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?"

him in his arms, he walked towards the table by the French window. The boy's

me this," Adrian declared proudly, sitting down with his legs crossed. His back was ramrod straight as he readied

the word dad, Stanley looked around

Mandy piped in, a bit

fish stew. She stopped mid-stride and deliberately took a detour, stopping in front of Mandy. She scrutinized her daughter's expression, who was

accusing gaze that was raking her from head to 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. Why do you still take me as a

three seconds before she conceded, "All right. I know you're very stubborn and will never admit it. Just remember, be gentle to Nathan.

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

find me annoying?" Madeline snapped, her eyes

saw through Mandy at a glance. Age had 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

not. 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 see earlier. The man had been ignoring

even more patient than you. Okay, if you are hungry, let's go and eat. Come and wash your hands!" Madeline mumbled, unwilling to stop.

a relaxing visit. She had

the grandpa and grandson duo were silently engaged in their game, detached from the women's chatter. Adrian was holding a white pawn and considering his next move carefully. When he heard Mandy call them for dinner, he put the piece down quickly and said, "Grandpa, I'll leave

Stanley agreed and reached out to rub

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 husband's gentle demeanor, Madeline had always been blunt and would say whatever she wanted to say. It was a good thing that as they matured, she mellowed

got married, the two had maintained a good relationship. It had been too long since they got caught in a conflict. They

dark by the time dinner had finished. One after another, lamp posts along the streets lit up, illuminating the night