Chapter 61
Emmitt frowned. “Why bring up Summer again? Are you two even on the same level?”
Mirabella tapped her fingers lightly on the table. Her gaze was drifting. “Are you sure you weren’t the one who mentioned her first?”
Emmitt choked, feeling a complete inability to communicate effectively with her. With patience, he explained. “Summer’s shooting for a chance at Prestige College. And you? Participating in this competition with your grades seems… somewhat pointless.”
He paused for a second, and then added in a lower tone, “With the time you’re spending on this, you might as well enroll in a tutoring class. That would be far more beneficial for you right now.”
Despite his disappointment in his sister, he still hoped she would focus her efforts on more realistic goals instead of chasing some impossible dreams.
Mirabella looked at him with an indifferent smile. “So, what you’re saying, Emmitt, is that I don’t qualify for the competition, right?”
Her smile momentarily disarmed Emmitt, and he replied without thinking. “That’s not what I mean. It’s just that one shouldn’t bite off more than they can chew.”
“Okay, I get it.” Mirabella nodded, turning her gaze away and resuming her meal of the last bits of oatmeal in her bowl
Emmitt watched his sister, who was seemingly obedient and quiet, but in reality, deliberately cold and distant. His feelings were a tangled mess. If he was talking to Summer, there’d be no such awkwardness. She would, at least. understand his intentions behind every word.
The atmosphere at the breakfast table grew heavy. After a moment, Emmitt, finding no taste in his bagel set it down and looked back at Mirabella. “I’ll get you a tutor.”
Mirabella looked up. puzzled. “Huh?”
“If you’re set on the competition, I won’t dissuade you. It just so happens I have a friend working at the Education Association. Maybe they can provide some guidance,” Emmitt said slowly.
Those in the Education Association, aside from having advanced teaching credentials from top universities, included scholars who had made significant contributions to the country. Guidance from someone within the Association could Save Mirabella a lot of detours.
“Thanks, but I don’t need it.” Mirabella politely declined. She was somewhat baffled. Why was Emmitt so convinced she was struggling to the point where she needed preemptive tutoring from someone in the Education Association?
Emmitt didn’t expect her to refuse. He thought his thoughtful offer would surely move her, but she was neither touched nor did she hesitate for even a second before declining.
Emmitt’s expression soured, and he couldn’t help but raise his voice, “Do you realize how much help it would be to have guidance from someone within the Education Association?”
Mirabella met his gaze with an unaffected look and remained silent. Emmitt massaged his forehead. His voice grew stern, “You know…”
Suddenly, he remembered that she had always lived in a small town and probably hadn’t even heard of the Education Association. His voice trailed off, and he ended up shaking his head. “Never mind, I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.
Standing up. Emmitt added one last thing to Mirabella, “Since you’ve refused, let’s pretend I never said anything.” He was done worrying about his sister.
As Mirabella watched Emmitt’s retreating figure, she took out her phone after a while and typed out a text message. [Is the Education Association really that big of a deal?]
