<b>Chapter </b><b>529 </b>


    Although Jenna’s cousin’sment was simr to the others on her video, she was left feeling like a tornado had just ripped through herposure. Her cousin, of all people, was never one to dish outpliments.


    Jenna remembered how she had wanted to introduce Mira to him just the other day. Prompted by the thought, she quickly opened up their chat and shot him a message. [My ssmate is even more of a knockout.]


    No sooner had Jenna hit send than she saw the telltale ‘typing…‘ indicator light up on her cousin’s end. She left her screen on, waiting for his response. However, after two minutes, the ‘typing…‘ vanished, but no message from her cousin followed.


    Bemused, she tossed a quick message his way. [Hi?]


    In return, Jenna was greeted by a ring red exmation mark and a system notification that was anything butforting. [Message sent, but rejected by the recipient.]


    What in the world was happening? Had her cousin just blocked her? Everything seemed fine when she sent the first message!


    Jenna was totally bewildered, clueless as to what had just unfolded.


    Before long, they had finished their meal. As they left the restaurant, the manager asked for Jenna’s number and, on the spot, set her up with a VIP ount, all smiles and politeness throughout.


    Thus, Jenna, somewhat dazed, found herself with a VIP card that was even fancier than a regr membership card. She was practically floating on air as she walked. She had looked up the restaurant online before. You had to spend a hefty sum over the course of a year to earn a membership, let alone an upgraded VIP card.


    Mirabe stood on the curb, waiting for her ride, and had just hung up with her dad. She turned to Jenna. “You gonna make it home okay?”


    Jenna looked at Mirabe and shook her head emphatically. “No worries, Mira. You go ahead if you’re busy. I’ll just hail a cab.”


    Mirabe pocketed her phone and hummed softly in acknowledgment.


    Half an hourter, at the Davis residence.


    beat before slipping into her house slippers with practiced calm.


    As Mirabe stepped inside, she noticed an unfamiliar pair of shoes at the the tube try to be th


    entrance. She paused for a


    When she walked into the living room, Johnny’s familiar face came into view. Mirabe’s eyes narrowed slightly, a chill passing over her face, but she quickly masked her expression. “Mom, Dad, I’m home.”


    Delh and Shawn looked up, acknowledging her with a chorus of hums, and then Shawn spoke up, “Mira, this is Johnny. He’s here to see you.”


    Johnny, who had risen to his feet, offered Mirabe a measured smile. “Ms. Mirabe, we meet again.”


    09:48


    <b>Her </b>gazended on Johnny, her voice tinged with an unmistakable chill. “What do you want?”


    Johnny could sense Mirabe’s displeasure and the subtle hostility that seemed to emanate from her, Surprised by the force of presence in an ordinary high schooler, he adjusted his sses and cleared his throat, gesturing towards a collection of elegantly wrapped gifts on the coffee table. “These were personally sent by our boss, as a token of thanks for your help with the…”


    Mirabe cut him off mid–sentence, her brow furrowed. “That won’t be necessary. You’ve already paid the medical consultation fee. There’s no need for this kind of doorstep gratitude,”


    It wasn’t a surprise that he had found her, after all, Niki had hinted at the man’s notable status, and tracking someone down probably wasn’t a difficult task for him. But she didn’t take kindly to being disturbed so abruptly.