After breakfast, Miranda left for work, while Paul stayed home instead of going to the lab.
“Mimi…” he called after her.
Miranda was already at the stairway. She turned back at the sound of his voice. “Yes?”
Paul walked up to her and leaned down, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Come home early,”
He actually said to come home….
At that moment, the word “home” took on a tangible meaning. Home was someone waiting for her behind a door at the end of the day.
“Okay,” she replied.
Paul was about to pull away when Miranda suddenly hooked her arm around his neck, giving him a quick kiss. Her lips curved into a smile.
“It’s only polite to return the gesture,” she said before turning to leave.
Paul stood rooted to the spot, watching her walk away. He was unable to stop a smile from
spreading across his face.
“Good morning, Miranda,” Madison greeted as Miranda stepped into the lab. noveldrama
“Morning”
Suddenly, Miranda paused mid–step, as if she had only just realized something “Madison, you’ve been coming in pretty early lately, haven’t you?”
“Huh? Have I?”
“Yes, you have,” Miranda insisted. Madison was earlier than even her.
Madison shrugged. “Maybe because it’s summer now? I don’t feel like sleeping in bed as much as during winter.”
“That’s true. Where’s Sebastian?” Miranda glanced around, but she didn’t see him anywhere,
“He’s finished his part of the work, so he’s not coming in today.”
“He’s not coming to keep you company? That’s unusual.”
Even when Sebastian was done with his work, he usually stayed to accompany Madison when she was doing
overtime.
Madison cleared her throat, her cheeks turning slightly pink. “He said he’s going to cook at home. He’ll be bringing me lunch in the afternoon.”
Miranda gave Sebastian a metal thumbs–up. What an attentive boyfriend.
Out of nowhere, Joll appeared silently, like a ghost. “Is he bringing lunch? Does that include us?”
“Don’t even think about it,” Miranda said. “Sebastian is preparing lunch specially for his girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend? Who?” Joli asked, as if he had been living in another dimension.
“You didn’t know?” Miranda exclaimed.
12
Joli’s face was filled with surprise and confusion. “Know what?”
“Madison and Sebastian are together.”
Jolf seemed to be taken aback.
“You even liked their posts on social media. Don’t you remember?” Miranda asked.
At that moment, realization dawned on Joli, and he exclaimed, “Oh! I remember now!”
Madison and Miranda were both at a loss for words as they stared at him, and Joli sheepishly scratched his head. I’m sorry, I really forgot. My brain hasn’t been working well lately.”
Miranda demanded, “Have you been staying up late again?”
Joli remained silent; he didn’t dare to answer her question.
“How many days have you stayed up?”
The silence stretched between them, until Madison chimed in with a suggestion, “Miranda, you should program the system to cut off the power for Joll’s lab bench at a certain time.”
Miranda nodded. “Good idea. It’s decided, then.”
was completely taken aback. Was no one going to ask for his opinion before deciding on this?
At noon, Sebastian showed up right on time with a lunchbox. “Madison, it’s lunchtime!”
Madison immediately hopped off her lab bench and hollered, “Coming!” She took off her lab coat and rushed to the lounge without even wasting a second.
She uncovered the lunchbox, and the smell of food filled the air. “Wow, this smells amazing! Let me see… Roasted chicken and sautéed vegetables! How did you know I was craving these?”
Sebastian wiped the utensils clean and handed them to her. I overheard you talking to your dad on the phone the day before yesterday.”
“Seb, you’re really the best!” she exclaimed and took a bite. “Oh my gosh, it’s so delicious! You could totally open a restaurant. No, it would definitely be a Michelin–level restaurant if you did. I want to eat your cooking forever-
”
Madison showered Sebastian with endless compliments effusively. She hit all the right notes, making anyone feel valued. Sure enough, Sebastian was grinning from ear to ear
Joli leaned against a pillar and watched them from a distance, the smell of the food wafting toward him. He couldn’t help but swallow his saliva. “They’re eating so well…”
Then, he added with a sigh, “Why doesn’t anyone ever bring us food?” He glanced at Miranda, seeking to share his grievance.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind her. “Mimi.”
Miranda turned abruptly. “Dr. Jefferson?”
Paul was dressed in a T–shirt and long pants. He had a smile on his face with one hand in his pocket, while the other hand was holding a stackable lunch box.