**Across Town**


    As sat in his car, eyes glued to the surveince footage from around Prestige College that his tech guy had just pulled up. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he saw it was Nick, he hesitated for a beat before answering.


    "Mr. Nick," he greeted.


    Nick hade back early from the research institute and had been waiting for Mirabe. When he couldn''t reach her, he decided to call As.


    As''s eyes stayed on the screen, which clearly showed Mirabe being taken by two men. His gaze hardened. "Miss Mirabe told me not to pick her up today. She might have had other ns."


    As''s voice was calm, masking any concern. Nick, thinking it over, didn''t doubt him. "Alright, I got it."


    The call was short, and they hung up quickly.


    As rxed his grip on the phone and turned to his colleague. "Did you find them?"


    "Yeah. The car''s registered to some local thug named Wei, no real job," his subordinate said, pulling up the file.


    As exhaled, relieved it wasn''t the Davis family''s enemies. "Where are they now?"


    "Based on the car''s movement, they''ve gone to a hospital just outside the third ring road," his colleague replied, still working on theputer.


    "A hospital?" As narrowed his eyes.


    "Yeah, no idea why they''d take her there... I''ll get someone to intercept them now," the subordinate said, dialing a number.


    As gave a curt nod, his gaze fixed on the screen, eyes cold and serious.


    **Meanwhile**


    Nick hung up and took a moment, then scrolled through his contacts. He paused for a second before making the call.


    The call was answered quickly.


    "Which building?" Nick asked, lips barely moving.


    James, on the other end, was surprised but quickly replied, "101.”


    Nick knew exactly where James lived; the call was just a heads-up. Without another word, he hung up.


    Grabbing his jacket, he headed out the door.


    James, hearing the call end, smirked and lowered his phone, pondering the


    reason behind Nick''s call. Was heing over?


    Emily, sitting across from him, nced up and asked, "Who was that?"


    James twirled his phone, "Just a bump in the road."


    Emily looked puzzled, "What bump?"


    James leaned backzily, "Nothing important."


    "You''re always so cryptic," Emily shook her head and returned to her article. After


    a while, she looked impressed. "This Ms. ke from the ke family is quite the schr."


    James, intrigued by Emily''s rare praise, looked up at her.