James leaned back against his chair with a casual spread of his hands, "Can''t help it, that''s all I''ve got to show for myself."


    Mirabe''s lips twitched in annoyance. So what if he''s wealthy.


    "But you do resemble that distant cousin of yours," James added.


    "Really." Mirabe touched her face, thinking back to how Zane had said something simr earlier.


    But she and Cassie weren''t rted by blood.


    Perhaps their simr looks were due to their equally high attractiveness?


    James didn''t dwell on the topic, however, shifting the conversation elsewhere, "By the way, are you still on the trail of Summer?"


    Mentioning Summer made Mirabe''s expression turn noticeably colder, "She''ll end up in my hands sooner orter."


    James rested his hand on the table, his knuckles well-defined, as he looked at Mirabe, "She''s currently studying at Riverside University in M state, under Professor Joen, who''s a board member of the M state College Alliance."


    Mirabe frowned slightly at that. She had heard of Riverside University, an internationally renowned research institution with over a hundredbs.


    The university was very well-regarded for its student safety measures.


    No wonder As hadn''t been able to find her. They had been looking in the wrong direction from the start.


    Mirabe narrowed her eyes.


    "To get her out, we''ll need to wait for the right opportunity," James continued.


    "I know, I''m patient," Mirabe replied, picking up her cup of coffee but not drinking, "Thank you."


    She had thought that with the Gilbert family''s downfall, and Summer losing everything, she wouldn''t be able to bounce back. It seemed, however, that some people shouldn''t be underestimated.


    It was precisely because of the blood rtion with Catherine that she had thought this connection would be her undoing.


    A hint of irony shed through Mirabe''s eyes.


    At that moment, Cassie, who had


    gone to the restroom, came back et


    He noticed Mirabe''s mood


    off. Could it be this


    ovel:


    Se man had upset his sister?


    "Finished eating?" Mirabe set aside her thoughts and turned to ask Cassie.


    Cassie nodded, "Yeah."


    "Let''s go home then." Mirabe stood up and headed towards the exit.


    Cassie touched his nose and didn''t bother with James, quickly following his sister''s lead.


    As the trio left the club, Mirabe wrapped her coat around herself and looked at James, "Keep me updated on any news."


    She was referring to Summer.


    James''s eyes briefly hardened, but he nodded, "Will do."


    Mirabe smiled, waved, and then walked towards the parking area.


    Cassie gave James onest look, reluctantly admitting that the man''smanding presence was somewhat simr to his sister''s.


    **


    Meanwhile, at Riverside University in M state.


    "Ms. Summer, the results for the paper you submittedst time are out."


    Summer was reading in the library when her partner, Linda, approached her, her voice tinged with excitement.


    Summer paused in her reading, but looked up at Linda calmly, "Did it pass?"


    Linda nodded vigorously, "It did. I heard from Professor Joen''s


    assistant that the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal was very impressed with your paper. If all goes well, your article will be the headline of this issue."


    Summer was momentarily taken aback, somewhat disbelieving, "The headline?


    My article doesn''t deserve that, does it?"


    "Come on Professor Joen is well


    vel


    acquainted with the journal''s editor-in-chief, and you''re his student. How could it not qualify?" Linda said with augh.


    Summer''s eyes flickered, revealing a glimpse of her thoughts.