Fates Entwined: The Cost of Second Chances

Chapter 7

Tangled Hearts and how to Untangle them

Miri lounged on the couch in Risha's apartment, a dreamy smile plastered on her face. She had spent the evening with Neil, and it was obvious to anyone—especially Risha—that her cousin was smitten.

"You're glowing," Risha teased, setting down two mugs of tea on the coffee table.

"Am I?" Miri replied, her grin widening. "Neil's amazing, Rish. He's funny, sweet, and just... real. It's hard to explain."

Risha took a sip of her tea, her brow furrowing slightly. "I'm happy for you, Miri. Really. But you need to be careful. We have bigger things to deal with than romance, remember?"

Miri's smile faltered. "I know. But he's not a distraction. He's... a balance, maybe? Something good in all of this craziness."

Risha gave her cousin a knowing look. "Just don't let your heart get too tangled, okay? We can't afford to lose focus."

A week later, Neil suggested a casual outing. "Why don't we all go grab dinner? You, me, and Risha. I'd like to get to know her better," he said, his hand brushing Miri's as they walked in the park.

Miri hesitated but then smiled. "Sure. She might interrogate you a little, though. She's protective like that."

Neil laughed. "I can handle it."

Risha reluctantly agreed to the dinner, though she had no interest in playing third wheel. They met at a cozy café downtown, the warm ambiance doing little to soften her skepticism about Neil.

"So, Neil," Risha said as they waited for their food. "What exactly do you do?"

"I'm a graphic designer," Neil said, his tone easy. "Freelance mostly. I like the flexibility. It gives me time to work on personal projects."

"And what do you see in Miri?" Risha pressed, her expression neutral but her tone sharp enough to make Miri nudge her under the table.

Neil didn't falter. "She's honest. Passionate. And she doesn't try to be someone she's not." He smiled at Miri, who blushed furiously.

Risha leaned back, arms crossed. "Good answer. But just so we're clear, if you hurt her, you'll regret it."

"Duly noted," Neil said, meeting her gaze evenly.

A few days after the dinner, Miri was at the office late, finishing up a report. She passed by the breakroom and paused when she heard Sol and Ashan talking inside.

"I'm telling you, man, she's amazing," Sol said, his voice softer than usual.

"You've got it bad," Ashan replied, though his tone held an edge. "Risha, huh?"

Miri froze outside the door, her heart racing.

"Yeah," Sol admitted. "She's kind, hardworking, and doesn't even realize how much she inspires people."

Ashan laughed, but it lacked humor. "You know she's completely focused on her mission here, right? She doesn't have time for... distractions."

Sol sighed. "I know. That's why I haven't said anything. But I can't help how I feel."

Miri tiptoed away, her mind reeling. She hadn't even considered that Sol, her reliable coworker and Risha's mentor, might have feelings for her cousin. But the conversation also revealed something else—Ashan's reaction hadn't been entirely neutral.

Later that night, as Miri sat on her bed, her phone buzzed. A text from Neil lit up the screen: "Miss you. Can we meet tomorrow?"

Her heart fluttered, but the memory of Sol's words lingered in her mind.

The next morning, Miri couldn't hold it in. As she and Risha walked to work, she blurted, "Sol likes you."

Risha stopped in her tracks. "What?"

"I overheard her talking to Ashan last night. Sol has feelings for you."

Risha shook her head. "That's... ridiculous. Sol's my mentor, my colleague, Miri. She's just being nice."

"I don't think so," Miri said. "And you should've heard Ashan. He was acting weird, like he might like you too."

Risha groaned. "This is exactly what I don't need right now. Miri, you're getting distracted by Neil, and now this? We need to focus on our mission."

Miri sighed. "I know. But you can't just ignore what's happening around you."

Risha's voice softened. "Miri, I care about you. And I get that Neil makes you happy. But we can't let our emotions take over. That's exactly the kind of thing Eron would use against us."

Miri nodded reluctantly, but her thoughts were already tangled. Sol and Ashan's feelings for Risha weren't just a complication—they could spell disaster if Eron got wind of it.

Unbeknownst to them, Eron was already watching, his twisted grin growing wider as he devised his next move.