When fate plays its hand

Going downstairs, Miranda found Aren and Paul still sitting at the same spot as before. They were facing each other over the chessboard, deep in thought. She wondered if she had dreamed of taking a nap.

“Mimi, are you up already? Come help me take a look. Paul is something else. He’s already beaten me twice!” Aren waved at her.

Paul chuckled. “Why don’t you mention that you’ve beaten me before too?”

“Well, not as many times as you’ve beaten me!”

Miranda went over with a smile. “I’m not very skilled at chess. I’m only good at observing.”

Aren said, “Sometimes it takes an outsider to see things clearly! Mimi, help me look at this part. Is there any way to break through?” This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - ©.

“Let me see…” Miranda studied the board carefully. “Actually, you could…”

Paul suddenly interjected, “Miranda, you shouldn’t talk while watching a game.”

She immediately fell silent and gave Aren a helpless smile, as if to say, “See? It’s not that I don’t want to help out.”

Aren was taken aback. Paul was really too much! He didn’t even give an old man like him a break!

But then again, Aren preferred playing against someone who took the game seriously. What was the point of being let off easy? It would only feel patronizing.

Soon, the battle outcome became clear. Paul pressed forward without hesitation and won.

Aren placed his pieces down in surrender and sighed. “I lost again. Paul, your chess skills are impressive!”

“You’re too kind,” Paul said.

At that moment, Sam came down from upstairs “How about I play a round with Dr. Jefferson?”

Paul raised an eyebrow. “It would be an honor.

They locked gazes, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Aren gave up his seat, and Sam sat down.

Paul asked, “Do you want to play black or white?” The white pieces would have the advantage of going first.

Sam casually picked up the black pieces in front of him. “This is fine. No need to make it

complicated.”

Aren had played as black in the previous game, so naturally Sam had the black pieces on his side after taking the spot. And yet, Paul still asked the question.

Who did he think he was?

In the first game, Paul took the first win swiftly, as Sam was probably not warmed up yet.

In the second game, the pace clearly slowed. Seizing the opportunity, Sam used a decoy strategy to secure a win.

The third game became the deciding match.

Neither of them made any reckless moves. They planned their strategy carefully from the very first move.

Fiona watched them play for a while, but she grew restless and went to the kitchen to keep herself busy.

Meanwhile, Aren and Miranda stood aside and watched the game, thoroughly engrossed.

Aren was especially captivated. By mid–game, his expression grew more serious each time one of them made a move. Anyone who didn’t know better might think he was the one playing.

Sam launched a discovered attack and captured Paul’s pawn. Aren exclaimed loudly and slapped his thigh, “Paul, you got careless!”

From his tone, he almost sounded regretful.

Paul remained calm and moved his rook. Sam’s setup in the top left corner of the board was immediately destroyed.

“Huh? How did that work?” Aren was astonished. “The tables turned just like that. How brilliant!”

Miranda shook her head. “No, I think Dr. Jefferson made that move on purpose. He lured the enemy in first, then wiped him out in one go.”

“You’re right!”

Both of them went back and forth, attacking and counter–attacking. The atmosphere grew increasingly intense.

Much time had passed, but the game still wasn’t over.

Fiona had peeked out from the kitchen several times, muttering, “What game would take this long? Are we going to eat or not?”

Finally…

“A stalemate?” Aren cried out.

Paul and Sam locked gazes, as if they were crossing swords. The sound of the swords striking each other rang out in the air.

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