The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella)

"James," Summer greeted him proactively.

James gave Summer a fleeting glance, his eyes as indifferent as ever, and did not respond.

Summer was well aware of the temperament typical of the aristocracy and gently fiddled with her fingers, glancing at the closed door before speaking again, "May I have a word?"

James stood still. "What is it?"

"Yes," Summer nodded, and after a moment's thought, she added, "About Mirabella."

Hearing the mention of Mirabella, James's expression shifted slightly, and he followed Summer.

The old house wasn't very soundproof. Summer led James upstairs but didn't enter any room; instead, they stood in the hallway.

Turning to face him, Summer was momentarily dazzled by the man's handsome features, which, however, couldn't stir any other feelings in her. Still, she envied Mirabella for having such a distinguished man so devotedly by her side.

Collecting her thoughts, Summer averted her gaze towards the staircase and, after a while, slowly said, "James, haven't you noticed Mirabella seems quite different from before?"

James narrowed his eyes slightly. "What are you implying?"

Summer just smiled and withdrew her gaze. "Nothing much, just a heads-up. Not everyone is as they appear. Who knows, she might turn into someone else entirely in the next moment."

Though Summer's words were cryptic, they weren't too hard to grasp. James, unfazed, simply responded, "And what of it?"

Summer's smile remained. "Nothing really, just worried you might get duped by some trickster, especially since the world's full of strange tales."

"Interestingly, I have a penchant for the unusual," James said calmly, standing by the banister.

Seeing that James was unaffected, Summer wasn't surprised.

Some things are better left unsaid, like planting a seed that will eventually take root and grow.noveldrama

...

James descended the stairs and was about to reach the door when Mirabella opened it. He looked at her and simply said, "Ready?"

"Let's go," Mirabella nodded, her demeanor as calm as when she had entered, seemingly unaffected by any emotional changes.

The two of them walked out one after the other.

Mandy was still standing in the yard. rabella emerge, and

Seeing

despite the anger inside, she

Swed the taunt at the tip of her tongue out of respect for James.

As they passed by her, Mirabella suddenly stopped, her eyes landing on Mandy's face, "Catherine has been taking my medicine faithfully; why did her condition worsen?"

Mandy, caught off guard by Mirabella's question at such a time, retorted angrily, "Are you suggesting I'd harm my own mother?"

"If she could have lived to eighty..." Mirabella stated flatly.

"You think you're a miracle worker? Controlling life and death?" Mandy scoffed,

"Maybe it was your medicine that hastened her departure."

"Don't let me find anything, or I won't let you off," Mirabella said, before walking away.

Fuming, Mandy turned to hurl

insults, but upon meeting James's

indifferent gaze, the words choked in

her throat. Only after the duo had disappeared beyond the gate did she finally burst out, "...What nonsense!"

Summer came out, seeing her mother's furious expression, she couldn't help but

ask, "Mom, what happened?"