Using Kitty''s words, those two looked like real bandits. Delh rubbed her temples and made her way over. Kitty nced around the room, then at the two "bouncers" at the door, her face sour. "Didn''t I ask you to handle those guys at the entrance?" she whispered to Jules.


    Jules was still a bit out of it, having just seen the hotel manager get the boot. Even as an outsider, he felt the tension, like the drama wasn''t just about the manager but him too. Kitty shot him a sharp look, and when he stayed quiet, she snapped, "Lost your voice?"


    Jules snapped back to reality, nced up at As, who was standing behind Mirabe, and stammered, "Ma''am, Miss Mira seems to have some ties with this hotel."


    Kitty''s first thought was that Jules had to be kidding. "Her? Ties with this hotel? She grew up in the sticks... how''s that possible?"


    Jules lowered his gaze, pausing before speaking. "But don''t forget, that girl from the sticks turned into a miracle worker overnight."


    Kitty blinked, clearly caught off guard by his point. Jules was about to continue when the door swung open, cutting him off. He stopped and looked up.


    Austin strolled in, spotting Jules and Kitty standing near the entrance. "Why are you both hanging around here? Did you set up those two at the door?"


    Jules nodded at Austin, letting the earlier conversation drop. Kitty''s focus shifted, and she just shrugged. "We''re good citizens, can''t afford to hire such shady types."


    Austin gave her a look. "Big sister''s crew?"


    He peered into the room, spotting Mirabe and As, looking a bit surprised. He hadn''t expected Mirabe to actually show up. He thought her promise at the school gate was just a polite brush-off.


    "Yep, big sister''s crew, making quite the entrance," Kitty replied with a smirk. Austin paused for a moment, ignoring the guys at the door, and murmured to Kitty, "Business first," before moving inside.


    Kitty watched Emmitt''s eagerness to impress big sister''s family and snickered to herself. Trying to impress them? They might not even give you the time of day.


    Shaking her head, she headed back to her seat. After some small talk, Austin turned to Delh, "Big sister, let''s swing by the hospital to see Donald after dinner. It''s been over twenty years, and his health isn''t great now."


    He acted like he didn''t know Delh had already paid a visit. "I''ve been," Delh replied, her voice even, "Everyone goes through the cycle of life."


    Decades had dulled the sting of old grudges, leaving just the thin thread of blood between father and daughter. Kitty''s lips twisted into a slight smile. "Life cycle, huh? Big sister, you sure make it sound easy..."