Chapter 299
Mirabella waved a casual goodbye to James, not waiting for a reply, and strolled out of the luxurious villa.
Curtis, ever the gentleman, quickly piped up. “I’ll drive you, Miss Mirabella.” He followed closely behind her, careful to respect her space.
Nikolai watched Mirabella’s retreating form, his gaze lingering long after she had vanished from sight. He then turned to see James, who looked vastly different from just moments ago, and his eyes fell on the bottle in his hand. “Might I have a look at that medicine, James?”
James nodded and handed the bottle over to Nikolai without hesitation.
Nikolai twisted off the cap and took a delicate sniff, his eyes widening in shock. “This is… this can’t be…”
In the car, Curtis drove with due diligence, occasionally glancing at Mirabella in the rearview mirror, his curiosity evident.
Who would have thought that this young girl, appearing no older than a high schooler, could impress the esteemed Nikolai, someone considered a giant in the field of traditional medicine?
As Curtis‘ mind raced with thoughts of James‘ injuries, he hadn’t taken the time to observe the girl. Now, in the quiet of the car, he noticed that she had never once shown a hint of panic, not even when facing his own fury. Her composure was far from typical for a teenager.
Who exactly was this girl called Mirabella? Curtis was a bundle of questions.
Aware of Curtis‘ scrutiny, Mirabella didn’t even bother lifting her eyelids, maintaining her nonchalant demeanor.
The car ride was silent.
Out of boredom, Mirabella fished out her phone to play a game. As she played, a Twitter notification popped up at the top of her screen, causing her fingers to pause mid–tap. After a brief moment of distraction, the game’s screen dimmed, indicating her character’s demise.
She squinted her eyes and switched over to Twitter, not bothering to wait for the in–game resurrection.
The trending topics were all about her brother’s injury. She tapped on one and skimmed through the comments with a slight sneer, her eyes growing colder. Soon after, she closed the
app.
In the driver’s seat, Curtis felt a vague chill in the air and subconsciously glanced at the rearview mirror, but nothing seemed amiss. Strange, he thought.
Twenty minutes later, Curtis dropped Mirabella at the entrance to her modest apartment
11:00
Chapter 299
complex. He watched her disappear through the gates before starting the engine and driving off, giving the unremarkable, slightly worn neighborhood one last look.
Meanwhile, Collins was pacing his office, phone in hand, his face clouded with worry as he scrolled through Twitter. “I knew something like this would happen,” he muttered.
The buzz on Twitter revolved around one alarming piece of news: “Neon Paradox’s frontman Juztin rumored to be seriously injured, possibly signaling the end for the beloved band.”
Neon Paradox’s enduring fame, largely thanks to Leo’s explosive performances and unique vocal style, had amassed a legion of fans. At the peak of their success, rumors of Leo’s injury and disbandment were the last things they needed.
Collins was particularly frustrated, as he was in the midst of sealing endorsement deals with several luxury brands. Now, with this scandal brewing, those brands might reconsider their offers.
While Collins was a bundle of nerves, Leo sat on the couch, the picture of serenity. He had cycled through despair and resignation several times since his injury, and now, oddly, he felt a sense of detachment about it all.
Looking up at Collins, Leo suddenly said, “Maybe it’s for the best if the band did break up.”
