Chapter 80


    James nced at Mirabe, whose expression had clouded over as if she had be someone else


    entirely. After a long moment, he spoke up gently, “Your grandma’s going to be just fine.”


    Mirabe murmured a soft acknowledgment. Her eyelids drooped slightly, casting faint shadows


    beneath her longshes. She sat quietly, showing no outward signs of distress.


    Soon, the door to the hospital room swung open from the inside. Mirabe lifted her head and walked


    over with calm


    steps.


    The doctor removed his mask, eyeing both Mirabe and James with a mix of seriousness and


    reproach. “The patient is stable for now, but can’t you youngsters keep your tempers in check? Don’t


    you know she has a weak heart and can’t handle the stress?”


    A flicker of emotion passed through Mirabe’s eyes before she responded with utmost civility and a


    willingness to learn from her mistake, “We understand. We’ll be more careful in the future.”


    Perhaps persuaded by her polite demeanor and receptiveness, the doctor seemed to lose the urge to


    lecture further. Instead, he advised, “Go in and keep herpany, but make sure not to upset her


    again.”


    “Thank you,” Mirabe nodded slightly. Once the doctor and nurses had left, she stepped into the room.


    Catherine had not yet awakened, an oxygen mask covering her face as shey quietly, the monitors


    beside her showing a steady rhythm of vital signs.


    Mirabe’s gaze briefly touched the medical equipment before she casually pulled a chair over and sat


    by the bed.


    After watching Catherine in silence for a moment, Mirabe reached out, tucking the nket around


    her with a gentle touch before nonchntly taking grandma’s hand that rested beside her.


    James took a seat in another chair, his eyes catching only Mirabe’s profile, missing the tender


    gestures she made. His phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling his attention away. He withdrew it,


    nced briefly at the message on the screen, and then slid the phone back into his pocket.


    But within a couple of minutes, the phone buzzed again–this time, a call.


    James frowned, gave Mirabe a quick look, and then stood up to walk out of the room. His footsteps


    were almost silent, barely audible until the door clicked shut behind him. It was only then that Mirabe


    turned her head toward the door, a thoughtful expression crossing her face for a second before she


    looked away again.


    Soon after, James returned to the room. Mirabe slowly ced Catherine’s hand back under the


    covers and looked up at James. “Thanks for tonight. It’s gettingte. You should head back and get


    some rest. I’ll stay here with her.”


    James raised an eyebrow. “You’re being awfully polite.”


    Mirabe leaned back in her chair, her face no longer as tense as when they had first arrived at the


    hospital but seeming more rxed. “Not really, you’ve got things to do, right?”


    Her eyes flicked briefly to the phone he hadn’t yet put away.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    James was somewhat surprised by Mirabe’s perceptiveness but he did have matters to attend to.


    After a brief pause, he exined, “I might be out of Ashford for a few days. If somethinges up, give


    me a call.”


    “Sure,” Mirabe waved him off easily, clearly not too concerned.


    Seeing her reaction, James just smiled and said, “I’m off then.”


    Soon, the room was left with only Mirabe and her grandma. After the night nurse made onest


    check, Mirabe settled down to rest beside the bed.