Chapter 131
Shawn swallowed the last bite of his breakfast sandwich, with a furrow forming in his brow as he mulled over Mirabella’s question. “I do know of a place that sells herbs in bulk. Is that what you’re looking for?”
Mirabella 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, Mirabella 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 Mirabella’s lips as she acknowledged with a noncommittal 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 financially comfortable, 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–intentioned 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 the lavish lifestyle of her wealthy biological parents. The irony was not lost on Shawn.
Now, observing his own daughter, he couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast. Despite a life of hardships, Mirabella, 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 become 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 black credit card he had given her elicited from Shawn an involuntary sigh.
Mirabella, catching the unexpected exhalation, glanced at her father with a hint of concern. “What’s wrong?”
In response, Shawn heaved another heavy sigh, gazing back at her with a melancholic yearning. wordlessly embodying the picture of dejection.
The moment Mirabella set foot on school grounds, she was summoned to the office for what
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12:17
Chapter 131
felt like the umpteenth time this semester. The classmate who relayed the message discreetly warned her that Ms. Annette was in a foul mood and advised caution to avoid any potential
blowups.
With a thankful smile to her informant, Mirabella made her way to the office. As soon as she entered, she was met with the sight of Annette’s decidedly stormy expression. Touching her nose in confusion, Mirabella wondered if her recent language test had gone that poorly.
Approaching with a posture of obedience, Mirabella greeted her teacher, “Ms. Annette, you wanted to see me?”
Annette, staring at Mirabella, seemed to struggle with a complex mix of emotions before finally speaking up, “Mirabella, do you have any issues with me?”
Mirabella’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 your language’s score…”
Annette paused. Her frustration was palpable as she recalled the moment she laid eyes on Mirabella’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.
