Alistair''sposure cracked ever so slightly.


    Miranda found it amusing. "You don''t honestly think I care about you all, do you?"


    Her words hit Alistair like a punch, making his expression even more troubled.


    "Do you think I care about those biased folks who im to treat me like a daughter but always side with Arabe, believing easily the dirt the Zades threw my way? Or maybe you think I care about you four brothers who reat me like a stray dog?" Miranda''s voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. "Especially you, my dearwyer brother. Using your legal skills to trick your own sister into jail must have been quite the achievement, huh? Or do you think I care about you?"


    With each word Miranda spoke, Alistair''s frown deepened. Herst sentence hit him the hardest, causing his face to flush with embarrassment.


    For the first time, the disdain in Miranda''s eyes made him feel heinously guilty.


    Alistair took a deep breath. "I came here to have a real conversation. I don''t want to argue with you. This is what our whole family wants."


    Miranda furrowed her brows. "Your family thinks they''re humane? Have you looked in a mirrortely? Do you even have humanity?"


    Alistair''s tone turned chilly. "Do you have to be so harsh? No matter what, you can''t change the fact that we share the same blood."


    Miranda curled her lips into a cold smirk, her silence speaking volumes and making Alistair even more diforted.


    He softened his tone slightly. "Mom and Dad know about the hardships you faced with the Zade family back then. They want you toe home and give them a chance to make amends. Let bygones be bygones. If you return to the Hawke family, you''ll be Ms. Hawke once again.


    Now, we hope you can join us in issuing a statement, acknowledging you as a true Hawke. Be a bit more agreeable. As for Arabe, we can make her apologize to you. Consider it closure for everything that happened."


    Before Alistair could finish, a sudden kick sent him flying backward.


    Standing at six feet tall, the force


    sixfe


    required to knock him back was substantial, Whoever delivered the


    kick had held back, Miranda estimated. If they''d used full force,


    Alistair''s bones might have shattered.


    Alistair had never been so


    humiliated. He scrambled to his feet, his face darkening as he looked at his assant. Miranda turned to see who hade to stand beside her as well.


    Elian was there, hands casually tucked in his pockets, exuding an air of rebellious confidence. He looked down at Alistair with a cold, judgmental gaze. "I''ve tolerated you long enough."


    en


    Though Alistair had never directly interacted with Elian, he was aware of his reputation, having seen him from a distance at various events.


    Every time he saw Elian, people would caution him.


    "Don''t ever mess with that guy. He''s the real deal, the kingpin of the city."


    "Elian, ruthless, doesn''t care about anyone. Steer clear."


    Even Dorian would warn, "Never provoke him."


    Sebastian, despite his influence in Zephra over these years, never inspired such fear. Only Elian did.


    He''d heard rumors about Elian and Miranda''s ambiguous rtionship. But he hadn''t expected to encounter Elian under these circumstances, especially not like this.


    Miranda frowned. "Why''d you kick him?"


    Elian''s eyes remained frostily fixed on Alistair, though a smirk yed at his lips. "I felt you wanted to kick him, so I did it for you."