Shakira stopped walking. Her eyes, calm andposel, turned toward Mitchell. She said, "When Lago tried to hurt me that time, you saved me. Are you calling in that favor now?"


    Mitchell was struggling, for between options. He never intendell for Shakira to repay him, nor did he want to use this ro confine her. But now, things were different and he really had no her option. Mitchell''s expression was incredibly strained, and he just said, "I just hope that one day, we can truly be a family."


    Shakira nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."


    "I''lle tomorrow night, but I must tell you, your hope will nevere true. After speaking, she gave Mitchell a deep look before turning around to leave.


    Behind her, Mitchell remained hopeful and shouted, "I believe that day wille!"


    Shakira didn''t stop, continuing her way forward. In her mind, she silently thought, ''It would never happen! Even if I die!"


    On Friday night, Shakira arrived five minutes early at the entrance of the Paniago Hotel. There were high society figures in designer clothes all around and luxury cars came and went in an orderly manner.


    In her simple white shirt and worn-out jeans, Shakira seemed out of ce here.


    The Nelson family arrived around the same time and could easily spot the striking Shakira from the entrance.


    Reba''s face instantly darkened inside the car. "What''s with her dressing up like she''s picking up trash and dining with us at an event like this? Isn''t she embarrassing us all?"


    Cody also wasn''t pleased. He thought, ''The Paniago Hotel is one of Crescentville''s top business venues, where many big-time entrepreneurs choose to discuss deals. There''s a chance we might run into someone we know the moment we get out of the car.''


    He mused, ''If an old friend saw us hanging out with Shakira looking like that, it wouldpletely ruin the Nelson family''s image.


    Cody, with a stern face, instructed the driver, "Drive around once and thene back."


    Yvette, who was in the same car, linked arms with Reba and whispered, "Don''t you think Shakira will even get through the hotel entrance dressed like that? Should I go down and help her?"


    "If she can''t get in, let her stay there! If she wants to embarrass herself, she better not drag us down with her!" Reba cursed under her breath, while a gentle smile tugged at the corners of Yvette''s lips.


    Just then, the driver in front eximed, "Oh, Ms. Shakira Nelson just went in..."


    They all quickly looked over and saw the lobby manager striding out with a wide smile, going over to greet her. Not only did he not stop Shakira at the door, but he personally escorted her inside.


    The Nelson family watched in disbelief as Shakira entered the VIP elevator. They were all speechless.


    The driver meekly asked, "Sir, Shakira has already gone in. Should we still drive around?"


    Cody said with a gloomy face, "Stop right here!"


    Yvette had a very forced smile, trying to smooth things over for Cody, "Maybe it''s because of Mr. Lopez. Even though


    16:04


    Shakira is officially a maid for the Lopez family, everyone knows he''s fond of her...


    Reba straightened her neck, her disdain evident and sarcastic She said, "To be a maid like her, you wouldn''t find many others!"


    Cody frowned and said, "Alright, when we get out of the car, keep your mouth shut." He thought, Domestic shame should not be made public..


    Inside the VIP elevator. The manager was very courteous, bowing and nodding to Shakira, "Ms. Shakira Nelson, your private room has always been kept for you ording to Mr. Reynolds''s structions. Should we head there now?" Shakira said coolly, "No need, I''ve been invited for dinner."


    The manager asked, "Which room is it? Should we put it on your ount?"


    Shakira gave him a sideways look, "Why put it on my ount? I''m not that familiar with them!"


    Suddenly she remembered something and chuckled, "Oh right, get the best bottle in your wine cer, and they''ll pay for it!"


    ""Sure!" said the manager.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Finn, Mitchell, and the recently returned Felix had arrived earlier than the others and were already waiting in the private room.


    The waiter opened the door, and Shakira entered the roomzily. Mitchell, who was fiddling with his phone and talking to himself, immediately jumped up. He said, "Hey! Shakira, why didn''t you reply to my messages? I said I would wait for you downstairs!" Shakira said, "I blocked you." It was only then that Finn and Felix turned their attention to them.


    Finn remained quiteposed, but Felix''s eyes briefly shed with surprise and admiration when he saw Shakira. When Shakira was first brought back, he saw her once before he went abroad to study.


    He wasn''t interested in anything outside of his research. The only person he often thought about at home was his sister, Yvette, the one he grew up with and who liked to act spoiled with him.


    He wasn''t too concerned about his actual sister, Shakira. To him, blood rtions were just indifferent data with little meaning.


    His only impression of Shakira was that she was timid, self-conscious, and a foolish woman who once tried to ruin his research report.


    But now, seeing her again... She seemed different from what he remembered of Shakira.


    Felix raised an eyebrow. He knew Mitchell''s temper, so he didn''t expect that Shakira dared say something like that. He thought, ''Isn''t she afraid of being scolded by Mitchell?''


    However, Felix didn''t see the scene he had imagined. Instead, he watched as the usually super arrogant and self-important Mitchell shed a big smile at Shakira.


    Mitchell was seemingly unfazed by Shakira''s disdain, as he was used to it. He thoughtfully looked for solutions like a devoted follower and said, "What? Did I get blocked? No problem, I have three more SIM cards. I''ll just use another number to contact you next time." Shakira fell silent. Finn was speechless.


    Felix, feeling unsure, took off his sses and cleaned them, then put them back on and looked again carefully. He still found it unbelievable, Finn, was Mitchell swapped too?"


    Finn took a sip of tea totale his surprise. It''s as real as it gets"


    Felix said, "Shakira was so rude to him, and he didn''t curse her out? That''s not normal?


    Finn nced at him and said, "Sometimes science can''t exin everything."


    Felix was silent.


    Mitchell warinly pulled Shakira over and introduced them. "This is Finn, you know him. And this is your fourth brother. Felix. He just got off the ne this afternoon. You''ve met before, right?" Felix remained seated, giving Shakira a few indifferent nces, "Yes, we''ve met once.


    Shakira said nothing. Seeing this, Felix frowned with an air of arrogance. "Didn''t your former family teach you any


    manners?"


    Shakira replied, "No."


    Felix''s eyes darkened, about tosh out when Mitchell irritably interrupted, "The Smith family is a dump. It''s better they didn''t teach you anything because nothing goodes from what they teach!" Just then, Cody and two others pushed the door open, just in time to hear this conversation. Yvette''s smile almost wavered.


    tv