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

Curtis quickly followed suit and hopped out of the car. "James, you heading in there?"

James, with a casual air, unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled them up, showing off his fair wrists. He replied with a laid-back tone, "Just felt like taking a walk."

Curtis, suspecting he was witnessing yet another display of James's effortless charm, felt a slight twitch at the corner of his lips. This wasn't just any neighborhood—it was a rough one, where even a casual stroll could spell trouble. Watching James head east along the street instead of toward the small manor, Curtis rushed to catch up, only to be stopped by James's raised hand.

With a resigned shrug, Curtis got back in the car. Ever since James had bounced back from his mysterious ailment, his agility and strength were back to their prime, so Curtis didn't worry too much about his safety.

Meanwhile, Mirabella pushed open the rusty iron gate of the manor, surprised to find it unlocked. As she stepped into the courtyard, the air was thick with the musty scent of neglect. Dried leaves crunched under her feet.

She glanced at the large sycamore tree, now just a hollow, lifeless trunk, and a smirk of disdain flickered across her face. Did they really think they could trap her here again? Did they underestimate her that much?

With a cool indifference, Mirabella turned her attention to the front door. Like the gate, it swung open with a gentle nudge. Light spilled in, chasing away the shadows, and mingling with the mustiness was a faint, barely-there fragrance.

If you weren't paying close attention, you might miss it entirely. Mirabella's lips twitched ever so slightly.

Inside, she found her three friends hanging in mid-air, tied with ropes secured to the second-floor railing. The house was old, and the wooden railing looked like it could give way at any moment.

Blaze, having finally spat out the rag that had been gagging him, looked both relieved and anxious upon seeing Mirabella at the door. Ignoring everything else, he shouted urgently, "Mira, get out! They've got guns!" noveldrama

His struggle made him sway precariously, and the railing creaked ominously. Blaze's face turned pale, and though he tried to act unafraid, his expression gave him away.

Patrick and Denny, also dangling there, looked just as uneasy.

Mirabella stayed calm, her gaze steady as she looked up at the middle-aged man at the second-floor railing. Her voice was steady, "Santos, are you looking for trouble?"

Even though the man wore a stranger's face, she saw through the disguise. That unsettling gaze could only belong to Santos.

fazed that Mirabella

Santos wasn't fa

had recognized him. They had faced off before. With a shake of his head and a tsk, Santos drew a knife, its blade@linting dangerously. He toyed with the ropes binding Blaze and the others. "Who do you think's really in trouble here?" Content bétongs to