When fate plays its hand

Bryan clicked his tongue as he recalled Elizabeth’s call from yesterday. She tried to use him just to get close to Paul, and be found her antics laughable. He walked to the corner, pulled out his phone, and blocked her number without a second thought.

At 5:00 pm, Silas stretched and prepared to call it a day.

Paul approached him with his phone. “Can you help me choose? Which one’s better?”

“What’s this?” Silas leaned in for a closer look and was surprised. He hadn’t expected Paul to be buying flowers.” Is it for Miranda?”

“Who else?”

Silas rubbed his nose awkwardly. “True. I think this one’s good, the purple one. She’ll like it.”

Paul nodded. “Yeah, it’s the same one I picked,” he said and pocketed his phone before walking away.

– Silas blinked in confusion.

It was the first day of the holiday. Miranda rarely allowed herself to indulge, but she slept in and didn’t wake up until nearly 10:00 am.

After a quick breakfast, she went grocery shopping. The rest of the afternoon was spent revising her thesis.

Before she knew it, three hours had passed. She closed her laptop and headed straight for the kitchen to make dinner.

At 6:30 pm, Paul came home.

Miranda was busy cooking. She heard the door open but couldn’t take her eyes off the pan, so she called out, ” You’re home?”

About half a minute later, she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. Just as she finished plating the food and setting the spatula down, she turned and was ready to leap into Paul’s arms…

“Dad? Mom?”

Lionel smiled and caught his daughter mid–pounce. “Surprised? Didn’t see that coming, huh?”

Miranda was speechless.

Mindy glanced at the stove and couldn’t hide her surprise. “You’re eating all four dishes by yourself?”

Miranda quickly composed herself. She hugged her father and then flashed a smile at her mother. “I have to eat well, even if I’m alone.”

“Be honest with me.” Mindy’s expression darkened.

Miranda’s heart skipped a beat.

Mindy continued, “Did you know we were coming?

Miranda breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course! I’m a genius. I made the food and waited for you guys to show up.”

Mindy rolled her eyes at Linnet “Somach for your big sure that you ankesedly indy, whatiques noveldrama

it out.”

He looked confused. “What to way I’m tight–lipped

“Then, how do you explain all this?” the potted to the fold ung in the tele “Is there someone else best

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Miranda kept her face neutral, but ins

“Alright, enough of that,” Mindy said, stopping Lionel from racking his brain. “Let’s take these foods to the table It smells so good, I’m starving”

Lionel immediately rolled up his sleeves and set the table.

Five minutes later, the couple sat down and picked up their tell

“Mini, sit down. Why are you standing there?”

“Uh… I left my phone in the bedroom. I’m just going to grab it.” Miranda decided to give Paul a heads–up before he arrived so that he would be mentally prepared

But before she could reach her bedroom, the faint click of the door lock turning caught her attention. In the small, quier apartment, even the faint sound of the lock turning was unusually sharp.

Lionel and Mindy exchanged a look

“Is someone unlocking the door?” he asked

Just as the words left his mouth, the door swung open

Before they saw who it was, a familiar voice rang out. “Mimi, I’m home.”