LOGINThat night, Miranda went to bed rather late.Half-asleep, she heard the doorbell ring.She glanced at the time.It was only eight thirty.She got up and walked to the door. Through the peephole, she took one look outside and froze.Standing outside was a face she knew all too well.She immediately opened the door.Felix stood outside in a dark gray coat, looking as if he had come straight from a long trip.The moment he saw her, his lips curved into a smile.“Did I wake you?”“You… Why are you here?”Miranda glanced behind him.“It’s just me. Mia’s at home.”With that, Felix stepped inside, reached out with his arms, and pulled her into his embrace. He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in.“I missed you, so I came.”Miranda leaned against his chest, but she still couldn’t help scolding him.“You haven’t fully recovered yet. Why did you come all the way here?”Felix gave a soft snort.“Do you care about me at all? It’s already been sixteen days. I’m long pas
“Mike called me,” Lena said, looking at her. “Thank you for coming.”Lena’s shoulder-length hair was cut in a neat, practical style. Even sitting in a wheelchair, she looked clean, sharp, and composed, with a quiet strength that was hard to miss.For someone so young to become a pilot, Lena had Miranda’s genuine respect.Miranda sat down across from her.For a moment, they simply looked at each other.Then, for some reason, they both smiled.Even in the wheelchair, Lena sat with her back perfectly straight. It was the kind of posture that came from years of military training, already ingrained in her bones.Her eyes were clear and steady, still full of hope.“Can I call you Lena?” Miranda asked.Lena nodded.“Of course, Dr. Stone.”“Call me Miranda. I’m only two years older than you, so we’re basically the same age.”Lena smiled.“Then I’ll call you Miranda.”Miranda nodded.Lena looked at her, gratitude quietly stirring in her eyes.“Miranda, I know Mike was able to wa
Felix could only nod obediently.“Okay. I’ll wait for you at home.”The next afternoon, Gavin came to take Miranda to the airport.This time, Dr. Lewis and several well-known professors were traveling with her.Miranda wore a crisp trench coat and walked beside the older professors. Calm and composed, she fit in effortlessly among them.Two and a half hours later, they arrived at Hamilton Airport.Miranda checked into the guest accommodations that had been arranged for them.For the next three days, she attended back-to-back lectures and training sessions. The schedule was full, but productive.Every day after class, Felix would video call her with Mia.At noon on the fourth day, Miranda had just finished lunch in the cafeteria and was talking with a few colleagues when her phone rang.She picked it up and glanced at the screen.Then she paused slightly.It was Mike.Miranda took her phone outside to answer.Mike’s familiar voice came through the line.“Miranda, I heard
Miranda had an upcoming work trip that would last about a week. The National Science and Technology Institute was holding a project exchange meeting. The email had come in last month, but she had kept quiet about it until now.“I have to travel for work on Monday. I’ll probably be gone for about a week.”Felix lifted his head and looked at her.“Travel? Where?”“Hamilton. There’s a project exchange at the institute, and I need to attend.”Felix’s brows drew together at once.“A week? You’re leaving me here alone for a whole week?”Miranda almost laughed in annoyance.“Alone? Your mom and Sienna both moved into this neighborhood, didn’t they? How are you alone? And Mia is here too.”Felix was left briefly speechless, but the look on his face clearly said he wasn’t happy.He asked sullenly, “When are you leaving?”“Probably Sunday afternoon.”“But I need you.”Felix tightened his arms around her like he was being completely unreasonable on purpose.“I’m a patient. You can
At the entrance, just before Felix went into the procedure room, he turned to Miranda.“Wait for me.”“I’ll be right here.”Felix lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then turned and walked in calmly.The door closed behind him.Miranda stood in the hallway, staring at the shut door, her heart beating a little faster for no reason.“Ms. Stone, we’ve prepared tea and snacks in the waiting area. Would you like to rest there for a while?” Gavin walked over and asked.Miranda nodded and went to the waiting area nearby.She took out her phone, wanting to read something to distract herself, but she could not focus at all.Twenty minutes passed.Then thirty.Nearly an hour later, the door finally opened.Felix was wheeled out. His face was a little pale, but he seemed to be in good spirits.After he was brought into the recovery room, the hospital staff gave a few instructions and left.Miranda sat down by the bed and could not help asking, “Does it hurt?”Felix smiled and
Miranda buried her face against his chest and asked, “Are you hiding something from me?”For a split second, surprise flashed through Felix’s eyes.Then he seemed to realize what she meant.“Gavin told you?” he asked helplessly.Miranda nodded.Felix lifted her chin, his deep eyes open and sincere.“I was going to tell you after it was done so you wouldn’t worry,” he said in a low voice.“I told you there’s no need.” Miranda looked at him, unable to understand why he would go that far.Felix smiled and kissed her forehead.“Don’t worry. I’m only going in for a consultation first.”Then he lowered his head a little and brushed his lips against hers.“I don’t want you to go through pregnancy and childbirth again.”Miranda’s heart jolted.“The only way to make absolutely sure that doesn’t happen is a vasectomy,” Felix said, gently stroking her cheek. “Mira, Mia is enough for us.”Miranda let out a soft sigh.“I’m not even sure whether I might want another child someday.”F
“I’m working. If it’s not urgent, don’t bother me,” Miranda said coldly before ending the call.She was genuinely overwhelmed at the moment. The live sample she had spent two hours cultivating required her full attention to monitor all the data precisely.Tossing her phone aside, Miranda returned
Out in the hallway, Xena turned to Fiona with curiosity. “Why is Miranda part of your research team?”“You know her?” Fiona asked coolly.“I do,” Xena replied, but she didn’t elaborate.Fiona answered mildly, “Her father, Professor Eugene Stone, was a respected figure in the medical field and a c
“I bet it’s because she doesn’t have the credentials. I mean, she didn’t even graduate from college. Who’s going to believe someone like that developed a breakthrough drug? What if people see her interview and get scared to take the medicine?”“True. Fiona definitely presents a better image for our
Miranda took a sip from her glass as the two of them drank and talked.“To be honest,” Sophie said, “I’ve met all kinds of men, but the first time I saw Felix in person at the hotel, he was easily one of the most magnetic I’ve ever encountered.” Then she clicked her tongue and muttered, “Too bad he







