When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0811

Miranda initially wanted to decline. However, Sam said, “Grandma insisted. If you refuse, she’ll be disappointed.”

His words left her with no room to argue.

At 11:30 am, Sam arrived with lunch. Miranda went to the entrance to meet him.

“Why did you come out? I could’ve come in myself,” Sam remarked..

“You wouldn’t get through,” she replied.

Only after Miranda led him through multiple security checkpoints did Sam fully. understand what she meant.

“The access control seems stricter than when the place was first opened,” Sam noted, recalling the opening ceremony he had attended.

Miranda nodded. “I reset it.”

“Was the higher security level requested from above?”

“Not entirely. It’s better safe than sorry,” she replied.

Sam nodded in agreement.

“Don’t you have work to do? How do you have time to deliver lunch?” Miranda asked.

“Even if I were busy, I’d still come. I’m on a mission from Grandma,” he said with a smirk.

“What mission?”

As they entered the lounge area, Sam opened an insulated bag and pulled out two thermal containers. The food was still warm.

He unpacked the dishes, placing them neatly on the table along with pasta and a bowl of stew. He even brought clean utensils.

“My mission is to stay here and make sure you finish all of this,” he declared.

Miranda stepped closer and silently counted. There were a total of six dishes, not including the stew. All of which were her favorites.

“It smells amazing…”

Sâm smiled. “Grandma’s been practicing a lot with her cookbook lately. She said she hadn’t cooked much in years and worried she might be out of practice. So, whatever she’s been testing out, Grandpa and I get to eat.

“Grandpa jokes that we’re benefiting from you. Otherwise, how else would we get to enjoy

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Chapter(811

Grandma’s cooking every day?”

Miranda laughed. “That’s an exaggeration. But this… It’s way too much.”

Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind. “Have you eaten, Sam?”

Sam hesitated. “Not yet. Grandma hurried me out before 10:00 am to make sure you wouldn’t go hungry. I didn’t have time.”

Miranda sighed. That level of favoritism was a bit extreme. Even so, Sam was surprisingly gracious about it. If he weren’t, their family would probably argue every day.

“Sit down and eat with me. This is too much for one person, and it would be a shame to .waste it,” she urged.

“I only brought one pair of utensils…”

Miranda then handed him the fork.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I’ll use the spoon,” she replied.

They began eating together. Halfway through the meal, Miranda received a notification for an access request.

“Huh? Who would be coming at this hour?” she wondered aloud, picking up her tablet to check the gate’s camera feed.

“Dr. Jefferson?” she exclaimed in surprise.

Sam paused, his fork hovering midair. “Paul?”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

Miranda approved the access request and opened the intercom. “Dr. Jefferson, you’re clear

to come in.”

“Thank you. Are you in the lab area?”

“No,” Miranda replied. “I’m at the lounge. Come over.”

Two minutes later, Paul arrived at the lounge area, where he found Miranda and Sam having lunch. Miranda stood to greet him. “Hey, Dr. Jefferson.”

Paul’s gaze shifted to Sam. “Mr. Cooper, you’re here too? What a coincidence.”

Sam looked up, and their eyes met. A subtle but palpable tension filled the quiet room.

“It is a coincidence. Dr. Jefferson, care to join us for some food?” Sam broke the silence with a polite offer.

“Thanks…” Paul began, seemingly about to decline.

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Chapter 0811

Sam thought to himself, “At least he knows his boundaries now,”

But then Paul added, “I haven’t had lunch yet, so I’ll join you.”

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