Mila was shocked when she heard Ellen's words, she stopped walking and demanded more answers from the female doctor. "What do you mean by he's gone?"

It was then that Mila could see that it seemed like Ellen had spoken the wrong words as she immediately corrected herself. The words seemed to leave her lips automatically without her thinking about it carefully. ​​

"It's nothing," Ellen said, as she grabbed Mila's hand back to walk. "He doesn't work here anymore."

But, unfortunately Mila had caught Ellen's mistake and couldn't help but overthink it. Her heart was beating so fast when a thought crossed her mind.

Aaric is gone…

Mila wouldn't get the answers she wanted anymore. Because even though they had allowed Mila to come out of her padding room and walk along the corridors, under strict regulations, these people had absolutely no intention of telling her anything about her condition or what this place really was.

The only thing Mila came to learn during all this time she was here was; this place is a research center and the object of their research is none other than herself

And that didn't tell Mila anything, because Aaric had also informed Mila the same fact.

The two of them walked down the corridor and before Mila crossed the permissible limit, Ellen stopped in front of a door to their right, which read the name of the Doctor who owned the room.

"Don't go beyond that door," Ellen said as she nodded toward the white, glassy, door before them. "Because any further, your anklet will start blaring."

This time Mila looked down and saw her anklet, which was yellow, indicating that she was at the border between the areas that Mila was allowed and not allowed to visit.

However, Mila didn't say anything, she just remained silent while waiting for Ellen to knock on the door and heard a deep voice of a man who allowed them to enter inside.

"Come in," Ellen said, opening the door to the room wide enough for Mila to enter first. After Mila walked inside, Ellen came in and closed the door behind her.

The room was not that big and a little smaller than the examination room Mila had to visit every day, but the pungent smell of rubbing alcohol and some drugs mixed in the air was disgusting and made Mila's nose twitch in displeasure.

"This is Mila," Ellen said to the figure, who was turning his back, seemingly, he was Doctor Drake. And as if confirming Mila's guess, Ellen continued this short and cold introduction. "Mila, this is Doctor Drake. He is here to replace Lorensa."

When she heard his name, finally the man, who was wearing the same white uniform as Ellen, turned around and glared at Mila with an expressionless gaze before he turned his gaze to Ellen.

"You're late," Doctor Drake muttered, then he nodded at Mila and pointed to the empty chair beside Ellen. "Sit."

Even though she was still confused, Mila did what this Doctor wanted and sat beside Ellen, who was chuckling.

"We had to put the watchband around her ankle first," Ellen told Drake. "It turned out it took longer than expected."

"Watchband?" Drake narrowed his eyes and cast a glance at Mila before he looked back at Ellen.

"Yes," Ellen responded. "Doctor Miller asked for this standard procedure because from today she was allowed to roam outside her padding room without supervision."

The doctor named Drake then got up and walked to Mila's side, he squatted in front of the white-haired girl, staring at the bracelet on her leg.

"I've never seen a gadget like this," Drake muttered and reached out his hand to touch Mila's ankle.

On the other hand, Mila frowned at what this man was doing in front of her. She felt uncomfortable and when Drake was about to touch her, Mila pulled her feet away, making him raise his head with a scowl.

"What is wrong? You think I'll hurt you?" He asked in a sarcastic tone and an annoying grin. However, somehow Mila felt familiar with that signature grin.

"No," Mila replied with a flat face as she continued. "I thought I would kick you if you touched me."

"Watch your words," Ellen chided in a muffled voice.

Instead, Drake laughed and got up. "No problem, I like the way she talks." Drake waved his hand nonchalantly. Then his bright green eyes stared at Mila sharply. "We'll see, who will hurt who."

Hearing that, Ellen laughed sourly. "Don't mess with her, Drake," she warned.

Drake then circled his desk and sat back down in his chair. "Just kidding Ellen, don't take it seriously. You know how I am." Drake winked at Ellen and Mila could see that the female doctor was blushing while feeling slightly embarrassed.

Oh... an affair?

Mila didn't care about the relationship between the two, she knew for sure, she was getting an unpleasant impression from Drake.

Just like the impression she got from Aaric when she first met the man.

Aaric… him again…

Lately Mila's thoughts had only revolved around the man and now that Ellen had accidentally uttered information that she shouldn't have divulged in the first place, Mila became increasingly unable to get rid of the bad thoughts that had occupied her mind.

"You can leave us both Ellen," Drake said.

"Okay, there are some things I have to do," Ellen muttered and then stood up. "I'll be back in an hour to get her."

"Hm," Drake muttered.

And when there were only the two of them in the room, a grin formed at the corner of Drake's lips. He leaned his back against the back of the chair and stared at Mila with sharp eyes.

Being stared at like that, Mila did not flinch, she spoke coldly.

"Now what?" asked Mila sarcastically." Are we going to start hurting each other?"

Hearing Mila's sarcasm, Drake laughed softly and shook his head. "Even after several days of not seeing you, your tongue is still sharp. I should have known, not even decades would be able to change you." Then Drake said something that shook Mila literally. "Miss me, Mila munchkin?"