Chapter 163
Back in the car, Delilah’s haughty expression had fallen away, replaced by irritation. “I’m so annoyed What’s up with the Gilbert family? They just come up and demand Mirabella switch schools as if they own the place!”
Shawn turned to look at his fuming wife and couldn’t help but laugh. The way you tossed that check was super cool.”
Delilah shot him a glare, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Is the check toss really the point? They’re accusing Mira of bullying Summer, Mira is so sweet–natured. How could she possibly bully anyone? This is just absurd!”
Through the time they’d spent together, Delilah had come 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.
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 have come after us today.”
Delilah 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 exam later? That’ll clear things up.”
“Right,” Delilah 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–profile?”
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 hour later, the competition ended.
Mirabella handed in her paper and walked out of the exam room with her usual nonchalant grace. Unlike the other students who looked stressed post–exam, her ease suggested the test had been predictably simple for her.
After a quick stop in the restroom, Mirabella 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.
Mirabella barely glanced at him before looking away, but as she passed by, he finally raised his head and called out to her in a cool voice. “Mirabella.”
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 her lack 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 this competition again,” he said confidently, then formed and wathed
away.
Watching his retreating figure, Mirabella was momentarily dumbfounded, touching her one Had she just been challenged?
After a brief delay in the restroom, Mirabella exited the main doors to find most of the other students and parents had already left. She was one of the last to depart
Delilah and Shawn, who had been waiting, hurried over to her, “Mira, why are you out so late today? Were the questions difficult?” Delilah asked with concern, recalling that her daughter was usually among the first to finish.
