Chapter 83
Aiden was the apple of Mandy’s eye, a bright spark from the get–go. In the Gilbert household, he was practically raised on a pedestal, which unfortunately meant his temperament was spoiled rotten, leaving him with an air of indifference and the kind of arrogance you’d expect from a trust fund brat.
His interactions with Mirabella were few and far between. They hadn’t grown up together, only really seeing each other when Mandy would bring Mirabella home to the Gilbert estate for the holidays. Alden, spoiled as he was, took every opportunity to torment Mirabella, setting her up for trouble. It’s fair to say that a fair share of the Gilbert clan’s disdain for Mirabella could be laid at Aiden’s feet.
“Hey, scaredy–cat, can’t even say hi when you see me?” Aiden pocketed his phone, his tone dripping with conceit as he addressed Mirabella.
Mirabella didn’t even bother to glance up. She turned her back to him, leisurely picking up a clean glass from the side table and pouring some water. From an angle no one could see, she discreetly dropped a pill she got from the Davis family into the cup.
Aiden, circling around like a hawk, came up beside her. “I’m talking to you. Are you deaf or what?”
Summer, off to the side, watched with a slight sneer, seemingly eager for the drama to unfold.
Mirabella swirled the cup in her hand, acting as if Aiden was invisible, then turned around and offered the cup to her grandma, “Here, have some water.”
Just as Catherine reached for the cup, Aiden, feeling repeatedly ignored and none too pleased about it, reached out to grab it. “Mirabelle, you’ve gotten pretty bold, have you-”
His words were cut short as a sharp pain shot through his wrist, and a sudden force made him stagger. When he looked up into Mirabella’s cold, unfeeling eyes, Aiden involuntarily shivered.
“Didn’t your mom teach you any manners?” Mirabella towered over him, her eyes glinting with a frosty edge. Her voice was soft, yet it carried a dangerous undertone.
Aiden felt a primal fear, as if he were prey cornered by a predator. The pain in his wrist was nothing compared to the chill from Mirabella’s gaze. He stammered, “I… let me go.”
Mirabella sneered at his cowardice, “If you can’t handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen. You’re embarrassing yourself.” With that, she released him.
Aiden’s face turned ashen as he clutched his throbbing wrist, wanting to retaliate but too scared to do so.
Regaining her composure, Sumrner stepped forward to shield him, “Mirabella, how can you be so rough with a kid? Aiden used to be your brother after all.”
Mirabella’s eyebrows arched playfully as her gaze settled on Summer’s face, a taunting smile on her lips, “Putting on a show of sibling love, are we?”
Summer frowned, “You…”
Before she could finish, Aiden pushed her aside. Having already been embarrassed in front of Mirabella, Summer’s intervention was like salt in his wounds. Shooting Mirabella a venomous look, he stormed off. Summer was left standing there, her dignity in tatters.
Half a minute later, Aiden, who had stormed out of the room, doubled back to the doorway, “Mom, why are you still here? If someone wants to stick around and take care of grandma, you don’t need to waste your time.” With that, he really did leave without looking back.
Mandy, ever the doting mother, didn’t bother with a reprimand for Mirabella and hurried after her son. Summer was left there, her complexion a mix of anger and embarrassment.
