Mirabe caught the confidence in Chester''s voice, as though he had a sixth sense about her preferences. She couldn''t help but touch her nose a bit sheepishly before she slowly peeled open the box''s secondyer.


    Insidey a sleek, golden card.


    It was just like the ck card Shawn had handed her when she first rejoined the Davis family a couple of years back.


    Seeing the card, along with Chester''s demeanor, gave Mirabe the uncanny feeling that her meticulously crafted persona was starting to crack.


    Just then, Chester''s voice broke through her thoughts, "Good thing I checked with Zach about what you like beforehand; otherwise, I''d be in quite a pickle today."


    Jim''s eyes betrayed a trace of relief, thankful for his foresight. It would have been quite the blunder if he, as the elder, had flubbed the gift on a first meeting.


    Mirabe''s lips twitched, half-amused, as if she could visualize aedic scene ying out in front of her. "Oh... Chester, what else did Zach mention?"


    Her voice, soft and sweet, had an undertone sharp enough to make Zach shiver if he were present.


    "Your Zach is always a bit nervous around me, so he just mentioned a few of your hobbies," Jim said, blissfully unaware he''d just sold his nephew down the river.


    Mirabe''s grin widened.


    Her Zach was quite the character. Scared of Chester, yet still feeding him wrong info-definitely in need of a wake-up call.


    Meanwhile, miles away, Zach


    sneezed unexpectedly, and his right eyelid twitched. Rubbing his nose, he couldn''t shake the feeling that


    unpleasant was brewing.


    kn


    Mirabe took a deep breath, gently closing the box with the diamonds and the golden card, her expression a mystery. "Thank you, Chester. really do like these gifts." Jim felt a wave of relief wash over him at his niece''s ''genuine'' joy. "That''s all that matters."


    éné


    "Yes." Mirabe''s eyshes fluttered lightly. She had to like them; who knew what surprises lurked if she didn''t?


    "By the way, Chester, I heard you stopped by the hotel a couple of days ago. I was tied up and missed you," Mirabe smoothly shifted the conversation.


    Jim, who had just begun to rx, felt his face freeze at her mention.


    He shot a nce at Grady standing nearby, catching his barely hidden smirk. "..."


    This Grady, Jim thought, was not on his wish list today.


    Jim held his poker face, though inside he squirmed. "No worries, I was just there for some business."


    Grady discreetly looked away. His master''s talent for lying without a flinch was as sharp as ever, just more polished with age.


    Mirabe nodded, choosing not to burst Chester''s bubble. But as her eyes flicked over his face again, her brow creased ever so slightly.


    Hadn''t Grady said Chester was on the mend? Outwardly, he seemed fine, but his energy felt delicate, like an old oak hollowed out by bugs appearing robust on outside but so fragile a light breeze could topple it.


    Mirabe had the urge to check his pulse, but now wasn''t the time. She decided


    she''d wait for the right moment when he wouldn''t notice.