LOGINIn the dim light, Felix’s back flexed with quiet strength above Miranda, every movement controlled and powerful.Outside the window, it was already late fall, but inside the room, it felt as hot as summer. The air was thick with heat, mingling with the clean, intoxicating scent of cedar on him.The next day, Felix got up on time to take Mia to school.Miranda slept until ten in the morning.Mrs. Young had prepared breakfast for her. When Miranda came downstairs, there was still a languid softness about her. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders, and a few faint marks were visible along her neck.After Felix came back, he drove Miranda to the lab himself.He had tried very hard to convince her to stay home and rest, but Miranda insisted on going in.He took the wheel of her car.Before they reached the lab, Adrian called. The call connected through the car’s Bluetooth, and Miranda answered.“Hi, Adrian.”“Miranda, you have a visitor.”“Who is it?” Miranda asked in surprise
Miranda came out after taking a shower, and Felix’s gaze naturally shifted to her.Mia looked up at her and said, “Mommy, I’ve decided I’m going to sleep by myself tonight.”Miranda paused in the middle of applying hand cream.Almost instinctively, she looked at Felix.Felix gave her an innocent smile.“She decided that on her own.”Mia nodded her head seriously.“Yes. I decided all by myself. I’m going to be brave and sleep alone.”Mia’s room was right next door. It had been ready for a long time, just waiting for the day she felt brave enough to sleep on her own.“Daddy, can you carry me over and read me a story until I fall asleep?” Mia asked, holding out her arms to him.Felix picked her up, grabbed the picture book, and carried her to her room.Miranda was speechless.Where had this sudden determination come from?Was Mia really moving into her own room just because she had decided to?After sleeping beside Mia for so long, Miranda had grown used to having her there.
Miranda got home at eight thirty.She had already eaten dinner at the lab, but Mrs. Young had still thoughtfully made her a small bowl of warm vanilla pudding.Miranda sat on the patio, slowly eating it.Felix had bought Mia a bicycle, and she was riding all over the lawn, laughing happily. Gigi chased excitedly behind her.Just then, Gigi suddenly darted in front of Mia.Mia couldn’t brake in time, and both she and the bike toppled onto the grass.Miranda’s heart tightened in alarm, and she almost rushed over.But in the end, she held herself back.It was rare for Mia to run into a little setback like this. Miranda wanted to see how she would handle it on her own.At the same time, Felix’s heart clenched hard.Mia had fallen on the grass, with the bicycle pressing down on one of her legs. Gigi, clearly panicked, ran over and nudged against her.Felix instinctively took half a step forward.Then he stopped.He only watched.Mia lay there on the grass, her big eyes instinc
Miranda froze for a second and instinctively touched her face.“It’s the brand I told you about last time. I haven’t used anything else.”Coco studied her again, curiosity written all over her face.“Then why does it barely do anything for me, but it works so well on you? Look at your skin. You’re practically glowing. It’s fair, rosy, and so smooth I can’t even see your pores. Honestly, your skin looks even better than before.”Miranda’s ears warmed.She couldn’t help thinking about how little restraint Felix had shown over the past two nights.“Maybe it’s because…”Miranda cleared her throat lightly.“I got better rest during the conference in Hamilton.”Then she couldn’t help asking, “Coco, are you seeing anyone?”Coco sighed.“My mom has even been pushing me to go on blind dates. It’s not that I don’t want to date. I just haven’t met anyone right.”Miranda comforted her. “You will.”Coco looked at Miranda and felt a little envious.Miranda clearly didn’t have to worry
“I saw it,” Mia said, planting her hands on her hips. “You were kissing.”Felix laughed softly. Seeing Miranda’s awkward expression, he said to Mia, “Yes. Daddy was kissing Mommy.”Mia ran over happily and squeezed herself between them. Then she lifted her little face and asked, “Does that mean we’ll never be apart again?”Felix picked her up and settled her on his lap, then reached out and wrapped an arm around Miranda’s shoulders.“That’s right. We won’t be apart anymore. Mommy and I are getting back together.”Mia suddenly held out both hands, taking Miranda’s hand with one and Felix’s with the other. Then she brought their hands together.“Then you have to pinky promise.”Miranda looked at Mia’s serious little face, and her heart softened.Felix hooked his pinky around Miranda’s. Mia wrapped both of her hands around theirs and recited solemnly, “Pinky promise. No take-backs.”Felix smiled and looked at Miranda.Miranda, a little shy, looked at Mia instead.Satisfied, Mia
That evening, Mrs. Young made a big dinner.She watched as Miranda placed food on Mia’s plate. When Mia came across something she didn’t like, she quietly pushed it over to Felix, and he ate it with a smile.Watching the three of them interact so naturally, Mrs. Young immediately understood that something had changed between Miranda and Felix.At last, she quietly let out a breath of relief.After all this waiting and hoping, it looked like Miranda and Felix might finally find their way back to each other.After dinner, Miranda went upstairs to work, while Mia went over to Felix’s place to play.Miranda was reading through some documents when her phone rang.She glanced at the screen and saw that Adrian was calling.“Hi, Adrian.”“Miranda, we’ve run into an issue with the lab equipment,” Adrian said. “It’s still stuck at customs, and the paperwork hasn’t cleared yet. Do you think you could ask Mr. Gibson to help make a few calls?”Felix had bought the equipment for Miranda’s
Fiona clenched her fingers into her palm. “I know.”After Samantha left, Fiona took a deep breath. Miranda was already gaining international recognition, while she herself was still stuck in the role of an assistant researcher.James later returned to the lab with Miranda, and the two of them work
Sienna looked up in shock. “Are you saying she went to Hamilton on a date with someone else?”“I ran into them at the military medical hospital with Felix,” Xena said quietly. “That man treated Miranda very well. They were all touchy with each other, like a couple.”Sienna’s eyes widened. “So Mira
At this moment, Mike was openly presenting himself as Miranda’s boyfriend. He couldn’t see her expression, but she didn’t object. That alone felt like tacit consent.Felix was seated by the window, in the same row as Miranda. His gaze drifted in their direction, dark and unreadable.After sitting
Mike lingered where he was, watching Miranda until she disappeared from sight.A staff member beside Felix lowered his voice. “Mr. Gibson, we can proceed with boarding now.”Only after Mike finally turned and left did Felix withdraw his gaze. His expression was blank as he gave a slight nod.Mira







