The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella) novel Chapter 342

When the final bell rang at Parkside High School, it was Shawn behind the wheel of a shiny new car, waiting outside the school. The sleek vehicle was hard to miss, and it wasn’t long before it caught the envious glances of passing students.

Inside the car, Shawn grew restless. Boredom got the better of him, so he stepped out to pace the sidewalk. His gaze frequently darted toward the school’s main entrance.

Mirabella had been held up by a last-minute visit to her homeroom teacher’s office, so she was a little behind schedule.

Meanwhile, Summer, with practice on her schedule, had been one of the first to leave the building. Her personal car was nowhere in sight, so she slipped on her sunglasses and sauntered toward the curb. She had barely taken a few steps when she caught sight of Shawn not too far away. Her stride faltered momentarily.

Ever since Mirabella came back, Summer hadn’t sought out her former foster parents. Their coldness during the airport reunion, when she had brought Mirabella home, left a sour taste in her mouth.

She had half-expected the occasional phone call from her foster parents, but silence reigned instead. To them, it seemed she had never existed.

Inhaling deeply, Summer tried to quell the growing irritation within. Readjusting her sunglasses as if nothing was amiss, she pretended not to notice Shawn and continued walking.

Despite everything, a part of her still hoped her foster father would see her and approach. But that hope lingered and faded, until her assistant’s voice broke through her reverie.

Mirabella had by now reached Shawn’s side and called out to him. “You’re a bit late today,” Shawn commented casually as he opened the passenger door for his daughter.

“Just a few minutes — teacher wanted a word,” Mirabella replied lightly before getting into the car.

Shawn walked around to the driver’s side, opened the door, and settled into his seat. As he started the engine and looked up, his eyes finally landed on Summer and her car. He paused for a moment, taken aback, but quickly averted his gaze, started the car, and drove away.

Summer watched Shawn’s car disappear into the distance. The sight of the vehicle’s emblem eroded her composure. The facade cracked, and the rawness of rejection she felt was impossible to ignore any longer.