LOGINWith the urgent pressure finally gone, Miranda and Raymond were able to wrap things up at the lab at a more manageable pace, sorting through the data and organizing the final reports.Later on, James came by to help as well. Most of what he did was the physical work, moving files and handling the heavier tasks. He had heard from Adrian that Miranda had suddenly collapsed, and that Felix had been the one taking care of her. He wanted to ask after her, but in the end, he held himself back.The last thing James wanted was to create more unnecessary misunderstandings.In truth, he had been carrying guilt over that very issue these past few days. He was not usually the sensitive type, but when he looked back now on Felix’s attitude toward him in the beginning, it really had felt like the displeasure of a man dealing with a rival.That realization had sent him back to the messages he and Miranda had exchanged four years ago. Miranda had deleted hers long ago, but James had kept his.He
His gaze still lingered on her from behind. In that moment, whatever faint possibility Felix had let himself believe in, whatever hope he had kept buried in silence, came to an end.Felix drew a slow breath, tugged lightly at the corner of his mouth, and said to Miranda, “You should get back to work. I’ll go.”Miranda seemed to realize only then that he was still standing there. With Raymond still talking in her ear, she had no room to say anything more to him.Felix turned and walked away. His back was as straight as ever, but there was a loneliness in it that was impossible to miss.One thought kept repeating in his mind.She belonged to someone else now.Whatever hopes he still had should end here.Almost without thinking, Miranda turned and glanced once more at the figure walking toward the elevator lobby. Her brows drew together slightly, but only for a moment. Then Raymond’s words pulled her attention away again.After she finished the call, Dr. Zimmer was still inside sp
Felix sat out in the hallway for another twenty minutes. After a while, he saw Dr. Zimmer come in with a nurse pushing a cart of equipment, likely to run more tests. Not long after that, Miranda came out of Mike’s room.There was still a trace of exhaustion on her face, but the color had returned to her cheeks. The relief of having someone she loved come back to her seemed to breathe life into her all over again.Miranda frowned slightly when she saw Felix still sitting there.Why was he still here?As she walked over, Felix rose to his feet and asked first, “How is he?”“He’s recovering well. Better than we expected,” Miranda answered evenly.Felix looked at her in silence for a few seconds, as if thinking something through. Then he said, “I’m planning to take my mom and Mia to a hot spring resort for a few days. It’s quiet there, good for resting, and it’ll give Mia a chance to relax too.”Miranda blinked in surprise. “When did you decide that?”She hadn’t heard Mia mention i
Mike looked at her with complete sincerity. “I’m truly grateful for everything you all did to save me. But I need you to understand something. Your safety and your health matter just as much to me.”Miranda knew he was talking about the way she had pushed herself until she collapsed. She lifted a brow and smiled. “You make me sound way too fragile. It was only three sleepless nights. I’m still young. I can handle it.”Outside the room, Felix leaned against the wall in the hallway. Through the glass, he watched the two of them talking. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could see the smile on Miranda’s face and the tenderness in Mike’s eyes as he looked at her.That was answer enough for Felix.Inside the room, the look in Mike’s eyes shifted, becoming heavier with guilt and apology.“Miranda, there is something I need to apologize for. And there is something I need to tell you.”Miranda paused and looked at him carefully. “What is it?”“This mission was not a militar
A quiet mix of bitterness and self-mockery spread through Felix’s chest.“Don’t worry,” he scoffed softly. “To him, you look beautiful no matter what.”Miranda froze. Her hand stopped in the middle of smoothing her hair. She pressed her lips together but said nothing.“Do you want to go home and shower before you see him?” Felix asked suddenly.Miranda shook her head. “No.”Another self-mocking smile tugged at his mouth. “So you really do care that much about how you look in front of him.”Miranda blinked, slightly taken aback. It was true that she wanted to look a little more put together, but that was simply a woman’s natural instinct.She looked at him and said, “Thank you for staying with me. You should go home and get some rest.”Only then did she notice the faint red in his eyes too, as though he had also gone several nights without proper sleep.“I’m fine,” Felix said, sitting back down.“Have you seen my phone?” Miranda asked.Felix handed it to her. Miranda took it
When his life had hung in the balance, it was those two people, and the teams behind them, who had fought to win him one last chance.That was a debt too great to measure.He slowly closed his eyes, forcing all the emotion back down. “Uncle Zeller, I understand. Thank you for telling me.”Miranda woke again from another jolt of panic.Like someone breaking the surface after nearly drowning, she sat bolt upright, gasping for air.Felix had been resting with his eyes closed. The moment he heard her move, he opened them and met her startled, desperate gaze.“Did he wake up? Did Mike wake up?” Miranda grabbed his arm, her voice hoarse and urgent.Felix looked at the fear still written on her face and felt the tremor in her fingers. It was exactly what he had expected. The person she cared about most was still Mike.A dull ache tightened across his chest for a few seconds, but he immediately turned his hand and closed it around hers, the pressure gentle and reassuring.“He woke up,
Felix’s eyes followed the white Cayenne until it disappeared into the curtain of rain. His brow tightened slightly, almost too subtle to notice.When Xena stepped up beside him, she caught the faint smell of smoke clinging to his suit and narrowed her eyes. Felix never smoked unless something was w
Xena brushed her hair back and said coldly, “Miranda ruined my position as goodwill ambassador. I’m not exactly in a good mood.”Hayden replied, “Now that she and Leo seem to be getting closer, maybe someday you two might—”“I’m not afraid of her,” Xena interrupted impatiently.Hayden sighed. “Le
Felix knelt down to pet Gigi’s big head, and the beagle let out a happy whimper, clearly enjoying the attention from Felix.Dressed casually for once, Felix looked far less imposing than usual, yet still effortlessly handsome enough to turn heads.“Daddy!” Mia squealed, running into his arms.Fel
Felix’s sudden appearance brought a brief stillness to the balcony.Leo withdrew the words he had yet to finish and nodded politely to the older man beside Felix. “Mr. Zimmerman.”Mr. Zimmerman chuckled warmly. “Ah, so this is where all the young people are hiding.”Felix slipped one hand into hi







