Chapter 334
Shawn glanced over at his daughter, Mirabella, who was lost in thought, and couldn’t help but call out, “Sweetie?”
With a start, Mirabella looked up and absentmindedly agreed, “You’re right, Mom. From now on, we should keep the door closed to anyone who doesn’t seem too sharp.”
Four faces of his sons immediately flashed across Shawn’s mind.
Before long, Leo strolled back into the living room, and immediately sensed his dad’s quirky gaze upon him. Touching the tip of his nose, Leo scanned the room. “Zach not back yet?”
“Nope,” grumbled Shawn, turning away before settling down next to his daughter. He turned to her. “Last night I burned one of those incense sticks you keep in the cabinet. Slept like a baby.”
Putting her phone down, Mirabella said, “Yeah, they’re good for that.”
“Where did you get them?” Shawn asked. His curiosity was aroused.
Mirabella’s eyelids lifted slightly. “I made them myself.”
Shawn was about to mention “a friend who suffers from insomnia has a birthday coming up, and I’d gift a couple of boxes“, but the words died on his lips at her revelation.
Seeing him falter, Mirabella prompted, “Just spit it out, Dad.”
Shawn beamed. “I was just thinking, my daughter is the best, always has the knack for everything.”
Just as Leo walked over, clutching a bottle of water from the fridge, he overheard his dad laying it on thick. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Enough already, he thought. “Does Dad have to compare us every single day?”
Soon after, Zach returned, and with him came Emmitt. Mirabella, engrossed in her phone, only looked up after a while to acknowledge him with a nod. Her voice was cool, detached but not unfriendly, with a distant politeness.
After the greeting, she was back to her phone. Her fingers tapped away as if she was deep in a chat.
Emmitt glanced her way, contemplating joining her, but seeing her engrossed in her phone and not to be disturbed, he thought better of it.
Dinner was tense as usual. Mirabella ate while occasionally checking her phone, evidently busy with her messages.
Next to her, Leo craned his neck to sneak a peek but couldn’t catch the content of the texts, just the contact’s name.
“Who’re you texting?” Leo whispered.
Chapter 334
“Just a friend from online,” Mirabella mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but the word “online” caught the attention of everyone at the table.
Emmitt looked up at her.
“Friend… from online?” Leo set down his fork.
“Yeah.” Mirabella didn’t notice the collective gaze and added, “Someone selling stuff.”
“Oh, you’re not getting scammed, are you?” Leo asked, genuinely concerned. After all, it was unusual to text about online purchases. Mirabella was smart, but a reminder couldn’t hurt.
Mirabella glanced at him and after a brief pause, assured, “Nope.”
“That’s good. Just be careful. Lots of clever scammers out there,” Leo advised earnestly.
Mirabella’s lips twitched in a restrained smile, and then she nodded nonchalantly. If the person she was texting heard that, Leo might just find himself in hot water.
Turning to her mother, Mirabella then said, “Mom, in a couple of days, someone will come to install a new system. Could you let them in, please?”
