<b>Chapter 446 </b>
<b>Over </b>at <b>the house</b><b>, </b><b>Mirabe </b><b>walked </b>in to <b>find </b><b>Donald </b>and Shawn deep <b>in </b><b>a game </b><b>of </b>chess <b>in </b><b>the </b><b>living </b><b>room</b><b>. </b>“Hey <b>there</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>she greeted politely <b>as </b>she approached them.
<b>Donald </b>paused<b>, </b>a chess piece in hand, and nced up at Mirabe. “Do you y<b>?</b><b>” </b>he
asked.
Leaning casually against the armrest of the sofa, Mirabe replied in a nonchnt tone, “Nope<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Oh</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>Donald muttered, his interest waning. He returned his focus to the game, his gaze <b>intense </b><b>as </b><b>if </b>nothing else mattered.
Mirabe shot Donald a sidelong nce. The man was quite the actor, pretending to be so engrossed in the game.
At that moment, Shawn looked up at his daughter. Then, turning towards the doorway, he asked, “Honey, where’s Zach? You’re all by yourself.”
“Zach’s got to workte these next few days, so he won’t be staying over,” Mirabe answered, her voice steady. In her mind, though, she figured Zach was just dodging another matchmaking setup at home, using thisme excuse to stay away.
Shawn’s face softened at her response, despite a flicker of suspicion that Zach’s sudden overtime was a bit odd. He didn’t dwell on it, though. One less thorn in his side at home was a pleasant thought.
“Good, good, overtime means extra cash. Saves us from whispers of freeloading. We aren’t exactly rolling in dough here. Can’t afford to keepyabouts,” Shawn casually remarked.
Mirabe raised her eyebrows, her expressionplex. If she hadn’t gone out to lunch with Zach at the restaurant earlier, she might have bought into the nonsense.
Donald, however, cast a doubtful nce at Shawn. With all the priceless antiques around the house, calling themselves anything short of wealthy was a stretch.
Just then, Donald’s phone chimed with a couple of text messages. He pulled it from his coat pocket.
[You’re at the Davis family.]
[Are youing back on your own, or do I need to send someone to fetch you?]
Donald made a face before pocketing the phone. A simple call to Mirabe while forgetting to turn off his phone was all it took to get tracked down by his grandson.
“Donald, <b>your </b>move,” Shawn said with a smile, bringing Donald back from his thoughts.
Donald’s gaze fell back on the chessboard. After a brief pause, he spoke up rather
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<b>sheepishly</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>You </b><b>know what</b><b>, </b><b>Shawn</b><b>, </b><b>I </b><b>think </b><b>I’ll </b><b>call </b><b>it </b><b>a </b><b>day</b><b>. </b><b>My </b><b>grandson’s </b><b>asking </b>for <b>me</b><b>. </b>
<b>Shawn </b><b>looked </b><b>up </b><b>in </b><b>surprise</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Your </b><b>grandson’s wrapped up with </b>his <b>business</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Clearing </b><b>his </b>throat, Donald nodded. “Yeah.”
<b>Mirabe</b><b>, </b>who was about to head upstairs<b>, </b>overheard the exchange <b>and </b>turned around<b>, </b><b>a </b><b>hint </b><b>of </b>curiosity <b>in </b>her eyes. <b>Just </b>moments ago, the man had been ying the lonely old
<b>card</b>.
Unaware of Mirabe’s scrutinizing gaze, Donald reached for his cane and slowly rose to his <b>feet</b>. <b>“</b>I’ve imposed on you enough these past days. When I’m back <b>in </b>Riverdale, do <b>drop </b>by for a visit,” he said to Shawn.
Shawn stood up as well, nodding respectfully. “You’re too kind. I’ll be sure to make the trip.”
Riverdale? Mirabe’s eyes lingered on Donald for a moment longer.
Donald’s phone rang again. He quickly answered with a hint of irritation, “Got it, I’m on my
way.”
After hanging up, Donald nodded at Shawn and then awkwardly at Mirabe. Without further exnation, he started towards the front door.
<b>“</b>I’ll walk you out,” Shawn offered.
Donald paused, then with a quick change of heart, he replied, “No need. Let Mira do it. I’ve taken quite a liking to the girl.”