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

Gender, to her, was as inconsequential as the choice between patients–both simply required her care. Thus, when she found James swaddled in blankets like a newborn babe, with only his head peeking out, a wry smile tugged mercilessly at the corner of her mouth. “James, what’s this? A healing session or a peep show prevention strategy?”

James raised a quizzical brow, wrapping the blankets even tighter around himself as his lips parted just enough to utter, “Decorum, dear lady, decorum.”

Mirabella rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Honestly, you’re as undistinguishable as a boiled chicken to me right now.”

Pausing momentarily, she rolled up her sleeves and continued, “Man up, will you? It’s not as if-”

The intensity in James‘ gaze sharpened. He was clearly amused, seeing this as a challenge to his manhood.

His grip loosened on the blanket. Mirabella’s words hung suspended in mid–air as she caught sight of the unveiled form before her–a perfect blend of strength and form, tinged with a rosy hue of vitality.

And the only shred of modesty was… Suddenly, Mirabella could feel her cheeks heating up and instinctively averted her gaze.

James noted her reaction with a smirk, stepping forward as his voice took on a teasing note, “Oh? Not as if what? Cat got your tongue?”

Mirabella’s fingers twitched, but she quickly faced him once more, her gaze boldly returning to James.

Why the devil should she feel awkward? She was a doctor, and doctors did not play favorites with gender!

“What should I say? That you’re not well–built?” Her voice carried a proud edge.

The corner of James‘ mouth twitched. Mirabella was certainly not your average girl–next–door. He stepped into the bath, muscles relaxing beneath the warm embrace of the water.

As Mirabella prepared the silver needles, James‘ hands rested on the edge of the tub, his eyes lazily fixed on her. “How long is this soak supposed to last?”

“Half an hour,” Mirabella responded, her lips pursed in focus as she skillfully inserted a needle into a major shoulder point.

James tapped his fingers idly against the wood. His handsome face was flushed from the steam, and he casually added, “Your medical skills… surely pique one’s curiosity.”

1/2

10:28

Mirabella paused, then glanced sideways at James, enunciating clearly, “No curiosity allowed.”

A gentle smile graced his lips as he met her guarded gaze, his voice warm, “I shall not pry.”

With that, Mirabella shifted her attention back to her work, leaning in as her fingertips pressed against his chest, and placed another needle into a vital meridian.

Her hair, loosely tied in a low ponytail, slipped into the medicinal water without her noticing. James raised an eyebrow and, with a featherlight touch, gathered her stray locks and placed them behind her shoulder. Mirabella was so engrossed in her task that James‘ gesture went entirely unnoticed.

After half an hour, Mirabella finished and let out a long breath. “Done.”

James‘ eyes

slid over her pale complexion, his own voice softening, “Thank you.”

She waved her hand dismissively, not one for pleasantries, and said, “Don’t forget to transfer the payment.”

James sighes. And just like that, the mood was lost by her mundane reminder of financial obligations.

Gender, to her, was as inconsequential as the choice between patients—both simply required her care. Thus, when she found James swaddled in blankets like a newborn babe, with only his head peeking out, a wry smile tugged mercilessly at the corner of her mouth. “James, what’s this? A healing session of a peep show prevention strategy?” James raised a quizzical brow, wrapping the blankets even tighter around himself as his lips parted just enough to utter, “Decorum, dear lady, decorum.”

Mirabella rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Honestly, you’re as undistinguishable as a boiled chicken to me right now”

Pausing momentarily, she rolled up her sleeves and continued, “Man up, will you? It’s not as if=”

The intensity in James‘ gaze sharpened. He was clearly amused, seeing this as a challenge to his manhood.

His grip loosened on the blanket. Mirabella’s words hung suspended in mid–air as she caught sight of the unveiled form before her–a perfect blend of strength and form, tinged with a rosy hue of vitality.

And the only shred of modesty was… Suddenly, Mirabella could feel her cheeks heating up and instinctively averted her gaze. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

James noted her reaction with a smirk, stepping forward as his voice took on a teasing note, “Oh? Not as if what? Cat got your tongue?”

Mirabella’s fingers twitched, but she quickly faced him once more, her gaze boldly returning to James.

Why the devil should she feel awkward? She was a doctor, and doctors did not play favorites with gender!

“What should I say? That you’re not well–built?” Her voice carried a proud edge.

The corner of James‘ mouth twitched. Mirabella was certainly not your average girl–next–door. He stepped into the bath, muscles relaxing beneath the warm embrace of the water.

As Mirabella prepared the silver needles, James‘ hands rested on the edge of the tub, his eyes lazily fixed on her. “How long is this soak supposed to last?”

“Half an hour,” Mirabella responded, her lips pursed in focus as she skillfully inserted a needle into a major shoulder point.

James tapped his fingers idly against the wood. His handsome face was flushed from the steam, and he casually added, “Your medical skills… surely pique one’s curiosity.”

10:29

FIN

Mirabella paused, then glanced sideways at James, enunciating clearly, “No curiosity

allowed.

A gentle smile graced his lips as he met her guarded gaze, his voice warm, “I shall not

pry

With that, Mirabella shifted her attention back to her work, leaning in as her fingertips pressed against his chest, and placed another needle into a vital meridian.

Her hair, loosely tied in a low ponytail, slipped into the medicinal water without her noticing. James raised an eyebrow and, with a featherlight touch, gathered her stray locks and placed them behind her shoulder. Mirabella was so engrossed in her task that James‘ gesture went entirely unnoticed.

After half an hour, Mirabella finished and let out a long breath. “Done.”

James‘ eyes slid over her pale complexion, his own voice softening, “Thank you.”

She waved her hand dismissively, not one for pleasantries, and said, “Don’t forget to transfer the payment.”

James sighes. And just like that, the mood was lost by her mundane reminder of financial obligations..