<b>Chapter </b><b>379 </b>


    Mirabe crossed her arms, standing her ground with a piercing intensity in her eyes. Mandy’s tough exterior seemed to crumble a bit under the weight of her gaze.


    Fidgeting with her clutch, Mandy looked away with feigned disdain<b>, </b>clearing her throat, “I’m not going to mince words with you. That recording about Summer and someone else that’s circting online? It’s a fabrication by someone with an agenda. Go tell your brother that we should put an end to this mess before it gets <b>ugly</b>.”


    It was only today that Mandy discovered that a celebrity was among the Davis family’s sons. But from what she saw online, with his shy appearance and pretty–boy vibe, he hardly seemed the serious artist type.


    “Why would I do that?” Mirabe’s lips curled into a casual smirk.


    Mandy didn’t care much for her foster daughter’s attitude. She smoothed her wavy hair by her temples and spoke with detached calm, “For the sake of your brother’s future, you better think this through.” It was a tant threat.


    Mirabe just watched quietly.


    Mandy nced at her and continued, “By the way, your parents are just ordinary employees in the


    online, I could any, right? If your brother just clears things <i>up </i>with a statement


    online, I could arrange for your parents to work at a subsidiary of the Gilbert Corporation. As for their sry, it will certainly be higher than what they’re earning now.”


    Mandy remembered how the Davis couple had pretended to be unimpressed when offered a checkst time. Who knew if they were just being greedy, wanting more?


    Mirabe thought about her parents‘ habit of transferring tens of thousands like it was pocket change and the so–called unlimited ck card that remained untouched, and asked, “How high of a sry can you offer?”


    Mandy’s eyes immediately shed with arrogance. After a few seconds of thought, she said, “Five…”


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, “Fifty thousand?”


    Before Mandy could utter ‘thousand, she was cut off.


    Rubbing her chin, Mirabe added with apparent disdain, “Fifty thousand isn’t much.”


    After all, the old man boasted that his quarterly bonuses could afford a million–dor sports car. Fifty thousand for a sry was indeed not impressive.


    Mandy was almost amused by the audacity. “Fifty thousand? Do you think we’re running a <b>charity</b>?” Five thousand a month was already generous for an ordinary employee, yet here <b>was </b>Mirabe expecting fifty thousand?


    you running<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Choked by Mirabe’s words, Mandy took a deep breath and managed, “Consider what <b>I </b>just said carefully. Your brother’s future, your parents‘ jobs<b>…</b><b>” </b>


    Mirabe raised her hand. “Sorry, but I don’t respond well to threats.”


    <b>“</b>You’re choosing to learn the hard way!” Mandy was losing patience.


    Mirabe nodded, her voice light and breezy. “I’m so scared.”


    Mandy’s brow furrowed. “You…”


    Just <b>then</b>, Ate, who was waiting in the next office, decided to step in. She’d had a hunch that Mirabe’s foster mother was trouble. She stepped to the doorway and overheard thest few exchanges, including her student’s mockingly fearful reply.


    Ate’s face darkened with disapproval. Mirabe was always such a well–behaved student, a child anyone would cherish and protect. And yet here was her foster mother, threatening her? This was crossing a line.


    Ate entered the office, her expression stern, and interjected, “Ma’am, if there’s nothing. else, please don’t disrupt the child’s education any further.”