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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a heavy snowfall. Miranda pushed open her window and saw

out in groups, building snowmen on the street below. Their laughter blended with the calls of street vendors,

downstairs to grab some groceries, she noticed a row of snowmen of all shapes and sizes neatly lined up. The largest one caught her eye with its seed eyes and a pink plastic pinwheel on its head, making

had 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 admired her handiwork with

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

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

days ago. We made some cupcakes to celebrate and

had always made a point

for her.

with the good news. She thanked her and

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and tried to refuse. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that. I didn’t bring the cupcakes with the expectation of anything in

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

to accept Miranda’s

the way, your next–door–neighbor, Dr. Jefferson, is usually in and out all day. I’ve knocked a few times, but

had to drop off

her daughter–in–law, so

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

agams at 1000 pr Paul snapped his umbrella shut giving * e quick shots to dislodge the crowflakes clinging to it. They

Even he was

year wound down, filling the

a good night’s sleep in days. But today, the experiment’s data had finally been adjusted

keys. Just as he was about to

over him. The once–dim corridor was suddenly filled with light, and Miranda’s voice, as comfting as a hearth

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

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

before he finally managed to say, in

up the soup. Make sure you eat it while