The Double (or more?) Life of the Fake Heiress novel Chapter 4

Mirabella's eyes were tinged with concern, and after a few seconds, her grip loosened as she asked in a slightly grave tone, “Is your chest troubling you again?”

Catherine managed a strained smile as she clasped Mirabella's hand reassuringly, shaking her head gently. “Granny's fine, dear. It's just the same old issue. Don't you worry about me.”-

Mandy, standing nearby, was taken aback by Catherine's sudden distress. Regaining her composure, she instinctively pushed Mirabella aside. “Mom, are you having another one of your episodes? Are you in pain? Should we go to the hospital?”

Mirabella's brow furrowed at being pushed away. She cast a glance at Mandy before turning and walking back into the house.

As Mandy fumbled for her phone to call an ambulance, she couldn't help but sneer at Mirabella's retreating figure. “Mom, can you believe this? This is the thanks you get for raising her. You're in agony, and she just walks away...” Shaking her head, Mandy started dialing 911.

Not long after, Mirabella emerged from the house, carrying a mug in her hands. Mandy hung up the call and turned around to see Mirabella helping Catherine drink something. Her brow furrowed, and she snatched the mug, only to find it wasn't just water. She demanded with a sharp tone, “What are you giving my mother to drink?”

The gaze Mirabella leveled at the snatched mug was suddenly fraught with an icy, foreboding intensity. Her normally pleasant features were wiped clean of any expression. Confronted with this unfamiliar side of Mirabella, Mandy recoiled, her heels clicking backward in retreat. “What... what kind of look is that?” Her voice had lost its earlier assertiveness.