Curtis rolled his neck from side to side, then grabbed Carl by the cor, lifting him up and tossing him to the ground. He turned and asked, “Mirabe, what do you want to do with him?"


    Carl, sprawled on the ground, suddenly looked up at Mirabe, his mind clearing in an instant.


    "Mirabe?"


    Wait a minute. Thewyer''sst name was also Mirabe... Was this some kind of payback for thewyer?


    As the realization hit him, Carl''s face turned ghostly pale, all strength leaving his body.


    He''d had someone dig into thewyer''s background and found nothing of note, which is why he''d gone after him. But now, how was he supposed to know thewyer was connected to the Shepherd family?


    If he''d known about that connection, he wouldn''t have dared to make a move, no matter how bold he thought he was!


    Mirabe casually tossed aside a napkin she''d used to wipe her fingers, remarking, "We live in a society withws now."


    Curtis nced at Carl, who was now smeared with blood, and his cheek twitched. "Got it," he replied.


    He pulled out his phone, calling his subordinate, "Pass the evidence straight to the district attorney... Yeah, get the sentencing moving."


    Once he hung up, Carl, realizing the gravity of his situation, dropped to his knees, pleading, "Mr. Curtis, I swear I didn''t know thewyer was with you, I..."


    Curtis cut him off, his voice icy, "Should''ve thought of that sooner."


    Mirabe had already turned to leave, her phone buzzing in her pocket.


    Curtis gave a few instructions into the mic clipped to his cor, organizing the cleanup, and then followed her out.


    Carl watched them leave, knowing there was no turning back, but he suddenly chuckled, "You''ll regret messing with me..."


    Mirabe paused briefly at the door when she heard this, her gaze flicking toward the exit before she continued on her way.


    Her mysterious eyes blended into the night.


    *


    Curtis dropped Mirabe off at the hospital, and after a quick thank you, she sent him on his way.


    She headed to a nearby convenience store, picking up some snacks before returning to the hospital.


    She took the elevator to the fifth floor and walked to the ward, gently pushing the door open.


    Nick had been thest to hear about Zach''s hospitalization. He''d been tied up at the institute until almost 10 p.m. and came home to an empty house, only learning what had happened from As.


    He rushed to the hospital.


    "Mirabe, where''ve you been?" Nick had been waiting for over half an hour.


    Mirabe held up a bag with instant noodles, cookies, and water, her eyshes lowered slightly, her voice soft, "I was starving and went out to find something to eat. Everything was closed, so I just grabbed a few things at a convenience store."


    Nick saw this and held back the question about why she hadn''t answered her phone.


    The assistant nearby gave Mirabe a quiet nce. He didn''t know where she''d been for over an hour, but he remembered her instructions and stayed silent.


    Mirabe went to boil some water, then leaned against the cab, tapping her fingers absent-mindedly on the countertop, her thoughts drifting.


    Seeing her lost in thought, Nick approached her, "Worried about Zach?"


    Mirabe snapped back to reality, her gazending on Zach in the bed, her voice gentle, "Zach will be fine."


    Nick sensed something off about her response but chalked it up to her concern, gently patting her head. "The doctor said he''ll be okay after some rest."


    Mirabe''s eyshes fluttered slightly, and she just murmured in agreement.