"I'm Miranda Hanson, the one who examined the elderly man yesterday," the woman said over the phone.

Miranda Hanson?

Lilah felt completely baffled. Her eyes wandered over to Devonte, who sat on the ground, shaking sand from his shoes and mumbling indistinctly under his breath.

Suddenly, he looked up and saw that Lilah was staring at him intensely.

“What's wrong?" Devonte quickly put on his shoes and stood up. "Any news?"

"Dr. Hanson, what's going on?" Lilah held her breath and asked with a shaky voice.

"Meet me at the Sports Square. I'll be waiting there," Miranda said and then ended the call.

Lilah had a feeling that the phone call involved Cyrus. Quickly, she told Devonte to get into the car. At the same time, she called Gerard and told him to meet them at Sports Square.

It was a short drive, and Lilah got there in less than twenty minutes.

Miranda sent her location. It was a guesthouse by the sea.

The weather was gloomy. The air felt damp, and the waves were rough, signaling an approaching storm.

Inside a room at the seaside guesthouse...

“Benita, lay the patient down and remove his shoes and socks," instructed Miranda, placing her medical tools on a nearby coffee table.

The young girl named Benita Flores immediately followed the instructions. Despite her slight frame, she managed to move a man who weighed at least one hundred sixty pounds.

They found the old man by the seaside, lying on his back near the water. It looked like he was in trouble or had a relapse. Many people were around, but they only pointed at him, hesitant to approach.

They realized it was the same man they had seen just the day before.

“What's happening to him, Miranda?" Benita noticed that the old man's condition got worse and worse. His face had changed from pale to dark as if he had been poisoned.

Miranda's brow furrowed slightly and she instructed, “Don't worry. Stand guard outside. If they arrive, let me know."

She then began to methodically treat the man.

Benita quickly followed her instructions.

The room and the surrounding area fell silent as time slowly ticked by.

After what felt like an eternity, Miranda finished her work. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, stood up, and walked to the bathroom. Inside, she refreshed her makeup in front of the mirror.

“Miranda, they are here," Benita announced, knocking on the door.

Miranda's hand paused briefly. She looked toward the door, hesitated, and then calmed her racing heart. She called out softly, "Come in."