Ten minutes ticked by, and Adler watched Mirabe sitting there, slumped, eyes closed, her face a ghostly pale that made his stomach twist with worry. Then, her phone''s ringtone cut through the quiet of the night corridor-not loud, but sharp enough to be noticed.


    Mirabe didn''t stir, not even a flicker of a reaction. Adler hesitated, then moved closer and called her name twice, but she stayed silent, as if she were in a deep, dreamless sleep.


    Something felt off to Adler. Sure, her breathing was steady, which was a relief, but it was still strange. Just then, Dr. Ray returned from settling Nick back in his room, and Adler quickly filled him in on Mirabe''s state.


    Dr. Ray nced at her, remembering something she''d mentioned earlier in the ER, and reassured him, "She''s just worn out. Give her a day or two, and she should bounce back."


    "So, she''s okay then?" Adler let out a breath he didn''t realize he''d been holding. "Yes, that''s right," Dr. Ray nodded, though he did pause first.


    Feeling a bit more at ease, Adler''s mind wandered to his curiosity. "When she was rushed in, was it true she had no pulse or breath?" he asked.


    Dr. Ray took a moment. Everything had been such a whirlwind when she arrived, and since she wasn''t connected to any machines-just those incredible acupuncture needles-his focus had been entirely on that astonishing technique, rather than her vitals.


    ???


    He gathered his thoughts and exined, "Theck of pulse and breathing could''ve been due to temporary shock. Remember the time with Mr. Davis''s surgery? That shock was handled the same way, with her needles. So, your curiosity doesn''t surprise me."  swnovel


    Saving someone from the brink with acupuncture once made it seem like a second time might not be as difficult, given her unheard-of skill.


    Seeing Dr. Ray so unfazed, and knowing reviving patients from shock wasn''t exactly rare, Adler''s doubts slipped away, and he didn''t push further.


    Soon enough, Dr. Ray had a nurse move Mirabe to a room. With As around, Adler felt it was best not to overstay his wee and quicklyheaded out of the hospital. He needed to figure out a foolproof n for Andy''s questions Even though taking Nick was above board, he had to ensure no


    suspicion arose.  swnovel


    The next morning, Mirabe was still out cold, her face as pale as the night before, no sign of improvement. As had Dr. Ray check her again, and once more, everything seemed perfectly normal, no red gs.


    Dr. Ray found it odd but


    remembered what the young woman had saidst night and repeated it word-for-word to As. Hearing this, As could only breathe a temporary sigh of relief. With Mr. Nick still unconscious in the next room, if anything else happened to Miss Mira... well, he''d be at the end of his rope.  swnovel


    After Dr. Ray left, As stayed put beside Mirabe, making arrangements for someone to inform her school about her absence.