When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0002

At the dining table, Hansel didn’t seem eased with what had been served for breakfast. “Where’s my pumpkin soup?”

“You mean cream of vegetable soup?”

“Cream of vegetable soup?”

“Yes, I know that Ms. Sutton makes that all the time. It’s the one made with pumpkin, potatoes, onions, and celery, right? Um, I don’t have as much time to prepare all the ingredients for that.

“The pumpkin, potatoes, onions, and garlic have to be roasted and freshly puréed beforehand; it’s best if it’s slow cooked the night before. And then the soup has to be stewed and slowly brought to a simmer over open fire for hours after that..

“I don’t have the same amount of patience that Ms. Sutton has to always be checking on the fire every few minutes. Also, what I make will probably still taste different from what she makes. On top of that

“Bring me some marmalade,” Hansel interrupted.

“Coming right up, Mr. Johnson.”

”

“Why does this taste so different?” Hansel glanced at the bottle packaging The packaging is wrong.”

“That jar is empty now. We only have this brand left.”

“Go and get two jars of the other one at the supermarket, then.”

“It can’t be found anywhere, Mr. Johnson.”

Hansel wasn’t amused, “Why not?”

Martha smiled rather awkwardly. “Ms. Sutton made the marmalade herself. I don’t know how wait, Mr. Johnson! Aren’t you going to finish your breakfast

first?”

“No.”

Martha watched in bewilderment as Hansel stormed up the stairs. Why did he lose his temper all of a sudden?

“Hey, you lazy bum, it’s time to get out of bed!”

Miranda flipped over in bed and didn’t even bother opening her eyes. “Shut up. I want to sleep a while longer…”

Winter Jefferson, Miranda’s best friend, had already put on her makeup and was in the midst of choosing a purse to go with her outfit.

“It’s going to be 8:00 am. Don’t you need to rush home to make breakfast for your most beloved Mr. Johnson?”

Miranda used to stay the night at Winter’s place from time to time, but she’d always leave before the crack of dawn to make her usual cream of vegetable soup for Hansel, who was extremely prone to gastric problems.

The mere thought of it had always rendered Winter speechless. Was Hansel paralyzed? Or was he too dumb to order delivery on his own? Why did he have to go and make life difficult for Miranda?

words, he’d just been spoiled

still reluctant to get up from bed. She shook her hand at Winter and said, “I’m not going

long are you planning

Miranda didn’t answer her.

you on the table. I’m going to work now, and I won’t be back for dinner because I’ve got a date tonight. But you’ll probably be gone by then, so just remember to close the windows

up due to

had left for her and stared at the sun shining outside the

2/6

+15. BONUS

changed

million dollars. She wouldn’t be able to rest until she had the money in her

she went into the second bank next door and said, “I’d like to speak to your private banking account manager, please. I’d like to deposit ten million

to the bank manager himself, who offered her a considerable annual interest

the rate by a little bit, and

tactic, Miranda went to two other banks and deposited ten million dollars in each of

of the last bank as the new owner of three black cards

this breakup was worth it after all.” She’d

was worth 2,000 dollars. She was immediately treated like a VIP and

others.

sat down before the mirror and looked at her long brown hair and large curls. This was the first time she

of your hair. You

this because Hansel liked it. He said he liked how it felt.

a lot of time grooming herself because

“Please cut it short, straighten it, and

was still a toy, no matter how pretty it was. She wouldn’t stop anyone. from looking like a doll, but she was done being played

out of the hair salon, feeling like a weight

walk past a clothing boutique that had a sale on, so she

They matched the sport shoes

bicycles in and

“Sol! We’re here!”

past Miranda. “What are all of you doing

visiting Dr.

in at the same time,” Solomon Hall said. “Here, I’ll just

Bioinformatics.”

Bioinformatics? Dr. Young?

hurried forward and asked the students, “Who did you say

the pretty young lady talking to him. He was tongue–tied for a few

“Dr. Christine Young?”

“Yes.”

is she

“Westerton Hospital.”

“Thank you.”

faculty are you from? Are you alto one

Solomon’s question. Instead, she