When Robert heard ze, he couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. "Are you leaving out a word in your exnation?"


    I mean, if they were just friends, would they really be so casual abouting to the door without a second thought?


    ze paused, clearly confused. "Missing a word? What word?"


    Robert, recognizing ze''s eternal bachelor vibe, just gave him a look that said, ''Figure it out yourself, buddy.''


    ze was left scratching his head. Was Robert''s look a subtle jab at him?


    He shrugged it off and caught up with Robert, still puzzled. Meanwhile, ze was so lost in thought that he didn''t notice Yara behind him, looking like she''d just seen a ghost.


    Ever since the door opened and she saw James''s face, Yara had been acting a bit off. Yesterday, at the hotel entrance, she thought she saw him but brushed it off as a coincidence. Now, seeing him up close, she knew she hadn''t been mistaken.


    Yara slowed her steps, ncing back slightly.


    ze might not have caught on to Robert''s words, but Yara sure did. So, was there something going on between Mirabe and that guy from the Shepherd family?


    "What''s up, Yara?" her ssmate asked quietly, noticing her odd expression. Yara snapped back, offering a smile and a shake of her head. "Oh, nothing."


    The group quickly moved into the living room.


    Mirabe pulled herself together as everyone entered, her face a bit pale but her demeanor back to its usual self.


    "Professor, friends... Yara," Mirabe nodded in greeting.


    Yara''s eyes were on Mirabe. "You doing okay, Mirabe?"


    "I''m fine, thanks for asking," Mirabe replied, her voice still a bit hoarse.


    Yara nodded, looking relieved. "d to hear it."


    Mirabe leaned back in her chair, pressing her fingers gently to her temple.


    James, who had kept his distance, nced at Mirabe before heading to pour her a cup of hot water. He handed it to her and then stepped away.


    Mirabe held the cup effortlessly, listening to her friends chat about the afternoon seminar.


    asionally, Yara would nce at Mirabe, her eyes showing a touch of somethingplicated, making her eem a bit distracted even


    during the seminar discussion.


    Yara didn''t hang around for long, aware she had to get back to her ssmates to work on a revised presentation. Time was tight, and an all-nighter seemed likely.


    "Didn''t you guys already have a decent presentation? Why the sudden change?" Denny, one of Yara''s friends, asked, surprised as she stood up.


    Yara sighed, her face showing signs of worry. After seeing other e universities'' presentations today, ours seemed tooplex. So we talked with the professor about making a new n."


    That''s the way it goes with


    prestigious college


    seminars everything''s about the


    school''s reputation. Prestige College might not always be the best, but they can''t afford to fall short.


    Mirabe got Yara''s point and turned to Robert. "Is the presentation you gave us


    the same one Yara''s team is working on?"