Miranda's anger.

Richard walked to the table and opened the bag of dinner. He then took out a container of hot oatmeal from it.

Right after he opened the lid, he turned around, only to see that Miranda had covered herself with the blanket again. He had to pull the blanket away once more before he asked, "Do you want me to feed you?"

Miranda sat upright and said, "I will eat later. Leave me alone."

"Miranda, I...." Richard trailed off before rubbing one of his temples as if getting a headache.

"Okay." He said as he walked out of the room.

At the dreaded hour of three in the morning, Miranda's forehead was slick with a fine sheen of cold sweat, and her breaths were becoming increasingly laboured.

Suddenly, she felt a wave of nausea washing over her. Clapping a hand over her mouth, she ran off, unable to bear the discomfort any longer.

They're putting his room on the first floor. Leaning over the sink, Miranda spat out the bile that had risen in her throat, a cramp gripping her stomach. She turned on the faucet and stared at her reflection, her eyes reddened and moistened by saline.

Knock, knock, knock…

The rhythmic knocks pierced through the stillness of the night. She climbed on the bed and instinctively pulled the covers tighter around her, hiding beneath their comforting embrace. She knew all too well that it was Richard. Determined, she closed her eyes tightly, feigning obliviousness, determined not to give him a response.

"Miranda, are you awake?"

Silence hung heavy in the air, Miranda refusing to break it.

Finally, the knocking ceased, fading into the night as Richard retreated. It took an eternity before Miranda dared to move.

The following day, Miranda woke up quite late, because she had only fallen asleep around three or four.

"Emily, what's on the menu for breakfast this morning?" she called out.

Emily, busy in the kitchen, responded, "George caught a cold, so I whipped up some carrot ginger soup. I'll take it up to him first. There's more in the pot if you want some."

Miranda turned her head towards the left, only to find Richard entered the kitchen accompanied by Steven.

"Steven, Can you help me hire a lawyer for a divorce?" Miranda suddenly asked making everyone hold their breath.

Richard asked blandly, "Why? Is your parents getting divorced?"

Looking at Richard's calm demeanour, Miranda was so angry that she wanted to throw her cup at his face.

"Director, I need to head back" Steven excused himself quickly and at the same time Emily dashed out from the kitchen.

-----

Miranda with a plain expression scooped up a spoonful of the broth and blew on it to cool it down before drinking it.

The broth was simmered with meat, and its thickness was just right. Having one spoonful of it made Miranda feel warm.

While enjoying the broth, Miranda, who had let her hair down, would eat the hair beside her mouth.

Seeing that, Richard went to the upstairs and found a hair tie. When he returned, he forced Miranda to turn over a little.

"What?" She slapped his hand away but Richard didn't even flinch.

"Let me tie your hair." Putting his hand on the back of Miranda's chair, he raised his brows.

"Why did you care?" Miranda was so enraged that she knocked her head against the man's chest. She did not even feel any pain.

With a fierce glare, she turned around and stormed off toward the stairs.

Richard took a huge stride and blocked her path. "Finish your soup when it is hot."

Miranda gritted her teeth in anger and said, "It's none of your business."

Richard's expression remained unchanged as he placed the hair tie in her hand.

In the blink of an eye, Miranda's tears fell on her cheeks. "I am really scared now. Who knows you might sell me tomorrow" She turned around to leave after saying that weakly.

Out of the blue, she sensed a restraining force on her arm. With a yank, Richard pulled her into his embrace and hugged her tightly without saying anything.

Still feeling resentful toward him, she struggled wildly. But still, he cradled her against him tightly and refused to let go of her.

"Miranda, I know why you are so upset. I promised I would never let it happen again."

Tired from her struggles, she finally yielded and allowed him to simply hold her. While shielded in his embrace, a sense of peace infused her.