Independence

Chapter 0131

During that time, Mindy almost fell into a deep depression.

Luckily, with help from her husband and daughter, she slowly got better. Since then, though, she stopped using the Internet and only used an old–fashioned cell phone.

In ten years, she wrote just one young adult novel. Besides that, she hadn’t written anything new.

“Anyway, let’s not talk about that. How’s the toast?”

“It’s good. It still tastes the same as before.”

Miranda looked at her mom’s face, hesitated, but didn’t say anything. “Just the milk is a bit hot.”

“Is it? Let it cool down a bit more.”

As Christmas Eve approached, the small town’s quiet life was filled with holiday cheer.

Christmas lights decorated the streets, and trees sparkled with ornaments.

The small supermarket near their home was crowded and low on stock, so Mindy decided to drive to a bigger store in the city center.

After parking. Mindy and Miranda took the elevator to the first floor.

Even before they entered, they saw large Christmas decorations and festive signs everywhere. Inside, the store

full of people buying Christmas items, creating a lively and happy atmosphere.

Even though they didn’t have children at home, they needed to prepare for visits from relatives, recent graduates, and neighbors. So, they needed to buy holiday treats and fruits.

As they walked through the snack aisle, Mindy picked up some brand–name candies and chips. Remembering that they were running low on seasonings, she also grabbed some jars and bottles.

In the seafood section, Mindy saw the lively shrimp and wanted to ask Miranda if she wanted to buy some for Christmas dinner.

But Miranda, who had been following her, was suddenly missing.

Mindy raised an eyebrow and pushed the cart back a few aisles, where she found Miranda putting chocolate popsicles into their cart.

The chocolate was a little bitter, but at home, enjoying a popsicle while sitting by the heater was a special winter treat

Miranda had hoped to sneak a couple of popsicles into the cart without being noticed, but she got caught. She looked at Mindy with a sad face and asked, “Can I keep two?”

Mindy calmly replied, “What do you think?”

In the end, Mindy didn’t make her put them all back and left one in the cart for her.

*Mom, do you really have to be so strict? One popsicle isn’t enough, and what about you and Dad?”

Chapter 0131

+25 BONUS

“Your dad and I don’t eat them.”

“Then I can have it!”

Mindy gave her a look. “No way! You can have one, and that’s it.”

Miranda sighed. “…Okay.”

“Hey, Mindy?” A voice suddenly called from behind them.

Miranda and Mindy turned around and saw a woman in her 40s. She was wearing a white suit, and her hair was neatly styled in a bun with a hairpin.

She had a simple look, but her sharply arched eyebrows made her seem a little strict.

“Mrs. Jiver, what a surprise,” Mindy said with a friendly smile.

“Yes, it is,” the woman replied, smiling as she walked over. She looked at Miranda and asked, “And who is this?”

“This is my daughter, Mindy introduced.

“She’s grown so much! The last time I saw her, she was still in high school, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Edith smiled at Miranda and said, “She’s turned into such a lovely young woman, just like you.”

Mindy’s smile grew even bigger. Every mother would love hearing nice things about her child.

“By the way, about the career change we talked about on the phone this morning–how are you feeling about it?”

Mindy’s smile faded a little.

Miranda realized that the woman in front of them was her mother’s editor.