When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0122

Miranda grinned, standing her ground. “No way. You two look just alike with that face now.”

She held up the small figurine and gave it a playful wiggle, which made Paul laugh.

“Well, maybe not quite so much anymore.

In the end, Paul took the gift and thanked her.

“Don’t mention it. The light’s green,” Miranda said.

A BOLEIN

When Miranda got home, it was well past midnight. She’d made sure the house was spotless before she left. She’d even arranged for a cleaning service to come through before she got back.

It looked so immaculate that no one would have guessed she’d been gone for

days.

She took a shower and then collapsed onto her plush bed, sa

ing the lingering fragrance of her body wash. She closed her eyes, feeling content.

She thought home was always the coziest place no matter where she went.

Meanwhile, Paul was still awake.

His experiment was wrapping up its first phase, leaving him buried in work. Even finding time to head to the airport had been a struggle. He planned to shower, change his clothes, and head back to the lab.

As he was putting on his shoes in the foyer, he glanced up and saw the small figurine Miranda had given him. After coming home, he’d set it on a shelf above the shoe rack, in a spot cleared just for it, while the other shelves were packed with books.

He couldn’t help but smile. It really did look quite a bit like him.

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hit with a heavy snowfall. Miranda pushed open her window and saw that the whole

neighborhood kids were already out in groups, building snowmen on the street below. Their laughter blended with the calls of street

she noticed a row of snowmen of all shapes and sizes neatly lined up. The largest one caught her eye with its seed eyes

already walked past it but then turned back, deciding to press a small carrot from her basket onto its face as a nose. Stepping back, she

at the farmers‘ market was fresh and reasonably priced. Miranda picked up some lean minced beef to make spicy beef tacos. The rest would go into

heard a knock at the door and quickly took off her apron to answer

neighbor from the third floor. Bonnie greeted her with

a baby girl a few days ago. We made some cupcakes to celebrate and shared them with everyone in the building. Here, this

had always made a

for her.

thanked her and then turned to get some of the castella cake

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was pleasantly surprised and tried to refuse. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that. I didn’t bring the cupcakes

out. They’re not really a gift or anything. I just wanted you to try them and

to

and out all day. I’ve knocked a few

had to drop off

for her daughter–in–law, so she headed back

stared blankly at the cupcakes in her hands. If her memory served her right,

* e

complications. Even he was feeling a bit worn out from trying to

year wound down,

been adjusted to safe

as he was about to turn the

warm, golden light seeped through the crack in the door, lighting up the hallway and casting a cozy glow over him. The once–dim corridor was suddenly filled with

brought over some cupcakes this afternoon. I have your share with me. Give me a moment, and I’ll get

until she handed him a small wicker basket, filled with dainty cupcakes

took him a moment before he finally managed to say,

“I warmed up the soup. Make sure you eat it while it’s hot. I’ll close the door