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–aged man’s words as he cast a complex glance toward Knox. He had been with Knox for over a decade and had never seen him take such an interest in someone, especially since Mirabella had turned down his offer to take her under his wing.
Knox was busy perfecting the dish that Mirabella 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–aged 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 young lady’s claims 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–aged 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 Mirabella back to her neighborhood. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she ran into Delilah and Shawn, who had just returned from their new house.
Mirabella hadn’t quite shut the car door when she saw them and instinctively halted. “Dad,
Mom?”
Delilah and Shawn hadn’t driven today. They asked their chauffeur to drop them off at the fruit stand outside their complex, and they were still holding a bag of fruit. They were momentarily taken aback when Mirabella emerged from a sleek black sedan.
7
Delilah, snapping back to reality, glanced at the black 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?” Delilah asked, a touch of suspicion in her voice.
Mirabella 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. Mirabella’s parents meeting James, breathed a
1/2
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 Delilah and Shawn watched the car speed away, Delilah finally spoke up, “Why didn’t you invite your friend up for a visit?”
Mirabella was calm under the street lights, her delicate face casting a hazy beauty. She walked over and took the fruit from Delilah’s hands, “It’s late. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”
Delilah touched her nose, lowering her voice to ask, “Was it a man?”
“Yes,” Mirabella replied, her gaze clear and direct. Something struck her, and she added, “He was my tutor back in the day!”
Delilah was even more surprised, “Your tutor?”
Mirabella nodded, maintaining her composure, “When I lived with Catherine, my grades weren’t great. He really helped me improve.”
Delilah remembered what Mirabella’s school teacher had to say about her poor performance last 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.
