Chapter 48: Miranda’s Sparkle
They arrived at the boutique, and as Alexander and Miranda walked in, Ethan waited for the right moment to sneak out of his hiding spot and slip into the store unnoticed. He silently observed from behind a clothing rack as Miranda held a white, elegant dress in front of a mirror, critically inspecting herself.
Seizing his chance, Ethan grabbed a jar of golden glitter from a nearby table and, stifling his laughter, discreetly sprinkled it over the dress Miranda was trying on. In seconds, the dress sparkled with golden flecks.
Completely unaware, Miranda put on the dress and walked out to show it to Alexander, who struggled to hide his lack of enthusiasm.
– Alexander, what do you think? – she asked, spinning around to show off the details of the dress.
To their surprise, the glitter began to fall off the dress, covering Miranda from head to toe and leaving golden streaks in her hair and on her face. Realizing what was happening, her expression shifted from confusion to fury.
– What is this?! – she screamed, waving her hands, which only made things worse as the glitter spread throughout the room.
Without being caught, Ethan ran back to the car and hid in the trunk, grinning at his successful prank. When Alexander and Miranda returned to the mansion, Miranda stormed off to change her clothes, giving Ethan the perfect opportunity to sneak out of the trunk and dash to his room as if nothing had happened.
Later, Alexander noticed a golden shimmer on his hands while washing them in the bathroom. He frowned at the glitter stuck to his skin, recalling he hadn’t touched anything sparkly in the boutique.
– Where did this come from? – he muttered, inspecting the golden specks on his fingers.
Suddenly, suspicion hit him. Ethan’s mischievous look that morning, his "disappearance" at home, and the faint laughter he’d heard at the boutique all seemed to connect. Smiling to himself, Alexander realized his son had been behind the prank.
That night, Alexander decided to speak privately with Ethan. He knocked on his son’s door and walked in.
Ethan was sitting on his bed, engrossed in a book, but when he saw his dad, a sly smile crossed his face.
– Want to tell me something, champ? – Alexander asked, crossing his arms and pretending to be serious.
Ethan bit his lip, trying to hold back a laugh. – I… just wanted to add a little magic to Miranda’s dress – he confessed, his eyes twinkling with innocent mischief.
Alexander couldn’t help but laugh, sitting beside him. – Magic, huh? Where did you get that idea?
Ethan sighed, shrugging. – Dad, I don’t want you to marry her. I don’t like how she looks at you, and… she’s mean to Isabella. I know something’s not right.
Alexander felt a pang in his chest at his son’s honesty. Ethan had noticed more than he wanted to admit.
– Ethan, I know you have your reasons for not trusting Miranda, and I appreciate you looking out for me. But sometimes, we have to make difficult decisions, even if they’re not what we want – he explained, choosing his words carefully.
Ethan looked at him seriously, his voice trembling but firm. – Dad, I know you really want to be with Isabella. She cares about you and always looks out for us. Miranda… she’s here for something else, I just know it.
Alexander stayed silent. His son’s innocent yet perceptive words struck a deep chord. He ruffled Ethan’s hair affectionately.
– You know, you’re a lot wiser than you look – he said, pulling him into a tight hug.
After a moment, he whispered, – I promise I’ll do my best to make you happy. You’re right… and I’ll take your advice.
Ethan smiled, hugging his dad tightly. For the first time, Alexander felt that the truth was finding its way into his life, thanks to his son’s words.