When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0422

In the following days, that feeling grew stronger. Normally, Paul would leave at least one evening each week for

a night run.

Once, Miranda heard snoises in the hallway and opened her door, only to find he had already

returned home.

That wasn't the only strange thing. Paul usually took one or two days off each month to rest, but Miranda hadn't

seen his door open even once.

There was even one twhen she opened her door and saw his door cracked open slightly, but it quickly shut

again as if he had heard her.

“What on earth?” Miranda thought to herself.

She was genuinely confused. She began to wonder if she had offended him somehow, but no matter how much

she tried to remember, she couldn't think of anything.

If only she could catch him in person, Miranda would have directly asked what was going on. Why was he

avoiding her like this?

Meanwhile, Paul stood by the window after hearing her footsteps fade into the distance. He glanced outside and,

sure enough, saw her walking away. Only after she was out of sight did he withdraw his complicated gaze.

It wasn’t that he wanted to avoid her. He simply had no choice.

The first the had that kind of dream, he chalked it up to being an accident. It was probably a random

physiological response. But after seeing her again outside the cafeteria, that night, Paul had another similar

dream-this one more vivid, more intense, and even more shameful.

In the dream, he was like a wild animal, out of control, Ignoring the woman's weak pleas as he mercilessly

pinned her down. He was relentless, unstoppable, even

This dream was more detailed than the first. When he woke up, every moment replayed in his mind like a reel on

repeat.

Frustrated and embarrassed, he stripped the sheets off his bed, tossing them into the washing machine with a

deep sense of regret.

He couldn’t understand how he could have such dreams. How could he disrespect a woman like that?

Yes, it was disrespectful.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

The overwhelming self-loathing had made it impossible for him to face Miranda. What if he saw her and had the

sthoughts again? How could he bear it?

During this time, completely unaware of Paul's Inner turmoil, Susan dropped off meals for him a few times.

When she got home, she quietly said to her husband, “Paul seems to be in a bad mood lately. He's only been

asking for one serving of food. He might be heartbroken.

Felix didn’t know what to say to that.

Chapter 0422

+25 BONUS

The research project was progressing smoothly, and the relationship among Miranda, Madison, and Sebastian

had grown increasingly harmonious.

One afternoon, tired of eating at the university cafeteria, the tdecided to grab lunch off-campus. On their

way back, while chatting about their afternoon plans, Madison suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Both Miranda and Sebastian looked at her in confusion.

“What's up?” Sebastian asked.

Madison nodded toward the school gate in the distance. “Look, it’s your ex-boyfriend,” she said while pointing

with her lips. She then gave Miranda a sympathetic look.

Miranda felt her lips twitch. Was it too late to run?

It was indeed too late. Hansel had already spotted her and was now striding toward them, holding a bouquet of

champagne roses,

Madison coughed awkwardly. “Um... Seb, I'm feeling a bit thirsty. Let's grab a drink from the convenience. store.”

Sebastian glanced at Miranda, then at Madison, and nodded in agreement before the two of them walked away.

Now, Miranda didn’t even feel like pretending anymore. “Hansel, are you really that free?”

He froze for a moment. “Mimi...”

“We broke up a year ago. Can you stop coming to see me, please?”

Hansel frowned. Without a word, he shoved the bouquet into her arms while gritting his teeth. “No.”

Miranda felt exhausted. She had repeated the sthing too many times. “It’s pointless. You have so many

other options. Why are you so fixated on me?”

“Because you're the only woman | want.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “That's funny. On Calvin's birthday, you weren't saying that when you had your arm

around Ingrid in that private room.”

“Ingy is a wonderful person, and | want to make things official with her. The words from back then were now like

sharp slaps on Hansel’s face.

His eyes turned bloodshot. “I was blind back then. I'd mistaken the fake for the real thing and gave up on the

one | truly loved.

“I know it’s too late for an apology, but no matter what, need to say it. The woman I've always loved-and will

always love- is you. Mimi... forgive me, please?

“It was around this tof year, also at the North Gate of Bedford College, In this exact sspot, when you

agreed to be my girlfriend. Can't you giveanother chance today, letwin you back?”

Miranda returned the bouquet to him, speaking each word clearly. “No. | can’t. If you still feel even a shred of

guilt toward me, then stop showing up at the campus gate like this because...

Chapter 0422

+25 BONUS

“Your presence makesa topic of gossip, bringing unnecessary trouble into my life.”

Hansel's expressions of love were

always so impulsive, inconsidsrate of

EAS She hobdd think it

shoWe how much he cared—direct,

honest, passionate like the sun. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

But after six years, she finally saw the truth. It wasn’t love; it was selfishness.

It was selfishness disguised as

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

affection, forcing his axe of fave

on her withgut ehsliéring er

sktuhtion or desires. He was

stubbornly acting how he liked. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

Miranda hated being the subject of gossip, but Hansel was always so flashy.

He was sending extravagant bouquets, parking his car in the most conspicuous spot outside the school,

and showing up in her classrooms under the pretense of attending her lectures with her.

But he never realized how much judgment and ridicule she faced behind his back because of his actions.

“You... you never toldthat,” Hansel muttered, his eyes vacant. “I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know?” Miranda's gaze sharpened. “Even if you did, would you have stopped?”

Hansel fell silent.

*Six years is a long time, but you

never really understood me. Jystiike

| never feely understobd you. So let's

ist iave this where it is—there’s no

need to pick it up again.” The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

With that, Miranda walked past him and strode away.

Hansel’s face went pale. He staggered back a step before collapsing onto a nearby bench.

Not far away, two figures lurked behind a tree, eyes wide, carefully watching the scene, afraid to miss a thing.