Web Fic
Chapter 180
Leo snapped back to reality and chuckled as he saw Mirabella striding ahead with his suitcase. “Thanks, Mirabella, but I could’ve handled it myself.”
Mirabella didn’t reply and just continued on, pulling his luggage determinedly. Sensing her insistence, Leo eventually gave up trying to help.
Zach, who had been entirely overlooked behind them, now stood with hands on hips, watching the two disappear into the distance. He glanced at his own suitcase by his feet and felt utterly neglected.
Wasn’t he also family? Didn’t he have luggage too?!
Zach stood there for what felt like an eternity. As the figures of his siblings faded, neither of them looked back to notice him being left behind. Finally, he huffed and dragged his suitcase toward the apartment complex alone. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Ungrateful siblings!
Delilah and Shawn only knew about Leo and Zach’s return through Mirabella, so they stayed home waiting.
As the front door opened, Delilah reached out to help with the luggage and asked, “Leo, your must be exhausted, huh?”
Leo shook his head and nodded a greeting. “Hey, Dad. Mom.”
“Haven’t eaten yet? I saved you and your sister some dinner,” Delilah offered with concern.
Just reaching the doorway, Zach thought, “You and your sister?” Was he invisible?
After a night of repeated blows to his ego, Zach began to question his very presence in the family. Fortunately, he wasn’t entirely neglected. Shawn chimed in, “Zach, why are your zoning out in the doorway?” He gave Zach a puzzled look that clearly questioned his mental sharpness at such a young age.
Zach just sighed internally. Maybe it was time to find a new place to call home.
Delilah was preoccupied with Leo’s gaunt face, feeling a pang of maternal heartache that pulled her attention away from Zach. She ushered Leo into the living room for a closer look and said, “You look pale. You haven’t been resting properly, have you?”
She had been worried since his last visit, and after discussing it with Collins, who assured her there was nothing to worry about, Delilah hadn’t probed further.
Leo’s eyes drooped slightly as he replied, “It’s just jet lag. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
Mirabella, who had been observing quietly, remembered checking Leo’s pulse earlier, and her expression tightened slightly. Her brother might’ve been physically weakened, but there was
something else in his pulse that troubled her.
After a moment, Mirabella excused herself, “I’m heading to my room. Still got some
homework to finish.”
“Oh, okay,” Delilah nodded but quickly added, “Did you have dinner yet, sweetheart?”
Mirabella affirmed with a nod, “I did.” With that, she gave a slight bow and headed upstairs.
Delilah turned back to Leo, lamenting, “Your sister is so into her studies. It’s all books and homework with her, like a little nerd. She doesn’t have any fun.”
Leo, looking towards the second floor, felt a little surprised. He hadn’t expected Mirabella to be such a bookworm. But then again, maybe growing up in a small town had fueled her fervent pursuit of knowledge. At that moment, his appreciation for his studious little sister soared.
Mirabella, now labeled as diligent and hardworking, returned to her room and sat down at her desk, booting up her computer.