Mirabe nodded slightly, greeting politely, "Hey, Niki."


    Niki waved his hand, quickly inviting her to sit and filling her cup with more


    coffee as he nostalgically chatted about the past.


    Back then, because of an issue with his second son, Asher, he felt too


    embarrassed to discuss anything about medicine with her.


    "So, did youe to Riverdale because of a patient?" Mirabe asked, still


    holding Niki in high regard and brushing off past events.


    Niki nodded, being upfront, "Yeah, there''s someone at the city hospital with a rare condition. They asked me toe by and take a look."


    Mirabe cradled her coffee cup, lightly tracing the rim with her fingertips, and smiled, "Well, you''re a trailzer in alternative medicine."


    Niki chuckled, shaking his head, "Compared to your skills, mine don''t evene close."


    Such a talented young woman, he thought. It was a shame the Reeves family didn''t get the chance to learn more from her.


    Mirabe nced at Niki and humbly said, "You''re too kind."


    Niki just smiled, but then his phone rang. It was Dane calling.


    He answered briefly and hung up quickly. Niki''s expression hardened a bit as he put his phone away, then continued talking with Mirabe, "By the way, how''s James doing these days?"


    Mentioning James made Mirabe recall she hadn''t gotten a reply to her message from earlier. She paused before nodding, "He''s doing well."


    She wondered what on earth was keeping him so busy. As she thought about it, she pulled out her phone. No missed calls, no new messages.


    Lately, everyone seemed tied up with something, either not getting back to her or not reaching out at all.


    After their


    Nik Mirabe noticed


    taking a call during dinner, so they didn''t linger long before settling the bill.


    Stepping out of the restaurant, Mirabe was about to call a cab when she ran into Dane, who hade to pick up Niki.


    Niki hesitated for a moment, then turned to Mirabe, "Where are you staying? Dane can give you a lift."


    Dane, ncing at her, chimed in politely, "Yeah, I can drop you off."


    Mirabe, with her hands tucked in her coat pockets, felt the chilly wind tousle her hair. She gave Dane a


    bnce and declined, "Thanks,


    but I''ll just grab a cab."


    With that, she nodded at Niki and headed towards the street, her figure solitary andposed.


    Dane squinted, thinking how she was as distant as ever.


    Niki looked away, not paying much attention to his son''s expression, and said, "Let''s head home."


    Soon, they were in the car. As Dane started the engine and drove off, he nced in the rearview mirror, "Dad, you seem to have a good rapport with her?"


    Niki thought for a moment, replying nonchntly, "Not particrly. We just hadn''t caught up in a while."


    Dane, eyes focused on the road,


    noted his father''s casual tone, then added, heard from Emmitt that


    you used to sell her herbs at a


    discount and asked her to teach him some pharmacology."


    Niki frowned, surprised that his son had the guts to bring that up with Emmitt.