabe as if it were second nature. ¡°So, where are you hitting the books these days, Mira?¡± Zach¡¯s voice was gentle as he ced at peeled shrimp into Mirabe¡¯s bowl. She nced up at him, her response unruffled, ¡°Parkside High School.¡± Zach was genuinely surprised. ¡°That¡¯s ster! I missed getting into Parkside High by a whisker back in my day. Still stings a bit.¡± He let out a sigh that was almost too real. Delh chimed in from the side, not missing a beat, ¡°You spent the night before the exams ying video games. You¡¯ve only got yourself to me. No sympathy here.¡± Zach cleared his throat to mask a rare moment of embarrassment, muttering, ¡°Everyone¡¯s young and foolish at some point.¡± ¡°Ha, you¡¯ve got the most excuses. Look at your sister here, acing the BrainSpark Nationals prelims on her first try. She¡¯s outshining all you boys by a mile.¡± Delh couldn¡¯t help but beam when she mentioned her daughter¡¯s achievements. ¡°Is that so?¡± Zach could hardly hide his amazement. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course, why would I lie? Just this morning, Mira finished the city preliminaries. We¡¯ll get the results tomorrow, and you can check them out then,¡± Delh snorted. Zach turned to look at Mirabe, feeling a bit defeated. ¡°I knew about thatpetition when I was still in school. It¡¯s held every couple of years, attracting whiz kids and prodigies from across the nation. You scored full marks on your first go¡­¡± t That was kind of insane, right?! Meeting Zach¡¯s bewildered gaze, Mirabe¡¯s lips curled into a timid smile, her reply cheeky enough to warrant a smack. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡± Zach was in disbelief. Ah! He felt like he¡¯s no longer the smartest kid in the house. After dinner, Mirabe prepared to head back to school. Shawn was supposed to drive her, but Zach took over the duty halfway through lunch. Throughout the drive, Zach asionally nced at his sister sitting in the passenger seat, internally sighing at the disparity between them. They were from the same parents. How could they be so different? Feeling his gaze, Mirabe tilted her head, a yful lock of hair falling over her shoulder, her eyes curious, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Zach?¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°I was just thinking. I should pay a visit to the folks who raised my sister 1/2 12:27 Chapter 98 to be such a standout.¡± He had some idea of her background, knowing that she hadn¡¯t grown up with the Gilberts but was raised in the countryside by her grandmother. Suddenly, he found himself quite curious about this old lady. Mirabe hadn¡¯t expected him to bring this up. After a brief pause, she replied. ¡°Task Grandma when we have our next meet.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Zach hummed in acknowledgment, letting the conversation fade. Soon, they arrived at the school. ¡°Zach, I¡¯m gonna head in,¡± Mirabe said as she unbuckled her seat belt. Rubbing his forehead, Zach replied softly, ¡°Sure thing.¡± Noticing his repetitive gesture throughout the drive, Mirabe inquired, ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± Zach looked up, startled, before shaking his head with a smile. ¡°upational hazard. It drains the mental energy.¡± Mirabe hummed thoughtfully, then as she opened the door and was about to step out, she turned back, ¡°When are you nning to swing by home?¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Zach gave her a puzzled nce. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got some vitamins and energy boosters at home that really work wonders. When are youing back? I¡¯ll have them ready for you,¡± Mirabe exined casually. After all, she had taken a ¡®little¡® wee gift from him. It was only right to offer something in return. Truth be told, her remedies were worth a lot more than the ¡®little¡® gift. Coming back to his senses, Zach realized his sister meant well and smiled. He was just about to speak when he heard her volce again. ¡°Or just text me your address, and I can mail them to 55, and I can you, no big deal.¡± Seeing the earnest look on his sister¡¯s face, Zach swallowed his initial refusal and said, ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll be staying at home for a while.¡± Mirabe snapped her fingers at him. ¡°OK, I¡¯ll give them to you tonight.¡± With that, she hopped out of the car with a cool move. Resting his hand on the steering wheel, Zach watched his sister walk away and shook his head with a smile. One had to admit, she was pretty cute, or rather, quite dashing. Starting the car, Zach turned around and left the school. As he drove off, he passed the Gilbert family¡¯s car head¨Con. Sitting in the car, Summer nced up just in time to catch a glimpse of Zach¡¯s face in the passing vehicle. ¡°Stop the car,¡± she urged the driver.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The driver mmed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road. Summer pushed the car door open, but when she looked back, Zach¡¯s car had already vanished into the distance. Biting her lip in frustration, She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Zach¡¯s number. After several rings, Zach finally answered, ¡°Summer? Is there something you need?¡± Summer¡¯s gaze still followed the direction Zach had gone, and she spoke gently. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. much. I was just wondering if you were back from your business trip?¡± Zach, driving away, paused for a moment before replying without any noticeable change in his tone. ¡°Not yet. The case at thepany is prettyplex. It might take a while longer.¡± Hearing this, Summer¡¯s grip on her phone tightened unconsciously, her expression faltering slightly. After a few seconds, she found her voice again. ¡°Ah, is that so? Well, let me know when you¡¯reing back. I¡¯lle to the airport to pick you up.¡± Zach responded nomittally, ¡°I¡¯ve got a client right now; we¡¯ll talk when I¡¯m free.¡± ¡°Okay, then¡­ you go ahead with your work, Zach.¡± After hanging up, Summer stood there for a long time, her eyes getting teary slightly. The cars had only brushed past each other, but she wouldn¡¯t mistake that face or the license te. Chapter 99 Why did Zach lie about still being on a business trip? Was it because of Mirabe¡¯s return that he was acting so cold towards her? That¡¯s right, he wasing from the school. It didn¡¯t take much guessing to know that Mirabe must have said something to him! Summer clenched her fists, her sharp nails almost piercing her palms. Back in the ssroom, Jenna, who¡¯d been slumped listlessly over her desk, perked up immediately, ¡°Mira, you¡¯re back. How¡¯d the test go?¡± Mirabe tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with an air of nonchnce. ¡°Not bad, I guess.¡± Jenna clicked her tongue twice. That tone was asking for trouble. ¡°You look beat. Rough night?¡± Mirabe nced at her and asked. Jenna shook her head and rested her chin on the desk, looking utterly dejected. ¡°Did you hear about the infuriating thing our homeroom teacher announced this morning?¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Mirabe arched an eyebrow, a signal for her friend to continue. ¡°The monthly ordeal of the Deathly Tests!¡± Jenna exhaled deeply. ¡°Do you know why they call Ate ¡®The She¨CDevil?¡® Because anyone whose average score dips below theirst one gets subjected to the most twisted form of punishment!¡± Mirabe looked on, her expression the epitome of nonchnce. ¡°Punishment?¡± ¡°Yeah! Tenps around the track every afternoon after school for ten days straight. If that¡¯s not twisted, I don¡¯t know what is!¡± Jenna shivered at the mere thought. A smirk tugged at the corner of Mirabe¡¯s lips. ¡°You call that twisted?¡± Jenna¡¯s patience snapped like a twig. ¡°Ten wholeps! You know the size of our school track, it¡¯s massive! Just onep during PE, and I¡¯m already winded!¡± Tenps might as well be a death sentence! Oh right, she forgot that Mirabe always performed like an Olympic athlete during gym ss as if they weren¡¯t even attending the same school. Mirabe stroked her chin, eyeing Jenna from head to toe before shaking her head in mock disapproval. ¡°Dark circles under the eyes, habitualte nights, a body bloated with retained water, and ack of exercise. You¡¯re squandering your youth, sweetheart. That¡¯s a no¨Cgo.¡± Jenna snorted, ¡°You sound like one of those slick holistic health gurus right now.¡± While speaking, she fished out apact mirror from her desk and peered into it. ¡°But seriously, are my under¨Ceyes that bad?¡± Mirabe remained silent. ¡°Looks like my dark circles are pretty bad,¡± Jenna said somberly, setting down the mirror and turning her woeful gaze onto Mirabe¡¯s face, which was wless, radiant skin without a blemish in sight. The stark contrast was a blow to her self¨Cesteem. Jenna covered her face. ¡°Ooh, I am wounded. Spare me thefort.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mirabe¡¯s lips twitched slightly, her voice as light as a feather. ¡°Just hit the books and survive your Deathly Tests.¡± Jenna dropped her hands, ring at Mirabe with indignation. ¡°That¡¯s just mean, a double whammy of insults!¡± Mirabe offered a faint smile. Jenna was bbergasted. This wasn¡¯t the caring Mirabe she knew! That evening, after dinner, Mirabe ascended the stairs and rummaged through her collection Chapter 100 of jars and bottles. She selected a te¨Cgrey vial and descended back to the living room. ¡°Zach, this is for you. One pill a day. Come back to me when you¡¯ve run out,¡± she said, handing over the porcin bottle to Zach. Zach raised an eyebrow and epted the bottle. ¡°Is this that energy¨Cboosting concoction you mentioned at lunch?¡± he inquired, unscrewing the lid. ¡°Yes,¡± Mirabe nodded. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯ll work wonders for you.¡± Zach chuckled, bringing the bottle to his nose for a sniff. A subtle aroma wafted out, not the overpowering scent of herbal remedies but rather a refreshing fragrance that seemed to clear his mind. ¡°This medicine¡­¡± Zach lifted his eyes to Mirabe, clearly surprised. ¡°The smell is actuallyforting!¡± Of course, Mirabe¡¯s lips curved up in satisfaction. This was a remedy beyond value. ¡°I¡¯ll try one now.¡± Zach said eagerly, tipping out a pill the size of a pea. A ss of water was conveniently beside him, and with a gulp, he swallowed the pill. Despite being an herbal pellet, it went down smoothly,cking the harshness of themercial herbal medicines that often left a bitter taste. Perhaps the initial soothing scent had primed Zach, and as soon as he took it, he felt the perennial weight on his shoulders lift significantly. This medicine was nothing short of miraculous! Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Zach slightly twisted his neck, tipped his head back, and then rose from the couch, hips swaying to a rhythm only he could hear¡­ Just then, Delh and Shawn, fresh from the kitchen, were met with the sight of their son gyrating like he was having a fit. ¡°Zach, what on earth are you doing?¡± Delh asked, utterly bewildered. Wasn¡¯t Zach always the epitome of decorum? What possessed him to indulge in such unseemly antics? It was utterly eye¨Cwatering! Zach spun around, oblivious to his parents¡® expressions, his hips still swiveling as he spoke with a hint of excitement. ¡°Mirabe gave me this bottle of pills, and man, the moment I took one, I felt like a million bucks! It¡¯s like magic!¡± Delh¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Could you please maintain some decorum?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°iling about like that¡­ is just not dignified,¡± Shawn added with a hint of distaste. Delh approached and spotted a porcin bottle on the coffee table, simr in shape to the one her daughter had given her, though a different color ¨C presumably indicating a different effect. ¡°Your sister¡¯s remedies are quite miraculous indeed. My migraine of over a decade has been nearly cured,¡± Delh remarked with a sense of wonder. She¡¯d previously never paid much attention to her daughter¡¯s medication. However, after taking it herself, she felt as if she had been hit with a stark reality check. ¡°Really? Howe I¡¯ve never heard you mention it?¡± Zach hadn¡¯t even spoken when Shawn chimed in with a puzzled question. All he knew was that the fragrance pills from his daughter were incredibly effective. Delh settled back into the soft embrace of the sofa. ¡°Well, I was waiting to see if the effects would last before I told you.¡± Narrowing his eyes, Shawn quietly asked, ¡°Is it really that miraculous?¡± He remembered his daughter had also given him a bottle¡­ albeit with a somewhat ego¨Cbruising name. Still, if it worked, he wasn¡¯t opposed to giving it a try. ¡°Have you heard mein about migrainestely?¡± Delh huffed. ¡°I suppose not,¡± Shawn admitted, shaking his head. ¡°There you go!¡± Delh said, spreading her hands before her gaze returned to Zach. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you, young man? You¡¯re too young for this sort of difort.¡± Zach felt something off about his mother¡¯sment but couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it, so he simply replied, ¡°upational hazard.¡± Delh just nodded, her concern fading. As long as it didn¡¯t interfere with his dating life. ¡°Mira, where did you get these pills?¡± Zach felt more animated than ever and couldn¡¯t help being curious. Mirabe¡¯s eyes dropped slightly, but she maintained herposure. ¡°I know a friend who¡¯s into medicine.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zach mused for a few seconds, deciding not to pry further. ¡°This stuff works fast. It doesn¡¯t have any side effects, does it?¡± Despite the skepticism, Mirabe seemed understanding and, after a thoughtful pause, exined with rare patience, ¡°The essence of alternative medicine lies in its ability to strengthen without causing harm. It fortifies the foundation of your body with minimal side effects. But, of course, there¡¯s a kernel of truth in the saying that all medicine has its poison.¡± Zach wasn¡¯t an expert in these matters and couldn¡¯t grasp the essence, but he did understand the bit about minimal side effects. Besides, his sister would never give him something harmful. ¡°I guess I was a bit ignorant,¡± Zach admitted, scratching his head in mild embarrassment. Mirabe arched an eyebrow. ¡°It would be more concerning if you didn¡¯t question it.¡± Zach chuckled, feeling his sister was like a treasure trove of surprises. Chapter 101 Meanwhile, Shawn, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, suddenly found his gaze drawn to a cab nearby. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 ¡°Shawn, what are you staring at?¡± Delh asked, noticing her husband fixated on the cab next to them, a curious tinge coloring her voice, Shawn, of course, wasn¡¯t about to reveal the true wanderings of his mind. He leisurely shifted his gaze away from the cab, his voice revealing nothing out of the ordinary, ¡°Just wondering if having the cab here is messing with the room¡¯s energy flow,¡± Delh felt exasperated at his words, her toneced with sarcasm as she retorted, ¡°Seems to me you¡¯re the one blocking the energy flow standing there.¡± Shawn was indeed beside the TV stand, and while he had kept a decent shape over the years, ack of exercise meant he was a bit on the fuller side. Thankfully, his height meant that even a little extra width didn¡¯t make him look too out of shape. Hearing his wife¡¯s Jab, he feigned injury and shuffled aside,menting, ¡°Ah, to think I was quite the looker back in my day.¡± He turned to his daughter, Mirabe. ¡°Honey, you got any of those diet shakes?¡± Mirabe¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°Dad, you just need to exercise. How about joining me for a morning jog?¡± Shawn¡¯s head shook vehemently at the suggestion as if she¡¯d proposed something horrendous. ¡°No, no, no, I still feel pretty spry as it is. No need for morning jogs.¡± After decades without exercise, running was practically a death sentence for him. No way, he¡¯d rather stay a little round. ¡°I think Mira¡¯s suggestion isn¡¯t half bad,¡± Delh chimed in, nodding earnestly. ¡°Can¡¯t win with you two. I¡¯m off to my room,¡± Shawn grumbled, then turned to open the nearby cab. He pulled out a wooden box, cradling it like treasure as he left. Delh watched her husband¡¯s actions with a puzzled murmur, ¡°What¡¯s Shawn up to now?¡± Mirabe just smirked enigmatically. The old man was still pretty adorable. The next day, at 10 a.m., the BrainSpark Nationals city¨Clevel prelim results were published. As soon as the clock struck ten, Jenna eagerly whipped out her phone, tapping into the website while rapidly asking, ¡°Queen Mira, give me your contestant number. I¡¯ll check your score.¡± Mirabe tilted her head, tossing out her contestant number in anguid drawl. Jenna entered it and hit search. Perhaps due to the slow update of the website data and the sheer number of inquiries, the page took a while to load. When the score finally popped up, Jenna¡¯s eyes went wide, and to make sure she wasn¡¯t seeing things, she zoomed in on the disy. ¡°Holy cow, Queen Mira, you¡¯re a genius! Two hundred points!¡± Jenna waspletely bbergasted. The written exam was worth 150 points, and the three live questions together were 60 points, making the total possible. score 210. Mirabe had scored a whopping 200! Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. What kind of genius was her? With only a written test, the prelims made a perfect score somewhat conceivable, and the questions wereparatively easy. But the city¨Cleve! prelims were a different beast altogether, harder with the addition of live questions. Scoring perfect was nearly impossible. So, a score of 200 out of 210 was even more sensational than Mirabe¡¯s perfect score thest time. Unaware of Jenna¡¯s mental gymnastics, Mirabe seemed puzzled at the score, ¡°Only two hundred?¡± She had expected a perfect score, after all. ¡°Only?¡± Jenna looked at Mirabe, who seemed dissatisfied with her score, and blinked, ¡°Queen Mira, you¡¯re really a 1/2 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Mirabe, who refused to ept any defeat, furrowed her brow in frustration, her eyes darkening slightly, ¡°I had answered all the questions, and I am a hundred percent sure I hadn¡¯t made a single mistake. Where did the ten points go?¡± Beside her, Jenna¡¯s expression grew moreplicated. She couldn¡¯t begin to understand the world of an academic genius like Mira. Unable to shed light on Mira¡¯s dilemma, Jenna bowed her head once more, reverting to the BrainSpark Nationals¡® official homepage, where there was a link to the national rankings. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Jenna¡¯s fingertips danced across the screen, and she was swiftly directed to the national leaderboard. First ce, Mirabe, 200 points Second ce, Vincent, 195 points Third ce, Kent, 193 points Jenna didn¡¯t bother to scroll down any further. Her gaze was fixated on Mira¡¯s name at the top of the list. Even though she had anticipated it, the reality still left her stunned. Lifting her head, Jenna extended her smartphone towards Mirabe. ¡°Queen Mira, forget the missing ten points. You¡¯re already the nation¡¯s number one.¡± Mirabe merely nced at the screen with a grave expression. ¡°This isn¡¯t about being number one.¡± It was a challenge to her academic integrity. Jenna¡¯s lips twitched into an involuntary smile. ¡°Maybe you should ask around about it?¡± Mirabe found the suggestion logical. Standing up with a determined look, she said earnestly, ¡°Right, I can¡¯t just ignore these mysteriously lost points just because I came in first.¡± What about her pride? Jenna couldn¡¯t help but snort. ¡°No, no, no, Mira, I just blurted that out without thinking. Don¡¯t take it to heart!¡± As Mirabe exited the ssroom, Jenna facepalmed, secretly admiring how much cooler Mira seemed. ** Meanwhile, Summer had just taken out her phone, preparing to check her own score from the competition. ¡°Summer, do you know how many points that foster girl of your family got this time?¡± Phone in hand, Madeline couldn¡¯t hide the shock on her face. Having learned of Mirabe¡¯s perfect score and national top ranking in the preliminaries, Madeline had been keeping an eye out, so much so that she checked the rankings before even looking at Summer¡¯s results. As soon as she saw the scores, she rushed to find Summer. Summer¡¯s hand froze as she held her phone, her expression unchanging as usual. ¡°Oh, how many points did she get?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t believe it if I told you¨Ctwo hundred points!¡± At that moment, Madeline didn¡¯t know what to feel about such a score. Suspecting cheating seemed far¨Cfetched. One could suspect cheating for a perfect score once, but to cheat and achieve such a result again¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that be questioning the fairness of the entirepetition? After all, the exams were not held internally at the school but were overseen by the Education Association itself. Summer¡¯s mind buzzed as if something had snapped, and her usually calmplexion began to pale. Two hundred points¡­ How could Mirabe possibly score two hundred points?! Something had to be wrong. Summer refused to believe this. Summer¡¯s thoughts were a mess. She tried to sort through the information in her head, but it only became more tangled. ¡°Summer, are you alright?¡± Madeline finally noticed Summer¡¯s pallor, which made her appear vulnerably pitiable. She 12:35 This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Chapter 103 regretfully smacked her own mouth, feeling annoyed with herself. She had brought up Mirabe in front of Summer, Wasn¡¯t that just rubbing salt in the wound? With an awkward smile tugging at her lips, Madeline casually unlocked her phone. ¡°Ah, forget about her, Let me help you check your score.¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Madeline quickly scrolled through the national leaderboard on her phone until she spotted Summer¡¯s score and ranking. 186 points, ranked 10th in the nation. Had she not seen Mirabe¡¯s score, she would¡¯ve thought that was pretty impressive, But now¡­ Madeline touched her nose, a forced smile creeping onto her face as she said, ¡°Wow, Summer, you really aced it too, huh?¡± Summer¡¯s thoughts, lost in a jumble of emotions, snapped back to the present with Madeline¡¯s voice. She masked the turmoil within and asked calmly, ¡°What did I score?¡± ¡°186 points, right at number ten nationwide.¡± Madeline¡¯s voice was noticeably softer when she said it, lacking the oomph she had when she mentioned Mirabe¡¯s perfect 200 score. Hearing this, Summer¡¯s eyes briefly dipped in response, her tone t, ¡°Okay.¡± After her terse reply, she slid her phone back into her desk drawer and pulled out her physics textbook instead, burying her head in it. Her ponytail cascaded onto her shoulder, velling half of her profile from view. Madeline watched her, her heart heavy with sympathy, wanting to offer someforting words but coming up empty. All of this was because of Mirabe. She stole Summer¡¯s spotlight after seventeen years, and now, she was back to rub salt in the wound with her over¨Cthe¨Ctop achievements. It was Infuriating. Why couldn¡¯t she just stay in the honors program and keep a low profile? Madeline was positively seething! Meanwhile, Mirabe made a beeline for Ms. Ate¡¯s office. ¡°Mirabe, I was just about to call you, and here you are.¡± Ms. Ate¡¯s stern face softened instinctively at the sight of Mirabe. Mirabe looked puzzled, ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Congrattions on snagging the top national rank in the city preliminaries again. You¡¯re outstanding!¡± Ms. Ate couldn¡¯t hide her genuine admiration. She recalled how Mr. Morgan, that old stickler, almost misled her and she nearly made the mistake of turning away such a promising student. Now that Mirabe had clinched the national top spot again, that stubborn old man must be kicking himself. The thought brought a smug smile to Ms. Ate¡¯s lips. Mirabe was silent for a beat before she said, ¡°Ms. Ate, I suspect there¡¯s been a mistake with my BrainSpark Nationals preliminary score.¡± Ms. Ate paused, ¡°A mistake? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think my score should be just 200 points. No, I¡¯m certain it shouldn¡¯t be just 200 points,¡± Mirabe said earnestly, her expression serious. Ms. Ate stifled augh. ¡°What do you mean ¡®just¡® 200 points? The total is 210!¡± She regarded Mirabe with a mix of amusement and perplexity for a moment before asking. ¡°So, what score do you think you should have?¡± ¡°Full marks!¡± Mirabe lifted her chin confidently. Ms. Ate coughed, taken aback once again. Truth be told, she wanted to believe Mirabe, but she knew thepetition¡¯s rigorous standards, and achieving full marks was nearly impossible. ¡°Mirabe, not scoring full marks isn¡¯t the end of the world. Don¡¯t be disheartened. You still ranked first in the nation and have smoothly advanced to the city finals,¡± Ms. Ate consoled with a meaningful tone. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. At that, Mirabe couldn¡¯t help but give a wry smile. ¡°Ms. Ate, it¡¯s not about the full marks. I just want to know 12:35 Chapter 104 where those ten points went.¡± Realizing her misunderstanding, Ms. Ate chuckled and said, ¡°Ah, I see¡­ It just so happens that the folks from the Education Association are in Mr. Hammond¡¯s office right now. I was supposed to inform you to drop by but got sidetracked. Why don¡¯t you head over there now and ask them about the deduction directly?¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Ate paused for a few seconds, sensing Mirabe¡¯s nerves. With a reassuring smile, she added, ¡°Just answer whatever they ask you, and don¡¯t be scared, okay?¡± Mirabe shed an ¡®OK¡® sign at Ate with a confident twist of her hand. It wasn¡¯t long before Mirabe found herself stepping into Mr. Hammond¡¯s office. Aside from Mr. Hammond, two middle¨Caged men were seatedfortably on the couch, likely the representatives from the Education Association Ate had mentioned, Mirabe cast a brief nce their way before respectfully nodding to Mr. Hammond. ¡°You wanted to see me, sir?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Mr. Hammond responded with a warm smile and a beckoning gesture. ¡°Come on over. Let me introduce you. These gentlemen are members of the Education Association. This is Mr. Scott, the secretary¨Cgeneral of the Education Association in our city, and next to him is Mr. Wade, an honorary member of the national Education Association.¡± Mirabe nodded calmly to both men, her face betraying neither fear nor anxiety. Scott raised an eyebrow, impressed by the girl¡¯sposure. Clearing his throat, he began, ¡°Mirabe, if I may ask you a question?¡± Her dark eyes focused on him, clear and sharp. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Scott straightened up a bit before asking, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that your answers in thest two tests deviated slightly from the school¡¯s curriculum. Did you have a private tutor or something?¡± The query sparked curiosity in Mr. Hammond as well, who leaned in slightly, eager for the answer. ¡°No.¡± Mirabe replied, her voice even. After a brief pause, she added a question of her own. ¡°Does this have anything to do with the ten points deducted from my recent city prelims?¡± Scott was taken aback by herck of a private tutor and her keen insight. Nodding at her, he exined. ¡°Your written and oral responses should have been perfect scores. However, the methodology for the last two questions on your written exam was advanced beyond the curriculum. Although correct, we had to dock five points for each, considering a range of principles.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Advanced?¡± Mirabe¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. Wade cleared his throat, stepping in to rify, ¡°Advanced, in this context, means using methods not typically taught at the high school level. That¡¯s what we call ¡®advanced¡® or ¡®beyond the sybus.¡® *** ¡°So even if the answers are correct, it¡¯s still not eptable?¡± Mirabe pressed, puzzled. It seemed she still had much to learn about the academic world. Wade hummed affirmatively, then added, ¡°Going beyond the sybus can breach fairness, but since thepetition doesn¡¯t strictly prohibit certain methods, giving you zero for those questions wouldn¡¯t be fair either. So, a.ten¨Cpoint deduction was thepromise.¡± Mirabe fell into a thoughtful silence. So, using the simplest method wasn¡¯t always best. She had to stick to theplex, traditional path. She definitely had underestimated the academic sphere. After a moment, she spoke up. ¡°So, for future tests, I need to stick to high school¨Clevel knowledge to avoid arbitrary deductions?¡± ¡°In theory, yes,¡± Scott said with a grin. Mirabe massaged her temples, slightly disheartened. ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± She had outsmarted herself this time. Sometimes, too much cleverness could be a disadvantage. Wade, who had been silent, looked up, his gaze holding a mysterious promise. ¡°If you make it to the international stage, you won¡¯t have to worry about being ¡®advanced.¡°¡± Scott shot a surprised look at Wade. Though merely a member in name, Wade wielded considerable influence across Riverdale¡¯s associations, not to mention his position as a biology professor at Prestige College. 12:35 Chapter 105 To hold such high hopes for a young girl who had only shown a glimpse of potential seemed a bit premature. Yet, there was a sense that Mirabe was not just any student, and perhaps, just perhaps, she was destined for a stage far grander than the local schoolpetitions. ? ) Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Scott wasn¡¯t trying to belittle Mirabe. When the preliminary test scores came in, he thought Mirabe showed promise and was worthy of rmendation. However, after a detailed interrogation, he discovered that she was a recent transfer from a small town. Perhaps Mirabe¡¯s foundational skills were solid, but could the teaching standards of a small town really match those of the big city? She answered beyond the sybus in the prelims, showcasing her sharp wit, but there were so many top¨Cnotch students from all over the countrypeting. What made her stand out? Having witnessed many underdogs rise to the asion in his years of experience with thepetition, Scott realized that being impressive wasn¡¯t necessarily indicative of internationalpetition potential. So, he held his tongue, offering no furtherment. On the other hand, Mirabe found Wade¡¯s remarks somewhat novel, a yful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she inquired, ¡°Will there be a veritable gathering of maestros at the internationalpetition?¡± Wade watched Mirabe, momentarily taken aback, before nodding subconsciously. ¡°That¡¯s a given.¡± The normally silent Hammond quietly observed Mirabe, noticing the spark ofpetitiveness on her face, and couldn¡¯t help but stroke his chin thoughtfully. It seemed the internationalpetition stage was about to get lively this year. He was genuinely curious about the true extent of this youngdy¡¯s abilities. After a brief exchange with Mirabe, Scott and Wade didn¡¯t press her with further questions, sending her to her ssroom. Once she left, Scott set down his cup, turning to Wade, ¡°Wade, you seem rather optimistic about Mirabe.¡± Wade offered a smile, simply stating, ¡°She¡¯s promising.¡± ¡°But her? In the internationalpetition?¡± Scott was skeptical, especially since she was a humanities student. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate anyone,¡± Wade said with a prating gaze, then shifted his attention to Mr. Hammond, his tone suggestive, ¡°You seem to have good fortune on your side.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Mr. Hammond smiled in agreement, nodding nonchntly. ¡°I tend to think so, too.¡± Scott¡¯s gaze flitted between the two, his curiosity piqued. Was there really something extraordinary about this student? As he sipped his water, Wade suddenly remembered, ¡°Oh, doesn¡¯t Parkside High School have a campus celebrity who entered thepetition?¡± Mr. Hammond raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you referring to Summer?¡± ¡°That might be the name,¡± Wade vaguely recalled. He looked back at Scott. ¡°The Chairman mentioned her to me. How did she fare?¡± ¡°She did quite well, let me check.¡± Scott pulled out his phone and soon reported, ¡°186 points, ranking tenth.¡± Hearing this, Wade¡¯s interest in Summer waned, though he politely remarked, ¡°That score isn¡¯t too shabby. There¡¯s hope she might make it to the national finals.¡± Scott, recalling the Chairman¡¯s instructions, opened his mouth to speak, ¡°Well¡± But before he could continue, Mr. Hammond interjected. ¡°Summer¡¯s performance has always been stable, but she seems to be focusing on other pursuits. What really matters is that she¡¯ll learn from this experience.¡± Mr. Hammondmented nonchntly. ¡°That¡¯s true. Perhaps pursuing stardom offers a brighter future,¡± Wade chuckled, then turned back to Scott, ¡°You were about to say something, Scott?¡± Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Scott offered a sheepish smile. Judging by Wade¡¯s demeanor, he knew it was no longer prudent to suggest a meeting with Summer. He shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Wade didn¡¯t press further. He nced at his watch, stood up, and announced, ¡°We should be heading out.¡± Mr. Hammond rose from his seat. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s grab a bite before you head back to Riverdale.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Wade replied, raising his hand to signal there was no need for a formal farewell. He then left the office. Scott nodded at Mr. Hammond and followed Wade out. Back in the ssroom, Mirabe returned to her routine, deliberately ignoring the varying looks from her ssmates that seemed to change with each passing day. The first thing she did was dive into her books. After the harsh lesson of losing precious points, she concluded that she hadn¡¯t studied hard enough. It was time for some serious reflection! Jenna observed Mira, who now seemed to radiate an aura of formidablebat power as if one could get hurt just by getting too close. Jenna couldn¡¯t help but touch her nose in wonder. This girl had returned from the teacher¡¯s office transformed, obviously having rified what went wrong on the test, and the blow to her pride was evident. Feeling like Mirabe¡¯s supportive friend, Jenna believed that while she couldn¡¯t be much help academically, she could offer constion in times of disappointment. She strategized for a moment before gently poking Mirabe¡¯s arm. ¡°Hey. Queen Mira, don¡¯t beat yourself up. It¡¯s just a wrong answer on a test. You¡¯re still top nationwide, so it¡¯s really not a big deal.¡± Mirabe turned her head, her deep eyesnding on Jenna with a weighty gaze, After a moment, she said somberly, ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand the agony of being penalized for an answer that¡¯s beyond the sybus.¡± Jenna, a bit confused, sputtered, ¡°What? What¡¯s this ¡®agony of a beyond¨Cthe¨Csybus answer¡® you speak of?¡± After several seconds, Mirabe shook her head and looked away, choosing not to borate further. Jenna was left wondering if she had just been subtly insulted for her intelligence. After pondering Mirabe¡¯s words, Jenna¡¯s eyes suddenly widened in realization, ¡°Wait, Queen Mira, you got penalized for that?¡± Without looking up, Mirabe confirmed. ¡°Yes, even though my answers were correct, I still lost ten points.¡± She was clearly not pleased. Jenna was dumbfounded. So, was her assumption that Mira was devastated because of a wrong answer just her imagination? She was so wrong. Mira would never be daunted, not in this lifetime. With a heavy sigh, Jenna silently pulled out her textbook. If she didn¡¯t buckle down, she feared she wouldn¡¯t even deserve to be disappointed. After thest ss of the afternoon, Mirabe packed her things and left the ssroom. As she descended the stairs of the academic building, fate would have it that she bumped into Summer, marking only the second encounter of the semester. The previous one was by the school gate. Mirabe¡¯s expression remained unchanged, merely ncing at Summer before averting her gaze and continuing toward the school exit.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Summer paused, seemingly surprised to see Mirabe, too. Thepetition results had soured her mood, which was why she left the ssroomter than usual today. Had she known she¡¯d run into Mirabe, she would have left earlier. Though frustrated internally, Summer¡¯s face didn¡¯t betray her feelings, like two strangers indifferent to each other¡¯s presence. She adjusted the strap of her purse and walked towards the school gate, albeit at a slower pace than usual. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Mirabe had barely stepped off the school grounds when her phone buzzed in her pocket. Fishing it out, she saw it was Catherine calling, and without hesitation, she pressed the answer button. ¡°Hello, Grandma¡­ Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± After hanging up, Mirabe¡¯s gaze hardened slightly before she made her way to the curb, ready to hail a taxi to the hospital. But as she stepped toward the street, a sleek ck sedan rolled up and stopped right in front of her. The window slid down, revealing Zach¡¯s handsome, refined face. Mirabe tilted her head slightly, eyeing Zach in the driver¡¯s seat with a hint of surprise. ¡°Zach?¡± Her gaze briefly flitted across the car¡¯s emblem, her expression unreadable. Last time, it was a BMW. This time, it was a Mercedes. The rumors about her brothers¡®ck of ambition seemed to be overturned once again. Zach, oblivious to his sister¡¯s scrutiny, arched an eyebrow and said, ¡°Hop in, I¡¯m your ride home today.¡± Mirabe shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not heading home just yet. I need to swing by the hospital.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The hospital?¡± Zach¡¯s confusion was evident. ¡°Thedy who raised me fell ill the other day and was admitted. I¡¯m going to see her today,¡± Mirabe exined without holding back. Upon hearing this, a more serious expression settled on Zach¡¯s face. ¡°Let me drive you there, and I might as well pay a visit to the olddy, too.¡± After a brief consideration, Mirabe didn¡¯t object, slid into the passenger seat, and gave him the hospital¡¯s address. Meanwhile, Summer stepped out of the school gates, noticing Mirabe getting into the ck Mercedes. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and after a few seconds, she briskly made her way to the luxury vehicle the Gilbert family had sent for her. Opening the door, she settled inside. ¡°Follow that ck Mercedes,¡± she instructed the driver. Twenty minutester, Mirabe and Zach arrived at the hospital. Zach felt it was inappropriate to visit empty¨Chanded, so he suggested Mirabe go ahead to the ward while he popped into a nearby store to pick up some things. Since he insisted, Mirabe went on ahead and soon reached the floor where Catherine was staying. In the room, beside Catherine, were two other people, Dr. Erik and Dr. Ray. As Mirabe pushed the door open, Catherine¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy and excitement. ¡°Mira, you are here.¡± Mirabe smiled, her clear eyes filled with a gentle warmth. ¡°Yeah.¡± She walked over, casually dropping her messenger bag onto a nearby chair, then turned her attention to the doctors. ¡°May I ask what brings you here to see me?¡± Her voice was calm and tinged with curiosity. Dr. Erik nced at Dr. Ray before standing up, his demeanor polite. ¡°Well, during our checkup on Catherine, we noticed she¡¯s recovering remarkably fast. After inquiring, we learned that Catherine has been taking some additional medication.¡± Mirabe¡¯s brows quirked slightly, already anticipating their question. ¡°This afternoon, I managed to get a sample of the dissolved medication from Catherine to analyze. It seems to have an extraordinary effect on the heart, so I was wondering, Ms. Mirabe, through which channels you acquired it.¡± There was a hint of hope in Dr. Erik¡¯s question. Mirabe nced at him while methodically peeling an apple with a fruit knife, responding coolly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s a personal concoction made by a friend of mine. It¡¯s not for sale.¡± Both Dr. Erik and Dr. Ray couldn¡¯t hide the flicker of disappointment in their eyes. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Despite their disappointment, Dr. Erik and Dr. Ray both understood the rarity of the medicine. They knew that even without the form, the precision required in crafting the remedy, especially with the meticulous measurement of each ingredient, was incredibly challenging. Traditional herbal concoctions often demanded a level of care that mass¨Cproduced pharmaceuticals did not require. Hence, drugs produced through such specialized techniques were not only scarce but practically priceless. The concept of ¡°not for sale at any price¡± aptly described their exclusivity. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Aware that they wouldn¡¯t glean much more from Mirabe, Dr. Erik, and Dr. Ray decided not to impose any further and stood to leave the room. Just then, the door swung open, and Mandy stepped in, flustered to see both Dr. Ray and Dr. Erik in the room. Her concern was palpable as she practically ignored Mirabe and asked with an urgent tone, ¡°Has something elsee up with my mom¡¯s health?¡± The two doctors were taken aback but quickly regainedposure, Dr. Ray, ever the diplomat, replied, ¡°No, nothing like that.¡± At this, Mandy¡¯s anxiety eased, and a bittersweet smile crossed her meticulously made¨Cup face. ¡°I feared the worst, seeing you here, Dr. Ray.¡± Dr. Ray adjusted the ID badge pinned to hisb coat and replied with a gentle smile, ¡°We were merely inquiring about a certain medication Catherine has been taking. No other reason.¡± Mandy paused, ¡°Medication? What medication?¡± No sooner had she spoken than she seemed to remember something, her eyes suddenly fixed on Mirabe. Her polite facade vanished, reced by usation, ¡°Did you give my mother one of those herbal concoctions again?¡± Mirabe nced at her with a look of Indifference, clearly not interested in engaging. Mandy¡¯s irritation bubbled over as she massaged her temples, ¡°Mirabe, haven¡¯t I warned you not to meddle with my mother¡¯s treatment? After all the hard work she¡¯s done raising you for seventeen years, is this how you repay her?¡± ¡°Mandy, what nonsense are you spouting now? It¡¯s not at all what you think. The doctors themselves said Mira¡¯s medicine is excellent!¡± Catherine was exasperated by her daughter¡¯s foolishness. Mandy always jumped to conclusions when it came to Mirabe, blinded by her own prejudices, especially after marrying into wealth. Mandy scoffed, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you there was an issue with the herbal remedy she¡¯s been giving you, but now you¡¯re still stubbornly making excuses for her. ¡± Dr. Ray suddenly looked up, fixing Mandy with a perplexed gaze, and interjected, ¡°Hold on, Ms. Mandy, perhaps there¡¯s been some misunderstanding?¡± Caught mid¨Crant, Mandy was taken aback by Dr. Ray¡¯s Interruption. It took a moment for her to regain her voice. ¡°Dr. Ray, what do you mean?¡± ¡°Ms. Mirabe¡¯s herbal treatments are not problematic. In fact, without them, your mother might not be in a regr room but in the ICU,¡± Dr. Ray said, his tone now devoid of any earlier courtesy. Having witnessed all sorts of human dramas, Dr. Ray had quickly picked up on the tension between Mandy and the young girl beside her, likely due to ack of blood rtion, which exined the sharpness in Mandy¡¯s voice. He wasn¡¯t one to meddle in family affairs, but he couldn¡¯t stand by and watch someone being unjustly used without knowing the full story. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Mandy¡¯s eyes popped wide open, disbelief etching every feature of her face as her speech stumbled over itself in shock. ¡°How¡­ How could that be? Her medicine¡­ I even went to the trouble of showing it to a doctor, and he said that the medication was¡­¡± Her words were abruptly cut short by another interjection from Dr. Ray. ¡°Which doctor did you consult? Someone from our hospital? If it was one of our doctors, I¡¯d have him escorted out immediately! Or do you think I am just a figurehead without any knowledge of pharmacology?¡± Dr. Ray shook his head, clearly exasperated. Talking to some people didn¡¯t just reveal their emotional intelligence, but itid bare their intellect as well. Some folks seemed sharp, but they left much to be desired in certain areas. Mandy¡¯s face flickered between shades of pale and flushed as she battled with embarrassment, especially stung by Dr. Ray¡¯sst two sentences, which were a clear jab at her. Mandy¡¯s mouth opened and closed, as she hesisted to reply. She knew she was in the wrong, lowered her voice, and awkwardly tried to exin, ¡°Dr. Ray, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I didn¡¯t mean that¡­ It¡¯s just¡­ my foster daughter is clueless about these things. She grew up in the sticks, so how could she possibly source quality medication for my mother?¡± Upon hearing this, Dr. Ray¡¯s lips twitched into a smirk, but he held his tongue and strode out of the room. Dr. Erik merely gave Mandy a cryptic smile before following Dr. Ray out. A person in possession of such precious medicine couldn¡¯t possibly be a simple country bumpkin. Even if she didn¡¯t know much, acquiring such a drug was no small feat. Watching the direction in which Dr. Ray and Dr. Erik departed, Mandy¡¯s expression was a mix of ugly and awkward. She stood there, feeling like a clown, ridiculous and pitiful. After a moment of reflection on Dr. Ray¡¯s words, Mandy suddenly turned her re onto Mirabe, her wordsced with spite. ¡°You must be quite pleased, seeing me make a fool of myself in front of Dr. Ray, aren¡¯t you? Satisfied now?¡± Mirabe¡¯s lips curled into a mysterious, light smile. ¡°Did I ever tell you about the value of my medicine?¡± At that, Mandy suddenly remembered the remark Mirabe made a few days ago about the worth of her medicine, and her face soured even more. ¡°Is that how you talk about the value of medicine?¡± Mandy let out a self¨Cdeprecating snort. ¡°Do you feel proud now? Like you¡¯ve yed us all for fools?¡± ¡°Enough, Mandy,¡± Catherine couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, her voice filled with disappointment. ¡°You misunderstand and then pin the me on Mira. You¡¯re bing more and more unreasonable.¡± nno? Mom, who is your real family, huh?¡± Chapter 110 She paused, casting another scornful look at Mirabe. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m just an eyesore here, messing up your precious family bonding. Enjoy cultivating this so¨Ccalled kinship.¡± With that, Mandy stormed out of the room. Catherine watched the door for a long while before her gaze fell, heavy with bitterness. She then reached out and took Mirabe¡¯s hand. ¡°Sweetheart, I shouldn¡¯t have asked you toe today. I¡¯m sorry you had to go through this.¡± Mirabe gently squeezed Catherine¡¯s hand in return. ¡°I¡¯m not bothered by it, Grandma. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty.¡± Hearing this only made Catherine feel worse. Her grandchild was just too kind¨Chearted, always sparing her feelings even when Mandy¡¯s misunderstandings and usations werepletely unfounded. No matter the grievance, Mirabe always remained calm andposed. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. With a heavy sigh, Catherine felt a firm decision take root in her heart. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Mirabe barely registered the look on Catherine¡¯s face as her phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw it was Zach calling. Instead of answering immediately, she turned her attention back to Catherine. ¡°Oh, by the way, Grandma, my brother Zach said he¡¯d drop by to see you. He¡¯s downstairs right now.¡± At the mention of Zach, Catherine¡¯s worried expression was instantly reced with surprise. Regaining herposure, she quickly said, ¡°Your dear brother, Zach? Well, then, you better hurry down and bring him up.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Mirabe nodded, chuckling as she noticed Catherine nervously trying to tidy her short hair. ¡°No need to be nervous, Grandma. He¡¯s family.¡± Catherine, a bit embarrassed, stopped fussing with her hair. ¡°I just want to make a good first impression, that¡¯s all.¡± Mirabe smiled and gently pushed a stray lock from Catherine¡¯s forehead. ¡°You look wonderful just the way you are.¡± Soon after, Mirabe went down to fetch Zach. ¡°Grandma, this is my brother Zach,¡± Mirabe said as she helped Zach set down some health supplements he had brought onto the cab, gently introducing him to Catherine. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. 13 Zach¡¯s gaze fell on Catherine. Her face had a sickly pallor, probably from her illness, but her spirit seemed strong, and she had a kind and gentle look about her. No wonder Mirabe was so fond of her. Zachposed himself and nodded politely at Catherine with a smile. ¡°Hello, Catherine. I apologize for the sudden visit. I hope I¡¯m not interrupting your rest.¡± Catherine shook her head with a smile. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m delighted you coulde, Zach. Please, take a seat and make yourselffortable.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Zach replied, taking a seat without further ceremony. ncing at Mirabe, he added, ¡°I must thank you, ma¡¯am, for all the years of care and guidance you¡¯ve given Mirabe. She¡¯s turned out to be quite exceptional.¡± Catherine¡¯s cheeks colored with modesty. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s always been a remarkable girl, Zach. I can¡¯t take much credit. If anything, she¡¯s had to endure quite a lot with me.¡± Mirabe pulled up a chair beside Catherine¡¯s bed, her eyebrows raised with a proud tilt. ¡°I¡¯ll admit I¡¯m exceptional, but let¡¯s not talk about hardships, shall we? After all, have you ever seen someone who¡¯s had a tough time turn out as splendid and smart as me?¡± ¡°You and yourck of modesty,¡± Catherine chuckled. ¡°Modesty depends on thepany,¡± Mirabe winked at Catherine. Catherine shook her head with a smile and instinctively grabbed Mirabe¡¯s hand, holding it warmly. As Zach observed the easy and affectionate exchange between his sister and Catherine, he 1/2 12:18 Chapter 111 couldn¡¯t help but contrast it with the atmosphere at home with their own family. It was a stark difference that stirred deep thoughts within him. No wonder Mirabe had initially refused to leave with their parents when they came to pick her up from Catherine¡¯s house, dying her return for a year. Catherine must have been the only family Mirabe had known for over a decade, the orie who actually raised her. To ask Mirabe to abandon that bond so abruptly would be too much for anyone with a conscience. Zach¡¯s thoughts drifted to Summer. After the truth about the mix¨Cup came to light, Summer left the Davis family without hesitation, swiftly reverting to her birth father¡¯s surname. The Davises had never mistreated her, and although Summerter exined that her biological parents had pressured her, her actions still left a chill. A wry smile tugged at Zach¡¯s lips. Comparisons could be harsh, illuminating hidden problems one might wish to ignore. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Zach reined in his thoughts and resumed the casual banter with Catherine. Perhaps because Zach didn¡¯t appear as dreadful as Mandy had described, and his manners and conversation were quite polite, Catherine¡¯s floodgates of chatter seemed to burst open, and she talked his ear off without stopping. Of course, the bulk of the conversation revolved around Mirabe, with Catherine reliving memories from her granddaughter¡¯s childhood right through to her high school years, growing more animated as she went on. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Mirabe, the subject of the discussion, watched the two engrossed in conversation¨Cone speaking with passion and the other listening intently¨Cand couldn¡¯t help but press a hand to her forehead in mild frustration before standing up. ¡°I¡¯m going to use the restroom,¡± she announced. No sooner had she stepped out than Catherine turned to Zach with a serious look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be entrusting Mira to your care from now on. The poor child hasn¡¯t had much parental love growing up, but I can see she¡¯s doing well now with her birth parents,¡± she said. Her voice held a note of bittersweet contentment, and for a moment, a shadow of mncholy crossed her face. Zach¡¯s brow furrowed instinctively, sensing something off about Catherine¡¯s words¨Cas if she was saying farewell. 13 After a brief pause, he spoke up. ¡°The truth is, Mira loves you very much. Even though she¡¯s back with us now, you¡¯ll always be the dearest family in her heart.¡± At his words, a warm glow filled Catherine¡¯s eyes¨CMira was indeed the best granddaughter in the world. ¡°You just take care of yourself, ma¡¯am, and don¡¯t overthink things,¡± Zachforted her. Catherine smiled, indicating she understood. Before long, Mirabe returned. ncing outside at the darkening sky, Catherine began to usher them out. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Mira. You and Zach should head back. I¡¯ve got doctors and nurses to look after me. There¡¯s no need to keep mepany. You¡¯ve got a heavy workload with your senior year studies. Head home and hit the books.¡± Mirabe checked the time. ¡°Should I stay a bit longer?¡± Firm in her resolve, Catheriney back down and pulled the covers over herself. ¡°No, no, you go home. I¡¯m tired and need some sleep.¡± Mirabe sighed in resignation, approached the bed, and gently tucked in the nket. ¡°Alright then, rest well. I¡¯lle by after school tomorrow.¡± Catherine hummed in acknowledgment. Mirabe started to leave, then paused and turned back. ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention that I entered another competition. I¡¯ll bring you an international trophy to show for it soon.¡± 1/2 12:18 Chapte 112 ¡°Alright, alright, I know you¡¯re capable. Now off you go, stop fussing more than an olddy.¡± Catherine¡¯s muffled voice came from under the covers as she turned away. For the first time, the usually confident Mirabe felt unjustly rebuffed. She touched her nose. and quietly exited the room. Once the door closed behind her, Catherine, who had been facing away, suddenly turned back, her eyes brimming with tears, a look of profound sadness and reluctance on her face. After a long moment, she sniffled and shakily retrieved her phone from beneath her pillow. Meanwhile, Summer had instructed her driver to follow Zach¡¯s car all the way to the hospital. Seeing Zach emerge, her heart sank to new depths. She had excused his dismissive behavior the day before by telling herself it was because of Mirabe. But seeing him now, actually apanying Mirabe to visit her grandmother and sharingughs, Summer could no longer maintain herposure. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Although Zach was the most gentle and even¨Ctempered of the Davis brothers, he was also paradoxically the most elusive and sharp¨Cwitted among them. He could sh you the warmest of smiles, but you¡¯d never really know what was ticking inside his head. Even Summer, who had been by his side for over a decade, never quite managed to peel back his layers. When she observed Zach¡¯s interaction with Mirabe, the warmth he disyed was a stark contrast to anything she had ever experienced as his sister. It baffled her¨Chow could their sibling bond of so many years not stand firm against the mere month Mirabe had been back? Summer felt a knot of difort settle in her stomach. Stubbornly, she didn¡¯t instruct the driver to leave but sat silently in the car instead. Her gaze lingered out of the car window, fixating on the hospital¡¯s entrance, enduring numb hands and cold seeping into her bones. After some time, she saw Mirabe and Zach exit the hospital together, get into a car, and drive away. ¡°Miss, their car has left. Shall we continue to follow?¡± asked the driver, looking back at Summer in the rearview mirror. Summer closed her tired eyes, her face drained of emotion. After a moment, she replied in a subdued voice, ¡°No, let¡¯s head home.¡± In the car. ¡°That international trophy you mentioned earlier what¡¯s that all about?¡± Zach adjusted his sses and turned to his sister with a puzzled look. Mirabe arched an eyebrow, leaned her headzily against the window, and, with bright eyes, said, ¡°If you ce in the top five at the BrainSpark Nationals, you get to represent the country in the internationalpetition.¡± Zach fell into a thoughtful silence. Had his little sister really be so brilliant that she was venturing beyond national borders? Regaining hisposure, Zach asked with a mix of emotions, ¡°You¡¯re that confident?¡± Mirabe cocked her head to the side. ¡°What¡¯s so tough about it? It¡¯s just solving problems.¡± Mirabe¡¯s nonchnt response left Zach momentarily breathless. After a pause, he managed a sincere, ¡°Well, I hope you will seed. When you win, just let me get a feel of that trophy, will you?¡± Mirabe smiled slightly as she hummed in acknowledgment. Then, something urred to Zach, and he quickly said, ¡°You know, I checked yourpetition 12:19 Chapter 113 results today¨Cfirst ce, huh? Tell me what you fancy for dinner, and I will make tonight a celebration for you.¡± Mirabe started to shake her head, implying it was unnecessary, when Zach¡¯s phone rang. She closed her mouth again. The call came through the car¡¯s Bluetooth system, and after ncing at the caller ID, Zach pressed the button on the steering wheel to answer. ¡°Hey, Emmitt, what¡¯s up?¡± Emmitt¡¯s voice came through loud and clear, audible to Mirabe as well. She didn¡¯t react much. She just shifted her gaze back to the passing scenery. ¡°I heard you¡¯re back from your business trip. Where are you at? Fancy grabbing a drink?¡± Emmitt sounded pretty casual. Zach nced down the road and responded, ¡°I¡¯m actually about to grab dinner with our sister. Wanna join us? It¡¯d be nice to catch up.¡± ¡°With Summer?¡± Emmitt asked almost reflexively. Zach furrowed his brows. Was Emmitt still not used to the idea that Summer wasn¡¯t his biological sister? After a short pause, Zach rified, ¡°No, not her.¡± Then, ncing at Mirabe, he added in a deeper, deliberate tone, ¡°With Mira.¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 On the other end of the line, Emmitt fell silent for a couple of seconds before responding in a subdued tone. ¡°I¡¯ve got some buddies over, and we might have other nster. It¡¯s just a bunch of guys, you know, and bringing Mirabe along might not be the best fit. Let¡¯s take a rain check, alright?¡± Zach, still driving, replied nonchntly, ¡°Sure thing, man. Gotta focus on the road. Catch youter.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After hanging up, Zach refocused on the road, stealing a nce at Mirabe. He didn¡¯t bring up Emmitt but yfully asked, ¡°Mira, decided where you want to grab a bite yet?¡± A smile tugged at the corners of Mirabe¡¯s mouth, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. ¡°Let¡¯s just head home. Mom and Dad are probably waiting,¡± she said, shaking her head. Zach pondered for a moment but didn¡¯t push the issue. Celebrating didn¡¯t have to be crammed into one day. There was always tomorrow, the day after, or the day after that. In any case, he was determined to make this sibling outing something special. ¡¤ By the time Summer made it back to the Gilbert family home, it was nearly seven o¡¯clock. Mandy had just gotten in herself, a ss of water in her hand. She eyed her daughter curiously, ¡°Why are you home sote today?¡± ¡°Got held up at school,¡± Summer replied, her mind clearly elsewhere, careful not to mention her hospital visit. Mandy didn¡¯t suspect a thing, sitting down on the couch before something seemed to strike her. ¡°The results from yourpetition were released today, weren¡¯t they?¡± Summer had just set her bag down. Hearing Mandy¡¯s question, her eyes dimmed slightly, ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re out. Scored 186. Ranked tenth nationwide.¡± Mandy frowned, turning to look at her, ¡°Weren¡¯t you ranked sixthst time? Howe you¡¯re tenth now?¡± Summer seemed to have anticipated this question and calmly responded, ¡°The preliminaries and the actualpetition are different beasts. The difficulty ramps up considerably. Plus, there were quite a few of us tied for sixthst time. Out of over a hundred and twenty students nationwide, making it to the top ten is a big deal. There¡¯s a good chance I¡¯ll advance to the national finals.¡± Mandy didn¡¯t quite grasp the intricacies of thepetition, but the idea of her daughter cing in the top ten among over a hundred and twenty students did impress her. Her expression 1/2 12:19 Chapter 114 softened considerably. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand and thought you had slipped back. But it¡¯s clear you¡¯re truly outstanding.¡± Summer¡¯s gaze dropped, and she remained silent, settling down on a nearby couch, her fingers massaging her temples. ¡°By the way, how did Mirabe do?¡± Mandy casually inquired, setting her water ss down. Summer¡¯s hand paused, and she reflexively answered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about her scores. Didn¡¯t really keep track of everyone else.¡± Mandy¡¯s thoughts drifted to the embarrassment she had faced at the hospital in front of Dr. Ray because of Mirabe, her eyes growing cold. ¡°Summer, you¡¯re my pride and joy. You have to outshine Mirabe in every way. Do you understand?¡± Summer felt a twinge of difort at her words. Mirabe had aced the tests twice now. How was she supposed to outshine Mirabe? With a self¨Cdeprecating chuckle, Summer said nothing, merely acknowledging with a nomittal ¡°Mm¨Chmm.¡± Mandy missed the nuance in Summer¡¯s expression, but after a moment¡¯s thought, she added, ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: I¡¯ll hire a tutor to help you focus on your studies for a while.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Summer pondered for a few seconds after hearing the suggestion. She lifted her gaze towards Mandy and asked, ¡°Mom, doesn¡¯t Dad have some connections at the Education Association?¡± Mandy paused, a flicker of recognition crossing her face before she nodded, ¡°Yeah, he and the chairman often meet up for coffee, I mentioned yourpetition to your dad a while back, but I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s talked about you to anyone.¡± After a brief pause, Mandy reached for her smartphone on the coffee table. ¡°Hold on a sec. I¡¯ll give your dad a call and ask.¡± Summer smiled sweetly, nodding obediently, her fingers rhythmically tapping on her knees. Mandy ended the call shortly and looked up at her daughter, ¡°Your dad said to focus on the competition. He¡¯s mentioned you to his friend, even boasted about your knack for the sciences, and he¡¯s looking for an opportunity to get you under the wing of a renowned tutor in Riverdale.¡± At the mention of Riverdale, Summer¡¯s eyes lit up with immense surprise. Riverdale was a breeding ground for talent. Securing a foothold there meant not having to worry about the likes of Mirabe or having to rely on the Gilberts. With this thought, the gloom that had clouded Summer¡¯s evening dissipated. She let out a silent sigh of relief, stood up, and sat down beside Mandy, affectionately wrapping her arms around her mother¡¯s. ¡°Mom, thank you and Dad for everything. You¡¯re so good to me. I¡¯ll work hard, I promise. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Mandy looked down at her dutiful daughter, the pr opposite of the irksome foster child, and couldn¡¯t help but smile with relief, patting her arm gently. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re my own flesh and blood.¡± Summer rested her head on Mandy¡¯s shoulder and nuzzled in, the shadows in her eyes hidden away, saying nothing more. ** This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The following day, the senior ss at Parkside High School faced their first monthly exam of the semester. Everyone, except Mirabe, seemed to be carrying the weight of nervousness and fear towards the tests. Right before entering the exam hall, most students were frantically flipping through textbooks, the epitome ofst¨Cminute cramming. The school had a dedicated examination hall, and this monthly test seemed exceptionally strict. Each room was fitted with detection devices that weeded out students attempting to smuggle in phones or cheat sheets. It was clear that cheating was off the table. Although Mirabe had participated in the BrainSpark Nationals and excelled twice, her newness at the school meant her exam seat was allocated based on the previous term¡¯s grades. For fairness, she was ced in thest exam room. The bottom thirty scorers of the senior year were all herpany in that room. 1/2 12:19 Chapter As Mirabe entered the exam hall, the seated students turned their curious eyes towards her. By now, herpetition achievements weremon knowledge throughout the senior ss. While some still whispered doubts about her merits, they were a minority. Some even spected that the sudden monthly exam was the school¡¯s attempt to quell the rumors of Mirabe¡¯s alleged cheating and preferential treatment by cing her in thest exam room. Unaware of these murmurs, Mirabe found her seat at the very end of thest row, isted from the rest, as if deliberately segregated. The distinction was pretty evident. fa Chapter 116 Chapter 116 The exam proctor strode into the room, delivering the test papers with an efficiency that spoke of years of experience. It was English Literature in the morning. Mirabe stared at her paper with a sense of dread. Of all the subjects, English was her least favorite. The sight of those densely packed words always dragged her back to her childhood, to the days when the old sticklers of her family tormented her. Those dusty tomes of Shakespeare and Chaucer were the stuff of her childhood nightmares. Ever since she arrived in this new body, she¡¯d had an innate aversion to English, leading to an unsurprising neglect of the subject. With a silent sigh and resistance coursing through her veins, Mirabe picked up her pen and began to write at a snail¡¯s pace. When it was time to hand in her paper, it lookedplete, but as for uracy¡­ that was anyone¡¯s guess. The afternoon brought Mathematics, which was much more Mirabe¡¯s speed. Effortless and straightforward, it hardly required a thought. Having learned her lesson from a previous deduction for answering beyond the sybus, she was careful not to repeat the mistake. Post¨Cexam, everyone in ss was flipping through textbooks, trying to estimate their scores. ¡°Queen Mira, don¡¯t you think today¡¯s math test was brutal?¡± Jenna asked, her face downcast after calcting she¡¯d barely scraped through. But as soon as she¡¯d posed the question, she regretted it. After all, she was speaking to the nationalpetition¡¯s reigning champ¨Cwasn¡¯t this just asking for trouble? Mirabe cocked her head, letting out a rare, long sigh, ¡°I found English to be the real difficult ¡ü beast.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Jenna was floored. ¡°Am I hallucinating? Did I just hear you use the word ¡®difficult?¡°¡± Not just the use of the word ¡®difficult,¡® but with an emphasis. ¡°I may be top¨Cnotch, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m omnipotent,¡± Mirabe replied with a yful flutter of her eyshes, her tone infuriatingly nonchnt. Jenna clutched her chest, feeling the sting of another ego blow. ¡°Isn¡¯t English the easiest, though?¡± Jenna quickly steered the conversation back to safer waters. Mirabe shook her head, her frustration evident. ¡°For me, it¡¯s the toughest.¡± Sensing her sincere distress, Jenna realized she¡¯d stumbled upon a bombshell. ¡°So, what do you think you scored in English?¡± ¡°I finished all the questions, but whether I pass will be a matter of luck,¡± Mirabe mused, resting her chin on her hand, the image of despondency. She missed the simplicity of the BrainSpark Nationals¨Cit was so straightforwardpared to the hair¨Cpullingplexity of English. 12:19 Chapter 116 Jenna¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head, ¡°Queen Mira, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve got a weak subject!¡± Mirabe gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°Doesn¡¯t every normal student have at least one?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but since when are you a normal student?¡± Jenna¡¯s question was a piercing one. With two nationalpetition victories under her belt, Mirabe was anything but average. Yawning, Mirabe pulled her English textbook from her desk. ¡°I know you¡¯re just jealous of my brilliance.¡± Jenna¡¯s smile twitched, her eyes rolling as she suddenly shed a mischievous grin, her voiceced with schadenfreude. ¡°Imagine if you fail English, what will happen to your ranking this month¡­ Oh, the horror!¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Jenna, you seem to be taking far too much pleasure in this.¡± Jenna cleared her throat, quickly masking her glee with a serious fa?ade. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m just eager to get the exams over with and see the results.¡± Mirabe chuckled lightly, a knowing glint in her eyes. ¡°Hey, wanna hit the mall after school?¡± Jenna touched her nose, swiftly changing the subject. Mirabe shook her head, declining softly, ¡°No, I¡¯ve got some personal matters to attend to.¡± 2 Jenna didn¡¯t press further and settled back into her seat. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Just before heading out that morning, Mirabe had told Zach that she nned to spend the day at the hospital keeping Catherinepany, and had politely declined his offer to pick her up from school. So, as soon as the ss was over, Mirabe hailed a cab and made her way to the hospital. But the moment she pushed open the door to the hospital room and saw its emptiness, with even the bed sheets neatly folded at the foot of the bed, her expression flickered with concern, She was stunned for a moment, and her thoughts raced to Catherine¡¯s reaction the day before. A tight sensation gripped her chest as she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off¡­¡± Taking a deep breath, Mirabe ended the call, pocketed her phone, and turned to leave the room. At the nurses¡® station, she approached the on¨Cduty nurse with a calm demeanor. ¡°Excuse me, do you know where I can find Catherine from room 503?¡± There was a steadiness in her voice, betraying no hint of the worry she felt inside. The nurse was momentarily taken aback by Mirabe¡¯s stunning beauty, but quickly recovered and flipped through the records beside her. ¡°Oh, Mrs. Catherine was discharged this morning,¡± she replied. When Mirabe heared this, her brows furrowed even more. She thanked the nurse and, without any hesitation, strode towards the elevator. The nurse watched Mirabe¡¯s retreating figure, shaking her head in admiration. ¡°That girl¡¯s beauty is on another level. She could give Hollywood stars a run for their money,¡± she murmured. ¡°What¡¯s caught your eye?¡± asked another nurse who had just returned from the restroom, noticing her colleague¡¯s fixated gaze. Since Mirabe had already disappeared around the corner, the second nurse had missed her. The first nurse, still captivated, said, ¡°I just saw this gorgeous girl ¨C like an angel. My heart was racing when she looked at me.¡± The other nurse chuckled. ¡°Really, that dramatic?¡± She casually took a sip of water, then added, ¡°Speaking of angelic beauty, Mrs. Catherine¡¯s granddaughter is a knockout. Catherine is the patient who has just been discharged from room 503 this morning. You probably haven¡¯t seen her granddaughter since you work days. I¡¯ve got a photo of her. Let me show you¡­¡± As she spoke, the nurse pulled out her phone and disyed a secretly snapped photo. ¡°Look at this. Isn¡¯t she gorgeous? It¡¯s just a side face, but she¡¯s so photogenic.¡± The nurse was familiar with Mirabe, finding her truly captivating. Her aura was an intriguing mix of feminine and masculine, and she carried herself with a graceful, polite demeanor that 12:19 Chapter 117 subtlymanded attention. Whenever Mirabe visited, the nurse made sure to dote on Catherine a bit more than usual, hoping to catch her attention indirectly. And, quite secretly, she often snapped pictures of Mirabe when she wasn¡¯t looking. ¡°That¡¯s her, the very girl I just saw,¡± the first nurse confirmed, recognizing Mirabe in the photo. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The second nurse¡¯s face changed. ¡°Where did she go?¡± Pointing towards the elevator, the first nurse replied, ¡°Right when you came back, she just got in.¡± ¡°Oh no, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? Mrs. Catherine left something for me to pass on to her,¡± the second nurse said, pping her forehead in frustration. The first nurse touched her nose sheepishly. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me¡­ But she can¡¯t have gone far. Hurry, you might catch her.¡± With a quick nod, the second nurse stowed her phone, grabbed an envelope from the drawer, and hurried towards the elevator. fa Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 As the sun began its descent into the horizon, the bustle of the hospital began to taper off, leaving the halls quieter than they had been all day. The nurse descended in the elevator. Her footsteps echoed through the now¨Csparse lobby. She scanned the area, finding no sign of Mirabe. With a sense of urgency, she darted toward the main entrance, but her search there proved just as fruitless. Finally, with her shoulders slumped in defeat, she turned to head back inside. Meanwhile, Mirabe was already nestled in the backseat of a cab, speeding away towards the apartmentplex where Catherine resided. As the cityscape zipped by in a blur outside the window, her eyes flickered with an intensity. Her usually impassive face now carried a chill that was not typical for one so young. She fished out her phone and dialed Catherine¡¯s number once more, only to be greeted by the cold shutdown prompt. She should have recognized that something was off with Catherine yesterday. Mirabe pressed her fingers to her temple, and her expression grew even darker. Twenty minutester, the cab rolled to a stop at the entrance to theplex. After paying the fare, Mirabe hurried inside. Her pace quickened as she ascended to Catherine¡¯s floor. She pressed the doorbell with a sense of urgency. The door swung open to reveal the face of an unfamiliar woman. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± the middle¨Caged woman asked, eyeing Mirabe with curiosity.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She was the caregiver Mandy had hired to look after Catherine and hadn¡¯t met Mirabe before. Mirabe¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Isn¡¯t Catherine home?¡± At once, the caregiver asked, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here for Catherine?¡± ¡°Yes, is she here?¡± Mirabe asked, while her patience was wearing thin. The caregiver sized up Mirabe again before replying politely, ¡°Catherine fell ill and has been in the hospital for a while now, but¡­ who are you, and what do you need with her?¡± Mirabe didn¡¯t answer her question, instead repeating her own. ¡°Is she truly not here?¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t lie to you. Catherine¡¯s been sick and in the hospital. Why don¡¯t you try calling her?¡± the caregiver said, perplexed by the young woman¡¯s intensity. Noting that the caregiver seemed to have nothing to hide, Mirabe was left feeling uneasy. Without another word, she turned on her heel and left. The caregiver stood there, confused, watching Mirabe¡¯s silhouette vanish into the elevator before murmuring to herself while closing the door, ¡°What an odd encounter¡­¡± Chania 118 Still puzzled, the caregiver walked to the phone and dialed a number, feeling that something wasn¡¯t quite right. Over at the Gilbert family¡¯s vi, Mandy had just picked up the call. ¡°You¡¯re saying a young girl came looking for my mother?¡± she inquired. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. She wouldn¡¯t give her name, but she seemed rather anxious. I¡¯m not sure if something¡¯s wrong,¡± the caregiver ryed the situation in detail. Mandy¡¯s brow furrowed as she asked, ¡°Was the girl tall, attractive, and looked like a student?¡± ¡°That¡¯s her, ma¡¯am.¡± Mandy¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± After hanging up, Mandy crossed her arms and pondered deeply. The description from the caregiver could only match Mirabe, but why would she suddenly show up at the apartment asking for her mother? Didn¡¯t she know that Catherine was still hospitalized? Descending the stairs in herfortable home attire, Summer noticed her mother¡¯s unusual demeanor and took a seat beside her, asking softly, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on?¡± Mandy snapped back to reality and chose not to hide the truth. ¡°The caregiver looking after your grandmother called. She said Mirabe stopped by your grandmother¡¯s apartment.¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 When Summer heard the name Mirabe, her eyes instinctively narrowed, and she casually asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t she know Grandma was hospitalized? Why would she go to the apartment? Was she there to pick something up?¡± Mandy shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t to pick up anything. The caregiver said she only asked if your grandmother was at home, and when she heard she wasn¡¯t, she left.¡± With a puzzled look crossing her face, Summer said, ¡°What could she possibly want then?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Summer suggested, ¡°Mom, this seems a bit odd. Maybe we should give Grandma a call to see what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Mandy agreed, thumbing through her contacts to find Catherine¡¯s number and dialed. Quickly, Mandy frowned and ended the call. ¡°Her phone is turned off.¡± ¡°Turned off? What happened?¡± Summer said. Her concern was apparent. Mandy¡¯s eyelid twitched as she stood. ¡°I¡¯ll call the hospital.¡± She walked over to a cab, rummaged through it, and pulled out a business card with the doctor¡¯s number. Without hesitation, she dialed. ¤´ ¡°Hello¡­ What? My mother has been discharged?¡± Mandy¡¯s face was a picture of shock. Summer, now standing beside Mandy, asked anxiously, ¡°Grandma was discharged? She didn¡¯t tell you?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Mandy¡¯s mind was buzzing. ¡°No, I was so flustered by our argumentst night, and I didn¡¯t visit the hospital today.¡± Summer¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Why would Grandma leave without saying a word? She¡¯s a stranger in town. She doesn¡¯t know anything, and didn¡¯t return to the apartment. Where could she have gone?¡± Pressing her temples, Mandy suddenly had a dark thought and said through gritted teeth. ¡°You¡¯re right. Your grandmother knew nothing at all. She wouldn¡¯t know how to discharge herself without help.¡± After a brief pause, she added, ¡°It has to be Mirabe who took your grandmother. Besides her, who else?¡± Summer lowered her gaze, and then shook her head. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Didn¡¯t you just say the caregiver mentioned she was looking for Grandma too?¡± Mandy scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s all an act, and you believe that?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Summer tried to interject, only to be cut off by Mandy, ¡°Enough, don¡¯t be so stupid. I don¡¯t want to hear my daughter making excuses for an outsider.¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 When Summer heard the name Mirabe, her eyes instinctively narrowed, and she casually asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t she know Grandma was hospitalized? Why would she go to the apartment? Was she there to pick something up?¡± Mandy shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t to pick up anything. The caregiver said she only asked if your grandmother was at home, and when she heard she wasn¡¯t, she left.¡± With a puzzled look crossing her face, Summer said, ¡°What could she possibly want then?¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Summer suggested, ¡°Mom, this seems a bit odd. Maybe we should give Grandma a call to see what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Mandy agreed, thumbing through her contacts to find Catherine¡¯s number and dialed. Quickly, Mandy frowned and ended the call. ¡°Her phone is turned off.¡± ¡°Turned off? What happened?¡± Summer said. Her concern was apparent. Mandy¡¯s eyelid twitched as she stood. ¡°I¡¯ll call the hospital.¡± She walked over to a cab, rummaged through it, and pulled out a business card with the doctor¡¯s number. Without hesitation, she dialed. ¡°Hello¡­ What? My mother has been discharged?¡± Mandy¡¯s face was a picture of shock. Summer, now standing beside Mandy, asked anxiously, ¡°Grandma was discharged? She didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Mandy¡¯s mind was buzzing. ¡°No, I was so flustered by our argumentst night, and I didn¡¯t visit the hospital today.¡± Summer¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Why would Grandma leave without saying a word? She¡¯s a stranger in town. She doesn¡¯t know anything, and didn¡¯t return to the apartment. Where could she have gone?¡± Pressing her temples, Mandy suddenly had a dark thought and said through gritted teeth, ¡°You¡¯re right. Your grandmother knew nothing at all. She wouldn¡¯t know how to discharge herself without help.¡± After a brief pause, she added, ¡°It has to be Mirabe who took your grandmother. Besides her, who else?¡± Summer lowered her gaze, and then shook her head. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Didn¡¯t you just say the caregiver mentioned she was looking for Grandma too?¡± Mandy scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s all an act, and you believe that?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Summer tried to interject, only to be cut off by Mandy, ¡°Enough, don¡¯t be so stupid. I don¡¯t want to hear my daughter making excuses for an outsider.¡± Chapter 119 With those words, Mandy grabbed her phone, dialed Mirabe¡¯s number with a look of anger. After descending the stairs, Mirabe didn¡¯t immediately leave Catherine¡¯s neighborhood. Instead, she found a bench in themunity garden and sat down. Catherine¡¯s phone was still unreachable. The caregiver¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t seem fake. Mirabe knew Mandy well, and the odds of her whisking Catherine away were slim. The only thing Mirabe could be certain of was that Catherine left of her own volition. Massaging her temples, Mirabe took out her phone, pondering deeply before tapping on an app with an unfamiliar icon, about to log in when an unknown number called. Mirabe paused, then quickly answered. ¡°Hello¡­ Sure, I¡¯ll be there in twenty minutes. Thanks.¡± After hanging up, she stood up, but her phone rang again. Without hesitation, she dismissed the call. Then, slipping the phone into her pocket, she quickly walked out of the neighborhood. 1375 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 The person on the other end of the phone was none other than the nurse from the hospital who hadn¡¯t managed to catch up with Mirabe. Mirabe halled a cab and made her way back to the hospital. Along the journey, Mandy bombarded her with a relentless stream of calls, but none of which she answered. Eventually. she simply blocked Mandy¡¯s number. ¡°Ms. Mirabe, I am terribly sorry. I should have called you earlier toe pick up your belongings. I was caught up with something and couldn¡¯t get around to it,¡± the nurse apologized, handing over a letter to Mirabe with a look of regret. Mirabe took the letter with a courteous nod. ¡°No problem, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± the nurse replied with a smile. . As Mirabe walked away with the letter, she paused and turned back to address the nurse ¡°Can I ask if my grandmother was discharged on her own?¡± The nurse shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that. I was working the night shift. I wasn¡¯t here this morning.¡± She paused and then offered, ¡°Shall I ask one of my colleagues for you?¡± A flicker of disappointment crossed Mirabe¡¯s eyes, but she quickly shook her head and declined, ¡°No, that¡¯s alright,¡± before walking away. At the hospital¡¯s garden, there were public benches where people could sit and enjoy the greenery. Mirabe found a spot on a bench and opened the letter. [Mira, I have gone back to my hometown. You take good care of yourself and don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll take good care of my health. I¡¯m waiting for the day you bring home an international trophy.] The content of the letter was brief, and the handwriting was far from beautiful. It bore the slow and rigid strokes of an elderly person. In the corner where the name was signed, there was a dry mark where a tear had once fallen. A lump stuck in Mirabe¡¯s throat as she could almost picture Catherine, her grandmother, writing this letter with a heavy heart and trembling hands. The days when they had only each other forpany shed before her eyes like scenes from a movie, bringing back a year of serene memories that stood out in her life. Mirabe tilted her head back slightly. Her eyes fluctuated between rity and dimness as the soft glow from a nearby streetlight cast a mix of warmth and solitude upon her face. ¡°That¡¯s a rare expression on you.¡± Suddenly, a voiceced with teasing cut through the quiet. Mirabe slowly turned her head, and there he was: James, with his sharp features and lean figure, standing with his arms crossed and an air of nonchnce about him. She had no idea how long he had been there. Chapter 120 Mirabe¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as she carefully folded the letter and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± James raised an eyebrow yfully. ¡°If I were not here, I would miss your rare moment of vulnerability, wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Mirabe stood up and moved closer to James. Her piercing eyes locked onto him, and her voice was tinged with an icy detachment. ¡°Having trouble seeing things? Let me get closer so you can have a good look.¡± A smile flickered at the corner of James¡® mouth as he beheld the girl standing defiantly before him. Her proud stance was a stark contrast to the quiet figure seated on the bench moments earlier. He raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling, ¡°Okay, my bad. Wrong choice of words.¡± Mirabe let out a soft scoff and turned away from him, but a thought suddenly raced through her mind. Abruptly, her gaze returned to James. There was a hint of suspicion in her voice, ¡°Did you help my grandmother with her discharge from the hospital?¡± She knew that when Catherine had previous heart trouble, it had been James who had brought her to the hospital. The idea that her grandmother could leave without a trace and that James might have had a hand in it seemed all too probable.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 James wasn¡¯t at all surprised when Mirabe spoke her mind, after all, the girl had a sharpness about her that was beyond imagination. ¡°You guessed right,¡± he admitted without any attempt to hide it. At his words, it felt like a tension within Mirabe finally eased. She wasn¡¯t really worried that Catherine would do anything rash, but she needed to know where she was, ¡°Your grandma rang me upst night.¡± James exined sinctly, ¡°Seems she didn¡¯t want you caught in the middle of whatever is brewing between her and the Gilberts, so she asked if 1 could drop her back at her ce.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Mirabe sighed softly. How could she not see Catherine¡¯s intent? After a brief silence, she collected her thoughts and asked, ¡°Where Is she now?¡± James nced at his watch. ¡°She should be home by now.¡± As if sensing that Mirabe needed reassurance, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I arranged for someone to escort your grandma. No mishaps.¡± Mirabe gave a small nod of thanks, fixing James with a serious look. ¡°Thanks a lot.¡± James raised an eyebrow. His tone was nonchnt. ¡°Are we still on formal terms? Come on, my lifesaver.¡± Mirabe gave him a sidelong nce and a half¨Csmile. ¡°Also since when did I acquire a tutor?¡± With azy shrug. James yed along. ¡°Just a beautiful misunderstanding.¡± Mirabe chuckled, pocketing Catherine¡¯s letter and turning to leave the hospital. ¡°Let¡¯s keep up the misunderstanding then.¡± Her voice trailed away as she waved a goodbye. Her silhouette stretched long under the streetlights. James smiled thoughtfully and followed after her. Outside the hospital, Mirabe reached for her phone to check the time, only to find it had died. She put it back in her pocket and after a brief pause, she looked up at James. ¡°Did you drive here?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± James looked at her, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m out of battery, and I don¡¯t have cash on me. How about Mr. James ys the good guy and gives me a lift?¡± Mirabe asked without any trace of formality. James arched an eyebrow. ¡°I thought you¡¯d invite me for dinner.¡± ¡°Expecting a high school kid without a penny to her name to treat you? Tell me, Mr. James, is that really appropriate for a tutor?¡± Mirabe emphasized each word with clear artiction. A twitch tugged at James¡® lips. ¡°What if I treat you?¡± 1/2 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 12:15 Mirabe waved off the offer. ¡°No thanks. My family will worry if they can¡¯t reach me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s on¡± James said, rubbing his temple without further teasing. They quickly got into the car. Inside, James gripped the steering wheel with one hand, is elbow rested on the window frame. His head tilted, his fingers pressing against his temple. Hisplexion was unusually pale, and there was a hint of fatigue around his eyes. Mirabe onby nced at him briefly before asking casually, ¡°Rough night?¡± ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± James¡® voice was low, and he turned to look at her as he spoke. Mirabe¡¯s eves narrowed slightly as she pieced together his recent trip to Riverdale and Catherine¡¯s current drama. She suddenly said, almost in disbelief, ¡°You didn¡¯t rush back overnight because of my grandma, did you?¡± James continued massaging his temple, deflecting the question lightly. ¡°When the work¡¯s done. naturally it¡¯s time to head back.¡± At that, Mirabe fell into a thoughtful silence. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 After a while, she lifted her gaze to James again and said nonchntly. ¡°You know, the soothing incense I got for Granny online the other day really did the trick. You go to my school in a few days, and I¡¯ll give it to you after school.¡± Hearing this, James thought back to the eBay shop she had mentioned before, where she found those soothing incense, and chuckled while shaking his head, ¡°No worries, I just need a few good nights¡® rest.¡± Mirabe touched the tip of her nose. ¡°Alright then¡­¡± She paused but added, ¡°Just hit me you change your mind.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± James replied lightly, not really taking it to heart. up if Twenty minutester, Mirabe thanked James and quickly walked into the apartmentplex. By now, the night had fully settled in. As she ascended the stairs to her apartment, she used her keys to enter, only to find Emmitt, who hadn¡¯t been around for a while, sitting on the sofal with his arms crossed. His face was ashen. The air was tinged with tension. Narrowing her eyes slightly, Mirabe casually tossed her shoulder bag onto a cab. Emmitt¡¯s gaze snapped to her as he rose to his feet. His eyes were dark and piercing. ¡°Can¡¯t you keep out of trouble for just one day?¡± ¡°Emmitt, you better cool it and watch your tone,¡± Shawn said and frowned. His voice was heavy. Faced with Emmitt¡¯s sudden usation, Mirabe remainedposed, though her eyes.cked warmth. ¡°That¡¯s a strange thing to say. What outrage have Imitted to get you so worked up?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Emmitt, seeing her cool demeanor, felt his anger rise even further. ¡°What have you done? Where did you take Summer¡¯s granny?¡± At that, Mirabe put two and two together, thinking of the countless calls she had received from Mandy, and she had a pretty good idea why he was so furious. Catherine hadn¡¯t returned to the Gilbert family, and since she had also visited the apartment where Catherine lived, the Gilberts naturally assumed she had hidden Catherine away after learning the olddy wasn¡¯t in the hospital. After all, she was the most likely suspect. When Mirabe didn¡¯t respond, Emmitt took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. ¡°I get that you¡¯re close to Summer¡¯s granny, but you can¡¯t just whisk her away without telling 1/2 12:15 Chapter 122 anyone.¡± Mirabe¡¯s lips curved in an amused smirk. ¡°I¡¯m curious, who told you I took Catherine? Was it Summer?¡± Emmitt¡¯s brows knitted. ¡°She just made a call¡­ Before he could finish, Mirabe cut him off, ¡°So she makes one call, and you¡¯re convinced Catherine was taken by me. Now I¡¯m telling you, she wasn¡¯t. How will you judge that?¡± Zach raised an eyebrow slightly at his sister¡¯s words. His little sister sure knew how to use the Socratic method. Emmitt was briefly taken aback by her question but quickly recovered, ¡°Fine, you say you didn¡¯t take her, so why didn¡¯t you answer calls from the Gilberts? And why was your phone off? Isn¡¯t that obviously making them suspect you?¡± Mirabe found this even more amusing. With deliberate calm, she fished out her phone from her pocket, pressed the power button a few times in front of him, and the screen briefly lit up with a low battery warning sign before shutting down again. ¡°See? Dead battery.¡± Her voice was light as she extended the phone toward Emmitt with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, feel free to check it yourself, maybe?¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Emmitt¡¯s gaze lingered on the smartphone that Mirabe was offering him, but he didn¡¯t reach out to take it. After a moment, he tilted his head to the side and spoke with a deep voice, ¡°If your really didn¡¯t pick up Catherine, then why did you hang up on the Gilberts?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal to hang up on them? That stepmother of hers was never kind to her, so why should she be obliged to answer her calls? Where does this rulee from?¡± Zach Interjected with a nonchnt tone. ¡°Yeah, Zach¡¯s got a point. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t just hang up; I¡¯d have blocked them ages ago.¡± Delh had no fondness for the Gilbert family, and it showed in her voice. Emmitt looked at Zach with aplex expression. It was one thing for their parents to spoil Mirabe rotten, but his sharp¨Cwitted younger brother was siding with her too. Shaking his head after a pause, Emmitt spoke with a note of disappointment, ¡°You can spoil her all you want, but we need to sort out this issue with Summer¡¯s grandma.¡± Continuing, he turned back to Mirabe, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a trip to the Gilberts? If you didn¡¯t take Catherine, then an exnation is due¡­¡± Before he could finish, the smartphone on the coffee table began to ring. He halted mid¨Csentence, and his gaze involuntarily scanned the caller ID on the screen. Seeing it was Summer calling, Emmitt didn¡¯t pursue the conversation further. He walked over, picked up the phone, and pressed the answer button, ¡°Hey, Summer¡­¡± ¡°Emmitt, we found Grandma. She went back to her ce in Elm Reek by herself. I¡¯m sorry. It was my mom who misunderstood Mira. It¡¯s also my fault for jumping to conclusions and bothering you when I couldn¡¯t reach Mira. I hope I didn¡¯t cause any misunderstanding¡­¡± Summer¡¯s voice was soft and fragile through the phone, filled with regret and apology as if she was on the brink of tears. Holding the phone, Emmitt listened to Summer¡¯s words and thought back to his earlier anger toward Mirabe. His head started buzzing. So, he had wronged her? ¡°¡­Emmitt, are you listening?¡± Summer¡¯s voice came through the phone after a long silence, tinged with a touch of vulnerability. Emmitt closed his eyes briefly, then replied coolly. ¡°I got it.¡± He said nothing more and hung up. Summer, sensing the chill in Emmitt¡¯sst few words, felt an inexplicable annoyance. She held the phone tightly for a long while before finally letting go. When Emmitt looked back at Mirabe, his demeanor had lost its initial assertiveness. He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat felt clogged, both dry and ufortable, and he couldn¡¯t utter a word. Mirabe¡¯s face showed little emotion as she met hisplex gaze. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve figured out the truth,¡± she said simply. 12:15 Chapter 123 ¡°I¡­¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs.¡± Mirabe didn¡¯t wait for Emmitt to respond. After a quick nce at her parents and Zach in the hall, she walked toward the staircase at a steady pace. ¡°Emmitt, we all know you and Summer have been close since you were kids, but let me remind you of something, you should really understand who your blood rtives are,¡± Zach said coolly. leaving that thought behind as he too ascended the stairs. Hearing those words, Emmitt felt a burning sensation on his face, as if all his strength had been sapped in that moment. The phone slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor with a thud. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Shawn stood up, grabbed the cellphone from the floor, and ced it on the coffee table. Without a word, he just patted his eldest son on the shoulder and walked away. Delh let out a disappointed sigh. ¡°You¡¯re just too hard on Mira. She¡¯s your sister, not a stranger. But you¡¯re always so reluctant to trust her a little more. Take tonight, for instance. If you¡¯d just kept your cool, things wouldn¡¯t have blown up like this.¡± Emmitt¡¯s hand, hanging by his side, clenched tighter. His face twisted in a grimace of shame and embarrassment. When he had received Summer¡¯s tearful call earlier that night, he¡¯d rushed to judgment against Mirabe without a second thought. He was convinced in his gut that his sister was nothing but trouble. Even if she did have a close bond with Summer¡¯s grandma, surely whisking her away without a heads¨Cup was not okay, right? And now what? A self¨Cmocking smile flickered across Emmitt¡¯s lips. After all his bluster and usations, it had all been a big misunderstanding. Compared to Summer, Mirabe seemed to do nothing but irk him with her antics. Even when she aced apetition, he only briefly saw her in a new light before once again being disappointed by her aloof and umunicative demeanor. Today¡¯s drama felt eerily simr to that past incident. But in the end, he had to admit he was the problem. Even if she had exined, he wouldn¡¯t have believed her. She had challenged him, saying, ¡°If I told you I wasn¡¯t the one who took her, how would you judge?¡± But his first instinct had still been disbelief. Indeed, what was the point in exining when you knew you wouldn¡¯t be believed? If he was in her shoes, he wouldn¡¯t bother to exin either. Emmitt rubbed his face and forced a wry smile. ¡ª Fresh out of the shower, with her hair still dripping wet, Mirabe grabbed the hairdryer and her charging phone, holding down the power button. In seconds, it came to life, bombarded with a flurry of texts and missed calls, including several from Emmitt and a few from unknown numbers. She scrolled through them, turned off the hairdryer, and dialed Catherine. This time, there was no cold, disconnected tone. Soon, the call connected. Mirabe held the phone without speaking, and on the other end, Catherine also remained silent. The line was filled only with faint breathing. After a long pause, Mirabe softly called out, ¡°Grandma.¡± 12:15 UnaBret 1.24. ¡°Yes, dear¡­ I¡¯m here.¡± Catherine¡¯s voice came through, apanied by the sound of something being knocked over, which was almost drowning her out. Mirabe pressed a hand to her forehead in resignation, then pulled up a chair and sat down. With a sigh, she asked, ¡°Are you set on having me listen to you knock things over?¡± As if on cue, the background tter ceased. Two secondster, Catherine¡¯s meek voice exined, ¡°Ahem. I was just trying to pour myself a ss of water and wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, and leaned backzily in her chair. The warm light of the room. cast a cozy glow on her face. She drawled, ¡°Yeah, I get it. No need to borate.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Catherine had her little tricks to mask her emotions, and Mirabe knew them all too well. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Mirabe Idly twirled a lock of damp hair that had fallen over her shoulder. Her voice was nonchnt. ¡°Look at you, all gutsy now, sneaking back to your hometown without a peep.¡± At that, Catherine chuckled nervously, a hint of fear in her voice. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t alone. Mr. James arranged for someone to bring me back.¡± Mirabe let out a soft snort. ¡°You just met the guy. What if he tricked you? Where would I find another grandma like you?¡± Catherine felt a sour lump in her throat, suppressing the difort as she whispered, ¡°I know James is a good man.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pull a vanishing act on me again, okay? If you want to go somewhere, just tell me. Do you really think I¡¯d stop you?¡± After a brief pause, Mirabe¡¯s gaze softened, and her voice was more serious than ever. ¡°With me here, no one will ever force you to stay somewhere you don¡¯t like again.¡± She knew Mandy had always wanted to move Catherine to the city, but Catherine was reluctant. If it hadn¡¯t been for Mirabe returning to the Davis family, Catherine probably wouldn¡¯t have agreed to move. It was her own selfishness that made Catherine live unhappily in the city for this time. She wanted to take care of Catherine for the sake of her body¡¯s original owner, but she had overlooked whether the olddy wanted to be taken care of at all. Catherine¡¯s voice was choked as she hummed in agreement, ¡°If Mandy gives you trouble again, don¡¯t worry about my feelings. Do what you have to do, and don¡¯t let yourself be wronged.¡± Mirabe spoke tly. ¡°So, all this heartache of yours is because you overthink everything.¡± Fearing the conversation would weigh on her emotions, Catherine hurriedly said, ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m off to bed.¡± Without waiting for Mirabe to bid her goodnight, she hung up the phone. Mirabe listened to the dial tone, chuckled, shook her head, and set the phone down. She picked up the hairdryer and continued drying her hair. Soon, there was a knock at the door. Mirabe had just finished drying her hair. She swept it back casually and headed to the door. ¡°Zach?¡± Zach stood with his hands behind his back, more schrly without his usual frameless sses. He pressed his lips into a slight smile and asked, ¡°Haven¡¯t had dinner yet, have you?¡± Mirabe looked surprised, then nodded. Zach stepped aside, tilting his chin toward the stairwell. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll whip up something for you to eat.¡± After a brief pause, he added, ¡°Emmitt¡¯s gone. No need to worry about any awkwardness.¡± Chapter 125 Without any fuss, Mirabe epted, ¡°Well, thanks, Zach.¡± They descended the stairs, one after the other. It was nearly ten o¡¯clock, and Delh and Shawn had already retired to their rooms. Rolling up the sleeves of his pajamas, Zach scanned the fridge. Finding only eggs and a tomato, he touched his nose, and then turned to Mirabe with a helpless expression. ¡°Not much to work with. How about some pasta?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not picky.¡± ¡°OK,¡± Zach nodded and took out the eggs and tomato. ¡°Take a seat in the living room. I¡¯ll have it ready in a jiffy.¡± Mirabe hummed softly in response but didn¡¯t leave. Instead, she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, calmly watching the figure in the kitchen skillfully prepare the meal. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 About ten minutester, Zachdled out the spaghetti onto the tes and brought them to the table. ¡°Give it a taste. Let me know if it¡¯s okay.¡± Mirabe picked up a fork and after just one bite, she looked up with a mouthful and mumbled, ¡°Tastes pretty good.¡± Zach sat down beside her, arching an eyebrow with pride. ¡°Well, of course. I¡¯ve been cooking since I was eight, you know.¡± That meant he had a good fifteen years of culinary experience under his belt. He was a veritable veteran. At his words, Mirabe fell into thought. When she was eight, hadn¡¯t she identally blown up her family¡¯s potionb a few times? ¡°By the way, at the hospital yesterday, after you went to the restroom, Catherine asked me to take care of you. Something felt off about it then, and I meant to talk to you, but it totally slipped my mind.¡± Zach smiled apologetically. ¡°I had no idea Catherine nned on leaving. If I had been more attentive yesterday, maybe today¡¯s drama wouldn¡¯t have unfolded.¡± Mirabe paused, looking at Zach, who had a hint of guilt on his face. Her voice was calm, ¡°Zach, you shouldn¡¯t me yourself. Even without what happened yesterday, today¡¯s events. would have happened eventually. She never really settled in here. It¡¯s probably for the best that she¡¯s gone back to her roots.¡± Zach gave a wry smile and shook his head. ¡°I was supposed to be the oneforting you, but here you are, making me feel better.¡± Mirabe just smiled and went back to her spaghetti. When Zach watched his sister, quietly eating, his heart was filled a mix of emotions. Even when facing Emmitt¡¯s questions earlier, she had not shown a hint of panic, and she was asposed as an adult. If Summer had been in her shoes, it would have been a flood of tears and grievance, and that was not even considering the whole thing was a misunderstanding. They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. With Mirabe¡¯s quiet, stubborn nature, it was no wonder she sometimes got the short end of the stick. He sighed silently and shifted the conversation to lighter topics, carefully avoiding any mention of Emmitt. The next afternoon, after thest of the exams, Mirabe stepped out of the exam hall to find Summer waiting in the corridor. ¡°Can we talk?¡± Summer asked. Her face betrayed no particr emotion, although her voice carried a condescending note. Mirabezily lifted her eyelids. Her tone was clearly impatient. ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she turned to follow. ¡°No matter what, you¡¯re part of the Davis family now. You should leave my grandmother¡¯s affairs alone. It¡¯s for the best for you, for the 1/2 12:16 Chapter 126 Gilbert family, and for the Davis family. You don¡¯t want to stir up misunderstandings and unhappiness again because of you, right?¡± Mirabe stopped in her tracks, nced at her coldly. ¡°Are you trying to teach me how to live. my life?¡± That look took Summer aback, but she quickly regained herposure and said icily, ¡°I¡¯m just telling you not to be too greedy.¡± A yful smirk crossed Mirabe¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s a fresh take.¡± She chuckled softly and continued walking without looking back. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Frowning, Summer watched her go and didn¡¯t pursue further. She suddenly remembered the odd tone in Emmitt¡¯s voice during their call the previous night. After a moment of contemtion, she turned and headed down another staircase. Back in the Prodigy ss ssroom, Summer pulled out her phone from her desk and typed out a text message to send to Emmitt. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. It had been ten minutes since Summer had sent out the message, and yet, there was no reply. Anxiety began to bubble within her. This was something that never happened before. With a sigh, she sent another text, (Emmitt, I¡¯m at our usual spot.] On the other end, Emmitt was zoning out with his phone in hand. When he got Summer¡¯s first message, his initial reaction was to reply instantly. But the events of the previous night, coupled with the words his family had said, froze his fingers. He couldn¡¯t type a word. He had been taking care of Summer ever since their childhood, and he knew her better than anyone. Even after she rejoined the Gilbert family, he never saw her as a stranger. The thought. of doubting her had never crossed his mind ¨C until now. Emmitt massaged his temples and opened Summer¡¯s second message that just came in. After a moment of silence, he finally stood up, grabbed his car keys from the drawer, and left the office. At an upscale bistro downtown, within a private room on the second floor. Summer had been there since the ss was over, having instructed her driver to drop her off. From five o¡¯clock straight through to six, as the sky darkened outside the window, her heart sank a little more with each passing minute. ¡­if Emmitt hadn¡¯t responded to any of her messages. She didn¡¯t know if he was simply busy or intentionally ignoring her. It felt like ever since that phone callst night, something had shifted silently between them. Clutching her phone, Summer wanted to call Emmitt, but she resisted the urge repeatedly. She kept telling herself to stay calm, not to panic. Finally, at nearly seven, the door to the private room creaked open. Hearing the sound, Summer stood up so fast that her phone ttered onto the table, which she ignored. Her eyes, slightly reddened, locked onto the bted Emmitt. Her lips trembled, and her voice was choked with emotion. ¡°Emmitt, I thought you weren¡¯t going to show.¡± Emmitt met Summer¡¯s restrained, wounded expression and instinctively wanted to exin. Yet, he found himself looking away. His tone was as casual as ever, ¡°Sorry, got held up by a client at the office.¡± At his words, Summer¡¯s face turned a shade paler. Her whole frame seemed to sway as if she might copse. She steadied herself on a nearby chair, sniffled, and said in a subdued voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ I can wait for you.¡± Emmitt¡¯s hands clenched at his sides before he pulled out a chair and sat down, avoiding her gaze. He nonchntly picked up a menu. ¡°What¡¯s your fancy? Dinner¡¯s on me tonight.¡± He pressed the service bell promptly, summoning the waiter. Chapter 127 ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Summer murmured softly. ¡°Then let¡¯s go with the usual¡± Emmitt said, closing the menu and rattling off a few dishes to the waiter. As soon as the waiter departed, Summer looked up to Emmitt across the table. Her smile was tinged with bitterness. ¡°Emmitt, are you mad at me aboutst night?¡± ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t have jumped to conclusions. When I couldn¡¯t reach Granny, I thought Mira took her. I hardly slept all night, worrying about the misunderstanding it might cause. I apologized to Mira today, but she seemed like she didn¡¯t want to see me¡­ Emmitt, I¡¯m sorry. You can yell at me. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Her voice broke as she spoke, and her pale face looked all the more pitiable. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Emmitt¡¯s gaze rested on Summer¡¯s face, which was once radiant with vitality, now drawn and lifeless. Her reddened eyes were seemingly brimming with endless regret and remorse. Even her usual meticulous attention to appearance had been cast aside, all for the sake of an apology, an exnation. Watching Summer in this state, Emmitt felt a whirlwind of emotions. His lips twitched as if he wanted to say something, but then the image of Mirabe ¨C cool, aloof, and prideful ¨C shed before his eyes. Mirabe didn¡¯t cry or make a fuss. Even when misunderstood, she wouldn¡¯t stoop to justifying herself, stubborn as a mule. After a moment, he finally spoke with a softened voice. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no need to bring it up again. As for the apology¡­¡± Emmitt paused, then simply added, ¡°¡­ it¡¯s not necessary. Mira, she won¡¯t dwell on it.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes lowered slightly, and her fingertips nervously twirled on the tabletop. With tentative care, she added, ¡°But is that really okay? After all, I¡¯m the one who caused the misunderstanding¡­ Emmitt, you don¡¯t need to worry about me. As long as it makes Mira happy. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes.¡± When Emmitt heared this, his brow furrowed involuntarily, and then he replied firmly, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Summer¡¯s heart skipped a beat; suddenly she felt unsure of how to interpret his demeanor. Soon, the sound of the waiter knocking at the door interrupted them. Summer wanted to probe further, but with the interruption, she simply fell silent. As the server entered, she quickly slipped her sunsses back on. After the dishes were served and the waiter left, Summer took off her sunsses once again. She nced at Emmitt across from her, who was now attentively cutting into his steak, and she realized the earlier conversation couldn¡¯t be continued. Thus, she too picked up her knife and fork. Her dining was absent¨Cminded as her thoughts wandered. For a while, the private dining room was enveloped in silence, both lost in their own worlds. After the meal, as Emmitt went to settle the bill, Summer left the room, again donning her sunsses and a face mask to avoid recognition. Stepping out of the restaurant, she looked at Emmitt, about to speak. ¡°Do you need a ride home, or¡­?¡± Emmitt asked first. ¡°I¡¯ll head home,¡± Summer replied softly. Emmitt nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get you back.¡± After saying that, he headed towards the parking lot. Summer watched his retreating figure. His presence reminded her of a time when there was no rift between them. Her eyes lowered, and she subdued the flurry of thoughts within. Perhaps 1/2 12:16 Chapter 128 she was overthinking things. Twenty minutester, Emmitt dropped Summer off at the gates of the Gilbert family mansion. ¡°Emmitt, drive safely, okay? I¡¯m heading in,¡± Summer said gently as she unbuckled her seatbelt. With a quiet acknowledgment, Emmitt watched Summer exit the car. He didn¡¯t immediately start the vehicle but instead gazed through the windshield at the grandeur of the Gilbert family mansion, with its decorative lights casting hazy halos and the three¨Cstory building standing like a miniature castle, a testament to the family¡¯s wealth. Suddenly, Emmitt¡¯s lips twisted into a wry smile. There was a trace of bitterness in his eyes. After a while, his hands, still resting on the steering wheel, finally moved, and he turned the car around, driving away. As soon as Summer entered the house and changed her shoes, she encountered Aiden descending the staircase. She furrowed her brows but didn¡¯t bother with a greeting. Colton was lounging on the couch, engrossed in a TV show. Summer approached and called out sweetly, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m home.¡± Colton looked up at Summer. His rounded face broke into a smile as he casually inquired, ¡°Mmm, what kept you out sote today?¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Summer opened her mouth to speak, but Aiden cut her off with a dismissive chuckle. ¡°What could she possibly be up to? A date, obviously.¡± With a carefree swagger, Aiden strolled into the living room, copsing onto the couch with anguid sprawl. ¡°A date? What date?¡± Colton straightened up. His smile vanished in an instant as he squinted at his daughter, his interest clearly aroused. Summer¡¯s sh of irritation was quickly masked as she hurried to exin. ¡°No, nothing like that. Just had dinner with a friend. That¡¯s why I got home a bitte. Colton had always disapproved of Summer wasting time on frivolities, only showing her affection because of the pride she brought him in public. ¡°Pff, must be a boyfriend.¡± Aiden said, with a smirk ying on his lips. Then he raised an eyebrow, adding, ¡°I saw it all from upstairs.¡± Summer shot Aiden an icy look. ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that in front of Dad. It¡¯s not any boyfriend. It¡¯s Emmitt from the Davis family where I used to live.¡± ¡°Yeah, right. You¡¯re not even rted, so who knows?¡± Aiden blurted out without a filter. Summer¡¯s face soured, but with Colton present, she couldn¡¯tsh out at Aiden. Instead, she retorted with barely concealed anger, ¡°You¡¯re my brother. Do you have to be so unpleasant?¡± Aiden snorted and reclined on the sofa, propping his feet up on the backrest. ¡°Oh, please. I don¡¯t have a sister like you. Remember how you looked down on the Davis family when you first came back? And now, after six months, you treat them like they¡¯re gold. Wow, you change faces faster than a character in a y.¡± Summer¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡°Enough, Aiden. That¡¯s no way to talk to your sister.¡± Colton nced at his younger son. There was a hint of reprimand in his words, but his tone was far from harsh. Aiden pouted but didn¡¯t dare to act up in front of Colton. He kept quiet. Colton then turned his gaze back to Summer. His eyes gleamed with a trace of displeasure. ¡°You¡¯ve been quite close with your foster parents and their family?¡± Summer clenched the hands by her sides and replied calmly. ¡°Not really. Besides studying. I spend time training at the studio. I only contact them asionally for a meal. That¡¯s all.¡± Hearing this, Colton looked away and cleared his throat, ¡°I understand your gratitude to your foster parents for their years of care, but some people are better to keep a distance from. They don¡¯t help you, and they might even lower your status. You understand what I¡¯m saying, Summer?¡± 12:16 Chapter 129 Summer lowered her gaze slightly, and her expression was contained as she responded softly. ¡°I understand, Dad. I¡¯ll head back to my room then, read a bit, and prepare for the nextpetition.¡± Aiden let out another scoff as she spoke. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Summer heard it but didn¡¯t react. Colton, reminded by his daughter¡¯s mention of thepetition, suddenly remembered something. ¡°Oh, right. After school tomorrow, go to the Education Association yourself. Dalton has prepared some review materials for thepetition. Be sure to sweet¨Ctalk him a bit.¡± Summer blinked in surprise. ¡°Dalton?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you. My friend Dalton is the chairman of the Education Association,¡± Colton exined. When Summer heared this, her eyes widened, and a look of sheer joy spread across her face. ¡°Thanks, Dad!¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Colton chuckled, with a twinkle in his eye as he teased, ¡°Don¡¯t let me down now. I¡¯m counting on you to make me proud.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll bring home a top spot for you,¡± Summer replied. Her voice was bubbling with high spirits. With the Education Association¡¯spetition materials in her grasp, she¡¯d definitelye up short against that Mirabe! A fiery determination flickered in Summer¡¯s eyes. ¡°Alright, enough chit¨Cchat. Scoot off to your room and hit the books,¡± Colton said with an impatient wave of his hand before his attention drifted back to the TV screen. ¡°Okay.¡± Summer murmured, spinning on her heel and heading for the staircase. Once she was out of sight, Aiden, who had been slouched on the couch, propped himself up and frowned at Colton. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re not seriously sending Summer to get the test answers, are you?¡± The whole thing about ¡°materials¡± just screamed fishy to him. Colton shot him a dismissive nce and said, ¡°This is grown¨Cup business.¡± ¡°Dad, do you even realize what you¡¯re doing? It¡¯s called cheating!¡± Aiden tossed the balled¨Cup throw pillow from the sofa in frustration. Cheating was not the right way! He remembered when Summer first came back, her grades were decent but nothing like they were now. Was his dad pulling strings all along? Colton¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°What are you talking about? Don¡¯t you review before a test? Don¡¯t you buy study guides?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same thing,¡± Aiden retorted, half amused, half annoyed. Pressing his temples, Colton replied with a hint of resignation. ¡°Let¡¯s drop it. You should head to bed. School¡¯s waiting tomorrow.¡± Seeing the conversation go nowhere, Aiden shook his head in disappointment and stormed off to his room. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes, Aiden just couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. Why had his parents¡® principles be so unrecognizable since Summer¡¯s return? The sister who was raised in the countryside never caused this much trouble, did she? As thoughts of Mirabe crossed his mind, Aiden recalled the embarrassment she had caused him at the hospital. With a huff, he sat up abruptly, grabbed his phone, and found her contact details that he had sneakily saved while visiting grandma. When he stared at the string of digits, his fingers hovered over the call button, moving back and forth several times before he ruffled his hair and decided to send a text instead. Chapter 130 [Hey, scaredy¨Ccat. you asleep yet?] This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. [Scaredy¨Ccat, I haven¡¯t settled the score forst time at the hospital. Just wait, I¡¯m not going to let you off easy!] After sending two texts and waiting without a reply. Aiden tossed his phone onto the pillow in frustration, then buried himself under the covers, gruffly pulling the nket over his head. When Mirabe checked her messages the next morning, she couldn¡¯t help but scoff at the pettiness of a little brat. After skimming through the texts, she shook her head, deleted them without a second thought, and got ready for her day. While she was getting dressed in her school uniform, Mirabe¡¯s thoughts drifted back to James and his troubled expression. Despite his refusal of her offer for Incense of Calm, she felt. the need to repay the favor owed. Crafting the incense wasn¡¯t the tricky part; sourcing quality herbs was the challenge. Usingmon substitutes would certainly halve the effectiveness. After pondering for a moment. Mirabe dressed and stepped out of her room. Over breakfast, she casually lifted her gaze to Shawn and inquired, ¡°Dad, is there a ce around here where I can find a good herbal market?¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Shawn swallowed thest bite of his breakfast sandwich, with a furrow forming in his brow as he mulled over Mirabe¡¯s question. ¡°I do know of a ce that sells herbs in bulk. Is that what you¡¯re looking for?¡± Mirabe nodded. His curiosity was aroused. Shawn couldn¡¯t help but probe further, ¡°What¡¯s got you suddenly interested in a herbal market?¡± Sipping her oatmeal with a calm that belied her father¡¯s growing interest, Mirabe answered, ¡°I need to stock up on some herbs. They¡¯re useful.¡± Shawn, noting his daughter¡¯s terse response, pondered for a moment before letting the subject drop. ¡°Remember, the credit card I gave you has plenty of funds. Don¡¯t be shy about using it.¡± A wry smile flickered across Mirabe¡¯s lips as she acknowledged with a nomittal hum, ¡°I know.¡± Watching his daughter, who seemed to have let his advice go in one ear and out the other. Shawn felt a little wistful. Back when Summer was part of the household, she would concoct all sorts of reasons to ask for money. Though financiallyfortable, Shawn and his wife didn¡¯t want to spoil her into entitlement. They had always controlled her allowance and kept the family¡¯s wealth under wraps. Ironically, their well¨Cintentioned discretion had been twisted into a narrative of neglect by the Gilbert family¡¯s gossipmongers. It became the excuse Summer used to leave without a second thought, returning to thevish lifestyle of her wealthy biological parents. The irony was not lost on Shawn. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Now, observing his own daughter, he couldn¡¯t help but notice the stark contrast. Despite a life of hardships, Mirabe, now back home, had yet to splurge or even touch the money they offered her. She lived as though they were still scrimping by, cautious with every penny. This duality filled Shawn with both pride and heartache. Their smart and sweet little girl must have endured so much to be who she was now. He and his wife had resolved to fulfill her every wish, to compensate for the years of absence and emotional debt. Still, the thought of the untouched ck credit card he had given her elicited from Shawn an involuntary sigh. Mirabe, catching the unexpected exhtion, nced at her father with a hint of concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± In response, Shawn heaved another heavy sigh, gazing back at her with a mncholic yearning. wordlessly embodying the picture of dejection. The moment Mirabe set foot on school grounds, she was summoned to the office for what 10 12:17 Chapter 131 felt like the umpteenth time this semester. The ssmate who ryed the message discreetly warned her that Ms. Ate was in a foul mood and advised caution to avoid any potential blowups. With a thankful smile to her informant, Mirabe made her way to the office. As soon as she entered, she was met with the sight of Ate¡¯s decidedly stormy expression. Touching her nose in confusion, Mirabe wondered if her recentnguage test had gone that poorly. Approaching with a posture of obedience, Mirabe greeted her teacher, ¡°Ms. Ate, you wanted to see me?¡± Ate, staring at Mirabe, seemed to struggle with aplex mix of emotions before finally speaking up, ¡°Mirabe, do you have any issues with me?¡± Mirabe¡¯s lips twitched. She was unsure how to respond. ¡°The results from the recent exams are mostly in. Your performance in all subjects is quite remarkable, but yournguage¡¯s score¡­¡± Ate paused. Her frustration was palpable as she recalled the moment sheid eyes on Mirabe¡¯s test paper. It filled with elegant handwriting that was a pleasure to the eye, but the total score was¡­ a source of profound disappointment. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Mirabe could sense Ate¡¯s frustration mounting. With a silent sigh, Mirabe realized that the grim truth of failing was now an undeniable fact. Ate took a deep, steadying breath before continuing her rant, ¡°You only got a 92? How could you get just 92?!¡± The passing threshold was 92 out of 150 points. Ate had every reason to suspect that her student was deliberately challenging her literature ss. Why else would Mirabend precisely on the pass mark? Actually, those extra couple of points were actually a token of generosity from another teacher, who was charmed by the elegance of Mirabe¡¯s handwriting. Upon hearing Ate¡¯s words, Mirabe looked up in surprise. ¡°Huh? I passed? Really?¡± Sensing Mirabe¡¯s unexpected delight, as if she found the whole situation rather satisfactory. Ate felt her blood pressure spiking on the spot. ¡°Miss Mirabe, if you have any issues with my teaching methods, I¡¯m open to feedback. But this language grade of yours, it¡¯s simply uneptable,¡± Ate gritted out through clenched teeth. With all other subjects aced,nguage was the only blight on an otherwise perfect record. Ate felt as if she¡¯d lost dignity. Clearing her throat, Mirabe exined, ¡°Ms. Ate, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I don¡¯t have any issues. It¡¯s just that¡­ let¡¯s say, I find some subjects really challenging.¡± Mirabe excelled in all her subjects, butnguage, ironically, was her Achilles¡® heel; it seemed like a deliberate affront to Ate. Ate simmered before finally saying, ¡°I don¡¯t care about your reasons. Yournguage score must improve. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have toe to my house over the weekend for some one¨Con¨Cone tutoring.¡°. The prospect of ruining such a promising student with a poornguage grade was too much for Ate to bear. She resolved to straighten out this skewed talent, even if it meant giving up her weekends. The mention of tutoring genuinely shocked Mirabe. Regaining herposure, she fibbed seamlessly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t ept your tutoring. My parents signed me up for extra sses in other subjects over the weekend. My schedule is packed.¡± Back home, Delh and Shawn sneezed in unison. ¡°Who¡¯s talking about us now?!¡± Ate felt even more thwarted upon hearing Mirabe¡¯s excuse. It was clear to her that Mirabe was favoring every subject butnguage. Was this not a direct criticism of her teaching? 1/2 All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. 12:17 Chapter 132 With a weary sigh, Ate spoke with grave concern, ¡°Regardless, you must improve yournguage grades or you¡¯ll struggle on the exam.¡± ¡°Yeah, I got it, Ms. Ate,¡± Mirabe replied briskly, eager to avoid further discussions about tutoring. Ate gave her another look, feeling drained, and then waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Go back to ss,¡± Mirabe nodded and was about to leave when she added, ¡°Are the monthly exam results out today?¡± Ate had returned to her desk. ¡°No, they¡¯ll be posted next Monday. We haven¡¯t finalized the overall rankings yet.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Mirabe touched her nose thoughtfully, asked no further, and turned to leave the office. The incident in the office regarding Mirabe¡¯snguage grades might have been a minor episode, but with her back¨Cto¨Cback national first¨Cce victories at the BrainSpark Nationals, her poprity at school was soaring. Consequently, everyone was keenly interested in her monthly exam performance. Even though the overall results were not yet.released, word of her poornguage score spread like wildfire across the senior sses, stirring up a buzz of spection and gossip. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 ¡°Looks like little Miss Perfect from The Advanced ss is gonna eat humble pie this time. Flunked English. Can ya believe it? I¡¯m starting to think she got in through the back door.¡± ¡°Failed English? How on Earth did she snag first ce at the BrainSpark Nationals? Color me curious!¡± ¡°Maybe she bombed the test because she got stuck in the back of the exam hall, with no brainiacs around to crib off. Seems like we¡¯re finally seeing her true performance.¡± ¡°Hit the nail on the head, buddy. She sat in the most unique position. Looks like the teachers knew what they were doing by cing her there.¡± ¡°I was all geared up to see if Mirabe would top the year again, but with those English marks¡­ No amount of acing other subjects is gonna save her now.¡± ¡°You really think she can ace anything after bombing English? Dream on, I¡¯m not buying it.¡± Within the chat groups, such discussions were more or less the norm. This held true e even for Mirabe¡¯s own ss. Needless to say, she was part of these groups, but she had silenced all notifications, rendering her oblivious to all this group chatter. Even if she had seen these messages, she wouldn¡¯t have paid much heed. After school, Mirabe headed out to explore the herbal market her dad had mentioned that morning. She¡¯d barely left the school gates when a figure suddenly blocked her way. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t our little scaredy¨Ccat. Ignored my textsst night, did ya?¡± Aiden stood there. His chin was lifted arrogantly, nked by threenky teens with smirks mirroring his own. Mirabe¡¯s gaze was fixed on Aiden, and her expression remained icy. Aiden, unnerved by her stare, quickly recovered his bravado. ¡°L..¡± ¡°Beat it before I lose my temper,¡± Mirabe cut him off, her voice dripped with impatience. The boys surrounding Aiden postured threateningly. ¡°You think you can tell us to beat it?¡± ¡°If we weren¡¯t raised to not hit girls, you¡¯d be picking up your teeth off the ground right now for that attitude!¡± ¡°Mind your words!¡± Aiden, seeing his buddies puff up, crossed his arms with a smirk, enjoying the scene. Summer had just stepped out of the school when she spotted Mirabe cornered by a group of guys. From her vantage point, she couldn¡¯t see Aiden¡¯s face and didn¡¯t realize he was part of the group. Madeline, walking alongside Summer, caught sight of the scene and couldn¡¯t help but raise an 1/2 12:17 Chapter 133 eyebrow in anticipation. ¡°Looks like your stepsister¡¯s in a bit of trouble, huh?¡± Aiden¡¯s friends had the look of troublemakers. It was obvious that they were not good guys. Summer replied with a nonchnt air. ¡°I¡¯m not close to her. Her problems are none of my business.¡± ¡°Wow, Mirabe¡¯s only been back a short while and she¡¯s already got guys from other schools on her case? What do they say ¨C karma¡¯s only a bitch if you are?¡± Madeline chuckled maliciously. Summer¡¯s lips twitched, and she turned away. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s none of our business.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Oucher 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Mirabe eyed the posers in front of her with a bored flick of her head. She suddenly stretched out her hand, using one finger beckoning Aiden with a curl. ¡°You,e here.¡± Aiden, who was called out, felt a chill. He remembered how his wrist was nearly dislocatedst time at the clinic under her grip. Instinctively, he took a step back. ¡°Chicken¡± Mirabe spat out dryly. Before Aiden could even grasp what was happening, Mirabe had already briskly walked over and grabbed his ear with a firm twist. ¡°You picked such bad habits so young, huh? Skipping school ganging up on ssmates, bullying the weak? Is this how the Gilbert family raises its kids?¡± Mirabe¡¯s grip was anything but gentle. Aiden felt like his ear was about to be torn off. His body shivered in pain,pletely robbed of his earlier bravado. ¡°Ouch, ouch, ouch, damn it, let go!¡± Aiden yelped. His plea was useless and, in desperation, he barked at his friends. ¡°Get this crazy chick off me. now!¡± The other boys were stunned, snapping back to reality. They moved to pull Mirabe¡¯s hand away but halted as they met her stone¨Ccold, serious face, freezing in ce with a sudden unwillingness to intervene. Mirabe smirked, pulling Aiden closer by his ear, and then smacked the back of his head hard with her left hand. ¡°Always acting tough, aren¡¯t you?¡± Aiden¡¯s head buzzed, and he was stunned, Instinctively covering his head with his hands and not daring to fight back. Mirabe¡¯s lips curled into a sneer, ¡°Since your parents didn¡¯t teach you how to behave. I guess it falls to me today.¡± After saying that, shended several more unforgiving ps. Aiden, never having been hit before, had his ear throbbing and head spinning. His usual cocky rich kid facade crumbled. ¡°Stop, I¡¯m sorry, okay? Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Mirabe halted her assault, narrowing her eyes at him. ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± Aiden nced at her warily, swallowing his pride, and mumbled, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t havee looking for trouble with you, nor should I have acted tough in front of you.¡± If only he had known this timid mouse had turned so fierce, he would never have dared to bother her. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe let out a soft snort. Her gaze was filled with disdain. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not just a chicken, but also dumb.¡± At her words, Aiden¡¯s temper red, and he tried to lift his head to retort, but, with his ear still in her grasp, he was forced to keep bent over, shouting, ¡°I am not dumb!¡± 1/2 12:17 Chapter 134 ¡°If you weren¡¯t dumb, would you skip ss with a bunch of losers to throw your weight around?¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t dumb, would you let yourself get hit without throwing a punch back?¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t dumb, could you do nothing besides bullying others like some spoiled brat?¡± Aiden¡¯s face turned beet red, but he found no words to counter. ¡°You should be d you¡¯re not my brother,¡± Mirabe scoffed, finally releasing his ear. If she had a brother like him, she¡¯d have had him straightened out long ago. Shaking her head, Mirabe pulled out a wet wipe from her bag and casually cleaned each of her fingers. Then she turned back to Aiden, who seemed punch¨Cdrunk. Her voice was icy, ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you again, because if I do, it¡¯s going to be a hit every time.¡± With that said, Mirabe walked away, leaving Aiden behind to nurse his wounds and his pride. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Aiden snapped back to reality. His gaze was fixed on Mirabe¡¯s retreating figure. He stood. there, dumbstruck a tumult of resentment and anger churning within him. He despised the fact that this once¨Ctimid girl he used to bully not only had the audacity to stand up to him but had actually hit him. What infuriated him more was her deration that she was not his sister and didn¡¯t want to see him again. The more Aiden thought about it, the more he felt like a knot was tightening in his chest. ¡°Who the hell wants to be your brother? Keep dreaming! You¡¯re off your rocker!¡± ¡°Bro, you okay? That chick was nuts. We didn¡¯t step in to help you because we were afraid she¡¯d go even more ballistic on you if we did,¡± one of the boys said as they gathered around Aiden. Their faces were a mix of concern and embarrassment. Aiden¡¯s face was a mask of irritation as he regarded his usual gang of truants and troublemakers, who were better at bullying than anything else. Suddenly, the words spoken by Mirabe who had just scolded him for being foolish echoed in his ears. A sudden wave of annoyance washed over him. Without a word, he turned on his heel and left. The boys exchanged confused nces. Had Aiden really been knocked senseless by the confrontation? As if by unspoken consensus, they all turned to look at the grand and historic entrance of Parkside High School not too far away. They arrived at a collective understanding. Clearly, whatever Parkside High School was doing, it was working. Their students were a force to be reckoned with, and not to be messed with. Just as Summer settled into the car, with her purse still in her hand, the driver¡¯s surprised voice reached her. ¡°Miss, isn¡¯t that Mr. Aiden over there?¡± At his words, Summer looked up and out the car window, spotting Aiden¡¯s unmistakable face in the distance. What was that fool doing here? Her attention was quickly drawn to the boys trailing behind him. Weren¡¯t they the ones who had just been harassing Mirabe? Narrowing her eyes, Summer noticed they were all wearing the same school uniform. Were they Aiden¡¯s ssmates? Had Aiden led his gang to trouble Mirabe? After a moment¡¯s thought, Summer instructed the driver, ¡°Go and bring Aiden here.¡± Shortly after, Aiden entered the car, with one hand over his ear, and his face in a storm of ¡°You saw everything just now?¡± of fury. Summer raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t answer his question. Instead, she asked, ¡°What brings you to Parkside High School?¡± Scratching his head and turning his gaze out the window, Aiden retorted, ¡°None of your 12:17 Chapter 135 business!¡± Summer seemed unfazed by his attitude, and her tone was steady. ¡°I¡¯m your sister. If I don¡¯t look out for you, who will?¡± ¡°Heh, what a joke.¡± Aiden scoffed. Then, turning back to face Summer with a frosty look, he warned. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare tell anyone about today, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡± Summer took a deep breath. ¡°Aiden, you¡¯re fifteen. Can you try to act a little more mature?¡± Besides, she didn¡¯t even know he was involved in the incident with Mirabe until now, and frankly, she couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°A guy who cheats inpetitions talking to me about maturity is pretty funny. Don¡¯t you think?¡± Aiden sneered, pausing before adding, ¡°Oh right, I almost forgot. You¡¯re on your way to get some answers from someone now, aren¡¯t you?¡± At his words, Summer¡¯s expression chilled instantly, and her eyes lost any trace of warmth as she looked at him. ¡°Aiden, you¡¯re really not just ordinarily dense.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Facing Summer¡¯s sneer, Aiden just rolled his eyes and impatiently said to the driver ahead, ¡°Just drive.¡± The driver cautiously peered into the rearview mirror and as he started the car, he inquired, ¡°Miss, shall we head to the Education Association first or take Mr. Alden home?¡± Summer¡¯s expression remained sour. She nced at her wristwatch and frowned. ¡°Drop me off at the association first, then take him home. I¡¯ll grab an Uber backter.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± the driverplied. Summer cast a look at Aiden who sat beside her, stubbornly covering his ears with his hands. and she massaged her temples in irritation before turning to gaze nkly out the window. In about twenty minutes, they arrived at the Education Association building. Summer smoothed her hair and adjusted her outfit. A crisp and proper dress had reced her school uniform before she left school. After checking her appearance and ensuring nothing was amiss, she donned a face mask and got out of the car. Once the driver saw Summer enter the lobby, he restarted the vehicle, preparing to head back. to the Gilbert family residence. Aiden, who had been silent and stone¨Cfaced the entire ride. suddenly looked up at the driver and said, ¡°Never mind, find a spot to park. We¡¯ll wait for her.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He muttered under his breath, ¡°It¡¯s just grabbing some documents. Won¡¯t take too long.¡± Surprise flickered in the driver¡¯s eyes. The siblings were known for not getting along and had just had a row. Under normal circumstances, Aiden¡¯s waiting for Summer would be out of the question. Well, kids at that age often rebel, and their fights sometimes are nothing more than a bid for attention. Perhaps that was the case with Aiden tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. ¨C Soon, the driver found a temporary parking spot nearby and after a moment of thought, he texted Summer to let her know they would be waiting downstairs.¡± Fifteen minutester, Summer emerged carrying a paper bag. The driver, keeping an eye on the lobby, quickly drove over to her. Summer got in, tossed the paper bag onto the seat, and removed her mask, looking quite pleased as if the trip to the association had dissolved all her earlier displeasure. Aiden nced at her. Then his gaze fell on the paper bag. His fingers twitched, reaching for it to see what was inside, but Summer snatched it back promptly. ¡°Don¡¯t touch my stuff,¡± she said coldly. Aiden huffed, ¡°Whatever, as if I care. It¡¯s just some crib notes, right?¡± 1/2 12-17 Chapter 136 Summer shook her head, disappointment evident in her eyes. Not wanting to spoil her mood further, she didn¡¯t bother exining and simply put in her earbuds. Meanwhile, after dealing with Aiden, Mirabe headed straight for the herbal market. But she got there a bitte, many of the shops had already closed, and those still open didn¡¯t pay her much mind. After all, she was just a young girl in a school uniform. Mirabe didn¡¯t mind, though. She browsed a few stores and realized they only hadmon herbs, nothing of the special or rare varieties she needed. She stepped out of another shop, and disappointment was clearly etched on Mirabe¡¯s face. 20 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 In a bustling marketce that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction, Mirabe felt the stirrings of frustration. How could it be that, amidst this sea ofmerce, she couldn¡¯t find the herbs she desperately needed? It defied logic. Rubbing her temples as if to summon patience, she continued her trek deeper into the market¡¯s heart. That was when her gazended on a quaint little shop named Nature¡¯s Apothecary, Its old¨Cworld charm set it apart from the modern storefronts that lined the street, beckoning her with an aura of timelessness. With a gentle push, Mirabe entered the shop and was immediately embraced by a subtle fragrance of sandalwood that wafted through the air. It was a refreshing change from the overpowering scents that usually filled the market stalls. This aroma was neither cloying nor harsh; it had a quality distinctly superior to themon incense she was ustomed to. She surveyed the interior, taking in the simple yet tasteful disys of carved wooden artifacts that adorned the windows and counters. The back wall was lined with small wooden cubbies. eachbeled with the name of an herb. A beaded curtain led to a back room, suggesting a private space beyond. As she was about to inquire about the herbs, the curtain was swept aside, and a middle¨Caged man stepped out. He paused at the sight of Mirabe. His eyes registered mild surprise before he quickly closed a wooden door behind him and approached her with a polite tone. ¡°I apologize, but the shop is about to close,¡± he said. His voice was tinged with the subtle hint of sending her away. Unfazed, Mirabe got straight to the point: ¡°Do you have Greatheart Ginseng, Cureroot, Ember Moss, and Dragonbone Stone in stock?¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened with surprise upon hearing her request. These were rare and costly herbs, known for their soothing and restorative properties. They were notmonly used together, as the blending of their effects required precision, and a miscalction could produce significant adverse reactions. Despite their rarity, there were few who sought to purchase them. The man, noting Mirabe¡¯s determined demeanor, realized she was a serious buyer. ¡°We have all but the Greatheart Ginseng. How much do you need?¡± A bit disappointed but still encouraged, Mirabe responded, ¡°300 grams each of Cureroot and Ember Moss, and 250 grams of Dragonbone Stone.¡± The man nodded, ¡°We have those amounts.¡± After punching some numbers into the register, he informed her. ¡°The totales to three hundred and twenty thousand.¡± The price seemed fair. Mirabe pulled out her smartphone and asked, ¡°Do you take online bank transfers?¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± the man replied, handing her a card with the shop¡¯s bank ount details printed on 1/2 12:18 Chapter 137 1. it. Mirabe nced at the card for no more than a moment beforepleting the transfer in under two minutes. When the man¡¯s phone pinged with the confirmation, he looked up in astonishment. She had memorized the ount number with just a brief look. That was an impressively long string of digits! Noticing the shopkeeper¡¯s stunned expression, Mirabe raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Snapping back to reality, the man quickly assured her, ¡°No, no issue. I¡¯ll get your herbs right. away.¡± While he busied himself with her order, Mirabe casually inquired, ¡°By the way, do where I might find Indian Old Sandalwood?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. you know The man paused mid¨Ctask, as the question caught him off guard. Clearly, this young woman¡¯s knowledge of herbs and her surprising request indicated she was no novice in these matters. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 If the initial concoction was meant to fine¨Ctune the body¡¯s functions, then the addition of aged. sandalwood¡¯s soothing qualities would perfectly enhance the characteristics of each ingredient, minimizing any side effects. However, this approach was rather old school. Itsplexity required a pharmacist¡¯s keen judgment and precise blending, and since the recipes and methods had been lost to time, hardly anyone practiced it anymore. The man only knew of it because his family had been steeped in the traditions of alternative medicine for generations. It seemed that this youngdy must have a real sage of medicine in her family. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The manposed himself and spoke with added politeness, ¡°I have a friend who deals in spices. He¡¯s got sandalwood, and his shop isn¡¯t too far from here. Let me give you his card. You might find what you need there.¡± Had it not been for the presence of someone in the back room, he would have been tempted to escort the youngdy himself. Competent herbal specialists were hard toe by, let alone those versed in ancient remedies. Quickly, the middle¨Caged man packaged the herbs and found the business card, handing both to Mirabe. ¡°Thanks a bunch, mister,¡± said Mirabe, taking the items and getting ready to leave. As she headed for the door, the man hesitated, and then called out to her, ¡°You know, I don¡¯t have Greatheart Ginseng, but I do have some other gingsengs¡­¡± Mirabe stopped in her tracks, turning slightly, and said in a calm voice, ¡°No need. Although the efficacy might not be much different, precision is key in medicine. A slight difference could lead to a huge discrepancy.¡± After saying that, she pushed the door open and left. The middle¨Caged man stood there, stunned. His mind was a whirl until an older man emerged from the back room, snapping him back to reality. ¡°Ethan, what are you daydreaming about? Lock the front door, will you?¡± the elder chided. Ethan replied as he moved to the door, ¡°Sir, there was a youngdy here to buy herbs, and her prescription was quite unique.¡± The older man, disinterested, pulled out a worn book from a drawer and asked casually, ¡°Oh? What did she get?¡± Ethan recounted the herbs Mirabe had requested and added, ¡°I told her we were out of Greatheart Ginseng. She didn¡¯t want another batch either and then asked about aged sandalwood¡­¡± The old man¡¯s expression showed a flicker of surprise, but he nced towards the back room. and cut Ethan off, ¡°Enough, we¡¯ll talkter.¡± Then, he disappeared into the back room with his 1/2 12:18 belongings. Ethan hummed in acknowledgment, locked the door, and followed him. Inside, the scent of sandalwood was more potent than outside, clearly emanating from within these walls. James lounged in a mahogany chair, idly toying with the incense utensils on a small table beside him, appearing nonchnt yet somehow too pale. ¡°James, with the state you¡¯re in, besides medicating and taking it slow, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve got no other tricks up my sleeve,¡± the elder who had just walked in spoke to him. Standing next to James, Wyatt, with a hint of despondency, inquired. ¡°But the medicine doesn¡¯t seem as effective anymore. Isn¡¯t there another way to stem this?¡± The elder gave a wry smile, shaking his head, and then handed over the old book to Wyatt. ¡°This tome is handed down from the previous generation. It holds some potential solutions, but even if I am able to concoct the remedy, there¡¯s no saying how effective it would be or if it might be rejected by James¡® condition¡­¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 After decades of delving into medical theories, if the old man could concoct the remedy, he would have done it by now, instead of sitting there, clutching an ancient tome, clueless on how to proceed. The elder sighed before continuing. ¡°You might want to show this book to folks over at the Pharmacists¡® Guild. Maybe they¡¯ll get something out of it.¡± Wyatt¡¯s eyes settled on the book the old man was offering. Just as he was about to reach for it. James spoke up slowly. ¡°A gentleman does not covet what another cherishes. Since this is a heirloom of your ancestors, it wouldn¡¯t be right for me to borrow it.¡± Wyatt felt a mix of frustration and urgency. ¡°But what about the condition you have¡­¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. James raised his hand to stop him, calm andposed. ¡°Didn¡¯t Niki say there¡¯s a temporary solution? That will do for now. ¡°If only we could find a descendant from the fabled Massolio n, James¡® predicament might easily be resolved.¡± Niki sighed and paused. Then he added, ¡°However¡­ no one from that n has ever surfaced, so their very existence remains a mystery.¡± Wyatt, recalling the information he had previously gathered, clenched his fists and said with determination, ¡°No matter what it takes, even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will find them.¡± Mirabe strolled through the herbal market. Her luck was not too bad, for she managed to find thest ingredient she needed. With her shopping listplete, she pulled out the business card the middle¨C aged man had given her earlier and headed toward the spice shop listed on it. The sandalwood she needed was rare and precious, causing prices to skyrocket, and counterfeits were rampant. When Mirabe arrived at the spice shop, the owner tried to pass off inferior goods from another region, thinking she was just a naive youngdy. But once she exposed his ruse, he quickly realized he was dealing with a connoisseur and reluctantly brought out the genuine article. Although the quality of the sandalwood was somewhat disappointing, it would suffice for her purposes. Without wasting words or asking for special packaging, she paid and left. Outside, the sky had darkenedpletely. Delh had called twice already, so Mirabe hailed a cab and headed home. When she arrived, it was nearly eight o¡¯clock. Delh, seeing her daughter carrying several bags, felt a surge of pride and began to help her, saying, ¡°It¡¯s good for a girl to go out. Maybe shop for some clothes or jewelry¡­¡± However, her words came to an abrupt halt when she inadvertently glimpsed a piece of wood in one of the bags. Mirabe, slipping into her house slippers, turned to see her mother¡¯s stunned face and couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Mom?¡± 1/2 12:18 Chapter 130 Delh looked up, dramatically pulling the bag open, and said with a pained expression, ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you went shopping and brought home a rotten plece of wood.¡± Other daughters brought home dresses or Jewelry, or at the very least, some treats. But hers? She brought home a piece of wood? Was that normal? Mirabe earnestly corrected her, ¡°It¡¯s sandalwood.¡± The expensive kind at that. Delh didn¡¯t care what kind of wood it was. All she knew was that her beautiful, cute, and clever daughter¡¯s image waspletely ruined by this wretched log. Refusing to believe it, Delh opened the other two bags and immediately her expression grew even more despondent. One lousy piece of wood was bad enough, but the other bags were filled with equally strange items. Delh shook her head, convinced she had opened them the wrong way. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 The sweet and adorable daughter Delh had always imagined seemed to be just that ¨C an imagination. With a wistful sigh, Delh ced several shopping bags onto the table and yfully said, ¡°Oh sweetheart, could you maybe be just a tad cuter for your mom?¡± Finishing her sentence, she winked exaggeratedly and shed a silly peace sign at Mirabe. Mirabe¡¯s gaze flitted over Delh¡¯s peace sign. Her brow furrowed for a moment, and then she conveniently ignored her mother¡¯s words and asked, ¡°Mom, got anything to eat?¡± Delh gave another sigh, ¡°Of course, I saved some for you. Come and eat before it gets cold.¡± Delh and Shawn had already had their dinner, and Zach was out at a business dinner. expected to returnte. So now, at the dining table, it was just Mirabe, slowly savoring her meal. After dinner, Mirabe picked up the shopping bags from the table and had just reached the foot of the stairs when she suddenly turned back to Delh, who was lounging on the sofa watching a TV show. ¡°Mom, do we have any spare rooms or maybe a storage space avable?¡± up.¡± Delh looked up. ¡°Well, there is a storage room downstairs but it¡¯s pretty cluttered. What do you need it for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for storage, really. I need some space to work on crafts, something separate,¡± Mirabe replied in her usual unhurried manner. ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± Delh pondered for a moment and then suggested, ¡°You know, Nick¡¯s room is empty. You could use that room. It¡¯s just next to yours on the left.¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. There was a brief silence before Mirabe asked, ¡°Would that be alright?¡± Delh chuckled and shook her head. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s fine. Nick¡¯s settled abroad and hardlyes home. It¡¯s just sitting empty.¡± Mirabe nodded and ascended the stairs. Once she was gone, Delh rubbed her chin in thought and turned to her husband. ¡°Shawn, don¡¯t you think our current house is getting a bit cramped?¡± Pausing, she continued, ¡°Look, we don¡¯t even have a private space for our daughter. Sure, Nick¡¯s living overseas, but knowing our girl, she¡¯ll feel ufortable using his room indefinitely.¡± Shawn set down the remote control and thought it over, finding Delh¡¯s point valid. ¡°How about we move to Sunnydale Heights? The neighborhood¡¯s nicer, and the houses are bigger. There¡¯s more room, and it¡¯s closer to our daughter¡¯s school. Plus, if she wants to have friends. over, we won¡¯t have to worry about not having enough space for them to stay.¡± Chapter 140 ¡°That¡¯s right. I havepletely forgotten about the vi in Sunnydale Heights,¡± Delh pped her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with an interior designer tomorrow to see what renovations we need and what furniture we should get. We¡¯ll make it a priority to move in quickly and surprise our girl.¡± True to her nature, Delh was all about swift action. After finishing her conversation with Shawn, she grabbed her phone and started scrolling for the designer¡¯s number, promptly making a call to set up a meeting for the next day. Having arranged the appointment, Delh put her phone down and was suddenly struck by a tinge of mncholy. She nced around the room and sighed, ¡°It¡¯s hard to leave a ce you¡¯ve lived in for over twenty years.¡± Shawn raised an eyebrow and patted her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s for our daughter.¡± The sentiment of leaving a home of more than two decades quickly faded whenpared to their daughter, who had faced many challenges growing up. ¡°You¡¯re right. We might be used to this old house, but our daughter deserves the best,¡± Delh paused, a flicker of regret in her eyes. ¡°I wish we had thought to move before she came back.¡± Perhaps then, there wouldn¡¯t have been any misunderstandings about debts in the family. Chapter 141 Upstairs. Chapter 141 Mirabe, clutching her belongings, twisted the knob and pushed open the door to the neighboring room. ¨C With a flick of the switch on the wall, the sparse roomyout ¨C one bed, one desk came into view, all cast in modern, minimalist decor and suffused with cool tones. On the wall hung two framed certificates of achievement that caught her eye. She set her things down gently on the desk and made her way over to the certificates. Her curiosity was aroused by the recognitions they bore. One was for the prestigious Norsen Prize in Medical Biology, a hallmark of excellence within the medicalmunity of the States, awarded triennially to individuals who exhibited extraordinary talent in the medical field. The other was the Rasko Medical Award, equally renowned on the international stage. Either de on its own was a testament to the significant contributions the recipient had made to medical science. Mirabe hadn¡¯t expected that this brother of hers, whom she had never met, was a medical prodigy. She noted the date on the awards ¨C both from five years ago. Nick would have been around twenty at that time? Mirabe¡¯s curiosity about this Nick intensified. It was a shame he was abroad. Otherwise, it could have been an opportunity for an engaging exchange. Shifting her focus, she drew the curtains closed, turned on the air conditioning, and waited for the room to reach the desired temperature before she began sorting through the heap of herbal ingredients on the desk. Creating incense sticks wasn¡¯t particrly challenging, but the tricky in precisely calcting the amount and ratio of powdered sandalwood and medicinal herbs. While not a professional incense maker, Mirabe had a natural affinity for mixing fragrances andpounding medicines. Her ability to combine several potent herbs without causing adverse reactions and her near¨Cobsessive precision in understanding and manipting medicinal properties were nothing short of extraordinary. For her, concocting theposition for Incense of Calm was a walk in the park. Two hourster, Mirabe set down her tools and gazed at the freshly molded incense sticks on the cutting board, exhaling deeply. All that remained was for the incense to dry outpletely over the next couple of hours, signaling the sess of her endeavor. She twisted her stiff neck and nced down at her fingers smeared with incense y before heading to the washroom to clean up., After lingering in the room for another half¨Chour to ensure the incense was problem¨Cfree, Mirabe finally opened the door to leave. No sooner had she pulled the door shut than she saw Zach stumbling at the stairwell. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. 173 12:221 Chapter 141 Quickening her pace, Mirabe moved toward him. Her nose was immediately assaulted by the pungent scent of alcohol. She frowned and hurriedly steadied him. Zach, slightly inebriated but conscious, beamed at Mirabe. His grin bloomed like a flower. ¡°Mira, did you wait up just for me to get home?¡± At the sound of ¡°Mira,¡± Mirabe¡¯s support ckened, and Zach, caught off guard, bumped into the wall. He hissed in pain, catching himself against the wall to prevent a fall. When he turned his head, his sses were askew, teetering on the brink of tumbling off. ¡°You¡­¡± Mirabe adjusted his sses for him. Her expression was unaltered as she said, ¡°Sorry, Zach, I don¡¯t have much strength. I couldn¡¯t hold you.¡± Zach, his mind muddled by alcohol, processed the words more slowly than usual. ¡°Oh, oh, no worries. My bad.¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Zach steadied himself against the wall, slowly straightening up. With a vigorous shake of his head, he turned to Mirabe and let out a goofy chuckle, ¡°Honestly, I am not wasted.¡± Mirabe shook her head and, once again, reached out to steady him, replying with a half¨Chearted, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s stered.¡± ¡°Mira, you didn¡¯t hit the bottle, did you?¡± Zach, sounding like a lovable oaf, leaned in closer as he spoke. Taking a deep breath to suppress the urge to smack him, Mirabe pushed his head to the side, grabbed his arm, and dragged him toward his room. It hardly took any effort at all. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll get you some water,¡± she said, quickly leaving the room after dumping him on the bed. In no time, she returned with a ss of tinted water to find Zach had rolled off the bed onto the floor, muttering something iprehensible. Pressing her fingers to her temples, she walked over with a grim expression and hoisted him back onto the bed. ¡°Drink this,¡± shemanded, bringing the ss to Zach¡¯s lips. Zach looked at her with bleary eyes, not touching the water, just grinning like a fool, ¡°Mira¡­¡± Mirabe, done with subtlety, forcibly fed him the water with practiced ease, not spilling a single drop. After all, those years of medicating household pets weren¡¯t for nothing. Soon after drinking, Zach calmed down and promptly fell into a deep sleep. Mirabe sat in the room for half an hour, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t cause any more trouble, before heading back to her own. The next morning was a Saturday. Zach woke up expecting a pounding headache and misery. but surprisingly, he felt nothing amiss. It was as if he hadn¡¯t touched a drop of liquor the night before. How bizarre! He got out of bed, took a quick shower, changed into fresh clothes, and after making sure he was free of any booze smell, he stepped out of his room and went downstairs. Delh had an early appointment with a designer, so the house was quiet except for Shawn and Mirabe, who were having breakfast. Zach pulled up a chair, and as he rubbed his sore shoulder, he nced at Mirabe. ¡°You took care of me all night, didn¡¯t you, Mirabe? Thanks for that.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He only remembered reaching the top of the stairs and his sister supporting him. Everything after was a ckout. Chap 142 Pausing, he asked uneasily, ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t made a scenest night, did 1?¡± Mirabe lifted her head, a small smile on her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Zach¡¯s mouth twitched. What did she mean by ¡®think?¡® Did he or did he not? ¡°You should drink less, Zach. Otherwise, you¡¯ll always need your little sister to look after you. Look at her, she is so petite, doesn¡¯t it prick your conscience?¡± Shawn chimed in with a displeased look. His daughter hadn¡¯t even taken care of him! Zach pushed up his sses, then took another look at Mirabe. She was thin, indeed, but petite? She was nearly five foot seven ¨C was that petite? Was his dad biased about height? ¡°What¡¯s with your shoulder? You¡¯ve been rubbing it non¨Cstop,¡± Shawn observed. Mirabe¡¯s spoon paused mid¨Cair for a split second. ¡°Oh, must¡¯ve bumped it somewherest night when I was drunk. It¡¯s just a bit sore.¡± Zach replied nonchntly. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Mirabe arched an eyebrow, cocking her head as she looked at him. ¡°Did you ck out?¡± Zach paused, his brain clicking into gear. ¡°That¡¯s a loaded question if I ever heard one.¡± Her smile was a mix of mirth and mystery. ¡°Nope, just echoing Dad¡¯s wisdom. You really gotta cut back on the booze.¡± With that, she returned her focus to her breakfast, her movements serene and deliberate. Scratching his head, Zach couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something had gone downst night that he was clueless about, something that had to do with his aching shoulder. After they finished their meal, Mirabe headed upstairs to the room, intent on packing away the incense she had crafted the night before. Having the day off from the office, Zach trailed after her. His curiosity was piqued when she entered Nick¡¯s room. He followed suit. Stepping inside, he was greeted by the subtle scent of sandalwood. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe was there, precision in her hands as she sliced the incense. She noticed Zach out of the corner of her eye but didn¡¯t shy away from his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s this, Mira?¡± Zach picked up a small stick of the incense, lifting it to his nose. ¡°Sandalwood?¡± Without missing a beat, she hummed an affirmation. His eyes swept over the tools on the table with surprise. ¡°You know how to make incense?¡± Though Zach wasn¡¯t exactly an aficionado of aromatics, he knew a couple of friends who dabbled in the craft enough to be familiar with the basics. The thought that his sister, who had grown up in a quiet town, could be so adept at this craft and exude such a natural elegance while doing it was genuinely astonishing. ¡°Learned a thing or two,¡± Mirabe said softly, eyes downcast. In no time, she had finished packaging the incense into a small box. Zach stroked his chin thoughtfully. This incense was too well¨Ccrafted to be the work of at novice. After a moment, he asked casually, ¡°Did you pick up these skills while staying with Catherine? Did she arrange a professional teacher for you?¡± Mirabe looked up, her eyes reflecting a quiet confidence. ¡°No, I taught myself.¡± She was the only one bold enough to mix special herbs with the sandalwood. Zach¡¯s potentialpliment about Catherine¡¯s mentoring skills was cut short by Mirabe¡¯s admission of self¨Cteaching. He was left speechless. Alright then, ever since his sister hade back, he had be the unwitting backdrop to her brilliance. Unaware of Zach¡¯s inner turmoil, Mirabe pulled out her phone and tapped open Messenger. She sent a message to James. [You there? The incense I mentionedst time is ready. Should we meet up so I can give it to you?] Despite his earlier refusal, she felt obligated to return the 13-33 Chapter 141 favor. As her phone chimed with a reply, she nced at the message, then slipped the phone back into her pocket. Turning to Zach, she said. ¡°I¡¯ve got to run an errand.¡± With the box of calming incense in hand, she headed for the door. Zach, who had been silently hoping for a sisterly gift of her homemade incense, was taken aback as she walked away with it. He hurried after her, abandoning all pretense of dignity as he asked, ¡°Mira, don¡¯t I get a piece of the incense you made?¡± There was a hint of yful reproach in his voice. Mirabe stopped and gave him a thorough once¨Cover. ¡°You¡¯re not sick, so you don¡¯t need it.¡± Zach choked on his response. Wasn¡¯t the point that everyone present should get a share? Especially when he was her dear brother! Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Half an hourter, at a downtown coffee shop. As Mirabe stepped into the private booth, a faint scent of sandalwood greeted her¨Ca scent. reminiscent of what she had encountered the previous day at a boutique store named Nature¡¯s Apothecary. ¡°Hello.¡± James announced,fortably seated before a coffee set, his movements graceful as he brewed coffee. Not far from his hand, a small Incense burner released gentle wisps of smoke. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe gave a slight hmm, acknowledging Wyatt with a polite nod before making her way over to a mahogany chair, which she pulled out and sat down on with casual ease. Wyatt stole a cautious nce at Mirabe. For some reason, every time he saw this youngdy, he felt a chill that seemed beyond her years, an aura of mystery he couldn¡¯t quite prate. James ced a cup in front of Mirabe, his pale and slender fingers deftly pouring a stream of coffee into the cup. ¡°See how you like the taste.¡± Mirabe lifted the cup, and the delicate aroma of the tea enveloped her senses. She took a sip. and her eyebrows rose in approval. ¡°Rich fragrance, sweet and lingering on the finish. Nice.¡± Setting down the teapot, James¡® features softened with a genteel warmth. He looked rxed yet uncontained as he mentioned, ¡°I heard you entered an internationalpetition?¡± At his words, Mirabe seemed to ponder for a moment. Leaning back in her chair, she looked up at James. ¡°Catherine¡¯s been bending your ear again?¡± A light smile yed oh James¡® lips, his response enigmatic, ¡°Well, as a tutor, I ought to make some contribution.¡± Stroking her chin, Mirabe replied casually, ¡°Ah, no need for contributions. Just keep Catherine in good spirits for me.¡± Wyatt, who had been quietly observing, suddenly choked as if something caught him off guard. He was coughing violently, ¡°Cough¡­ cough¡­¡± Mirabe looked up at him, puzzled. James also nced at Wyatt before he addressed her previous comment. ¡°Sure, naturally.¡± Just as Wyatt had calmed down from the initial shock of Mirabe¡¯s bold request, he was again stunned by his boss¡® agreeable response. Was it him who was off today, or was it his ears ying tricks on him? Or perhaps James wasn¡¯t the boss he knew? ¡°Do you need me to find you a professional tutor?¡± James asked, refilling Mirabe¡¯s cup with more coffee. With a light tap of her fingertip on the table, Mirabe declined, ¡°Thank you, but no.¡± 12:22 Chapter 144 James dropped the subject and took to sipping his coffee. Quiet settled in the booth, afortable silence that wasn¡¯t the least bit awkward. After a short while, Mirabe nced at her watch and started to pick up her bag, handing it to James. ¡°This incense should be of some help to you.¡± Pausing briefly, she finished her coffee in one gulp and stood up. ¡°Great coffee, thanks for the hospitality. I should get going.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± ¡°No need to trouble yourself. I¡¯ll just hail a cab,¡± Mirabe declined James¡® offer and, without further ado, made her way to the door. James watched her go and, after a brief moment of thought, called out, ¡°Wait.¡± Mirabe turned back, ¡°Yes?¡± With a smile, James picked up a box of coffee beans from the table and approached her. ¡°Take this with you. When you run out,e back for more.¡± Wyatt, witnessing this exchange, was again astounded. Mirabe had gifted just a simple box. of incense, and James reciprocated with a limited edition box of coffee beans¡­ Wyatt¡¯s eyes must be deceiving him again. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Oblivious to Wyatt¡¯s expression, Mirabe didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with James, gratefully epting the gift with a simple, ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± She remembered her dear father was quite a fan of coffee. This would surely make his day. Before long, Mirabe had left the private room. After she was gone, Wyatt finally spoke up. ¡°James, what¡¯s so special about this girl? She seems like your average high school student to me.¡± James¡® gaze was distant, as if his thoughts were far in another world. He nced at Wyatt before settling back into his chair, his voice casual, ¡°A year ago, she saved my life.¡± Wyatt¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. This was news to him. James had never mentioned it before. Curiosity tinged Wyatt¡¯s voice. ¡°How did a kid like her manage to save you?¡± James took a sip from his cup, his handsome face taking on a pensive look. After a moment, he said. ¡°That¡¯s something I¡¯m still trying to figure out myself.¡± Wyatt was taken aback. James then took out a long wooden box from the paper bag, its craftsmanship rough and simple, a stark contrast to the elegant box he had once given to Catherine. Staring at it, a rare expression of wistfulness crossed James¡® face. For the first time, he felt what it was like to be on the receiving end of favoritism. Wyatt was tempted to ask more, but seeing his boss¡® odd expression, he turned his attention to the wooden box in James¡® hands instead. He couldn¡¯t help but notice its poor quality. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a huge loss,¡± Wyatt muttered under his breath. That box of coffee beansfrom James could probably fetch a thousand of these cheap boxes, right? Wyatt, unable to bear the sight, covered his face, then coughed and said, ¡°Ms. Mirabe sure meant well, but maybe you should stick with the incense Niki gave you. Maybe¡­ I could take this box off your hands?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The outside packaging looked shoddy, and he dreaded to imagine the quality of the incense inside. James gave Wyatt a sidelong nce. ¡°You said it yourself. It¡¯s the thought that counts. Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate to just hand it off to you?¡± With that, James lowered his gaze and fiddled with the sp on the box, easily flipping it open. Wyatt touched his nose, mumbling. ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about it? Besides, with the way you are now, you¡¯re hardly the type to use low¨Cgrade incense. It¡¯d be better off with me¡­ it might be good for something.¡± Like getting rid of that odd smell at home? As soon as James opened the box, a rich aroma of sandalwood enveloped the room. There was also a subtle medicinal scent that made the air feel instantly soothing. 1/2 12:22 Chapter 145 James narrowed his eyes, ncing at the incense burner nearby, still wafting smoke. After thinking for a moment, he extinguished the remaining sandalwood and reached for a lighter. He lit one of the sticks Mirabe had given him. Soon, the room was filled with a more distinctive sandalwood fragrance. Though rich, it was not at all stifling when inhaled. Instead, it gradually morphed into a light medicinal scent. Wyatt caught the scent, and his expression changed. ¡°This smells like¡­ sandalwood, but not quite?¡± After a long silence, James¡® soft voice carried through the room. ¡°This is the genuine Incense of Calm.¡± Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Wyatt¡¯s eyes flew open in rm, staring at James. ¡°The real Incense of Calm? How is that even possible¡­?¡± James pinched the incense to extinguish it, handling it with care as he ced it back in the box. ¡°That¡¯s the scent.¡± Wyatt¡¯s face transitioned rapidly from shock to a wild tion. ¡°If it truly is the Incense of Calm, then perhaps your condition could see a dramatic improvement.¡± James fell silent for a beat, then added, ¡°No, perhaps this one is even more special than the Incense of Calm I¡¯ve used before.¡± Wyatt was speechless. The true Incense of Calm was exceedingly rare, practically priceless, and the one in James¡® possession seemed to surpass it in quality. Wyatt swallowed hard. He couldn¡¯t even imagine its value. Recalling his earlier assumption that it was a low¨Cgrade incense and his bold request to take some home and use it as an air freshener, Wyatt now felt an urge to bury himself in the ground. Thankfully, James hadn¡¯t been fooled by his charade. Had James actually given it to him, Wyatt feared he would have been branded a sinner for ages. Still, Wyatt¡¯s gaze returned to the box of incense, and after a few seconds of contemtion, he proposed. ¡°Perhaps we should have Niki take a look at it?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Wyatt doubted the incense, but if it was more special than the Incense of Calm, they needed further confirmation on whether it would be even better for James¡® health. At that moment, Wyatt had forgotten the words Mirabe had said when she handed the incense to James. ¡°This should be of some help to you.¡± Half an hourter, at Nature¡¯s Apothecary. When Niki lit a stick of the Incense of Calm and inhaled its aroma, hisplexion changed. His fingers trembled as he pointed at it. ¡°This indeed is the Incense of Calm. The creator is a genius. They¡¯ve blended several medicinal herbs with the sandalwood base, which has al calming effect, and the medicinal afternotes that can repair bodily functions. They¡¯d have toe up with such a blend with decades of medical experience. ¡°Marvelous, truly marvelous!¡± Niki eximed, then looked up at James. ¡°This Incense of Calm must have been tailor¨Cmade, right?¡± James looked at Niki with a deep gaze. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Because the mixed herbs are tailored to help with your current health condition. A herb like Cureroot is quite potent. Ingesting it directly might further harm your body, which is why I¡¯ve refrained from prescribing such herbs for internal use.¡± Niki shook his head with a wry smile, continuing, ¡°But it¡¯s been ground into a powder and mixed with the sandalwood to be used externally. This way, its medicinal properties will be This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 1/2 13-33 Chapter 140 maximized. That¡¯s why I said this incense must have been specifically crafted for you.¡± James, deep in thought, didn¡¯t reply immediately. Niki looked at him, his voice tinged with hope, ¡°James, might you introduce me to the person. who made this incense?¡± James snapped out of his reverie, a wry smile on his face as he shook his head. ¡°To be honest, the incense was a gift, and I¡¯m certain the giver isn¡¯t versed in herbal medicine.¡± With a hint of disappointment in his eyes, Niki didn¡¯t press the matter further. Standing beside Niki, Ethan perked up when he heard the mention of the medicinal. ingredients. He was the one who had sold the herbs to Mirabe. For some reason, he remembered the youngdy who had bought the same herbs the day before. She had event inquired about sandalwood. But then he shook his head dismissively. Coincidences like that just didn¡¯t happen in the real world. ¡°Niki,¡± Wyatt interjected, breaking his silence, ¡°what you¡¯re saying is that if Mr. James uses this incense for his treatment, there¡¯s a chance he could recover, right?¡± Chapter 148 Chapter 148 The weekend had zipped by in a blur, and before anyone knew it, Monday rolled around with all the subtlety of a freight train. At the break of dawn, the school bulletin board was swamped with students eager to see the results of last week¡¯s exams. The monthly assessment had been notoriously tough. It was a ten on the difficulty scale. The heads¨Cup for the tests came out of nowhere, so scores across the board had taken a nosedive. But that was old news. The real buzz was Mirabe from The Advanced ss. Rumors had been swirling about her dismal performance in English, of all things. Around the bulletin board, a crowd had gathered thick as thieves, all jostling for a peek at the rankings. But when the top name came into view, a collective gasp cut through the morning air. In first ce, with a whopping 692 points, was none other than Mirabe. Trailing by a hair¡¯s breadth in second, was Vincent with 691 points. And not far behind, in third, was Peter, with 683 points. ¡°Shut the front door! Who was the joker spreading rumors about Mirabe¡¯s English gradest week? She¡¯s scored top of the ss for crying out loud!¡± ¡°Seriously, who¡¯s the sour grape that spread that nonsense? Jealous much?¡± ¡°Vincent¡¯s been king of the hill for two years running, and now he¡¯s been dethroned by a single point? By a transfer student, no less? That¡¯s some seriouspetition.¡± ¡°Between you and me, I heard Mirabe¡¯s English really was in the gutter, and she got a right earful from her teacher. We all saw it go down.¡°, ¡°So let me get this straight¡­ she can bomb English and stille out on top? Does that mean she aced everything else?¡± ¡°Suddenly, it makes sense why the school put Mirabe in thest exam room. They knew she was special.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°I wonder if all those folks who said she got in by pulling strings or cheated in thepetitions feel like eating crow right about now.¡± ¡­ Amidst the chatter, Summer stood rooted to the spot, her gaze frozen on the bulletin board. The chill in her eyes could¡¯ve frosted over the Sahara. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides. Again, it was Mirabe! Why did everything have to change the moment she came back? ¡°Summer, you okay?¡± Madeline asked, catching a glimpse of Summer¡¯s dark expression after checking her own scores. Chapter 148 Snapping back to reality, Summer¡¯s eyes softened as she turned to Madeline, feigning nonchnce. ¡°How¡¯d you do on the test?¡± Madeline hesitated, convinced she¡¯d just seen a glimpse of something unnerving in Summer¡¯s eyes. ¡°Oh, it was brutal. I only got 615. Dropped out of the top fifty. I¡¯m freaking out about getting kicked out of Prodigy ss.¡± Summer offered a half¨Cheartedfort. ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°Fingers crossed!¡± Madeline nced at the name at the top of the list again, wisely choosing not to mention Mirabe in front of Summer. ¡°You¡¯re still doing great, though. You scored 670, That¡¯s nearly twenty points up fromst semester.¡± Madeline was at a loss for words. She had been ready to see Mirabe fall t, expecting to relish in her downfall. But the tables had turned. Summer¡¯s lips twisted in a fleeting sneer. What did it matter if she¡¯d improved by twenty points? In comparison to Mirabe, it was like she hadn¡¯t moved an inch. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Summer cast onest deste nce at the bulletin board where the test scores were posted. Her lips were sealed in a tight line as she turned on her heel and walked away. Madeline watched her friend¡¯s retreating figure, heaving a deep sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world. Even though Summer didn¡¯t voice her disappointment, Madeline knew the sting was there, buried deep. After all, Summer had poured every ounce of her spare time into studying, a heartbreaking and admirable dedication. But what could you do¡­ when you were outshone by a country bumpkin foster child? Shaking her head as if to clear her mind of this unsettling thought, Madeline hurried to catch up with Summer. On the other hand, Mirabe hadn¡¯t bothered to check the test scores on the bulletin board. She knew her score well enough. Ate had called her into the officest week and given her the rundown. As for her ranking, she had researched the score trends for Parkside High before she even enrolled, and with hertest scores in mind, she figured she might not have snagged the top spot, but second ce was well within reach. After all, English was her Achilles¡® heel, much h to her chagrin. Jenna returned from viewing the scores and found Mirabe in a state of Zen¨Clike calm, which did nothing to soothe her own tangled emotions. Ever since she¡¯d heard about Mirabe¡¯s struggles with English, she had been secretly reveling in the potential downfall. Having been on the receiving end of life¡¯s blows too often, she thought fate owed her a bit of schadenfreude. The thought of Mira f?cing her Waterloo was a delicious one indeed. But as it turned out, Waterloo was a pipe dream¨Cat least for Mirabe. She¡¯s a rock¨Csolid first ce in the grade! Perhaps sensing Jenna¡¯s begrudging gaze, Mirabe turned her head and, in a¡¯rare moment of outreach, asked, ¡°Are you done staring? How did you do?¡± ¡°You got 692 points. Top of the ss,¡± Jenna said, pointedly not mentioning her own score. After a brief pause, she added with a mix of sarcasm and awe. ¡°And here you were, saying English isn¡¯t your strong suit. You¡¯re just ying with us!¡± ¡°If English wasn¡¯t my weak point, I probably wouldn¡¯t have scored 692,¡± Mirabe responded with a casual shrug. At that, Jenna¡¯s mouth twitched in a wry expression. It was always the unexpected jabs that hurt the most, but luckily, she was used to it. Shaking her head, Jenna continued, ¡°You know Vincent from the Prodigy ss was the perpetual top scorer before you showed up. He was only one point behind you in this exam.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. 12:23 JJenna held up a finger for emphasis. ¡°One point, do you get how close that is? He migh overtake you next time, especially with your so¨Ccalled weak subject¡± At the mention of the name Vincent, Mirabe recalled apetitor who had ced just behind her in the BrainSpark Nationals, taking second ce both times, ¡°Vincent¡¯s quite the proud one. Now that you¡¯ve parachuted in and snatched his top spot, you¡¯re probably his public enemy number one,¡± Jenna mused, resting her chin in her hands before continuing. ¡°But hey, Vincent¡¯s drop dead gorgeous. If he¡¯s got his sights set on you, it might not be such a bad thing.¡± Mirabe nced at Jenna, who was practically swooning over the guy, and quipped lightly. ¡°Drooling much?¡± Jenna instinctively touched her lips, then realized she¡¯d been teased and shot Mirabe a pouty re, ¡°Queen Mira, you¡¯re getting sneakler by the day.¡± Titting her head, Mirabe¡¯s brows arched in amusement. Her carefree gaze was tinged withzy defiance, and her stunning features once again left Jenna swallowing hard. Forget Vincent: Mira was the epitome of cool. After the test scores were released, any doubts about Mirabe that had been circting around Parkside High dissipated by the end of the morning. As for Summer, the exam results left her in a state of irritable unrest throughout the entire day. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 It took every ounce of patience for Summer to make it to thest period of study hall. She seized the opportunity to concoct an excuse about needing to return to her artist camp for training. With a slightly hesitant request, she approached Morgan for a leave of absence. Morgan, who typically frowned upon students making a habit of ducking out early, was nheless swayed by the noticeable uptick in Summer¡¯s recent test scores and granted her the pass. Stepping through the school gates, the day¡¯s umted pressure began to dissipate. Summer slipped on her mask and sunsses, blending into the crowd as she paused at the curb. Her fingers danced over her phone, eventuallynding on a familiar number ¨C Zach Davis. She hesitated for a moment before hitting the call button. Zach, who was currently wrapped up in court proceedings, had entrusted his phone to his assistant, a guardian of his privacy. The assistant knew the significance of a call from a personal number and didn¡¯t answer when Summer¡¯s attempts came through. After two unanswered calls, Summer didn¡¯t bother trying again. A wry smile yed on her lips, hidden beneath her shades, as her eyes shed with a knowing darkness. Had the years ofradery truly fallen short against the weight of blood ties? Had ite to the point where even her calls went ignored? Mirabe really was quite the force to be reckoned with. With a cynical chuckle, Summer gged down a taxi and rattled off an address. Half an hourter¡­ ¡°What brings you by out of the blue, Summer? Didn¡¯t you have ss this afternoon?¡± Emmitt dismissed his secretary and poured a ss of water for Summer. She epted it with a nod of thanks. Her mask and sunsses now rested on the table as she spoke warmly. ¡°Thest period was just study hall, nothing too pressing. I was hoping to catch lunch with Zach, but he wasn¡¯t picking up. Maybe he¡¯s tied up with something.¡± There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice, which didn¡¯t escape Emmitt¡¯s notice. He nced at his watch subtly before replying. ¡°He¡¯s probably busy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been ages since we all got together. Why don¡¯t you give Zach a ringter, Emmitt?¡± Summer suggested softly, taking a sip from her ss. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Emmitt¡¯s thoughts drifted to something Zach had mentioned a few days ago. After a brief pause, he replied, ¡°He seems swamped these days. Let¡¯s not bother him for now. We can n something when he¡¯s less upied.¡± A faint tension gripped Summer¡¯s hand around the ss, but she casually set it down. ¡°Sure, that works too.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°I just don¡¯t want Zach to get the wrong idea. Chapter 150 ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emmitt¡¯s brow furrowed, not quite catching her drift. Summer bit her lip, her voice dropping to a whisper, ¡°After the incidentst time, Mira¡¯s been avoiding me. And now Zach isn¡¯t answering my calls¡­ I can¡¯t help but worry he might be getting the wrong impression.¡± Emmitt¡¯s expression grew more concerned as he listened, taking a while before responding in at measured tone, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Zach isn¡¯t one to be easily influenced by rumors.¡± Summer¡¯s face momentarily stiffened, then rxed, ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°Make yourselffortable for a bit. I¡¯ve got some things to wrap up.¡± Emmitt turned back to his desk, immersing himself in his work. Silence enveloped the office, leaving Summer sitting there, lost in thought. Watching Emmitt pore over his documents, she felt an unfamiliar awkwardness, a void where conversation used to be. It was as if today marked some peculiar asion, a day where everything and everyone seemed to be shifting, subtly but surely. Summer was growing weary of this uneasy sense of losing grip on the world around her. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Summer had been sitting for what felt like an eternity, watching Emmitt immersed in his work without a moment¡¯s pause. With a faint sigh, she stood and made her way to his desk. ¡°Emmitt, It looks like you¡¯re swamped. I should be heading home.¡± Emmitt¡¯s pen stopped mid¨Csentence as he finally looked up, his apologetic eyes meeting hers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, today¡¯s just been hectic. How about you hang tight for a bit longer? Once I¡¯m done, we could grab some dinner together?¡± A twinkle shed in Summer¡¯s eyes, but she gently shook her head with an understanding smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. Workes first. We can always do dinner another time. I¡¯ll be off then.¡± Without waiting for Emmitt to respond, she turned and headed for the door, leaving behind a silhouette tinged with a hint of forlornness. Emmitt watched her leave, then leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples in silent contemtion. He quickly reached for his phone on the desk. Zach had just finished his own pile of work when he noticed two missed calls from Summer on his phone. He swiped across the screen, debating whether to return the call, when suddenly, his phone rang again. Seeing Emmitt¡¯s name on the caller ID, he answered without hesitation. ¡°Hey, Emmitt, what¡¯s up?¡± Surprised by the quick answer, Emmitt hesitated before saying, ¡°Nothing much. Summer stopped by earlier, asking when we could all catch up for a meal.¡± A shadow of indifference crossed Zach¡¯s expression as he pieced together the missed calls. ¡°Dinner¡¯s going to be tough. I¡¯m swampedtely and can¡¯t seem to find the time.¡± 1 After a brief silence, Emmitt prodded, ¡°Zach, is there some kind of misunderstanding between you and Summer?¡± Zach paused, puzzled. ¡°Misunderstanding? I¡¯m not sure I follow.¡± Emmitt continued, ¡°I might have jumped to some conclusions about Mirabe because of the whole Catherine situation, which could have led to some confusion between Mira and Summer¡­¡± Before Emmitt could finish, Zach cut in, ¡°Summer called me twice about half an hour ago. I was in court, and my phone was with my assistant.¡± Zach¡¯s tone grew a touch heavier as he added, ¡°Besides, Mirabe has never mentioned Summer in front of me, so there¡¯s no misunderstanding to speak of.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Zach brushed off Summer as simply being prideful yet harmless, but after today, it seems he might need to reassess his opinion of her. He shook his head, not wanting to let Summer¡¯s actions deepen any rifts within their group. ¡°Look, Emmitt, if there¡¯s nothing else, I need to go. I have a client waiting.¡± Sensing Zach¡¯s impatience, Emmitt didn¡¯t press further. ¡°No worries. Go handle your business.¡± After hanging up, Emmitt remained in his chair, deep in thought. Once outside, Summer hailed a cab and headed straight back to the Gilbert family estate. The moment she stepped through the door, Mandy¡¯s voice, tinged with reprimand, reached her ears. ¡°Where have you been since school let out? The driver called saying he waited at the school gates for ages and couldn¡¯t reach you by phone.¡± Summer nced at Mandy with little interest in making excuses. ¡°I stopped by the gym and didn¡¯t notice my phone ringing in my bag.¡± Chapter 152 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. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. 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¨Chearted, 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. Chapter 153 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¨Cup 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¨Ccat do on her exams this time?¡± Summer gave him a nk look, not catching on to whom he was referring. ¡°Scaredy¨Ccat?¡± 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 All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. 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¨Css 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¨Cdid Mirabe get knocked out of the citypetition?¡± Aiden, halfway up the stairs, paused at her words, turning his head back to listen. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Summer was caught off guard when Mandy brought up thepetition again. There was a brief pause before she replied, ¡°¡­I think she advanced to the next round.¡± Mandy¡¯s brows knitted together in mild disbelief. ¡°Her scores were good enough not to get kicked out?¡± After a moment of silence, Summer said, ¡°I actually mentionedst time that her grades weren¡¯t that bad.¡± Mandy vaguely remembered the conversation but didn¡¯t dwell on it, quickly moving on. ¡°The next round of the contest must being up, right? Make sure you go over the material your dad¡¯s friend from the Education Association gave you.¡± Summer nodded, eyes cast downward. ¡°Yeah, I will. I¡¯m going to head back to my room now.¡± ¡°Alright, off you go.¡± Mandy said with a dismissive wave of her hand. Delh and Shawn had been swamped with the renovations of their vi, leaving early and returning late. Concerned they couldn¡¯t look after their daughter properly, they hired a part¨Ctime housekeeper, Marian, to prepare meals for Mirabe. That day, as Mirabe walked in the door after school, Marian had already finished cooking. Marian was taking off her apron as she said, ¡°Mira, I¡¯ve got to dash because of an emergency at home. Oh, and I picked up a package for you this afternoon. It¡¯s in the storage cab.¡± Pointing towards the cab, Marian didn¡¯t wait for a response before hurrying out. Mirabe set her bag down and nced at the storage unit but didn¡¯t rush to check it out. The table was set with a homestyle spread¨Can all¨CAmerican meatloaf, buttered green beans, mashed potatoes, and a bowl of chicken noodle soup¨CMirabe pulled out her phone and dialed Zach¡¯s number. Zach, who had beening home for dinner every night, would typically be home by now. The call connected quickly, and Zach¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Mirabe, I won¡¯t be home for dinner tonight. Got to head out of town for a few days.¡± There was an edge of anxiety in his voice. Mirabe¡¯s brow furrowed as she asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Zach seemed taken aback by her intuition. His tone darkened slightly as he replied, ¡°Nothing serious. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± As airport announcements echoed in the background, urging passengers to board, Zach hurriedly added, ¡°I¡¯ve got to board now. We¡¯ll catch upter.¡± Mirabe¡¯s expression tightened. She didn¡¯t press further, simply acknowledging with a, ¡°If you need help with anything, let me know.¡± Chapter 154 Zach chuckled, not taking her offer too seriously. ¡°Sure.¡± The call ended shortly after. The background announcement Mirabe had overheard hinted at a flight to the States. She pondered this for a while before setting down her phone. Delh and Shawn came home earlier than usual that evening. Mirabe had just started eating when they walked in, deep in a discussion about the renovations. As they approached their daughter, they both fell silent. Mirabe gave them a quizzical look. ¡°You guys joining¡­¡± Delh answered cheerfully. ¡°We grabbed a bite on the way home.¡± Shawn echoed, ¡°Yeah!¡± Mirabe just shook her head, slightly bemused. Delh tossed her bag onto a nearby cab and scanned the room. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t Zach home yet?¡± Zach had beening home on time to keep his sisterpanytely. His absence felt unusual. ¡°He had to go on a sudden business trip,¡± Mirabe replied sinctly, omitting the part that she suspected he possibly went abroad. ¡°Another business trip, huh¡­¡± Delh murmured, her face showing no surprise, ustomed as she was to his frequent travels. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Shawn gleefully sauntered out of the kitchen with a ss of water in hand. His spirits were visibly lifted by the conversation he overheard. ¡°A man¡¯s gotta focus on his career, right?¡± Zach had been wandering around the house for the past few evenings, constantly revolving around Mirabe, which was starting to get on Shawn¡¯s nerves. Delh cast her husband a knowing nce, immediately catching onto his thinly veiled enthusiasm. ¡°You got your way,¡± she said with a hint of amusement. Shawn simply took a sip of his water, his eyes crinkling with a smile. Even though he had already eaten, he sat down at the dining table, cradling his ss, and quietly watched Mirabe eat her meal. Despite being ustomed to her father¡¯s watchful gaze, Mirabe couldn¡¯t help but look up. ¡°Dad?¡± Shawn gently nudged the bowl of sd closer to her. ¡°Eat up, kiddo. You study so hard every day. You¡¯re getting all skin and bones.¡± A twitch of helplessness flickered at the corner of Mirabe¡¯s lips. Ever since she returned to the Davis household, she felt like she had been fed well enough to start rounding out at the cheeks. How could her dear old dad not see that? Delh caught her daughter¡¯s look of yful exasperation, and couldn¡¯t hold back augh. ¡°Oh, Shawn, give it a rest. At this rate, your daughter¡¯s going to stage a protest.¡± Shawn looked up, puzzled. ¡°Protest? What protest?¡± After asking, he turned his baffled gaze back to Mirabe. She was always such a good girl. Delh shook her head and then rubbed her slightly sore shoulders. ¡°Shawn, let the girl eat. Why don¡¯t youe and give me a shoulder rub?¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Shawn stood up and followed his wife to the living room, where he began to knead her shoulders with practiced ease. Mirabe observed the couple from the dining room. One looked at the other with tender eyes. while the other¡¯s face was a picture of bliss. The atmosphere was so warm and fuzzy that it practically bubbled with pink hearts. With a silent sigh, Mirabe turned away from the unexpected disy of affection. After finishing her meal and tidying up the kitchen, Mirabe stepped out to find Delh had left the living room. Shawn was already preparing his special coffee set, steeping the expensive. blend Mirabe had brought home a few days ago. He beckoned her over. ¡°Come join your old man for a cup or two.¡± Mirabe¡¯s lips quirked. Anyone would¡¯ve thought they were about to share a bottle of wine. ¡°What have you guys been up totely?¡± she asked casually, settling onto the sofa and taking a cup of coffee. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 155 Shawn and Delh had already nned a surprise for their daughter. He gave a vague response. ¡°Oh, thepanynded a big ount, so everyone¡¯s pulling extra hours,¡± he deflected. ¡°Really?¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, her beautiful eyes clearly skeptical. ¡°Feels like you¡¯re keeping something from me.¡± Shawn¡¯s hand trembled, nearly spilling his coffee. He coughed and asserted with feigned seriousness, ¡°Honestly, what could we possibly hide from you?¡± Mirabe let out a prolonged ¡°Oh,¡± her tone rich with implication. ¡°Too clever by half,¡± Shawn thought, quickly averting his gaze and focusing on his coffee. Mirabe shook her head, not pressing further. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Setting down. her cup, she fished her phone out and saw a message from James on Messenger. Her fingers flitted across the screen to read it. [Your incense worked wonders. Thanks.] Mirabe¡¯s eyebrows arched yfully as she lounged on the sofa, replying. [Of course, it did. That scent cost a pretty penny, you know!] Meanwhile, on the other end, James was looking at the online store that Mirabe sent him. It sold the aromatherapy incense ¡°Incense of Calm¡± and was priced at a cool $299. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 James scrolled through his phone, his eyes fixed on an ad for the ¡°Incense of Calm¡± priced at $299. A ping diverted his attention to Mirabe¡¯s message on Messenger. [Of course, it¡¯s pricey stuff!] He couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of suspicion wash over him. Was this $299 candle really the sought¨C after tranquility treasure that was impossible to find in the market nowadays? After a moment of contemtion, he typed back to Mirabe. [Is this the same shop where you got the one you sent mest time?] Mirabe pondered for a few seconds, her fingers idly stroking her chin before she replied. [Nope, I got it from a different ce.] James paused, phone still in hand, then nced at his buddy Wyatt. ¡°Did you ce the order?¡± Fresh from the thrill of a sessful transaction, Wyatt couldn¡¯t hide his grin. His phone screen still disyed the purchase confirmation. ¡°Yep, cleared out their entire stock. Didn¡¯t leave a single one behind.¡± His face was a picture of smug satisfaction as if to say, ¡®Aren¡¯t I a genius? Come on, give me some credit!¡± James just pressed his fingers against his temples. Shifting his gaze back to his phone, he typed. [Got a link?] A couple of tapster, Mirabe¡¯s curiosity spilled into her message. [Why do you need so many?] What she gave him shouldst you for half a year, rights James replied. [They¡¯re really good. Want to stock up.] ¡°Darling, who are you chatting with? You¡¯ve ignored your coffee,¡± Shawn chimed in, topping up his daughter¡¯s cup, a hint of curiosity in his voice. ¡°Just a friend,¡± Mirabe responded while texting, then ncing up at him, she added, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Cut down on the coffee, or you¡¯ll have trouble sleeping.¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to it. It won¡¯t affect my sleep,¡± Shawn reassured her, savoring another sip. He¡¯d been running around all day and treasured these quiet evening moments. A day without coffee was more likely to keep him awake. Back on her phone, Mirabe warned James. [Burning too much of that stuff can be addictive. I wouldn¡¯t rmend it, James.] Staring at the phone, James let the subtle scent of sandalwood Incense swirl around him. His deep eyes clouded with an unreadable emotion before he typed back. [If I didn¡¯t know you were a high school student, I¡¯d mistake you for a doctor.] Mirabe raised an eyebrow and shot back. [Ever seen a doctor this young?] Chapter 156 James chuckled but didn¡¯t pursue the link anymore. He was already lucky enough to have scored this box of Incense of Calm. After a brief pause, he sent another message. [I¡¯ve got a box of Blue Mountain. Want some?] Looking up at her old man, Mirabe queried, ¡°Do you like Blue Mountain?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Shawn¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°OK.¡± And so, Mirabe replied to James. [I¡¯ll take it.] James. [I¡¯ll drop it off at your school gate the day after tomorrow afternoon.] Mirabe. [Cool thanks.] James. [No problem!] With their chat concluded, Mirabe reminded her dad once more to go easy on the coffee before heading upstairs. Meanwhile, James set down his phone and, after a few seconds of thought, turned to Wyatt. ¡°Get the Blue Mountain from the old man¡¯s cer shipped here.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°I need it the day after tomorrow.¡± Wyatt¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief. ¡°But don¡¯t you have several collector¡¯s editions? Why are your eyeing the old man¡¯s prized stash??¡± Chapter 157 Chapter 157 James slouched back in his chair, the overhead light casting a warm glow on his chiseled features, making him look even more like a sculpture carved from the finest marble. ¡°Isn¡¯t coffee meant to be drunk?¡± he mused with a faint smirk ying on his lips. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Wyatt¡¯s mouth twitched at the corners. ¡°But that coffee¡¯s been in the old man¡¯s collection for decades. If we take it and he finds out, won¡¯t he raise hell?* James gave Wyatt a sidelong nce, his tone casual as he spoke, ¡°Then let¡¯s make sure he doesn¡¯t find out. He¡¯s kept it for so many years, and what¡¯s a few more?¡± Wyatt rubbed his nose and then gave a respectful nod to his boss. Alright, when it came to being cunning, his boss was leagues ahead. He was the one who had much to learn. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to go tonight.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± James hummed in response. Fiddling with his phone, Wyatt thought of the dozens of boxes of calming incense he had just ordered. For some reason, a sense of unease settled in his stomach. He looked towards his boss, uncertain, ¡°James, are you sure Ms. Mirabe¡¯s incense is from that store?¡± Even Niki had mentioned that the incense James had was worth a fortune. Yet online, a whole box was going for $299. Plus, when the seller realized Wyatt needed a bulk order, they even threw in a buy¨Cone¨Cget¨Cone¨Cfree deal. Thinking about it now, it all seemed too good to be true. James lightly tapped a sandalwood stick on the table, his expression unchanging. ¡°Mhm.¡± Scratching his head, Wyatt didn¡¯t question further. ¡°The seller said they¡¯ll ship it tomorrow. I asked for express delivery. It should arrive the day after.¡± ¡°Arrange it as you see fit,¡± James said airily. Wyatt nced at James, sensing something off about his reply, but after mulling it over, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint any issue. Shaking his head, Wyatt figured he was just overthinking things. In the States. Zach had justnded when he saw Collins waving at him from the arrival gate. Collins was Leo¡¯s manager. ¡°Mr. Zach,¡± Collins greeted with a nod, promptly reaching out to help with the luggage. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry to have you make this trip.¡± *No problem. How¡¯s Leo doing?¡± Zach¡¯walked alongside Collins, his usually light demeanor reced with a rare seriousness. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ not good,¡± Collins said, his voice rough with emotion. He took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s talk Chapter 157 in the car.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Soon, Zach followed Collins out of the airport and into the car. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Zach asked, looking at Collins. ¡°A few months ago, Leo injured his spine during a performance. We all thought it was nothing serious at the time. But after a while, he got hurt again during a personal training session. That¡¯s when we found out that the previous injury had already damaged his nerves¡­¡± Collins wiped his face, continuing. ¡°Nerve damage can typically be repaired, but because we ignored it the first time, his condition worsened. After consulting numerous hospitals, we¡¯ve been given a unanimous conclusion. Leo will never be able to perform on stage again, nor can he engage in any strenuous activities, or the consequences could be dire. Leo was born for the stage. Asking him to give it up is akin to ending his life.¡± Zach fell silent, reflecting on his words. He knew his younger brother better than anyone. Leo had always loved singing and dancing since he was a kid. Later on, he defied their family¡¯s objections, venturing into the entertainment industry on his own without any connections. The hardships he endured to reach his current star status were unimaginable. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. How did such a fatal mishap befall Leo? Zach¡¯s heart ached, and he couldn¡¯t bear to imagine what his younger brother must¡¯ve looked like at that moment. ¡°After the injury, he had given up hope,¡± Zach recalled, ¡°but when he heard that the international medical prodigy, LIN, had a good chance to cure him¡­¡± Collins hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when Zach interrupted upon hearing the name LIN, ¡°Wait, did you say LIN?¡± Collins nodded, his voice tinged withplexity. ¡°We only recently found out that LIN is actually Nick.¡± Zach¡¯s lips curved into a half¨Csmile as he exined, ¡°Leo has always been busy, and with Nick settling abroad, they didn¡¯t keep in touch much, so it¡¯s normal he didn¡¯t know. Frankly, I only learned he goes by LIN after he won an international award.¡± At that, Collins couldn¡¯t help but think back to when he first met Leo, ¡°In those early days when Leo joined the scene, he never mentioned his family. I almost mistook him for an orphan with no parents.¡± Zach chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s considered the most aloof in our family.¡± Leo had fought his way up all on his own. ¡°But to his fans, he¡¯s a warm¨Chearted big guy.¡± Collins sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just fate ying cruel games¡­¡± Zach straightened up. ¡°Did you just mention Nick could treat Leo¡¯s condition?¡± ¡°We thought so, but¡­after the examination, LIN said that he probably won¡¯t be able to undergo intense training in the future,¡± Collins said with a wry smile. Zach frowned, ¡°So, has he given up on himself?¡± Collins hummed softly, acknowledging that Zach truly understood Leo¡¯s temperament. ¡°I told him, if you can¡¯t dance, don¡¯t dance and just sing. But he insists that singing without dance is like a soulless existence. After getting LIN¡¯s verdict, he shut down again and even refused surgery.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t convince him, and I feared his spinal injury would worsen, so I had no choice but to tell you, hoping you could persuade him,¡± Collins said. Zach gazed out the car window, his voice deepening, ¡°I understand. Leo is my brother, and I don¡¯t want him to give up on himself.¡± Hearing Zach¡¯s resolve, Collins felt a weight lift off his chest. Now, Zach might be all they could hope for. After about half an hour, the car entered an estate with a sophisticated security system. Chapter 158 Several checks were required before one could truly enter the estate. This estate was none other than Nick¡¯s private residence. It was Zach¡¯s first visit, and he was fascinated by the advanced equipment and the smart home robots. It was like stepping into a high¨Ctech. wondend. ¡°Zach, sorry I was tied up and couldn¡¯t pick you up from the airport myself.¡± Nick had just returned from theb and just saw the message from Collins, learning that Zach had arrived in the States. There was a tinge of regret in his eyes as he looked at Zach. His handsome face was unusually pale, the kind of pallor from ack of sunlight. It had been years since Zach had seen his brother. He walked over and put his arm around him. his voice tinged with emotion, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Nick.¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Nick always had a thing about personal space. Even though Zach was his own flesh and blood. their embracested barely a second before Zach hastily stepped back, maintaining a respectful distance. Zach sighed inwardly, understanding his brother¡¯s temperament all too well. However, no sign of displeasure crossed his features. His gaze swept the high¨Ctech hall, and he said with a lightness in his voice. ¡°Seeing you live the good life makes me happy, Nick.¡± Nick¡¯s lips twitched, as if he struggled to muster a smile, but his stoic disposition left his features stiff and rigid. He turned and poured two sses of water¨Cone for himself and one for Collins. ¡°Make yourself at home,¡± he said, handing over the ss. Zach took the ss and cut straight to the chase, ¡°Leo¡¯s injury really can¡¯t be healed.pletely?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll recover but can¡¯t do any more strenuous activities, especially performing on stage,¡± Nick replied, his voice detached. Zach fell silent, knowing that if his brother, an internationally acimed medical prodigy, said so, there was no other way around it. After a moment, Nick nced up towards the second floor, his tone growing even colder, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want treatment, just persuade him to go back home. I¡¯ve got a couple of doctors who are quite skilled. I¡¯ll refer him to them.¡± With that, Nick settled onto the couch. The chandelier above cast a brilliant light on his pale, almost translucent face, entuating his cool, emotionless demeanor. Collins, who had been listening, became visibly anxious. After several days of interaction, he hade to recognize Nick¡¯s peculiar temperament, which matched the rumors to a T. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Leo was Nick¡¯s brothers, he doubted Nick would have lifted a finger to help. ¡°Nick¡­¡± Collins began to speak but stopped as his gaze caught sight of Leo standing at the top of the staircase. He instantly fell silent. Zach also noticed Leo and, with a sigh, said, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nick didn¡¯t respond, simply picking up a magazine to read. Zach turned and made his way upstairs. Time flew, and soon, it was the eve of the BrainSpark Nationals city finals. Summer intended to review her study materials onest time, but they were nowhere to be found in her room despite a thorough search. The documents she¡¯d brought from the Education Association had vanished. 12:25 Chapter 159 Her expression grew stormy. She¡¯d been tied up with training sessions at thepany every afternoon after school and hade home too exhausted to do anything but sleep. There had been no time for revision. She was certain she had left the papers under her pillow. Where could they have gone? Rubbing her temples, a thought struck her, and she quickly left her room. The room next door was Aiden¡¯s. Without knocking, Summer barged in, ¡°Alden, did you take my study materials?¡± Aiden, who was in the middle of a gaming session with his friends, had headphones on and didn¡¯t quite catch what Summer said. He nced up briefly when she entered, then refocused on his game. Summer snatched his phone and yanked off his headphones, her voice filled with usation, ¡°Give me back my study materials.¡± Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed in annoyance at the interruption, ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Give me back. my phone right now.¡± Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Summer didn¡¯t just withhold Aiden¡¯s phone. She actually took a step back, defiance etched on her face. ¡°Give me back my study notes, or you can kiss your phone goodbye.¡± Aiden stared at her, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. ¡°Study notes? I¡¯m an eighth¨C grader. Why on earth would I want your notes? Are you kidding me?¡± With a scoff, Summer shot back, ¡°y dumb all you want, Aiden. Who else would swipe my competition prep if not you? Remember how you suddenly turned all saintly at the Education Association and offered to walk me out? Was it then that you hatched this little plot?¡± ¡°usations without evidence? That¡¯s low, even for you,¡± Aiden sneered, clearly irritated. ¡°I told you, I didn¡¯t take anything. And since you¡¯re so high and mighty, why would you even need those notes?¡± He added impatiently, ¡°Now give me back my phone.¡± As he advanced to reim his device, Summer, livid, hurled the phone towards the doorway with all her might. It shattered into pieces upon impact. Aiden¡¯s face went ashen, his fists clenched in a brief moment of rage, but he managed to rein in the urge to strike back. With a venomous tone, he spat out a single word, ¡°Scram.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Summer¡¯s confidence faltered under Aiden¡¯s intimidating re. She bit her lip and demanded onest time, ¡°Where are my notes?!¡± He watched her coldly, then unexpectedly, his lips curled into a mocking smile. ¡°You want to know where your precious notes are? Apologize to me, and admit you were nning to cheat in the competition.¡± At his words, Summer huffed, ¡°I knew it was you.¡± Shrugging nonchntly, Aiden¡¯s rebellious smirk returned. Taking a deep breath, Summer faced him, her pride unshaken as she dered, ¡°You just want to see me humiliated, don¡¯t you? Well, I¡¯ll never give you the satisfaction!¡± With that, she strode toward the door. Pausing at the door, she tossed a scornful look over her shoulder. ¡°Even without my notes, I¡¯ll excel.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± Aiden retorted dryly. His gaze then fell on the remnants of his phone, and his expression soured once more. ¡°Women,¡± he thought bitterly, ¡°are truly an infuriating species.¡± The next day, thepetition was still set at the local Education Center. Shawn and Delh took a break from sprucing up their new vi, and decided to apany their daughter, just like they had for the previous round. Before leaving, Delh opened the storage cab to grab some things and noticed an 13-25 Chapter 160 unopened package. Curiously, she picked it up. ¡°Oh, honey, there¡¯s a package here for you,¡± Delh called out to Mirabe, who had just finished putting on her shoes at the entrance. Mirabe nced up. Her memory Jogged. She remembered Man had picked it up for her a couple of days ago, but it had slipped her mind. ¡°It¡¯s probably from a friend,¡± Mirabe replied nonchntly. ¡°Alright then,¡± Delh said, cing the package back in the cab before taking her own belongings and heading for the door. Half an hourter, the family arrived at the Education Center. This round was more intense than thest city¨Clevel preliminaries, and the crowd of students and parents at the entrance was noticeably thinner. After watching Mirabe enter the examination hall, Delh and Shawn nned to wait at a nearby caf¨¦. However, they¡¯d barely taken a few steps when someone blocked their path. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Delh eyed the middle¨Caged man blocking their path with a flicker of recognition, but she couldn¡¯t quite ce where she¡¯d seen him before. Puzzled, she inquired, ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°Thedy of the house has requested the pleasure of yourpany at the caf¨¦ up ahead,¡± the middle¨C aged man replied, his manner polite yetced with an undercurrent of haughtiness that was unmistakable. He was the Gilbert family¡¯s butler. Delh narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°Thedy of the house?¡± The butler nodded, maintaining a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing, ¡°Mrs. Gilbert. Miss Mirabe¡¯s adoptive mother.¡± Delh¡¯s expression darkened ever so slightly, ¡°What does she want with us?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not entirely privy to the details, but if you apany me, all shall be revealed,¡± the butler said smoothly, stepping aside but clearly not intending to leave without escorting them. Delh frowned, her disdain for Mandy palpable. Mandy¡¯s airs of a high¨Csociety matron grated on Delh, not to mention Mandy¡¯s past mistreatment of Mirabe. Without hesitation, Delh declined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re short on time.¡± The butler seemed to have anticipated her refusal and added, ¡°The matter Mrs. Gilbert wishes to discuss pertains to Miss Mirabe.¡± At that, Delh swallowed her objections. Shawn ced a reassuring hand on her shoulder. and addressed the butler, ¡°Well then, we shall honor her request and see her.¡± The butler¡¯s lips pursed slightly as he gestured for them to follow, leading the way. Delh nced at her husband, annoyancecing her voice, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to see that woman.¡± Shawn offered a reassuring smile, ¡°You could wait in the car, and I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to see what kind of stunt she¡¯s trying to pull now,¡± Delh snorted, catching up to the butler. Soon, they entered the caf¨¦. The ce wasn¡¯t crowded, and Mandy sat at a window¨Cside table on the right. As Delh and Shawn approached, they overheard Mandy instructing, ¡°John, please inform the manager that we¡¯d like some privacy. No interruptions.¡± Her makeup was impable, her voice indifferent as she gave her orders. Delh gave Mandy a once¨Cover, her internal verdict sinct ¨C pretentious. ¡°Certainly, madam,¡± the butler bowed slightly and made his way to the manager at the front. Once the butler had left, Mandy finally turned her attention to Delh, envy flickering through her eyes. Delh had been a beauty in her youth and maintained her appearance meticulously. Her hapter 161. face was virtually unmarred by time, looking no more than in her thirties. Coupled with her poise and elegance, she outshone the typical society matron. Mandy resented Delh deeply. In her mind, Delh was just someone from humble beginnings, pretending to exude ss. With a forced smile, Mandy gestured to the seats opposite her, ¡°Please, have a seat. Order whatever you like. It¡¯s on the house.¡± Delh found Mandy¡¯s feigned hospitality amusing but said nothing. She took a seat without All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ceremony. Foregoing coffee, Delh rested her hands on the table and met Mandy¡¯s gaze, cutting straight to the chase, ¡°Let¡¯s dispense with the pleasantries, shall we? I¡¯d appreciate it if you could get to the point.¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Mandy leisurely sipped her coffee before locking eyes with Delh. ¡°I want you to transfer Mirabe to a different school. Any school other than Parkside High will do. I have connections. I can make it happen.¡± Delh blinked, taken aback. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not quite following. Why should my daughter have to transfer?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s affecting Summer,¡± Mandy said bluntly, no mincing words. Delh couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°As far as I know, our daughters aren¡¯t even in the same ss. What kind of ¡®effect¡® are we talking about?¡± ¡°You should really ask your daughter what she did to Summer,¡± Mandy said, her voice tinged with usation. Frowning, Delh was about to retort when Mandy cut in again. ¡°Look, your daughter¡¯s grades. aren¡¯t the best. She¡¯s struggling to keep up at Parkside High. Maybe a fresh start at a different school would be better for her self¨Cesteem.¡± Delh stared incredulously at Mandy. Was she seriously suggesting Mirabe, who topped. her ss, had poor grades? It was like a joke. Ignoring Delh¡¯s skeptical look, Mandy pulled out a check she had prepared earlier. ¡°Thist should cover it. Keep your daughter away from the Gilbert family from now on.¡± Delh nced at the check and then back at Mandy, who looked like she had never seen so much money in her life. Delh nearly chuckled. Five hundred thousand. Was that it? Mirabe¡¯s customBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. wardrobe alone cost more than that. But the money wasn¡¯t the point. ¡°I just want to know how my daughter supposedly bullied Summer,¡± Delh redirected the conversation. Mandy didn¡¯t really know what Mirabe had done, but she remembered her daughter¡¯s hurt. feelings. Impatiently, she said, ¡°Just ask your daughter.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t actually know?¡± Delh¡¯s tone was mocking. Having dealt with Mandy¡¯s irrationality before, Delh stood up. ¡°Sorry, but my daughter isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡± She picked up the check from the table, let it flutter to the ground, and raised an eyebrow defiantly. ¡°This little amount wouldn¡¯t even cover my daughter¡¯s expenses. With that, she grasped her husband¡¯s hand and walked out with an air of arrogance. Mandy¡¯s face turned a shade of thunderous purple, especially after Delh¡¯s dismissive check¨Ctossing gesture. She was so furious that she nearly threw her coffee. ¡°Ignorant, foolish, pretentious!¡± Mandy seethed under her breath. The butler beside her quickly scooped up the check from the floor. ¡°Madam, please, calm Chapter 162 down. They¡¯re just a couple who¡¯ve never been anywhere. They¡¯re not worth your time.¡± Mandy¡¯s gaze drifted to the window, where she caught sight of Delh and Shawn getting into their old Santana. She scoffed disdainfully. ¡°You¡¯re right. Why bother with people who¡¯ve never seen the world?¡± Mandy sneered and turned away as if one more nce would sully. her. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Back in the car, Delh¡¯s haughty expression had fallen away, reced by irritation. ¡°I¡¯m so annoyed What¡¯s up with the Gilbert family? They juste up and demand Mirabe switch schools as if they own the ce!¡± Shawn turned to look at his fuming wife and couldn¡¯t help butugh. The way you tossed that check was super cool.¡± Delh shot him a re, her voice tinged with exasperation. ¡°Is the check toss really the point? They¡¯re using Mira of bullying Summer, Mira is so sweet¨Cnatured. How could she possibly bully anyone? This is just absurd!¡± Through the time they¡¯d spent together, Delh hade to understand her daughter¡¯s temperament pretty well. Even when Emmitt misunderstood her, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage, her indifference being such that she was more likely to be bullied than to bully others. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Shawn was silent for a couple of seconds before he spoke, ¡°I think Summer must have said something at home; otherwise, the Gilberts wouldn¡¯t havee after us today.¡± Delh frowned, ¡°But to say our girl bullied Summer, I just don¡¯t believe it.¡± Shawn crossed his arms, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just ask Mira when she gets out of her examter? That¡¯ll clear things up.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Delh sighed, her thoughts drifting back to Mandy¡¯s expression when she whipped out that check. Turning to her husband, she said with a tinge of frustration, ¡°Shawn, do you think we¡¯ve been too low¨Cprofile?¡± Shawn stroked his chin, eyeing the Santana emblem on the steering wheel, and for the first time, he found himself agreeing with his wife, ¡°I think so, too.¡± Being smacked with a check in public? That was just unbelievable. An hourter, thepetition ended. Mirabe handed in her paper and walked out of the exam room with her usual nonchnt grace. Unlike the other students who looked stressed post¨Cexam, her ease suggested the test had been predictably simple for her. After a quick stop in the restroom, Mirabe emerged to see a tall, lean young man standing against a wall in the hallway. He was looking down, allowing only his profile to be seen. Mirabe barely nced at him before looking away, but as she passed by, he finally raised his head and called out to her in a cool voice. ¡°Mirabe.¡± Her stride paused, and she turned, getting a clear view of the boy¡¯s handsome, expressionless face. With a slightly raised eyebrow, she asked, ¡°And you are?¡± The boy wasn¡¯t upset by herck of recognition. He smiled slightly, his deep eyes lighting with a fierce resolve ¡°You¡¯re strong. A worthy opponent for me¡± ¡°But I won¡¯t lose to you in thispetition again,¡± he said confidently, then formed and wathed away. Watching his retreating figure, Mirabe was momentarily dumbfounded, touching her one Had she just been challenged? After a brief dy in the restroom, Mirabe exited the main doors to find most of the other students and parents had already left. She was one of thest to depart Delh and Shawn, who had been waiting, hurried over to her, ¡°Mira, why are you out sote today? Were the questions difficult?¡± Delh asked with concern, recalling that her daughter was usually among the first to finish. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Mirabe gave Delh a gentle shake of her head, her voice soft, ¡°No biggie, just got held up in the restroom for a bit.¡± 2 = 5 All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing this, Delh reached out to take her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road. Hop in the car.¡± Mirabe felt the warmth from Delh¡¯s hand. A moment of stillness took her, and her fingers curled slightly. In the end, she did not pull away, allowing Delh to lead her. Once in the car, Delh, as usual, inquired about the day¡¯s exams. Then, ncing at her husband driving in front, she cleared her throat and asked, ¡°Mira, honey, how are you finding Parkside High? Anything you¡¯re not used to? Anyone giving you a hard time?¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Delh. ¡°What¡¯s with the sudden concern?¡± Delh chuckled sheepishly, ¡°Well, we¡¯ve been swampedtely, and we kinda dropped the ball on checking in with you about the new school. Just thought I¡¯d ask.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all good. No bullies,¡± Mirabe replied with aid¨Cback tone. ¡°How about Summer? You guys mingling much at school?¡± Delh asked casually, pretending not to dwell on it. ¡°We¡¯re not in the same ss. We haven¡¯t really talked,¡± Mirabe said, keeping to herself the fact that Summer had approached her once. It didn¡¯t seem necessary to bring it up. Delh didn¡¯t strike Mirabe as someone who would bring someone up out of the blue, and her gaze seemed a bit elusive, clearly harboring something. After a few seconds of thought, Mirabe said, ¡°Mom, if you¡¯ve got something on your mind, you can just ask.¡± Delh met her daughter¡¯s clear, bright eyes and suddenly felt a pang of regret. How could she let the Gilbert family¡¯s words sway her? Questioning her own daughter about whether she had been causing trouble at school, especially to Summer, would be hurtful. It would. only show her daughter ack of trust. Shaking her head, Delh smiled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just asking.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing that Delh wasn¡¯t going to borate, Mirabe didn¡¯t press further. The next afternoon, right as school let out, Mirabe¡¯s phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message from James. She remembered that he was supposed to drop off some coffee beans today, and quickly typed three words with a smile. [Give me five.] She packed up her textbooks, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and strode out of the ssroom. In the driver¡¯s seat, Wyatt kept ncing at the exquisitely wrapped canister of coffee beans Chapter 16-4 on the backseat, contemting one more attempt to convince James, ¡°Sir, maybe we should just give the old man¡¯s coffee back, huh?¡± James, legs casually crossed, nced at Wyatt. ¡°Since when did you get so chicken?¡± Wyatt scratched his head, realizing to himself that it wouldn¡¯t be James to get in trouble for sneaking the coffee beans out. If the old man found out, Wyatt would catch the worst of it. Soon enough, Mirabe appeared at the school gate. She took five minutes to get from the exit to the car. James tapped his watch. His expression collected as he handed Mirabe the coffee without hesitation or regret. Wyatt watched, inwardly eximing that it was easy to be generous with what was not yours. Mirabe didn¡¯t bother to open the box. She just pursed her lips and smiled at James, ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± James¡® eyebrows lifted slightly, his voice smooth, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking much better,¡± Mirabe added, giving James a casual once¨Cover. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 James leaned casually against the door of his sleek ck car. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal his wrists. His eyes, with a yful glint, rested on Mirabe. His lips curved into a half¨Csmile as he spoke teasingly, ¡°Because your incense works wonders.¡± Mirabe arched an eyebrow. Her face lit up with a blend of brilliance and brazen pride. ¡°Of course it does.¡± Just then, Wyatt, who had been fiddling with the GPS, chimed in without missing a beat. ¡°Ms. Mirabe, you¡¯re acquainted with that boutique owner, aren¡¯t you? I ced an order the other day, and the chap threw in a buy¨Cone¨Cget¨Cone¨Cfree deal for me.¡± Caught off¨Cguard, Mirabe turned to Wyatt, her voiceced with curiosity, ¡°Which boutique All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. owner?¡± James facepalmed. As Wyatt started the engine, he borated, ¡°The one from that perfume shop you rmended to James.¡± After a brief moment of puzzlement, Mirabe¡¯s face lit up with realization. ¡°We don¡¯t know each other.¡± ¡°Huh, really? I thought there was some connection, hence the discount, Wyatt mused absent¨Cmindedly. Narrowing her eyes slightly, Mirabe recalled James¡® message on Messenger. With an airy tone, she asked, ¡°So, how much did you buy?¡± Scratching his head, Wyatt confessed, ¡°About two hundred boxes or so. He practically emptied his stock for me.¡± Hearing this, Mirabe turned her gaze towards James, her eyes twinkling with mischief. James, who usually exuded an air ofposure, now seemed slightly flustered. Clearing his throat, he deftly changed the subject. ¡°Mirabe, what are you in the mood for tonight? Something fancy?¡± With a rxed smile, Mirabe leaned back in her seat, resting her hands behind her head. ¡°Anything lavish will do.¡± Observing herid¨Cback demeanor, James joked, ¡°You¡¯re not afraid I might trade you for a fancy dinner?¡± With her eyes already half¨Cclosed, Mirabe¡¯s response came with a touch of arrogance, ¡°Only if you think you can.¡± James chuckled, shook his head, and directed Wyatt to a specific location. As Mirabe seemed to doze off, James let the silence settle in the car, and even Wyatt instinctively turned off the music. Chapter 165 About thirty minutester, they pulled up in front of a quaint restaurant nestled in a serene spot. James turned to wake Mirabe but found her eyes open, devoid of any trace of sleepiness. He raised an eyebrow, ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± With a nonchnt ¡°Mhm,¡± Mirabe pushed the car door open and stepped out. The rustic entrance, nked by a country¨Cstyle brook and bridge d¨¦cor, exuded a rxed and refined charm. Mirabe followed James into the restaurant. The exterior had seemed modest, but inside, it opened up into an unexpectedly charming space, rich with an air of elegance. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t half bad,¡± Mirabe observed, ncing around the empty establishment. ¡°Just a shame there¡¯s no customers around.¡± James looked back at her, exining, ¡°The owner has closed it to the public today.¡± She raised an eyebrow, ¡°Is the owner friend of yours?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± James replied nonchntly. At that moment, a middle¨Caged man emerged from the back. Upon seeing James, his demeanor instantly shifted to one of considerable respect. ¡°Hello, Sir.¡± The honorific didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Mirabe, whose eyes lingered on the man, catching the subtle deference in his gaze. The moment the man had received the call, he knew James would be bringing a friend. But seeing that the guest was a youngdy, he had visibly paused, taken aback. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 The middle aged man only gave Mirabe a cursory nce before his gaze shifted back to James, greeting him with a warm smile. ¡°Knox was thrilled to hear about your visit. He¡¯s actually whipping up something special in the kitchen as we speak. He asked me to let you know he¡¯s perfecting a new health tonic recipe. It might take a little extra time, though, so your patience would be greatly appreciated.¡± James, upon hearing this, nced at Mirabe. Mirabe, standing nearby, caught James¡® inquisitive look and casually waved her hand. I¡¯m particrly hungry. A little wait won¡¯t hurt.¡± not The middle¨Caged man was a bit taken aback by James¡® manner towards the youngdy by his side, but he didn¡¯t dare to pry further, Instead, he offered attentively, ¡°I¡¯ll bring over some appetizers to tide you over in the meantime.¡± ¡°Much obliged,¡± James responded with a slight nod. private ¡°My pleasure.¡± With that, the middle¨Caged man ushered James and Mirabe into a priv dining room before excusing himself. ¡°This ce is known for its food therapy. The clientele is quite exclusive, and they rarely serve walk¨C ins, James exined to Mirabe as they settled into their seats. ¡°Food therapy?¡± Mirabe¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°You don¡¯t find many who can whip those up these days¡± James was slightly surprised to hear such ament from Mirabe. ¡°You seem quite familiar with food therapy?¡± Mirabe shrugged, ¡°Not really, just read a bit about them in books. Nheless, such culinary arts are mostly from ancient royal courts, lost in time. Even if some recipes have been passed down, they¡¯re rarely authentic.¡± She paused, ¡°Of course, if it¡¯s a recipe handed down through generations from a family of health tonic connoisseurs, that¡¯s a different story.¡± She inadvertently let slip a little more than she intended. James just pursed his lips and smiled at her enthusiasm. Soon, the middle¨Caged man returned, carrying two delicate tes of pastries and cing them on the table. Mirabe eyed the pastries, raising an eyebrow at one of the tes. ¡°Is this Almond Thyme Cake?¡± The man looked at Mirabe with surprise and nodded. ¡°Indeed, it is. Thebination of almond and fresh thyme is great for nourishing the body and mitigating dryness, especially around this time of year.¡± in Mirabe pinched a piece, tasted it, and a hint of surprise crossed her face. ¡°The cake melts your mouth. The almond and fresh thyme blend is sweet without a hint of bitterness. Impressive.¡± Hearing her praise, the man gestured to the other te. ¡°Can you guess what this pastry is?¡± Instead of answering immediately, Mirabe took a piece and bit into it. Then she replied, ¡°This is Kudzu Coconut Cake, but it¡¯s a pity that the kudzu root and coconut powder weren¡¯t dried enough. It lacks the intended texture and benefits.¡± After just one bite, Mirabe set the rest back on the te. Her expression was tinged with disappointment. At this, the man¡¯s expression was beyond surprised. Such discerning taste surely belonged to a connoisseur. ¡°Do you have some expertise in food therapy?¡± he asked. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Mirabe shook her head nonchntly. ¡°Not really. A rtive used to make them, and I¡¯ve had a few tries.¡± She was practically coerced into sampling. The man didn¡¯t press further and soon left the private room, taking with him the te of Kudzu Coconut Cake that Mirabe hadn¡¯t favored. As the middle¨Caged man reached the entrance, he bumped into Wyatt, who had just parked his car and returned. Seeing the pastries in his hand, Wyatt grabbed a piece and popped it into his mouth. ¡°Not bad at all,¡± Wyattmented with approval. The man simply gave him a silent stare before turning away and walking off. Wyatt was puzzled. Something about that look felt oddly unsettling. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The middle¨Caged man carried the pastries back to the kitchen, casually rying Mirabe¡¯s critique to Knox, who was bustling around the stove. Knox¡¯s head snapped up, his expression stern ¡°So even a non¨Cprofessional can taste ws in the pastry. You should really reflect on this and ensure you don¡¯t embarrass us again.¡± With that, Knox returned his focus to the ingredients before him. The man wiped the sweat from his brow, muttering to himself, ¡°Understood.¡± He had merely intended to point out that the youngdy seemed quite discerning, but instead, he had received a scolding. Back in the private dining room. Mirabe had taken out a test from her bag and started working on it homework assigned by her math teacher earlier that day. James sat beside her, sipping his coffee in silence, careful not to disturb her concentration. Wyatt stood behind Mirabe, his gaze asionally drifting to her paper. He couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of the math problems, but watching her swiftly and effortlesslyplete one after another reminded him of his high school days when he¡¯d breeze through exams with wild guesses. Wyatt stroked his chin, thinking how some things never change, no matter the era ¨C the same cavalier attitude towards schoolwork. But he had to admit, Ms. Mirabe¡¯s handwriting was something to behold. Even when filling out random answers, she maintained a meticulous script ¨C a sign of a calm andposed mind. As Mirabe wrote down thest of the equations and set her pen aside, the curtain to the private room was drawn aside. The middle¨Caged man who had greeted them before now entered with a tray in hand, and a faint, herbal aroma began to fill the room. Mirabe looked up, her eyes reflecting surprise. The scent seemed familiar¡­ wasn¡¯t it crab simmered with a delicate blend of several valuable medicinal herbs? The man ced a dish of creamy bisque in front of her, then set down two fine porcin bowls for Mirabe and James. ¡°This is Knox¡¯stest creation, the ¡®Elixir Crab Bisque. It¡¯s prepared to strengthen the spleen and whet the appetite and is perfect for when you¡¯re feeling a bit under the weather.¡± James stood, took the bowl in front of Mirabe; anddled some bisque into it. ¡°Give it a try.¡± Wyatt watched his boss serving someone else with a sense of surreal pleasure. If others saw. this, their jaws would surely hit the floor. Mirabe, oblivious to Wyatt¡¯s thoughts and not one to stand on ceremony with James, took a spoonful of the bisque and tasted it. Her eyes lit up. ¡°This is quite good. The herbal taste 10:45 Chapter 167 isn¡¯t overpowering, and the vors are bnced. The chef has a skilled hand. It¡¯s evident that a master crafted this dish.¡± James, who wasn¡¯t well¨Cversed in food therapy, raised an eyebrow and then helped himself to a bowl, remarking, ¡°It¡¯s rare to get a taste of Knox¡¯s personal culinary work. We¡¯re quite fortunate today.¡± After finishing her serving and savoring the taste for a moment, Mirabe couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°If only you added some barley, it would be perfection.¡± James might not have understood the reference to the traditional ingredients, but the middle¨Caged man, with a bit of knowledge about herbs, frowned slightly at her suggestion. When the youngdy had commented on the pastries, he assumed she had some basic understanding, especially since the pastries weren¡¯t Knox¡¯s work. But this ¡®Elixir Crab Bisque¡® was the result of months of Knox¡¯s meticulous research and was, as far as he was concerned, already perfect. To think this youngdy still found itcking was quite surprising. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 The Mendozas have been renowned culinary herbalists for generations, with their craft honed within the royal kitchens. Their mastery of medicinal cuisine was unparalleled in the. industry. So, facing critique from someone with a deep understanding of pharmacology was one thing, but from a teenager who looked barely out of high school? The middle¨Caged man¡¯s expression soured. This youngdy was James¡® guest, but her tone seemed a tad too showy, perhaps even snide. He opened his mouth to retort when suddenly, Knox burst through the door, his face etched with a mix of shock and bewilderment. ¡°What¡¯s the thought behind adding barley to the mix?¡± Knox¡¯s gaze locked onto Mirabe, a flicker of excitement barely concealed in his voice. Mirabe turned to regard Knox, who¡¯d just entered, noting the apron tied around his waist and the white arm gaiters that suggested he was, indeed, the chef James had mentioned. Blinking, she shifted her gaze to the steaming bowl of soup on the table, her voice light, ¡°Barley can help bnce the other herbs with the thermal properties of the crab. Barley might seem mundanepared to precious ingredients in the soup, but the art of herbal formtion is about synergy. Even the mostmon herb can unveil its true potential with the rightbination.¡± As her words settled, Knox staggered, nearly losing hisposure. If not for his hands braced against the table, he might have made quite the scene. The middle¨Caged man rushed to Knox¡¯s side, offering support, then turned back to Mirabe, unable to hide his irritation despite James¡® presence. ¡°What do you know about herbal pairing, youngdy?¡± Taking a deep breath, the man could barely contain his frustration. ¡°Do you have any ideal how many years Knox has dedicated to studying pharmacology? The Mendoza family¡¯s expertise in medicinal cuisine is legendary, and not once has anyone dared to question Knox¡¯s methods!¡± Mirabe cast him a cool nce. ¡°If an expert in alternative medicine stood before you and made the same observations, would you then consider my words to have merit?¡± Stumped by the retort, the middle¨Caged man stiffened. After a couple of seconds, he muttered, ¡°You¡¯re just being unreasonable.¡± Sensing the conversation might devolve into an argument, Wyatt quickly interjected, ¡°Ms. Mirabe was merely sharing her thoughts, no offense intended. Let¡¯s not take it to heart.¡± The middle¨Caged man huffed, ¡°If you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, it¡¯s better to say nothing at all.¡± James frowned, his gaze,cooling significantly as he spoke up, ¡°Does youth preclude one from having an opinion?¡± The man hadn¡¯t expected James to defend Mirabe, and hisplexion alternated between flush and pale. After a moment, considering James¡® stature, he averted his gaze Chapter 168 and mumbled an apology. ¡°Sorry for being too blunt.¡± His words carried the tone of an apology, but his demeanor suggested otherwise. James turned to Mirabe, whose expression remained indifferent¨Cit was impossible to tell if she was upset. However, the pleasant atmosphere had been thoroughly disrupted. ¡°Sorry,¡± he murmured to her. Mirabe heard James¡® apology, looked up, and shrugged nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Opinions vary, and not everyone is open to them.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. As Knox still seemed dazed, James stood up. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 The middle¨Caged man caught the expressionless look on James¡® striking face as he stood up and shuddered with realization. He had been too rash, too confrontational for a moment. Crossing a young girl might slide, but crossing James¡­ The middle¨Caged man couldn¡¯t help but shiver, regretting why he had gotten into a petty argument with Mirabe in the first ce Before James could even speak, the man nced at Mirabe and quickly followed her lead, saying, ¡°The youngdy is right. It¡¯s all a matter of personal opinion and personal taste. I apologize for my earlier tactless remarks, James. Please, don¡¯t be upset.¡± Mirabe sighed inwardly, noticing the man¡¯s overly cautious demeanor. It was all because she had been too slick with her words. Then, she reached for the soup spoon and brought James¡® bowl closer, adding another spoonful, saying casually, ¡°Have some more soup.¡± With that, she handed the bowl over to him. James¡® gaze fell on Mirabe¡¯s face, and her pretty, almond¨Cshaped eyes yfully blinked. Her casual demeanor somehow diffused the awkward atmosphere. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. In the end, James epted the soup she offered. Mirabe raised her eyebrows in satisfaction. Wyatt, standing at the side, discreetly stepped back. He thought that Mirabe really had the magic touch the tension had dissipated just like that. The middle¨Caged man felt his heart rx as James took the soup. He was grateful that their exchange hadn¡¯t resulted in a blow¨Cup. At that moment, Knox, who had been supported by the middle¨Caged man, seemed to finally snap out of his daze from Mirabe¡¯s words. He stared at her with intense excitement in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve studied pharmacology for sixty years, yet I¡¯ve been stuck in a blind spot and convinced that only culinary dishes prepared with rare medicinal ingredients could be considered true food therapy¡­ How old¨Cfashioned I¡¯ve been,¡± Knox said, his face flushing with embarrassment. ¡°Youngdy, thank you for your enlightening words.¡± Then, he pushed the middle¨Caged man¡¯s hand away and bowed deeply to Mirabe. The middle¨Caged man was shoved aside and stood petrified. His face was etched with shock as he watched Knox. Knox was actually thanking a girl barely in herte teens. Hadn¡¯t he been rendered speechless by her just a moment ago? Now, it seemed as if he had an epiphany. He appeared not only unangered but delighted. Mirabe herself was taken aback by Knox¡¯s sudden show of gratitude. After pausing for a second, she stood up and said calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I merely spoke my mind. It wasn¡¯t anything profound.¡± Knox nced at the bowl of soup on the table and chuckled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve always felt that my new dish was missing something. I tried every fancy ingredient fit for consumption, but I 1/2 10:45 Chapter 169 never thought of something asmon as barley. You¡¯re right. The true essence of pairing ingredients in medicinal cuisine is the harmony of their properties. I¡¯ve been too narrow¨Cminded.¡± After speaking, Knox turned to the middle¨Caged man, his eyes showing a hint of disappointment and sighed, ¡°You should offer a sincere apology to this youngdy. You¡¯ve been studying under me for years, yet you couldn¡¯t see through the simplest issues.¡± The middle¨Caged man, though not a direct apprentice of Knox, was talented in creating. medicinal dishes. Being scolded by Knox and told to apologize to a young girl based on an offhandment made him feel deeply frustrated. He thought Knox was making a mountain out of a molehill. Even if it was for James¡® sake, was there really a need to make such a fuss? Chapter 170 Chapter 170 The middle¨Caged man¡¯s ego was slightly bruised; nevertheless, he hastily apologized to Mirabe. Knox observed his reluctant demeanor and waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have someone bring out the rest of the dishes?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Just as the man was looking for an excuse to slip away and salvage some dignity, Knox¡¯smand gave him a quick out. ¡°Right away.¡± Once he was gone, Knox turned to Mirabe and James, looking somewhat sheepish. ¡°My associate is a bit uncultured. I apologize for the scene he caused.¡± Mirabe offered a gracious smile and sat back down. Knox pulled out the chair next to her and settled in. ¡°So, youngdy, how do you have such knowledge of herbal remedies?¡± With Knox¡¯s question hanging in the air, James also turned his attention to her, his gaze subtly inquisitive, making it impossible for Mirabe to ignore. She nced at Knox, her expression unfazed. ¡°I¡¯ve read a bit about health and wellness. Just the basics, really. Nothing professional.¡± Knox chuckled at her modesty. ¡°If you just read a bit and are now able to spot the issues in al meal, that suggests a real talent in this field.¡± After a pause, as if struck by a sudden thought, Knox proposed, ¡°Would you be interested in learning how to prepare these dishes with me?¡± Wyatt, sitting nearby, looked up in surprise at Knox¡¯s offer. The Mendoza family had been esteemed court culinary herbalists for generations. They were revered for serving kings, a testament to their lofty status. Even in modern times, the Mendoza family was a household name in Ashford, and now Knox was a prominent member of the Pharmacists¡® Guild with vast connections. To be taken under the Mendoza family¡¯s wing could elevate one¡¯s experiences to a whole new level. Moreover, Knox was known for his exacting standards. Aside from supporting two apprentices in his youth, it had been decades since he took on a new pupil. Those who caught his eye were few and far between. Indeed, James¡® instincts were extraordinary ¡°I have no interest,¡± Mirabe tly refused Knox¡¯s offer without hesitation. She had finally settled into a normal life; why would she torment herself with new challenges? Wyatt coughed lightly, giving her a gentle nudge. ¡°Ms. Mirabe, the Mendoza family has a century¨Cold legacy in medicinal cuisine. Bing Knox¡¯s apprentice could pave the way for an illustrious future.¡± Mirabe¡¯s expression remained unchanged, as if the legacy of the Mendoza family was no different to her than any ordinary household. ¡°Tempting as it sounds, I¡¯m truly not interested.¡± 10 46 Chapter 170 ¡°Very well¡­¡± Knox sounded genuinely disappointed. After a brief pause, he offered at concession, ¡°Should you change your mind, you¡¯re wee toe to me anytime.¡± It was a golden offer that would stun onlookers, considering Knox and Mirabe had just met. Before Mirabe could respond, James, who had been silent at the head of the table, spoke up, ¡°In that case, on behalf of this youngdy, I extend our gratitude to you for your generous offer.¡± Knox, catching the subtle implications in James¡® words, revealed a flicker of surprise. While curious about the nature of Mirabe and James¡® rtionship, he refrained from prying further, simply offering a smile. ¡°You¡¯re too polite, James. Your friends are always wee among the Mendoza family.¡± Mirabe tilted her head, casting a nce at James, her fingers tapping thoughtfully on the table, lost in contemtion. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 In no time at all, the kitchen staff brought out several more dishes. Mirabe, cool as a cucumber, folded the test papers she hadn¡¯t yet managed to stash in her bag and put them. away neatly. It was then that Knox noticed Mirabe¡¯s attire, the Parkside High School uniform, and he couldn¡¯t help but express his surprise, ¡°You¡¯re a student at Parkside High?¡± Mirabe hummed in affirmation. ¡°Ms. Mirabe¡¯s a senior, so she doesn¡¯t have the time to be a student anywhere else,¡± Wyatt chimed in by way of exnation. Knox¡¯s expression cleared with understanding. ¡°Well, that makes sense. Senior year is a real crossroads in life. It¡¯s right to focus all your energy on your studies.¡± After a brief pause, Knox continued, ¡°Got a grandson in his senior year at Parkside High myself. Tried to get him interested in these healing meals, but he couldn¡¯t care less.¡± ¡°Young folks tend to be restless,¡± Wyatt said with a chuckle. ¡°That they do,¡± Knox sighed, his gaze sweeping over the array of dishes before standing up and addressing James in a polite tone, ¡°Well, I won¡¯t intrude on your meal any further.¡± James gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. Shortly after, Knox exited the private dining room. A whileter, Wyatt turned his attention to Mirabe and said, ¡°Ms. Mirabe, do you realize what a golden opportunity you just passed up?¡± Mirabe raised an eyebrow, staring at Wyatt, but remained silent. ¡°Let me put it this way,¡± Wyatt began, ¡°the Mendoza family holds considerable sway throughout Ashford. If you apprenticed with Knox, you and your family would be set for life. here. Knox isn¡¯t just any cook. He¡¯s a member of the Pharmacists¡® Guild¡­¡± Wyatt trailed off as he remembered Mirabe¡¯s small¨Ctown upbringing. Talking guilds might be over her head. He kept the rest of his thoughts about the Pharmacists¡® Guild to himself and summarized, ¡°In short, being connected with the Mendoza family is all pros and no cons.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have to worry about college applications either.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± was all Mirabe said, shrugging nonchntly before bowing her head to continue with her meal. Wyatt, who had been hoping to see some sign of regret from Mirabe, was left speechless. Had he not made himself clear enough? Why was Ms. Mirabe showing absolutely no reaction? James cast a nce at Wyatt. ¡°Eat your food.¡± Wyatt touched his nose. He felt like the only one making a fuss, while the other two couldn¡¯t be less concerned. After they finished eating, the group left Knox¡¯s restaurant. But as they stepped out, a waiter hurried after them, handing Mirabe a token. ¡°This is from Mr. Knox.¡± Mirabe epted it, opening the box to reveal a custom¨Cmade token. Upon catching a glimpse, James showed a flicker of surprise on hisposed face, then spoke slowly, ¡°Keep it. That token could come in handy.¡± With a half¨Cjoking smile, Mirabe asked, ¡°Does it get me discounts on food?¡± The corner of James¡® mouth twitched, but he didn¡¯t bother to borate, ¡°If that¡¯s how you want to see it, sure.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Mirabe said, pocketing the medallion before thanking the waiter, ¡°Please convey my thanks to Knox.¡± Wyatt had just pulled up the car and was about to open the door for James when he overheard their nonchnt exchange. He was left utterly baffled. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. A medallion gifted to Mirabe had turned into a discount card. Had they lost their minds?! Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Back in the kitchen. ¡°Why did you give that young girl one of your tokens, Knox?¡± A hint of jealousy tinged the middle¨Caged man¡¯s words as he cast aplex nce toward Knox. He had been with Knox for over a decade and had never seen him take such an interest in someone, especially since Mirabe had turned down his offer to take her under his wing. Knox was busy perfecting the dish that Mirabe had critiqued earlier. Without looking up from his task, he responded, ¡°It¡¯s always good to make a new friend.¡± ¡°But surely you didn¡¯t need to give her¡­¡± The middle¨Caged man¡¯s sentence was cut short by Knox¡¯s interjection, ¡°You have a narrow way of thinking. You don¡¯t know how to read people.¡± Knox paused, shaking his head slightly, then added, ¡°Do you really think the Shepherd family¡¯s son is someone without knowledge?¡± Despite the youngdy¡¯s ims of ignorance regarding medicine, Knox was no fool. If he couldn¡¯t discern her modesty, would all his years of experience mean nothing? The middle¨Caged man fell silent, conceding. There might¡¯ve been some truth to Knox¡¯s words. However, he still found it hard to believe a girl of seventeen or eighteen could know much. With a dismissive curl of his lip, he chose not to pursue the matter further. After all¡­ Knox was indeed getting on in years. ** Soon after, Wyatt drove Mirabe back to her neighborhood. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she ran into Delh and Shawn, who had just returned from their new house. Mirabe hadn¡¯t quite shut the car door when she saw them and instinctively halted. ¡°Dad, Mom?¡± Delh and Shawn hadn¡¯t driven today. They asked their chauffeur to drop them off at the fruit stand outside theirplex, and they were still holding a bag of fruit. They were momentarily taken aback when Mirabe emerged from a sleek ck sedan. 7 Delh, snapping back to reality, nced at the ck sedan. Unfortunately, with the sky darkening and the street lights offering little illumination, she couldn¡¯t make out the driver¡¯s face, only that it was a man. ¡°Coming back from dinner with a friend?¡± Delh asked, a touch of suspicion in her voice. Mirabe hummed in affirmation, not bothering to introduce James, instead, she thanked the person inside the car and closed the door, cutting off her parents¡® line of sight. Inside the car, Wyatt, dreading the idea of Ms. Mirabe¡¯s parents meeting James, breathed a 1/2 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. sigh of relief when he saw her close the door. He quickly started the engine and left the area. He didn¡¯t think James had anything to hide; he just didn¡¯t see the need for introductions. As Delh and Shawn watched the car speed away, Delh finally spoke up, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you invite your friend up for a visit?¡± Mirabe was calm under the street lights, her delicate face casting a hazy beauty. She walked over and took the fruit from Delh¡¯s hands, ¡°It¡¯ste. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.¡± Delh touched her nose, lowering her voice to ask, ¡°Was it a man?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Mirabe replied, her gaze clear and direct. Something struck her, and she added, ¡°He was my tutor back in the day!¡± Delh was even more surprised, ¡°Your tutor?¡± Mirabe nodded, maintaining herposure, ¡°When I lived with Catherine, my grades weren¡¯t great. He really helped me improve.¡± Delh remembered what Mirabe¡¯s school teacher had to say about her poor performancest year and quickly said, ¡°Oh, why didn¡¯t you tell us sooner? Your grades have improved so much now, we really should thank him properly!¡± Shawn, who had been quiet, looked on with an odd expression. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Mirabe¡¯s tutor had a nondescript car with an exceptionally unique license te. This made Shawn rub his chin thoughtfully. Could Mirabe¡¯s tutor have a more intriguing background than he¡¯d first imagined? And besides, wasn¡¯t her tutor supposedly from her hometown? What was he doing here in the city? Delh turned around and saw Shawn deep in thought. She yfully tapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Shawn?¡± Snapped out of his reverie, Shawn looked into Mirabe¡¯s face, about to delve into the details about this mysterious tutor. Yet, he hesitated, fearing his daughter might misinterpret his concern. He instead changed the subject. ¡°Your mom¡¯s right. We should definitely invite your tutor over for dinner sometime.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Mirabe waved her hand dismissively with a nomittal ¡°Hmm,¡± then, clutching the bag of fruit, she headed into the apartmentplex. Soon, the three of them were ascending the stairs, one after the other. Once inside, Mirabe handed the box of coffee beans James had given her to her father. ¡°This is for you.¡± The coffee was exquisitely packaged in a paper wrap. Holding the package, Shawn began to unwrap it while asking, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Coffee beans,¡± Mirabe responded tersely before moving to the fridge to stow away the fruit. Remembering how, just a few days ago, his daughter had inquired if he wanted some new coffee beans, Shawn¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and a smile spread across his face. The wrapping was now fully off. ¡°Ah, my dear girl. You¡¯re so thoughtful, always buying me¡­¡± He stopped short before he could finish saying ¡®coffee beans.¡¯ His voice seemed to hit a pause button. Shawn had a penchant for coffee, a collector¡¯s interest even, and he could tell at a nce that the beans in his hand was a collector¡¯s item. The special seal on the outer box alone was worth a pretty penny, not to mention the ancient, yellowing seal stamp on it, indicating the rarity of the coffee beans inside. Swallowing hard, Shawn suddenly felt apprehensive about opening the box. Walking out of the kitchen, Mirabe noticed her dad holding the box with a peculiar expression and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Looking up at his daughter, he pointed at the box. ¡°This coffee¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Mirabe stepped closer, her gaze falling on the coffee in his hands. ¡°Is there something wrong with it?¡± Shawn noticed her nonchnce; it was as if it were just an ordinary box of coffee beans. He touched his nose and asked in a hushed tone, ¡°Where did you get this?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t bought. It was a gift from a friend.¡± Shawn¡¯s thoughts immediately went to the tutor who had dropped Mirabe off earlier. He drove a car with a special license te. ¡°Did your tutor give it to you?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Mirabe didn¡¯t hide it and nodded. After a brief pause, she added, ¡°The beans I gave youst time were also from him.¡± Shawn was bbergasted. ¡°Hold on, sweetheart, wasn¡¯t he just your former tutor? Why would he give you such expensive coffee?¡± It was one thing for a student to give a teacher some gifts, but for a teacher to give it to a student¡­ that was unfathomable. Mirabe paused. She didn¡¯t know much about coffee or its price. When James had asked, she had merely thought of her father¡¯s fondness for coffee. Mirabe realized this and simply said, ¡°I had given him a box of handmade sandalwood, Maybe he found it quite useful.¡± After all, her gifts were priceless in their own way. Hearing his daughter¡¯s response, Shawn¡¯s lips twitched. Even the finest sandalwood could hardly