As Mirabella mulled over her thoughts, the butler returned from a phone call. He shot a glance at Keir, then leaned in to whisper something to him.
Jim listened, furrowing his brow briefly before casually saying, "Not interested."
"Got it," the butler nodded, expecting that response. "I'll let them know."
Jim waved him away.
Watching the butler leave, Mirabella, always polite and thoughtful, said, "Uncle Chester, if you have things to do, feel free to go ahead."
"No, not at all," Jim replied with a warm smile. Even if he were busy, it wouldn't hold a candle to the joy of spending time with his niece.
"Okay," Mirabella said softly, gently running her fingers over the gift box she held. Just then, a servant brought over a glass of water. She accepted it with a polite "thank you."
As she took a sip, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message on Messenger. Knowing it was rude to check her phone in front of her elders, Mirabella resisted the urge.
It wasn't until ten minutes later, when the Messenger call tone chimed, that she finally pulled out her phone. Seeing the caller ID, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, though it seemed she half-expected it.
"Uncle Chester, I need to take this call," Mirabella said, standing up with her phone.
"Of course," Jim replied gently.
"Nellie, you didn't just call about the photo I posted, did you?" Mirabella asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice, as if unaware of the emotions beneath.
Nellie knew Rea was perceptive. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "I was just curious about the location in your photo."
Mirabella raised an eyebrow, knowing the family matriarch wouldn't resist asking. She cleared her throat and sighed lightly, "To be honest, Nellie, this is where my Uncle Chester lives."
Nellie was taken aback by this revelation, her voice instinctively rising, "What did you say?"
Twenty minutes ago, when she saw the photo Rea posted, she couldn’t help but wonder why Rea would post a picture of that place. She even questioned whether the secret she held in her heart had been discovered by the young girl, prompting her to take and share that photo to catch her attention.
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