When fate plays its hand

After lunch, Fiona led Mindy and Lionel to the newly arranged room.

“This used to be Min’s room,” she said warmly. “Now, it’s yours. The bed has been replaced, and the linens are all new.”

For years, Fiona had preserved the room exactly as it was, from the furnishings and decor to the smallest trinkets and toys. She refused to let anyone touch it, even taking care of the cleaning herself.

Every six months, no matter where she was, she would return to ensure the room was .spotless and maintained, treating it like a cherished treasure.

And it paid off.

The monient Mindy stepped inside, memories came flooding back. The room was a time capsule that held fragments of her youth–from innocence and girlish dreams to the stirrings of first love.

But then, unexpected flashes intruded–shards of a broken vase, a dimly lit corner, bloodstained shards, and a woman’s tears…

“Mindy? Mindy!” Lionel’s voice broke through her thoughts. He was the first to notice something was wrong. “Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

Fiona rushed to her side as well. “What’s wrong? Is it too stuffy in here?” she asked anxiously, hurrying to open a window.

The cold air swept in, jolting Mindy out of her daze. She blinked, and her face was somewhat pale. “I’m fine… Really. I just had a sudden headache, but it’s gone now.”

After confirming Mindy was truly alright, Fiona finally relaxed. “Min, Lionel, you must be exhausted after your journey. Get some rest.”

Lionel nodded. “We will, Mom. You’ve been busy all morning yourself. You should take a break too.”

As the door closed, the room was left quiet, with only Lionel and Mindy inside.

“What happened just now?” Lionel asked. novelbin

Mindy might have convinced Fiona, but as her husband, Lionel wasn’t so easily fooled. Sitting on the bed with Lionel’s support, Mindy admitted, “I… I think I remembered something.”

“What did you remember?”

“I’m not sure… It’s like I only caught pieces of it.”

Lionel sighed, his hands gently holding her shoulders, “Then don’t force it. When the time is right, everything will come back. There’s no ed to rush,”

“You’re right.” Mindy nodded and let out a slow breath.

Lionel’s gaze wandered to the wall across from them, where an array of certificates, medals, and trophies of all shapes and materials were proudly displayed.

“My wife was amazing back then, huh?” he teased, reading through the awards for singing, dancing, piano, chess, and other competitions

“Was there anything you couldn’t do?”

Through these achievements, Lionel felt like he was meeting a version of Mindy he had never known —- a version he couldn’t have imagined and wouldn’t have dared to hope for.

“What’d you expect!” Mindy said with a playful smirk. “Maybe not everything, but I was pretty well–rounded in music, art, and literature.”

Lionel shook his head in mock disbelief. “I can’t believe my luck that I get to marry an angel like you. It’s like something straight out of your novels. This kind of story belongs to the male lead of a romantic story.”

Mindy raised an eyebrow. “You’ve clearly never read my novels. My male leads are either deranged serial killers, reclusive detectives, or full–blown lunatics.”

Lionel said nothing in response.

Mindy chuckled, then wandered around the room as she began touching familiar furniture and decorations. The surroundings made her feel safe, like returning to a long–lost sanctuary.

After spending the entire morning on the train, the couple was exhausted. They decided to lie down for a nap. When Mindy woke up, she found Lionel engrossed in an old photo album, his expression serious and focused.

She quietly crept closer, planning to startle him. But before she could say a word, Lionel spoke without even looking up. “Aren’t you too old to act like a child?”