"Yeah."


    James nodded, not even ncing her way as he rolled up his sleeves and headed to the fridge to grab some pork ribs. Moving over to the stove, he picked up the cleaver with practiced ease, ced the ribs on the cutting board, and with a swift motion, chopped them into even pieces.


    Mirabe, feeling a strange sense of dread beside him, thought, "What the...?"


    Slipping on her gloves without a word, she grabbed the vegetables and went to the sink to wash them, grumbling internally about how men in a bad mood were best avoided.


    She couldn''t help but think about all the effort she put in just for a free meal-it sure wasn''t easy.


    After washing the veggies and taking off her gloves, Mirabe nced at James, who was now simmering the ribs. She was about to suggest stepping out when his voice called out again.


    "There''s a package for me in the locker outside. Could you grab it?" James said, still not looking up.


    Mirabe touched her nose and made an acknowledging sound.


    "My phone has the locker app, but my hands are dirty. You can take it and I''ll tell you which app it is," James said, lifting his left arm to indicate she should take his phone from his pocket.


    Mirabe nodded again, approached him, lightly lifted the hem of his shirt, and reached into his pocket. After a brief search, she pulled out the phone and asked, "Password?"


    James looked at her, noticing how her eyshes cast shadows on her cheeks, with a few stray tendrils of hair giving her azy, unruly look. He cleared his throat and recited six digits.


    Finding the app, Mirabe gave him a thumbs-up and left the kitchen.


    The package locker was just outside, around the corner of the vi''s exterior wall.


    When Mirabe unlocked the phone again, she paused for a moment before opening the locker app.


    She scanned the disy screen on the locker, and a secondter, the door swung open to reveal a not-toorge but somewhat heavy cardboard box.


    Just as Mirabe was about to take the box, the phone in her hand rang. The caller ID showed a single word, "Nie." She hesitated, almost answering before realizing it wasn''t her phone.


    So, she withdrew her finger, ignored the call, and took the box out of the locker, heading back.


    As she rounded the corner, she saw a woman standing at the door, holding a phone, seemingly in the middle of a call.


    Mirabe paused slightly, the phone in her hand still ringing.


    At this moment, Emily, who was on the call, spotted her. Hearing the familiar ringtone, Emily''s gaze instinctively swept over the phone in Mirabe''s hand.


    Emily abruptly ended her call, and the ringing stopped immediately.


    Emily: "..."


    Mirabe didn''t pay much attention to Emily''s actions, merely guessing that she was probably here for James. She approached with the parcel box, politely asking, "Are you here to see someone?"


    Emily put down her phone, looking up at the young girl standing close by. Her features were exceptionally beautiful, especially her doe eyes-clear and bright, the epitome of innocence.


    Suddenly, Emily remembered her brother-inw mentioning his son''s potential girlfriend at the Shepherd family gathering—a freshman in college.


    And this young girl before her certainly looked the part.


    Could it be her son had already won her over?


    After a few seconds of thought, remembering a certain warning, Emily smiled and nodded. "Yes, I''m looking for... Holmes."