The Double ( or More ?) Life of The Fake Heiress

Mirabella flicked through the assorted bottles and jars in the chest with a rare hint of solemnity gracing her usually impassive features.

Solace Stem was a neurotoxin, not aggressively potent, but insidious enough to slowly ravage every nerve in a human body.

For most, the poison would remain dormant without causing noticeable harm unless the body suffered a nerve–related injury. However, once triggered, it would spread like vines, stealthily assaulting the neurons until the victim was left a shell of their former self.

The clinical signs were intermittent mental agitation, a distinct purplish hue at the temples, and, as the poison advanced, rapid weight loss accompanied by subtle reddish blotches on the skin. Its insidiousness lay in its affinity for nerves, eluding detection by standard blood tests.

Mirabella was baffled as to how Leo had contracted Solace Stem. Judging by his current state. the toxin was proliferating into a more advanced stage. Without intervention, the outlook was grim.

The concoctions at her disposal were merely suppressants, not antidotes. Crafting a cure was a complex task, exacerbated by the absence of proper alchemical equipment. It was a headache, to say the least.

Massaging her temple, she eventually selected a vial that could offer temporary control and exited the room.

Downstairs.

Shawn, about to retire to his room, halted at the sight of his daughter descending the stairs. “Mira, you’re still up?”

“Yep.” Mirabella glanced around the living room. “Has Leo gone to bed?”

Nodding. Shawn replied. “He just flew in and said he was beat. He’s probably resting.”

“Then you should get some sleep too, Dad,” Mirabella suggested before turning to head back. upstairs. Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

The entire back–and–forth took less than a minute.

Watching his daughter’s retreating figure, Shawn stroked his chin, feeling a twinge of discontent. Zach was enough trouble; now, Leo was back. Was a simple, cozy family life of three too much to hope for?

The following morning.

Approaching the stairwell, Mirabella peered down to see Leo in the living room. She paused. retreating to her room before reemerging with the vial she had picked the previous evening.

11:34

Descending, she approached him with a polite greeting. “Morning, Leo.”

“Good morning. Mirabella,” Leo nodded slightly.

His complexion had improved after a night’s rest, but the shadow at his temples persisted. Mirabella discreetly took note, confirming her diagnosis from last night. After a brief pause. she handed him the vial. “Here, for you.”

Leo’s eyes lingered on the vial, accepting it after a moment of hesitation. “What’s this?”

Before Mirabella could reply, Shawn emerged from the washroom and nonchalantly offered ant explanation, “Vitality Boost Pills.”

Leo raised his eyebrows.

“Your sister’s been handing these out as welcome–back presents. I swear, I’ve felt more robust than ever lately,” Shawn boasted, throwing a punch in the air to demonstrate. He accidentally knocked over a wooden figurine, and his face fell.

Mirabella’s mouth twitched, and she averted her gaze.