When fate plays its hand

“ban” Miranda intempted, meeting his gaze firmly “Think carefully about what you want to say what you should say before you speak again

“You windy know, don’t your tam asked, trapping her between the wall and his chest while his hands braced on wither side

50 what if I do? Or if I don 1711 doesn’t change what our relationship should

What relationship? His lips curled into a bitter smile. “You tell me, what kind of relationship do we have?”

“We’re cousins,” she replied

seans we share

“You might not know this, but my mother isn’t biologically related to our grandparents. That means

no blood relation Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Miranda hesitated briefly but maintained her composure. It doesn’t matter

You and I are impossible”

“Why?” His voice cracked.

“I don’t like you”

Those words again. Always those same, cutting words.

if we’re related by blood or not.

Sam’s hands gripped her shoulders tightly, desperation flashing in his eyes. “Why can’t you like me? You loved someone like Hansel, that scumbag Why can’t it be me, Mimi?”

His voice broke as tears gathered. “Don’t be so cruel to me, please?”

All sense of calm or reason had deserted him. Sam wanted only to finish what had gone unsaid the night before, to leave her no room to escape.

“Enough” Miranda turned her head away, her voice steady and emotionless

Sam felt bitterness rise in his throat as his chest ached with an unfamiliar pain. His words were strained as he said, “Why won’t you listen to me? Why won’t you give me even the slightest chance? Are you afraid, Miranda? Afraid that there could be more between us?”

“It’s not that,” she said while shaking her head. From start to finish, she remained so composed. “I won’t let you speak because it’s unnecessary. From now on, no matter what you feel, we are cousins. We can only ever be cousins.”

With that, she stepped around him and left the restroom, leaving Sam standing frozen in place. He didn’t move for a long time Eventually, a hollow laugh escaped his lips.

“Cousins, huh?” he murmured bitterly.

Once, he had longed for her to call him just “Sam“. He had thought it would bring him closer to her. Now that she finally did, the word felt like a knife twisting in his heart.

That night, Aren and Fiona stayed at the house. Mindy sat with them in their room, chatting until the early

of their daughter, as d they wanted to

hours of the morning. The elderly couple couldn’t seem to get enough of their make up for the lost decades in one night.

Mindy understood how much her parents had sacrificed in their search for her. Their health had deteriorated, and Fiona’s eyesight was still recovering after years of strain tooking at the aged faces and recalling Fiona’s tear–streaked cheeks from earlier, Mindy felt a pang soon

“It’s late now, Min. You should get some rest,” Fiona said gently while holding her daughter’s band The wrinkles around her eyes deepened as she smiled.

Aren added with a smile, “We’re not going anywhere this time. We finally have you back, and nothing will take you from us again.”

Mindy leaned into her mother’s shoulder like a child “Alright. You two should rest as well Tomorrow,TI show you around–everything about the life I’ve built here

“Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad”

She closed their door and returned to the master bedroom, where Lionel was waiting dressed in tus sleepwear “Did the two of them settle in?” he asked

Mindy nodded softly. “Yes”

“Do you think they’re comfortable? Are the blankets warm enough? I could-

Mindy placed a hand over his, stopping him. “Don’t fuss If they need anything they’ll let us know

Lionel scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly. “You’re right. It’s their daughter’s house What’s there to be shy about?”

Mindy then sat down on the edge of the bed. Lionel noticed the redness around her eyes and felt a twinge of sadness for her but said nothing Instead, he opened his arms and pulled her close tes hand gently stroking her hair.

He murmured, “You must be tired from crying, huh? Now it’s finally over You found your parents My baby now knows she’s someone’s beloved child”

Hearing his words, the emotions Mindy had kept bottled up all day came rushing out. She buned her face his chest and cried silently, tears spilling like raindrops