When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0597

They met again at the small restaurant outside the main gates of Bedford College. By the time Miranda and Paul arrived, Sam was already there.

“Miranda, you’re here…” He walked up to her with a smile, his eyes focusing intently on her. He ignored Paul, acting as if he didn’t exist.

Miranda said, “Mr. Cooper, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Paul couldn’t help but smile when he heard Miranda addressing Sam in a formal manner.

It was only then that Sam seemed to notice him. “Dr. Jefferson, we meet again.”

Paul maintained the smile on his face. “Yes, it seems we are fated to run into each other all the time.”

“After you.” With that, he gestured for Paul to take the seat next to him. Then, he pulled out the chair on his other side for Miranda, If they sat in this order, it would be Paul, Sam, and Miranda.

“That side faces the door, which had a lot of traffic,” Paul said. “It gets windy when people entèr and leave. Miranda should sit beside me.” He pulled out the chair next to him.

Miranda thought for a moment and agreed that it made sense, so she changed spots. Now, the seating arrangement was….

Miranda, Paul, and Sam.

“Do you feel warmer now?” Paul ignored the darkened expression on Sam’s face as he asked Miranda.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Narrowing his eyes, Sam said, “I have to say, it is really quite drafty on this side. I think I’ll switch seats too.

The seating arrangement changed once again, putting Miranda in the middle.

Paul was at a loss for words while Sam turned to Miranda with a smile. “I’ve already ordered the dishes. They’re all your favorites.”

Miranda thanked him but quickly realized she couldn’t let it be just about her food preferences since Paul was present as well. “Dr. Jefferson, why don’t you take a look at the menu and see if there’s anything you’d like?”

Paul replied, “No need, I’m fine with anything.”

“Please don’t hold back. Order whatever you like.”

“Alright.”

Meanwhile, Sam was secretly feeling resentful. Why didn’t Miranda ask him to read the menu and order something he liked? He had completely forgotten that he was the one who ordered the food in the first place.

Naturally, Miranda assumed that Sam had already picked out some dishes he preferred.

Soon, the dishes were served.

Even Paul could sense the gloomy expression on Sam’s face.

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However, Miranda was completely oblivious to it and didn’t notice at all. She kept offering food to Paul, urging him to try this and that dish. She was afraid he might go hungry.

“Thanks, Miranda. You don’t have to bother about me. You should have some food yourself.”

“Alright.”

Sam’s jaw tightened as he watched them. They acted as if he was invisible.

The expression on his face turned cold. Since when had Miranda been this considerate toward him? Who was Paul to deserve her consideration?

“Mr. Cooper, why aren’t you eating?” Miranda’s gaze landed on him finally.

“I don’t have much of an appetite,” Sam replied.

Miranda placed some pork ribs on the plate in front of him. “I remember you like this. Try it, it’s pretty delicious

His eyes lit up. “You remember that I like pork ribs?”

“Of course!”

Sam felt overjoyed for a brief moment, but the next second, Miranda added, “I also know that Calvin loves shrimp while Zach only eats salmon, not other fish.”

Sam was at a loss for words. There was no need to remember everyone’s preferences so clearly.

However, the fact that she remembered his preferences was enough to elevate Sam’s gloomy mood.

Paul chimed in, “Miranda is so attentive. She seems to know everyone’s preferences well.”

He clearly implied that Sam was just another normal guy to Miranda. There was nothing special about

him.

Surprisingly, Sam wasn’t upset. He smiled and said, ‘Exactly. Miranda has always been like this all these

years.

His comment meant that he had been by her side for years. It was unnecessary for Paul to point out

Miranda’s attentiveness.

Miranda didn’t catch the underlying meaning in the two men’s words. She was fully focused on enjoying her meal.

She was starving after exhausting her mental and physical energy by standing at the lab bench for an entire afternoon. At this moment, all she could think about was the food on the table before her.

“Mr. Cooper, Dr. Jefferson, you guys should eat too,” she said.

Sam and Paul replied simultaneously, “Sure.”

Then, they exchanged glances. The look in their eyes was filled with hostility and disdain.

Suddenly, Sam raised his glass. “I heard from Mimi that you helped her secure the lab she’s using now. Let me give you a toast as a way to thank you.”

Paul didn’t accept the gesture. Instead, he said indifferently, “Mr. Cooper, you must be joking. It was just a

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Chapter 0597

small favor, nothing worthy of a toast. Besides, it should be Miranda thanking me rather than you. I don’t quite understand your actions here.”

Hearing this, Miranda put down her utensils and picked up her glass. “You’re right, I haven’t thanked Dr. Jefferson for helping us find such a perfect lab.”

Paul waved dismissively. “Even without my help, you would’ve found the right place eventually. It was just a matter of time.”

Miranda insisted and said, “Time is priceless. Although we would have found a place eventually, the time spent searching would still have been wasted. Let me toast you. Thank you for all the help you’ve given us.

Paul raised his glass and gently clinked it with hers. “You’re welcome.”

Meanwhile, Sam sighed and said, “Dr. Jefferson, you truly exemplified what it means to be a mentor. You’ve gone above and beyond for a student. So, let Miranda and I toast you as well.”

Sam phrased his words in such a way that he and Miranda were like juniors showing respect to a senior professor, putting Paul in a separate league from them in an instant.

Paul didn’t say anything but merely clenched his fists.