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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pushed open her window and saw that the whole world

building snowmen on the street below. Their laughter blended with the calls of street

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

from her basket onto its face as a nose. Stepping back,

beef at the farmers‘ market was fresh and reasonably priced. Miranda picked up some lean minced beef to make spicy

at the door and quickly

from the third floor. Bonnie greeted her with a warm smile, her

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

Miranda lived alone, Bonnie had always

for her.

She thanked her and

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didn’t have to do that. I didn’t bring the cupcakes with the

or anything. I just wanted you to try them and see

decided to accept Miranda’s

is usually in and out all day. I’ve knocked a few times, but he’s never home. Could

drop off some chicken soup

her daughter–in–law, so

the cupcakes in her hands. If her memory served her right, Paul wasn’t really

umbrella shut giving * e quick shots

few snags, leading to a cascade of complications. Even he was feeling a bit worn out from trying to keep everything

grew stronger as the year wound down, filling the air with

days. But today, the experiment’s data had finally been adjusted to safe levels. With Christmas just

for his keys. Just as he was about to turn the door

the hallway and casting a cozy glow over him. The once–dim corridor was suddenly filled with light, and

Jefferson, you’re home early today. Bonnie from the third floor just became a grandmother. She brought over some cupcakes this afternoon. I

gentle voice filled the air, it was as if his mind took a moment to catch up. It wasn’t until she handed him a small wicker basket, filled with dainty cupcakes and a thermos of homemade beef and lentil soup, that he fully came back to

moment before he finally managed to

the soup.