Nick brushed aside his thoughts, focusing on As once more. "How did Mirabe manage to get me out of theb?"


    Though he still looked pale and weak, his eyes had a sharpness that seemed to cut through everything.


    As met Nick''s gaze, his fingers tightening around the cup. He sighed inwardly, realizing there was no point in keeping the truth under wraps any longer. "It was one of Ms. Mira''s friends who got you out. She didn''t go into theb herself; she was waiting outside for you."


    Thest thing Nick recalled before cking out was the parking lot—the final stretch of his endurance. After a moment, he asked, "The injuries...?"


    "Ms. Mira took care of them," As replied honestly.


    Nick''s fingers twitched slightly on the cup. "Same asst time, right?"


    As hesitated, then nodded.


    With everything already spilled, hiding anything further was pointless. The truth would have surfaced eventually, whether from him or someone else.


    After a pause, As added in a hushed tone, "You were the one who kept it from Ms. Mira first, so she just went along with it, not wanting to stir the pot."


    Nick was silent for a beat. So, everyone was in on the act except him?


    As cleared his throat and stepped closer with a ss of water, offering it to Nick. "Here, drink some water, it''ll help."


    Nick said nothing, feeling a familiar pang in his chest. Taking a deep breath, he shifted the conversation back, "So, where is Mirabe now?"


    He hadn''t missed the brief tension that flickered across Uncle As''s face.


    "She should be at school around this time, where else?" As muttered.


    "Do you think I can''t tell you''re hiding something?" Nick asked, trying to push himself up from the bed.


    But as soon as he moved, he slumped back down, drained.


    et el?


    Seeing this, As quickly set the water on the nightstand and gently helped Nick lean against the headboard. "Ms. Mira really is fine," he insisted.  swnovel


    Nick leaned back, his eyes locked onto As. "I don''t buy it."


    As avoided Nick''s gaze, lifting the water again and motioning for him to drink.


    Nick didn''t budge, his stare unrelenting, making As squirm under the pressure.


    "Well, Ms. Mira might''ve used up a lot of energy saving you, so she''s been resting," As stammered.


    He remembered James mentioning that Ms. Mira was expected to wake up today, and figured it was better not to worry Nick, given his


    no


    condition.  swnovel


    "Resting? How long have I been out?" Nick asked, his brow furrowing.


    His lips were dry and pale, speaking with difficulty, even though he had barely escaped death for the second time.


    As replied, "Today''s the fifth day..."


    Nick paused, "So she''s been out for five days too, and still hasn''t woken up?"


    As pressed his lips together, nodding slightly.


    Seeing this, a wave of difort washed over Nick.


    Being a doctor, he knew all too well about his injuries.


    If surviving the first shooting was lucky, then the second time... calling it a miracle


    wouldn''t do it justice.


    When he injected himself with


    adrenaline, he was already hanging by a thread; even making it out of theb seemed like a


    near-impossible feat...  swnovel