Chapter 5

A sharp pain pierced Miranda’s chest. She kept telling herself she didn’t care anymore, but the anger was still there.

This time, she wasn’t going to let Mia go abroad with them. She wouldn’t give Xena the chance to get close to her daughter or twist her thoughts.

That evening, Felix stayed home for dinner. While Mia clung to him, Miranda kept her distance. After dinner, around 8:30 p.m., she took a shower. When she came out and couldn’t find Mia, she followed the sound of her voice to Felix’s room.

She was just about to push the door open when she heard Mia’s cheerful voice.

“Aunt Xena, did you already leave the country?”

“Yeah, I just arrived today. I really wish you could’ve come with me!”

“We’ll see each other soon! Daddy said he’s bringing me to visit you in a few days!”

“Then I’ll get your gifts ready—lots of pretty Christmas dresses!”

“I want lots of princess dresses. And a shiny crown too!”

“Of course. I’ll prepare everything in advance. I even ordered your favorite whipped cream cake.”

Xena’s doting voice floated through the door.

Miranda stood frozen behind it, listening silently until the call ended.

“Alright, we’ll talk soon,” Felix said.

“I’ll be waiting!” Xena replied.

“Bye, Mia! Love you!” she added in fluent Danesian.

“I love you too!” Mia echoed in sweet, perfect Danesian.

The closeness in their exchange hit Miranda like a blade to the chest. She could barely breathe.

She opened the door with a composed smile.

“Mia.”

“Mommy! Daddy and I are going on a trip soon. Do you want to come too?” Mia looked up earnestly, eyes full of hope.

In her heart, she simply wanted everyone who loved her to be there with her.

“Mia, can Mommy talk to Daddy for a bit? Why don’t you go play in the toy room?” Miranda gently stroked her daughter’s hair.

Mia nodded obediently. “Okay!”

As she ran out, Mrs. Young called from the hallway, “Mia, I’ve cut up some fruit—come have a snack!”

Miranda quietly closed the door behind her.

Under the chandelier, Felix lounged on the sofa, his tie already loosened and shirt unbuttoned halfway down. A faint smear of strawberry jam—probably from dinner with Mia—still clung to his shirt.

“We need to talk,” Miranda said, breaking the silence.

Felix looked up. It was clear he had been waiting for her to say something.

“I don’t think you should take Mia abroad this time,” she said. “If you want to visit your mother and grandmother for Christmas, that’s fine. But I want Mia to stay here with me.”

“They haven’t seen her in a while. It’s only ten days,” Felix replied, his tone flat.

Miranda’s chest rose and fell. She met his eyes.

“You could come too,” he offered.

She clenched her fists. Her voice sharpened. “I could. But can you promise me that woman will stay away from my daughter?”

Felix tugged at his already-loosened tie—his usual tell when he was getting impatient.

“Xena doesn’t mean any harm,” he muttered. “You don’t need to be so on edge.”

Miranda’s body trembled.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll go. But I don’t care what’s going on between you and Xena. Just keep her away from my daughter.”

Felix’s mother and grandmother had lived overseas for years. The last time Felix visited them was back in August. She couldn’t stop him from visiting his family, so she had no choice but to accompany them.

Suppressing her anger, Miranda returned to the bedroom. Just then, her phone rang.

She paused at the foreign number flashing on the screen, then picked up. “Hello?”

A warm male voice came through. “Mira, have you made up your mind? Will you join the program?”

Miranda immediately recognized the caller. “I’m sorry, James. There’s something more important I need to do.”

“I looked into your marriage. Your husband’s cheating, and your daughter’s not close to you. You could walk away from that and return to science. With your talent, you’d make real breakthroughs.”

Miranda gave a grateful nod. “Thank you, James. I appreciate your kindness, but I have my own plans.”

“You’re trying to win your husband back?” he asked with a soft sigh.

“No,” she replied calmly. “I just want to be there for my daughter.”

“Alright. I believe we’ll meet again.”

“I’m sure we will,” Miranda said with a smile, the name James echoing softly in her heart.

James Moore had once worked alongside her father. Over the years, he had looked after her like a big brother.

Now, she had made up her mind. No matter what, she would rebuild her relationship with her daughter. There was no way she would let her live under the same roof as a woman like Xena.

That night, she gently told Mia that she would be going abroad with her.

Mia’s eyes lit up as she threw her arms around Miranda’s neck, excitedly sharing the fun things she wanted to do overseas. As Miranda listened, she thought about how, in trying to save her marriage, she had neglected the most important person of all—her daughter.

She had been neglecting Mia all along.

“Baby, Mommy loves you.”

“I love you too, Mommy,” came Mia’s soft, sweet voice, followed by a warm kiss on the cheek.

“You’ll always be the best mommy in the world. I never want to leave you—ever,” Mia said, cupping Miranda’s face in the soft glow of the bedroom light.

Miranda held her close and kissed the top of her little head. “Mommy loves you too. Always.”

*

On Monday, the family headed to the airport.

Eighteen hours later, they arrived in Danesia. Felix’s assistant, Gavin York, pushed the luggage cart while Miranda carried her bag. Mia, who had slept most of the flight, was still curled up in Felix’s arms, wrapped securely in his coat.

They exited the airport and climbed into a warm business-class van. Felix adjusted Mia’s position in his arms, his deep gaze falling gently on her sleeping face. He gently brushed a stray hair from her brow.

The three-car convoy sped through the stormy night. As Miranda looked out at the unfamiliar cityscape, a quiet weight settled over her chest.

Soon, she would have to face her mother-in-law, Susan Quinn, and her sister-in-law, Sienna Gibson.

Eight years ago, when Felix was twenty, he got into a serious car accident and fell into a coma. He was rushed to the hospital where her father worked. The moment she heard the news, Miranda took a leave from school and went straight to the hospital to care for him.

At the time, Susan was overwhelmed with grief and didn’t object to Miranda staying.

Miranda looked after him day and night, taking over the nurses’ duties without complaint. For an entire year, she stayed by his side. When Felix finally woke up, Miranda couldn’t suppress her feelings any longer. She confessed her love and said she wanted to marry him.

But she hadn’t expected Susan to overhear the confession. The very next day, Susan pulled her aside and offered her one hundred million dollars to leave her son.

Miranda struggled with the decision. She was packing her things to return to school when Felix appeared at the door. He looked thin and tired, but his eyes were bright and steady.

“Let’s get married,” he said.

Miranda still remembered that moment. His voice was calm, his expression unreadable, but there had been something resolute in his eyes.

On their wedding day, her father’s assistant quietly told her the truth. It was her father who had given Felix the footage of her caring for him in the hospital for a whole year. That was why Felix married her. It was not for love, but out of gratitude.

Back then, she had believed that if she just loved him enough, one day he would love her back. Looking back now, she realized how naive her nineteen-year-old self had been.

After nearly an hour’s drive, the convoy pulled into an upscale neighborhood in Danesia. The cars finally stopped in front of a grand, brightly lit estate.

The housekeepers were already waiting by the door. Miranda got out first, holding her bag. She turned to see Felix stepping down with their daughter held securely in his arms.

Mia, still groggy from the flight, nestled sleepily against his shoulder, her messy hair and flushed cheeks making her look all the more adorable.

“Daddy, are we at Grandma’s house?” Mia asked with a yawn.

Just then, a regal figure descended the stairs from the second floor. Her voice rang out with delight, “Is that my granddaughter? Grandma’s here!”

But when her eyes landed on Miranda, who stood quietly with her bag, a faint trace of displeasure flashed in her gaze.

“Hi, Mom. It’s been a while,” Miranda greeted politely.

“Oh my sweet Mia! You’ve gotten taller again. Come give Grandma a hug!” Susan said joyfully, scooping the child into her arms.

She gently patted Mia’s plump little frame. “Daddy’s taking good care of you—look how chubby you’ve gotten.”

Felix, however, reached over and took Mia back into his arms. Susan didn’t protest, knowing her son was concerned about her health.

Then she turned to the housekeeper and instructed, “Go prepare a guest room for the guest.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the housekeeper responded.

Miranda’s heart sank. That line wasn’t for the housekeeper. It was for her. A reminder that her presence hadn’t been part of the original plan. Otherwise, her room would have already been prepared.

“I’m hungry, Grandma! I want something to eat. Hey, where’s Aunt Sienna?” Mia asked, acting as if she were completely at home.

“Alright, I will have the maid fix something for you,” Susan said warmly. “Your aunt went skiing abroad with some friends. She won’t be back until New Year’s.”

Miranda let out a quiet breath. Sienna didn’t like her either. Honestly, she was relieved she didn’t have to see her.

Just then, Felix’s phone rang. Miranda glanced over and saw him glance at the screen before stepping outside to take the call.