When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0529

Joe responded, “Alright! I’ll go-”

“Never mind,” Hansel cut him off. “I’ll go myself.”

+25 BONUS

Miranda stood by Joe’s desk, not far from the panoramic floor–to–ceiling windows. She walked over to the window, standing still as she looked down at the bustling traffic below.

In front of her was a lively commercial street flanked by high–end office buildings. Further in the distance, there was the view of the river.

It was truly a prime location where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Back when the company was first starting out, they had no money, no connections, and their office was a modest two–bedroom apartment above the basement where they rented. It was simple, but at least it had windows and a small kitchen.

The startup was small, consisting of Hansel and just five other employees, all of whom were tech workers. As for positions like receptionist, accountant, cashier, finance officer, or human resources- those were out of the question. They simply couldn’t afford to hire anyone.

So what did they do?

Miranda took it all on herself.

Every day, she ran

up and down the stairs, handling tasks. If she needed to go out, she’d take the bus instead of a cab. To save on meal costs, she’d cook whenever she had a spare moment.

Those days were tough, but her heart was full of passion.

Everyone pitied her for giving up her combined Master’s and Doctorate program, so she worked tirelessly to prove she hadn’t made the wrong decision.

She hadn’t been able to climb the heights of academia, but she thought at least she had a reliable partner and a flourishing business. She envisioned a future with a happy family and a couple of adorable children.

Not to mention, Hansel had been incredibly driven back then.

For two years, he poured everything into the business, waking up earlier than the roosters and going to bed later than everyone else. Even on his rare days off, he still made time to take her on dates.

Back then, Hansel could sense any shift in her emotions, good or bad, and would respond immediately. When did things start to change?

In the third year of the business, when the company entered a rapid growth phase, the business expanded aggressively, and the profits rolled in.

The office moved from the modest apartment to a small, three–story house in the suburbs. Within half a year, they upgraded again to an old office building on Sackberd Road.

Two months before the company entered the public market, they relocated to the office building they

were in now.

+25 BONL

Chapter 0529

After that, Miranda rarely visited his workplace anymore.

Hansel didn’t mind–he preferred it that way. He felt she got in the way, interrupting meetings and negotiations.

“Bringing me lunch? Why? There’s a cafeteria. And if nothing else, I can always order takeout!

“You worry too much. With that free time, why not go shopping? Buy yourself some bags or jewelry. Or meet up with Mrs. Jacobson or Ms. Leigh for afternoon tea, chat, and maybe do some flower arranging?” Miranda had stood there in shock, unable to respond for a long time. It was the first time she realized that the role she had envisioned for herself was completely different from the one Hansel had planned for her. In fact, they were polar opposites.

She had wanted to stand beside him like a strong tree, facing challenges together. But he wanted her to be a delicate flower, blooming under the shade of his tree, forever gentle and dependent.

From that point on, Miranda completely withdrew and stopped getting involved in the company. They no longer needed her anyway. They had plenty of money to hire professionals to handle reception, finance, accounting, and cashier duties…

Then, Hansel grew busier, flying all over the world for weeks at a time. When he did have free time, it was spent playing golf to make new connections or going out drinking and playing cards with Sam, Calvin, and

Zach.

During the countless nights she spent waiting alone for him to come home, Miranda couldn’t help but think back to those early days of the startup.

It was as if the Hansel she knew back then and the man he had become now were growing further and further apart, less and less alike.

Miranda stared into the distance, lost in thought, until.

“Mimi!”