Mag-log inXena had thought she had let it go.But as she watched the two of them on the screen, all the jealousy, resentment, and bitterness she had buried deep inside came rushing back, completely beyond her control.Still, she knew none of it mattered anymore.Her anger could no longer touch them.They were standing on a world stage, admired by everyone, while she had been left with nothing.Her mother was gone. Her father was in prison. She no longer had a single family member in the world.Xena walked out of the villa and got into her car.Then she sat there for a very long time, her face blank and unreadable.*At the Ninth Military District base, the day’s training had just ended. The television mounted on the wall was playing the news.Mike carried his tray to a quiet corner of the mess hall and sat down.He had just returned from a mission, and he still looked dusty and worn from the road.A moment later, Jacob sat down across from him.Just then, Jacob glanced up at the tel
One year later, in October, Miranda arrived in Nordhaven for the Aurora Prize ceremony.Morning sunlight slipped through the gap in the hotel curtains and spilled across the floor in soft golden patches.Miranda stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the city. For some reason, her heart was beating faster than usual.A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind.“Couldn’t sleep?”Felix’s voice was low and husky from sleep, and his chin rested lightly on her shoulder.Miranda leaned back into his arms and gave a soft “Mm.”He kissed the side of her neck.“Are you nervous?”Miranda thought about it for a moment, then nodded.“A little.”Felix turned her around to face him.In the morning light, his eyes looked especially bright.“No matter what happens today,” he said, “you’ve already won in my heart.”Miranda looked at him, and warmth rose in her chest.Over the past year, he had gone through everything with her. Every step of the way,
Felix looked at her, and his eyes reddened instantly.“Are you sure?” His voice trembled. “You’re really willing to marry me again?”Miranda couldn’t help smiling.“Well, if you don’t want to, then…”“I do.”Felix pulled her back into his arms, his voice turning hoarse.“I do. Of course I do.”Miranda leaned against him and nodded.“Have you really thought it through?” Felix asked again, as if he was afraid she might change her mind.“I have. You’re rich, you’re handsome, you’re Mia’s biological father, and you’re good in bed. I don’t want some other woman getting that deal.”She said it with a completely serious face.Felix burst out laughing.“Are you sure you’re being serious?”Miranda’s lips curved.“As serious as it gets.”Felix took her hand and kissed it.“Then I get to call you my wife again.”Miranda felt as if something had struck her heart.Sunlight slipped through the curtains and fell over them.“When we get home, we’re going straight to the courthouse,”
“It’s okay now.”His voice was hoarse as he stroked her back and comforted her softly.“I’m here. I came to get you.”Miranda closed her eyes, and a tear slipped down her cheek.She had truly been terrified that night.But the thought that he was coming had somehow given her endless hope.In the hallway, rescue workers began evacuating guests floor by floor.Felix held Miranda’s hand and led her outside.The moment many of the guests stepped out of the hotel, they looked as if they had just survived a nightmare.Then Miranda saw the hotel lobby.More than a dozen bodies were covered with white sheets.Her heart grew unbearably heavy.And how could that sight not leave a lingering fear in Felix’s heart too?This terrorist attack had only been limited in scale.If it had been larger, he didn’t dare imagine the consequences.There were bullet casings and bloodstains scattered across the floor.Felix pressed her face gently against his chest.“Don’t look.”Miranda nodded
The glass on the desk toppled from the force of the blast and crashed to the floor.Outside the window, shrill alarms went off one after another, mixed with screams and cries.On the other end of the call, Felix’s voice changed instantly.“Mira, what happened?”Miranda crouched down to pick up her phone, her voice tense.“I think… I think there was an explosion downstairs.”With that, she took her phone to the window and looked out.Sure enough, thick smoke was billowing below. People were scattering in every direction, running for their lives.Then another explosion went off.The glass windows buzzed violently from the impact.“Get away from the window,” Felix said sharply. “Listen to me. Stay in your room for now. Don’t go out. I’ll have the security team come upstairs to find you immediately.”Miranda’s heart was pounding. The hand holding her phone trembled slightly.“Okay. I’ll stay in the room,” she promised.“I’m contacting them now. They’ll get you somewhere safer.
Miranda had been working on the documents for so long that her head felt heavy and foggy.She stood, then leaned into Felix’s arms.Felix wrapped one arm firmly around her waist and slipped the other beneath her knees, lifting her easily into his arms before carrying her toward the master bedroom.The moment they stepped inside, he lowered his head and kissed her.Outside the window, the night grew deeper.The bedroom light was warm and soft.Felix seemed to have a particular fondness for keeping the lights on. Miranda had complained about it more than once, but he clearly had no intention of changing.Spring had arrived.Everything was coming back to life.And somehow, everything felt especially beautiful.*Time passed quickly, and before long, May arrived.The weather had turned warm and bright.Everything had gradually fallen into place.Haley’s condition was now stable, and she had already been discharged from the hospital. Just last week, Miranda had taken Mia and F
“Looks like Felix is in trouble.”Miranda paused for a moment before opening the link. The headline read: “Gibson Corporation Backing York Corporation’s IPO, Allegedly Involved in Secret Bribery of Regulators.”Miranda frowned. She could only think that Felix deserved it.Sophie sent another mess
Both Miranda and Felix froze. Had they really been arguing that loudly?Felix quickly softened his voice. “No, honey. Mommy and I were just talking.”“Then can we go to the beach together tomorrow?” Mia asked, lifting her tear-streaked face and looking up at them with hopeful eyes.Miranda said n
At eight o’clock, Mia woke up. Mrs. Young had already finished preparing breakfast, and they planned to head out around nine.A little after eight thirty, Gigi, who had been dozing on the living room floor, suddenly lifted its head. Gigi sniffed the air with sharp focus, stood up, and trotted towar
“You don’t need to give me an answer now. You have three months to think about it.” Felix said this quietly, then turned and walked away.Miranda didn’t press the elevator button. Her thoughts drifted back to the last experiment she did two years ago.It was the one she conducted in an underground







