LOGINMore than that, when Leo saw the tenderness and devotion in Felix’s eyes, all he felt now was happiness for them.Some people were meant to be the center of someone else’s life.As for him, he was willing to remain a passing figure in Miranda’s story, someone who stood at the edge and watched her be happy.The three of them pulled the picnic food and the wagon toward the lawn.Gavin jogged over.“Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Gibson, Dr. Stone, our tent is over there.”Mia held Gigi’s leash in her hand, looking every bit like a proud little owner.The wetland park was beautiful in the fall.The sky was high and brilliantly blue. In the distance, wide stretches of golden reeds swayed gently in the wind, and the lake reflected the blue sky and white clouds. It was the perfect place for a fall picnic.The canopy tent Gavin had set up was spacious. Inside, there was a small table and play mats for the children.Miranda laid out the food.Everything looked delicate, colorful, and delicious.
Felix turned back to look at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Finally decided to take care of me?”“Do you want me to pick everything up for you?” Miranda asked, looking up at him. She knew he probably didn’t have time.“Sure,” Felix said, not bothering to be polite. “Then I’ll leave it to you.”Miranda nodded. “Okay. I’ll get what you need.”Felix watched the gentle way she answered, and his throat tightened slightly.His gaze fell to her smooth forehead, then drifted lower to her softly pressed lips. They still carried a faint rosy sheen.Tonight, she seemed especially gentle.She seemed more open to him than usual.The feeling brushed over his heart like a feather, making him want to pull her into his arms just to prove this moment was real.Miranda noticed that he still hadn’t left.Just as she lifted her head to look at him, Felix suddenly took a step toward her.Before she could react, he bent down slightly and pressed a very gentle kiss to her forehead.“Goo
That night, Miranda was organizing her room when she turned around and realized Mia was gone.She went downstairs to look for her.Mrs. Young was cleaning up the kitchen, so Miranda asked, “Mrs. Young, have you seen Mia?”“Mia and Gigi went over to Mr. Gibson’s place just now,” Mrs. Young answered naturally.She opened the connecting door between the two homes and stepped into Felix’s side. Sure enough, she heard Mia’s laughter coming from the second floor.Compared to the warm, lived-in feeling of Miranda’s side, Felix’s place felt much more spacious and quieter. Everything about it carried a clean, cool, masculine edge.The moment Gigi caught Miranda’s scent, she ran out of the playroom and toward the stairs, whining softly in welcome, as if she were hoping Miranda would come play too.Miranda reached down and stroked Gigi’s head, then walked toward the playroom.Mia was building with LEGO bricks, and Felix sat beside her, helping.Under the lights, the two of them looked wa
“Okay.”Around six, Sienna’s car arrived.As soon as Mia got out, she ran across the lawn. The moment Gigi heard her little owner’s voice, she rushed out of the house and ran straight toward her.“Gigi!” Mia called happily.Miranda and Felix stepped out of the living room together. When they saw the warm scene of Mia playing with the dog in the garden, they both smiled.“Daddy! Mommy!”Mia ran over and threw herself into Miranda’s arms.“I love our new house!”Miranda stroked Mia’s hair.“From now on, this is where we’ll live.”“Yes! With Daddy too,” Mia emphasized.It was as if the new home had stirred up her old memories, bringing back that happy feeling of being surrounded by both her parents.Hearing the attachment and joy in Mia’s voice touched the softest part of Felix’s heart.He crouched down until he was eye level with her.“That’s right. Daddy will live here too. From now on, I’ll be able to take you to school every day, pick you up after school, and protect you
Under the lights, Felix’s gaze was far too direct.The desire still darkening his eyes was impossible to miss. When he reached toward her, Miranda slapped his hand away.“Don’t push your luck.”With that, she turned and went back to organizing the shelves.Behind her, Felix pressed his lips together in a smile. His eyes, however, were full of warmth.He obediently got up and helped her.“Can you have an electrician come by and check the wiring?” Miranda asked, looking up at him.Felix nodded.“Of course. I’ll have someone come by tomorrow.”Miranda was tired too. She looked at the two remaining boxes of books and said, “Let’s stop here for tonight. We can finish tomorrow.”Although they had both eaten a little earlier, Felix still asked, “Do you want to grab something downtown before we head back?”Miranda nodded and didn’t refuse.The restaurant downtown wasn’t crowded at this hour, but the atmosphere was lovely. A slow blues song was playing in the background, soft and re
One soft call of her name.Before Miranda could react, a large hand cupped her face.The next second, Felix kissed her hard.His warm lips pressed against hers, sending a shock through her. The kiss felt restrained, and yet full of desperate longing.Miranda let out a shaky breath and instinctively raised her hands to push him away.But his hand came around the back of her head, firm and possessive, leaving her no room to retreat.The study was already silent and pitch-dark. Now the air seemed to turn stifling, hot, and unbearably intimate.Darkness sharpened every sense.Miranda’s thoughts had already been thrown into chaos the moment she learned he was the real investor. Now, under the force of his relentless kisses, her self-control began to crumble completely.Felix kissed her hard and urgently.His solid arms and broad chest caged her in, surrounding her with heat and desire. Her whole body tingled, and she could barely think.But even so, she knew he had gone too far.
“I’ll take you home,” Leo said.“It’s fine. Go take care of your guests.”Leo’s eyes showed he wasn’t backing down. “It’s no trouble. Come on.”Miranda stepped outside. Her car was parked in the VIP lane at the entrance of the Moutin Hotel.A cold wind swept through the night. December was almos
After playing for about fifteen minutes, Mia came out of the playroom and noticed Felix was gone. A small wave of disappointment crossed her face, but she didn’t fuss. Miranda returned to her study, and just as she sat down, her phone rang. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.She answered.
Felix stared at the photos for a few seconds. He remembered that on Wednesday he had asked Miranda whether she planned to attend the parent-child outing, and she had explicitly told him she wouldn't be attending.So why was she there with Mia?Did she say that just to keep him away, making it easi
Miranda turned to Coco and said, “A gift is never measured by the price. It is measured by the thought behind it. And to me, your thoughtfulness is priceless.”Coco felt a rush of relief. She had given the gift both to show her appreciation for Miranda’s mentorship and as a silent apology for their







