Meeting You Was Fate

Mandy waited for Nathan's response but did not receive any.

At MC Garden

"Mand! Oh, grandpa's baby is here too!" Stanley's grin stretched from ear to ear when he saw Mandy arrived with Adrian.

"Hello, grandpa," Adrian called sweetly.

Madeline was in the middle of stirring the meal she was cooking when the adorable voice of the child reached her ears. She put down the spatula at once and trotted out of the kitchen, a delighted look on her face. "Adrian!"

"Hello, grandma!"

Adrian was no stranger to the elderly couple. Nathan had often taken him for a visit and, from their very first meeting, asked him to call them grandparents.

Nathan, however, did not tell them of the boy's true identity. Not that he was afraid that Madeline and Stanley would fight over the boy, they could dote on their grandchild all they wanted. But, he was concerned that Adrian would remind them of their daughter. After all, when Mandy had left him, she left her parents too.

"Father," Mandy greeted with a slight smile.

"Grandpa, have you been in good health these days?"

walked towards the table by the French window. The boy's question sent him roaring in laughter and, with a pat on his chubby thighs, he asked, "Who taught you to

proudly, sitting down with his legs crossed. His back was ramrod straight as he readied himself to battle with his grandfather in a round of Go.

of the word dad, Stanley looked around

Mandy piped in, a bit

She stopped mid-stride and deliberately took a detour, stopping in front of

toe, Mandy grabbed the bag of chips in front of her in protest. She ripped the packet open and said unhappily, "Mom, look at me. I'm an adult now.

stared at Mandy for a full three seconds before she conceded, "All right. I know you're very stubborn and will never admit it. Just remember, be gentle to Nathan. Don't mess

a deep sigh, offering little else by way of an answer. She was starting to get

me annoying?" Madeline snapped, her eyes

done nothing to blunt her mother's perceptiveness, and Mandy could never hide her real thoughts from her. It was the main reason why, among all the family members, she feared Madeline the most.

I'm starving, can we eat now?" Mandy asked huffily and tossed her phone aside in a fit. On top of her mother's inquisition, she did not know which client Nathan had gone to

Okay, if you are hungry,

Her mother's yammering had extinguished her plans for a relaxing visit. She had not foreseen that Madeline would grill her as soon as they came.

his next move carefully. When he heard Mandy call them for dinner, he put the piece down quickly and said, "Grandpa, I'll

have dinner first," Stanley agreed and reached

Mandy talked with Stanley. Between her parents, Mandy felt that she was more similar to her father. When he was younger, Stanley was very polite and, with the handsome appearance of a modest son, attracted many female students. But he only took a fancy to the stubborn and moody Madeline. A stark contrast from her

It had been too long since they got caught in a conflict. They had built such

sky was already dark by the time dinner had finished. One after another, lamp posts along the streets lit up, illuminating the night that had gradually shrouded the