The next morning Miranda went back to work. She went to the office wearing a light professional suit—a tight-fitting skirt with a pair of eight-centimetre stiletto heels.
After knocking on the door, Miranda entered the office. Standing in front of the desk, she asked, "Ms. Rachel, Is there any important task for me to do?" Miranda asked.
"You just came back from vacation. There's no need to get back to work in such a hurry. I know how capable you are." Previously, Steven talked to Rachel in private as he wanted to apply for leave for Miranda.
"Thank you...." Miranda replied.
Miranda came back to the translation department. Looking at Amelia, who was talking to the other colleagues enthusiastically, Miranda knew that the former was trying to gain their liking.
After working hard for the entire morning, Miranda finally had some time to take a break. She then headed to the pantry with her mug, planning to drink a cup of coffee and rest for a while before going back to work.
When she entered the pantry, several female colleagues were leaning against the cabinet while gossiping.
"Do you guys think Mr. Fuller is married? I think there isn't another person like him in the whole country who is still a bachelor that has such incredible net worth, is there?"
"I heard that he got married recently." one of them answered.
"Then, Why doesn't he wear a ring?" one of them asked. Upon hearing that, Miranda froze for a moment and glanced toward the ring on her hand instinctively. She then continued her action of making coffee while listening to the gossip. "I heard from a friend before that Mr. Fuller has a first love who has known him for years. However, they suddenly broke up." The third colleague chimed in.
Those female colleagues gossiped about a lot of things, however, only the words "first love" kept lingering in Miranda's ears.
-----
Soon, it was half-past seven in the evening. Miranda chose to walk. There were very few streetlights along the road. The dim light fell on her and formed a long shadow, which made her seem extraordinarily lonely and pitiful.
"Grandma, Are you happy there?" She stared at the dark sky and pondered for a moment.
Miranda threw the bag on the sofa.
"Hey! Play with me." She grabbed a pear from the fruit tray and munched on it as she sat by the sofa to play with George.
"Do you even how to play?" George smirked.
At nine-thirty, Richard arrived. Once he arrived, the house was clattering with noise. Following the noise's source, Richard found Miranda and George playing games on the couch.
From Richard's angle, Miranda was in his direct line of sight. She had her knees pulled up to her chest. Her bare feet looked fragile, and her toes were wiggling around, making her seem anxious.
He passed his coat to Emily before walking into the living room and sitting on the corner of the couch in front of Miranda.
"Brother, You came back?" George greeted but Miranda didn't spare a glance at Richard.
Richard coughed loudly to get Miranda's attention.
"Brother, Have a cough drop if your throat doesn't feel well," George said. He did not understand the signal. He was surprised when he lifted his head to see an expressionless Richard, who was frowning from the couch.
"I am tired" He laughed awkwardly while turning off his game.
"George, you crazy! We lost!" Miranda got angry when she saw George disconnecting suddenly and kicked the latter.
Meanwhile, George deftly avoided her foot and slipped away from the couch to stand beside Richard.
"Brother, your wife is too violent. Teach her some lesson" George said raising his chin.
Miranda pursed her lips in displeasure. She was so irritated she threw her phone on the couch and headed to the kitchen.
-----
The moment Richard came inside the kitchen, he saw her standing before the stove, lowering her head as she concentrated on the work at hand.
As she was staring attentively at the pot of fish stew, she was startled by the arms that wrapped around her waist from behind, without warning. Instinctively, she turned her head back to glare at the person behind her with surprise.
"What are you doing?" After a bit of struggling, she breaks free from him.
"Why can't I? You are my wife." Richard grinned.
She glared at Richard and wanted to talk back, but when she thought about his temper, she found herself bereft of speech.
Richard accused, "Are you wearing this V t-shirt on purpose?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You're trying to seduce me."
"You wish," Miranda muttered in an audible voice.
"Are you calling me unattractive, Miranda?" His face turned grim, and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes.