LOGINNow that the food had arrived, Miranda finally realized she was hungry.She nodded.“Okay. Let’s eat first.”She was still deciding what to take when Felix picked up the serving utensils and placed the tenderest piece of fish on her plate.At the same time, he said to James, “Dr. Moore really is indispensable to this project. His insight, his vision, his dedication… all of it is impressive.”Miranda blinked and turned to look at the man beside her.His tone was calm. Polite, even.But somehow, the words sounded a little too deliberate, as if the praise carried the faintest edge of a challenge.James smiled and adjusted his glasses.“You’re too kind, Mr. Gibson. I’m just doing my part.”Miranda looked at Felix, her gaze sharpening slightly.Felix noticed, but he didn’t meet her eyes. He only said softly, “Eat. It’s better while it’s hot.”Miranda didn’t look away.It was as if she were trying to see through him.Felix’s throat moved slightly, and his gaze flickered behind
At noon, Felix hosted a lunch for the entire project team in the banquet hall. A larger celebration dinner had also been arranged for that evening.James’s team had grown to more than thirty people. With assistants and staff from various departments included, the banquet hall filled five tables.Miranda sat with James’s team at one of the tables.Felix arrived a little later.The seat beside Miranda had been left empty for him, as if everyone had silently agreed that it belonged to him.Miranda did not notice.She was listening to James talk about the next phase of the project. When it came to topics within their field, Miranda and James did have a rare kind of understanding between them.Sometimes, Miranda didn’t even need to finish her thought before James understood what she meant. And when James only said half a sentence, Miranda already knew the direction he was pointing toward.So when Felix walked into the restaurant, the first thing he saw was Miranda and James looking
Miranda didn’t walk over to him.Instead, she headed toward James, who was standing near the side of the stage.Felix’s gaze followed her.Seeing her greet James and start talking to him, he lifted his fingers and adjusted his glasses. The refined, elegant look on his face did little to hide the unrest beneath it.A moment later, Felix turned to the guests beside him.“Excuse me for a moment.”With one hand in his pocket, he walked toward Miranda.Miranda was asking James about his recovery when a low male voice came from behind her.“You look beautiful.”Miranda turned around.Felix’s gaze was fixed on her.“Thank you.”She looked up at him and noticed the glasses he was wearing.They were the same pair she had given him before.James said to her, “Mira, why don’t you and Mr. Gibson head back to your seats and rest for a bit? We’re about to start.”Miranda nodded.She didn’t want to interrupt James’s final preparations, so she looked around for her seat.“Your seat is
Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire city skyline stretched out before them.James was recovering well. He wore comfortable lounge clothes, his complexion back to normal, and there was still that familiar gentleness in his expression. Over the past three years, he had become even more mature.“Make yourself at home,” James said. “What would you like to drink? Coffee, juice, water?”“I’ll get it myself.”Miranda didn’t want to trouble him.She brought over two glasses of water, then looked at him with concern.“How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?”“Much better. The wound just itches a little now. It means it’s healing.” James held his glass and smiled. “Don’t worry. The doctor said I’m recovering well.”Miranda finally felt a little relieved.Just then, James took a call from his lawyer.When he came back, he said to Miranda, “Fiona’s sentencing could happen as early as next month.”Miranda held her glass and fell silent.James looked at her with a ge
He had still been too impulsive.He had clearly told himself to take things slowly.But just now, watching her with her eyes closed, looking so vulnerable with that faint shimmer of moisture at the corner of her eyes, the rationality and self-control he had always been so proud of had crumbled in an instant.He had only wanted to be closer to her.To touch her.Even if it was just for a second.Now, he almost regretted not looking more carefully.Why hadn’t he checked?Had there still been disgust in her eyes?Resistance?Felix knew every shift in Miranda’s feelings toward him.Before the divorce, there had been disgust. Rejection.After the divorce, there had been hatred.Then, about a year ago, her gaze had finally grown calm. There had been no hatred, no resentment, only complete indifference.And that expression had terrified him more than hatred ever could.It was as if he had been completely shut out of her world.After they cleared up the misunderstandings betwee
In the quiet darkness, Miranda became painfully aware of her own heartbeat.Felix hadn’t stepped back.She could still feel him there, close enough that his presence seemed to wrap around her, carrying a quiet pressure she couldn’t ignore.She could picture him leaning over her, looking down at her.Her eyes were still wet from the drops, stinging faintly, so she forced herself to keep them closed.Then she felt the excess liquid slip from the corner of her eye.For some reason, it made her feel embarrassed.It felt too much like crying.Just then, a warm fingertip brushed the corner of her eye, gently wiping away the drop that had fallen.Miranda’s whole body trembled slightly.“Could you hand me a tissue?” she asked.She wanted to do it herself.But Felix did not answer.Just as Miranda was about to open her eyes, she felt something impossibly soft touch the corner of one eye.This time, it wasn’t his finger.It was softer. Warmer.The touch was quick and featherlight
Felix’s company’s work in technology and biomedicine existed within the framework of the country’s broader strategic vision. Miranda rubbed her aching temples and looked up at the night sky, letting out a quiet sigh. Compared to her personal emotions, the advancement of national scientific researc
“Dr. Stone, could we get your contact information?”“Yeah, is that okay?”A few good-looking college guys were the ones egging it on, all of them radiating youthful energy. The atmosphere instantly became lively.Miranda was just about to turn them down when a low, cool male voice came from behin
Leo took a small sip of his tea. “I heard Felix put a large amount of funding into DE’s brain-computer project. The shareholders at Gibson Corporation aren’t happy about it, and future funding might be affected.”Miranda frowned slightly.Leo offered a quiet reassurance. “But he should be able to
Miranda returned to her office just as Coco walked in carrying two cups of coffee. “Here,” Coco said. “I grabbed one for you too.”Miranda took the cup. “Thanks.”“These flowers are really pretty,” Coco said, admiring the bouquet on the desk.Miranda, on the other hand, found them irritating. She







