Chapter141 Miranda Is Nervous
After a long moment.
That suffocating standoff finally broke.
Clifton abruptly released his hand, as if dropping something scalding.
Miranda's body swayed. She grabbed the windowsill to steady herself, two glaring red marks now on her pale chin.
"Better be."
Clifton coldly dropped those three words, then turned and left.
His retreating figure was decisive and cold, carrying an unrelenting determination.
Miranda rubbed her aching chin, watching him stride away, the grievance in her heart suddenly turning to panic.
What was this?
Lose his temper and leave?
"Clifton!"
Miranda couldn't hold back. She quickly followed to the bedroom door. "Where are you going this late?"
Clifton's steps didn't slow. He didn't even turn his head.
"Emergency mission with the team. I won't be back for a few days. Rest well."
"But..."
"Slam!"
The heavy door closing was her only answer.
Miranda stood in the doorway, staring at that tightly shut door, completely stunned and at a loss.
That sour, bitter feeling instantly spread through her heart, constricting her throat.
She slowly walked back to the bedroom.
The room was brightly lit. The smoke smell had mostly dissipated, leaving only the faint scent of fir—Clifton's usual body wash.
Miranda turned off the light and lay on that wide double bed.
Everything seemed the same as usual, yet somehow the bed felt so empty today.
The spot beside her that usually radiated warmth like a furnace now felt cold and drafty.
She turned over, burying her face in the pillow Clifton had slept on.
That crisp scent filled her nostrils, but it couldn't fill the emptiness in her heart.
"Jerk."
Miranda cursed, the corners of her eyes growing moist.
She had no idea what was wrong with Clifton. Whatever it was, couldn't he just say it? This inexplicable situation made her heart extremely uncomfortable.
That night was exceptionally long.
Miranda rarely suffered from insomnia.
One moment thinking about Clifton, the next about having to deal with Harrison tomorrow.
It wasn't until the sky showed hints of dawn that she finally drifted off in a daze.
When she woke again, the sunlight outside the window was already somewhat glaring.
Miranda rubbed her throbbing temples and reached for her phone on the nightstand.
Two in the afternoon.
She'd actually slept that long.
The phone screen displayed densely packed unread message notifications, the red number eye-catching: 99+.
Miranda frowned and swiped open the screen.
All from Harrison.
[Miranda, are you up?]
[What do you want to eat today?]
[Why aren't you replying?]
[...]
One message after another. Miranda looked at these messages and irritably ran her fingers through her hair.
As for Harrison, the best outcome she could imagine was parting on good terms. But fate had cruelly forced another connection she didn't want.
Still, she had to honor that promise to Harrison.
She didn't want to owe him anything. Not a single bit.
Miranda took a deep breath, picked up her phone again, and her fingers flew across the screen, every word radiating coldness and distance.
[Was too tired yesterday, just woke up. Not feeling well today, don't want to go out. Another day.]
After sending that message, Miranda directly put her phone on silent and placed it face-down on the nightstand.
She didn't want to deal with anyone right now.
Especially not Harrison.
She just wanted to be alone. Or...
Miranda's gaze involuntarily drifted to the men's shirt hanging by the closet.
When she went downstairs, her steps were somewhat unsteady.
Her stomach felt hollow, only that slight nausea from lack of sleep.
She randomly bought a sandwich from the convenience store below her office building, gnawing on it as she walked into the elevator.
It was dry whole wheat bread mixed with cold ham, scratching her throat painfully as she swallowed.
But she had no mind to be picky.
Even though she'd sent Harrison that rejection message, the strange feeling in her heart only grew stronger.
Clifton's departing figure from last night stuck in her mind like a thorn she couldn't pull out. The slightest movement tugged at her nerves painfully.
"Boss, the afternoon meeting materials are ready."
"Good. Conference room in five minutes."
Miranda swallowed the last bite of sandwich, drank half a cup of coffee, forcibly suppressed her physical discomfort, and threw herself into busy work.
She stayed busy until evening.
The sunset spread across the sky, dyeing all the city's glass curtain walls a warm, ambiguous red.
Miranda lifted her head from piles of documents, rubbed her sore neck, and glanced out the window.
Time to leave work.
She didn't go straight home but drove to the nearest large supermarket.
Pushing a shopping cart through the aisles, Miranda's gaze swept over row after row of fresh fruit.
She remembered Clifton's team members mentioning during their last meal that with their intense training, what they craved most was sweet fruit.
Honeydew melons, watermelons, imported cherries, Shine Muscat grapes...
Miranda didn't even check prices. As long as it looked fresh, she loaded boxes into her cart.
By checkout, she had two huge bags that dug red marks into her palms.
Looking at the trunk full of her "spoils," Miranda's lips unconsciously curved up.
She liked addressing things directly. She didn't want this inexplicable tension between her and Clifton.
Also, she wanted to see Clifton.
Since he wasn't coming home, she'd go find him.
The car headed north, leaving the noisy downtown. The surrounding scenery gradually grew desolate, replaced by stretches of greenery and serious-looking walls.
The training base.
Miranda had never been here before. Clifton had only mentioned its location once in passing.
The car stopped at the guard post.
The sentry on duty held his rifle, sharp-eyed, gesturing for her to stop for inspection.
Miranda rolled down her window. Before she could speak, the originally stern man's eyes suddenly widened as he exclaimed happily, "Captain's wife?"
Miranda paused, then recognized him as one of Clifton's team members from their last meal.
After registering, he directly opened the gate, then jogged ahead to lead the way, guiding her car to the office building.
"Miranda, the Captain's still at the training ground leading drills. Probably won't be done for a while."
The man led Miranda into a spacious, simple office and poured her hot water. "Rest here first. I need to get back to my post. When I see the next shift, I'll have them call him."
"No need to trouble yourself." Miranda accepted the paper cup and smiled warmly. "Let him finish his work first. I'll wait here. Don't interrupt his training."
The office door closed.
Miranda looked around the room.
This was her first time entering Clifton's work domain.
Miranda sat on the leather sofa, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the paper cup.
Her heart was beating fast.
She was actually nervous.