<b>Chapter </b><b>392 </b>
Summer <b>tried </b><b>to </b><b>mask </b><b>the </b><b>worry </b><b>nibbling </b><b>at </b>her <b>edges </b><b>with </b>augh <b>before </b>she <b>spoke</b><b>, </b>“So what <b>if I’m </b><b>the </b>butt <b>of </b><b>a </b><b>few </b><b>jokes </b>for now? It’ll <b>all </b>blow <b>over </b><b>soon</b><b>, </b>and your <b>brothers </b><b>won’t </b>hold <b>it </b><b>against </b>me.<b>” </b>
<b>She </b><b>paused</b>, <b>her </b><b>gaze </b>distant<b>, </b><b>then </b><b>added, </b>“Even <b>if </b>you’ve <b>returned </b><b>to </b><b>the </b>Davis family<b>, </b><b>don’t </b><b>forget </b>I <b>also </b>spent a good chunk <b>of </b><b>my </b><b>life </b><b>there</b><b>. </b><b>A </b>small <b>slip</b><b>–</b><b>up and </b><b>I </b><b>bet </b><b>your </b>folks and your brothers <b>will </b><b>forgive </b><b>me </b><b>all </b><b>the </b><b>same</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Summer </b>felt <b>let down </b>by her <b>foster </b>family <b>the </b>night <b>before </b>and a sting <b>of </b>resentment for their unanswered <b>calls</b>, but Delh <b>eventually </b>showed <b>up</b><b>, </b><b>didn’t </b>she<b>? </b>Delh remained silent<b>, </b>but Zach’ste–night <b>text</b><b>, </b><b>asking </b>her <b>to </b>meet<b>, </b>spoke volumes. It was <b>an </b>olive branch, and Summer knew it.
She watched Mirabe, who was idly kicking a pebble at her feet, and suddenly asked, “Where did <b>you </b>get that <b>song </b><b>from</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Summer </b>had been hoping to see a flicker of discontent on Mirabe’s face but was taken aback when the <b>question </b>came. Her sharp expression froze, and after a long moment, she scrutinized Mirabe with narrowed eyes. “You’re telling me you don’t know the origins of my song?”
“Should <b>I</b><b>?</b>” Mirabe retorted with a half–smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
After a brief pause, she continued slowly, “Leo’s tune had barely been penned, and someone had already leaked theplete track online. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
As Mirabe’s words hung in the air, shock tightened Summer’s grip on her own arm.
The <b>secret </b>of Summer’s rebirth was something she dared not reveal, yet Mirabe… Mirabe wouldn’t ask <b>such </b>a question if she had also been reborn. However, her expression seemed to suggest she knew something.
For a moment, Summer was at a loss as to what Mirabe truly meant.
After a beat, Summer replied coolly, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She nced at her watch, adding, “Oh, I’ve got to run. Your dear brother, Zach, wants to meet to help me sort out this online mess.” With <b>that</b>, she strutted off, leaving Mirabe without a chance to respond, her pride leading the way. Mirabe watched Summer’s retreating figure with an amused curl to her lips. No wonder Summer had <be </b><b>to </b>test her, questioning if she was the real Mirabe.
Summer left school and hailed a cab on the roadside to meet Zach at the agreed–upon spot. The online <b>scandal </b>had made her life with the Gilbert family rather ufortabletely; Mandy hadn’t even arranged <b>for </b><b>a </b><b>driver </b>to drive her about.
<b>Twenty </b>minutester, she arrived at a downtown restaurant known for its private dining rooms. Expecting to <b>see </b><b>only </b>Zach, Summer was taken aback to find Leo there too. She hesitated <b>at </b>the door before <b>approaching </b>and sat opposite the brothers<b>, </b>removing her sunsses and face mask. Her voice was low as <b>she </b><b>greeted</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>Zach, Leo…”
<b>“</b><b>Don’t call </b>me Leo,” he said, his lips tight, his tone cold.
<b>The </b><b>color </b>drained from Summer’s face as she clenched her hands on her knees<b>, </b><b>her </b><b>nails </b>digging into <b>her </b>
<b>skin</b><b>. </b><b>He </b>was <b>so </b><b>detached </b><b>from </b>Summer yet so eager to please his real sister, Mirabe. The disparity <b>filled </b>Summer <b>with </b><b>an </b><b>intense </b>loathing.
<b>Summer’s eyes </b><b>reddened</b>, and she <b>turned </b><b>her head </b>away.
Looking at his <b>former </b>sister, Zach felt a stir of emotion, and unlike <b>Leo</b><b>, </b>he wasn’t quite as harsh.
Adjusting his sses <b>on </b>the bridge of his nose, he broke the silence<b>, </b><b>“</b>I’ll cut to the chase. You want <b>Leo </b><b>to </b><b>clear </b>your name publicly<b>… </b>It’s not impossible.”
Summer’s voice was tight with desperation. She asked directly, “What’s your condition?”