Mirabe poured two sses of water and set them on the table, shooting a nce at her father. "Dad, you''re prying too much."


    Shawn was about to take a sip when her words stopped him. A nagging suspicion crept into his mind-was his daughter siding with James?


    Narrowing his eyes, he looked at James, sensing something different in his gaze.


    James, with eyes as deep as the night sky, cleared his throat. "Uncle Shawn, I heard from Grandpa that you love vintage art. There''s an antique art exhibit at Evergreen Gallery in a few days. A friend of mine gave me an invite. I''ll be happy to pass it along to you."


    Shawn''s face lit up with surprise. "James, you got an invite?"


    He had beenmenting his inability to get an invitation to the exhibit, having learned that the organizers had already given them all out. He had been quite upset about it for some time.


    After all, the exhibit was showcasing masterpieces from the Tang to the Qing Dynasty. Missing out on it meant waiting who knows how long for the next opportunity.


    And now, James had an invitation in hand!


    James nodded, his smile gentle and warm.


    Shawn, trying to contain his joy, coughed a little. "Well... how could I possibly ept such a kind offer? But thank you, I really appreciate it."


    "No need for such formality," James replied politely.


    With that, Shawn''s mood improved considerably, and he looked at James with newfound warmth.


    Mirabe, who had been silent, nced at James with aplex expression. Was this nned all along?


    Before long, James politely declined Shawn''s invitation to dinner and soon got up to leave.


    Shawn also stood and turned to his daughter, who was absorbed in her phone. "Mira, why don''t you walk James out?"


    Caught off guard, Mirabe paused and was about to get up when Nick, sitting nearby, chimed in, "I''ll go."


    Nick nced at Mirabe. "Mirabe just had quite the scare today. Let her rest."


    His voice was crisp, revealing no underlying sentiment.


    After that, Nick nodded to James like a true gentleman.


    James, with a slight tightening of his gaze, went along with the suggestion and simply replied, "Alright."


    Soon, the two of them left the hospital room one after the other.


    Mirabe watched them go and blinked, suddenly sensing a familiar strategy emanating from Nick.


    They exited the hospital room and rode the elevator down in silence.


    It wasn''t until they stepped out of the hospital building that Nick halted and turned


    to face James squarely, his eyes cold and sharp. Hisplexion was unusually pale, his dark eyebrows adding to his imposing aura, which suddenly grew intense. "My sister isn''t from your world," he said sharply.


    James faced Nick, his expression unchanging, his ck coat making him appear even more refined. "I beg to differ," he said calmly.


    Nick pressed his lips together, his voice growing even icier. "Others may fear the Shepherd family, but the Davis family does not."


    James, with his delicate features, hummed nomittally, as if he knew it all along.


    The two locked eyes for a tense few seconds, an invisible sh of wills, until Nick looked away first. Without another word, he turned and walked back into the hospital.


    James raised an eyebrow subtly. Nick Davis... now there was an interesting character.


    And the story continues...