Mirabe straightened up and nodded, "Take care on your way, Grady."


    Grady waved and quickly got into his car. It wasn''t until the car disappeared down the road that Mirabe let out a quiet sigh.


    She never expected someone who seemed so traditional to have such unsettling ideas.


    Just then, James stepped out of the car, walked over, and handed her the bag she''d forgotten. "You left your bag behind."


    Mirabe snapped back to reality, realizing she''d rushed out too quickly to remember it.


    James hadn''t met Grady in person, but from a distance, he sensed something special about the man, like he wasn''t your average Joe. With a raised eyebrow, he asked casually, "Who was that?"


    "An elder from the family," Mirabe replied, thinking it was the best way to describe him.


    James nodded, "Maybe we should meet him sometime, have dinner together." Mirabe shot him a look, "Trying to pull the same move you did with my dad?" James''s handsome face remained calm, "It''s not a move; it''s strategy."


    Mirabe smiled, slightly amused. If he had heard what Grady said earlier, he might regret thatment. Shaking her head, she said, "I''m heading in."


    James nodded. But as Mirabe turned to go, he suddenly pulled her close and kissed her. "Almost forgot today''s kiss."


    Mirabe: "..."


    *


    Austin caught a red-eye flight to Ashford.


    Aaron didn''t tag along, but Jules offered to go with him. He had already checked out the Davis family background and had been to Ashford once before, so he knew his way around.


    When theynded in Ashford, it was already past midnight, so they booked a hotel near the airport, nning to start fresh the next morning.


    The following day.


    Jules led Austin to the first neighborhood where the Davis family had lived.


    Dressed in high-end clothes, Austin walked into the run-down neighborhood, his face scrunched up in disgust. "My sister''s family lives here?"


    Jules nodded while checking the building numbers. "Yeah, this is the address we found."


    Austin, looking at the shabby conditions of the ce, fought the urge to turn around and leave. "This is awful."


    Even the staff quarters at the Cunningham family''s estate were nicer than this ce.


    He couldn''t fathom what his sister was thinking, leaving a life offort to end up living here with some nobody.


    Soon, Jules found the address listed in their information. The building''s ss door was open, so they walked in.


    They took the elevator, hitting the button for the top floor. As they ascended, Austin kept his hand over his nose and mouth, barely tolerating the musty smell.


    Soon, they reached the top floor.


    Austin hurried out of the elevator.


    Jules checked the address on his phone and walked to apartment 01, ringing the doorbell.


    But after waiting a while, no one answered, so Jules pressed the bell again. A few minutester, still no response.


    Jules scratched his head, puzzled. "Weird, the address is right. Someone should be home around this time."


    Already irritated by the smell, Austin frowned deeper and told Jules, "Just knock on the door."


    Jules nodded, already thinking the same thing.


    The building was old and not well soundproofed, so Jules''s loud knocking soon disturbed the neighbors.