Shawn sighed in relief upon hearing the news, yet a nagging thought lingered–his daughter was adamant about not joining showbiz for now, but who was to say she wouldn’t change her mindter? And since when did she start prioritizing amercial shoot over school? It was a clear sign that her brother was slowly reshaping her once steadfast habits.


    Squinting his eyes with suspicion, Shawn couldn’t help but think, “<b>Leo </b>is no angel, that’s for sure!”


    With that thought, he tossed the car keys back into the drawer and announced, “I’m heading <b>upstairs</b>.” Without wasting a moment, he bounded up the stairs, an almost palpable aura of fury trailing behind him.


    Mirabe watched, utterly baffled, as her father ascended. “What on earth is he going up there for?” she wondered.


    Upstairs, Leo was still blissfully snoozing, like a teenager who wouldn’t dream of stirring until the <bst </b>minute before heading out. Leo’s door wasn’t locked, so Shawn burst in to find his son buried under the nkets, imitation surging through him.


    Striding over, he yanked the covers back. Early winter mornings were chilly, and the sudden loss of warmth jolted Leo awake. Groggy and disoriented, Leo rolled over, peering up at Shawn with half–open eyes. He managed to snag the <b>nket </b>and pull it back over himself, and mumbled, “Dad, what’s with the nket snatch?”


    Shawn’s expression was stone–cold. “Listen here, young man, I don’t want you dragging your sister into the spotlight anymore.”


    Leo, now fully awake and sitting up to tousle his bed hair, was confused. “Spotlight? What are you talking


    about<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    “Don’t y innocent! It’s one thing for you to chase aftermercials, but to rope in your sister and make her skip ss to join you? Doesn’t that prick your conscience?” Shawn was livid, and if he had a stick in hand, it might have very well found its way onto Leo.


    “Dad, just hear me out. I’m actually..


    “Are you telling me you didn’t coax your sister into doing that ad?” Shawn cut him off sharply.


    “I… well…”


    “If I catch you pulling her into another ad or some TV show and messing with her studies, you better watch your legs,” Shawn warned coldly before storming out of the room and mming the door with a resounding thud.


    A bewildered Leo stared at the closed door, taking a while to process his father’s harsh words. He was actually the victim here, alright?


    Twenty


    minutester<b>, </b>Leo trudged downstairs, his curls in a chaotic tangle. Seeing his sister sipping tea on the couch next to their dad–especially their dad, who now looked as gentle and benign as could be, in stark contrast to the menacing figure who had just threatened him upstairs–Leo heaved a heavy sigh.


    In this household, a son truly had no standing. It <b>was </b>a bitter pill to swallow.


    Promptly at nine, Collins arrived outside the Davis family mansion. As Leo climbed into the car, Collins


    10:07


    noticed his star looking wilted and asked with concern, “Leo, what’s wrong with you? You look all out of sorts. Feeling under the weather?”


    Leo gave him a silent look. His morning had been rough, courtesy of his dear old dad–how could he feel


    anything but?


    “Nah, just didn’t sleep wellst night,” he muttered, making up an excuse.


    Seeing this, Collins suggested, “Well, why don’t you catch some more Z’s in the car?”


    “Sure,” Leo responded with a nod, settling into the seat.


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow slightly and gracefully slid into the car beside him.