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

Mirabella hadn't heard Adler's voice in a bit. After finishing the last step, she held up the A4 paper, aiming it at the phone camera perched on the coffee table.

She was about to speak when she glanced up and saw that, apart from her own camera feed in the top right corner, the other side was just a black screen.

Mirabella: "?"

Just then, James's hand reached over from behind her. Mirabella reflexively moved to the side, only then realizing someone was sitting behind her.

She was momentarily taken aback. When did he get here without her noticing?

Her gaze then shifted to James's hand, spotting just one slice of apple left on the fruit plate.

Mirabella finally snapped back to reality, silently turning her attention away. She pressed her hand against her forehead, unsure whether to commend her deep concentration or berate herself for becoming so accustomed to solitude that she didn't even notice his presence.

Suddenly, a loud coughing came from the phone, followed by the sound of a chair being dragged.

Mirabella lowered her hand from her forehead without a word and quickly ended the video call on the coffee table.

Seeing her action, James raised an eyebrow slightly and placed the fruit plate on the coffee table. His voice was clear, "All done?"

Mirabella nodded without changing her expression or looking back at him, "Yeah... pretty much."

She leaned on the edge of the coffee table, preparing to stand up, but because she had been sitting cross-legged on the carpet for too long, her legs had gone numb, and she couldn't stand up.

James was already close to Mirabella. Seeing this, he bent down slightly, extending his hands to wrap around her waist from behind, eventually resting his fingertips on her calves. He pressed down with a force that was neither too light nor too heavy.noveldrama

With his breath on her ear, Mirabella's body instinctively tensed up.

"Relax."

His deep voice reached her, and Mirabella's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She let out an "Oh," and her shoulders dropped, seemingly relaxing.

The room was very quiet. After a while, when James retracted his hands, he also helped her up.

Mirabella straightened up and then thanked him.

James just looked at her with a half-smile.

Meeting his gaze, Mirabella seemed to remember something. She coughed and started to tidy up the pile of drafts on the coffee table.

She tore some of the useless drafts in half and threw them into the trash bin, only keeping a few useful pages. Then, she took photos of those pages and sent them to Adler via Messenger.

Continuing the discussion was impossible, and Adler, knowing better, didn't send another voice message to inquire. Instead, he sent a confirmation message and left.

It was getting late. Mirabella put on her coat, then went to the restroom before preparing to head home.

When she came out, James was on a phone call. She paused but didn't speak, waiting a moment. When James looked over, she moved her lips and gestured toward the front door, indicating she was leaving first.

James paused, then said "Hold on" to the person on the phone. He grabbed his jacket from the couch and walked toward Mirabella, "I'll walk you out."

On the other end of the phone, Sam, wondering what his nephew was up to, felt goosebumps on his arms when he heard those three words, which could only be described as tender.

"You got company? Who are you talking to?" Sam asked, curious.

James had already reached Mirabella's side, the phone's speaker volume was neither too loud nor too soft.