Chapter <b>131 </b>


    Shawn swallowed thest bite of his breakfast sandwich, with a furrow forming in his brow as he mulled over Mirabe’s question. “I do know of a ce that sells herbs in bulk. Is that what you’re looking for?”


    Mirabe nodded.


    His curiosity was aroused. Shawn couldn’t help but probe further<b>, </b>“What’s got you suddenly interested in a herbal market?”


    Sipping her oatmeal with a calm that belied her father’s growing interest, Mirabe answered, “I need to stock up on some herbs. They’re useful.”


    Shawn, noting his daughter’s terse response, pondered for a moment before letting the subject drop. “Remember, the credit card I gave you has plenty of funds. Don’t be shy about using it.”


    A wry smile flickered across Mirabe’s lips as she acknowledged with a nomittal hum, “I know.”


    Watching his daughter, who seemed to have let his advice go in one ear and out the other. Shawn felt a little wistful. Back when Summer was part of the household, she would concoct all sorts of reasons to ask for money. Though financiallyfortable, Shawn and his wife didn’t want to spoil her into entitlement. They had always controlled her allowance and kept the family’s wealth under wraps.


    Ironically, their well–intentioned discretion had been twisted into a narrative of neglect by the Gilbert family’s gossipmongers. It became the excuse Summer used to leave without a second thought, returning to thevish lifestyle of her wealthy biological parents. The irony was not lost on Shawn.


    Now, observing his own daughter, he couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast. Despite a life of hardships, Mirabe, now back home, had yet to splurge or even touch the money they offered her. She lived as though they were still scrimping by, cautious with every penny.


    This duality filled Shawn with both pride and heartache. Their smart and sweet little girl must have endured so much to be who she was now. He and his wife had resolved to fulfill her every wish, topensate for the years of absence and emotional debt.


    Still, the thought of the untouched ck credit card he had given her elicited from Shawn <b>an </b>involuntary sigh.


    Mirabe, catching the unexpected exhtion, nced at her father with a hint of concern. “What’s wrong?”


    In response, Shawn heaved another heavy sigh, gazing back at her with a mncholic yearning. wordlessly embodying the picture of dejection.


    The moment Mirabe set foot on school grounds, she was summoned to the office for what


    10


    <b>12:17 </b>


    felt like the umpteenth time this semester. The ssmate who ryed the message discreetly warned her that Ms. Ate was in a foul mood and advised caution to avoid any potential


    blowups.


    With a thankful smile to her informant, Mirabe made her way to the office. As soon as she entered, she was met with the sight of Ate’s decidedly stormy expression. Touching her nose in confusion, Mirabe wondered if her recentnguage test had gone that poorly.


    Approaching with a posture of obedience, Mirabe greeted her teacher, “Ms. Ate, you wanted to see me?”


    Ate, staring at Mirabe, seemed to struggle with aplex mix of emotions before finally speaking up, “Mirabe, do you have any issues with me?”


    Mirabe’s lips twitched. She was unsure how to respond.


    “The results from the recent exams are mostly in. Your performance in <b>all </b>subjects is quite remarkable, but yournguage’s score…”


    Ate paused. Her frustration was palpable as she recalled the moment sheid eyes on Mirabe’s test paper. It filled with elegant handwriting that was a pleasure to the eye, but the total score <b>was</b><b>… </b>a source of profound disappointment.