Chapter 178
After delivering that line, Collins could swear he felt a chill in the air, a vibe that spelled trouble. He glanced up instinctively at Zach, only to be met with an innocuous smile as gentle as a lamb’s. Shaking off the strange feeling, Collins chalked it up to jet lag. His senses must’ve been playing tricks on him after such a long flight.
Zach, on the other hand, let out a silent sigh. His scheme to put one over on his little brother had gone awry. Disheartened, he made his way towards the exit of the arrival hall. The way he walked, you’d think he was attending a funeral.
Soon enough, the trio made it out of the terminal. The crowd at the pickup area was sizeable, so Collins, ever the vigilant manager, positioned himself right beside Leo, ready to shield him from any recognizing glances.
As they emerged, Zach had entertained the notion of letting the cat out of the bag about his youngest brother, but seeing the throng of people waiting outside, he found himself instinctively taking a protective position on the flank, keeping curious eyes at bay.
Mirabella stood at the back of the crowd, half–concealed by a black mask. Spotting Zach and Leo, she waved casually over the heads of the bystanders.
Having not spent more than a few hours with Mirabella, Leo didn’t recognize her immediately, especially with the mask in place. It wasn’t until he saw Zach stride over and stand before her that Leo’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Have you been waiting long?” Zach asked Mirabella, his voice unexpectedly tender, a stark contrast to his typical brusqueness with his brothers.
“Not really,” Mirabella replied, her lips curving into a small smile. She then turned her attention to Leo, decked out in his incognito get–up, and greeted him with a nod, “Hey, Leo.”
Leo’s bright eyes, peering out from under his baseball cap, still held a trace of surprise. Snapping out of it, he acknowledged her with a soft “hm” before instinctively looking to Zach for an explanation.
Zach, anticipating the awkward moment, had already shifted his gaze away, feigning indifference.
“Oh, hey, aren’t you Mirabella? Remember me?” Collins broke the ice with a warm greeting, recognizing her despite the mask.
Mirabella nodded politely, “Hello, Mr. Collins.”
Surprised, Collins‘ face lit up. “You remembered my name. You’ve got a good memory.” He recalled barely interacting with her for five minutes during his brief visit to the Davis household.
Mirabella just smiled, unbothered.
Catching Collins‘ exaggerated reaction from the corner of his eye, Zach rolled his own.
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Chapter 178
Mirabella was a brainiac, and remembering a name was child’s play for her.
Clearing his throat, Zach interjected, “Let’s get moving. The airport’s crowded. We can talk at home.” With that, he took the lead, striding towards the main entrance.
But as he reached the doors, he saw the stream of cars pulling away, leaving a gaping void in the lane where their ride should have been. It dawned on him that no driver was waiting for
them.
Zach was dumbstruck. Turning back, he was met with Leo and Collins, both staring at him as if to say, “Where’s the car?”
The embarrassment was palpable.
Collins was the first to regain his composure. He fished out his phone and said, “I’ll have my assistant bring the car around.”
Zach massaged his temples. Today had to be the most colossal screw–up of his life.
Once Collins finished his call and returned, he glanced between a flustered Zach and the composed Mirabella. He couldn’t help but recall Zach’s earlier refusal to use the VIP exit and
his eager attempts to ditch them. A smirk twitched at the corner of Collins‘ lips.
It seemed Collins had stumbled upon a revelation.
