When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0806

Paul glanced at her phone and sighed softly, with a trace of helplessness in his tone. ” Cancel the ride. I’ll take you home.”

Take you home…

The words stirred something in Miranda’s heart, and a faint smile touched her lips. ” Alright.”

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Inside the car, the heater was on, and the chill was quickly dispelled. Paul glanced at her reddened fingers and asked anyway, “Did you play with the snow?”

Miranda stayed silent. “Sherlock Holmes over here,” she thought.

When she didn’t respond, Paul didn’t press her. Instead, he said, “There’s peppermint ginger tea in the thermos. Disposable cups are in the glove box–have some to warm up.” The thermos sat neatly in the cup holder near the handbrake. As Miranda unscrewed the lid, warm steam filled the air, carrying the distinct aroma of peppermint. A few scattered mint leaves floated on the surface, but the scent of ginger soon rose to prominence.

Miranda had made ginger tea and soup before, especially for Hansel, but she herself couldn’t stand the taste of ginger. She closed the thermos lid quickly and said, “It’s a bit inconvenient in the car. I’ll drink it later.”

Paul chuckled. “There’s sugar in it. It’s not unpleasant to drink.”

“No, that’s not it. I’m not saying it’s bad. I just want to wait until later! Yeah, later!” she insisted.

“If you hadn’t added that last part, I might’ve believed you,” he teased.

Miranda pouted. “I’m not a kid.”

“Really?” Paul smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “You don’t like ginger, do you?”

“Not really.”

“I used less ginger and more sugar and peppermint. It’s not spicy.”

Miranda eyed him skeptically. “Really?”

“Try it.”

“Fine,” she relented, pulling out a disposable cup and pouring herself a small amount. Paul watched in amusement as she carefully measured out just enough to taste. It was as if she was afraid to pour too much.

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Chapter 0806

She took a cautious sip. The tea was sweet but failed to mask the lingering spiciness of the ginger. Miranda’s face involuntarily twisted. Gosh, she was tricked!

Still, she finished the small amount she’d poured, though her expression betrayed her struggle. Paul couldn’t help laughing. “Your reaction makes it seem like you’re drinking bitter medicine.”

Miranda, recovering from the ginger ordeal, asked curiously, “Dr. Jefferson, did this tea?”

you

make

Paul nodded. “I did.”

“Were you sick?”

“No…”

Neither of them continued the conversation. He made it, but he wasn’t sick, so it wasn’t technically for him.

Then who was it for? The answer was obvious.

Paul gazed straight ahead. “It’s snowing again

“It is,” Miranda said, glancing out the window. The snow on the branches looked even thicker now, like clusters of white cotton balls.

Paul asked casually, “Where will you spend Easter?”

“Elgerson. My parents are coming too.”

“At the Garrisons‘?”

“Yes. It’s my mom’s first Easter with my grandparents after reuniting with them. She’ll definitely want to spend it with them.”

Paul nodded thoughtfully. If Mindy is going to Elgerson, would Lionel really stay behind in Lumberville? That was unlikely.

The next day, the snow had indeed piled up.

When Miranda went downstairs, she couldn’t resist finding a clean patch of ground and… started rolling a snowball. She hadn’t brought any tools down, thinking it would stop her from getting too carried away. But now, she regretted it.

“If I’d known I’d give in, I’d have brought them anyway.” She sighed.

Still, rolling a snowball didn’t require tools–just her hands.

She managed to roll one to the size of a basketball before it split in two, cracking neatly

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Chapter 0806

down the middle. Undeterred, Miranda tried again.

This time, the ball didn’t even get close to basketball–sized before crumbling to pieces. ” Ugh… I don’t believe this,” she muttered under her breath, determined to succeed.

Suddenly, a low chuckle came from behind her