Chapter117 Miranda, There's a Problem
Back in her room.
Miranda threw herself heavily onto the soft bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
The room was very quiet, only the faint hum of the air conditioning.
Belle's letter...
Miranda rolled over, burying her face in the pillow.
She needed to write Belle back, tell her she'd moved, and to send future letters to the new address.
Thinking about it, drowsiness crept in.
The aftereffects of the hot spring combined with emotional turbulence made Miranda quickly fall into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, in another suite in the hotel.
Harrison stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, brow furrowed, gaze fixed heavily on the pitch-black night outside.
"Harrison..."
A tearful voice from behind interrupted Harrison's thoughts.
He turned around to see Ariana sitting on the bed's edge, eyes red-rimmed and brimming with tears, looking at him.
Harrison casually tossed the cigarette on the table and walked over, his tone somewhat weary. "What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Ariana sniffled, reaching out to grab the corner of his shirt, looking up at him, her voice trembling.
"Just now... were you thinking about Miranda?"
Harrison paused, instinctively wanting to deny it, but the word "no" stuck dryly in his throat.
Was he thinking about Miranda?
Seeing his silence, panic flashed in Ariana's eyes, and tears instantly fell like broken pearls.
"I knew it... I knew you still can't let her go."
She released Harrison's shirt, covering her face and sobbing quietly. "After all, you were married for three years, and I... I'm just a latecomer, someone who only causes you trouble."
"Don't overthink it."
Harrison sighed, reaching out to grip her shoulders, his voice steady and firm. "Miranda and I are divorced. The past is past. Now, you're my girlfriend, the one I need to take care of."
"Really?"
Ariana lifted her tear-stained face, carefully seeking confirmation. "You really don't blame me?"
"Blame you for what?"
"For making you and my cousin separate."
Ariana suddenly threw herself into Harrison's arms, her hands clutching his waist desperately, face buried in his chest, crying harder.
"Harrison, I'm so scared. I'm terrified you don't like me."
"To be with you, I've already lost everything."
She choked up, her voice breaking, full of endless grievance and heartache.
"Auntie hates me now. She thinks I stole your heart, that I destroyed Miranda's happiness. She threw me out, won't even let me come home anymore."
"I don't have a home now. No family."
"But I don't regret it. As long as I can be with you, as long as I can see you every day, even if the whole world condemns me, I'm happy."
This all-in devotion moved Harrison's heart.
His eyes softened. He reached out to gently pat Ariana's trembling back, over and over, comforting her.
"Don't think like that. Since you're with me, I won't let you suffer. If you don't have a home, then from now on, wherever I am is your home."
Buried in his embrace, Ariana heard this promise and her lips curved into a triumphant smile, though she quickly suppressed it.
She slowly lifted her head, those tear-filled eyes now showing only intense love and dependence.
"Harrison..."
She called softly, rising on her toes, actively pressing her soft lips to his.
Harrison's body stiffened.
The woman's sweet, cloying perfume filled his nostrils, completely different from Miranda's cool, fresh scent.
He instinctively wanted to retreat, but Miranda's words in the corridor suddenly flashed through his mind: "don't break up and inflict yourselves on other people."
That nameless anger surged up again.
Darkness flashed in Harrison's eyes. He didn't refuse or push her away, allowing Ariana to kiss him.
Sensing the man's acquiescence, Ariana's heart leaped with joy.
Though they'd already established their relationship, Harrison had always been cold about physical matters, even restrained.
Sometimes she wondered if she wasn't attractive enough.
But today, he hadn't pushed her away!
Ariana's fingers moved down Harrison's shirt buttons one by one, her movements urgent yet clumsily seductive.
She had to seize this opportunity.
She knew her situation all too well.
Though she currently held the title of Harrison's girlfriend, without a marriage certificate, her position wasn't secure.
A few days ago she'd tentatively mentioned marriage, only for Harrison to frown and say he'd just divorced and didn't want to rush into another marriage, wanted to focus on his career first.
Didn't want to marry?
That was because there wasn't a compelling reason to marry yet.
But what if... what if she got pregnant with his child?
At this thought, Ariana's eyes became even more fervent and crazed.
With a child, even if Harrison didn't want to marry, for the child's sake he'd have to marry her!
Then she'd be the legitimate Mrs. Whitmore.
"Harrison..."
Ariana murmured, clinging to him, kissing more forcefully, doing everything possible to please the man before her.
Harrison only felt the heat inside him being stirred up.
He closed his eyes, no longer thinking about those messy thoughts, gripping the back of the woman's head, taking control and pressing her down onto the soft bed.
The lighting was dim.
Before long, sounds that made one blush filled the room.
...
The next morning.
Miranda was woken by her alarm. There was a note by the bed from Clifton saying he'd gone on a mission.
After reading it and putting it away, she got up efficiently to wash up and changed into a sharp business suit.
She took a cab directly to Jack's company, spending the entire morning finalizing all the project details.
On certain project concepts, they were surprisingly in sync.
When she left Jack's company, it was already noon.
Miranda pulled out her phone, her finger hovering for a few seconds over that pinned contact before sending a message.
[I'm done with business here. There's an urgent matter at the company, so I'm heading back first. Stay safe.]
Sent to Clifton.
He replied quickly, just one simple word.
[Okay.]
Looking at that word, Miranda's lips curved slightly.
By the time she got back to the company from the neighboring city, it was already three in the afternoon.
Miranda didn't even stop for water, calling Lisa in immediately.
"Notify all department heads. Meeting in ten minutes."
She hadn't forgotten that her original partner was supposed to be Max. Since they'd chosen someone else, they were now a competing company. She had to get her project launched quickly.
In the conference room, Miranda sat at the head of the table, flipping through the project progress report, her frown deepening.
"What's going on? Why has the raw material supply stopped?"
"Miranda, we have a problem."
Lisa adjusted her glasses, looking grim. "The core mineral we'd secured for the project, obsidian sand, was suddenly put on the export restriction list yesterday. And several major domestic mining areas announced environmental inspections and suspended operations."
"What?"
Miranda's heart sank.
Obsidian sand was the core material for their new energy project. Without supply, the entire project was dead.
"Are there other channels?"
"We've checked everywhere. All existing market inventory has been bought up by major companies at premium prices. Right now, even with money, we can't buy any." Lisa sighed.
Silence fell over the conference room.
Just when they'd secured a partner, now the raw materials were in crisis.
Miranda took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
She was the backbone. She couldn't panic.
"Don't panic."
Miranda's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, her mind racing.
"Here's what we'll do."
She looked up, her gaze determined. "Lisa, take the technical team and start researching immediately. Look for alternative materials to obsidian sand, or synthetic options. Even if the cost is higher, it doesn't matter. Get a solution ready first."
"Yes!" Lisa nodded.
"As for the raw ore..."
Miranda's eyes narrowed, a fierce look flashing through them. "I'll figure something out. If we can't buy through regular channels, I'll go to the source."
The meeting lasted over two hours before ending.
After delegating all the work, Miranda felt exhausted.