When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0805

Sebastian’s lips twitched. “What do you mean by all men? Don’t lump me in with that.”

“Oh, please. Haven’t you heard the saying? All men are the same!” Madison shot back.

Sebastian emphasized, “Well, I’m not like him,

Madison crossed her arms. “I don’t believe you”

“Then try me!” he challenged, turning and walking away.

Madison blinked, taken aback. “Try what?” she thought.

As for Willow and Hank, while they avoided expulsion, losing their supervisor left them adrift. With no other professors willing to take them in, the school reluctantly assigned them supervisors.

Their prospects in academics were over–staying quiet and graduating with a master’s degree was now their best–case scenario.

Meanwhile, the university contacted the competition organizers, explained the situation, and had the grand prize rightfully returned to Miranda’s team. An official correction was published on the competition website, restoring the true winners to the list.

This storm of controversy pulled out not just the root but the surrounding weeds as well. As the major cold season approached, Joli spent a few days in the lab before heading back to his hometown with Theodore.

Madison, too, was urged by her father to return home.

“When are you coming back?

“Easter’s almost here, and your mom and I are all packed to head back to Lakersville. You’re the eldest daughter of our family–don’t show up at the last minute and leave me 1 deal with your uncles alone. They won’t say anything to you, but they’ll definitely chew m out! Have some pity on your dad!”

“Got it, Dad! I’ll be back tomorrow!” Madison promised.

Mason was delighted, and he almost spun in a circle on the spot. “Great! I’ll have Ken pic you up from the airport.”

“No, thanks. He’s got tattoos all over and looks like some gangster now. I’ll just grab a ca

“Alright, alright, whatever you say,” Mason agreed readily.

The next day, Madison returned to Gulsberg. With her gone, Sebastian stopped coming t

Chapter 0805

the lab as well, leaving Miranda to work alone,

The night was dark, and the air was cold and heavy,

At 8:00 pm, Miranda double–checked the power switches, locked the lab doors, and grabbed her bag to leave. Her car had been sent to the service center earlier that morning, due to a tire pressure issue, so she had no choice but to call a ride,

She opened the ride–hailing app and placed a request, but it kept showing she was still in the queue. Odd, she thought–it wasn’t particularly late. Once she stepped outside, she quickly realized why.

Snow had begun to fall at some point. Thick flakes floated gently from the sky, bizniketing the ground and tree branches in fluffy white layers.

Miranda couldn’t resist poking a nearby branch, creating a small indentation in the snow pile. Despite the fact that it had snowed several times this winter, it still felt novel to her.

Once her hands grew red from the cold, she stopped playing and checked the app again- still, no driver had accepted her ride.

Tilting her head back, she caught a snowflake on her eyelashes. The cool touch startled her, making her blink until the delicate crystal melted away. Madison had wistfully hoped for snow before leaving yesterday, and here it was, falling today.

A sudden honk interrupted her thoughts. Bright headlights pierced the snowy darkness, forcing her to shield her eyes with her arm.

The lights quickly dimmed as the car switched to low beams and came to a stop nearby. The engine cut off, and the driver’s door opened.

A tall figure stepped out, opening an umbrella. As he approached her through the snowfall, the night seemed to form a soft, dreamlike backdrop. For a moment, Miranda thought she was witnessing the embodiment of a poem.

When he drew closer, she blinked in surprise–it was Paul.

Standing before her, Paul held the umbrella to shield her from the falling snow.

“Dr. Jefferson, what brings you here?” she asked.

“I was at an academic conference,” he said calmly. “When I stepped outside and saw the

I remembered you weren’t driving today, so I thought I’d drop by on my way.”

snow,

His voice was steady and warm, carrying a quiet gentleness that softened the cold edge of the snowy evening. It was a warmth mirrored in the faint smile in his eyes.