, 0078 , Miranda took the brown paper bag. Then, the two of them headed to Bedford College. , As they chatted on the way, she noticed that Sam was very knowledgeable once again. No matter what kind of topic she brought up, he was able to carry the conversation effortlessly. , He spoke in a steady voice and had a gentle manner. Miranda found it quite comfortable talking to him. , They walked around the campus and eventually passed by the stone wall. When Miranda looked to the side, she spotted a familiar face. , Paul had just finished class and was about to head to the lab. When he lifted his gaze, he met Miranda’s smiling eyes. , He halted in his tracks. Then, he noticed Sam, who was standing next to Miranda. , “I didn’t expect to run into you. Did your class just finish?” Miranda asked. , Paul nodded. “I’m going to the lab. What about you?” , “I’m showing a friend around the campus. I should introduce you to each other. This is Sam Cooper.” , Miranda turned her eyes to Sam next. “He’s Paul Jefferson.” , As their eyes met, Sam smiled almost unnoticeably and extended his hand. “Dr. Jefferson, I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.” , Paul shook his hand. “Likewise. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” , The Jefferson and Cooper families were two of the most prestigious families in Jandersville. These two men had somewhat heard about the other person since they were in the same social circle. Yet, it was their first time meeting each other. , Miranda was completely oblivious to the tension brewing between Paul and Sam. She just thought that the two of them were holding hands for an unusually long time. , Paul gave Sam one last glance and let go of his hand first. “I’m going to the lab now.” , As Miranda watched Paul’s retreating figure, Sam looked at her pensively. “Are you close to him?” , didn’t want to talk about that. She merely replied, “We’re just regular friends., Sam didn’t ask anything further. , That night, Miranda received a WhatsApp message from Sam again. “Thank you for showing me around the campus today.” , Miranda responded. “You’re welcome. It was nothing.” , She turned off her phone and tossed it onto the bedside table. Thenshe lay on her bed. , She’d put her pillow under the sun to dry it yesterday. The faint scent of detergent lingered in the air. The pillow was warm and comfy. , , , , Gradually, she fell into a deep slumber. , Since she no longer had to keep to her tight revision schedule, she slept in the next day. She woke up at 8:00 am, got changed, and left her place. , She lived in a run–down residential area. However, the people there were warm and friendly. , As soon as she left her building, the neighborhood ladies, who were either on their way to get groceries or walking their pets, smiled and greeted Miranda, , Miranda greeted each of them politely. As she came out of the alley and turned onto the next street, she arrived at a restaurant on the corner lot that was selling breakfast. , Their milk had the right amount of sweetness. Also, the toasts they made were crispy on the outside. , She entered the restaurant and spotted Paul sitting with his back to the door. , Miranda curled her lips. She went up behind him and patted him on the shoulder mischievously. Then, she quickly sat down opposite him. , Miranda was dumbfounded when she saw that Paul’s expression had remained. unchanged. “Why aren’t you surprised at all?” , Ms. Sutton, this is the second time you’ve done this.” Paul dunked his toast into the milk and ate it. “You did that last week too. Besides, weren’t that much faster , 2

/3 , 25 BONUS , than Bobby , Miranda cast a sidelong glance at Bobby, the dog that was kept on a leash near the restaurant’s entrance. She was rendered speechless. , As she was trying to come up with a retort, Denise Hoffman, the old lady manningthe restaurant, greeted Miranda with a smile. “Miranda, do you want the usual today?” , Miranda nodded. “A piece of toast and a serving of meatballs, please.” , Denise moved nimbly despite her old age. After a short while, she served the meatballs, toast, and some of Miranda’s favorite side dishes to her, Miranda beamed when she saw the food. “Thank you, Mrs. Hoffman. , Denise smiled broadly. “Hurry and eat them before they turn cold.” , The meatballs were plump and juicy. They came with some milky white bone broth and garnish. The delicious smell of food wafted in the air. , Miranda looked at Paul. He only ate the same two items every time he was here. The combination seemed plain to Miranda. , “Do you want to try ordering other items for a change next time?” , , , , , Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.