Chapter 6
James‘ gaze dropped to the deliberately placed suitcase before him, and he could almost hear her unspoken request. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, “So, where do you need me to drop you off?”
Mirabella’s delicate brows arched playfully as she snapped her fingers with a swagger that carried a hint of roguish charm. “The train station.”
The small town might not have been much to look at, but it was decently located with its quaint little train station, However, the biological parents of the body she now inhabited lived in Ashford, and there was no direct train. A transfer would be necessary.
At her words, James gave her a quizzical look. “That’s it?”
“That’s the favor,” Mirabella confirmed with a nod. Noticing the complexity in his expression, she pondered for a moment before adding, “But if you feel like driving me to the train station is too easy a way for you to repay your debt, I’m cool with you dropping me off at the city airport instead. After all, we’re practically neighbors, and it’s not likely we’ll cross paths again.”
The train station was a mere twenty–minute drive, whereas the city airport was a good three to four hours away.
Beneath the brim of his baseball cap, James‘ expression grew even more intricate, and a rare crack appeared on his usually composed face. He contemplated whether to share a bit of his background with this naive girl, lest she remain oblivious to the golden opportunity she was about to miss.
Four hours later, at the city airport.
from the
Mirabella stepped out of the car and retrieved her luggage trunk. After a moment’s thought, she approached the driver’s side and tapped on the window.
The glass slid down smoothly as James looked over at Mirabella, one eyebrow raised in quiet inquiry. Mirabella fished out a small, unbranded bottle from her bag. “This is for you. Farewell until we meet again.” Without waiting for a response, she tossed the bottle into the car and, spinning on her heel hauled her suitcase away.
James picked up the bottle that had landed precisely in the car’s side compartment. A playful glint shone in his eyes. He watched the retreating figure of Mirabella, his long fingers tracing the edge of the bottle cap, his lips curving into a faint smile.
So, until we meet again, huh?
In the hospital, inside the doctor’s office.
Mandy stared at the doctor in disbelief. “Doctor, are you telling me that my mom’s heart condition has improved significantly?”
Holding a stack of test results, the doctor nodded again. “Yes, the data indicates that she’s in good health. As long as she avoids any major stressors, the chances of her experiencing angina are quite low now.”
Mandy was still dazed. She found it hard to trust the doctor’s words, because her mother had been suffering from angina for decades, and specialists at major hospitals had only offered grim prognoses.
“By the way, Ms. Mandy, has your mother sought treatment at another facility or taken any new medications recently?” the doctor inquired. He had been Catherine’s primary physician for years, attending to her each time she fell ill However, she had barely visited the hospital in the past year, and today’s checkup results were certainly a surprise.
Mandy shook her head in confusion. “No, she’s been at home. I’ve tried to take her to the hospital multiple times, but she refused. She hasn’t undergone any treatments, and as for medication…” Her voice trailed off as the image of Mirabella giving her mother a cup of brown liquid surfaced in her mind.
As Mandy fell silent mid–sentence, the doctor pressed with a note of concern, “Ms. Mandy?”
