âPerhaps not. I have other matters to attend to. Letâs meet up some other time,â Miranda replied.
She was on friendly terms with Calvin. Although she turned down the offer, she did so with a smile and didnât embarrass him.
Calvin noticed she held a jewelry box for a haute couture accessory. It seemed she wasnât making up an excuse when she said she had other things to take care of.
He agreed. Just as he was about to say something else, Miranda walked past Hansel and left. As she walked away, she stared right ahead and didnât even spare Hansel a glance.
Calvin could sense the tension in the air. Peeking at Hanselâs expression, he awkwardly tried to smooth things over. âUh, Hans, Miranda probably didnât see you. Donât take it to heart.
The moment he said that, Hanselâs expression became even more sullen.
Calvin cleared his throat and dared not say anything else. However, he thought Miranda was truly firm this time.
âSir, are you still getting an accessory?â
Hansel looked up with a cold gaze. âOf course, I am. Why not? Get me the most expensive accessory in the store.â
Miranda didnât care about him, but someone else would!
The business banquet was held in a mansion on Nimbus Street. When Miranda arrived, many guests were already there. owns all © content.
Some of them recognized her and looked at her thoughtfully.
Hansel used to frequently bring her along to such events. Over time, people in such circles had gotten to know who she was.
that cho wae Hansolâs
girlfriend. She was someone whoâd gone from rags to riches
However, word had gotten out that Hansel and Miranda had already broken up Judging from her lone presence in the banquet, they figured the rumors
must be tive
So, they stared at Miranda meaningfully, Sheâd been one step away from riches, now, would she have to return to where sheâd come from?
Her six years of effort had been in vain, and sheâd even been abandoned. Wasnât that the juiciest gossip ever?
Miranda ignored all the looks and made her way to Winter. She handed the latter the accessory personally.
âMimi, why donât you stay and enjoy the night? The dishes are quite tasty tonight.â
âIâll pass. Go easy on alcohol, and be careful on your way back.â
âOkay.â Winter didnât persuade her to stay. She knew what the onlookers were thinking about. Miranda would only feel humiliated if she stayed. âI heard you, you nag! Iâll get Leo to take you back.â
Miranda hummed in agreement and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, murmurs erupted in the crowd.
âDid you see her? How dare she turn up? Sheâs really thickâskinned!â
âSheâs been with Hansel for six years. That must count for something, right?â
âHow hilarious. Did you see what sheâs wearing? Even our housekeeper wears nicer clothes than that.â
âEveryone knows sheâs been obediently doing the chores for Hansel. Itâs not wrong to call her a housekeeper.â
âMs. Suttonâ¦â Winterâs assistant, Leo Webb, peeked at Miranda.
As a man, he found those distasteful words intolerable. Still, Miranda was as
cool as a cucumber about it.
âLetâs go,â she merely said.
Sheâd expected them to talk about her behind her back. When sheâd first decided to break up with Hansel, sheâd already seen this coming.
Leo said, âPlease wait, Ms. Sutton. Iâll get the car.â
âSure.â Miranda stood outside the mansion and looked up at the sky.
The sun was setting, and the breeze was gentle. At that moment, a low but slightly drunk voice rang out. âMiranda?â
Turning around, she met that personâs eyes. âWhat a coincidence.â
Micah Lawson was twirling the wine in the glass in his hands. There was a subtle look of surprise in his profound gaze.
âItâs been a long time. Fancy meeting you here. Let me see how long itâs been since we last met⦠It mustâve been your graduation. Itâs a pity Hansel chased me off, and I couldnât even give you the bouquet.â
Miranda felt awkward. Back then, Micah and Hansel had tried to court her at the same time. They were both from wealthy families and had dashing looks, but both were extreme in their ways.