<b>Chapter </b><b>470 </b>
Vincent slid an embossed, gold–trimmed Invitation across the table, catching Mirabe’s gaze before she picked it up.
“Grandpa Knox is celebrating his birthday tomorrow, and he’d like you to join us for dinner,” Vincent said in a measured tone, revealing the true purpose of his visit to Mirabe.
Mirabe was slightly
aback that Knox would include her in his birthday ns, considering their limited interactions. After a brief
pause, she set the own and replied, “I’ll need to check in with my folks first.”
Her response was neither a yes nor a direct refusal.
Vincent nodded in understanding, “Of course.” After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “My grandpa really hopes <i>you </i>can make it.” With that, Vincent didn’t linger any longer and promptly made his exit through the back door.
Jenna, who had been scribbling notes nearby, leaned in with a curious look towards the gilded card on the table and teased, “So, Queen Mira, you and Vincent are chummy enough that family invites are flying your way?”
Mirabe gave Jenna a sidelong nce. “What’s with the insinuation?”
“Just genuinely curious,” Jenna coughed. “Why would his granddad invite you to a birthday bash?<b>” </b>
“Must be my irresistible charm,” Mirabe quipped, a smug expression painting her face.
Jenna rolled her eyes in silence.
Mirabe grabbed the pile of test papers from the table and casually flipped through them before handing them over to Jenna. “You might want to give these math challenge problems a shot,”
Jenna was still traumatized by the unfinished assignment shoved on her thest time<b>, </b>and vehemently shook her head. “No way, those are divine gifts from the math gods are meant for you. I can’t indulge in such sacrilege.” The mere sight of test papers made her hands tremble.
“They’re no use to me, but right up your alley,” Mirabe said nonchntly<b>, </b>pausing for a beat before adding, “Remember, you’re aiming for Radiant Ridge College. If you’re not busting your hump now, when will you?“,
Jenna rolled her eyes. ‘Could it be that you’re just offloading these on me because you don’t want to do them yourself?‘
Patting Jenna’s shoulder, Mirabe turned her attention back to her own work and picked up her pen<b>, </b>resuming her scribbling on a draft
paper.
Jenna gazed at the five fresh sets of math papers on the desk, deted like a punctured balloon, and slumped over the desk in despair. Why did she have to end up with such a sadistic friend?
With a deep sigh, Jenna picked up her pen again and resigned herself to grinding through the papers. After solving a couple of problems, <b>a </b>thought struck her, <b>and </b>she set the pen down to fish out her phone.
and she sets
“Queen Mira, I’ve got someone I think you should meet.” Jenna pulled up a hard–won photo from her album and held the phone up for Mirabe to see.
Mirabe lifted her gaze, briefly scanning the phone’s screen.
The photo showed a man’s profile, sharp and likely handsome, dressed in casual ck attire that exuded a sense ofposure and
restraint.
Jenna’s voice tinged with excitement. “What do you think? He’s quite a catch, isn’t he?”
“And<b>?</b><b>” </b>Mirabe drawled disinterestedly.
“That’s <b>my </b>cousin<b>, </b>twenty–four and currently unattached,” Jenna batted her eyshes, emphasizing the ‘currently unattached‘ as if it were <b>a </b>selling point.
Mirabe gave Jenna a knowing look, cutting through the pretense, “Honey, are you trying to set me up on a date?”