When fate plays its hand

Paul’s action felt unusually reckless and lacked his usual calm and elegance. He seemed uncharacteristically impatient and urgent. “Sam called you?” he asked.

“Yes,” Miranda replied. She thought, “You heard it, didn’t you? Why ask?”

“Are you going to the Garrison estate tomorrow?”

She nodded. “It’s been a while since I had dinner with my grandparents. They’re leaving for Lumberville next week.”

“I’ll drive you there,” Paul said.

Miranda gave him a knowing look and thought, “Just admit it–you’re looking for an excuse to tag along.”

As the clock struck 11:00 pm, he rose to his feet. “I’m going home.”

She walked him to the door.

After putting on his shoes, he suddenly turned around and hugged her tightly for a deep kiss. He had always been quick to pick things up. She could feel his progress with just one kiss- passionate, lingering, intense, and heartfelt.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed before Paul finally let Miranda go, though not entirely. Their noses were still touching as he looked at her with fascination and longing. ” Miranda… you’re the one who said I could want more,” he murmured.

She hadn’t expected him to not only understand her earlier words but also act on them with such boldness.

Was this what they called shooting herself in the foot? noveldrama

However, Paul seemed to read her regret. “You gave me the chance and dropped the hint. If you’re regretting it now, it’s too late.”

Miranda sighed. “So, what now? You got your way, and now you’re playing innocent?”

“Don’t look at me like that.” He placed a hand over her bright and expressive eyes. “If you do, I’ll want even more…”

She was speechless.

In the end, he returned to his apartment.

Miranda exhaled and patted her cheeks. Only then did she realize how warm they were.

Under the same moon, Graneda was still glittered with neon lights in the early morning hours.

Madison stepped out of the hospital and hailed a cab to Oakridge. This northeastern suburb of Graneda was filled with urban villages and was also the hub of Mason’s rental business.

At that moment, the Hill residence was still brightly lit. Inside, her relatives had already gathered, and their expressions were tense and expectant.

When Madison dragged her exhausted body through the door, dozens of eyes immediately turned toward her.

“Uncle Noah, Uncle Samson… you…” She was stunned.

“We heard your dad had a stroke and was hospitalized,” one relative said. “What happened? How is he now?”

Madison might have been carefree, but she wasn’t foolish. Relatives traveling hundreds of miles from Lakersville without a phone call wasn’t a simple gesture of concern.

Her mind raced, and then her eyes widened as if struck by a realization. “A stroke? Who told you that? My dad just caught a bad cold. He refused to take medicine, and it got worse. When we brought him to the hospital, the doctors said it was a viral infection. He’s on an IV now, but it’s nothing serious.”

“Just a cold? Then, why is he in the hospital? Are you sure it’s nothing serious?”

She changed her shoes and waved dismissively. “It’s nothing serious. My mom insisted on admitting him because she didn’t want him sneaking off to go fishing before he fully recovered.”

“I see…”

The middle–aged men in the lead exchanged glances with the others with some inexplicable disappointment.

“Is there anything else?” Madison asked, smiling politely.

“Oh, it’s nothing. We just worried about your dad. Which hospital has he been admitted to? We’ll visit him tomorrow.”

Madison’s heart missed a beat. She knew refusing outright would only raise suspicion, but if she told them and they actually visited Mason tomorrow…

In situations like this, hesitation wasn’t an option, so she said, “Sure. He’d love the company. He’s at Harrington Hospital’s inpatient ward, and the room number…”

With the information in hand, her relatives quickly dispersed.

After seeing them out, Madison closed the door. Her knees gave out, and she slid to the floor with tears streaming down her cheeks.

A sudden knock on the door startled her.

She stiffened, and her back arched like a startled cat. “Who is it?”