When fate plays its hand

Coincidentally, Natalie and Phoebe had returned from the restroom at that moment.

Winter quickly brushed off Zach’s hand, and he promptly retreated to his seat.

Phoebe sensed the tension in the air and asked tentatively, “Is everything good… between the two of you?

Zach didn’t reply. Instead, he gave Winter a meaningful look. He wanted her to make her stand clear on the spot.

Winter took a deep breath and answered with a smile, “No problem, we’re great.”

And so, the two transitioned from former partners who accidentally slept together into an official couple in an open relationship.

Snapping out of her memories, Winter pushed away Zach’s approaching lips. “Have you had enough? Drive already!”

“Just one more kiss! I didn’t get my fill…”

Winter almost rolled her eyes. “Zach, why are you clingier than Papu?”

Papu was Winter’s pet, a pony from Yarênia, which she kept at the stable. It had an exceptionally gentle temperament and was particularly affectionate with its owner. Papu would nuzzle and cuddle up to Winter each time she visited him.

Zach had tagged along once. As they were leaving, he sneakily gave the pony a kick. However, Papu kicked him back in the stomach. The bruise on his abdomen took half a month to heal.

Zach protested, “Don’t compare me to that feisty beast!”

Winter replied, “You should be grateful Papu isn’t fully grown yet, otherwise… Her eyes drifted from his stomach downward and lingered suggestively on his nether regions.

Zach sat upright instinctively. “Hey… Do you want me to lose it?”

Winter chuckled and looked out the window. “I could always replace you.”

Zach was at a loss for words.

“Drive! If you keep yapping, you’re sleeping on the couch tonight!”

“Alright… Hold on, milady!”

Winter took care of Miranda at the hospital for three whole days, and Zach had stuck around the entire time.

“What’s his deal?” Miranda asked as she sipped the chicken soup her best friend had made. She eyed the man who was sitting on a chair nearby. He seemed to be exuding resentment.

Winter replied, “He’s probably sexually repressed,”

Miranda couldn’t help but choke on her soup.

“Hey, slow down. Don’t choke yourself!”

Miranda looked at Zach with a mixture of shock and confusion. However, Zach was unaware of what Miranda thought of him. He simply glared at the bowl of soup like it was his mortal enemy.

That soup had been the reason why he was suddenly kicked out of bed by Winter in the middle of the night.

“Oh, crap! I forgot to turn off the stovel Winter shouted as she jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen, leaving Zach puzzled and confused.

After lunch and more chicken soup, Miranda asked, “Winter, can I be discharged today?”

Winter hurried to ask the doctor. He confirmed that since Miranda’s condition had stabilized and th swelling at her ankle had subsided, there shouldn’t be any issues with discharging her.

Zach was even more excited than the actual patient upon hearing the news.

Winter cleared her throat and gave him a warning look to hide his excitement.

Zach couldn’t help but grin sheepishly. It was impossible for him to restrain himself. This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

Puzzled, Miranda couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off between Winter and Zach. She went home and rested for two more days.

Miranda applied her ointment religiously and alternated hot and cold therapy on her ankle. Finally, she was able to walk normally.

She dug out the Canavalia seed from her bag, which she had brought back from the National Botanical Gardens. It was her first chance to examine it closely.

The seed was encased in a pod. Although the pod was damaged, the seed within was perfectly intact. In addition, the color was a beautiful deep brown with intricate veins running over it.

Her only regret was not being able to search the area for more. She might have found a complete pod. However, Miranda comforted herself with the thought that it would have been too hard to carry a three- feet–long pod despite having found it.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Miranda hopped over on one foot to open it. The next moment, she exclaimed, “Dr. Jefferson?”