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

reluctant to get up from bed. She shook her hand at

you planning on staying

Miranda didn’t answer her.

back to sleep, then. I’ve left some breakfast for 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

Miranda woke up

ate the sandwiches Winter had left for her and stared at the sun shining outside the windows. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept in and woken

2/6

+15. BONUS

changed her

cash out the check for 50 million dollars. She wouldn’t be able to

and said, “I’d like to speak to your

bank manager himself, who offered her a considerable annual interest rate. Miranda tried

by a little bit,

deposited ten million dollars in each of them, managing to get interest rates that were higher

owner of three black cards with 30 million

breakup was worth it

their membership, which was worth 2,000 dollars. She was

others.

hair and large

your hair. You look exactly like a

her hair like this because Hansel liked it. He said he liked how it felt. Every time they had sex, he’d always thread his fingers through her hair

always had to spend a lot of time grooming herself because of

hairdresser and said, “Please cut it short, straighten it,

was still a toy, no matter how pretty it was. She wouldn’t stop anyone.

out of the hair salon, feeling like a weight had been lifted off

on, so she walked in and bought herself a white T–shirt and a pair of

of the shop. They matched the sport shoes

found herself outside Bedford College. She watched as the students rode their bicycles in and out

“Sol! We’re here!”

whizzed past Miranda. “What

thought of visiting Dr. Young

won’t let so many people in at the same time,” Solomon Hall said. “Here, I’ll just

Bioinformatics.”

Bioinformatics? Dr. Young?

reverie. She hurried forward and asked the students, “Who did

the pretty young lady talking to him.

“Dr. Christine Young?”

“Yes.”

hospital is

“Westerton Hospital.”

“Thank you.”

which faculty are you from? Are you

Instead, she