When fate plays its hand

Hansel couldn’t be bothered with Willow’s feelings, nor did he pay attention to the pumpkin soup. He was in a bad mood and, after finishing his work, he finally powered down his computer. Then, he noticed the bowl of soup beside him.

The bowl was nearly half full of thick, creamy pumpkin soup topped with dried fruits and cinnamon–more thoughtfully prepared than what Ingrid made.

Hansel was feeling a bit hungry. When he picked up the bowl, he noticed it was still warm and planned to have just two bites.

But as soon as he tasted it, something in the flavor made him pause. He looked at the bowl, and a complex expression crossed his face. It tasted almost exactly like the soup Miranda used to make.

Hansel was stunned, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him as though she were still around. Wher headed downstairs, he noticed Willow hadn’t left.

She was seated on the couch, quietly reading a book. Under the light, she radiated a calm elegance, a serene presence that didn’t seek attention.

Willow must have heard his footsteps because she looked up instinctively. Her calm eyes were

momentarily stirred by him as a fleeting look of surprise crossed her face before she deliberately masked

1. it.

“Are you done with work?” She set her book aside and stood up with a smile.

Hansel hummed softly, then asked casually, “Did you make the soup?”

“Yes, I made it. Is something wrong? Do you like it?”

‘Thanks. Is this your first time making it?” he asked.

“I’ve made it before, but it’s usually something simple, like potato or vegetable soup. This is the first time I’ve used so many different ingredients. It was a bit of a hassle, but this soup is good for your gut. Drinking it regularly should be good for your health,” Willow said

Hansel’s eyes narrowed. “Who taught you to make this?”

“Here.” She smiled and pointed to the bookshelf. “I noticed a lot of cookbooks on the shelves, and one of them had a recipe for gut–healing soup. So, I thought I’d give it a shot. How does it taste? Is it to your liking?”

Hansel hummed and said nothing else.

Afterward, Willow left tactfully. As she headed for the door, she saw Martha coming downstairs with an empty bowl and couldn’t help but smirk.

After leaving the lab one evening and struggling to hail a cab, Miranda’s urge to buy a car became unbearable. She thought to herself, “I have to buy a car now. I can’t put it off any longer.

The following morning, she made plans to meet Winter and headed to the car dealership. She stood outside the showroom and dialed Winter’s number. “I’m here. Where are you?”

“Sorry, Mimi. I was just about to call you. Something came up at work, and I can’t leave. I won’t be able to help you choose the car today.”

Miranda understood that Winter’s job was always unpredictable, with unexpected situations cropping up frequently. Just as she was about to say she would be fine on her own, she spotted Paul walking toward her.

At the same time, Winter’s voice came through on the phone again. “But don’t worry. I’ve asked Paul to accompany you. He’s familiar with popular car brands and won’t let anyone take advantage of you.”

Miranda paused, and her gaze was fixed on the tall man before her. The gold–rimmed glasses did little to soften his authoritative presence.

It was her first time buying a car. She felt that having someone knowledgeable to help her choose the right one seemed like a good idea.

…Mimi, turn on the speaker. Paul, I’m handing her over to you now. Make sure you show her around, help her with the car selection, and keep her comfortable. Got it?”

Miranda blinked in confusion. She wondered what Winter

cant by 16

Paul cleared his throat and said calmly, “…Don’t worry.”

After Winter hung up, Miranda put her phone away and smiled at him. “Guess I’ll be troubling you again, Dr. Jefferson.”