<b>Chapter </b>542


    Mr. Brown grimaced as he saw Mr. Hammond’s reluctance to borate. Left with no choice, he didn’t press further, but he couldn’t help mentioning. “Miss Mirabe is quite the whiz at math. I really think we should nurture her abilities in that area…”


    Before he could finish his thought, Mr. Hammond, who had Instantly graped the teacher’s implication, Interjected, “Her knack for physics is equally impressive. I doubt it’s any less than her math skills.”


    After a brief pause, Mr. Hammond added, “Justst week, Dr. <b>Ray </b>from the physics department at Prestige College expressed interest in bringing Mirabe into their program.”


    The math teacher was quite astonished. What more was there to say when even a Prestige College professor was involved? Mr. Brown resigned himself to silence. High achievers like Mirabe were in hot demand, and he certainly wasn’t in a position to be her personal


    mentor.


    “Anything else I can do for you, Mr. Hammond?” Mr Brown felt a wave of helplessness wash over him and decided it was time to wrap up the conversation.


    Mr. Hammond gave him a sharp nce and simply said, “No, that’s all.” He <b>stood </b>up, hands sped behind his back, and left the room with a spring in his step.


    Sighing to himself, Mr. Brown tucked the exam paper back into his drawer and moved to hisputer. He opened his messenger app and contacted the teachers” association to find out what documents were needed for the handover process.


    At the end of the school day, Summer ran into Mirabe on campus. The sight of her nonchnt demeanor was particrly grating today. In the past, Summer might have thrown a barbedment or two her way, but not today. Quickening her pace toward the main entrance, she stepped out of the school to find the Gilbert family’s car parked at the curb and Mandy waiting by the door.


    Summer’s eyes darkened. She nced back at Mirabe, who was still inside the school gates, clenched her fist, and then walked. briskly over to Mandy. As she approached, she positioned herself to block her mother’s view. “Mom, have you been waiting long?”


    Mandy’s response was tepid, “Not really, just got here.”


    After her brief reply, Mandy shifted to the side and looked <b>back </b>toward the entrance of Parkside High School as if searching for someone. Noticing this, Summer’s hand tightened into a fist again, but she forced a smile and said, “Let’s go, Mom.”


    *Just a minute,” Mandy murmured absentmindedly.


    The smile on Summer’s face became strained. “Mom, who are we waiting for?”


    Mandy didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on a point in the distance. When she spotted Mirabe emerging from the school, her expression shifted subtly. Yet, she remained where she was, not making any move to approach.


    Summer could hardly ignore her mother’s look of anticipation. It baffled her, her mother had previously dismissed Mirabe, and now she seemed to want to y the doting parent. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Summer decided to escape the situation. “I’ll get in the car then.”


    Without waiting for a response, she pulled open the rear door, slid into the seat, and mmed the door shut with a force that resounded with a loud thud.


    Startled by the sound, Mandy’s frown deepened, and she seemed displeased. She nced back at the car, but the dark tint of the windows cut off any further exchange of looks.


    Mandy then turned her gaze back to Mirabe, who was making her <b>way </b>to a Rolls–Royce parked nearby. She watched until Mirabe was safely inside the vehicle.