Mirabe slouched back against the couch, her gaze lingering thoughtfully as Curtis‘ figure disappeared upstairs. It was only when he was out of sight that she allowed her gaze to drift. away. It seemed that her once unassuming neighbor might have a moreplicated background than she had initially thought.


    Soon enough, Curtis returned with a porcin jar, which he handed to James with a respectful gesture.


    James nced toward Mirabe. With a nonchnt lift of her eyelids, she said, “One a day.”


    James didn’t press further. He unscrewed the lid and shook a pill the size of a pea into his


    hand.


    No longer skeptical about the pill’s legitimacy, Curtis poured a ss of water and handed it to his boss. After swallowing the pill, James felt a wave of relief wash over him. Hisplexion. once pallid, now held a healthier hue.


    Observing the apparent effect, Curtis suddenly bowed toward Mirabe. “I apologize for my earlier rudeness, Ms. Mirabe. I hope you can forgive my indiscretion.”


    Mirabe nced at Curtis, her eyes inadvertently sweeping over the scar that ran from his temple to the back of his head before she waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine.”


    Feeling a twinge of shame, Curtis insisted, “Should you need anything in the future. Ms. Mirabe, please don’t hesitate to ask.”


    Mirabe’s eyelid twitched, and she quickly replied, “No need, there isn’t anything.”


    Curtis paused, taken aback.


    Clearing her throat, Mirabe turned her attention back to James, “Have you been feeling a stabbing pain in your shintely?”


    James nodded, “Yes, it’s been more noticeable these past few days. I had it checked out, but they didn’t find anything wrong.”


    Leaning casually against the armrest, Mirabe seemed aloof as she pondered for a moment before speaking, “The old injury in your body is actually linked to a wound on your shin.”


    Niki had also examined James‘ leg without finding any injury, and had checked his pulse. without detecting any anomalies besides the underlying condition. He asked curiously. “What do you mean by that?”


    “Some wounds aren’t visible to the naked eye.” Mirabe said with a tight–lipped smile, leaving it at that.


    Niki, realizing she wasn’t going to borate, changed the subject, “Do you have a way topletely heal James‘ chronic condition?”


    Curtis‘ gaze was fixed intently on Mirabe..


    She shrugged. “Not at the moment.”


    Her response clearly disappointed Curtis, but he quickly nodded in acknowledgment. “Please do what you can to help James recover. Ms. Mirabe.”


    Mirabe simply nced at him, saying nothing more.


    “Mirabe, is the prescription you just mentioned from an old herbalpendium?” Niki inquired.


    Touching the tip of her nose, Mirabe replied without batting an eyelid, “I’m not quite sure. I just saw it in a medical text.”


    Niki’s expression became oddly puzzled at her response. Last time, at the Mendoza family gathering, when he asked if she practiced medicine, she had imed to have a passing knowledge from books. And now, her answer was strikingly simr. If he hadn’t just seen her prescription, he might have been easily convinced again.


    Mirabe ignored Niki’splicated look, checked the time, and stood up. “I don’t have much else to do here, so I’ll be heading out.”


    Pausing, as if remembering something, she turned to Niki, “You have the equipment for concocting remedies, right?” After all, Niki was from a family steeped in a century of alternative medicine.


    Niki nodded.


    “Good. Once you’ve got all the herbs together, let me know,” Mirabe said before making her


    exit.