Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 26

With that, Mira swapped her plate with Julian’s.

“Mira, don’t take it too far!”

Julian, who had just walked over, had heard what Mira said and snapped at her.

Beside him, Mara’s eyes were already welling up with tears.

“This isn’t taking it too far. It’s called being once bitten, twice shy. Got it, Julian the Dunce?”

“You’re asking for it!”

Julian’s temper flared, and he raised a hand to strike Mira.

He despised that nickname.

As a kid, Julian had been a hothead, always getting into fights and causing trouble. He was the type to explode at the slightest provocation.

Lacey had called him the “Julian the Dunce,” and the name had stuck among them.

He was also the first of the siblings to be won over by Mara.

Just then, Mara made a show of trying to hold him back, but she couldn't seem to manage it. “Don’t blame your sister. She’s just… she’s just…”

Mira, meanwhile, had hopped over to the other side of the dining table.

From that position, if Julian tried to hit her, the entire dinner would be ruined, and he would surely be punished.

Julian’s knuckles turned white as he fought to keep his temper in check, but there was nothing he could do.

*Hmph, you little brat. You think you can mess with me? Just wait until I’ve mastered my training. I’ll deal with you then.*

Mira hadn’t forgotten that during the incident on the stairs, this dog had threatened to send her to jail.

Just then, Lacey walked over and saw her son poised for a fight.

“Sit down and eat. What’s all this commotion?”

In contrast, Mira was already sitting obediently at the table, ready to eat.

Julian shot Mira a glare. “Scheming witch!”

When Adrian came over, he saw Mira already starting on her food.

She looked as if she had just suffered a great injustice.

Before anyone else could speak, Mira mimicked her tone.

“Sister, don’t blame me. This is for your own good.

You know how rich crab is, and you have such a delicate constitution. You should eat less of it. We wouldn’t want you to get an upset stomach now, would we?”

She began cracking the shell as she spoke. “Wow, the big ones have so much roe!”

Julian’s gaze burned with a silent, simmering fury.

Lacey sighed helplessly but said nothing.

Mira, however, ate with great relish, completely unaffected. As she was finishing up, she heard Mara ask Lacey a question.

“Is Damon coming back tomorrow?”

“Your Damon will be back on Sunday. He’s making arrangements for you to participate in the arts festival.”