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 plans later. It’s just a bunch of guys, you know, and bringing Mirabella along might not be the best fit. Let’s take a rain check, alright?”
Zach, still driving, replied nonchalantly, “Sure thing, man. Gotta focus on the road. Catch you later.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Zach refocused on the road, stealing a glance at Mirabella. He didn’t bring up Emmitt but playfully asked, “Mira, decided where you want to grab a bite yet?”
A smile tugged at the corners of Mirabella’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 glass of water in her hand. She eyed her daughter curiously, “Why are you home so late 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 your competition 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 sixth last time? How come you’re tenth now?”
Summer seemed to have anticipated this question and calmly responded, “The preliminaries and the actual competition are different beasts. The difficulty ramps up considerably. Plus, there were quite a few of us tied for sixth last 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 the competition, but the idea of her daughter placing in the top ten among over a hundred and twenty students did impress her. Her expression
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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 Mirabella do?” Mandy casually inquired, setting her water glass 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 Mirabella, her eyes growing cold. “Summer, you’re my pride and joy. You have to outshine Mirabella in every way. Do you understand?”
Summer felt a twinge of discomfort at her words. Mirabella had aced the tests twice now. How was she supposed to outshine Mirabella?
With a self–deprecating chuckle, Summer said nothing, merely acknowledging with a noncommittal “Mm–hmm.”
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.”
