The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella) novel Chapter 604

Before long, dinner was ready.

Around the dining table, the air was filled with the savory aroma of a well-roasted chicken and the comforting scent of baked potatoes. Delilah, beaming with maternal pride, couldn't help but get sentimental as she looked around at her sons and cherished daughter gathered in one place. "Today has got to be the most together we've been in ages," she remarked.

Shawn, eager to commemorate the occasion, fetched a bottle of vintage red wine from the cellar, filling everyone's glass with a generous pour. When he reached his daughter, however, he swapped the wine for a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice.

Mirabella merely raised an eyebrow at the substitution.

Throughout the meal, Mirabella spoke little, chiming in only when someone directly engaged her in conversation. It wasn't that Emmitt's return had rendered her silent; she was always the quiet one at the table.

Both Shawn and Delilah were elated to have Nick back home, but they didn't forget to shower their daughter with attention, making for a content and fulfilling family dinner.

Ever since Emmitt had tasted the bitter flavor of regret, he'd felt too ashamed to return to the family home. It was only his brother Nick's homecoming that had given him the courage to face everyone again.

Sitting at the table, Emmitt couldn't quite understand his own motivations—whether it was the longing to see his estranged brother or some other draw. Noticing Mirabella's quiet demeanor, he found himself equally at a loss for words, simply nursing his glass of wine.

Initially, Nick hadn't sensed anything amiss, but as the meal progressed and he observed the lack of interaction between Emmitt and Mirabella, he began to feel that something was off.

After dinner, Nick discreetly pulled his brother Zach aside to inquire about any recent family drama he might have missed.

Zach hesitated only briefly before deciding to come clean, summarizing the misunderstanding that had taken place.

Nick listened intently, then shook his head after a long silence. "Emmitt just put too much trust in Summer," he finally said. Though brotherly bonds were strong, Nick believed one should never be blind to their sibling’s faults.

However, at the mere mention of Summer, Nick's expression turned notably colder, his pale skin casting a faint chill under the light.

Delilah, noticing Emmitt's state, prepared a cup of strong black coffee, hoping to sober him up. Despite downing it, Emmitt's discomfort persisted.

Nick, who had finished his chat with Zach, observed Emmitt and approached him with a concerned look. "Emmitt, have you been entertaining a lot lately?" he asked.

Emmitt tilted his head slightly to glance at Nick, his response noncommittal. "Not really."

"You look like you've been overdoing it with the alcohol recently. I suggest you get yourself checked at the clinic tomorrow," Nick advised.

Delilah, caught off-guard by the exchange, quickly regained her composure and chimed in, "Overindulging? But you've never been much of a drinker. What's going on?"

Emmitt's eyes dropped, and he didn't answer her. Instead, he steadied himself against the couch and rose to his feet. "It's getting late, I should head out," he said, excusing himself from the family gathering.