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?"

the French window. The boy's question sent him roaring in laughter and, with a pat on his chubby thighs,

back was ramrod straight as he readied himself to battle with his grandfather in a round

dad, Stanley looked around and

Mandy piped in, a bit

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

She ripped the packet open and said unhappily,

at Mandy for a full three seconds before she conceded, "All right. I know you're very stubborn

offering little else by way of an answer. She was starting to get annoyed by the nagging.

annoying?" Madeline snapped, her

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 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 see earlier. The man had been ignoring her since this afternoon, which kindled her fretful

He is even more patient than you. Okay, if you are hungry, let's

coming over. Her mother's yammering had extinguished her plans for a relaxing visit.

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

first," Stanley agreed and reached out to rub

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

got caught in a conflict. They

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