As Mirabe faced Curtis''s hesitant confession, she couldn''t help but notice his downcast eyes. "Yeah..." he murmured.


    Wyatt, standing nearby, cleared his throat. "The real problem is, this guy''s slippery as an eel. Our team can''t get a bead on him. But given he''s from some secretive family, maybe he''s got some tricks up his sleeve?"


    Mirabe shot Wyatt a look, feeling the need to set the record straight. "We''re all just regr folks here. Special abilities? That''s a stretch."


    James raised an eyebrow at her remark, clearly intrigued.


    "Anyway, we''ve lost track of him," Curtis admitted, a hint of defeat in his voice. The mystery person was a master at staying hidden. They couldn''t even figure out if it was a man or a woman, let alone what they looked like.


    Curtis suddenly recalled something and quickly added, "I think he might be tied to the Pharmaceutical Association. We lost him near their building."


    Mirabe''s frown deepened. Why did everything seem to circle back to the Pharmaceutical Association?


    As she was lost in thought, James broke the silence, "What did David want with you today?"


    Mirabe took a moment to respond, as ifing back from a distant ce. "He''s under the weather. I just went to check on him."


    James nodded, "The Pharmaceutical Association''s been a hot messtely. Plenty of folks eyeing Mr. Boyd''s position."


    Mirabe turned to him, curious, "How do you know?"


    James gave a slight smile, "While you were out of it for a few days, I had David swing by the hospital. I kept tabs on things."


    Mirabe touched her nose, realization dawning. "So, David''s been set up."


    A slow-acting poison, nearly impossible to detect—this wasn''t something thrown together overnight. The intrigue and power ys were endless. Her earlier decision to steer clear of formally joining the Association seemed wiser than ever. Still, with Presley''s intentions today, Mirabe couldn''t shake the feeling that more trouble was brewing. Her head throbbed at the thought.


    She shouldn''t have been swayed by the free materials and those modest perks. Leaning back into the sofa, Mirabe kept her face nk.


    James, reading her mood, gently took her hand, lightly tracing her palm. "Don''t stress too much."


    Mirabe tilted her head, a grin breaking through. "Why worry when I''ve got you?"


    James, taking her words to heart, nodded yfully, "d you finally see it my way."


    Mirabe just sighed.


    Wyatt and Curtis, caught


    by this unexpected disy of affection, exchanged nces,


    feeling like they''d just walked in on


    something private.


    James continued to toy with Mirabe''s fingers, then fixed his gaze on Curtis, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "Keep looking for this Cian. Turn Riverdale inside out if you have to, but find him."


    "Got it," Curtis nodded, already set on that path even if James hadn''t said anything. After all, this


    personal. He felt he''d let a


    UM


    down. -


    Mirabe watched James, aware that his concern wasn''t really about her, yet she


    couldn''t shake the feeling of difort.


    Not long after, Curtis and Wyatt made their exit, leaving Mirabe and James alone.


    Mirabe curled up on the sofa, thoughts still lingering on Cian.


    James studied her for a moment before leaning in, "This Cian... do you know him?"