Emmitt finished speaking and made his way around the coffee table, heading for the door. He''d barely taken a couple of steps before he stumbled, but Delh was quick to catch him.


    "Are you sure you can get home like this? Maybe you should just stay over tonight,” Delh said, worry evident in her voice.


    Emmitt steadied himself and managed a strained smile. "I''ve already called for a ride-share, Mom. Don''t worry."


    "That''s not good enough. I won''t be at ease even if you do make it back alone," Delh said, her brows knitted in concern. She turned to Zach, "Zach, can you help Emmitt to his room?"


    Emmitt''s eyes instinctively sought out Mirabe, who was across the room. She had put away her phone and seemed calm. Perhaps sensing his gaze, she looked up and their eyes met briefly.


    She didn''t say a word.


    Emmitt felt a pang of bittersweetness in his heart.


    In the end, Delh''s insistence won, and Emmitt agreed to stay the night.


    Once everyone had gone upstairs, Delh turned to talk to her daughter, but Mirabe spoke first.


    "Mom, you should get some rest. I''m going to my room now."


    Delh started to say, "Sweetheart, about Emmitt, he—"


    Mirabe sighed softly, "Mom, do you really think I''m that petty?"


    Emmitt and Summer had been close for over a decade; it was impossible for there to be no feelings involved.


    Mirabe would rather spend her time reading a couple of extra books than wasting it being upset andpeting for attention.


    Delh wanted to say more, but faced with her daughter''s indifferent expression, the words just wouldn''te.


    Mirabe smiled, picked up her phone, wished everyone goodnight, and headed upstairs.


    **


    Back in her room, after washing up, Mirabe grabbed one of the psychology books James had given her and started reading.


    She had meant to check Nick''s pulse today, but there hadn''t been a good opportunity.


    A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.


    Mirabe ced the book on her pillow, threw on a robe, and went to open the door.


    Nick stood there, holding a box. She blinked in surprise.


    "This is a special gift I brought just for you," Nick said, offering the box.


    Mirabe''s eyes fell on the box. It wasrge and wrapped in decorative paper, hiding its contents.


    Remembering the three massive boxes of study materials fromst time, she hesitated, half-expecting it to be filled with exam papers, which she had developed an irrational aversion to.


    Seeing her hesitation and herplex expression, Nick cleared his throat. "I wasn''t sure what you''d like. Last time you seemed interested in tech stuff at my ce, so I brought you aptop."


    Mirabe, relieved it was aputer, took the box eagerly. "Thanks, Nick!"


    The oldputer at home was indeed outdated, but since she rarely used the inte, she hadn''t bothered to get a new one.


    "You''re my sister, no need to be formal," Nick said, then pulled a smaller box from his pocket and handed it to her. "This one''s from Chester. He asked me to give it to you."


    Mirabe had heard the name ''Chester'' more than once today. She hesitated for a moment before taking the small box, asking casually, "What kind of person is Chester?"


    Since her return to the Davis family, she hadn''t heard much about other rtives, mainly because she hadn''t shown much interest.