<b>Chapter </b><b>552 </b>
Zach’s phone buzzed to life, <b>and </b>he fished it <b>out </b><b>of </b>his pocket to see Shawn’s name sh across the screen. Carefully <b>stepping </b><b>aside </b>in <b>his </b>slippers, he pressed the answer buttch <b>and </b>moved to speak privately.
<b>Watching </b>her brother, Mirabe let out a sigh and turned to James with a helpless expression<b>. </b>“Sorry about that.”
<b>James </b><b>cleared </b>his <b>throat</b>, a gentle understanding lighting up his radiant face. “You know, your brother Zach… he’s quite the character<b>.</b><b>” </b>
*It’s generous <b>of </b>you to speak up for him<b>,</b>” Mirabe nced at James before her gaze wandered around, asking casually, “Where’s <b>your </b>grandfather?”
“He’s been taken home,” James replied softly.
Mirabe nodded in acknowledgment.
<b>“</b>Niki called me a couple of days ago and mentioned you treated a patient for him,” James said<b>, </b>his clear gaze seemingly touching <b>on </b>the topic by chance.
Mirabe tumed back, leaning on the armrest of the sofa, her beautiful eyes revealing an indifferent glint. <b>“</b><b>It </b>wasn’t a charity case.”
Remembering Mirabe’s miserly nature, James raised an eyebrow. After a brief pause, he added, “Niki has organized <b>a </b>luncheon in your honor at Blossom’s Eden for tomorrow noon. Will you be attending?”
At the mention of the luncheon, Mirabe’s eyebrows knitted slightly. She pondered for a moment and was about to respond when Zach, having finished his call<b>, </b>spun around. When he noticed his sister and that jerk were too close forfort<b>, </b>his eyes darkened, and he immediately strode over.
Zach pulled Mirabe to the side and stepped in front of her defensively. “It’s gettingte. We should head home.”
Mirabe facepalmed, holding back her words.
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James straightened up at this, and without further pressing Mirabe about the luncheon, he nodded politely to Zach. “Of course<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Zach, noting James‘ sudden return to gentlemanly behavior, internally scoffed, ‘What <b>a </b>fake!‘
“You don’t need to see us out,” Zach gestured dismissively to James, then turned to his Mira, “Come on, sis. Let’s go.” With that, he took Mirabe by the <b>arm </b>and led her out of the vi<b>, </b>not even allowing for a goodbye.
Once they were gone, Wyatt, who had been pretending to be a janitor sweeping the floors<b>, </b>stopped his charade and approached, muttering to himself, “Dealing with that brother–inw is no easy task.”
James had been contemting Mirabe’s reaction to Niki’s luncheon. <b>He </b>half–squinted at Wyatt’sment, “Brother-inw?”
Wyatt coughed, “I mean, Ms. Mirabe’s brother, Zach.”
James nced at him faintly without engaging further, simply instructing, “Look into the patient Niki had Ms. Mirabe treat.” Wyatt was momentarily surprised, but seeing the serious look on James‘ face<b>, </b>he didn’t ask any questions and simply nodded, getting <b>to </b>work on the task.
Outside the neighboring <b>vi</b>, Zachunched into big brother mode. <b>“</b>Mira, I’m telling you<b>, </b>you should keep your distance from that James guy. He’s up to no good.”
The mere thought of James feigning vulnerability and the idea of a pair of couple’s slippers for Mirabe made his teeth itch with Irritation.
Mirabe just gave him a nonchnt nce, <b>not </b>bothering to respond, and continued walking home.
Zach touched his nose<b>, </b><b>feeling </b>somewhat cowed every time he received that look from his sister. All the things he wanted to <b>say </b>seemed <b>to </b>get stuck in his throat. So his attention shifted to the two books Mirabe was carrying <b>in </b>her arms, a silent change of <b>topic</b><b>. </b>