James gave a nod of understanding.


    Seeing this, David paused for a moment before checking Mirabe''s pulse again. It took a while before he finally pulled his hand back.


    "Honestly, I''ve nevere across such an unusual body temperature. That medicine you showed mest time worked wonders for those on the brink of death, but with Mirabe''s situation, I can''t say for sure if she should take it or if it would even help," David said, his tone serious.


    If it were any other illness, he could easily make a call, but this one had him stumped.


    After a thoughtful pause, David continued, "Alright, I''ll head back and dig through some medical books to see if anythinges up."


    "That''s probably our best bet for now," James replied, his voice carrying a weight it hadn''t before. "I''ll be waiting for your update."


    David managed a wry smile, waved, and left the hospital room in a hurry.


    James turned his gaze back to the girl lying quietly on the bed, her breathing soft and steady like a fairy tale''s Sleeping Beauty.


    Downstairs, David''s assistant was waiting in the lobby. When he spotted David, he tucked his phone away and walked over.


    "You''re done already?" the assistant asked, surprised.


    He knew David was there to check on a patient, but he didn''t realize it was Mirabe.


    David nodded, his hands sped behind his back as he headed outside, "Back to the association."


    The assistant quickly followed, adding as they walked, "Oh, by the way, Paul is back."


    David stopped in his tracks, looking at his assistant, "Didn''t I tell you to reach out to him and ask him to hold off oning back?"


    "I tried, but his phone was off, and he didn''t reply to my messages," the assistant exined.


    David rubbed his forehead, looking every bit as worn out as he felt, "Where is he now?"


    "He mentioned he''d be at the pharmaceutical association soon," the assistant replied promptly.


    David''s eyes narrowed at the thought of Presley''s intentions, then instructed, "Alright, call him again. Tell him to meet me at the coffee shop near the association  swnovel


    "Got it," the assistant nodded, dialing the number.


    After the call, the assistant turned to David, "It''s all set."


    Twenty minutester, they arrived at the coffee shop.


    After checking inside, they were told no one named Paul had shown up.


    The assistant was puzzled, pulling out his phone again, "Paul should''ve beaten us here... I''ll give him a call."


    David nodded.


    Soon, the assistant ended the call, frustration clear, "Still can''t get through."


    David frowned, "He said he was almost at the association before, right?"


    "Yes, and kmade sure to tell him to


    meet


    knew


    bet


    here instead," the ant


    David wanted to k


    away from the association.


    swnovel


    It was all about keeping Presley in the dark about Paul''s return.


    After a moment, the assistant looked outside, "We can''t reach him, and who


    knows if he got held up... Should we wait here?"


    David squinted, thinking about Mirabe''s strange condition and how they couldn''t afford any more dys, "You stay here and wait for him. Once he shows up, get him out of Riverdale. I need to head back to the association."  swnovel


    The assistant nodded, understanding the urgency.