Mirabe nodded, "Oh, you know too?" Her voice was genuinely surprised.


    James looked up at her, giving her a knowing nce. Mirabe, feeling slightly judged by that look, thought, "..."


    Not one to dwell on awkwardness, Mirabe quickly changed the subject, "Hey, chef, hurry up with dinner. We''re all starving here."


    James shook his head, smiling slightly at her attempt to dodge the moment.


    After they ate, James led Mirabe down to the basement to show her something interesting. "What do you think of this model?" he asked, pointing to a metallic, wing-like contraption on the table.


    Mirabe gave it a quick nce before looking away, "Honestly, I''ve got no clue."


    James picked up the model, fiddling with the metallic feathers. "It''s pretty advanced, don''t you think?"


    Mirabe thought to herself, Obviously, it''s not from this era. "Where''d you dig this up?" she asked.


    James raised an eyebrow, "Who says I didn''t make it myself?"


    "Wow, you''re quite the genius, aren''t you?" Mirabe replied, her tone t and without genuine awe.


    James chuckled, setting the model down. "What do you think this wing would be perfect for?"


    "How should I know? I''m not an engineer," Mirabe said, pretending to be puzzled as she looked at him. "Remember, I grew up in the sticks. What do I know?"


    James wasn''t buying it. Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Wyatt calling.


    Seeing the caller ID, James''s eyes narrowed. He stepped outside to take the call.


    "James, those guys were after Ms. Mirabe. Just some low-level thugs, no big yers involved," Wyatt reported as soon as James answered.


    "Why were they after her?" James asked calmly.


    "Someone paid them big bucks to grab Ms. Mirabe. After that, someone else was supposed to swoop in and take her away," Wyatt exined, pausing before adding, "Curtis checked the employer''s contact info; the IP isn''t local, but it''s from a virtual number, so it might not be urate."


    James squinted thoughtfully, "Anything else?"


    "We set up a sting. Curtis is already engaging with the contact, and we should have some answers soon," Wyatt replied.


    "Got it," James said, ending the call. He thought for a moment before heading back inside.


    **


    Meanwhile, elsewhere...


    Summer had just finished her


    morning jog and was about to


    freshen up when her phone star


    ringing on the bed. She nced at it, then walked over and picked it up.


    Seeing who was calling, her brow furrowed slightly.


    After a moment, Summer answered, "Mom, what''s up?"


    Mandy started with a few caring questions before getting to the point, "Summer, about the money for this month..."


    Before she could finish, Summer cut in, "Yeah, yeah, I''ll send it over now."


    the phone away from her ear, opened her banking app, and transferred the money. Then she spoke again, "All done."


    Without hanging up, Summf nee


    As she spoke, Mandy''s phone pinged with a notification. Mandy coughed


    awkwardly, trying to exin, "I wasn''t asking for money..."


    Summer pressed her fingers to her forehead, her expression unbothered, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up. I''m busy."