Nick''s bedroom door was shut, but a sliver of light peeked out from underneath, showing he was still up. Mirabe gave a gentle knock on the wooden door, calling softly, "Nick?"


    In this old house, the thin walls kept no secrets. Nick heard his sister''s voice, quickly threw his coat back on, and went to open the door.


    As the door swung open, the fresh scent of sandalwood drifted out.


    Mirabe caught the aroma, a flicker of concern in her eyes. She''d previously mixed a special blend of herbs and used acupuncture to help Nick, so he hadn''t needed incense to sleep for a while. The fact he''d lit it tonight was a clear sign something was bothering him.


    "Mind if we chat for a bit?" Mirabe asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern.


    Nick''s hand tightened on the doorframe for a moment, but as he met his sister''s caring gaze, a wave of calm washed over him. He nodded and let her in.


    Mirabe stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She nced at the smoldering incense burner before pulling over an old wooden chair and sitting down.


    "Nick, you seem off today... Did something happen?" she asked directly.


    Nick let out a light, forced sigh. "It''s like I can''t hide anything from you, can I?"


    Raising an eyebrow, Mirabe pressed, "So?"


    “It''s just... old memoriesing back," Nick said, avoiding mentioning Summer''s visit. There was no need to bring it up.


    Mirabe, guessing the nature of his troubles, thought for a moment before speaking. "Sometimes, the past haunts us because we haven''t faced it head-on."


    She knew Nick''s pain likely came from his reluctance to confront the kidnapping incident. Though she hadn''t experienced such despair herself, she''d sensed the depth of his agony during hypnotherapy sessions.


    Nick''s gaze drifted to themp on his nightstand, his eyes clouded. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and distant. "Everyone thinks my pain is all about the kidnapping... but it''s not just that."


    Mirabe''s fingers stilled on herp as she listened quietly, giving him space to continue.


    Looking up, aplex emotion flickered across Nick''s face. He took a deep breath and turned to Mirabe, asking, "If I wasn''t the ''normal'' person you think I am, would you be afraid?"


    His left hand was clenched tight.


    Noticing the shift in his mood, Mirabe raised an eyebrow, breaking the tension with a counter-question. "What if I wasn''t the sister you think I am?"


    There were things in her life that defied scientific exnation, and it frustrated her.


    Nick, taken aback, felt his anxiety ebb away.


    Not the sister he imagined... because of many secrets?


    "No matter how many secrets you have, you''ll always be my little sister," Nick replied earnestly.


    Mirabe nodded, her voice teasing. "So, Nick, that question you asked was prettyme. Don''t you trust your own sister?"


    Nick paused, surprised. Her words, though not exactlyforting, somehow eased his tension, and his clenched hand rxed.


    After a moment, Nick chuckled, shaking his head and looking back at Mirabe.


    He finally understood why Zach and Leo never acted like typical big brothers-it was probably all this little rascal''s doing, leading them astray without them even realizing.