Kiss My Revenge The Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 23

The scene was oddly fitting, even though it really shouldn’t have been.

There he was, having shrugged off his jacket, now just in a black shirt.

Elian had this air about him, like he didn’t take dressing too seriously. For instance, he never bothered with the button at the top of his shirt, and he wore his suit with an air of nonchalance.

He carried himself with the grace and poise of someone from a wealthy family, yet there was a sharp edge to his demeanor that didn’t quite belong to the typical high-society heir.

But he hid that edge well. Even so, it still managed to seep through in subtle ways.

From what Miranda had heard, Elian was notorious in their circles for his ruthless tactics, yet he rarely made an appearance in social gatherings.

His reputation had been cemented from a young age when he once sent someone who crossed him to the hospital, something everyone knew about due to his wild nature.

As he grew older, this side of him only intensified. If he was in a good mood, everything was fine, but if his mood soured, no one could hope to preserve dignity in front of him.

The entire elite circle held a certain fear of him. Behind his back, they called him the Ashcroft family’s little tyrant. Even the folks from the Lancaster family would tread carefully around him.

But Miranda noticed that while Elian seemed rebellious, every move he made was calculated. He had a knack for keeping everything under his control.

“I’ve always had a question I’m curious about. Do you think you could help me out, Ms. Hawk?” Elian hadn’t touched his cutlery, simply watching Miranda as she dug into her meal. His lips curled slightly. “Of course, Ms. Hawk, you can refuse to answer.”

Miranda took a bite. “Then I refuse to answer.”

Elian raised an eyebrow. “I’ve changed my mind.”

Miranda kept on eating.

“Well, too bad, it’s late.”

Though she’d mentioned that Arabella wasn’t the real heiress, not everyone took her word for it.

Clearly, Elian understood and was aware of her connection to the Hawke family. He also knew about her grievance with them, which was why he said what he did.

Miranda curled her lips up, looking at him. “Thanks for that.”

Though it was a fake smile, Miranda’s natural beauty made it seem genuine. Since her soul’s rebirth, she’d taken to self-care, and her entire being seemed to radiate.

Her cheeks puffed up with that fake grin, adding an adorable roundness to her face, like a doll in a shopwindow, and Elian felt an urge to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

And having thought it, he did just that. His hand met the soft, tender skin of her face, and he was taken aback.

Who knew a girl’s cheeks could be so pleasant to touch? As if handling a smooth, delicate egg, he was careful not to apply too much pressure and risk damaging it.