apter 22
Miranda stepped into the living room with her bag. The moment Ma heard the sound of the car, she came running out excitedly. “Mommy! Mommy!”
Seeing her daughter rush toward her like a little bird, Miranda crouched down with a smile and scooped her up, planting a couple of kisses on her cheek.
In the living room, Susan was giving instructions to one of the housekeepers. She glanced over as Miranda walked in.
“Hi, Mom,” Miranda greeted politely.
“You’re here,” Susan replied coolly.
Mrs. Gibson Sr. had already gone to her room to rest. Miranda sat with Mia in the spacious living room. One of Mia’s best qualities was her ability to completely immerse herself in play. As she played with her toys, she made up little stories and acted
them out.
“Sweetie, it’s time to eat. After dinner, you’ll go to bed with Mommy. Daddy’s coming too,” Mia said as she tucked three little toy figures under a napkin she was pretending was a blanket.
Then she picked up another figurine and added, “I’m Daddy’s friend. Knock knock–can I sleep with you all too?”
“Of course you can! Come on in!” Mia said, snuggling the extra figure into the pretend bed.
Miranda watched her daughter with a warm smile, then gently corrected, “Mia, guests sleep in the guest room, not in bed with us,”
Mia paused, then moved the extra doll out of the little toy bed and placed it in another. “You can sleep here from now on. You’re a guest, so you can’t sleep with us.”
Miranda reached out and gently ruffled her daughter’s hair. There were things too complex for Mia to understand just yet, but they could be taught little by little.
Just then, Sienna came down the stairs. She glanced at Miranda on the sofa, then called toward the kitchen, “Mom, I’m heading out.”
“We’re already preparing dinner. Where are you going?” Susan asked.
“I have plans with a friend,” Sienna replied, throwing a brief glance at Miranda before walking out without saying hello.
She hadn’t said a single unkind word, but her meaning couldn’t have been clearer that she didn’t want to stay for dinner because Miranda was there.
Miranda already knew. Most likely, it was Mrs. Gibson Sr. who insisted she come for dinner. No one else in this house would have welcomed her.
Her smile stiffened slightly. She looked at Mia and thought, “If I could divorce him now and take you with me, I’d never set foot in this house again.”
But now wasn’t the time.
That evening, Mrs. Gibson Sr. was in high spirits and spoke warmly with Miranda about her experiences since returning home. Time passed quickly, and before long, it was already 8:30 p.m.
“Mira, why don’t you stay the night?” Mrs. Gibson Sr. said cheerfully. “Don’t go back.”
Miranda smiled and shook her head. “It’s alright, Grandma. I’ll take Mia home with me. She’s a little too energetic and I don’t want her disturbing you or Mom.”
“She’s the life of this house! Our little sunshine,” Mrs. Gibson Sr. laughed. “Stay the night, won’t you?”
1/2
Chapter 22
+25 BONUS
Miranda hesitated. Since Felix wasn’t coming home tonight anyway, she figured there was no harm in staying with her daughter.
“Alright, Grandma,” she agreed with a nod.
At 9:30, after Mia’s bath, Susan carried her back to her room. Miranda didn’t insist on keeping her. After all, it was her mother- in–law. A housekeeper then led Miranda upstairs.
“Ma’am, this will be your room tonight,” the housekeeper said.
Miranda offered a polite smile and nodded. But the moment she stepped inside and looked around, she froze. Hanging on the rack were a suit jacket and a trench coat. This was Felix’s master bedroom.
She quickly turned to go back out, but the housekeeper had already left.
Miranda frowned slightly but walked back in. Aside from the bed, there was a long sofa near the balcony. “Fine,” she thought.” I’ll just make do for one night.”
She didn’t even bother with a shower. Instead, she turned up the heat and curled up on the sofa, covering herself with a jacket.
Sometime after midnight, the door creaked open:
Felix stepped inside. He looked over at Miranda, curled up asleep on the sofa, and frowned slightly. He took off his suit jacket, the vest underneath accentuating his tall, well–built frame.
Miranda was a light sleeper. As Felix was hanging up his suit jacket, she stirred awake.
As soon as she saw him, she sat up, instantly alert.
