Independence

Upon closer inspection, Hansel only realized that Miranda had straightened her hair and dyed it back to black from the brown color he used to love.

She also hadn’t put on makeup or worn her heels out. In fact, the white T- shirt she wore was also as plain as plain could be.

However, her eyes seemed a lot brighter than before. He couldn’t see a trace of sadness or heartbreak in them.

If Miranda was putting on an act, then he had to admit that she was quite a good actress. In fact, her act was so good that it was starting to anger him.

Miranda frowned. She knew him too well. The expression on his face meant that he was about to blow up.

Hansel scoffed. “Still, your taste is quite terrible. You’ve been with me for so many years, so you should’ve picked someone better for your next target.

“Don’t just pick up any random beggar you see on the streets. If word gets. out, you’re going to embarrass the hell out of me, your ex–boyfriend.”

“Embarrass you?” Miranda suddenly felt like she’d just heard a joke and laughed. However, there was a sadness to her laugh, but Hansel never realized

1. it.

He could only think about how she’d been smiling happily at another man in front of him, and the mere thought of that made him angrier by the second. He attributed this feeling to his territorial consciousness.

In other words, Miranda belonged to him. Even though he didn’t want her anymore and had thrown her away like a rag, he still refused to let any Tom, Dick, or Harry pick up after him.

“I’ve got other things to do. I’m leaving now,” Miranda said, not wanting to hear him anymore.

“Leave? Where can you go, anyway? Winter’s condo? That’s the only place you have now. But you’re quite stubborn this time, aren’t you? You took your documents and even the check with you. Fine, so you want to play games with me, don’t you?”

Miranda felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She’d been used to his terrible and violent temper. However, she still felt hurt when she heard the words coming out of his mouth.

Did he really think that she was just playing games with him?

Miranda slowed down her breathing and did her best to calm down. She then tugged her lips upward and said, “First of all, Mr. Jefferson and I are nothing more than just friends. We aren’t as involved as you think.

“Secondly, you and I have already broken up, so you can think whatever you

want about us.”

door

Miranda’s ride happened to reach her just then. She pulled open the handle and got into the car. She then told the driver, “You may leave now.”

Hansel scoffed and laughed out loud. Miranda was certainly getting more and more out of hand.

It wasn’t like she’d never used this to threaten him the last time they’d fought about three months ago. However, this time, she’d actually brought that fucker of a beggar to show off in his face. How dared she?

Suddenly, a pair of soft hands wrapped around Hansel’s arms. Quinn pulled herself closer to him and said, “Hansel, how could you just leave like that? Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Quinn’s strong perfume invaded Hansel’s nostrils. He couldn’t help frowning deeply, but he didn’t push her away.

Instead, he grabbed Quinn’s waist and dragged her closer. “What’s the matter? Did you want to follow me back?”

If Miranda could find herself a boytoy, then there was no reason that he couldn’t find himself his own fucktoys either.

In the cab, Miranda kept an eye on the couple kissing each other in the rearview mirror. She smiled in self–mockery. So, Ingrid wasn’t the only one after all.

Everything she’d done for Hansel for the past six years had apparently meant

+15 BONUS

nothing.

Hansel watched from the corner of his eyes as the cab eventually disappeared from sight. Then, an ugly sneer formed on his face as he shook Quinn’s hands away from him.

Quinn didn’t understand what was going on. She wanted to plaster herself to him once more, but found herself coldly and ruthlessly thrown aside while Hansel stormed off without looking back.

“No, wait! Hansel, stop right there!” she cried, angrily biting her lips.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Hansel got into his car. While starting up his engine, he dialed Tina’s number. “Hans? Aren’t you on a blind date?”

Hansel gritted his teeth and growled, “Were you the one who told Miranda about my blind date at Cielo Gourmet? Can’t you use your stupid brain for once? Why did you have to go and tell the whole world about it?

“It’s bad enough you don’t take my side when Mom forces me to go on a blind date, but how could you fucking go and tell her about it so that she could go and grab some fucker to parade him under my fucking nose? Stop doing such brainless things, you stupid pig!”

Tina was shocked at Hansel’s angry tone. “Wait, what on earth are you talking about? When have I ever-”