When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0730

Paul had never been the type to deceive himself.

After a brief moment of avoidance, he always chose to confront his feelings head–on. Deep down, a voice was echoing within him, “You like her. You’re captivated by everything about her ”

From initial restraint to eventual acknowledgment and now a quiet acceptance, Paul finally understood something.

Emotions were never governed by reason. The desires and fantasies he had tried to suppress had only grown more fervent, thriving wildly

The recurring dreams that were vivid and unabashed felt like a series of slaps to his rationality

They were embarrassing, yes. But also… Exquisitely beautiful.

In those dreams, she was both ethereal and bewitching effortlessly ensnaring his soul in the palm of her hand He had no defense, no choice but to succumb entirely.

Paul, who prided himself on decisiveness, found himself wavering when it came to confessing his feelings Miranda had just emerged from the shadows of a failed relationship and was fully engrossed in her academic pursuits. She might not even want to consider love again

and she declined, how would they continue to

pretend it

was clearly unrealistic. The inevitable outcome would be awkwardness

kept Paul from taking

by the neighbor the other night, he

was open to it? What if she

hoping to see her. And he did see her–only to also see the bouquet of

they had already climbed all seven flights of stairs and were

silence. “I’m sorry. It was presumptuous of me. If you don’t want to

smile. “It’s just that I haven’t quite figured out how

serious. His eyes were attentive as she began to

when I thought I’d found true love,” she said slowly “My dad’s always saying

impossible to pull back once I’ve made up my mind. My mother calls it steadfastness. But I know it’s more than that–it’s a kind of

+25 BONUS

knowledge, academics,