Not long after, Mirabe and James left the hospital room together.


    As they made their way downstairs, Mirabe kept her hands tucked in her pockets, fiddling with a piece of paper, lost in her thoughts and barely noticing James''s gaze.


    When the elevator doors opened, she was about to step out when someone from outside tried to enter, almost bumping into her.


    James quickly pulled her closer, giving the intruder a brief, cool look. The person, feeling the weight of his gaze, instinctively stepped back, letting them exit first.


    James slipped his hand into Mirabe''s pocket, holding hers. His fingertips were slightly cool, bringing her back to reality. She nced up at him.


    James, without a word, just held her hand as they walked out.


    Side by side, they headed to the parking lot. Just as he was about to open the passenger door, James let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. His eyes, deep and searching, lingered on her face for a moment before he asked, "Do I really look that old?"


    Mirabe, caught off guard, replied, "Huh?"


    "Is it that time of the month again?"


    Seeing the confusion in her eyes, James sighed softly, releasing her and opening the car door. "Never mind."


    "Oh." Mirabe touched her nose, slid into the car, and quickly fastened her seatbelt, closing the door behind her.


    James chuckled, shaking his head. He walked around the car, got into the driver''s seat, and soon they were driving away from the hospital.


    Twenty minutester, they drove back into their neighborhood. ncing in the rearview mirror, James decided to take her straight to his ce.


    As the car rolled to a stop in the garage, Mirabe opened her eyes, still a bit sleepy. Looking out the window, she realized they weren''t at her house.


    "Your stuff''s at my ce," James said, unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car.


    Mirabe remembered the medicine she''d left behind and followed him out.


    At the entrance, Wyatt had been waiting for over ten minutes. Seeing them approach, he nodded, "James, Ms. Mirabe."


    It had been a while since Mirabe had seen Wyatt, so she nodded back, "Have you been busytely?"


    Wyatt, surprised by her attention, nced at James, who showed no reaction, and quickly replied, "Yeah... a bit."


    "Let''s head inside, it''s chilly out here," James said, taking Mirabe''s hand and leading her into the house.


    Wyatt watched James''s casual gesture, his eyes widening in disbelief. Was the James who''d been so nonmittal suddenly settling down?


    Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, Wyatt couldn''t help but rey his own words in his head.


    After a couple of minutes lost in thought, Wyatt followed them inside, ced the box on the coffee table, and said, "Ms. Mirabe, here''s your stuff."


    Mirabe thanked him.


    "Oh, and someone mentioned your ID card isn''t ready yet. They''ll bring it over once it is," Wyatt added, passing on Grant''s message.