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

"Keep it on the down-low," Grady said with a cough, tossing a subtle reminder.

Atlas grinned, picking up the tissue box from the floor and placing it back on the table. He flashed an OK sign. "Relax, Grady, this is right up my alley."

Sneaking around and handling things quietly? That was his specialty.noveldrama

Grady nodded, pausing for a moment. "No need to tell Zach about what happened last night."

"Got it," Atlas nodded.

Debra had already cut ties with the Cunningham family. Letting them know would only stir the pot.

They wouldn't let anyone off the hook easily, not for anyone's sake.

And family ties? Those had to be on equal terms, especially when some people just didn't deserve it.

"Oh, by the way, something else was pretty weird," Atlas suddenly recalled, his expression turning serious.

"What's up?" Grady looked at him.

"Even though the Shepherd family took the young lady away before us last night, my investigation shows she left on her own. And now, the Cunningham family's butler and doctor are staying at the hospital," Atlas said softly.

Grady's fingers paused their twirling of the wooden beads. "Did the young lady do it?"

"Not sure," Atlas shook his head. "Austin's villa has surveillance. I had someone check it, but the footage of the young lady entering was deleted."

That's what struck him as odd.

Grady's gaze grew more intense. After a moment, he said, "With someone from the Shepherd family involved, these are minor issues."

Atlas scratched his head. The logic was sound, but something still felt off.

**

At school.

Mirabella was returning a computer.

The first thing Wade did upon getting the computer was to open and review the quantum data task he had assigned to Mirabella the day before.

Sitting in a chair, Mirabella kept her gaze down, her eyes fixed on the sticky note on the back of her hand. Her fingertips lightly brushed over it.

Wade took ten minutes to go through the decoded quantum data on the computer. He looked up at Mirabella, his expression a mix of complexity and subtle excitement.

"How long did it take you to decode the quantum data?" Wade asked.

Mirabella thought for a moment before responding, "I've been working on it since I got home from school yesterday."

Wade, sensing the student wasn't entirely truthful but choosing not to call her out, pondered for a moment. "Do you know what this quantum data is for?"

Mirabella had rushed to complete the task on her way to school that morning, so she hadn't delved deeply into the quantum data, which had broad applications. She shook her head to indicate she didn't know.

"Our research institute is developing an anti-cancer drug, and this quantum data is part of the molecular mechanics analysis for the drug's development," Wade explained, placing the computer on the desk beside him.

Mirabella knew Wade was a researcher at the National Life Sciences Institute. Hearing this, she pressed her brow. "You shouldn't be telling me this."

Research on anti-cancer drugs is a top priority worldwide, and such scientific data is highly confidential.

Wade, seemingly ignoring Mirabella's hint, coughed and asked with a hopeful tone, "Would you be interested in joining my research team?"

Such a talented and capable student was a rare find, and he couldn't let this opportunity slip away.